St Catherine of Siena

All Saints Day 2009—A Solemnity in the Church

I was given a great little quote, unknown author, and following it would make for a huge impact on our lives. So I pass it on: “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA): we had our introductory meeting of the RCIA program complete with seven (7) individuals who are discerning becoming Catholics at the Great Easter Vigil. This initial stage, known as the time of Inquiry, offers our potential Catholics the opportunity to learn more about the faith and to see if it is a right fit for their current spiritual journey. Let us all pray for them as they seek to become one with God. If you are interested in looking into the Catholic faith more closely, please consider coming to our next meeting which is Monday night, November 9 at 7 p.m. in the parish Library. You are certainly welcome to call me (658-1642) if you have any questions you would prefer to ask in private.

Liturgical Needs: Like all things earthly, they do not last forever. Most of the liturgical items of our parish are from the mid-1970s or from somewhere in the 1980s and all are in need of replacement. Vestments are tattered and our pall is thread-bare, our thurible is corroded and the boat is broken, there is no travel Mass kit currently, likewise the baptismal shell, candelabra, and the ciboria set. Repairing them, often times, equals or surpasses the cost of replacement. I am listing some of the items that are needed more urgently in hopes that some individuals may wish to either purchase them for the Church or make an offering toward their cost. We are happy to purchase any item in memory of either a deceased loved one or in the name of a family or friend of the parish. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the parish office on 658-1642. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Please know that our parish uses The Catholic Purchasing Service, which is a co-op and offers prices discounted between 25% and 40%, for the identical articles found in the retail religious good catalogs.

• Two Candelabras—for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ($500 each)
• Travel Mass Kit—for use at twice monthly McLean Home Masses and for use at home Masses for the seriously ill ($395)
• Silver Baptismal Shell—for use in infant baptisms ($95)
• Holy Water Sprinkler—for use at grave side burials ($49)
• Holy Water Pot/Sprinkler—for use at Mass ($395)
• Thurible & Boat—incense for use at Mass and funerals ($415)
• Thurible Stand—to hold Thurible and incense boat ($445)
• Ciboria Set (communion cups)—for distribution of Holy Communion (set includes three bowls, $1485)
• Funeral Pall and matching funeral vestment—for use at a funeral Mass of Christian burial (approximately $550 for pall and $400 for vestment).

There are options for each item listed and I selected the mid- to lower-range of costs. Some of the prices are outrageous, and some of the styles are far too gothic or imperial for the style of Saint Catherine of Siena. Obviously, I stayed within the simple structure of our parish so that things would match nicely.

All Saints Day / All Souls Day. This weekend (and Monday) we celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day, respectively. Due to Monday being All Souls Day and a weekday as well, we celebrate the ritual of remembrance at the Sunday, 11 a.m. Mass.

This is a great time to remember all who have gone before us and with whom we share the hope of eternal resurrection. Catholic theology teaches us that the dead continue to live eternally due to the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus, and so we not only do not forget them but continue to converse with them through the power of prayer. Catholics pray to the Church triumphant (in heaven), for the Church on earth (us, as we journey toward God), and for the souls in Purgatory, that they may quickly come before God in the Kingdom. The Church provides many prayers for the deceased and for the living (go to yenra.com/catholic prayers or Google “Catholic Prayers”). It is both our privilege and our obligation as Catholic Christians to pray for those in need, to seek God’s bless-ings, and to be united with the whole of Creation—from the be-ginning of time—in the conversation of God, that is prayer. We focus on this day for the faithfully departed and we remember them always. The Church prays unceasingly for the dead as they are remembered at each and every Mass all across the globe. In a particular way, we will pray for our beloved dead both as a community today and during the whole month of November during the breviary which I will offer at the specified hours each day. Names taken from the basket in front of the altar will be prayed for during my priestly office (kindly print their names so that I may read them aloud during these times).

