St Catherine of Siena
A Roman Catholic Parish located in West Simsbury, Connecticut
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April 2011
April 30, 2011
April 24, 2011
April 22, 2011
Boy Scout Troop To Hold Pizza Fundrasier
Please support our 2011 Troop 175 Philmont Crew by dining at joe pizza (2 Wilcox Street, Simsbury) on Wednesday April 27, 2011 between 5pm-9pm. 15% of your food purchases, dine in or takeout, will be donated back to Troop 175 to help send 10 scouts to Philmont Scout Camp this summer!
Located in the heart of Simsbury, joe pizza is a quality family restaurant serving a full menu of mouth watering dishes to satisfy any appetite. These specialty is brick oven New Haven style pizza made fresh to order.
A flyer must be presented to your server or takeout specialist upon ordering.
Download Joe pizza small flyer
Download a flyer to use when you visit joe pizza on April 27th and to share with friends, co-workers or family. Download more information at pizza.SimsburyTroop175.org
The more people who participate, the more money Troop 175's Philmont Crew will receive!
April 17, 2011
April 07, 2011
The Fifth Sunday of Lent
The Fifth Sunday of Lent—offers us a time to review the Lenten messages of the last few weeks before we move toward the big “test” of the Easter season that is coming.
On the first two Sundays in Lent we focused on the mercy of God and His great desire for all of us—all sinners—to return to Him, that not one of us should be lost to death but that all will be welcomed into His glorious Kingdom. This is a great time in the Church‟s calendar to remember that—as the Church
has always taught, does teach continuously today, and will always teach—that Christ came to save all peoples. His mercy endures forever! On the Third Sunday of Lent we listened to the account of the Samaritan women and her individual plight in searching out her faith, a plight in which many of us share. On the Fourth Sunday in Lent we heard about the man born blind and how Jesus not only gave him sight but also insight into faith and religion. Something else we all might share in—
the gradual movement to faith in Christ. Today, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, we hear of another commonality of our humanity: the universality of death and the offered gift of Eternal Life
through Christ alone.
The themes of death are three-fold: physical death which our bodies experience. No one escapes this physical death (Gospel of John). The second theme of death in the readings is a spiritual death or the implication of spiritual death (Romans), as we are all sinners. And the third type of death
noted in these readings come from the consequences of social sins such as violence, terrorism, greed and hatred (from the first reading of Ezekiel as he speaks of the death of a nation). And
yet in this universality of death in which we all share as human beings, God offers us New Life, in Christ, which we are able to access through faith so that He can raise us out of the despair of
all this death and enter into the glory of Eternal Life. He offers us grace time-and-time-again never turning away from us but rather always desiring us and seeking after us. He is like the
earthly father and mother, who, while not condoning sinful actions, always forgives and seeks to rebuild our broken relationships. The question that remains is: whether we are going to allow sin and death to reign in our lives and our communities or will we choose the New Life offered in Christ?
Evil is out there: I believe that only the “blind” would not admit to the existence of evil in our world. The evil one is powerful and clever, and seeks to infiltrate our daily lives so that we can become desensitized to the scourge of evil and its effects in our relationships here on earth and with our ultimate relationship with God. But we have a powerful antidote to evil—it is forgiveness and mercy—offered by God.
This Tuesday night at 7 p.m. our parish will host a Reconciliation Service with four priests. All are invited and encouraged to attend and participate in the grace of this Sacrament. It might not be high on everyone‟s “To Do” list but it is a powerful preventative medicine. Receive God‟s love and
mercy and then spread that forgiveness to others in your life. Consider yourself invited: Tuesday, April 12th at 7 p.m.
Peace…in more ways than one.
“SO HOW WAS THE MISSION TRIP…? “
Many times this week parishioners inquired, “ How was the mission trip?” So, at the mission trip follow-up meeting Sunday night, I asked the teens that went on the trip to share their answer in writing.
