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 28, 2021 Palm Sunday

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 Fax: 860-628-4942 Web Site: www.southingtoncathlolicschool.org

Weekend Mass Schedule Our Mission Statement Saturday Vigil: 4:00PM / Sunday: 7:30AM & 10:00AM We, the Roman Catholic faithful of St. Thomas Town’s Weekday Mass Schedule parish, nourished by God’s Word and by the Masses are at Church Sacraments, welcome and serve the Family of God. 130 Summer Street Through evangelization, education, and spiritual Monday—Friday: 7:30 AM and Noon development, we demonstrate the true meaning of Saturday Morning: 7:30 AM God’s love by living in the image of Christ.

Rectory Office Hours

Monday—Friday 8AM-4PM

SATURDAY, March 27—Lenten Weekday  7:30 AM (IC) Stacey Clingan—3rd Anniversary Requested by Uncle Bob & Aunt JoAnn

 4:00PM Eugenio Ricciardi Requested by Vinny & Teresa Scirocco

SUNDAY, March 28—Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord  7:30AM Joseph Sukatski, Jr. & Deceased Members of Sukatski family Requested by Rose & Joe Sukatski  10:00AM Giovannina Donato Requested by family

MONDAY, March 29—Monday of Holy Week  7:30 AM (IC) Health & God’s Blessings for Pat Talley & Wally Bailey  12:00 PM (IC) Waclaw & Henryka Gronowski Requested by daughter & family

TUESDAY, March 30—Tuesday of Holy Week  7:30 AM (IC) George & Kathleen Greene Requested by daughter Cari  12:00 PM (IC) Margaret Allison Requested by Kathy

WEDNESDAY, March 31—Wednesday of Holy Week  7:30 AM (IC) Philip & Freida Ouellette Requested by family  12:00 PM (IC) For the Special Intention of our daughter Requested by family

THURSDAY, April 1—Holy Thursday NO DAILY MASSES Confessions during Holy Week

 7:00 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper

FRIDAY, April 2—Good Friday Monday NO DAILY MASSES 1:00—2:00 PM at St. Dominic Church  3:00 PM Service of the Lord’s Passion 4:00—5:00 PM at St. Aloysius Church  7:00 PM Stations of the Cross Wednesday SATURDAY, April 3—Holy Saturday 9:30—10:30 AM at Mary Our Queen Church NO DAILY MASSES

 8:00PM Easter Vigil Mass There are no Confessions during Triduum (Holy Thursday through Holy Saturday) or on Easter SUNDAY, April 4—Easter Sunday Sunday. That means there will be no Confessions  7:30AM Priest’s Intentions at St. Thomas Church this week. We will hear Confessions on Saturday, April 10th between 2:00  10:00AM Priest’s Intentions and 3:00 PM for Divine Mercy Sunday. Sanctuary Candles Louise Sieruta—Anniversary Remembrance

Requested by daughter LouAnn  Father Joe’s Notes 

My dear friends, mask wearing. That caps us at about 130 people per celebration.) We will be very aware We’ve finally come to Holy Week, time to that some of our community have died during remember the work of Christ’s . this pandemic, and we will be sad noticing This weekend, we honor Jesus’ triumphant those spots empty in pews. Yes, it is different. entrance into the Jerusalem. Thursday, we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist at the With all that has changed, we still rejoice. Last Supper. Friday, we remember Jesus’ Christ loves and saves us! That hasn’t changed. death on the cross. Saturday, we rejoice at Masks cannot prevent us from praising the the Easter Vigil, as the Church welcomes the goodness of our God. Social distancing cannot catechumens to the flock of the Lord. keep us from joining as a people to give thanks, Sunday, we glory in the Resurrection of even while six feet apart. Hand sanitizers do Christ and his conquering death. This week allows us to not not negate that we have been washed clean in the Blood of only walk with the Lord, but to renew our faith in those most the Lamb. Whether in church or celebrating united by social wondrous moments of our salvation. media or television, we as a people stand together to give thanks to God. Nothing can ever change that. As we enter Holy Week, we are reminded of all that has changed. It will sound strange to not hear the full choir with Joyfully yours in Christ, Fr. Joe trumpet blasts. It will be odd not greeting each other with PS – For those still home who’d like to receive the handshakes or embraces. It will look very different as we enter a church with far fewer people. (Some will say that Eucharist for Easter, we will be distributing Communion restrictions have been lifted for capacity, and this is true; on Easter between 8:45 and 9:00 AM and also between nevertheless, we still need to maintain social distancing and 11:15 and 11:30 AM. We will be at the ramp entrance.

