COME TO THE CENTER EXPERIENCE THE DIVINE WITHIN AND WITHOUT!

Centering prayer is a silent prayer that can move you toward a more profound experience of the Spirit of God within. This Fall we will be offering  an introductory training course on Centering Prayer.The course was developed by Father Thomas Keating and the staff of Contemplative Outreach. 

Centering Prayer is an adaptation of ancient Christian mystical practice based on the wisdom sayings of Jesus and inspired by the 14th-century text The Cloud of Unknowing, Saint Theresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, and others. Thomas Keating, answering a life-long calling, sought to renew this ancient wisdom and present a prayer practice that goes beyond asking for aid and offering praise - one that invites you to a deeper relationship  with God.The sessions will consist of 45 minutes to an hour of a DVD, group discussion and practice of what is presented. Join us for nine Wednesday nights, 7-9:00pm on October 3rd, October 10th, October 17th, October 24th, November 7th, November 14th, November 28th, December 5th & December 12th at Church of the Holy Family Parish House for refreshments, fellowship and learning. For more information call Patricia Knight-Bellisle at (860)559-6286 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

It's time once again to start making a joyful noise!!!

The St. John Fisher Children's Choir ("Genesis Choir") will gather for weekly rehearsals on Mondays, beginning October 15th. We will meet at the church every Monday from 5-5:45 PM (with the exception of school holidays) to prepare for several Sunday Masses throughout the year (including Christmas and Easter) and the annual Christmas Concert. Please call Marianne Matunas at (860) 295-8700 for more info and/or to register your child to "Sing A New Song Unto the Lord. . ."

We have a number of opportunities for our SJF Parish Family to practice our faith through service to others. Which service opportunities are calling your name?

• Monthly Food Drive for the Food Bank of Marlborough
• Monthly Sandwich Collection for St. Vincent DePaul Place
• Various Sandwich Making Opportunities
• Birthday Bags for the Children of our local food bank
• Various Clothes & Coat Drives
• Various Collections of Care Items for Shelters
• Creating care bags for the homeless
• “Baby Shower” Supporting Birth Right
• Sunday Dinners for St. Vincent dePaul Place
• Other Shelter Dinner Opportunities
• “Cooking with Care” – preparing meals for our parishioners/families
• School Supplies & Backpack Drive for our elementary school & RHAM
• Drive-Thru Café (Sunday dinner) for patrons of our local food bank
• Programs Supporting Catholic Relief Services
• Autumn Luncheon for Marlborough Senior Citizens
• Outreach/Christmas Cards for those incarcerated
• Fair Trade Gift Events
• Holiday Giving Programs – Thanksgiving and Christmas

Want to know more? Watch for scheduled opportunities in our monthly parish calendar, our bulletin, our website (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and on Facebook!

Registered users, Login and click here to access ministry contact information.

It’s time to dust off your vocal chords and lift your voice in praise and in song. We have a very exciting year of music ahead of us. 

Please feel free to join at any time.  ~   Open rehearsals will be on Monday evenings from 6:00-7:30pm.

See me before or after Mass and I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have! I hope you will consider sharing your gifts and talents through music!

~ Kathleen Filosa, Choir Director

As summer comes to a close, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all the members of the Adult Worship Choir and the Children’s Genesis Choir for their dedication and desire to serve in this Ministry.

It is an honor to work with such beautiful and humble musicians, and I look forward to the new choir season with all of them (and many new members as well!)

I’d also like to thank the members of the parish who support our ministry in so many ways. 

Special thanks goes to David and Margaret Wilcox for their generous donation to the Music Ministry program. Your generosity is so much appreciated!

~ Kathleen Filosa, Choir Director

A huge thank you to our catechists who have graciously volunteered to give their time and energy to educate our children and bring them even closer to God and our church:
Holly Bangham, Colleen Napolitano, Melissa Jordan, Kristen McLaughlin, Tracy Corey, Silvia Orama, Anne Amodeo, Amy Boutilier, Ellie Packer, Rosie Henderschedt, Meg Tracey, Jeffrey Tracey, Karen Sawyer, Monica Wallace, Jackie Spencer, Anne Hooker and Claudine Polachanin Also, a big thank you to Caroline Meyer and Shannon Visco for volunteering to watch our catechists’ children while they teach!

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time B18

Scholars often say the passage we read from Mark’s Gospel today represents a turning point in Mark’s narrative. Up to this point the disciples have heard Jesus preach and teach, witnessed his healing and other miracles, and gotten excited thinking he’s someone special and we have been chosen by him.

Now he asks them a question: Who do people say that I am? After giving him the answers which include John the Baptist come from the dead, Ezekiel who was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot and would come back to announce the coming of the Messiah, and any one of the prophets, he then asks: But you, who do you say that I am? A pivotal question that requires them to pierce through the opinion of others and declare what they have learned up to now.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, B18

The author of The Letter of James has as one main themes is “faith without works is dead”. He sets before his readers an example: “For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Sit here, please,’ while you say to the poor one, ‘Stand there,’ or ‘Sit at my feet,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves …?”¹ Whom would you like to associate? With someone who is dressed in the latest fashion, has clean hands and combed hair; or, someone like Pigpen from the Peanuts (Charlie Brown) comic strip who radiates a very earthy look and accompanying aroma?

Faith Formation Registration is being wrapped-up. Except for one class, all volunteer catechist positions are filled. We need a volunteer catechist to teach 6th grade. This class had 2 wonderful teen volunteers for many years, however these girls have graduated and are now at UCONN. Unfortunately, we've had no luck in finding replacements for them so far. Please let me know if any of you are interested in teaching OR if you have a teenager interested in teaching OR if you know someone who may want to teach.

This year we have been blessed to have most teachers return. Also we are lucky to have a new parent to teach first grade. We recruited 2 former parents, who no longer have students in MES, to return as volunteer catechists to teach 1st and 3rd so there is a lot to be thankful for!

Please contact Theresa Brysgel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the Parish Office at 860295-0001 if you can help.

Many thanks for another successful back-to-school drive to help prepare our Marlborough Elementary and RHAM Middle and High School students for a successful year of learning and growing. These students and their families are grateful for your generosity and the opportunities you have afforded them. We have a glorious and caring St. John Fisher family!

Help support retreat leader, Tony Belizzi’s “Performing Life Project” which sells bracelets made in Bolivia by youths living in poverty. The bracelets sell for $2.00-$5.00, and make it possible for young people to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. They will be on sale after the 4:00pm Mass on Saturday, September 15th. This is a great help for the Bolivian youth since there is no market for their work where they live.