THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF ST. PIO OF PIETRELCINA REVEREND JEREMIAH N. MURASSO, PH.D., ED.D., PSY.D., PASTOR REVEREND PATRICK KANE, PAROCHIAL VICAR REVEREND ZACHARIAS PUSHPANATHAN, PAROCHIAL VICAR REVEREND MICHAEL S. GALASSO, IN RESIDENCE MR. WAYNE SANDFORD, PERMANENT DEACON

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time JUNE 21, 2020 Welcome… You enter these doors...not as a stranger, but as a guest of God. God is your heavenly Father. Come, then with joy in your heart and thanks on your lips into God’s presence, offering God your love and service. Be grateful to the strong and loyal ones who, in the name of Jesus Christ, built these churches of worship and to all who have beautified them and hallowed them with their prayers, praise and financial sacrifices. Ask God’s blessing on those who love these places of faith as the inspiration of their labor, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. May that blessing rest on you, both on your going out and coming in.

Mass Intentions for the Week STEWARDSHIP SATURDAY, June 20 - Vigil - Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary 4:00pm OLOP + Living & Deceased Fathers of St. Pio With public Masses cancelled, please continue to 4:30pm SVDP + Living & Deceased Fathers of St. Pio support the parish. We need your support as the SUNDAY, June 21 - 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time operations continue on a daily basis. In addition, we 8:00am OLOP + Living & Deceased Fathers of St. Pio want to continue to pay our loyal staff. Please 9:00am SVDP + Living & Deceased Fathers of St. Pio mail-in your contributions. Online giving is also 10:00am OLOP + Living & Deceased Fathers of St. Pio 11:00am SVDP + Living & Deceased Fathers of St. Pio available at, 11:45am OLOP + Living & Deceased Fathers of St. Pio https://stpioofpietrelcinaeh.com/ and click on the GIVE MONDAY, June 22 - St. Paulinus of Nola button. 8:00am OLOP + Shirley Schenk by Family Thank you to the many of you who have been so 8:00am SVDP + Margaret Schlegel generous and responsive in these difficult times, so by Clancy-Palumbo Funeral Home far we have received $5,417.00 TUESDAY, June 23 - Weekday 8:00am OLOP + Al Pacelli by Lou & Anne Pacelli 8:00am SVDP + by WEDNESDAY, June 24 - Nativity of St. John the Baptist 8:00am OLOP + Cora & Harold Hall, Sr. by Marianne Hall 8:00am SVDP + SCRIPTURE READINGS by THURSDAY, June 25 - Weekday 8:00am OLOP + John Puglia Sunday: Jer 20:10-13/Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 by Family [14c]/Rom 5:12-15/Mt 10:26-33 8:00am SVDP + Frances Emielita Monday: 2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18/Ps 60:3, 4-5, by Porto Funeral Home 12-13 [7b]/Mt 7:1-5 SATURDAY, June 27 - Vigil - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00pm OLOP + Angie Brancato Tuesday: 2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36/Ps by Daughter, Linda 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 10-11 [cf. 9d]/Mt 7:6, 4:30pm SVDP + Frances, Robert & Gabriella Fortin 12-14 by Family Wednesday: Vigil: Jer 1:4-10/Ps 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, SUNDAY, June 28 - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time 15, 17 [6b]/1 Pt 1:8-12/Lk 1:5-17. Day: 8:00am OLOP + Ida Riccardi by Family Is 49:1-6/Ps 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15 9:00am SVDP + Rocco P. Mariano [14a]/Acts 13:22-26/Lk 1:57-66, 80 by Family Thursday: 2 Kgs 24:8-17/Ps 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9 [9]/ 10:00am OLOP + Mary & John Ferraro Mt 7:21-29 by Family Friday: 2 Kgs 25:1-12/Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 11:00am SVDP + 11:45am OLOP + Margaret Martone & Lisa Martone Massaro [6ab]/Mt 8:1-4 by Husband & Dad Saturday: Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19/Ps 74:1b-2, 3-5, 6-7, 20-21 [19b]/Mt 8:5-17

