“I am thirsty”

John 19:28

John 19:28-29

²⁸ After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” ²⁹ There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.                                                         New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Spreading LOVE, POSITIVITY, HOPE and JOY. Children of all ages came to the St. John Fisher parking lot and sidewalks at their allotted time slots to chalk their messages of hope, promise and love today, Saturday, April 4th. Only two families at any time, one to the right parking lot and one to the left parking lot, taking up to 20 minutes for draw their art work.

Just as Christ entered Jerusalem with palms on the ground, depicting goodness and victory, message of hope and love were drawn on the ground for Palm Sunday to spread the same goodness.

Log in with your ID and Password to view the set of photographs. From the main menu, select "OUR PARISH", then in the Extra's menu, click on "Photo Gallery". From the list of photo albums, select "2020 Easter Chalk Art" and enjoy the amazing contribution of your fellow parishioners. Already logged in? Then CLICK HERE.

Need to register? CLICK HERE.

Photography By Jim Castellani

St. John Fisher Facebook Page
Archdiocese of Hartford Website
Marlborough Food Bank
ORTV Daily Televised Mass
EWTN Daily TV Schedule
Virtual Mass, Saints Isidore and Maria, Glastonbury
Virtual Mass, St. Patrick-St. Anthony, Hartford
Virtual Mass, St. Theresa of Calcutta, Manchester
Virtual Mass, Saint Josephine Bakhita, Rocky Hill

In lieu of our annual Easter Egg Hunt, St. John Fisher Faith Formation is recruiting the Easter Bunny in all of us, so our children can enjoy a fun family Easter Scavenger Hunt! On Saturday, April 11, we are asking parishioners to decorate either their lawn or front window with an Easter Bunny, a Cross, or Easter Eggs. Please have decorations up from 1-3 pm that day. Families will travel around town from 1-3 pm that same day, spotting the decorations in yards and windows. Keep count of all the decorations you see and text how many you find to Theresa Brysgel at 860-830-2194 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The top three families who find the most decorations will be announced, and everyone who participates will receive a small prize in the mail!

Also, be sure to drive by St. John Fisher from 1-3 pm that day. The Easter Bunny will be waving at the cars driving by. Take a picture and send it to Theresa, and it will be worth a hoppin' 5 points towards your total in the scavenger hunt!

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:6-11, from Breaking Bread 2020)

If you are looking for service opportunities for Holy Week, there are a number of ways you can help those in need:

• Healthy donors are encouraged to book an appointment to give blood with the Red Cross. Click here to find a location near you.
• Hartford Hospital is accepting donations of homemade masks from healthy volunteers who have not been exposed to anyone suspected or confirmed dto have COVID-19 in the past two weeks. Click here for instructions for making masks. We will have a bin in the vestibule to accept your donations (during open church hours - this week's hours are Mon-Wed from 9am - 2pm). Please place in a sealed plastic bag. One of our parishioners, Melissa Jordan, will be delivering the masks to Hartford Hospital and/or various local agencies in need. We will continue this as long as there is a need. 

Our parish staff continues to provide guidance and resources to parents, children and adults for at-home prayer and rituals. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. has provided both fun activities and spiritual outreach for parents to support their children's faith formation. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. has created a daily reflection, readings, and interactive questions that focus on the Last Seven Words of Jesus. Please visit our parish website and follow us on Facebook for interactive sharing during Holy Week. Also, there is an new Instagram account for our high school and beyond - sjf_youthministry - with daily affirming quotes and messages.

In addition, the AOH Office of Education, Evangelization, and Catechesis (OEEC) has provided an excellent page of additional resources for parents, children and adults.

You will soon be receiving an Easter card in the mail from the parish. Please ignore the Holy Week Mass times included on the card. If you would like to make your annual Easter contribution you can do so by 1) making an online gift by visiting our online giving; 2) mailing a check to 30 Jones Hollow Rd, Marlborough, CT 06447; or 3) dropping off a check in the white mailbox outside the parish office, but please note that this box is not waterproof and your check will need to be enclosed in some kind of plastic bag or plastic covering before you place it in the mailbox.

“This feast guides us through the trials that meet us in this world. God now gives us the joy of salvation that shines out from this feast, as He brings us together to form one assembly, uniting us all in spirit in every place, allowing us to pray together and to offer common thanksgiving, as is our duty on the feast. Such is the wonder of his love: He gathers to this feast those who are far apart, and brings together in unity of faith those who may be physically separated from each other.” (Emphasis added by Fr. Sas)

Thank you so much for signing up to spread a little hope and joy this Palm Sunday by Chalking the Walk at St John Fisher with pictures and messages of hope and love! In the event of rain, we will "Chalk the Walk" on Sunday. You will keep the same 20-minute time slot. Please adhere to the time slot and remember to bring your own chalk. If you do not remember the time you signed up for or need to change it, please text Theresa at 860-830-2194. (Afternoon time slots are still available if you text Theresa right away!) 

Palm Sunday is an opportunity to reflect on the Passion of Christ and prepare ourselves for Holy Week. As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, He received the adoration and praise of a king, but presented Himself humbly, riding on a simple donkey. This meek and humble arrival would culminate in His triumphant victory over death one week later. Jesus came to Jerusalem knowing that He would empty himself, giving His own life for our salvation.

Holy Week is a time to be renewed in our faith. To join in the drama and mystery of the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord. Although we may not physically come together for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, or Easter Sunday, we can seek out virtual Masses, we can read Scripture, we can celebrate at home using the resources linked below; and most importantly, we can reflect on the ways in which God's great gift of His only Son has transformed our lives. Later this week we'll provide a link for a special way that the parishioners of St. John Fisher can virtually come together and celebrate the Easter Mass at home - led by a very familiar face and reassuring voice! 

A new directive from the Archdiocese of Hartford states that the "time has now come to suspend publicly scheduled confessions until further notice in light of the growing spread of the virus in Connecticut, which is anticipated to peak in the coming weeks. This is necessary for the protection of both penitents and priests." However, during Holy Week the church will be open for Eucharistic Adoration on Palm Sunday from 4:00-4:45 pm and for individual prayer on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:00 am-2:00 pm. Please observe guidelines for spatial distancing. There will be disinfectants available at the entrances, so you can be sure of a clean place to pray while you are in church. If possible, we ask that you wipe down your pew before you leave so it will be sanitized for the next parishioner who may come in.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

          “Christ is Risen!” Even though we have to practice “social distancing” we are always spiritually close as members of the one Body of Christ. Baptism makes us a family in faith, and at Easter we joyfully proclaim the glorious news that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. In the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Easter this year may be unlike any other, but the light of the resurrection remains undimmed, the cause of our joy undiminished, and the strength of our faith unbroken.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL COPY OF THE LETTER

Due to the restrictions placed on social distancing from the on-going coronavirus pandemic, the Knights of Columbus are extending the due date for the 2019-2020 scholarship applications from March 31, 2020 to April 15, 2020. Additionally, e-mail approvals from school and church officals will be accepted rather than physical signatures.

Applications can be found in the left colomn of this page (or click here to go to the article or click here to download the application) and sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Good luck and stay safe!