St Catherine of Siena

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Father Russell's Retirement Mass and Receiption

St. Catherine's Parish celebrated the retirement of our long time pastor and much beloved friend Rev. Richard Russell. Following a standing room only Mass, attendees enjoyed food and drink in Russell Hall and heard long time parishioners tell memories of Father over the years and even write him a song.

The parish also presented Father Russell with several gifts to help him remember St Catherine's. He received a beautiful painting created by parishioner Bob Burns. Father also received 4 tickets to watch his beloved Red Sox make another run at the World Series - and a car service to get him and his friends to Boston and back! Additional money that was contributed to for his gifts was presented in a check for him to enjoy in retirement.

Photos of the event can be found in the St Catherine Photo Archive.

Java & Jazz A Success

The Java & Jazz Benefit for the Tom Duffy Scholarship Fund was held at St Catherine with a record crowd. Student jazz musicians came from all over to participate in this event. St. Catherine's Youth Group help make the event run smoothly.

Check out the photos of the event in the St Catherine Photo Library.

The World According to Father Michael

A sincere thank-you to everyone who helped make Father Russell’s retirement celebration such a wonderful success! It was a true testimony to your love and friendship of this man who did so much for this parish. From the participants, worshippers and music ministers at the Mass to all who made his reception in the aptly named Russell Hall such a well-attended community celebration—the planners and organizers of the Men’s and Women’s Clubs, the bakers and appetizer-makers, the set-up and decorators and those who stayed late into the night to clean-up as well as all the guests—your support, appreciation and respect for Fr. Russell was very evident, and I know that he was touched by your caring and is grateful to everyone. This parish truly knows how to celebrate!

The Gospel Message…this weekend’s readings call us to ponder just how, in our everyday lives, we come to understand this command of Jesus: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.‖ So we need to ask ourselves, ―how do we express our love for God?‖ and ―how sincere are we in the expression of this love and how consistent are we in telling—or showing our Father in heaven—that we do adore Him, believe in Him, and love Him…with all our heart, mind, and soul?‖ Jesus tells us just how to express this love for God—by seeing God in everyone and treating and loving them as we care for ourselves. In fact it is even more than that. God is faithful to us in the everlasting covenant of love He has offered to us. He has promised us that for all eternity His love will stand firm, it will not weaken or wavier, no matter how we act or react. Then, beyond this great gift of eternal love for us, He also provides us with the sacraments of forgiveness, of healing, and of strength so that when we are weak, when we do fail to love Him and others, we can be forgiven and infused with His grace so that we can continue on. He does not give up on us. He does not abandon us. The God of all loves us that much and wants to be one with us for all eternity that His gift of everlasting love comes with other gifts which act to reinforce us so that we will always be ready, willing, and able to receive His gift with open arms. When we offer others our love, is it that firm? Is it that strong? Does it come with the wherewithal so that we can reach out with our love to others, time and time again, even after a family member or friend has refused it or abused it. Do we continue to offer our love so magnanimously as God offers His to us.

Maintenance update…the Building and Grounds Committee met on Monday night to review the projects aimed at keeping our parish facilities in good working order. A number of projects, current and future, were reviewed and this is where we stand at the present time:

The sidewalk repairs around the church have been completed and now meet the expectations of the insurance inspector. The sidewalks at the rectory also need some work. Pavers need to be replaced and some grading is required along the main walkway and the one that branches off to the parish office. Currently there are many gaps and uneven borders at both the parish steps and the driveway. Liabilities abound. Also, as we look into using the former chapel as either a daily Mass chapel (in order to save heat and light during the winter months and air conditioning during the summer) or as a meeting place for large parish groups and ministries (again to reduce costs when we don’t need to heat or cool Russell Hall for twenty-five or thirty people) we are looking into the cost of extending the walkway from the main rectory door to the separate side door to the large room to the right of the main house. For both insurance reasons and for privacy, people cannot be entering and exiting the chapel through the rectory living space.

We continue to obtain quotes for the repairs to the Church roof where we have some leaks. As I reported a week or two ago, the issue is not a complete new roof (at the cost of more than $50,000) but rather installing the correct flashing and gutters for a commercial roof. It is anticipated that the costs will run around $8,000-9,000. A nice reduction from the $50,000 range. Other, smaller and more routine projects include having CL&P do an energy audit on the whole building, adding commercial weather stripping to the outside doors on the parish center and church, installing newer and more accurate timers on the out-side lights of the church and parking lot to help us cut costs and increase efficiencies. Obviously we will consider all costs and the necessity of repairs as we attempt to reduce operating costs.

