32^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A20

The Thessalonians had a problem. As did many other converts to the faith, they believed that Jesus, “with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven”. But the members of their faith community were “falling asleep”. What would happen to them when Jesus reappeared in his glory? Would they be left behind? Paul sought to reassure them by telling them: “No”. The dead would be the first to rise, and those alive at the coming of the Lord will join them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Wednesday, November 11 Being Made New: An Evening of Reflection for Young Adults with Valerie Kisselback from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. We may want to shut out the world and wait until everything “returns to normal,” but if we take the time to pay attention, there are precious gifts to receive and lessons to learn through this messy and uncomfortable pandemic experience. This evening of reflection will examine images of creation and offer suggestions for praying from a place of disorientation. This program is online offered via Zoom. Visit www.holyfamilyretreat.org calendar for more info and to register.

The Confirmation class will be collecting leftover Halloween candy. All candy may be left in the baskets at the church entrances for one final week.

ALL SAINTS

Have you ever met someone who was considered a celebrity? Years ago while still in the seminary I and 3 of my classmates provided music at 2 of the Masses at a local parish. One Sunday, we were in the sacristy before Mass when in walked Carroll O’Connor, better known at the time as Archie Bunker. He was taller than he appeared on TV, soft-spoken and a very gentle man. As he talked with us he had no airs about him, coming across as a “regular” person, not like a Hollywood and TV star. He was not at all what one might have expected

Mass ~ All Saints Day ~ November 1, 2020
Available on October 31, 2020, at 4:00 PM

Wednesdays With Women

The experience of the Women's Conference will take place in an extended virtual format, running from November 2020 to May 2021 (when registration will open for the 2021 conference). Instead of a full-day event, a chance to "attend" a workshop and prayer experience will be available monthly. These virtual events will take place on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. The evening will be a little taste of the Women's Conference experience: a workshop followed by a unique prayer experience. 

CLICK FOR DETAILS: https://catholicedaohct.org/programs/archdiocesan-women-s-conference

Please keep our 10th Grade Confirmation community in your prayers as they take the final steps in their initiation as Catholics and are Confirmed by Father Sas next weekend.  Join us in congratulating them as they more fully live out their call to discipleship

Mass ~ 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ October 25, 2020
Available as of October 24, 2020, 4:00 PM

30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

“What do I have to do?”

That question reveals an all too common human tendency to discover what is really important and, usually, how little work, effort or energy need be invested. And so, at school we count carefully the number of words in an essay wondering if “the” or “a” counts. In cleaning, we may give a lick and a promise. At work, we make sure at least to cover the bases, believing like Woody Allen that 80% of success is just showing up.

with Rev. Thomas Lynch & Barbara Marconda, Wednesday, October 28th, 2020

At some point, all of us will be faced with suffering. How can we deal with the challenges that we are confronted with as we walk this path of suffering together? Father Thomas Lynch and Barbara Marconda lead this session in which they'll explore what this "path of suffering" entails and how the way in which we choose to walk it can radically change the experience.

Learn more: https://www.endersisland.org/events/transforming-your-suffering

The Confirmation class will once again be collecting leftover Halloween candy this year. All candy may be left in the baskets at the church entrances after October 31st

As we prepare for Halloween next weekend, let us also take a moment to remember the difference between All Saints’ Day, a Holy Day of Obligation, and All Souls’ Day.  On All Saints’ Day we celebrate the communion of saints, both those known and unknown, in heaven and are reminded of our call to live as saints. This is a wonderful time to pray to your patron saint. This year All Saints’ Day falls on a Sunday, so the day will be celebrated as part of our normal Sunday liturgy.  All Souls’ Day is a reminder for us to hold close in prayer those souls in purgatory and to pray for all those who have died.

Be sure to thank Father Sas this month for National Clergy Appreciation Month!

We are truly blessed to have such a holy man leading us in our faith journey.

29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time A20

Well, it’s that time of year again – leaves are falling and political signs are springing up like weeds.

Today’s ending sentence in the Gospel^[1] could be used by those who favor a strict separation of Church and State. But the separation is just that; it’s not a divorce. We are citizens of 2 countries, the United States and the Kingdom of God. Do we have a different way of acting and making decisions in each? I hope not. Our faith, if it’s real, genuine and true, must inform how we think and act.