Thomas Church 99 Bristol Street, Southington, CT 06489-4599

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).”

Sunday, September 9, 2018

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Rectory Office

Phone: 860-628-4713 Fax: 860-628-7341 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Sites: www.stthomassouthington.org www.facebook.com/groups/104009621923

St. Thomas Convent

Address: 20 Eden Place Southington, CT Phone: 860-621-1904

Office of Religious Education

Phone: 860-628-9679 E-mail: [email protected]

Southington School

Address: 133 Bristol Street Southington, CT Phone: 860-628-2485 Web Site: www.southingtoncathlolicschool.org

Weekend Mass Schedule Our Mission Statement Saturday Vigil: 4:00PM (Church) Sunday: 7:30AM & 10:00AM (Church) We, the Roman Catholic faithful of St. Thomas

parish, nourished by God’s Word and by the Weekday Mass Schedule Sacraments, welcome and serve the Family of God. Monday & Tuesday: 7:30AM(Chapel) Through evangelization, education, and spiritual Thursday & Friday:12:10PM (Chapel) development, we demonstrate the true meaning of Saturday 8:00AM (Chapel) God’s love by living in the image of Christ.

Rectory Office Hours Monday—Friday 8AM-4PM

Parish Staff SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8—Nativity of the Blessed Mary Priests  8:00AM Thomas J. Lopatosky Requested by wife, Jeanne & Family Rev. Joseph R. Cronin—Pastor [email protected]  4:00PM Barbara & Al Westermeyer Requested by BJ & Vinny Rev. John E. Cockayne—(Senior Status) SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9—23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Angelo J. Coppola—(Senior Status)  7:30AM The deceased members of the Ladies’ Guild— Vincent J. Raby Requested by Members of the Ladies’ Guild  10:00AM Alfred Laone— Requested by His Wife & Children Music Ministry Emil Kopcha—Director MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10—Weekday  7:30AM Gary Celella, Jr.—-Requested by Christine Gaudette & Kathy Kopcha—Assistant Family

Office Manager TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11—Weekday Heidi Malley  7:30AM Parishioners whose Funerals were in August:

William Perriello, Patrica Magaudda, Walter Business Manager Anderson, Guarino Zacchia, Dominic Ingriselli, Marc Ingriselli Jean Gilbert, Joseph Landrie, Gertrude Kempf, Anna Lalla, Michael Laramee Trustees Susan Howard WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12—The Most Holy Name Stanley Maigarie of Mary NO MASS ON WEDNESDAYS Plant Manager Casey Potthoff THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13—St. John Chrysostom, Bishop &  12:10PM Gaetano & Maria Sabino—Requested by Family Custodial Staff

Daniel Conant FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14—The Exultation of the Holy Bonnie Guimond Cross Marty Lopatosky  12:10PM Giuseppe Mazzulla — Requested by his Son & Wife

Harry Masterbone SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15—Our Lady of Sorrows Director of Religious Ed.  8:00AM Chesterine Ostasiewski—Requested by ASLF

Sr. Marie Roccapriore, MPF  4:00PM Mario & Stefano Votino—Requested by Mary Nigro

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16—24th Sunday in Ordinary Southington Time  7:30AM George Serafino—Requested by Family  10:00AM Arnold Sr., Mildred and Robert Furia Principal Requested by Eleanor Furia Eileen Sampiere

Office Manager Sanctuary Candle

Loretta Putala Church: Edward Sieruta-Anniversary Advancement Director Requested by LouAnn Sieruta