“Absolutely fantastic, the best experience of my life.”
“ Heavenly”
“ It was so much fun and educational”
“ Great! I made new friends, had a chance to re-focus and most importantly, help the homeless.”
“ So much better than what I had imagined it would be.”
And, one of my most favorite comments,
“Fantastic, definitely a life changing experience”
A “Life changing experience.” What does it take to change a life? What does it mean to experience something that invites us to change who we are or the way we look at things? I think one of the first requirements is to be OPEN to something new, something we might be afraid of, or something that
we have never tried. It is there that the God of surprise meets us.
Some of the teens worked at St. Mary‟s Women and Children's Shelter. Before floors, walls, and toys were scrubbed, they heard the stories of the young women residents and met their children, giving the gift of dignity by being attentive listeners. In the two homes for men in transition, we were inundated
with kindness and “thank you‟s” by the men who were grateful for a meal prepared and served by the teens. For just a few hours we had a glimpse into the life of someone who is learning to live „one day at a time‟, after a struggle with a past of addiction.
At our other worksites, meals were prepared, walls and doors were painted, floors were mopped. Bingo was played, and beds were set up for the evening shelter guests. At the Long Island Shelter, our teens folded 3000 pounds of laundry! At first, this un-glamorous task was perhaps a bit disappointing.
But as the hours passed, and passed, the revelation came that the teens were "caring for the caretakers‟. By midafternoon, they had folded enough sheets and blankets for this 1000 bed shelter that would have taken the two staff members a week to complete, and they had a lot of fun doing it together.
Our evenings were spent making 150 sandwiches and snack bags for the Boston Common or hosting our three formerly homeless guests for dinner so that they could share their stories with us.
Our days seemed long and we were often tired, but the energy of our teenagers always seemed to rise to the occasion. In the simplest acts of day- to- day living, preparing and serving meals, listening attentively, folding laundry, ...we saw how we could make small changes for a few hours in the lives
of those we served . But, also, perhaps our hearts were opened to the possibility of change within ourselves. Maybe we have returned to our own community with a greater appreciation for
all we have and an awareness that God working through us undeniably is an experience that changes us.
Judy Pluta
Youth Minister
ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES
On Saturday, April 23rd, we will have our next distribution in the vestibule. If you can
volunteer, please contract Louise at afm.lpd2010@gmailcom or Karen at kwbooks@comcast.net or call the rectory and leave a message on x12. The hours for pick up is 9:30am - 12:30pm and for distribution at St. Catherine‟s from 12:30-2pm. Since December, we have distributed 208 boxes of food at a cost of nearly
$6,500.00. We continue to need your help to provide Easter boxes for 64 families in our community. Please consider donating $36.00 to purchase one box. That is just under $1.00 for each of the days of Lent. Thank you for any and all contributions of time, talent, and treasure to this ministry.
SCRIP TIP
Wow...we have 3 March Madness winners! UCONN won the tournament and James & Elizabeth Sparkowski plus Angela Healy-Ging won our Scrip Card March Madness Raffle! Congratulations!
Spring Cleanup! Remember to get your Ace Hardware, Home Depot and Lowes scrip cards before you tackle those spring home improvement and yard clean up projects by logging on to www.shopwithscrip.com!
Did you forget your checkbook? Don‟t worry, cards are available on line at www.shopwithscrip.com when you use the Saint Catherine‟s enrollment code 7A65C56C279L1! No card sales on Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday. Cards on sale again April 30/May 1st. You can still place an order online!
in Scrip Program | Permalink
Youth Group News
SUNDAY, APRIL 10TH - FULL Youth group meets tonight for SERVICE NIGHT. If you
can come at 5:45pm (15 minutes earlier than our usual 6pm) it will help us accomplish all of our
tasks for the evening. Bring something nice from your closet that you do not wear anymore. A teen in
Hartford could be using it. We will start tonight by folding the collected “clothes for the naked". We will also be involved in planning two future service projects and getting ourselves ready for Easter. Come check it out and bring a friend. Pizza will be served. 1 1/2 service hours will be given for those who need confirmation hours and come to fully participate tonight.
