FOUR COUNTY Rejoicing in the good of others DIOCESE of NORWICH VOLUME 31 • CATHOLICNUMBER 1 • JANUARY 2019 SERVING THE COUNTIES OF MIDDLESEX, NEW LONDON, TOLLAND, WINDHAM, CT & FISHERS ISLAND, NY NORWICHDIOCESE.ORG Trust in the LORD with all Your Heart Hundreds Venerate the Incorrupt Heart of Saint Jean Vianney Proverbs 3:5 at Monthly Holy Hour for Vocations December 13 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gales Ferry FOUR COUNTY PAGE “You are a woman of faith whose CATHOLIC NORWICHDIOCESE.ORG religious commitment is evidenced SERVING THE COUNTIES OF MIDDLESEX • NEW LONDON • TOLLAND • WINDHAM, CT & FISHERS ISLAND, NY in your love for the church and your Established in 1989 and published each month except July. 8 I tireless perseveranceis I in carryingue out Made Possible in part through your generous support of the Annual Catholic Appeal your responsibilities . You have given Discover more at yourself wholeheartedly to your labors NorwichDiocese.org PUBLISHER in the Lord’s vineyard and you inspire Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D. 860.887.9294 all who know and serve with you.” Bishop of Norwich Bishop Michael R. Cote’s remarks prior to EDITORIAL OFFICE 31 Perkins Avenue, Norwich, CT 06360-3613 Fax 860.859.1253 presenting the Patrici-Anne Award to Sr. Elissa Rinere, fi rst female Chancellor of the Diocese, for DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS/EXECUTIVE EDITOR her distinguished service Wayne Gignac, 860.886.1281 [email protected] ADVERTISING SALES/PRODUCTION MANAGER Meredith Morrison, 860.887.3933 [email protected] PAGE “ ere is nothing so great as the THEOLOGICAL ADVISOR Eucharist. If God had something more Very Reverend Ted F. Tumicki, S.T.L., J.C.L., J.V. 860.887.9294 16 precious, he would have given it to us.” ADDRESS CHANGES Please be sure to notify us of an address change, a name change of a recipient One of several Saint John Vianney quotes read by of the Four County Catholic, or a request to discontinue receiving the the Knights of Columbus to the many pilgrims at newspaper. You may notify us via email at [email protected] or the Monthly Holy Hour for Vocations call 860-887-3933. Thank you for helping us maintain accurate mailing information to better serve you. PAGE PRINTING/LAYOUT .norwichdiocese.org “All they have are blackboards, but The Hartford Courant, 285 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 060115 EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING DEADLINES www they are eager to learn,” The deadline for advertising and editorial is the fi rst Monday of the previous 24 Noel Ramos, teacher and member of a delegation month. Articles limited to 500-word max; letters to the editor limited to 200-word of parishioners whose parish and school in Renton max and must include name, address and phone number for verifi cation. Email Washington is twinned with a Ste. Anne de photos as JPEG attachments and MS Word copy to [email protected] or fax to 860.859.1253. Publication not guaranteed. The Editor reserves the right Hyacynthe Parish in Haiti. to reject, omit or edit all editorial and advertising copy. Published opinions and advertisements do not necessarily refl ect the editorial position of this newspaper. FOUR COUNTY Rejoicing in the DIOCESE of good of others NORWICH VOLUME 31 • NUMBER 1 • JANUARY 2019 SERVING THE COUNTIES OF MIDDLESEX, NEW LONDON, TOLLAND, WINDHAM, CT & FISHERS ISLAND, NY © Copyright 2019, Diocese of Norwich. All rights reserved. CATHOLICNORWICHDIOCESE.ORG No content may be reproduced without expressed consent. Periodical Postage paid at Hartford, CT 06101 and at additional offi ces. FOUR COUNTY CATHOLIC | CATHOLIC COUNTY FOUR Paul Wynn and his son Paul Anthony pray together before the Relic of St. POSTMASTER - SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: O e Cover Four County Catholic, 31 Perkins Ave., Norwich, CT 06360-3613 John Vianney. The Shrine of Ars, France, has entrusted to the Knights of Columbus this major relic which is Trust in the LORD on tour throughout the United States. with all Your Heart FOUR COUNTY CATHOLIC Issue 1 January (PE 9934) is published monthly except Hundreds Pray and Venerate the Incorrupt Heart of Saint Jean Vianney Proverbs 3:5 at Monthly Holy Hour for Vocations December 13 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gales Ferry July by The Diocese of Norwich, 31 Perkins Avenue, Norwich, CT 06360-3613. JANUARY 2019 | | 2019 JANUARY Photo credit: Marie Wynn Periodicals postage paid in Hartford, CT 06101 and at additional mailing offi ces. 2 THE MOST REVEREND MICHAEL R. COTE, D.D. BISHOP OF NORWICH LET FAITH LEAD THE WAY Confident in Our Faith “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:12 My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, physically and