Holy Week Schedule  Ask Father  Question: Father, if I forget to confess something when I go Holy Thursday for Reconciliation, is it forgiven or do I need to go back again later? Mass of the Lord’s Supper—7PM in church Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament Answer: You should be covered. I say should for a reason. through Midnight in the tabernacle in church If you go and try to think of the big things, only to realize Night Prayer—10PM in church later that you honestly forgot to say one thing, then that’s fine. You intended to go to confess your sins and missed something honestly. Your sins are still forgiven; go in peace. Good Friday If you go and deliberately withhold something, you don’t Celebration of the Lord’s Passion—3PM in Church intend to confess it, then that’s a different story. You didn’t Stations of the Cross—7PM in church honestly forget; you misled your confessor by refusing to address it. In that case, your sin is not absolved. If you know Holy Saturday something is a sin and do not bring that up, with full Easter Vigil—8PM in church knowledge that you aren’t, you cannot claim you forgot to confess. For those people who get flustered or off track Easter Sunday honestly because you are worried and then forget what you were saying, there is no malicious intent to conceal. That’s Masses—7:30 and 10AM in church fine. You are forgiven. Readings for the week of March 28, 2021 Friday: Is 52:12-53:12/Ps 31:2,6,12-13,15-17,25/ Heb 4:14-16;5:7-9/Jn 18:1-19:42 Sunday: Is 50:4-7/Ps 22:8-9,17-20,23-24/Phil 2:6-11/ Saturday: Gn 1:1-2:2/Ps 104:1-2,5-6,10,12-14,24,35/ Mk 14:1-15:47 Gn 22:1-18/Ps 33:4-7,12-13,15-18/Ex 14:15-15:1/ Monday: Is 42:1-7/Ps 27:1-3,13-14/Jn 12:1-11 Ex 15:1-6,17-18/Is 54:5-14/Ps 30:2,4-6,11-13/ Tuesday: Is 49:1-6/Ps 71:1-6b,15,17/Jn 13:21-33,36-38 Is 55:1-11/Is 12:2-6/Bar 3:9-15,32-4:4/Ps 19:8-11/ Wednesday: Is 50:4-9a/Ps 69:8-10,21-22,31,33-34/ Ez 36:16-17a,18-28/Ps 42:3;43:3-4/Rom 6:3-11/ Mt 26:14-25 Ps 118:1-2,16-17,22-23/Mk 16:1-7 Thursday: Ex 12:1-8,11-14/Ps 116:12-13,15-18/ Next Sunday: Acts 10:34a,37-43/Ps 118:1-2,16-17,22-23/ 1 Cor 11:23-26/Jn 13:1-15 Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8/Jn 20:1-9  Parish Information  Devotions / Groups Sacraments

 0'1&2 

Priests Italian Rosary Group Rev. Joseph R. Cronin—Pastor CURRENTLY ON HOLD Parents, contact the rectory to [email protected] schedule a baptism. There’s a Rev. John E. Cockayne—(Senior Status) Lap Blanket Ministry preparation meeting for parents Parishioners make blankets for having their first child baptized. patients in local health care facilities . Angelo J. Coppola—(Senior Status) Anyone who crochets is invited to RCIA—Adult Vincent J. Raby—Pastoral Associate join us in the church basement. One [email protected] Sacraments

Wednesday Evening a month 7:00- Music Ministry 8:15PM. Canceled until further Anyone interested in becoming Catholic, give us a call! Emil Kopcha—Director notice.