All Saints Day 2009—A Solemnity in the Church. And while the Church seems to celebrate the names of people such as John the Baptist, Peter and Paul, Catherine of Siena, Elizabeth Seton, Gerard, Matthew, Benedict, Sixtus and Clement, today’s celebration is also about the countless saints without names, “whose faith is known to You alone,” as the Eucharistic Prayer IV expresses it. This solemnity is a reminder that we are all called to be saints, and that heaven is full of souls whose names we don’t know.
Today we hear the Gospel of Matthew and the great Beatitudes. In eight short lines, Jesus declares blessed those who are poor in spirit, who are meek, who are merciful…He gives us the blueprint to follow so that we may too become a saint in heaven. For if we follow these proclamations of Jesus, we will receive the Kingdom for which He came to make manifest in our words and actions…in our habits, in our character, in what becomes our destiny.

Today we are reminded that God is very generous, and that the saints are beyond all counting. Among them are surely members of our families and our friends who by their faith-filled lives have helped us on our way to become closer to God and closer to life everlasting. Today we should also follow deeply the first reading and ask ourselves, “How does our liturgy reflect the great liturgy in heaven?” Do we fully participate—in a loud and strong voice, knowing that the Mass is a dialogue for all to participate? Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Vatican Council II, declares, “all the faithful, whatever their condition or state—though each in his own way—are called by the Lord to that perfection of sanctity by which the Father Himself is perfect.” “The faithful must participate in the offering of the Eucharist.” (LG10).

PEACE -
Father Michael

CHILDREN’S CHOIR MEMBERS NEEDED!

We are looking for several more angelic voices! If you are a singer in Grade 3-6, please consider joining
us for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Rehearsals are every Thursday from 6:30-7:30PM.
We sing at the 5PM Saturday Vigil Mass twice a month rehearsing @ 4:30PM. We’ll perform a special program prior to and during the 4PM Christmas Eve Mass. Boys and girls are welcome (and we especially invite children who sang with us last year!) Contact Lori Ann Damato @ ladamato@comcast.net

2009 ST. CATHERINE’S 6TH ANNUAL LEAF RAKE

Saturday, November 14th (rain date 11/21) This service is offered to seniors or other needy parishioners
of the parish. If you need help raking your lawn, please sign up in the atrium or vestibule to have your
lawn considered. Many volunteers are needed - men, women & children - willing to join us on a Saturday
morning helping others. Members of the Men’s & Women’s Clubs will be in the atrium to sign up requests and volunteers. Everyone that volunteers to rake is invited to Russell Hall for a very nice free lunch! All types of leaf blowers are needed.

WARM BLANKETS NEEDED!

The shelter in Hartford is gearing up for another cold winter and blankets are desperately needed. Toiletries and underwear (all sizes) are also needed. All donated items will be delivered by the “Feed the Hungry” youth group on their November 21st visit to the  shelter. Please drop off items at church by 9AM
on Saturday, November 21st. Please contact Lisa or Peter Sheary @ 658-2899 with any questions.

UPCOMING PARISH MEETINGS

Mon., Nov. 9th @ 7PM - RCIA - Library
Tues., Nov. 10th @ 7PM - Finance Committee - Rectory
Mon., Nov. 16th @ 7PM - Prayer Shawl Ministry - Library
Tues., Nov. 17th @ 7PM - Building & Grounds - Music Room
Tues., Nov. 17th @ 7PM - Women’s Club - Russell Hall
Wed., Nov. 18th @ 7:30PM - Men’s Club - Russell Hall

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to sell tickets for “Breakfast With Santa” after all Masses in November. Sign up in
the atrium. E-mail smnapolitano@hotmail.com or call Susan @ 651-9749 for more info.

Youth Group News

YOUTH GROUP MEETS TONIGHT, Sunday, November 1st, 6-7:30PM. It will be a night of fun, teamwork, a surprise and learning experience all wrapped up in one evening. Pizza will be served.