St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish Address: 355 Foxon Road, East Haven, CT 06513 Live-Stream Mass Monday-Thursday at 8:00 AM Phone Number: (203) 469-0764 Saturday at 4:00 PM Sunday at 8:00 AM & 11:45AM Office Hours: Foxon Road: Mon-Fri 8:00-12:00 & 1:00-3:00 To watch the live stream go to, Taylor Avenue: Mon. & Fri. 10:00-2:00 https://www.stpioofpietrelcinaeh.com, then click on Online Mass and click on StreamSpot. E-Mail: [email protected] Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr. Murasso’s Message Board Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena 25th Anniversary 9-Day Novena POSTPONED

The 9-day novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help will take place for 9 days beginning Saturday, September 12 @ 10:00am. This first of 9-days will begin on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary and conclude on Sunday, September 20, immediately following the 11:45 Mass. This will include a procession immediately following the conclusion of the novena prayers.

The hour-long novena includes:  Novena Prayers  Benediction  Recitation of the Rosary  Enrollment in the Brown Scapular. Midnight Run Taylor Avenue Campus

Midnight Run will continue on the 2nd Monday of the month from St. The Candles burn this week for these Vincent de Paul Church. Anyone wishing to make bag lunches (please special intentions: mark on the bag what type of sandwich it is, ham, bologna, etc.) also, water & juice boxes are needed. Please drop off to Sue Stacey, Our Lady of Pompeii Candles between 7:30pm & 7:40pm. The location for the drop-off is the church parking lot. Please & Thank-You for continuing donations! For the Sanctuary Lamp (Right Side) ~ In Memory of Winter months, we need the following: MEN'S flannels, warm Billy Richmond & For All the Souls in Purgatory clothing, socks, underwear, blankets as well as travel size toiletries. If Sanctuary Lamp (Left Side) ~ In Memory of you are interested in joining us at the Men's Shelter that would be the Mauro & Elko Families awesome! Any questions, please call 203-214-1762. Once again thank- Chapel ~ you & God bless!

Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ Angie Brancato Midnight Run Our Lady of Perpetual Help Icon ~ Foxon Road Campus Our Lady of Pompeii Picture ~ On the last Monday of each month, we bring 75 bagged lunches to the St. Vincent de Paul Candles Columbus House Overflow Shelter. Sanctuary Lamp (Right Side) ~ In Memory of the Balzano & Avitable Families Donations Needed: ShopRite Gift Cards or Sanctuary Lamp (Left Side) - In Memory of Gallon Size Ziploc Bags Ronald Paolillo Quart Size Ziploc Bags Statue of Our Lady’s Altar ~ Peanut Butter & Jelly Statue of St. Joseph’s Altar ~ Leo Bartsch Juice Pouches Raisin Boxes & Andrew Salzo, Sr. by Salzo Family; Fruit Cups & Pudding Cups George Poole by Florence & Ernie Permo Granola Bars Individual Packaged Cookies, Crackers or Chips FR. MURASSO’S MESSAGE BOARD We are also looking for small amounts or full skeins of yarn, it will be used to make hats and scarves for the midnight run. Please leave your donations at any entrance of the church. Thank you.

Midnight Run is the LAST Monday of EVERY month from Our Lady of Pompeii Church from 6-7 pm.

Thank-you for being so generous!

PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH

We will get through these difficult Nick Vessicchio, Sally Ann Fallon, Lynette Ely, David T. Boyle, days BETTER, if we live one moment at Richard Lucibello, Denise Ceesceence, Carmel Ferretti, Bryan Surprenant, Sharon Spadacenta, Marie & Charles Zambrano, a time by placing our trust in God and Marie Sunderland, Helen Langello, Annette Brissette, Brian Savo, raising our voices and our hands in Gerry Andrea, John Umlauf, Alan Poirier, Joseph Benson, Connie prayer to a MERCIFUL and LOVING Rasimas, Jane Pyka, Harry Clark, Lou DiNola, Peter Pepe, Vincent Perricone, Virginia Klump, Robert Savino, Geraldine Licciardi, Joanne FATHER. Cretella, Joseph Anyzeski, Alice Tietjen-DeSenti, Faith Gibson, Fran Sofo, Elizabeth Kuen, Deborah Sanning, Paula Ferrara, Patricia Brasile, Joann Mazzucco, Tina Marie Fionia, Elizabeth Nucolo, Joseph Parise, Frank DelGrego, Moira Ferguson, Danielle Joubert, Nelson Eddy, Margaret Lendroth, Katherine Hungerford Picciano, Frances Polaski, Sharon Filion, Pauline Condon, Rose Marie Monaco, Paul Spadacenta, Anna Izzo, Angelo DeMatteo, Carmen & Patricia Riccitelli, Patricia Aulenti, Michael Pascale, Alyce Richmond, Catherine Leach, Mark Schettino, Patty DiMilo, Rose Rogalski, Elaine Smith, Karen Rescigno, Virginia Pisano, Joan Baisley, Deanna Baldassare, Kim Hughes, DJ DiVincenzo, Sgt. Anthony Rybaruk, Philip DeMilo & Sally DeMilo, Anna Concelmo, Sally Ann Corcoran, Paul Castiglione, Anna Marie Nappi, Brian Higney, Rich Tortora, Andrea Palmucci, Fr. Brad Pierce, Frances Randi, Denise Bailey, Peg Dmytruk, Mary Mack, Joseph Peterson, Judith Robbins, Marion Mahl, Gloria Ranfone, Paula Ruddock, Pamela Willis, Laura Luzzi, Jose Maisonet, Anita Della Ventura

Please send prayer requests to [email protected] so that our parishioners and friends can be remembered in our prayers. From the Pen of Fr. M. The human heart has its own holiday. Valentine’s Reverend Jeremiah N. Murasso, Ph.D., Ed.D., Psy.D. Day is the celebration not of the physical muscle in the body that is responsible for the pumping of blood. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Rather, Valentine’s Day celebrates love, providing for Feast Day: June 19 men and women an official and special holiday for expressing the powerful and positive emotions that Last Friday, June 19, the Church celebrated the one person has for another. Valentine’s Day celebrates Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is celebrated the individual’s desire and affection for that special annually on the first Friday that follows the feast of other or others in his/her life. Corpus Christi. Actually, the entire month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At first glance, this feast appears crude. Non-believers ask, “Why the heart?” However, it is not merely the physical heart of Jesus that Catholics honor; it is Jesus’ merciful and healing compassion as well as the entire mission, ministry and person of Jesus.

Our society celebrates St. Valentine’s Day with red roses, heart-shaped candies and Hallmark cards, all of which are exchanged as expressions of one’s admiration and deepest feelings toward a significant other. The red heart has in fact, taken on the symbol of love. The Greek philosophers described the human heart in terms of the whole person. It was that part of the human person that was responsible for life; both physical and spiritual life. Biologically, the heart is that muscle in humans and animals that pumps blood throughout the body; bringing nourishment to all the cells in the body.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is directed God works in very mysterious ways; mysterious to and focuses upon the Heart of Jesus as a symbol of that is, not to God but to the human mind. In every love just as the human heart has become symbolic for age, God has singled out individuals; some who have the center of man’s emotions. The word heart is used been religious sisters and brothers, others who have in a variety of different ways. We use the heart to been priests and still others who have been married express feelings of joy, love and happiness. The with families such as our own Elizabeth Ann Seton, human heart is also the center where the first American saint. feelings of sadness, hate and indifference emerge. These individuals came from different parts of the How often, each of us has described another world, with different backgrounds and ethnic roots, person, or heard someone being described with state- living at different times in history. The common ments like: “She has a heart of gold,” or “He has a thread, however, which links each of them is their good heart,” or “I love you with all my heart,” or “I personal and intimate call by God who entrusted each give you my heartfelt thanks for what you have done with a particular mission. for me.” We have also heard it said or have, in fact made statements like: “My heart is breaking,” or “Her heart is full of sadness,” or “Their hearts are hardened; thus, they cannot hear or see truth.” Such statements are descriptive not of a part of man, as if particular organs or muscles possess their own autonomy and conscious identity for self-expression. Rather, these sentiments are used to describe the character or personality of an individual; his/her feelings and desires. June 21, 2020 The mysterious workings of God were seen so vividly in His desire for a specific feast that would call attention to the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Real Presence. Men and women of faith like the unknown and humble Saint Juliana of Liege was privileged to be the recipient of numerous revelations from God. It was she who worked tirelessly in what would be the eventual establishment of the devotion to the Body and Blood of Christ as an annual feast in the Church’s calendar. Saints such as Francis of Assisi, whose feast is celebrated on October 4, and Anthony of Padua celebrated on June 13, both made significant contributions to the Christian faith, which has had positive and lasting consequences in the lives of people of all denominations.