Kathy Kopcha—Assistant

Ladies Guild Reconciliation Office Manager The Ladies Guild meets the first No Confessions this week. Heidi Malley Monday of each month, and hosts Confessions are Saturdays 3:00 PM Business Manager hospitality the first Sunday of each until 3:30 PM in the reconciliation Marc Ingriselli month. Canceled until further room in the church (you must wear a notice. mask when coming), Trustees Susan Howard Bible Study Group Marriage Paul Miano We’re off for Holy Thursday. Next We need a minimum of six months class is April 8th for Amos, Chapters Plant Manager for preparation. Couples should 5 & 6—Seek God and Reject Beth-El. Casey Potthoff contact Father Joe to set up a meeting. Join us at 1:30PM in the church or Custodial Staff streamed on Facebook . Bonnie Guimond –Part Time ______Sacrament of the Sick Ron Lemire –Part Time Cemetery Should you, or someone you know,

need an anointing, please call Father Marty Lopatosky Harry Masterbone If you or your family are looking to Joe at the rectory to schedule a visit. Director of Religious Ed. purchase a plot or niche in the columbarium, give us a call in the Homebound / Hospital Sr. Marie Roccapriore, MPF rectory office. We’ll have our Plant  Please, contact the rectory if you or a -32&',%2-, Manager, Casey Potthoff, meet with family member is homebound or in you and explain the options for graves the hospital. We can arrange for a 2&-*'! !&--* and markers. Please, call the rectory Eucharistic Minister to bring you the

 to schedule a meeting. Principal Blessed Sacrament at home. Eileen Sampiere Sponsor Certificates New Parishioners

Office Manager They’re available in the sacristy and the Welcome! We’re delighted to have you Loretta Putala rectory. You must be an active join. Introduce yourself to Father or the parishioner, registered with us at least 6 Deacons after Mass. Parish registration Advancement Director months. The use of the envelopes helps forms are available in the sacristy and Mary Alexander verify your status You must also have the rectory office. Take one for the completed your Sacraments of Initiation family, and a separate form for each Custodian and be in a valid marriage. If you have member. Once completed, mail them to Rick Barrett questions, call us. us or drop them in the collection basket. Collections for March 21st

Weekly—$6157/Monthly$766/Online—$2336 † Southington † Annual Fund Enroll for 2021-2022

Careful compliance to all or the COVID 19 guidelines has made it Southington Catholic possible for Southington Catholic School to continue in-person School is launching our instruction here without interruption this year. With great optimism, Annual Fund, with a goal of we are now planning for the next school $30,000. This major year. We anticipate the “new normal” will fundraiser helps guarantee allow for more extracurricular activities and that we can continue to offer special events at school. We are now accepting registration for pre-k 3 through the advantages of Catholic grade 8. Perspective families are invited to education to our arrange a personal tour by calling Mary community. Many of our usual fundraising Alexander at 860-628-2485 ext. 114. events have had to be cancelled during the pandemic, making this appeal even more important. If you, or any member of your St. Thomas extended family, benefited from the strong academics that are the hallmark of Catholic Religious Ed. † education, please consider donating to ensure this option for our community. For DIRECTOR OF FAITH FORMATION online donations/pledges, visit our website: www.southingtoncatholicschool.org and PARISHES OF SOUTHINGTON

click on the FACTSgiving Donate Online. The parishes of Southington are seeking a full-time Director of Faith Formation. This position will lead and assist the five parishes in their faith formation program, which will include: Elementary School SAVE THE DATE Children grades K-8, Confirmation Preparation Program, 2-year

catechesis program for grades 8 & 9 (with the Sacrament in fall of Southington Catholic School Golf grade 10), and Adult Faith Formation. The Director of Faith Formation will provide administrative oversight and direction of the Tournament is religious education programs and parish events for grades K-10.

