St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church

Now Interviewing: Open Faith Formation Coordinator Position

Our current Faith Formation Coordinator, Theresa Brysgel will be leaving the position at the end of this academic year. Theresa has expertly led this program focused on the children and families of 1st grade through 8th grade for 5 years. Theresa was instrumental in offering faithbased growth and learning opportunities amidst the Covid challenges which required her to find new, creative and embracing ways to minister to children and families. Theresa will be missed in this position but we are lucky that she will continue her positive impact and leadership in other areas within our parish.

We are currently interviewing for this open position which will continue to lead the faith formation focus for children and families. The position has an average of 1620 hours a week and we are looking for candidates who possess a MA in Education or Theology and/or other related disciplines. A pastoral approach to working with children and families is required as well as a positive, faithfilled and team oriented approach to leadership and supervision of instructors and volunteers.

A Prayer for Peace in the Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called Children of God.”

In this time of great worry, we fervently pray that Your Holy Spirit sustain all the people of Ukraine to be vigilant and dedicated to peace and justice. Grant their leaders wisdom and prudence. Yet, may they also have the strength and perseverance to defend their land from all adversity and foreign attacks. Help us all to live according to your Divine Will.

O God, our Father, in the days to come, we beseech you to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the faithful departed into Your Heavenly Kingdom. We ask also that the Most Holy Mother of God extend her blessed mantle of protection over our Ukraine.

Amen.

A Hand Up Collection

toilettries Our teens, under the leadership of Grace Neumuth, will be collecting household cleaning items to make welcome baskets for the clients at A Hand Up. The group will gladly accept sponges, dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet bowl cleaner, paper towels, toilet paper and any other cleaning supplies that would be needed for people transitioning from homelessness into secure housing.

East Catholic High School

We will be hosting Incoming Freshmen Social and Parent Orientation for all the Class of 2026 on Friday, May 13th at 5:30 pm. Fun activities are planned for the students and much information will be given to the parents.

It's not too late to start the admissions process, if you think of us as a high school of your choice. Visit our website and give us a call if you'd like to proceed with admissions. We will be happy to help you!

Connecticut Foodshare ~ Walk Against Hunger

WalkAgainstHunger

We are about ONE MONTH away from the Connecticut Foodshare Walk Against Hunger! Join us on Saturday, May 21st at Dunkin Donuts Park, home of the Hartford Yard Goats, for this family-friendly and FREE event that raises awarness about food insecurity in Connecticut.

Hosted by local media personalities Renee DiNino and Scot Haney, this fun and easy 1.5 mile walk supports our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity

Sign up now as an individual, join a friend's team, or start a team of you own - it's so easy to make a difference for your community!

Already registered? Thank You! We can't wait to see you on May 21st!

From Our Pastor ~ April 24, 2022

2^nd Sunday of Easter

Shalom was the first word of Jesus after he had suffered. Shalom is also more than a greeting of peace for it is a word that signifies that the person has no reason to fear the one to whom it is addressed and holds nothing against that person.

By saying “Shalom”, Jesus renewed his relationship with those who were present. He had come into the room, despite its locked doors, where they were hiding and blessed them with peace and revealed the love that gives forgiveness for their fear, denial by word or distance, confusion, and hesitancy to believe in the Resurrection by the women who first proclaimed it to them. The amazing thing about true forgiveness is that it transforms the effects of the past, freeing a person to re-form what had been behavior that had been destructive before.

Special thanks to Donna Bergman ...

Special thanks to Donna Bergman and all who worked to spread mulch at the church before Easter. Thanks to their efforts, the church grounds look beautiful and are exploding with spring blossoms.

Community Garden

garden We are once again starting to work out in our community garden and invite all parishioners to come on Monday evenings at 5:00PM to help plant, care and harvest our garden which benefits the Marlborough Food Bank. We would also gladly accept any monetary donations to help purchase plants and supplies. Donations can be left in the basket clearly marked “Garden.”

St. Vincent de Paul Sandwich Collection

sandwichbag We will collect sandwiches on Thursday, April 28.
We will NOT gather in the kitchen to make sandwiches as a community this month. If you would like participate, you can make sandwiches at home and drop them off at the church during regular church office hours or from 7:00PM-7:30PM

Thank you for your support!

A Huge Thank You

A huge thank you to all who participated in our Lenten collection of personal care items. These items allow our brothers and sisters in Christ to maintain their dignity and worth. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Easter Vigil ~ 2022

From Our Pastor ~ April 17, 2022

Easter 2022

How can this be?

In Luke’s Gospel that was the question Mary asked when told she would conceive a son. I would imagine that was the same question another Mary asked when she visited the tomb which should have contained his body.

Both the Incarnation and the Resurrection took place, hidden from human eyes. Both were followed by life, a human life set in time and place; a new way of being human that is beyond time and space.

A Hand Up Collection

Our teens, under the leadership of Grace Neumuth, will be collecting household cleaning items to make welcome baskets for the clients at A Hand Up. The group will gladly accept sponges, dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet bowl cleaner, paper towels, toilet paper and any other cleaning supplies that would be needed for people transitioning from homelessness into secure housing.