Margaret Mary Alacoque It was on June 16, 1675, during the feast of Corpus The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is not Christi that what has been referred to as the “Great without its mysterious and mystical and seemingly (to Apparition” occurred. At this time, Jesus appeared to the human mind) fortuitous origin. Saint Margaret Margaret Mary and requested that he be honored under Mary Alacoque, a seventeenth-century Visitandine nun the image of his “Heart of Flesh.” Jesus said, “Behold living in the monastery at Paray-le-Monial was, yet, the heart that has so loved men, instead of gratitude, I another privileged soul whose faith enabled God to receive from the greater part of mankind only ingrati- work through her, making His mark in human history tude.” by making conscious to mankind His desire for a Jesus went on to tell Margaret Mary that he had greater adherence to His Sacred Heart. chosen her for the task of making this devotion to his Sacred Heart, a “Feast Day of Reparation.” This spe- cial Feast Day, said Jesus to Margaret Mary should also be accompanied by: • Communion by the faithful. • Communion on the first Friday of each month. • Observance of a holy hour.

The Church moves slowly but God always gets His way! His will is always actualized. By the mid-part of the eighteenth century, both religious communities and Unlike St. Juliana of Liege who had a devotion to dioceses had begun to make a consecration to the Sa- the Real Presence, Saint Margaret Mary did not know cred Heart of Jesus. Yet, the Church of France and of, nor did she have a previous devotion to the Heart Rome had dragged their feet for years in making of Jesus. Yet, the hand of God was at work. It was the Christ’s request a reality. faith of Margaret Mary that enabled God to send a Ironically, it was at the request of the Queen of powerful message to all of mankind. France, Marie Leszczyńska and not a bishop or the pope who in 1729, having petitioned Rome received Margaret Mary’s Visions Rome’s consent. The Sacred Heart of Jesus was insti- From 1673-1675, Saint Margaret Mary was tuted as an official feast day and consecration to his favored by God in being the recipient of numerous Sacred Heart was accepted by the French bishops. In appearances by Christ. During these appearances, 1856, Pope Pius IX extended the feast to include the Jesus spoke of his sadness with regard to man’s universal Church. On June 11, 1899, it was Pope Leo hardened heart and his inability to love Jesus and his XIII who consecrated all of mankind to the Sacred Mother. On one particular occasion, on the feast of St. Heart of Jesus. Margaret Mary Alacoque died in 1690, John, Jesus permitted Margaret Mary the privilege of and was canonized in 1920, by Pope Benedict XV. resting her head on Jesus’ chest in order to hear the beat of his heart. In June, 1990, in his recognition of the 300th anniversary of Saint Margaret Mary’s death, reflecting on the life of Saint Margaret Mary and her undying devotion to the Heart of Jesus, Pope Saint John Paul II spoke these words: “…for it is in the heart of Christ that the human heart learns to know the true and unique meaning of its life and of its destiny; it is in the Heart of Christ that the human heart receives its capacity to love.”