MISSION TRIP FOLLOW-UP –AFTER ALL MASSES
this weekend, the mission team will be in the atrium to tell you about their trip. Also, the slide show of their trip will be available for viewing after every Mass EXCEPT THE SUNDAY NIGHT MASS because Russell Hall will be in use.
SAVE THE DATE - back by popular request - YOUTH GROUP GIRLS RETREAT at Camp Washington, Saturday, May 14th (departure will be at 8:30AM) through Sunday, May 15th (returning home after brunch). This girls retreat was a relaxing highlight for many last Spring and we‟ve been asked to do it again. Information and registrations forms are now available in the vestibule and atrium or email Mrs. Pluta for details.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the Warner Theatre - the rock musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, depicting
the last days and passion of Jesus is playing at the Warner Theatre on Friday, May 20th, at
8:00PM. Youth Ministry would like to see if there is enough interest in attending this performance
as a group. Please email Mrs. Pluta asap if you are interested at JudyPlutaYM@gmail.com
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Lenten and Easter Schedule
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Friday, April 15th, @ 9am & 7pm
LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE
Tuesday, April 12th - 7:00PM
(several priests will be available at this service)
ADORATION & BENEDICTION
join fellow parishioners every Sunday during Lent following the 11 a.m. Mass for a short period of adoration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Please join us as we thank God for His goodness.
HOLY THURSDAY, APRIL 21st—7:30pm
Commemoration of the Last Supper. Washing of the Feet and procession with The Blessed Sacrament.
GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 22nd - 3:00pm
(no morning Mass)
Good Friday Service (3pm - the hours we understand Christ died) - a unique day in our Catholic tradition. No Mass is celebrated— the Lord has died. Our service is the Passion, the Veneration
of the Cross, and a Communion Service with communion having been consecrated at the Holy Thursday Commemoration of the Last Supper.
HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 23rd
(no 5:00pm Vigil)
12:00Noon - Blessing of the Easter Meal -Church Proper
8:00pm - Easter Vigil Mass - in the ancient Church, everyone had to be baptized at this service because it was so completely identified with the Sacrament of Initiation. Just as Jesus entered
death and rose from the tomb to new life, believers in Him enter the waters of Baptism and rise from those waters to a new life in God. The Easter-Paschal candle dominated every Baptismal
ceremony to illustrate this point. It is also present at every believer‟ s funeral to point to the deceased‟s new life with God.
EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 24TH
MASSES - 8:00am,
10:00am & 12:00noon
LENTEN MERCY PROJECT
your contribution to this weeks project were so kind. Thank-you!! For the last week of our project,
the intention is to "Visit the Imprisoned". Our gifts will be to both men and women‟s prisons. Please
donate: Catholic literature (bibles, books, magazines, newspapers, etc.), books of any kind, magazines without mailing info. We are so grateful to all of you who are able to donate.
EASTER FLOWERS
If you would like to make a donation toward our Easter Flower display in memory of a loved one/s,
please use the envelopes provided on the tables in the atrium and vestibule. Please print the names clearly on the envelope and return it to the parish office by Tuesday, April 19th. Thank-you!
WOMEN’S & MEN’S CLUB SCHOLARSHIP
The clubs are now accepting applications from Saint Catherine of Siena high school seniors based upon past service at church or community service. Applications are in the atrium and vestibule.
Deadline for submission is May 1, 2011.