HUNGER AWARENESS WALK/24 HOUR FAMINE Please join the St. Catherine and St. Mary Youth Groups as they cosponsor a HUNGER AWARENESS WALK on Wed., Nov. 11th (no school ), at 10:30AM on Iron Horse Blvd. Participants can walk 2, 4 or 6 miles to help raise awareness of the problem of hunger in our own community. Non-perishable food items and cash donations will be collected at the start of the walk. The Youth Group 24 hour famine begins on Tuesday, Nov. 10th, with breakfast at St. Catherine of
Siena in Russell Hall. This includes an optional overnight and ends with breakfast on Wednesday
before the walk at St. Mary. For more details to work or walk the event, please contact Mrs. Pluta

@ 408-9408 or e-mail JudyPlutaYM@gmail.com

CALLING ALL WAITERS AND WAITRESSES in the Youth Group...your help is greatly needed at the “Feed the Hungry” Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday, November 7th, in Russell Hall. If you are available for set-up from 9-11AM or to prep, bus, and serve from 3 - 8:45PM, please contact Mrs. Pluta asap by e-mail at JudyPlutaYM@gmail.com Confirmation service hours will be given for this project!

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 8th

1st Reading: 1 Kings 17:10-16

2nd Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28;

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44.

Focus Question: By giving from her“want”, the widow shows her trust in God. Can you recall an experience when you let go and put your trust in God?

CALLING ALL KIDS - CANDY DONATIONS NEEDED!

Halloween is filled with treats. Share the fun and donate a portion of your Halloween candy for residents of the Hartford shelter. All treats will be distributed by the “Feed the Hungry” youth group during their November visit to St. Elizabeth House. Donations may be dropped off in the candy boxes in the vestibule or atrium. Thank-you for sharing your treats!

Religious Ed News

GRADE 4 MASS will be on Sunday, November 15th, at the 5PM Mass. All 4th graders are expected to attend. Please come to the church no later than 4:30PM to practice. Please remember to bring a dry/canned food item for the Simsbury Food Pantry. Thank-you!

CONFIRMATION I & II classes will meet next Sunday, November 8th. Morning classes are 9:30 - 10:30AM and evening classes are Grade 9 (6-7PM) and Grade 10 (7-8PM).

IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION INFO! Thank you in advance for your cooperation. The parking lot safety plan is in place. Please follow the map on the wall next to the Religious Education bulletin board at HJMS. Also, please adhere to the flow around the cones. The parking lot monitors (dads!) are there to help keep the children safe.

No Religious Education students are permitted to go into the lockers on Sunday mornings- even their own! We have no way of knowing who belongs to which locker, and if anything
is ever amiss, our students won’t be blamed if we all adhere to this. Hall Monitors will enforce this rule.

Weekly Mass Intentions

Sunday, November 1st, @ 8:00AM, Mass for the deceased members of the Moran & Reilley Families, requested by Mike & Kathy Reilley.
Sunday, November 1st, @ 11:00AM, Mass for Arthur Szczepanski, requested by his Mother & Family.
Tuesday, November 3rd, @ 8:30AM, Mass for Estelle Anderson, requested by Betty & Tom West.
Friday, November 6th, @ 8:30AM, Mass for James Carabillo, requested by Sheila Rae & Charlie Vendetti.
Saturday, November 7th, @ 5:00PM, Mass for Kimberly McWhirter, requested by Tim Gallagher.
Sunday, November 8th, @ 8:00AM, Mass for Josephine & Peter Pac, requested by Pat & Gil Hatch.
Sunday, November 8th, @ 11:00M, Mass for Cara Lonergan, requested by her Family.
Monday, November 9th, @ 8:30AM, Mass for Ryan Duff, requested by Anne Millham.
Tuesday, November 10th, @ 8:00AM, Mass for Mary Reilley, requested by Mike & Kathy Reilley.
Sunday, November 15th, @ 8:00AM, Anniversary Mass for Michelle “Mickey” Sheehan & Patrick Sheehan,
requested by Matt Sheehan.
Sunday, November 15th, @ 11:00AM, Mass for Lillian C. Newman, requested by the Newman Family.

Please call the office @ 658-1642 for Mass Intentions. If you would like to bring up the gifts in the offertory procession, please let the usher know when you arrive at church.

Ever Been Hungry?