What do we celebrate when we honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus? We honor and recall the person of Jesus. It is Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity: his Life, his Death and his Resurrection that we honor and recall each time that we pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In addition to the person of Jesus, we also recall .The artist wanted to convey the message that all of Jesus’ unconditional love and compassion: creation; everything that exists and all which is… • It is the Sacred Heart of Jesus that felt pain begins and ends…comes forth from…and returns to… when he learned of the death of his best the Heart of Christ. In other words, all being has its friend and cousin, John the Baptist. origin and destiny in Jesus Christ. • It is the Sacred Heart of Jesus that wept Attaching as we should, all of our hopes, our over Jerusalem. dreams, our joys, our sadness and our pain to those • It is the Sacred Heart of Jesus that felt re- unquenchable and un-appeasing golden rays that morse and empathy for the sick, the blind, the emerge from his Sacred Heart, we…each of us…are poor and the homeless. individually and collectively pulled into his merciful Heart of unconditional love. • It is the Sacred Heart of Jesus that In such a way, we are entrusted with the propensity conveyed to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque for becoming for one another, a product of the Love his sorrow and disappointment for man’s lack that has loved us first. It is this Love (agape) that we of love for him and his mother. remember and it is this Love (agape) that we celebrate when we honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When we honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a very powerful recall not a lifeless, inanimate heart that is separate image for twenty-first century men and women of from the person of Christ. Rather, when Christians faith. The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus, they recall the reminder that all that we are and everything we possess Living Heart of the Incarnate God. Christians honor has its origin and its destiny in Jesus. With this comes and remember that the Heart of Jesus is the center and the awesome responsibility of making Jesus present in source of all his affections. The Heart of Jesus our daily lives. JNM symbolizes and actually testifies to the affections and the unconditional love (agape) that pours forth from Jesus’ heart like golden rays of light. There is a beautiful painting of Jesus, whose author in anonymous, portraying Jesus with his exposed heart. As one gazes at the picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, one’s eyes are immediately drawn to the center, to the Heart of Christ. Upon further examination of the Heart, one becomes aware of the golden rays emanating from and converging at the heart’s center. Gratitude: Mother of Virtues Gratitude is the greatest among all the other virtues because gratitude encompasses all the other virtues. In addition, the individual who practices and displays a grateful human spirit is probably the individual who by his/ her nature, also demonstrates such virtues as charity, generosity, kindness, forgiveness and tolerance. In a damaged, broken society such as ours, due to excessive fear, mistrust and suspicion, it becomes a challenging assignment for busy and anxious individuals to consciously demonstrate and to project a sense of gratitude in our relationships with others, whether they be co-workers, casual acquaintances, friends, or even members of our family. At times we are even consciously ungrateful to God.

Authentic Happiness The demonstration of a grateful human spirit enables SOMETHING TO PONDER us to put the crisis of the moment as well as the dilemma of the day in proper perspective. The person who is in possession of a grateful human spirit is the person who becomes sensitive to the minor and at times miniscule miracles that present themselves on a daily basis. If we do not recognize them each and every day, it is not because they are not happening. Rather, it is due to the fact that there is a flaw in the way we are living our lives and conducting our affairs.