Other Parish News...Our Religious Education program, under the guidance of Mrs. Kathi Bonner and numerous dedicated catechists, have really accomplished something wonderful and very much needed. In November edition of The Catholic Tran-script an article will appear highlighting a new religious education program in the Archdiocese—one aimed to bring our faith formation and sacramental preparation to children with special needs. Working with parents and professionals, our program will see to it that every child receives the necessary training in an age– and skill-appropriate level. I am very pleased with the efforts of so many dedicated people right here in our parish. Kudos!

All Souls Day Commemorations...on Sunday, November 2, the Feast of the Commemoration of the Faithfully Departed, we will hold two separate celebrations—one at the 9:30 Mass and one at the 11 a.m. Mass. First, we will remember the souls of those who have died while protecting our lives, both on the battle field and on our community’s streets. A Blue Mass will honor our military, police, fire fighters, and EMTs. And we will bless and pray for current members of these forces. At the 11 a.m. Mass we will remember and pray for the repose of the souls of our family members and friends. As we read the names of the deceased, a candle lighting and bell ceremony will add to our prayers. Sheets on which you may write the names of deceased loved ones for this Mass are in the atrium and vestibule.

For your advanced planning...please sign-up for the Family Advent Wreath making event on Sunday, November 23rd. The sign-up sheets are in the vestibule and atrium and are needed to obtain a head-count for ordering supplies. Admission is to bring a snack or dessert! We will make our advent wreaths for a center piece for your dinner table and will bless it and include prayers you may say at meal time during the Advent Season.

Asking Questions

Asking questions of loved ones who have great lived-experiences really helps us to spark much needed conversations and find answers to our own life situations. Recently I saw a series of questions called, ―Go ask...your father, your mother, your grandparents.” So to spark some intergenerational conversations, here goes:

Go ask your mother…  If we could go to any event in the world together, what would it be?

Go ask your father… What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced in your life? How did it affect you?

ST. ELIZABETH HOUSE NEEDS YOUR BEDS

BEDS/BOX SPRINGS NEEDED FOR ST. ELIZABETH HOUSE SHELTER FAMILIES

Several families at the St. Elizabeth House Shelter are in dire need of beds and bedding. The following mattresses & box springs are needed: 2 Queen, 5 Twin, 1 Full, 4 Toddler, 1 Crib plus 8 dressers and assorted sheets/pillowcases and pillows. If anyone would like to donate any of these items, please contact Peter or Lisa Sheary @ 658-2899 to arrange pick up or delivery.

UPCOMING PARISH MEETINGS

Sun., 10/26 @ 10:30AM - RCIA - Library
Sun., 11/2 @ 10:30AM - RCIA - Library
Wed., 11/5 @ 7:30PM - Joint Parish Council & Finance Committee meeting - Russell Hall

ST. ELIZABETH HOUSE SUNDAY MEAL

Donated items should be at the church by 3:45PM on Sunday, October 26th. We will leave St. Catherine’s by 4PM and return by 6:15PM. Please call Bill or Pat Walsh @ 658-2606 with any questions.

FIFTH ANNUAL SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALL DINNER

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH - HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The Feed the Hungry Youth Group invites you to their Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, November 15th - two seatings at 6PM or 7PM. Dinner includes salad, spaghetti & meatballs, bread, soda, coffee, tea and homemade cookies. Cost: $10 ($5/under 10 yrs. old).

Tickets can be purchased after all Masses on November 1/2 and 8/9 in the vestibule/atrium. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

The Feed the Hungry Youth Group strives to be self-funded! The proceeds and donation from this dinner fund monthly lunches to approximately 150 homeless individuals at the St. Elizabeth House in Hartford. Most of our fundraising money comes from extra donations. So if you can spare a little extra, every little bit helps and is tax-deductible!

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND BUT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION - please write out your check to “St. Catherine’s, Feed the Hungry”, and mail it to Maureen Jessen, 52 Old Stone Crossing, W. Simsbury, 06092.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - both youth (grade 7-12) and adults. You can even volunteer to donate supplies!! If you can volunteer, shop and/or donate items, please contact Tracy Flater @ 651-8666 or tflater@comcast.net or sign up in the ATRIUM on Nov. 1/2 & 8/9.

Thank-you to the Men’s Club for their financial assistance. They have generously offered to cover the expenses for the October and November visits to the shelter. This will cover the shortage we had from last year.

High School Youth Group News

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd - Youth Group meets from 5:00-6:30PM in Russell Hall.

A YOUTH GROUP MISSION TRIP is being planned for Thursday evening, March 19 to Sunday, March 22, 2009! A parent meeting to gather information, ask questions and discern if this trip is right for your teen is scheduled for NOVEMBER 2nd @ 6:30PM immediately following youth group pick up time. If you cannot make this meeting, the same information will be presented after the 5PM Mass on Saturday, November 8th.

5TH ANNUAL LEAF RAKE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH (Rain Date - Saturday, 11/22)

This 5th annual leaf raking for parishioners who need help with this yearly task is offered to seniors in the parish and/or other needy parishioners. If you need help with your lawn, please sign up in the atrium/vestibule to have your lawn considered. We are limited by the number of volunteers, but we will try to honor all requests.