Mary Alexander Chapel: For those who grieve  Father Joe’s Notes  My dear friends, stories of Creation in Chapters 1 & 2. (Anyone who would like to join us, you are most welcome!) I look Now that we’re in September, school has begun. forward to teaching one of my favorite books. Southington Catholic School is now into its fourth year. The children in You may not be going public school are back, and the back to school or teaching busses roam our streets and catechism, but that doesn’t neighborhoods. Next week, we will mean you are unaffected. see the children coming back for It’s not just children who religious education. Teachers and learn; we all do. Each and catechists are preparing lesson plans every one of us has things for the year and projects have we still need to learn. We begun. A new academic year has spend a lifetime seeking started. greater understanding of our lives and the world around us. We have to answer the Life for me is no different. September signals the question, “What is God calling me to be?” We also all beginning of another year of Bible study classes. I have teach. By our words and actions each day, we show been working over the summer to set the syllabus, other people how to live. We can always demonstrate making sure we can get all fifty chapters covered in just the importance of God in our lives by how we live. We twenty-eight weeks. I have worked on getting the can show people how honor, dignity, and respect look. commentaries together and combed through materials. Our lives are about constant learning and teaching. We This past Thursday, we began our study with a general need to take that task seriously. introduction to the text. This week, be will read the This September, let’s all renew our commitment to education. We ought to support the young people going SAVE THE DATE! to school. We should honor those who teach in classrooms and workshops. We need to recall our own SUNDAY SEPT 23 need to learn and to teach. A new season of education has begun. Makes the most of it! ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC 11am-2pm. Happily yours in Christ, Fr. Joe FOOD, FUN CLOWN,

DJ—JOIN US!!!  Ask Father  Question: Father, why don’t people shake hands in church at the sign of peace? Readings for the Week of September 9, 2018

Sunday: Is 35:4-7a/Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 [1b]/Jas 2:1-5/ Answer: I have no idea! It’s part of the liturgy to Mk 7:31-37 share the sign of peace. In the old liturgy, it was a kiss Monday: 1 Cor 5:1-8/Ps 5, 5-6, 7, 12 [9]/Lk 6:6-11 of peace, but it was changed to a handshake. I suppose Tuesday: 1 Cor 6:1-11/Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b [cf. some germaphobes are overly concerned about catching 4]/ some terrible disease for everyone around them. They Lk 6:12-19 apparently ignore that there are airborne germs. The Wednesday: 1 Cor 7:25-31/Ps 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17 [11]/ same people usually dip their fingers in the same holy Lk 6:20-26 water font as you, and there are more germs in there than Thursday: 1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13/Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 23- on anyone else’s hands. I would love everyone to be 24 [24b]/Lk 6:27-38 able to share the sign of peace and greet each other with Friday: Nm 21:4b-9/Ps 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 [cf. 7b]/ a real sign of welcome. Keep trying and reaching out to Phil 2:6-11/Jn 3:13-17 those people around you! Let’s make this the most Saturday: 1 Cor 10:14-22/Ps 116:12-13, 17-18 [17]/ welcoming parish we can, including shaking hands with Jn 19:25-27 or Lk 2:33-35 our brothers and sisters.  Parish Information  Prayers / Devotions Sacraments

Holy Hours In the chapel—rectory basement Parents, contact the rectory to schedule a Tuesdays: 11:00AM—Noon (for vocations) baptism. There’s a preparation meeting for Thursdays: 11:00AM—Noon (with Benediction) parents having their first child baptized.

Eucharistic Adoration RCIA—Adult Sacraments In the chapel—rectory basement If you’ve never been baptized or you belong to another Thursdays 8:00AM—11:00AM denomination and want to join the , we can help you! Any Baptized Catholic adult who hasn’t Miraculous Medal Novena received other Sacraments, we can help you. Call us! In the chapel—rectory basement Tuesdays at 7:00PM Reconciliation

______We hear Confessions on Saturday afternoons from 3:00PM until 3:30 PM in the reconciliation room in the church, or call Father Joe to make an appointment. Bible Study Group

Classes will meet this Thursday, Sept. 13th when we Marriage will cover Genesis, Chapters 1 & 2—Creation. All are The Archdiocese of Hartford requires a minimum of welcome to join us. Note the change of place! six months for marriage preparation. Couples should Thursdays at 1:30PM—Chapel (Rectory basement) contact Father Joe at the rectory to schedule a meeting. Thursdays at 7:00PM—Chapel (Rectory basement) (The classes cover the same material—you need only attend one) Sacrament of the Sick

______Should you, or someone you know, need an anointing, please call Father Joe at the rectory to schedule a visit. St. Thomas Cemetery Homebound / Hospital If you or your family are looking to purchase a plot or Please, contact the rectory if you or niche in the columbarium, give us a call in the rectory a family member is homebound or in office. We will have our Plant Manager, Casey Pottoff, the hospital. We can arrange for a meet with you and explain the options for graves and Eucharistic Minister to bring you the markers. Please, call the rectory to schedule a meeting. Blessed Sacrament at home.

