The presenter for our Confirmation retreat, Tony Belizzi is in need of rosary beads for his ministry to teens.  If you have extra sets and would like to donate them, please drop them off in the basket on the tables marked Rosary Beads in the vestibule.  Each year Tony distributes thousands of rosary beads to teens across the country  and during his trips to South America.  Any donations would be greatly appreciated.

23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A20

Many of us know the saying “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” The proverb has a murky history.  Some attribute it to Confucius. Others say it was from a Japanese tradition which added the 3 monkeys in their famous triptych. While it promises a life that seems pleasant and peaceful, we can’t be blind, deaf and mute in the face of evil. That is far from what Ezekiel and Jesus were called to be as prophets.

 Drive-Thru Process / For the Greater Hartford Community

Rentschler Field at 615 Silver Ln, E Hartford, CT. 06118

Tue / Wed / Thu

September 1 -30    8:30 AM—12:00 PM

More Food resources: WWW.FOODSHARE.ORG/CORCORONAVIRUS

You are invited and encouraged to enroll their child in our post-high school ministry.  Several times a year we send out prayer bags complete with supportive messages from our parish, prayers and treats to college-aged parishioners.  It doesn’t matter if your child will be living on campus or commuting virtually this year – let our parish family help support them on their journey.  E-mail their address to Jen O’Neill at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A20

In the Gospel last week when Jesus asked his disciples who do others say the Son of Man is, they included one prophet by name, Jeremiah. This week we get a disturbing prayer from him that is filled with complaints against God and lays out his confusion about his calling. To understand this outburst, it would be helpful to read Chapter 1 which is about his call to be a prophet.

Lord Jesus, help me as I begin this new school year.

Help me to use the gifts you have given me to the best of my ability, especially this year as things look a little different.

Open my eyes to the new challenges and opportunities that this year may bring.

Help me to face these challenges and opportunities with hope, excitement and enthusiasm. I know that with your help and guidance I will succeed.

Jesus, help me to pay attention to my teachers, to stay focused, and do my best.

Help me to be kind to others and to have a wonderful year.

Amen

Special thanks to our car guru's, Justin Bodey, Vinnie Zito, Marc Nicol and Tom O'Neill, for guiding our young adults during the first workshop in the series Prepare Ye the Way . . . Life Skills for Catholic Teens. Special thanks also to Marlborough Pizza, Tarca's Hebron Automotive and AAA of Manchester, CT.

We are called to live our faith in all aspects of our lives, but – when it comes to voting – this can be difficult. Over the next several weeks, immerse yourself in the Church’s teaching and gain a fuller understanding of the Church’s commitment to a consistent ethic of life which guides us to be advocates for a variety of issues related to life and human dignity. Of course, not every issue is morally equivalent, nor can commitment to one issue excuse indifference to the rest. We will not be telling you for whom or what to vote. Rather, to inform your vote we encourage discernment, prayer, and a universal call to holiness and compassion. Before exploring the resources, we invite you to read more about the US Bishops’ teaching on voting decisions and learn how this initiative came to be.

VISIT iVoteCatholic website for more details

Last week the Archbishop extended the dispensation from Sunday Mass attendance to the weekend of November 21-22, the end of the current Church year. He'll revisit the dispensation for Advent and beyond if Connecticut hasn't loosened its directives.

Click HERE to view the letter

21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

It happens in almost every family. Someone, despite all the advantages, love, and support given them, does something that causes others pain or bewilderment. A graduate of Catholic education leaves the practice of the faith, an education for which the parents sacrificed; a person with a spouse and children becomes tired of the responsibilities and demands of marriage and so walks out the door; another of great intelligence and talent loses him/herself to addictions.

All parents of a child in college, any post-secondary schooling or the military; are invited and engouraged to enroll their child in our post-high sghool ministry. Several times a year we send out prayer bags complete with supportive messages from our parish, prayers and treats to college-aged parishioners. It doesn’t matter if your child will be living on campus or commuting virtually this year − let our parish family help support them on their journey. E-mail their address to Jen O’Neill at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time A20

One of the inconvenient truths of the Incarnation is that Jesus was born a Jew with all that it entailed. In today’s Gospel passage, we are faced with Jesus and his encounter with a Canaanite woman in which he is acting according to the prejudices and customs of his day. The Canaanites were to be avoided because they worshipped other gods and at first led Jesus’ ancestors astray from the devotion of the one true God; and the custom of not speaking to a woman in public was being breached by her begging for a cure for her daughter. Besides all that, Jesus thought he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. She had 3 strikes against her! But she persisted and taught Jesus a lesson about being more inclusive. Why? Because she had great faith. It’s interesting to see the contrast between last week’s Gospel and this one: Peter being gently chided for having little faith and the Canaanite woman praised for having great faith.

How beautiful that in August we celebrate St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine on August 27^thand St. Augustine on August 28^th.  As patron saint of mothers, St. Monica dedicated her life to raising a son grounded in his faith.  May we pray that as we prepare our children to go back to schools we will have the tenacity, determination, love and patience of St. Monica with our own children and that they too will be grounded in their faith and service to our God.

All teens and young adults are invited to follow the St. John Fisher youth Instagram Ministry account at

sjf_youthministry.  Stay connected, grow your faith and be informed!