Volunteers are needed to offer this wonderful community service project to our parishioners. We need men, women and children who are willing to spend a Saturday morning helping others. Members of the Men’s & Women’s Clubs will be in the back of the church after Masses on the weekends of October 25/26 and November 1/2 to sign up volunteers. We hope to have a great turnout again this year. All volunteers are welcome to meet in Russell Hall after raking is completed for a FREE LUNCH!

We need a lot of LEAF BLOWERS for this project.

We Deliver

If you know of a loved one or neighbor who might like to receive Holy Communion or the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, please call Fr. Michael at 658-1642.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Exodus 22:20-26; Second Reading: Thessalonians 1;5-10; Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40.

Focus Question: How has being loved enabled you to respond to the needs of others?

BLESSING OF THE PUMPKINS Next Week

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST - FEAST OF ALL SAINTS - 5PM MASS
All children of the parish are invited to bring their decorated pumpkins or Jack-o-lanterns to Mass for a blessing. Sign up sheets were sent home with the children. Additional forms are on the table in the atrium/vestibule. Return the forms to the parish office by October 26th.

Religious Ed News

CONFIRMATION II Class meets today, Sunday, October 26th.

CONFIRMATION I Class meets next Sunday, Sunday, November 2nd . The Confirmation RETREAT forms were due last Sunday, October 19th. Many forms have not been returned. Please return forms asap. Thank-you.

TODAY IS “SPORTS SUNDAY” at Religious Education! All students and catechists are encouraged to wear their favorite BASEBALL team cloth-ing items in honor of the World Series. A healthy and respectful rivalry is fun!

ATTENTION REL. ED. PARENTS & CATECHISTS - on Sunday, November 2nd, we will celebrate the Feast of All Souls Day with a Blue Mass & Remembrance. Because this Mass may run a little later than usual, class time will be set back to 11AM rather than 10:45AM. Classes will end at the usual time of 11:45AM. A reminder notice will be sent home with the children.

Mass Intentions for Week Ending Nov 2nd

Saturday, October 25th @ 5:00PM, Mass for Margaret Keller, requested by the Thursday Evening Small Church Community.
Sunday, October 26th @ 8:00AM, Mass for Alan Taylor, requested by the Wednesday Evening Small Church Community.
Sunday, October 26th @ 9:30AM, Grade 6 Mass.
Sunday, October 26th @ 11:00AM, 13th Anniversary Mass for Agostino Natale, requested by the O’Hara Family.
Monday, October 27th @ 8:30AM, 1st Anniversary Mass for Bill Shea, requested by Fay Shea.
Tuesday, October 28th @ 8:30AM, Mass for Ethel & Jack Zekas, requested by Barbara & Dick Hopkins.
Wednesday, October 29th @ 8:30AM, 30th Anniversary Mass for Steve & Rebecca Balboni, requested by the Balboni Family.
Saturday, November 1st @ 5:00PM, Mass for Carmel DeFrancesco, requested by Kathryn & Bill Smyth.
Sunday, November 2nd @ 8:00AM, Mass for Estelle Anderson, requested by Tom & Betty West.
Sunday, November 2nd @ 9:30AM, Mass for Michelle “Mickey” Sheehan & Patrick Sheehan, requested by Matt Sheehan.
Sunday, November 2nd @ 11:00AM, Mass for Deceased Choir Members and Families, requested by Jackie Harrilchak.

Parish Council Meeting September Minutes

Here are the minutes for the September 2008 St. Catherine Parish Council Meeting.

Download PARISH_COUNCIL_9-16-08.doc

Confirmation Calendar

Here is a copy of the calendar for confirmation students for 2008-2009.

Download ConfirmationCalendar08-09.pdf

Registration form

Here is a copy of the 2008-2009 Registration form for St Catherine's Religious Ed program.

Download Re-reg.08-09.pdf

From Father Michael

Update on parish facilities and maintenance…each year the archdiocese and our insurance company does a walk-through of the church, the parish center and the rectory to review our facilities, its maintenance program and then makes suggestions on what needs to be done and what must be done in order to avoid liability issues. This year the review was done in late July and we passed with high marks especially in the areas that were noted last year (cleaning out the basement of the rectory, repairing the cracks in the parking lot, more than doubling the number of handicapped parking spaces, etc.).

