FOUR COUNTY VOLUME 32 • NUMBERCATHOLIC 1 • JANUARY 2020 SERVING THE COUNTIES OF MIDDLESEX • NEW LONDON • TOLLAND • WINDHAM, CT & FISHERS ISLAND, NY COME AND ADORE THE LORD, FOR A GREAT LIGHT HAS COME UPON THE EARTH St. Michael Church Made Possible in part through your generous support of the Annual Catholic Appeal Reopens Their Doors ESTABLISHED IN 1989 AND PUBLISHED EACH MONTH EXCEPT JULY. PUBLISHER t. Michael Church Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D. 860.887.9294 Bishop of Norwich Sin Pawcatuck will hold a Mass EDITORIAL OFFICE 25 Otis Street, Norwich, CT 06360-3613 Fax 860.859.1253 of Dedication on DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS/EXECUTIVE EDITOR Saturday, January Wayne Gignac, 860.886.1281 [email protected] 18, 2020, at 10 am. ADVERTISING SALES/PRODUCTION MANAGER to celebrate the Meredith Vernott, 860.887.3933 [email protected] completion of the SENIOR WRITER/SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER church’s extensive Ryan Blessing, 860.887.3933 [email protected] rebuilding project. THEOLOGICAL ADVISOR The ceremony will Very Reverend Ted F. Tumicki, S.T.L., J.C.L., J.V. 860.887.9294 begin outside the PRINTING/LAYOUT church. There is no The Hartford Courant, 285 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 060115 opportunity to find a EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING DEADLINES The deadline for advertising and editorial is the first Monday of the previous seat before the start of month. Articles limited to 500-word max; letters to the editor limited to the Mass. 200-word max and must include name, address and phone number for verification. Email photos as JPEG attachments and MS Word copy to Visitors will enter the [email protected]. Publication not guaranteed. The Editor reserves the church together when right to reject, omit or edit all editorial and advertising copy. Published opinions and the doors are unlocked; the process will require patience while advertisements do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this newspaper. people enter and are seated. POSTMASTER - SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Four County Catholic, 25 Otis Street, Norwich, CT 06360-3613. After the dedication, the church will remain open throughout the Four County Catholic Issue 10 November (PE 9934) is published monthly except July by The Diocese of Norwich, 25 Otis Street, Norwich, CT 06360-3613. day until 8 pm., providing everyone an opportunity to experience Periodicals postage paid in Hartford, CT 06101 and at additional mailing offices. ww.norwichdiocese.org the new church on the first day. Discover more at Confessions will be heard that afternoon from 3 to 3:45 p.m. and the NorwichDiocese.org regular Mass on Saturday will be celebrated at 4 pm. © Copyright 2020, Diocese of Norwich. All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced without expressed consent. Periodical Postage paid at Hartford, CT 06101 and at additional offices. We Can Help Podemos ayudar To report inappropriate contact of any kind by a representative of the Diocese of Norwich Para reportar contacto inapropiado de cualquier tipo por medio de un representante de la | FOUR COUNTY CATHOLIC | w CATHOLIC | FOUR COUNTY or for assistance for victims, please call: The Diocesan Reporting Line @ 1-800-624-7407 Diócesis de Norwich o para asistencia a víctimas, por favor llame a La Línea de Reportaje de la Diócesis de Norwich 1-800-624-7407 If the incident involves a minor Incidents involving abuse of Incidents involving abuse of Si el incidente involucra a un Incidentes relacionados con el Incidentes relacionados con el (persons under the age of 18), vulnerable adults aged 18-59 vulnerable adults aged 60 and menor (personas menores de abuso de adultos vulnerables abuso de adultos vulnerables de you must also call: should be reported to: over should be reported to: 18 años), también debe llamar a de 18-59 años de edad deben ser 60 años de edad o más deben ser State of CT Department of Connecticut Department of Connecticut Department Departamento de Niños y Familias reportados a Departamento de reportados a Departamento de JANUARY 2020 JANUARY Children and Families Care Line Developmental Services - AID of Social Services for the Elderly de CT Servicios al Desarrollo del Estado Servicios Sociales Para Ancianos de 1-800-842-2288 -OR –State Division for Persons with 1-888-385-4225 1-800-842-2288 -O-Servicios de de Connecticut-División de Ayuda Connecticut 1-888-385-4225. of NY Child Protective Services Intellectual Disabilities Protección de Niños del Estado de para Personas con Incapacidad 1-800-635-1522 1-844-878-8923 NY 1-800-635-1522. Intelectual 1-844-878-8923. 