As concern grows about the spread of the Coronavisus, Archbishop Blair has requested the following precautionary measures for parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford:

• SIGN OF PEACE: The sign of peace should be exchanged without physical contact like hand-shaking; or else the call to exchange a sign of peace should simply be omitted.
  
  
• BLOOD OF CHRIST: The distribution of Holy Communion via the chalice should be suspended; celebrants and assisting deacons should receive only by intinction.
  
  
• BODY OF CHRIST: Communion on the tongue should be strongly discouraged
  
  
• COLLECTION BASKET: There should be minimal handling of collection baskets, by ushers only.
  
  
• HOLY WATER FONT: Holy water fonts should be emptied.
  
  
• GOOD HYGIENE: All clergy and Eucharistic ministers are urged to practice good hygiene, washing their hands before Mass, or even using hand sanitizer before and after distributing Holy Communion.
  
  
• MASS ATTENDANCE: The faithful are reminded that if they are sick or experiencing symptoms of sickness, they are not obligated to attend Mass, and that out of charity, they ought not to attend.

Online scams, phishing and fraudulent activities are on the rise due to the coronavirus. It's common for scammers to take advantage of emergency situations and vulnerabilities. Therefore, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers valuable some tips on how you can avoid being a victim of these scams: Coronavirus: Scammers Follow the Headlines.

The St. John Fisher Spring 2020 Genesis choir is looking for additional singers from kindergarten through high school
to sing at the Palm Sunday and/or Easter Sunday Masses (April 5 and 12).

Rehearsals: Mondays from 5:00-5:45 pm 

If interested please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Genesis Choir Director,
Call the parish office

On November 19th, House of Bread manager, Tony came to speak to the children. The kids wrapped packages of socks that they donated. They put them in a large stocking that was given to The House of Bread. The House of Bread has a 5 days of Christmas event where they give people who eat and live there a gift each day for 5 days leading up to Christmas. This was our contribution.

View the photographs by logging into the website, then CLICK HERE, or navigate to OUR PARISH | Extra's | Photo Gallery, then select "2019 Socks For House of Bread"

Join our faith community and more than 14,000 Catholic communities across the  United States in a life-changing Lenten journey with CRS Rice Bowl. Pick up your family's CRS Rice Bowl at the entrances to the church.

Sunday, March 29, 2020 ~ St. Thomas More Hall ~ After Both Masses

You’re invited: Bring baked goods for the bake sale
(All baked goods must be dropped off Saturday 3/28 or Sunday 3/29 8:30 mass)

Bring cupcakes to enter (Bakers entering in cupcake contest must enter final product by 10:30 am) Judging based on presentation, originality and taste. Winners will be announced at 11:30 am

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

The Catholic Graduates Club of Greater Hartford. Inc., will award three scholarships of $2,000 each for one year—2020/2021 
To be eligible: The candidate must be any Catholic student who is a Hartford County resident now attending an accredited secondary school, and who wishes to attend a four year college beginning in 2020. Students are chosen based on: financial need, scholarship, character, leadership and achievement. Application deadline is March 16, 2020. For more info:See your principal or counselor or go to http://www.catholicgraduatesct.org/

Did you know that on Wednesday we began one of the holiest seasons of the liturgical year?  Lent. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, where traditionally the palms from last year are burned and used to mark the us with the sign of the cross.  This sign reminds us of our reliance on God and the fact that we even though God loves us, we are sinners in need of repentance of forgiveness.  Lent, which lasts for forty days, is a season of reflection, with three main parts. For Lent, we can focus on these parts to help us engage with God on the forty-day journey.

April 3-5, 2020

Holy Family Retreat Team

We spend our time and energy on the necessities of everyday life, which hold so many things that are beyond our control. But what is it that we are longing for in the deepest way? What is our passion in life? This year at Holy Family, we will explore that deep longing planted in our hearts by God - a longing for peace, for wholeness, and for relationships that give us joy and lift us up. Come away and rest awhile to find and pursue your deepest longing, and by doing so, may you experience how God is longing so deeply for you, too.