The Virtue of Gratitude Are you a person who is grateful? Do you thank others for what they do for you, such as: wait staff in a restaurant, bank tellers, cashiers, the young bagger in the supermarket, the nurse who takes your pressure and helps you onto the scale, the teacher who goes the extra mile in order to assure that you really understand? Or are you among those who believe that service providers have a job to perform for which they receive payment? Are you someone who believes that their paycheck is thank-you enough; thus, freeing you from any and all obligation to demonstrate gratitude and appreciation for what another person has done for you? Do you display the nonverbal attitude, which often times speaks volumes: “After all it’s their job?” Being grateful and demonstrating appreciation for life and for what we have may help us to accept the unexpected twists of fate; those existential curved balls that come our way from time to time. Showing appreciation for the smallest of miracles that happen all around us on a daily basis may result in a greater level of personal acceptance; thus, greater tolerance for others Grateful people are less critical of others and more accepting of difference. They are also, individuals who view life as well as their own short-comings with less drama and more passion. They are less inclined to look at life through the lens of the glass being half empty, and more inclined to see it as being half full. People who are grateful for what they have are less inclined to constantly Are you one of those individuals who are slow to express think that more is owed to them. appreciation for a service rendered, or a compliment given? Yet, Are you a grateful person? Do you show your are quick to criticize and castigate when service falls short of your appreciation for even the littlest acts of kindness that come expectations? Are you grateful for what you have? Or, do you your way? Or are you too busy to notice? When was the compare what you have against what others have who in your eyes are less deserving? Are you a person who blames hardships, last time that you said, “Thank-you,” to another who did missed opportunities and personal losses on someone else? Do something or said something that made your existence in you even blame God? this world a bit better? Truly, something to ponder! JNM FR. MURASSO’S MESSAGE BOARD SOMETHING TO PONDER Getting Our Socks in Knots “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27) Two weeks ago, we listened to Jesus as he questioned his disciples’ faith because they apparently did not listen to his words. In instructing them to get into the boat in order to get to Saint Bernadette Church the other side, he did not guarantee that the journey would It is with great joy that I announce to you that we necessarily be a smooth one. are moving in the direction of a merger with our sisters Jesus asks each of us about the level of our faith and the extent to which we permit unnecessary worry to hinder our ability and brothers of Saint Bernadette Church. to here God’s Word. This is a powerful teaching that each of us Our parish of St. Pio of Pietrelcina will now have must take to heart. Begin each new day with a correct focus on three campuses with three worship sites: Saint life. Don’t get your socks in knots about things that you have Bernadette, Saint Vincent de Paul and Our Lady of absolutely no control over. Take control over the one aspect of Pompeii. This is exciting! your life that you can control and leave the rest to God! In our hectic world where plates are filled beyond their I know that you join me in extending a heart-felt capacity, begin everyday resolved on changing those aspects of welcome to all the faith-filled parishioners of Saint your life that you have absolute control over. Leave the rest to Bernadette who will add so very much to our Catholic prayer! Studies continue to indicate that stress is the number one community of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. contributor to heart failure; people permitting the trials and ********** ********** ********** tribulations, the twists of fate, the existential curved balls to send blood pressure skyrocketing. The key to winning the war on stress is understanding how to manage it. Several ways to identify and to manage stress: 1. Recognize that stress in inevitable given our daily responsibilities. Be aware of your “hot buttons” and those in your life who know how to “push” them. So why relinquish control to that “other” in your life who delights in pushing your buttons? PROJECTS IN PROGRESS 2. Take at least ten minutes every night to organize the tasks Saint Vincent de Paul: that need to be accomplished the next day. Do not make your  The roof over the chapel continues to present list too long or too ambiguous. Be practical in what you can a problem with water getting behind the walls accomplish in one day. In other words, be realistic and and in the ceiling. We have finally determined distinguish between what must get done from those things that can wait another day or two. where the water is coming from and plans are 3. Begin each day with a moment or two in prayer. Prayer does underway to repair again, the wall around the not have to be elaborate or eloquent. Thank God for another stain glass window in front of the chapel and the day in which you are healthy enough to put your feet on the ceiling. floor. Ask the Good Lord to bless all your endeavors and all  The center walkway ascending the church has those you will come into contact with. become damaged due largely to water that has 4. Begin your day with the quiet confidence that God has heard your prayer and He will grant you the strength and grace to seeped underneath of the concrete along with accomplish all that you NEED to accomplish. That which we kids with skateboards that use the front stairs NEED to accomplish may in fact be in conflict with that as a slide. This has resulted in serious cracks in which we DESIRE to accomplish. The former is in the concrete, making this a hazard. In addition, compliance with God’s will, while the latter is imposing my the iron rail has become rusted at the point will onto God’s plan for me. Learn HUMILITY…..Your life will be a lot less complicated! And a lot happier. where the iron meets the sidewalk. This has 5. Don’t stress the small stuff! Proceed through your day with become aggravated to the point of breaking due confidence and humility. Be proactive and set little goals once again, to the skateboards constantly hour by hour, getting them accomplished and then setting slamming into the iron rail. New concrete will new goals. Proceed one step at a time. And stop playing the be poured along with the reinforcement of the victim! Your life may be difficult…but whose life isn’t? Stop rail beginning June 1. During this time the side obsessing on: “should have,” “would have,” “could have.” This turns people off. It sends family and friends fleeing entrance of the church facing the school will be from you! open for daily visits. 6. Find time to think nice thoughts, read a line or two from  The church kitchen is about to get a scripture or read your favorite poem, think about a loved-one much-needed refurbishment with more counter who may now be with God and ask him/her to send an extra space, a new floor and paint on the walls. This angel or two your way. Gaze at a blue sky, the falling snow, a work will begin within the next couple of weeks. little child and then laugh at yourself at least once each hour for taking yourself more seriously than you have a right to be ********** ********** ********** taken. Above all, make every day a blessed and happy event Our Lady of Pompeii: and strive to discover new meaning in every breath that you  Work continues in the church proper with the take and in every day that you are alive….and above all… much-needed re-sealing and painting of the PRAISE GOD! JNM window frames on the inside and outside. The Archdiocese of Hartford released guidelines for reopening churches and public worship. On June 8, 2020 public weekday (Mon-Fri) Masses, Baptisms, Confessions, Weddings and Funerals can all resume in the Archdiocese of Hartford with careful While Masses have been cancelled, your health precautions in place. Sunday offertory does not have to be! Your parish support Masses will resume at a later date to continues to be extremely important during this be determined. Please carefully read the archdiocesan time when our churches are closed. The daily guidelines found at www.archdioceseofhartford.org operations of the parish are ongoing even though At St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, we will resume the our parish staff may be working from home. Our public celebration of weekday Mass of Monday, staff as well as the utilities need to be paid even June 8. Important things to note: though the income through weekly collections is nonexistent. Please, if possible, remember your • There will be a limit of 50 parishioners at each weekly support, which can be made online at, Mass, with 6 feet social distancing and masks https://www.stpioofpietrelcinaeh.com and click the • Weekday Mass will be at 8:00 AM. GIVE button or through the mail Thank you for • The dispensation from the Sunday obligation your continue generosity. has been extended through September 6 and live- streaming will continue until the dispensation is lifted. Those in high-risk categories are encouraged to continue staying home, even as people return to Mass.