Please join the St. Catherine/St. Mary Youth Groups For a  

Hunger Walk

Wednesday*November 11, 2009

10:30 am

Rain or Shine

Iron Horse Boulevard

Please bring a bag of non-perishable food and/or cash donations

All donations will be given to area food pantries

***Bring a water bottle***

For further information, please call

Judy Pluta @ 408-9408 or Diane Whittemore @ 651-8825

Thank you for helping those in need!

Bells of Hope

Adult Faith Formation

Dr. Joan Kelly continues to lead us into a deeper understanding of our Catholic identity via the Sacramental life of the Church. In her Tuesday night talks, Dr. Kelly describes with great passion the factual reality of the seven sacraments which Christ gave to His Church (to us) and the Traditions, both oral and written, of the Church which help to explain the mystery of God’s great love for us. We hear in these discussions the connection we have with God through Jesus Christ. We also see our connection over the last 2009 years of Christendom to the Apostles, disciples, and all believers as well as how that ongoing connection impacts our lives as Christians. From the first Tuesday night when Dr. Kelly spoke to us of Baptism and Confirmation—the indelible marks given to our souls—our understanding of the sacramental identity of the Catholic Christian explains who we are—images of Christ—and what we are to become—sharers in His resurrection. Most recently we heard of the history and life-saving relevance of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and the funeral rites which illustrate the Christian dignity of each and every person and the desire of God for us to bring that dignity unstained into His presence for everyone. Next Tuesday, October 27th, Dr. Kelly will speak on the two vocational sacraments—Holy Orders and Sacred Matrimony. I am sure her talk will touch on the ontological change in the spirit of the individual being ordained to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ, noting that while a change occurs it does not make the priest-to-be “better” but certainly different. And then I am sure her talk on the sacrament of Matrimony will illustrate what that means to the union of man and woman regarding God’s ongoing plan of creation and salvation. I know her final talk will be as inspiring and as uplifting as the first three. If you have not been able to attend the earlier topics, especially if you are a married couple, I hope that you will come to this discussion. While married couples live this vocation each day, sometimes the obvious needs to be high-lighted. And for the glory of who you are in God’s eyes, you might just come to understand better the power and the beauty of this particular sacrament.

November 2nd: All Souls Day—remembering our dead. Our Catholic faith celebrates the Commemoration of the Faithfully Departed, or All Souls Day, on this day each year. We take this one day in the year to, in a particular way, remember and pray for the noble souls of all the departed. We pray to the Church Triumphant—all those already in heaven, we pray for the Church on Earth—those still making the earthly spiritual journey to God, and we pray for the Souls in Purgatory—those who are awaiting purification and the fullness of the precious gift of eternal life. These prayers which we offer are not only our joy to perform but are also our duty and obligation as fellow Christians—remembering always that we are all members of the Communion of Saints.

This celebration as we know it can be traced all the way back to Abbot Odo of Cluny (France) in the tenth (10th) century, even though prayer for the dead has been part of Catholic custom from the earliest days of the Church. The belief that our prayers for the dead can be of assistance to the dead is a treasured tenet of our Catholic faith.

The Mass of All Souls has some unique features. The Gloria and the Creed are not said. There are no proper readings or preface—instead; they are selected from the readings and prayers for the dead. While white, violet or black vestments may be worn (and prior to Vatican II black vestments were normally associated with this commemoration), violet and white more appropriately express the hope which is at the heart of this liturgy.

Another ancient Catholic tradition is the particular use of proper names at this time of prayers. At Mass, the names of those from the parish who died in the last calendar year are read allowed and candles are lit while a bell is tolled. Two additional candles may be lit for particular purposes—we light one for our nation and her needs, another for our military troops’ safety. In addition, the prayers of the priest, known as the Office or the Breviary can be recited for the specific intentions of the dead. Envelopes will be available in the pews and at the entrances of the Church which you may use to list the names of those for whom you wish to have the Office said. During the month of November, I will pray my Office (four times per day—morning prayer, day prayer, evening prayer, and night prayer) for those individual names. The envelopes will remain in a basket, lined with violet cloth, for the month of November as a sign of our connection to and hopes for our beloved dead. Because All Souls Day falls on a weekday, Monday, November 2nd, when most of our parishioners will either be at work or at school and unable to attend daily Mass, this ancient tradition will take place at the Sunday, 11 a.m. Mass, November 1st.