mentally, after all Saint Paul tells cover, instead, vow to read the daily readings us “our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” and perhaps a short commentary. (1 Corinthians 6:19). One aspect of our Last month at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in As Catholics we are not unfamiliar with the wellbeing that should not be overlooked is our concept of resolutions. When we participate in Gales Ferry, we, as a diocese, had the distinct spiritual nature. honor of hosting the Incorrupt Heart of Saint the Sacrament of Reconciliation, with our whole John Vianney, the patron saint of priests A few years ago, when speaking with Vatican heart and in complete faith and openness, we working in parishes. There were hundreds in employees and their families, Pope Francis are making a fresh start, reconciling ourselves attendance for viewing and veneration, as part shared this thought, “Take care of your spiritual to God and to the Church. There is perhaps of our Monthly Holy Hour for Vocations. As I life, your relationship with God, because no better New Year resolution than the one the watched many of you kneeling at the reliquary this is the backbone of everything we do and psalmist wrote, “Create in me a pure heart, .norwichdiocese.org that holds the relic of this Saint, I felt humbled everything we are . Take care of your family O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” by your presence. We are entering a new life, giving your children and loved ones not just (Psalm 51:10) www year of exceptional challenge, signifi cance money, but most of all your time, attention and Be confi dent in your faith. Be confi dent this and milestones as a community of faith. Your love.” Meditating on these two directives will New Year, that as the days grow longer and your presence at the Holy Hour demonstrates how lead to tangible acts. faith grows stronger, the words of Saint John strong our faith is in the Diocese of Norwich. Saint John Vianney’s words can help us to create Vianney will become true for each and everyone We are living in a troubled world. Saint John resolutions that will deeply impact our lives both of us- “It is always springtime in the heart that Vianney lived during a troubled time in history, here on earth and eternally with God. He said, loves God”. the French Revolution. We can learn from the “Do not try to please everybody. Try to please example set by this humble priest. The solution God, the angels, and the saints—they are your Sincerely yours in Christ, is not to concede to injustice, immorality, excess public.” How many times do we fi nd ourselves and disrespect for life. The solution is to be in acting in a way to seek the approval of others? | CATHOLIC COUNTY FOUR communion with God through prayer and living I recently read that 23% of everyone who makes our faith not simply professing it. a resolution sees it through to completion. Why Most Reverend Traditionally, this is the time of year for making do the other 77% fail at their attempt at a better resolutions. For many, the dawn of a new year life? According to experts in these matters, Michael R. Cote, D.D. brings about thoughts of new beginnings, a fresh people have trouble persevering with their start, an opportunity to reach personal goals. resolutions because they aren’t specifi c enough We know that there is merit in improving both and are too far reaching. For instance, rather | 2019 JANUARY than resolving to read the Bible from cover to 3 THE MOST REVEREND MICHAEL R. COTE, D.D. BISHOP OF NORWICH LET FAITH LEAD THE WAY Confiados en Nuestra Fe “Oh Dios, crea en mí un corazón puro, implanta en mis entrañas un espíritu nuevo” Salmo 51:12 Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, todo, San Pablo nos dice que “nuestro cuerpo es Como católicos no estamos familiarizados Nuestra Diócesis, el mes pasado, tuvo el gran el templo del Espíritu Santo” (1 Corintios 6:19). con el concepto de resoluciones. Cuando honor de presentar en la parroquia Our Lady of Un aspecto de nuestro bienestar que no debe participamos en el Sacramento de la Loudes en Gales Ferry, el Corazón Incorrupto pasar por alto es nuestra vida espiritual. Reconciliación, con todo nuestro corazón y de San Juan Bautista María Vianney, el Cura de Hace unos pocos años, el Papa Francisco, al con total fe y apertura, estamos comenzando Ars, patrono de los párrocos. Hubo cientos de hablar con los empleados del Vaticano y sus de nuevo, reconciliándonos con Dios y con la asistentes que vieron y veneraron la reliquia, familias, compartió este pensamiento: “Cuide Iglesia. Quizás no haya una mejor resolución de como parte de nuestra Hora Santa Mensual su vida espiritual, su relación con Dios, porque Año Nuevo que la que el salmista escribió: “Oh por las Vocaciones.