The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website offers video reflections each day on the Gospel readings. This week our own Deacon Miller from the Archdiocese of  Hartford offered one of the reflections. The short reflections remind us that our faith foundation is rooted in sacred scripture. To find the readings and reflections go to USCCB.org. 

Next week’s Collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) needs your support. With the tradition of improving education, housing situations, and economic development, CCHD continues to make a positive impact in communities locally and nationwide.More than 46 million people in the United States live in poverty today.  This collection supports programs that empower people to identify and address obstacles as they work to make permanent and positive changes for their communities.  Learn more about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development at www.usccb.org/cchd/collection

Once again, through your generous participation, we will be providing Thanksgiving meals for those in need. Bags with a list of items will be in the vestibule beginning Nov. 2 and can be picked up during weekday or weekend Masses.
Filled bags can be brought to the church during weekday or weekend Masses. Please have bags back by Nov. 22 at the latest. If more convenient, bags can be dropped off directly at the Food Bank on Tuesdays between 9:00 am to noon and 3:00 to 6:00 pm.

Items needed are
2 cans of veggies
1 can of cranberry sauce
1 Box or bag of stuffing mix
1 box or bag of cornbread mix
5 lb bag of potatoes
1 bag of fresh carrots.

Looking for a special Christmas gift for that person that is hard to buy for?  Need something positive to give you a life?  Look no further than Sheri Dursin’s collection of blog posts entitled Hearing God Whisper, Discovering the Sacred in Ordinary Moments, a beautiful collection of reflections and observations from one of our own!  As a retreat director and blogger, Sheri has shared her faith journey with many of us and it is a journey worth sharing. 

"During the early months of the pandemic shutdown, I found myself at loose ends and looking for things to keep me busy. A good friend suggested the perfect project – compiling my blog posts from the past six years into a book! And so after months of gathering and editing, I’m so pleased to debut my newly published book: Hearing God’s Whisper: Discovering the Sacred in Ordinary Moments."

https://hearinggodswhisper.com/2020/09/28/hearing-gods-whisper-the-book/

Given the craziness of our world, it is easy to forget to see the gift’s God has placed in our path. God has blessed us with gifts too numerous to count. As we begin to approach the holiday season, take this month to thank God every day for all the blessings.

Go to the family formation section on our Faith Formation website (https://stjffaithformation.org) for some suggestions on how you and your family can focus on giving thanks to God this holiday season.

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.”
Psalms 106:1

We are excited to offer another Virtual Parent Informaion Session on December 3rd at 5:30 pm. To preregister for the session, please go to: echs.com/Visit_ECHS. The month of November will bring you the Department Highlights Series. Please inquire at: https://www.echs.com/Admissions-Process and you will receive the information about the admissions process, as well as invitations to our ZOOM sessions.

Mass ~ 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ November 8, 2020
Available as of November 7, 2020, 4:00 PM

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