Sponsor Certificates New Parishioners

They are available in the church sacristy or in the Welcome to St. Thomas! We are delighted to have rectory office. You must be an active parishioner, you join our parish family. Introduce yourself to registered with our parish for 6 months or more. The Father or the Deacon after Mass. Parish registration use of the envelope system helps us in verifying that forms are available in the sacristy and the rectory you’re an active parishioners here. You must also office. Take one for the entire family, and a separate have completed your Sacraments of Initiation and be form for each family member. Once completed, mail in a valid marriage. If you have question, call us. them to us or drop them in the collection basket. Collections for September 2nd

Figures unavailable at the time of printing. † Southington Catholic School † Why did current parents HELP OUR SCHOOL!!! choose to send their children to Southington Catholic School? SHOPPING FOR FREE RECESS

EQUIPMENT– Your every trip to the grocery  The students were respectful and considerate store can help supply Southington Catholic of us as guests. School with new recess balls, hula hoops, jump  The principal immediately ropes and playground equipment. Please returned our call and gave her consider registering your grocery store card time to answer questions. number and your email address with your  As parishioners of another favorite grocery store’s individual school parish in another town, we felt support program. The following ID numbers welcomed immediately here. will ensure your points are credited to SCS.

 The ability for my child to come shadow a class for a day. Stop and Shop…# 07204  The lack of distractions Shop-Rite: # 52127 allows for greater time on task Price Chopper: # 56218 for curriculum in classrooms. Big Y:# 5700 We are enrolling now for the 2018—2019 academic year. Give us a call! Feel free to ask us questions St. Thomas about the school or to take a tour. Arrange to have your child shadow a class for a day. Religious Ed. † GROCERY AND SCRIP CARDS

You can order grocery cards, gas cards, department OPENING DATES stores gift cards, movie tickets, etc. Every purchase you make earns us rewards for Southington Catholic School. Grades 9 & 10 Gift cards are great for birthdays, thank you gifts and Sunday, Sept. 16th, holidays. Please call the school (860-628-2485) for more information and to obtain a complete list of 6:00-7:30pm participating retailers. This list is also available at the rectory. THANK YOU! Grades 1 thru 8 Monday, Sept. 17th, 4:15-5:30pm or 6:00-7:15pm

**Students will only be allowed to begin class AFTER they are registered and payment is received.** RETROUVAILLE WEEKEND Rachel's Vineyard Retreat If your marriage has become troubled and WEEKENDS FOR HEALING AFTER ABORTION stressed, unloving or uncaring; even if you are divorced or separated but want to try again, the If you are suffering Retrouvaille program can help. Retrouvaille from an abortion, provides tools to communicate better, resolve experience the conflicts fairly, and rediscover why you fell in healing love of Jesus Christ on a love. The next local Retrouvaille weekend is Rachel's Vineyard September 21-23, 2018. For information, call Retreat weekend confidentially 1-800-470-2230, email October 19-21, 2018 in Litchfield, CT The weekend [email protected], or go to our website healing process includes discussions, Living Scriptures www.helpourmarriage.com for information & with meditations, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a registration. Retrouvaille is a Catholic-based Memorial Service and Mass of Entrustment. Participation is totally confidential and offers a beautiful program, which recently received Canonical opportunity to experience God's love, forgiveness and recognition, and is an avenue for couples who compassion. Both women and men have participated in are experiencing difficulties in their marriage. past retreats and have ranged in age from teens to mid- eighties. The fee for the weekend is $175.00 for meals, private room and all retreat materials. Scholarships are

available for financial assistance. For more information contact Marie at 203-631-9030, email her at Altar Flowers [email protected], or visit our website at www.rachelsvineyard.org. The floral arrangements in our sanctuary enhance our liturgical setting. The donation for flowers is $100.00. If you would like to YOU’RE INVITED ! sponsor or dedicate the floral arrangements The Greater Meriden Council of Catholic in memory of someone, please contact the Women rectory. The dedication and donation will be acknowledged in the bulletin that week. Mother “The Cheese ” This Week’s Flowers: In an address entitled For Leonide & Stella Bouchard “The Making of Cheese: An Accompaniment Req. by daughter, Priscila, & Family to Breaking Bread with One Another”