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” This psalm for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time is quite comforting after having listened to some pretty “tough to hear” scripture readings over the last few weeks. Today’s comforting message is filled with the goodness of God and His desire for us to share in His life.

Jeremiah, the prophet who often offers us some “gloom and doom” sings with great joy today! God will gather all His people, scattered to the “ends of the world” (Jeremiah 31:8). Everyone will return to the Lord—not just the healthy, the fit, the strong, but the lame, the blind, and the weak ones too. God will guide them home, offer them love and care, bring them back to Him as the Father. Then the Psalm tells us that as surely as the harvest follows the sowing so too will rejoicing follow the sorrow of life. In the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews, Jesus is offered as the true “high priest” called by God. Like Aaron and Melchizedek, who brought the bread and wine to Abraham, Jesus gives Himself as the greatest and most powerful gift of all—a sacramental gift that not only heals us but transforms us to be more like Him. The Gospel of Mark tells us of the actual names of those healed by Jesus (Bartimaeus and Mary of Magdala). In most Gospel accounts the ill, the possessed, and all those who are to be healed normally remain nameless. The important aspect to see in this account is that Jesus desires to heal us of all our infirmities (physical and spiritual) and that God knows us intimately—even by name.

Thanks to all who participated in last weekend’s Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as part of this Archdiocesan event. This ancient Church tradition involves His people spending time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament seeking His mercy, love, or forgiveness, and is the desire of Catholics worldwide. As Catholics we believe that the Lord is truly present in the Eucharist. He is not there symbolically. He is truly present—body, blood, soul, and divinity—as a gift to each person who believes. There to strengthen, heal and be One with us. A gift of perfect love. Who wouldn’t want to participate in that? Unfortunately, in recent decades, busy lives and other priorities have kept many away from this Catholic experience. Work, soccer, movies and shopping, for many, replace religious activities. As a parish, we will attempt to reintroduce this ritual over the coming months enabling us to pray for the special needs of all. Peace!

2009 ST. CATHERINE’S 6TH ANNUAL LEAF RAKE

Saturday, November 14th (rain date 11/21) This service is offered to seniors or other needy parishioners
of the parish. If you need help raking your lawn, please sign up in the atrium or vestibule to have your
lawn considered. Many volunteers are needed - men, women & children - willing to join us on a Saturday morning helping others. Members of the Men’s & Women’s Clubs will be in the atrium to sign up requests and volunteers. Everyone that volunteers to rake is invited to Russell Hall for a very nice free lunch! All types of leaf blowers are needed (please list type).

SIXTH ANNUAL “FEED THE HUNGRY” SPAGHETTI & MEATBALL DINNER

Saturday, November 7th The “Feed the Hungry” Youth Group invites you to their Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, November 7th, with two seating times to choose from - 6:00PM or 7:00PM. Dinner includes salad, spaghetti and meatballs, bread, soda, coffee, tea and homemade cookies. Cost: $10/per person, $5 for under age 10.

TICKETS WILL BE ON SALE after all Masses on October 24/25 and Oct. 31/Nov. 1 in the vestibule and atrium. Tickets will not be sold at the door. The “Feed the Hungry” Youth Group strives to fund itself. The proceeds and donations from this dinner provides monthly lunches for approximately 150 homeless individuals at the St. Elizabeth House. Most of our fundraising comes from extra donations, so if you can spare a little extra, every bit matters and is tax-deductible!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Please consider volunteering to help with this event. We need both youth volunteers (Grades 7-12) and adult volunteers. Donated supplies for the event are also needed. If you would like to volunteer, shop and/or donate items, please contact Maureen Jessen @ 651-9857 or sign up in the ATRIUM on Oct. 24/25 and Oct. 31/Nov. 1.