UPCOMING COLLECTIONS
Sunday, April 10th - Peter’s Pence
Sunday, April 17th - Refurbishment & Repair Collection
UPCOMING PARISH MEETINGS
Monday, 4/11 @ 7PM - Prayer Shawl Ministry - Library
Monday, 4/11 @ 6:30PM-Parish Directory Mtg. - Russell Hall
Tuesday, 4/12 @ 7PM - Penance Service
Monday, 4/18 @ 6:30PM - Usher/Altar Server Mtg. - Church
Tuesday, 4/19 @ 7PM - RCIA - Rectory
in Parish Events | Permalink
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Thank you to all the families who attended the Pot-Luck Brunch and brought something to share!
It was a lovely last day for classes and the music and awards program was made very special by the
children, their music, skits, slide show and most of all, by their presence. Congratulations to the
recipients of the Outstanding Christian Character and Outstanding Attendance Awards. If you did not get your certificate on Sunday, please check the credenza in the vestibule and take it home.
A sad goodbye to our high school catechists who are leaving for college in the fall: Katie Vignati, Catie Davis, Amelia Flater and Kathleen O‟Hara. We wish you all the best! Also, goodbye and thanks to our adult catechists who are moving on to other ministries next year: Pam Kim/ Gr. K, Christine Moretta/Gr. K, Maureen Gaffney/Gr. 2, Karen Willis/Gr. 3, Janice Drake/Gr. 7, Amy Neureither/Gr. 7, Sharon Floryan/Gr. 7, Lori Martensen/ Gr. 8 and Laura Swenson/Gr. 8.
CATECHISTS NEEDED!! See above grades and find out more by contacting Kathi Bonner, DRE, @ Kathidre@aol.com or call 860/658-4737.
Our FIRST COMMUNION BANNER is hanging in the church. Please take the name of one child
home to your family and pray for this young boy or girl as they prepare to receive Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament of First Holy Communion on May 7th.
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WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday, April 9th, @ 5:00PM, Mass of Thanksgiving, requested by Mary & Ed Bouquillon.
Sunday, April 10th, @ 8:00AM, 9th Anniversary Mass for Beth Drapelick, requested by Tony Drapelick.
Sunday, April 10th, @ 11:00AM, Birthday Remembrance for Robert J. Keefe, requested by wife Mary & Family.
Sunday, April 10th, @ 5:00PM, Mass for Jennie Yablonski, requested by Dick & Verne Mahoney.
Monday, April 11th, @ 8:30AM, Mass for Margaret Hopkins, requested by Barbara & Dick Hopkins.
Tuesday, April 12th, @ 8:30AM, Mass for Mary Carroll, Gladys Slater, and Laurette Begin, requested by the Thursday Morning Renew Group.
Wednesday, April 12th, @ 8:30AM, Mass for Anna Zelno, requested by Mike & Kathy Reilley.
Saturday, April 16th, @ 5:00PM, Mass for Anthony Brancato, requested by Constance Raiano.
Sunday, April 17th, @ 8:00AM, Mass for John Hayes, requested by Mike & Kathy Reilley.
Monday, April 18th, @ 8:30AM, Special Intention Mass for Mike Grappone, requested by Joann Cwikla.
Tuesday, April 19th, @ 8:30AM, Mass for Arthur Szczepanski & Rozalia Haverczuk, requested by 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. Mass Intentions remind us of
our Christian duty to pray for our dearly departed.
April 01, 2011
Laetare Sunday
Greetings, welcome, and thank-you to all our Saint Catherine of Siena Parishioners! I want to offer my thanks and warm welcome to the new parishioners who have joined our parish during the census drive begun last weekend and to the current members who updated their information. More than 392
census cards were returned in the collection totaling some 54 new families joining our ranks with some 338 parishioner families updating their registration information. A number of the returned cards were duplicates. This is a great help to us and will enable good information to help form our future and make
our parish even more active and vibrant. If you are still working on your census form, feel free to drop it in the box in the atrium or drop it in the collection basket or at the parish office. We also appreciate the very nice comments about Saint Catherine of Siena that many of you noted on the cards.
