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

According to the tax laws, parishioners are not able to deduct contributions to the parish unless they maintain a bank record or obtain a written contribution statement from the parish.   If you wish to ensure deductibility of your contributions to St. John Fisher Church, please use a check or parish envelopes.  The parish will track contributions made using parish envelopes only, and will, upon request, produce a written statement of contributions made. Your own canceled checks and other bank records are also sufficient documentation for the IRS.  The parish is unable to track cash contributions not placed in parish envelopes.    Please feel free to e-mail, call, or stop by the parish office with your request for your contribution report for 2019.  If you would like to receive weekly contribution envelopes, please notify the parish office.

Please help us support the families of Boston Children's Hospital Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.  February is Congenital Heart Defect Month. One in 100 children are born with a congenital heart  defect, and many of those children will require lifesaving surgery in their first years of life.  We will be collecting comfort items to include in packages that will be given to parents staying in family suites while their children are receiving treatments in the intensive care unit.   Items include: toiletry sized shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, mints, gum, toothbrushes, etc.  There will be a collection box at the church until February 9th.

Thank you for supporting our mission to help others!

Sincerely, Grace, Sydney and Jude, The 9th Grade Faith Formation Class and their Families

Week one – Welcome to the family. It is important for us to remember that God loves and cares for us. We are welcomed into God’s family as His adopted sons and daughters through baptism. This sacrament gives us the superpowers of the Holy Spirit, washes away the stain of original sin and most importantly invites to share in the salvation of our loving Father. Usually parents and godparents stand up and say yes we want this faith for this little person. They in turn commit publicly to help us to grow in discipleship and relationship with God. In return, God blesses us with many gifts and his unconditional love. That does not mean that we don’t need to ask for forgiveness when we stray, but it does mean that God’s love for us remains constant. GO to the parish website and see if you can answer a few questions about your baptism. Be sure to answer the fun questions on the website and bring proof that you did to mass the following week so you can enter into our parish drawing for prizes.

A "New" Lenten Adult Education Program at St. Andrew Church in Colchester.

You are invited to join us at St. Andrew Church on Wednesday, February 5th as we kick off our New Adult Education Program. The first of our series of programs to be offered is "FORGIVEN, The Transforming Power of Confession." 

Congratulations to the following children who made their First Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday, February 1, 2020:  Ella Rose, Kaitlyn, Ty, Tenley, Carley, Annabella, Josslyn, Juliette, Sophie, Delaney, Oliver, and Jack.

A big thank you to their amazing Faith Formation catechists, Holly and Colleen, who have worked so hard to prepare these children.  Also, a thank you to all of the Confirmation Students and National Honor Society Volunteers, who did a fantastic job hosting the celebration following the sacrament: Christina, Anthony, Cameron, Abigail, Mekayla, Hayley and Margherita.

Needed at MIDDLESEX HEALTH to work in homecare and nursing home settings.  Hospice volunteers are an integral part of the Middlesex Health team, and they work with patients and families as they cope with the challenges of terminal illness.  Aspiring volunteers must submit a volunteer application and complete 12 hours of training and a 12-hour mentorship before they can begin their work.  For more information, contact Diane Santostefano, Middlesex Health Hospice's volunteer coordinator at 860.358.6955

On behalf of our Catholic secondary school students, the Provost for Education, Evangelization, and Catechesis, Sr. Mary Grace Walsh ASCJ, Ph.D. would like to express sincere thanks to all those who participated in the 2020 High School Collection. We deeply appreciate your support of Catholic high schools as they pursue their mission of education and evangelization.

Though God welcomes you in open arms, our judges may not be as accepting!
We are cooking up a good time with a Chopped Challenge

February 1st downstairs after 4 o’clock mass till 7 PM

All high school teens are welcome… that is, if you think you can make the cut!
Sign up required with a $5.00 registration to help cover the cost of supplies.

Click here to download the flyer

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has a history of over 100 years, in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity.  By annually observing the WPCU, Christians move toward the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper "that they all may be one."  (cf. John 17:21)

More Details from USCCB

Are you or someone you know considering becoming a Catholic? Or, are you baptized, but haven't received Communion or been Confirmed? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults may be for you! Please contact Jim Castellani, RCIA Coordinator at 860-295-9904 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

My sincere thanks to all those individuals who helped make our Christmas Liturgies such holy and meaningful experiences for the parish: The Worship Choir, Children’s Christmas Choir, Musicians, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Greeters. Your participation reflected many blessings and gifts from God, and I thank you for sharing those gifts with your parish family. Thank you also to the Decorating Committee for their beautiful work this season and to the Men’s Prayer Group for putting up our outside decorations. Lastly, many thanks to all the ministries and parishioners who worked so hard on our Advent programs and activities. We enjoyed a wonderful Advent season together as a parish family!

With gratitude, Father Sas

All it takes is a commitment of one week, on a rotating basis, to have your name and phone number published in our bulletin as one of two contact people to receive special prayer requests. Then, you notify the other members of the prayer line (by e-mail) of the special prayer request. It’s easy, extremely satisfying, and it does so much good! Please contact the Parish Office to add your name to this very important and rewarding ministry.