If you cannot attend and would like to make a donation, please send a check to “St. Catherine’s, Feed the Hungry”, and mail it to Maureen Jessen, 52 Old Stone Crossing, West Simsbury, CT, 06092. We hope this will be our only fundraiser, so extra donations are needed and very much appreciated!

High School Youth Group News

HUNGER AWARENESS WALK/24 HOUR FAMINE Please join the St. Catherine and St. Mary Youth Groups as they co-sponsor a HUNGER AWARENESS WALK on Wed., Nov. 11th (no school ), at 10:30AM on Iron Horse Blvd. Participants can walk 2, 4 or 6 miles to help raise awareness of the problem of hunger in our own community. Nonperishable food items and cash donations will be collected at the start of the walk. The Youth Group 24 hour famine begins on Tuesday, Nov. 10th, with breakfast at St. Catherine of Siena Russell Hall. This includes an optional overnight and ends with breakfast on Wednesday before the walk at St. Mary. Youth Group members MUST register for the 24 hour famine by October 24th. You may register for the Hunger Walk on the day of the walk. For more details to work or walk the event, please contact Mrs. Pluta @ 408-9408 or e-mail JudyPlutaYM@gmail.com

YOUTH GROUP MEETS next on Sunday, November 1st, 6-7PM. Pizza will be served.

A HUGE THANK-YOU to youth group members who worked at the spaghetti fundraiser last
Saturday. And another thank-you to those members who helped prep crafts for “Breakfast With Santa” on Sunday night.

CALLING ALL WAITERS AND WAITRESSES in the Youth Group...your help is greatly needed at the “Feed the Hungry” Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday, November 7th, in Russell Hall. If you are available for set-up from 9-11AM or to prep, bus, and serve from 3 - 8:45PM, please contact Mrs. Pluta asap by e-mail at JudyPlutaYM@gmail.com Confirmation service hours will be given for this project!

UPCOMING PARISH MEETINGS

Mon., Oct. 26th @ 7:30PM - RCIA - Library
Tues., Oct. 27th @ 6:15PM - Hospitality Comm. - Music Room
Thurs., Oct. 29th @ 7PM - Legacy Group - Library
Tues., Nov. 10th @ 7PM - Finance Committee - Rectory

Grade 6, 7 & 8 Youth Group Kick-off

Friday, October 30th, 6 - 8PM Come join us for pizza followed by a fun night of games and a bonfire.
Please bring a canned good donation for Simsbury Food Pantry. If you have any questions, please call Karen or Bill Carew @ 651-8960 or email w.carew@comcast.net.

Adult Education & Faith Formation Program

“Our Catholic Identity” by Dr. Joan Kelly The series concludes on Tuesday, October 27th, from
7:30PM - 9:00PM in Russell Hall. The topic is: Holy Orders and Sacred Matrimony. Please join us.

ALL SAINTS DAY - NOVEMBER 1ST

1st Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14;

2nd Reading:1 John 3:1-3;

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12.Focus

Question: Name some saints with whom you feel a special connection.

BLESSING OF THE PUMPKINS

Blessing of the Pumpkins will take place on Sunday, November 1st, at the 11AM Mass with a party to following in Russell Hall from 12N-1PM. All children from K-6 are invited. 7th & 8th graders are needed to help with the event. Please contact Mrs. Bonner @ 658-4737 for more info. A sign-up flyer will be sent home with the Rel. Ed. children on 10/18. CONFIRMATION SERVICES HOURS are offered to anyone helping during
this event (at Mass or the party).

Religious Ed News

CONFIRMATION I & II classes will meet today, Sunday, October 25th. Morning classes are 9:30-10:30AM for both 9th & 10th graders. The evening class schedule is: 9th graders meet from 6-7PM and 10th graders from 7-8PM.

CONFIRMATION RETREAT FORMS are due today, Sunday, October 25th. Late registrations may not be accepted.