Lent and the Fourth Sunday—as we enter into the fourth week of Lent, I also want to thank everyone who has been participating in our Lenten Mercy Project each week. Organizers tell me that participation is way up over recent years with people generously bringing in the needed items for all the
different corporal works of mercy, and still others have donated money, or are helping out with the distribution of the goods. Thank you!
Laetare Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent and the entrance antiphon for today‟s celebration of the Eucharist is “Laetare, Jerusalem!” meaning “Rejoice, Jerusalem!” which is a day of special rejoicing in the midst of the penitential season of Lent—much like Gaudete Sunday in Advent—we set aside a special time to live in joy and take note of the special joy of the Easter Season which is coming fast and means so much for our salvation. On this Laetare Sunday some things are different—the liturgical color is pink or rose, if the parish has such color vestments and dressings, flowers are allowed in the sanctuary, and organ music which has been low-key during the season of Lent can take a place of prominence in the Liturgy; though we do not sing the Gloria or the gospel alleluia until the Great Easter Vigil. We are called this Sunday in a particular way to recognize that we live in the light of the Risen Christ and we rejoice in the knowledge of the One who restores sight to the blind and sets prisoners free.
Like the gospel account of the woman at the well last week, this Sunday's Sacred Scripture tells us that the story of the blind man who regains his sight unfolds gradually and in a very careful way to show us that the man moves from darkness into light, from ignorance into understanding. John's Gospel is
like a great musical theme, repeating its sounds as it rises to a powerful and enlightening crescendo that awakens us to hear and see what Christ calls each of us to in this season of anticipatory joy.
This gospel story reminds us that the ancient world believed that sin caused God (and in pagan cultures the "gods”) to repay the sinner with sickness or just plain “bad luck.” Even today that idea is viewed by some, though misguided for sure, as God repaying some people with diseases or natural disasters
for their sinful acts. We are confident that God does not sit in the heavens wondering who “deserves” cancer or Aids, nor does He send unemployment or a malfunctioning car to some uncaring or evil person. Sin—both of commission and omission— are not pay back for our wrong doing or that of our forefathers. Rather, evil seems to bring about more evil. It is the nature of its essence. As nothing breeds success like success, so too evil breeds more evil. The people of Haiti, Japan, New Zealand
or even California are not the makers of the natural disasters— at least not by way of sin—perhaps as some scientists may theorize, the natural disasters of the world may, in part, be caused by the abuse or over-farming, or self destruction of the planet but certainly they are not the intentional causation of a loving God.
In this weekend's Gospel we hear the familiar story of the blind man who was made healthy by the ritual Jesus performed (a ritual prayer we use in today's rite of baptism of infants when the prayer of Ephpheta meaning “be thou opened”). Scholars tell us that for the disciples this action is merely a case in point—“an illustration of the question they want to ask Jesus about the nature of sin and human suffering. But to Jesus, he is more: his blindness is an instrument of God's grace, to reveal the
"works of God,‟ to testify to Jesus as the "light of the world.‟” (John 9:3,5) It is only after the blind man's sight is restored that he speaks and declares who he is. The onlookers question whether he
could really be the man who they used to see blind and begging in the marketplace and he unquestionably says, “I am!” As we noted above, this is a gradual unveiling of Christ's power for in the next breath—literally—the once blind man does not know who Jesus is. Then, brought before the Pharisees to be interrogated the sighted man now declares Jesus “a prophet.” And even later on in
the story the man now knows who Jesus is as he states that “If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” (John 9:33).