Thank you for all of your patience and flexibility these last few months - we ask that you continue to be patient as we navigate these new waters and put our plan together!

Per the diocese, during this time parishioners who are We will continue our June food collection for absent from Mass are urged to make alternate the East Haven Food Pantry, which is asking for provision for their weekly contributions since parishes macaroni & cheese and ramen noodles. Please depend on them for operation. Sign up for Online leave your donations of food at the church entrance at both the Taylor Avenue and Foxon Road Giving or make a one-time donation at https:// campuses throughout the month. pompeiichurch.churchgiving.com/ PARISH OFFICE REOPENING

FR. MURASSO’S MESSAGE BOARD The Parish Office will reopen to the public this Monday, June 8th during normal business hours of 8:00 am to 3:00 PM at the Our Lady of Pompeii Church location. We ask that all visitors wear a mask when entering, and stay home if experiencing flu-like symptoms. Thank you!

On Monday, June 8, morning The churches are also still open for individual prayer: Masses have resumed at 8:00am in all of our three churches with a maximum St. Bernadette capacity of 50 people. FACIAL MASKS 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Mon-Fri) St. Vincent de Paul WILL CONTINUE TO BE REQUIRED TO 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Mon-Fri) ENTER THE CHURCHES FOR MASS. Our Lady of Pompeii Parishioners are asked to enter 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Mon-Fri) through the FRONT DOORS ONLY. Individuals may exit either from the front or side entrances.