Special thanks to our Confirmation class volunteers for spreading kindness and love during the month of February, congenital heart defect month. They united to pack bags of comfort for families staying at Boston Children's Hospital cardiac intensive care unit. These children truly exemplify the meaning of "Do everything with love."

Birthright is a crisis pregnancy service offering free pregnancy tests, friendship counseling, and practical support.   Our guiding principle: It is the RIGHT of every pregnant woman to give BIRTH and the RIGHT of every child to be BORN.  Birthright has served in Connecticut since 1972 and helped thousands of mothers and babies.  There are nine locations in our state.  Please call 1-800-550-4900 for the Birthright nearest you.  Training is provided. Spanish speaking  volunteers are especially needed.  Thank you.

BIRTHRIGHT NEEDS gently worn  MATERNITY and BABY CLOTHING. 

Holy Days of Obligation are special days that we, as Catholics come to Mass to celebrate special events of our faith.  These are opportunities for us to pause, reflect and celebrate the liturgy as a means of thanking God for his goodness.  These days are some of the  most important days of year for us as Catholics as they honor the mysteries of the Lord, the Virgin Mary and the saints, which is why we are called to celebrate by attending Mass. 

The bishops in each country have the ability to determine which days bind Catholics to attend Mass.   Bishops, in the United States, have determined that these six days are important enough to call all Catholics in the United States to worship at Mass as described in the Code of Cannon Law (church law) 1246.

The following is a list of Holy days:

A Story Time, Prayer and Play Group for children from birth to 6 and their caregivers. Please join us for stories, crafts, music, prayer, light refreshments and fun.

Group will meet from 10 -11 a.m. in the hall at St John Fisher  (however the actual story telling will take place in the church so the children will become increasingly familiar with the church and comfortable with sitting in the pews!)

Monday, Feb 24  ~  Monday, March 9  ~  Saturday, March 28

Group will meet twice a month on Saturday and Monday mornings.  It is Co-hosted by Amy Serrano and Theresa Brysgel, DRE. Full schedule will follow. For details, please join the Pray and Play Facebook Site or email Theresa Brysgel at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Every week we are invited to joyously come break bread at the Lord's table.  That's right, Mass is a joyful celebratory meal shared with your faith community here at St. John Fisher and around the world.  Isn't it incredible that people round the world are worshiping our Lord by celebrating the Eucharist just as we are in Marlborough, Connecticut!!   

As in the time of Jesus, this does not happen alone, but in community.  Together we learn, we share then we break bread.  Mass allows us to slow down and be in the presence of our loving Father.  We are both spiritually and physically fed in a powerful way that brings us closer to God.  We repeat the Last Supper every time we celebrate Mass.  Jesus "took his place at the table with the apostles ...  Then he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you. Do this in memory of me" (Luke 22:14,19).  When we go to Mass we are honoring Jesus' request to "do this in memory of me," and we are reminded not only of his sacrifice, but of his great love for us as well.  Simply stated, Mass is an opportunity to worship our heavenly Father. At the Lord's table, we worship, give thanks, listen to sacred scripture, celebrate the Eucharist and offer up prayers to a loving Father as a spirit-filled community.   Come find your place at the table! 

How awesome is it that every time we go to Mass we encounter the true Christ through the Eucharist?  One of the greatest mysteries of our faith, fills us spiritually and physically with the true presence of our Lord. 

What are some of your favorite mealtime rituals/memories?

How do you celebrate special meals?

How is this similar to how we celebrate special Masses at church?  Can you come up with 5 similarities?

When did Jesus share a sacred meal with his apostles that provides the foundation for our Mass?

What words did Jesus use then that we hear during the Eucharistic prayer at Mass today?

Additional resources:

Be sure to check out our parish library!

https://www.smp.org/resourcecenter/category/Mass/4/?per_page=all – a collection of videos and activities about the Mass.

https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/scripture-and-tradition/mass-and-liturgy/an-overview-of-the-mass

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/index.cfm

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE COPY