2 THE MOST REVEREND MICHAEL R. COTE, D.D. BISHOP OF NORWICH LET FAITH LEAD THE WAY Overcoming a Weary World “They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Isaiah 40:31 My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, morning to pray, sing hymns, and reflect on their professing it. As Senator Lankford so boldly put similarities rather than their differences. This in a it- “if your faith only affects your weekends, then “A Thrill of Hope, the Weary World Rejoices.” city whose political discord plays out every day. it is not faith, it is a hobby.” These words, which graced last month’s cover of the Four County Catholic, speak to a hope that So how do we find similarities in our dealings Please know that you are not alone in your hope. flows from within us centered on principles of with people? A few months ago, the United States As the Holy Father instructs us, “No matter where faith larger than ourselves. Conference of Catholic Bishops launched a year- God has planted you, hope. Always hope.” long initiative that invites Catholics to model Based on what we see on TV, hear on the radio civility, love for neighbor and respectful dialogue. I encourage you to find ways to express this and read in the newspapers, our world, our The initiative, called Civilize It: Dignity Beyond hope. Share in the blessings of the Eucharist country, and in some cases even our families the Debate, is built on the recognition that every by spending time in adoration of the Blessed ww.norwichdiocese.org seem more divided than at any other time in person — even those with whom we disagree Sacrament. Feel the strength of His support and recent history. Because of this we may be inclined — is a beloved child of God possessing inherent warmth of His love. Share at least one of the to think that this current moment in time is the dignity. gifts God has given you and volunteer in a parish weariest the world has ever been. ministry. Spend more time with your families. We, as followers of Christ, are called to live the Reconcile yourself to God by partaking in the As we welcome the new year, may we not be example of Jesus daily, including our encounters Sacrament of Reconciliation. Love people who tempted to focus on the disenchantment in the with one another through civil dialogue. These others may find unlovable. world, but instead may we work to find the hope engagements can be online, in the workplace, or in any given situation. Hope is in fact all around even at our own dining room tables. If you are It is my hope that you make this the year that you us. We need only see with the eyes of the Savior interested, more information and resources on the will take a step closer to Jesus. who loves us. Civilize It program can be found on our diocesan On a recent airing of the CBS news program, website, throughout this election year. Sincerely yours in Christ’s love, | w CATHOLIC | FOUR COUNTY Face the Nation, two United States senators, Both senators agreed that the challenge, as Delaware Democrat Chris Coons and Oklahoma persons of faith, is to live our faith, in the Republican James Lankford, spoke about a workplace, in our homes and in social gatherings. 60-year Senate tradition –– a weekly prayer group. Hope is apparent when this bipartisan The solution is to be in communion with God Michael R. Cote 2020 JANUARY body of men and women meet every Wednesday through prayer and living our faith, not simply Bishop of Norwich 3 THE MOST REVEREND MICHAEL R. COTE, D.D. BISHOP OF NORWICH LET FAITH LEAD THE WAY Superando un mundo cansado Los que confían en el SEÑOR renovarán sus fuerzas, volarán con alas como de águilas; Correrán y no se cansarán, caminarán y no se desmayarán ”. Isaías 40:31 "Una sensación de esperanza, el mundo abatido en lugar de sus diferencias. Esta en una ciudad Lankford lo expresó con valentía: "si su fe solo regocija". Estas palabras, que aparecieron cuya discordia política se desarrolla todos los afecta sus fines de semana, entonces no es fe, es en la portada del mes pasado del periódico días. un pasatiempo". católico Four County Catholic, nos habla de JUAN 10:10 una esperanza que fluye desde nuestro interior Entonces, ¿cómo encontramos similitudes en Por favor, sepa que no está solo en su esperanza. centrada en principios de fe más grandes que nuestros tratos con las personas? Hace unos Como el Santo Padre nos instruye: “No importa nosotros. meses, la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos dónde Dios le haya plantado, espere. Siempre de los Estados Unidos lanzó una iniciativa de tenga esperanza." Según lo que vemos en la televisión, escuchamos un año que invita a los católicos a modelar en la radio y leemos en los periódicos, nuestro la civilidad, el amor al prójimo y el diálogo Le animo a que encuentre formas de expresar mundo, nuestro país y, en algunos casos, incluso respetuoso.