Saint Thomas Church 99 Bristol Street, Southington, CT 06489-4599
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Saint 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).”. March 10, 2019 First Sunday of Lent 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 Catholic School Address: 133 Bristol Street Southington, CT Phone: 860-628-2485 Web Site: www.southingtoncathlolicschool.org Weekend Mass Schedule Our Parish 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, MARCH 9—St. Frances of Rome, Religious 8:00AM Michael Volpe Priests Requested by Granddaughter, Maria LaPorta Rev. Joseph R. Cronin—Pastor 4:00PM Ralph & Maria Parlapiano—Birthday [email protected] Remembrance Requested by Family Rev. John E. Cockayne—(Senior Status) Deacons SUNDAY, MARCH 10—First Sunday of Lent Angelo J. Coppola—(Senior Status) 7:30AM Nicola & Saveria Sabino—Birthday Remembrance Req by Teresa & Josephine & Family Vincent J. Raby 10:00AM Helene & Vito Pace & Matthew James Carta Music Ministry Requested by the Vellucci & Carta Families Emil Kopcha—Director MONDAY, MARCH 11—Lenten Weekday Kathy Kopcha—Assistant 7:30AM Marjorie L. Mirto Requested by James Rusiecki Office Manager Heidi Malley TUESDAY, MARCH 12—Lenten Weekday 7:30AM The Parishioners of St. Thomas Church Business Manager Marc Ingriselli WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13— Lenten Weekday Trustees NO MASS ON WEDNESDAYS Susan Howard Paul Miano THURSDAY, MARCH 14—Lenten Weekday 12:10PM Vecchio, Sabino, & Ragozinno Families Plant Manager Requested by Daughter & Family Casey Potthoff FRIDAY, MARCH 15—Lenten Weekday Custodial Staff 12:10PM Giovanni & Carmela & Family Daniel Conant Requested by grandchildren Bonnie Guimond Marty Lopatosky SATURDAY, MARCH 16—Lenten Weekday Harry Masterbone 8:00AM Dorothy Bianchini Requested by Larry Director of Religious Ed. 4:00PM Gino & Esterina Melillo Requested by Tony Melillo & Family Sr. Marie Roccapriore, MPF SUNDAY, MARCH 17—Second Sunday of Lent Southington 7:30AM The deceased members of the DiBenedetto Catholic School Family Req by Michele DiBenedetto & Family 10:00AM Annette Brown Requested by Joe & Cathy Miceli Principal Eileen Sampiere Sanctuary Candles Office Manager Loretta Putala Church: For Peace in the Holy Land Advancement Director Chapel: For Peace in our Homes Mary Alexander Father Joe’s Notes My dear friends, Here we are in Lent. This is a time of prayer and LENTEN SERVICES preparation. We get ourselves ready to celebrate Easter in CONFESSIONS seven weeks. In this time, we fast, pray, and give alms. Mondays from 6:00PM through 7:00PM We use this season to reflect upon the blessings of God by Saturdays from 2:30PM through 3:30 PM putting aside the distractions in our lives. My hope and (There are no confessions on Holy Saturday) prayer is that we all use this Lent as a productive time of growth and renewal. STATIONS OF THE CROSS Fridays at 7:00PM in church I know that I’m happy for a wonderful coincident in TEACHING MASS my schedule as we come to Sunday, March 24th at 4:00PM Lent. In our Bible study, we will begin the study of the Book of Joseph. It’s Ask Father the story found in the final Question: Father, we say that Lent is 40 days long, but it fourteen chapters of the looks a lot longer on the calendar. Am I missing something? Book of Genesis. It’s the Answer: You make an excellent observation. If you counted longest contiguous story we have in the ancient text. It all the days from Ash Wednesday until just before Easter, tells us of how one man can rise from imperfect situations, you would have 46 days. What you need to consider is that in a family divided by distrust, and surrounded by a world Sundays don’t count as days of Lent, as they’re always that promotes revenge and self-aggrandizement, to achieve celebrations of Easter. So if you subtract the 6 Sunday great things for God. Despite all that goes against him, he during Lent, you get 40 days. That sounds simple enough chooses to remain faithful to the Lord. He is a model when you understand. Having said this, we have a glitch in servant of God. He foreshadows the coming of Christ, one the system. