Our Lady of the Assumption Parish 545 Stratfield Road Fairfield, CT 06825-1872 Tel
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Our Lady of the Assumption Parish 545 Stratfield Road Fairfield, CT 06825-1872 Tel. (203) 333-9065 Fax: (203) 333-2562 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.olaffld.org “Ad Jesum per Mariam” To Jesus through Mary. Clergy/Lay Leadership Rev. Peter A. Cipriani, Pastor Rev. Michael Flynn, Parochial Vicar Deacon Raymond John Chervenak Deacon Robert McLaughlin Michael Cooney, Director of Music Daniel Ford, Esq., Trustee Masses (Schedules subject to change) Saturday Vigil Mass: 4 PM Sunday Masses: 7:30 AM, 9 AM and 11 AM Morning Daily Mass: (Mon.-Sat.) 7:30 AM Evening Daily Mass: (Mon.-Fri.) 5:30 PM Holy Days: See Bulletin for schedule Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday: 1:30– 2:30 PM or by appointment. Every Tuesday: 7-8:00 PM Rosary 7 AM Monday-Saturday 9 AM Friday Morning Rosary (Except for the First Friday of the month) 8 AM First Saturday Rosary Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Anyone interested in becoming a Roman Catholic becomes a part of this First Friday of each month from 8 AM process, as can any adult Catholic who has not received all the Sacraments of Friday to 7:15 AM Saturday. To volunteer initiation. For further information contact the Faith Formation office. contact Grand Knight, Michael Lauzon at (203) 817-7528. Sacrament of Baptism Novenas This Sacrament is celebrated on Sundays at 1:00 PM. It is required that parents participate in a Pre-Baptismal class. Classes are held on the third Miraculous Medal-8 AM. Monday Saturday of the month. Registration is required by calling the parish office. Saint Joseph-8 AM. Wednesday Divine Mercy-8 AM. Friday Sacrament of Marriage Parish Membership Please contact the parish office as soon as possible so as to ensure a proper time and adequate preparation for this Sacrament. Pre-Cana or Engaged En- Our parish family invites all of its members counters are required. to participate fully in our spiritual and social life. Every family moving into the parish is Anointing of the Sick Ministry to the Sick and Elderly requested to register at the Rectory or go to This Sacrament of healing expresses the love of God and our Church for our our website for a registration form. If you sick, our shut-ins and the elderly, unable to come to Church. For the dying, move to another parish, or change your ad- please contact the Rectory immediately. For the confined, the elderly and dress, notify the Rectory. our shut-ins, whether at home, or in the hospital, please inform the Rectory. Page 2 From The Pastor’s Desk - “Lord if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive himseven times?” - I am a New York City Police Officer Steven MacDonald. On July 12, 1986, I was on patrol in Central Park and hoped that we would travel around the country to- stopped to question three teenagers. While I was gether to share our different understandings of that questioning them a fifteen-year-old, took out a gun act of violence that changed both our lives, and the and shot me in the head and neck. understanding it gave us about what is most important in life. In 1995, Shavod was released from prison. A few days later: a surgeon came into my room and Three days later, he died in a motorcycle accident. told my wife, Patti Ann, and me that I would be para- But Shavod Jones is with me wherever my story is lyzed from the neck down for the rest of my life. I was told. We have helped many people, the two of us. married just eight months, and my wife was three months pregnant. Patti Ann was crying uncontrollably People often ask if I forgave Shavod right away, or if it at the cards she had been dealt, and I cried too. I was took time. It has evolved over the years. I think about locked in my body, unable to move or to reach out to it almost every day. I was angry at him, but I was also her. puzzled, because I found I couldn’t hate him. More A week after I was shot, the media asked to speak to often than not I felt sorry for him. I wanted him to find my wife. Though still in shock, Patti Ann bravely told peace and purpose in his life. I wanted him to turn his everybody that she would trust God to do what was life to helping and not hurting people. That’s why I for- best for her family. That set the tone not only for my gave him. recovery but also for the rest of our lives. When things So God has turned something terrible into something like this happen, people sometimes distance them- beautiful. I think God wants to use both our abilities selves from God. Patti Ann taught me that you don’t and our disabilities. He needs our arms and legs and do that. You trust God. minds and hearts and all that we have, to let others I spent the next eighteen months in the hospital. know that he is alive and well and loves us and wants While I was there my wife gave birth to our son, Con- us to love each other. Forgiveness is a topic that peo- nor. At his baptism I told everyone I forgave the young ple need to hear about today more than ever. teen who shot me. Before I was shot I had not been very committed to I wanted to free myself of all the negative, destructive my faith. The shooting changed that. I feel close to emotions that this act of violence awoke in me – the heaven today in a way I never knew before, and it anger, the bitterness, the hatred. I needed to free my- makes me very happy. I know it may be hard to un- self of those so I could be free to love my wife and our derstand, but I would rather be like this and feel the child and those around us. way I do, than go on living like I was before. Our faith suddenly became very important to us: the Catholic I often tell people that the only thing worse than a bul- mass, prayers, our need for God. It was God’s love let in my spine would have been to nurture revenge in that put me back together. my heart. Such an attitude would have extended my tragic injury into my soul, hurting my wife, son, and Having met Steven and having had him here at the others even more. It is bad enough that the physical Parish7I finally understood what Saint Paul meant effects are permanent, but at least I can choose to when despairing of his weaknesses He received this prevent spiritual injury. reply from Jesus: A year or two later, Shavod Jones, the young man “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made per- who shot me, called my home from prison and apolo- fect in weakness.” To which Paul was then able to gized to my wife, my son, and me. I told him that I proclaim:”I will rather boast most gladly of my Page 3 From The Pastor’s Desk weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may The greatest demonstration of God’s leniency, mercy, dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weak- abounding kindness occurred from the Cross when nesses for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, He died for our sins7not just criminals who wind up then I am strong.” in prison7but by virtue of the fact that we are all sin- ners7all of us7we are in fact spiritual criminals7and That power of Christ dwelt in Steven7and more than there is no worse prison to be confined to than Hell7 he ever did policing the streets of New York7the but Hell has a nasty habit of inserting its influence greatest demonstration of that power is when he here on earth7making us prisoners of our sins, chose to forgive and keep forgiving Shavod Jones. especially those having to do with hatred, rage and And perhaps just as heroically if not more so, as Con- unforgiveness. nor and Patti Ann chose to forgive as well. As Steven shared: When Jesus first appeared to His Apostles after the resurrection7the first thing He did was breathe on I learned that one of the most beautiful expressions of them and say7receive the Holy Spirit7whose sins love is forgiving7it’s not a sign of weakness to love you forgive will be forgiven. somebody who hurts you. It’s a sign of strength7 when you forgive you are a winner7you don’t lose a The first encounter of empowerment with Christ’s res- thing7except in the case of Christ He lost his life7so urrection has to do with forgiveness. The foundation that we can win eternal life7by way of His extraordi- then of the one holy catholic and Apostolic Church is nary gift of mercy, forgiveness and leniency. mercy7that which we receive but just as importantly the mercy we give7and give we must. The greatest demonstration then of God’s power if ever there was one: And if any of us think we are not riddled with hate and unforgiveness7than closely monitor your thoughts He looks down from the Cross at us with Love7not and feelings when reading the newspaper, social me- condemnation7as the first carefully chosen words He dia, watching the news, talk shows, driving your car or uses after being mercilessly condemned to death and just out and about anywhere in public7just mention a nailed to the Cross prove7Father Forgive them.