During Our Autumn Join the Choir! Brunch The St. Thomas Choir resumes Sunday, September 23, 2018 rehearsals on Thursday, Sept. 13 at 12:30PM 7:30 p.m. in the choir loft. New Holy Angels Campus members high school age and up who love to sing are invited to join us. 585 Main Street, South Music reading is not necessary, just Meriden CT the ability to carry your tune with the section you sing $8.00 per person with and regularly attend the rehearsals. The choir sings **Mother Noella is a scientist, Fullbright Scholar, world on Sundays at the 10:00 a.m. mass and at all liturgical -renown cheese maker, and a cloistered Benedictine celebrations during the year. Please contact Emil Nun from the of Regina Laudis, Bethlehem, CT. Kopcha at 860 302 0879 for further information or stop An exciting and fascinating presentation for men, upstairs in the choir loft after the Saturday evening mass women, and friends of all ages. A great family event! or Sunday morning 10:00 a.m. mass. Reservations: (203)235-0112 / [email protected]

Della Vecchia Funeral Home SupportourAdvertisers DIVORCED AND SEPARATED 860-628-2293 www.dellavecchiafh.com

GROUP: “YOU ARE NOT ALONE” Manor Inn 860-628-9877 Manorinnrestaurant.com A support group entitled “Divorce and Beyond” is a 10 Al Joy Tire Service 860-628-2728 week support group for those Youssef B. Khawaja, MD who are in the process of Internal Medicine & Endocrinology divorce or who have recently 860-621-9353

divorced. This group is to help Giovanni’s Pizzeria members to better understand the emotional 860-621-2299 www.giovannisofsouthington.com stages of divorce and to share and support one another while navigating through challenging Plantsville Funeral Home 860-621-4656 and painful changes that accompany a marital www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com breakup in order to gain understanding, hope Steve’s Family Restaurant and strength needed to restructure one’s life. 860-621-7116

The group shall consist of 10 members Ragozzino’s Deli & Catering maximum, and those interested need to pre- 860-621-6979 register by phone by 9/10/18. Confidentiality of Serfafino Pharmacy, INC all inquiries and members is stressed. The group 860-628-7979 www.stores.healthmart.com/serafinopharmacy will meet once a week on Tuesday evenings

Religious Teachers Filippini — beginning on 10/2/18-12/4/18 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. 860-621-1904 www.filippiniusa.org upstairs in the Prince of Peace Parish Office (next Waste Material Trucking Company, INC to the Curtis House), Woodbury. If interested, or Residential & Commercial 860-747-6816 Thankus! helping for them you have questions regarding the group; please D’Amato Construction Company, INC call Suzy at 203-206-7613. All materials will be General Contractors 860-583-3489 provided. Patrick Baker & Sons Religious goods and supplies 1-800-243-6385 www.ChurchGoods.com

LADIES GUILD Bill’s Auto Body Clinic, INC 860-628-8627 Sept. 9th, - Ladies Guild Annual Mass and Brunch:10:00 a.m. Mass (note time change). We will V.Nanfito Remodeling & Repairs 860-621-6898 sit together at Mass. Immediately following, brunch will be served in the Church meeting room. Please CV Tool Company 860-621-0494 call Shirley Lenzi at 860-426-3384 before 8/31/18 to reserve. Catholic Match.com/CT

September 10th-7PM. First Ladies Guild Meeting ATD Home Security of the new year will be a “Friendship Meeting” held 1-888-862-6429 in the Church meeting room. Everyone is welcome. www.parishstore.com

Volpe & Sons Automotive 860-628-0067

Della Porta EyeCare, LLC 860-582-0702 www.bristoleyes.com

Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care 203-238-1441 www.FranciscanHC.org

Paul Gregory’s—Bistro & Catering

860-621-9999