The GRADE SIX MASS will be celebrated today, Sunday, October 25th, at the 5:00PM Mass.
All 6th graders are required to attend. Please come to church no later than 4:30PM to practice.

The children will receive their Bibles at this Mass. Also, please remember to bring a non-perishable food item for the Simsbury Food Pantry.

TODAY IS SPORTS SUNDAY! Major League Baseball attire can be worn for Religious Education Classes. A fun and respectful team rivalry will be played!

GRADE 9 (Confirmation I) BAKE SALE this Sunday after the 5PM Mass to raise funds for the St. Catherine/ Sacred Heart ice skating party to be held on December 19th at Simsbury Farms ice rink.

Weekly Mass Intentions

Saturday, October 24th @ 5:00PM, 20th Anniversary Mass for Frank Amoruso, requested by Diane Smith & Family.
Sunday, October 25th @ 8:00AM, Mass for Marc Lagasse, requested by the Butler Family.
Sunday, October 25th @ 11:00AM, Mass for Edward Cumming, Sr., requested by Una Woods.
Monday, October 26th, @ 8:30AM, Mass for Mr. & Mrs. Donat & Gertrude Laramee, requested by son, Robert.
Tuesday, October 27th @ 8:30AM, 2nd Anniversary Mass for Bill Shea, requested by Fay Shea.
Wednesday, October 28th @ 8:30AM, Mass for Lawrence Reilley, requested by Mike & Kathy Reilley.
Friday, October 30th, @ 8:30AM, 1st Anniversary Mass for Andrew Cravero, requested by the Hazelwood Family.
Sunday, November 1st, @ 8:00AM, Mass for the deceased members of the Moran & Reilley Families, requested byMike & Kathy Reilley.
Friday, November 6th, @ 8:30AM, Mass for James Carabillo, requested by Sheila Rae & Charlie Vendetti.
Saturday, November 7th, @ 5:00PM, Mass for Kimberly McWhirter & David Rabito, requested by Tim Gallagher.
Sunday, November 8th, @ 11:00M, Mass for Cara Lonergan, requested by her Family.

Please call the office @ 658-1642 for Mass Intentions. If you would like to bring up the gifts in the offertory procession, please let the usher know when you arrive at church.

October is the month of Mary, our Blessed Mother

October is the month of Mary, our Blessed Mother, and the Catholic Church has always had a tradition of offering during this month our prayers for her intercession to her son, Jesus. If you are a family that prays together or if you are an individual who is looking to begin anew your prayer life, perhaps consider saying the rosary as a family or say the following daily prayer of our Lady, from the Revelation to Sr. Maria of Agreda, from the Mystical City of God; I prostrate myself in your Presence Oh God Most High and I give You Thanks and Praise for your Immutable Being, for your Infinite Perfections, and for having created me out of nothing. I acknowledge myself as your creature and as the work of your hands. I bless You and I adore You. I give You Honour, Magnificence and Divinity as the Supreme Lord and Creator of myself and of all that exists. I raise up my Spirit to place it into your hands. I offer myself with profound humility and resignation to You and I ask You to dispose of Me according to your Holy Will during this day and during all the days of my life, and I ask You to teach me to fulfill whatever would be to your greater pleasure." Then add “I consult You, I ask your advice, I ask your permission and I ask your blessing on everything that I do today". Then add, "I ask you permission to use my body as your temple, my mind as the mind of Christ, my soul as the souls of Jesus and Mary: my memory to remember you only, my will to use it in conformity to Your Will and my understanding to understand You with Your Wisdom and to understand my brothers and sisters."

Or each day you can offer one of the numerous prayers associated with or made to the Blessed Virgin Mary, including but not limted to: The Angelus, the Memorare, the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven), the Magnificat, the Fatima Prayers, or the Litany of Loreto (attributed to Pope Sixtus V in 1587). Mary, as a very young woman said yes to God’s call that she be the vessel of the Incarnation. Young and afraid, she trusted in God and in His mercy and love, so much so that she gave her life over to be the mother of the Holy Family and the spiritual mother of us all. We honor her this month in a special way so as to be pleasing to her Son. Perhaps this is a good year to start a new family or personal tradition, if you haven’t already done so. By way of trivia, it is said that the first Christian prayer ever recited on the soil of North America was the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen) by Christopher Columbus upon founding this Continent.