Fun Fact

SilverCrossPalmBranchesHD

Incense is typically burned during Mass on Easter in a metal censer called a thurible. The smoke from the incense reminds us of our prayers, like the incense, being lifted up to heaven. This dates back to the Old Testament when Moses was commanded by God to burn incense at the altar. (Exodus 30:1). This ancient tradition is a beautiful fulfillment of scripture and reminds us that our earthly prayers are rising toward heaven.

May my prayer be like incense in your presence, my uplifted hands like the evening sacrifice. Ps. 141:2.

Request a Mass Intention

MassIntention Those wishing to honor a loved one during the celebration of Mass may pick up Mass cards in the parish office. Mass cards are available for the living and deceased and provide opportunities for prayerful remembrance of anniversaries, birthdays, and other special intentions. Masses are sometimes booked several weeks in advance so if you have a particular date or time in which you want the Mass, it is very important that you call the parish office ahead of time. Please call Holly in the office to schedule a Mass or with any questions.

Prayer Bowl

Thanks to the generosity and talents of Jean Jacques, we have a new way for people to offer up their personal prayer intentions. Located by the baptismal font is a beautiful hand turned wooden bowl, created by Jean, which will be the receptacle for people to place their prayer intentions. There are pieces of paper and pens available for anyone so moved to write out an intention and place it in the bowl. The prayers in turn will be offered as a part of the general intercession during the prayer of the faithful. The prayers will not be read individually, but the entire congregation will be invited to pray for the intentions our community intentions. Just as our prayer line is way to harness the power of prayer at St. John Fisher, our new prayers bowl is another means available to seek the prayerful support of your fellow parishioners.

Knights of Columbus Scholarship

The St. John Fisher Knights of Columbus will honor two worthy graduating high school seniors with a scholarship of $500 each in recognition of service to our community and practice of their Catholic faith in daily life. Applications will be taken through May 31^st 2022 and the scholarship will be awarded in May.

Eligibility, instructions and the application form are available HERE on the St. John Fisher website. Any questions can be addressed to the following e-mail address:: KofC@stjfchurch.org.

Monthly Food Drive

Please mark your calendars: Our monthly Food Drive is the 2nd full weekend of every month.

Suggested Donations: Baking goods such as cake mix, brownie mix, pancake mix, frosting, bread mix, etc. Please ensure that the "Best By" dates have not been exceeded as the Food

Bank will need to dispose of them if they have. The Food Bank does not distribute over the counter medicines for either adults or children so we cannot accept donations of these items.

For the Home Goods Room: used items in good condition such as pots and pans, towels, pillowcases, sheets (especially queen), lamps and new bed pillows.

YOUR DONATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Catholic News

Faith Connections

YouTube Links

Emergency Bible Numbers


Upset?	John 14
Weak?	Psalm 18:1-29
Lonely?	Psalm 23
Sinned?	Psalm 51
Worried?	Matthew 8:19-31
Anxious?	Phillippians 4:4-9
Unhappy?	Colossians 3:12-17
In Danger?	Psalm 91
Depressed?	Psalm 27
Lack of Faith?	Exodus 14
Others Unkind?	John 15
Need Courage?	Joshua 1
Need Direction?	Psalm 73:21-26
Seeking Peace?	Matthew 11:25-30

Prayer Line Woman Pray 01

Send your prayer requests to stjohnfisher30@yahoo.com or call the parish office @ 295-0001.

Pray The Holy Rosary ~ Fridays ~ 8:30AM
Click here on Friday mornings.
9kh5Y9

Note: to maximize meeting time, please don't login more than 6 minutes early.

Online Giving

UPDATE: Our Online Giving system now is also an App for Apple and Android products! You can download it for free in the App Store, Google Play Store or go to OLGapp.com. If you are new to Online Giving, register by entering our church ID of 1239.

How To Report An Incident Of Sexual Abuse To The Archdiocese Of Hartford

Archdiocese of Hartford
Office of Safe Environment
467 Bloomfield Ave.
Bloomfield, CT 06002

If you have knowledge or suspect that a minor or vulnerable adult (an adult with an intellectual disability) has been sexually abused, in any manner, by personnel of the Archdiocese of Hartford, you are urged to report this information to:

Kathleen D. Nowosadko
Victim Assistance Coordinator
860-541-6475
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click here to download more information

Special Intention Mass Cards

Mass Card A Healing Prayer

Please remember to schedule Masses you would like intended for deceased loved ones, for specific times, as soon as possible. Mass cards are also available for Masses that are not for the deceased - they are for Masses that will be offered for a special intention, such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, dealing with illiness, requests for healing, or any special needs. Please feel free to e-mail, call, or stop by the Parish Office with your request.

Sponsor Certificates, Marriages & Baptisms

Sponsor Certificates: A sponsor certificate for Baptism or Confirmation will be provided to current, active parishioners who have been registered with St. John Fisher for a minimum of six months. A Form may be downloaded (click here) or picked up at the parish office, and all applicants must meet with Father to have form signed and sealed after Mass or by appointment.

The Hospital Doesn't Tell Us You're There!

Because of HIPAA regulations, pastors and deacons are not given access to information about parishioners who are in the hospital. Please be sure to contact the parish office if you would like Father Sas, Deacon John, or a Eucharistic Minister to visit you or a loved one who is hospitalized.

Please include the patient's given name, hospital name, and dates of anticipated stay. In case of an emergency, please call Father Sas or Deacon John using the numbers on the front cover of the bulletin. Our pastoral staff is also happy to visit those who are homebound.