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday who rises above the sins of humanity to bring us salvation. collectively make up Triduum (Latin for ‘Three Days’). Anyone who wants to come study the story of Joseph with Once we begin the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we consider us this Lent and Easter seasons, I joyfully invite you! the celebration one continuous liturgy lasting three days. As we come into Lent, find something to help you (There is no closing of Holy Thursday Mass, no opening or rejoice in God’s love for you. Push aside the distractions closing of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Friday, and no opening for the Easter Vigil on Saturday.) That and fears; embrace the prayer and charity. Make this a would make those days count as one day, giving us 38 days. time to actively reflect upon all that the Father does for us Technically speaking, Triduum really isn’t part of Lent. each day. Seek the strength and guidance of the Spirit. Triduum is its own thing with its own laws and regulations. Make the mind and heart of Christ your own. Enter the So if we discount Sundays and Triduum, Lent is 37 days, or silence and stark beauty of this time in our Church year. 38 if you count the morning and afternoon of Holy Thursday Joyfully yours in Christ, Fr. Joe before we get to Mass in the evening. If that weren’t confusing enough, you could count the Orthodox way. They Readings for the week of March 10, 2019 include Sundays, but they don’t begin with Ash Wednesday. Lent begins for them on the First Sunday of Lent. If you Sunday: Dt 26:4-10/Ps 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 include the first half of Holy Thursday that way, you have 40 [cf. 15b]/Rom 10:8-13/Lk 4:1-13 days. Then the lead in with Ash Wednesday doesn’t count. Monday: Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15 [Jn 6:63b]/ Because of the odd category of those days, they are actually Mt 25:31-46 labeled as days after Ash Wednesday, rather than Lenten Tuesday: Is 55:10-11/Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19 [18b]/ weekdays on our calendar. Why do we say Lent is 40 days? Mt 6:7-15 Well, it’s a lot easier than singing, “Lord, who throughout Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10/Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19 [19b]/ these forth days, or forty-six days, or thirty-eight days, or Lk 11:29-32 thirty-seven days, or forty days without the week of Ash Thursday: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, Wednesday, for us did fast and pray.” No matter how we 7c-8 [3a]/Mt 7:7-12 count the days, it’s a season of repentance, prayer, and Friday: Ez 18:21-28/Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8 [3]/ almsgiving. Let’s not worry about counting the days; Mt 5:20-26 instead, let’s concern ourselves with using the time we have Saturday: Dt 26:16-19/Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 [1b]/Mt 5:43-48 with getting closer to our God. Parish Information Devotions & Groups Sacraments Holy Hours In the chapel—rectory basement Baptism Tuesdays: 11:00AM—Noon (for vocations) Parents, contact the rectory to schedule a Thursdays: 11:00AM—Noon (with Benediction) baptism. There’s a preparation meeting for parents having their first child baptized. Eucharistic Adoration In the chapel—rectory basement RCIA—Adult Sacraments Thursdays 8:00AM—11:00AM Anyone interested in becoming Catholic, give us a call! Miraculous Medal Novena Reconciliation In the chapel—rectory basement Confessions are Saturday from 2:30PM until 3:30 PM Tuesdays at 7:00PM and Monday from 6PM until 7PM in the reconciliation room in the church, or call to make an appointment. Italian Rosary Group First Tuesday of each month—7:30PM (Parish Center) Marriage We need six months for marriage preparation. Couples should contact Father Joe to schedule a meeting. Lap Blanket Ministry Parishioners make blankets for patients in local health Sacrament of the Sick care facilities . Anyone who crochets is invited to join Should you, or someone you know, need an anointing, us in the church basement. One Wednesday Evening a please call Father Joe at the rectory to schedule a visit. month 7:00-8:15PM. Next meeting —March 27th Homebound / Hospital Ladies Guild Please, contact the rectory if you or a The Ladies Guild meets the first Monday family member is homebound or in the of each month in the church basement at hospital.