Dear Parish family, last year through our Christmas giving program, we provided A Sacred Place with sweat suits for those women being released from York Women’s Correctional Institution in Niantic.

They have reached out once again for our help. They are requesting board games, books with crossword puzzles, word searches, or even just puzzles.

These items can be dropped off at 50 Chapman road or pickup can be arranged. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus assures his disciples that even though he will soon be leaving them, they will not be alone. God will send them an Advocate to be with them always. As Christians, we believe that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, but how often do we allow that knowledge to guide our actions and decisions? In the words of Pope Francis from The Joy of Discipleship: Reflections from Pope Francis on Walking with Christ: "It is the Paraclete Spirit, the 'Comforter' who grants us the courage to take to the streets of the world, bringing the Gospel! The Holy Spirit makes us look to the horizon and drives us to the very outskirts of existence in order to proclaim life in Jesus Christ." It is our challenge during this time of isolation and "stay at home" orders to look for new ways to bring the Gospel to others. "Shout for joy to God, all the earth!" (Psalm 66:1)

Father Sas will be offering online Mass, Sunday, May 17, the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Thank you to Gil Thompson for recording, Nancy Aniolek for reading, and Kathleen Filosa, Carolyn Henderson, and Janice Reska for providing music. The Mass will be available on our parish website on Sunday morning.

Many thanks to all the hands and hearts that went into raising our college graduates up at our parade celebration last Saturday. We are  blessed to have an incredible faith community and live in a town where people genuinely care about our young people. To all who made posters, helped organize, participated in our parade, or drove an emergency vehicle to celebrate our graduates, a heartfelt thanks!  Special congratulations to Anna, Maressa, Tara, Ryan, Owen, Sean and Ryan M. (who joined us virtually). We are so excited to see how you continue to use your God given gifts to make this world a better place! Regardless of where you go, know that this will always be your home!

We will celebrate our high school graduates with a similar parade on Saturday, June 6 at 11:15 a.m. Cars will enter by the Marlborough Healthcare Center side of the parking lot, drive around the back of the church to cheer on our graduating seniors, and exit the other side of the lot.

For our teens, there will be a virtual teen rosary over Zoom on Friday, May 22 at 4:00 p.m. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the link. For those high school students preparing for the end of the school year, study/care bags will be available for pick up during open church hours on Mon-Thurs from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on a first come basis beginning Friday, May 15. Bags will be on a table in the vestibule of the church.

STJF presents The Henderschedt Family performing a concert to welcome in summer on Friday, May 22nd, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm. The event will benefit the Marlborough Food Bank and FoodShare. Registration is required as spots are limited. All attendees will be required to park in designated spots and stay in their cars. Hope to see you there!

The St. John Fisher Mothers Support Group has been meeting once a week over Zoom for prayer, reflection, and conversation. All mothers are welcome to join. The next meeting is Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested in participating.

Father Sas Celebrates
6th Sunday of Easter Mass

"Our Mass intention is for all our
St. John Fisher parish family."

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Download: An Act of Spiritual Communion

6^th Sunday of Easter A20

There’s always at least one who shows at a party with a black cloud over their head.

A Seder or Passover meal was meant to be a happy occasion when Jewish people remembered the angel’s passing over their homes, the lintel of the doors marked with blood of a lamb and the subsequent miraculous crossing of Red Sea, leaving their slavery in Egypt, and making their way to the Promised Land.

But tonight was different, very different, as Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for what was going to happen. The atmosphere was somber as he was trying to console them. “Do not let your hearts be troubled”; “I will not leave you orphans”. And then he said, “In a little while the world will no longer see me.” The Apostles were going to lose their master in whom they had placed all their hopes and dreams. What anguish they must have felt even though he said he would come back. He was promising them another Advocate who will be with them to guide and protect them, who would be the Spirit of truth given them by the Father at Jesus’ request.

How would you feel and react to all these words and promises? Better yet, how are you reacting and feeling right now during this pandemic when Jesus is not present to you in the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) and you don’t have the wider faith community to support, encourage, and give you strength, when some are questioning God’s presence and power?

Now we know, in the depths of our being, how the Apostles felt as they listened to Jesus: abandoned and at loose ends despite the promises of his, the Father’s and the Spirit’s presence to them. It may have been they didn’t even hear that reassurance because they felt overwhelmed with sorrow by having Jesus taken from them and wondering how they would go on.

But the Resurrection happened! And the Holy Spirit came! They were overwhelmed again, this time with joy, hope, and confidence. They were changed people!

May it be so with us!

• Adoration - Sunday from 4:00-4:45 pm
• Individual prayer - Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am-2:00 pm. (Please observe guidelines for spatial distancing and disinfecting.)
• Prayer Line (Day) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 860-537-1412
• Prayer Line (Night) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 860-267-8877 
• In addition you can email a prayer request to our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and it will be forwarded to the Prayer Line.

Now that we have all been asked to wear protective face masks while in public, we continue to reach out to those who are able to make and donate cloth masks. You can drop them off in the box in our vestibule during open church hours on Mon-Thurs from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. If anyone is in need of a mask, please feel free to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name and address. Masks will be distributed to our parishioners in need and to the healthcare facilities here in town. 

St. John Fisher Church presents The Henderschedt Family performing a concert to welcome in Summer, Friday, May 22nd, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm. The event will benefit the Marlborough Food Bank and FoodShare. Registration is required as spots are limited. All attendees will be required to park in designated spots and stay at their cars. Hope to see you there!

Only 43 cars can attend. 

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Lord, we ask for the awareness of the Holy Spirit in our daily life. May the Spirit also guide us to look upon our actions and motives with honesty and patience. We ask that that the Spirit gives us the freedom to review our day without condemnation and without complacency. And when we need wisdom to make a decision, work through a conflict, or discern a pathway, may we pray, "Come, Holy Spirit."

—The Jesuit Prayer Team, January 15, 2017

On Wednesday May 13 th, 76 meals were delivered to Marlborough Health and Rehabilitation Center. Each staff member enjoyed an individual meal and were so incredibly appreciative of the support and love from St John Fisher and all the residents of Marlborough who donated to "feed our very own healthcare heroes". In addition, so much money was raised that St John Fisher will be partnering with the Marlborough Food Bank and Marlborough Pizza to deliver 18 additional meals to residents at Florence Lord Senior Housing Center. ALSO Marlborough Pizza is generously donating a pizza lunch to feed all the staff at Marlborough Health and Rehabilitation on Wed May 20th. Thanks to all for your incredible generosity and support and a very special thank you to all the employees at Marlborough Health and Rehab!