Like the blind man, our faith journey begins in darkness and hopefully comes to light in the recognition of who Christ is and what He has done for us. We too might have to be “expelled” from the synagogue as was the blind man and then coming face-to -face with Jesus in some way in our lives, recognize who he is as our eyes of faith are opened. And like the blind man, we must come to worship Christ. For in that end goal, we come to know and celebrate the right relationship with God.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this conversation, the story of the blind man is one of gradual enlightenment. So too is our story. We are all tested, we all doubt, we all flow like the tide—in and out—of faith and are at times blind to what Christ is doing around us. If our faith is weak what we need to do is have the desire to learn—to see and hear—the power of God working not only in the world around us but in our very own lives. Like the blind man, we need the anointing which took place in the Ephpheta—the sacraments of the Church—in the cleansing power of Baptism and the fullness received in Confirmation, in the mending power of Reconciliation, in the strengthening power of the Eucharist, in the fortifying power of holy matrimony or sacred orders, and in the healing power of the anointing of the sick. As the Church teaches, the anointing—the restoration of his physical sight—is only the beginning of the blind man‟s journey—and ours too. O joy! O Laetare Sunday! May we all see the Light.
DID YOU REDEEM YOUR AUCTION ITEM YET?
Our Youth Ministry Mission Team is hoping to hear from you if you were the winning bid on an
auction item. The teens are anxious to earn their bid for the trip and payback their promise. Did you lose the name and phone number of the teen? Please email Judy Pluta at JudyPlutaYM@gmail.com
in Youth Groups | Permalink
2011 PARISH CENSUS
The parish-wide census to update our database of parishioners has
begun. This information will help us receive the resources we need
from the Archdiocese and allows us to better serve the needs of our parishioners.
We ask that all parishioners take a few moments to complete one card per family.
The cards will be available in the church, the parish office, and at Religious Education.
Please return the cards to the box provided in the atrium or the parish office.
ST. ELIZABETH HOUSE
We will be serving dinner to the residents on Sunday, April 10th. 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 4/10. We will leave Saint Catherine of Siena parking lot at 4PM, return by 6:15PM. Call Bill/Pat Walsh @ 658-2606.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITY!!
SCRIP TIP
STARTING TO SPRUCE UP YOUR FAMILY’S SPRING AND SUMMER WARDROBES?
The following merchants offer a rebate of 10% or greater to Saint Catherine of Siena : Gap, Macy’s, 77Kids, aerie, American Eagle Outfitters, Banana Republic, Children’s Place, Gymboree,
J. Crew, Land’s End, Old Navy, Piperlime, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, L.L. Bean, Orvis, Payless Shoes & Talbots. Order your cards today and go shopping next weekend!
Did you forget your checkbook?
Don’t worry, cards are available on-line at www.shopwithscrip.com when you use the Saint
Catherine’s enrollment code 7A65C56C279L1. For the weekend of APRIL 9th/10th, cards will be
on sale after the 5:00PM Vigil Mass on Saturday and the 11AM Mass on Sunday. There will be no card
sales after Mass the weekends of Palm Sunday and Easter. Cards will be back on sale after Mass the
weekend of April 30th/May 1st. You can still place an order on-line! Just follow the instructions above.
in Scrip Program | Permalink
ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES
The April Angel Food menu is now available for ordering. Please take a look at the new selection items,
particularly the Easter Holiday Box. Menus and order forms are available in both the atrium and vestibule or online at www.angelfoodministries.com. At present, in-person orders are due by April 14th. On-line ordering is available through April 17th for distribution on Saturday, April 23rd. This ministry
serves parishioners and other community members; all can enjoy the fresh foods at reasonable prices. We encourage you to share this information with your family and friends in the surrounding
communities. If you care to make a donation, envelopes are found at the AFM display. Last weekend the ministry sponsored 62 foods boxes.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS
Sunday, April 3rd, 6-7PM - Mission team follow up meeting in Russell Hall. Please bring
your trip photos. 7PM - Confirmation Interviews!
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BAKE SALE AND EASTER EGG HUNT
The Confirmation Classes are sponsoring a BAKE SALE on the weekends of April 2nd/3rd and April
9th/10th to raise money to hire a bus in order to host the children of Sacred Heart Parish in Hartford
for an EASTER EGG HUNT on Saturday, April 23rd. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!