scheduled for Friday, Qualified candidates must be practicing Catholic with a commitment to May 14th at the the teachings of the and a respect for social, moral and ethical issues; be a Catholic in good standing with knowledge of Southington Country sacramental preparation, capacity to relate with children, teens and Club. Mark the date for adults; excellent organizational skills, willingness to work a great day of golf with collaboratively, and possess good computer skills in Microsoft office and have the ability to update the parish website. friends, parents, alumni The hours of the position are flexible, as the hours of work will vary and fellow supporters of from traditional daytime business hours to some evening and weekend Southington Catholic hours, which are required.

School. Line up your A Bachelor’s degree is preferred. This position requires a faith-filled, foursome and be ready enthusiastic, nurturing, collaborative individual, with excellent relational skills, the ability to help recruit catechists. Salary will to register for this safe commensurate with experience. way to celebrate Southington Catholic To request a copy of the full job description or to submit a letter of School under warm, sunny skies. interest and resume, please email Reverend Joseph Cronin at: [email protected]. Corner BEREAVEMENT GROUP,

SPRING 2021 We seek the intercessions of the St Thomas Parish of Southington will be saints in heaven with Christ. offering an online bereavement Throughout Lent, we’ll review a few workshop using Zoom meetings. The saints’ names so you know more New Day process consists of nine about the heavenly realms. facilitated online workshops, and the spring 2021 group is being formed. The St. : He was born first meeting will begin Tuesday, April 6 into poverty in . He joined the at 6:30 PM. To enroll, or for more Carmelite Brothers at the age of 21, information, contact Vinny and lived more strictly than the rule Raby by telephone 860-628-9425 or of the order required. John worked email [email protected]. closely with St. Teresa of Avila, who persuaded him to found the . Together, they worked to reform the order and the Church. At one point, he was arrested and Stewardship Thought imprisoned by other brothers who objected to his changes.

After nine months, he escaped and went back to his reforms. Good stewards strive to conform He wrote many spiritual and contemplative works. He is a . He died in 1591 at the age of 49. He their lives to that of Christ — is the patron saint of contemplative life, mystics and Spanish emptying themselves of all pride poets. His feast day is December 14th. and putting themselves at the

St. Paul of the Cross: He was the son of a merchant from service of others Northern Italy, and grew up as a very pious youth. As a young man, he received a vision and in 1721 founded the Congregation of Discalced Clerks of the Most Holy Cross Our Sunday Visitor, Stewardship by the Book: Bulletin Bits Based on the and Passion (better known to us as the ). At one Sunday Readings, by Sharon Hueckel, 2004 edition, page 17) point, his brothers deserted him, but the order grew again over time. Their mission was to preach Christ Crucified. DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRY Paul was a most effective preacher, and often brought even PARISHES OF SOUTHINGTON the hardest hearted people to tears. His missions in various countries brought many to a true conversion and dedication The five parishes of Southington are seeking a full time to live with Christ. He died in 1775 at the age of 81. He is director of youth ministry who will accompany our teens as the patron of preaching and Ovada, Italy. His feast day is they grow in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The October 19th. Youth Minister will focus on ministry to teens in grades 9- 12, involving elements of religious catechesis, community St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross: Born , the service, and prayer. (Will also begin work with 8th grade youngest child of a large Jewish Family in a region of students preparing to move on to high school). Germany (now part of ). At 13 years old, she lost all interest in her faith. She was a brilliant student earning her Applicants must be a practicing Catholic, with a Bachelor’s doctorate at the age of 25. Edith became a famed professor degree in religious studies, youth ministry, education, or a of philosophy. Over time, she became impressed by the related field. Three to five years of experience in working with youth, is preferred. strength of faith her Catholic friends had, so she began to study the teachings of the Catholic Church. She often said This position requires a Virtus-trained individual, who is that she read herself into the faith. She converted and was joyful, enthusiastic, proud of his or her Catholic faith and baptized in 1922. By 1934, she had entered the Carmelite eager to help young people fall in love with the Lord. order, taking the name of Sister Teresa Benedicta of the The hours of the position are flexible, as the hours of work Cross. She continued to teach and lecture all over Europe. will vary from traditional daytime business hours to evening With the rise of the Nazi party, her order removed her from and weekend hours, which are required. Germany for protection in 1938 and sent her to the Netherlands. When the Nazis invaded, both she and her A Bachelor’s degree is preferred. This position requires a sister Rose, also a convert, were captured and sent to the faith-filled, enthusiastic, nurturing, collaborative individual, concentration camps. They both died in the gas chambers with excellent relational skills, the ability to help recruit and were incinerated in the ovens along with millions of volunteers. Salary will commensurate with experience. others. St. Teresa Benedicta was killed in Auschwitz in 1942 To request a copy of the full job description or to submit a at 50 years of age. She is the patron of Europe, martyrs and letter of interest and resume, please email Reverend Joseph against the death of parents. Her feast day is August 9th. Cronin at: [email protected]. RELIGIOUS ’s Annual Appeal 2021 TEACHERS FILIPPINI