"Suffering Sunday”–the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. As we read today’s Sacred Scripture we hear the common theme of suffering—that of the Messiah, Jesus, and the suffering of those who are to follow Him. We are, after all, called to be sharers in His life—both here on earth and His eternal life in heaven.

In the Gospel today we hear the familiar account of James and John seeking a special place in the Kingdom—they ask Jesus for the best seats in heaven, basically to be second and third in command. They might just be the original forerunners to for-mer U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig. I am showing my age. In reality, the brothers James and John do not understand the type of Kingship Jesus is about to embrace. It is one of servant leadership, where He will become a slave, a lesser, so that all might be saved. This reminds us of the first reading today which comes from the fourth of the suffering servant songs of Isaiah (which we read from on Palm Sunday and Good Friday) because He (Christ) accepts His suffering freely and t his form of suffering will give life to others. Historians tell us that ―for Isaiah’s readers, this passage would have recalled the image of the scapegoat in Leviticus, when Aaron bound the sins of the people to the goat, which was then sent into the wilderness, freeing the people from the burden of sin.‖ In the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews we hear that while Jesus is One with God He is not distant—or remote—from us. He, the Christ, understands us and can ―sympathize with our weaknesses‖ (Hebrews 4:15) because He has undertaken every test to which this life can subject us. He has lived our life on earth because He is one of us, though without sin, He knows and understands the ―weight‖ of sin and how it impacts our life, our relationships, our ability to move or not move forward until we have been absolved of sin. This knowl-edge that our God knows and understands our ways should give us the confidence to pray to Him and to turn to Him for forgiveness and grace.

That special favor that James and John had asked Jesus for—and Jesus’ response—should also remind us that to lead in the Church and in the faith is a call to Servant Leadership. Christ calls us to serve as priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, as lay ministers either as lectors, altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, as catechists, as religious education directors and youth ministers, as leaders in ministries of social justice and marriage preparation, in serving on parish and finance councils – as leaders in faith showing others what it means to be a Christian disciple of Christ. He calls us not as leaders with power over others but rather as leaders with power to enable others to come to the table of the Lord. To feed on Him, to receive Him in Word, to feel His presence in learning about His life and love—His faith; He calls us to serve as servants of His name. No exaltation, for that is His. No lauding position over others but rather using it to welcome others into His life. We are all called to imitate the Suffering Servant, Christ, and to become ―best‖ by be-coming a ―slave‖ to the Lord.

Some questions for us as a Church to think about in relation to the question James and John asked of Jesus: Who gets the best seats in our church? Where do the ministers sit? Is the choir clearly part of the assembly? They should neither appear to be on stage, nor be hidden in a far-off section. Do those seated in the sanctuary participate fully in the Mass, and do they set an example of full, conscious, active participation in the Mass—joining in sung and spoken responses?

Speaking of “slaving” for the Kingdom, I want to thank two women in particular for their faithful and wonderful service to the altar of God—Ginny Kelly and Kathy Reilley, are the two individuals in our parish who are collecting, washing, and pressing the altar linens so that the Mass may be celebrated with clean linens but also with reverently maintained cloths. At each Mass all week long (weekends and daily Masses) a corporal, two finger towels, and a purificator are used. Add to that the cloths that are needed at baptisms each week (towels to wipe the water from the child’s head and finger towels for the anointing with sacred oils). It is a great deal of work. And one doesn’t just throw them in the washer. There is a process to remove the remaining particles of the Sacred Body of Christ and remnants of the Precious Blood of Christ from the cloths prior to their washing and ironing. I greatly appreciate their devotion, their time and their talent. It is a wonderful ministry that rarely gets highlighted and most definitely requires being a suffering servant. Thank you!

Thank You to all who serve in this parish & an open invitation to those who are thinking about service. Peace, Father Michael