This year—and currently—we are working on:  Repairing and filling the cracks in the side walk outside of the vestibule doors. Thanks to Dr. Phil DePasquale, who has championed this measure, the repairs are being done this week and will eliminate a safety and liability issue; Repairs to the sidewalk leading up to the rectory and parish office. Many of the bricks are broken, missing or sticking-up and are a definite safety issue. In addition, we are working on extend-ing the sidewalk from the front door of the rectory to the door of the former chapel (the large room to the right of the front door as you look at the rectory). The reason why we need to expand this sidewalk is so that the large room, the former chapel, can be put to good use by the parishioners. Currently the room is used as a “great room” for the pastor. I do not need this room personally, especially as we are already tight for meeting space in the parish. We can use this room for two particular needs: first, as a meeting room for parish ministries including the Youth Ministry, the Men’s Club and the Women’s Club; second, we could use it again as a chapel for daily Mass. With increased fuel costs it might make great sense to have the daily Mass in a smaller room and not have a need to heat the entire church for 35 people or so. These are things to consider as we seek to reduce costs;

Continue to investigate alternative repairs to the main roof of the Church. It appears that we are not in need of a new roof but rather to replace the wrong flashing and gutters that were installed during the last repairs some 12 years ago. Tony Drapelick is re-viewing this with professionals; place the interior lights in the church’s hallways and bathrooms on sensors so that they are not left on during the day or overnight, wasting energy. Electricians worked on this on Thursday of this week. We have also reduced the temperatures on the various water heaters so that they are as efficient as possible; Currently we are reviewing all of our of service maintenance contracts as well as lawn services and snow plowing services to make sure we have the appropriate coverage at the best price;

Currently we are reviewing some much needed repairs at the rectory. Years of little or no maintenance and the fact that most of the paint, carpet, and wallpaper—and lighting—are original from the early 1970s. We have an issue of mold in the rectory basement and in the upstairs bedroom areas which needs to be address immediately.

Regarding the above mentioned items, the Building and Grounds Committee is looking for new members and for assistance. If you think you have an interest working on the overview of parish facilities and maintenance, then I hope you will consider attending our next meeting on Monday, October 20 in the Library. All are welcome and invited.

November 2nd is All Souls Day…and we will celebrate this day with two special ceremonies at our Sunday Masses. First, at the 9:30 a.m. Mass we will celebrate a Blue Mass where we will honor the service—past and present—of all those who protect our liberty and our lives. At that Mass there will be representatives of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and National Guard as well as our police, fire department and emergency medical personnel. The Mass will honor the service of these people and the souls of those who died in the line of duty to protect our communities and nation. At the 11 a.m. Mass we will read the names of our deceased family members and parishioners, light a candle and toll a bell in their memory and the memories of all the faithfully departed.

All Souls Day reminds us that we are members of the Communion of Saints and that with an earthly death life does not end, it simply changes. What awaits us in the eternal life is being in Communion with God the Creator of All, and in His Communion we will know all His wisdom, all His Love, all His peace. Let us all pray that we become worthy of His great gift.

BOY SCOUT TROOP 175 OPEN HOUSE

BOY SCOUT TROOP 175 will host an Open House on October 23rd at St. Mary Parish Hall from 7-9PM. Boys who have completed 5th grade and are 10 years old or older are welcome. Webelo 2 Cubs may join in January. At the Open House scouts will build bridges to engage in a competition to be the first team over a 16 foot valley. Parents will get a chance to meet scout parents and chat about our programs.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS

RCIA - RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS meets Sunday mornings after the 9:30AM Mass from 10:30-12 Noon in the Library. The topic for this Sunday is “What Catholics Believe”. If you are interested in this pro-gram, please contact Deacon Tom Delehanty @ 658-0747.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS

RCIA - RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS meets Sunday mornings after the 9:30AM Mass from 10:30-12 Noon in the Library. The topic for this Sunday is “What Catholics Believe”. If you are interested in this program, please contact Deacon Tom Delehanty @ 658-0747.

ST. ELIZABETH HOUSE

Members of the St. Catherine’s community will be preparing and serving dinner for the residents of St. Elizabeth House in Hartford on Sunday, October 26th. If you would like to help by preparing or providing part of the meal or join us in serving it, please sign up in the atrium. Donated items should be at the church by 3:45PM on Sunday, October 26th. We will leave St. Catherine’s by 4PM and return by 6:15PM. Please call Bill or Pat Walsh @ 658-2606 with any questions.

Youth Group News

Sunday, October 19th, 6:30-8:30PM -DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT. Meet Mrs. Pluta at St. Mary’s Parish Center for a four church dodgeball tournament. Pizza will be served. (Don’t like dodgeball? A craft and activities table will be available for teens to meet and socialize with members of other youth groups).
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd - Youth Group meets from 5:00-6:30PM in Russell Hall.

A YOUTH GROUP MISSION TRIP is being planned for Thursday evening, March 19 to Sunday, March 22, 2009! A parent meeting to gather information, ask questions and discern if this trip is right for your teen is scheduled for NOVEMBER 2nd @ 6:30PM immediately following youth group pick up time. If you cannot make this meeting, the same information will be presented after the 5PM Mass on Saturday, November 8th.