IS JESUS CALLING YOU? DARE TO SAY YES...SEND ME REACHING OUT, For more information Contact Sister Marie 860-621-1904 [email protected] HELP WANTED HEALING TOGETHER www.filippiniusa.org 860-621-0494

You should have received a mailing from the AL JOY TIRE SERVICE Archbishop's Annual Appeal by now. If you B.F. Goodrich, Cooper Tires, Arctic Cat Snowmobiles have not, come by the rectory to pick up a packet. Quality Service over 60 years 466 Main St., Southington Support of the Appeal helps many people. 860-628-2728

Thank you to the Manor Inn V. NANFITO parish families who Lunch • Dinner Banquets REMODELING have made a gift or Bereavements ROOFING, SIDING,WINDOWS ManorInnRestaurant.com INTERIOR & EXTERIOR REPAIRS pledge commitment to 860-628-9877 (860) 621-6898 the 2021 Appeal. If 1636 M&W Rt 322, Milldale you have not yet had the opportunity, please consider prayerfully supporting the many “Good Works” of the Archdiocese. Every gift will be gratefully received and sincerely appreciated. Please, This Space is Available respond generously to the Appeal. Your donation makes a big difference in our community. YOUSSEF B. KHAWAJA, M.D. • Funds go to local agencies such as: Bread for INTERNAL MEDICINE ENDOCRINOLOGY Life, Franciscan Home Care and Hospice, and 16 Cornerstone Court, Plantsville Southington Social Services. (860) 621-9353

• All funds contributed to the Appeal are used SERAFINO exclusively for the purposes outlined in the PHARMACY, INC 36 North Main St Southington, CT literature. (860) 628-7979 www. stores.healthmart.com/serafinopharmacy To make a donation, go to: https:// Serving The Southington Community For Over 60 Years. appeal.archdioceseofhartford.org/donations/ HELP WANTED FOR RCIA AND ADULT CONFIRMATION Contact Mary Hoffman to place an ad today! [email protected] or (800) 477-4574 x6340 The Southington parishes will work together to prepare adults for full membership in the Catholic Church. Volunteers are needed for the leadership team PLANTSVILLE FUNERAL HOME as well as for instruction and mentoring. Training will Our Family Serving Yours Full Service Monument Company Robert Dziedzic • Lauren Dziedzic • Nicholas Procaccini be provided. For more information or to volunteer, 860-621-4656 • 975 South Main Street please contact Deacon Vinny Raby by telephone 860- www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com 628-9425 or email [email protected]. St. Thomas, Southington, CT 03-0149 Della Vecchia VOLPE & SONS AUTOMOTIVE Funeral Home General Repairs • 24 Hr. Towing 860-628-0067 806 S Main St., Plantsville

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