Most often when this parable is used for reflection on a retreat or a day of reflection, we are the hearers of the parable and are asked: “How receptive to the word of God are you? Into which category do you place yourself?”

The new stairway to the front of our church has been installed. Be sure to come visit and see how easy they bring you in.

Your child will travel “across the USA” to enter a world of amazing adventures! National Parks will be this year’s theme for Vacation Bible camp and I hope many of the children join us on this spectacular adventure right here at St John Fisher Church!

This will be an opportunity for kids to explore not only the incredible sights of our own country, but also a way to discover a living spiritual relationship with Jesus!

The camp will run August 7-10th at SJF Hall and grounds. Registration forms are available at church exits and by clicking here!

Looking for a way to put into action Pope Francis’ call to care for our planet? Then as you go through your kids’ clothing to get ready for school, consider donating a few items. We are collecting gently used children’s clothing for children in shelters, Head Start and the Catholic Worker House.

Clean, gently worn clothing can be dropped off at the church from August 12th-26th.

In order to ensure the dignity of the recipients, we ask that you wash and check the clothes to be sure they are in good condition. We will also gladly accept new underwear, socks and pajamas for children as well.

All parishioners are welcome to come on Tuesday, August 29, to help sort and bundle the clothing following the 8:30am Mass and from 6:00-7:30pm.

In preparation for the 2018 Synod on Young People, the Faith and  "In preparation for the 2018 Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment “By listening to young people, the Church will once again hear the Lord speaking in today’s world.” (Synod Preparatory Document, p.3)

The Archdiocese of Hartford is requesting that all parishes and schools encourage their young people (ages 16-29) to fill out the Archdiocesan Survey for Young People https://oeec.typeform.com/to/qPt9f0. Many dioceses throughout the world are preparing for the 2018 Synod of Bishops and this survey will help Archbishop Blair develop his report on the youth of the Archdiocese of Hartford for that Synod. More importantly, this survey will be beneficial for the Archdiocese, as it strives to hear and respond to the voice of our youth and young adults, who will have the chance to express their thoughts and concerns about their faith and values.

Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, several members of our choir are getting together for social evenings of singing ~ and you are invited. We are singing both church and secular songs. A few of us have guitars and all of  us are having a great deal of fun. Far from being music experts, it's the kind of relaxed evening few of us make time for, but all of us need.

We meet at the "choir loft" from now until choir practice starts again. Come join in the fun!

All high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited to fill out an application to join the Teen Emmaus leadership team. All high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited to fill out an application to join the Teen Emmaus leadership team. 

Help plan our monthly teen nights as well as additional activities for your peers. Applications can be found on the parish webpage as well as the entrances to the church. 

All applications should be dropped off at the church by August 9th. Please contact the church office or our Youth Minister, Ms. Jen O’Neill, with any questions.

As we continue to enjoy this beautiful summer season, we are also preparing to provide our Marlborough students with backpacks and school supplies to start off their new school year. In addition to the MES students, this year we are also adding our middle and high school students. 

As we continue to enjoy this beautiful summer season, we are also preparing to provide our Marlborough students with backpacks and school supplies to start off their new school year. In addition to the MES students, this year we are also adding our middle and high school students.  Please consider taking a tag (or two) for the display and bring back the requested supplies to Mass on the weekends of August 5/6 and August 12/13. We will also be accepting cash, checks made out to St. John Fisher and gift cards to Staples, Walmart or Target. 

Thank you in advance for helping our local students and families, who are in need, to start off a successful school year.

Enjoying the long days, the glory of gardens, the relaxing of our schedules?  For most, summer is a time of year to slow down, breathe a little deeper and recharge.  What a perfect time to do the same for our prayer life.  While we are a communal faith, our relationship with God begins with a personal relationship grounded in prayer.Enjoying the long days, the glory of gardens, the relaxing of our schedules?  For most, summer is a time of year to slow down, breathe a little deeper and recharge.  What a perfect time to do the same for our prayer life.  While we are a communal faith, our relationship with God begins with a personal relationship grounded in prayer.

 
Like other relationships we need to be sure to tend and nurture our relationship with God.  Make a thirty day commitment to enhance your prayer life this summer.  Set aside a few moments every day to spend with God.  Create a sacred space, go for a walk, read scripture, listen to music, sign up for the daily three minute retreat with Loyola press, come to daily Mass, visit Holy Family Retreat Center and walk the grounds, make a commitment to create a new routine.

 
Even taking a few minutes every day to open ourselves up to the Lord can have a profound impact.  Try this summer, as you recharge and relax, to commit to spending some time with the Lord and see where the journey takes you.

Many thanks to all who generously donated flip flops during out recent collection. Over 100 pairs of flip flops were collected for men, women and children and distributed to South Park Shelter, Catholic Worker House and Adlebrook. Thank you for making summer a bit easier for others.

It has been said that the prophet’s call is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. Of course, one group will be overwhelmingly happy and the other - not so much.

It was understandable that Jeremiah didn’t want to be a prophet. He knew it was a difficult vocation. So when he called, he claimed that he was too young. God answered that he was called to be a prophet even in the womb. Can’t get any younger than that! Several times he complained to God about his lot, even to wishing he had never been born, calling down a curse on the man who announced to his father that he had a son. Apparently he abandoned his calling for a time but God was insistent. He also had to watch as one of the kings read his words and then burn them page by page, the ultimate insult. He was thrown into a cistern and left to die but was eventually rescued. He foretold the Exile and then encouraged the people in exile to settle down and have families because he would be a long time before they would return to Judah. Finally when Babylon was intent upon destroying Jerusalem, the people forced Jeremiah to flee with them to Egypt whereupon, as rumor has it, they killed him.