MASS SCHEDULE WEEKEND Saturday: 5:00 p.m. (vigil) Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 (Family Mass), 10:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.

DAILY (in Chapel) Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. & 5:15 p.m. Saturday: 7:00 a.m.

HOLYDAY (in Church) Eve: 5:15 p.m. (vigil) Holyday: 7:00 a.m., 12:10 p.m., & 5:15 p.m.

MASSES FOR SPECIAL GROUPS (September to June - in the Chapel) Youth Mass - 1st Sunday 11:00 a.m. French Mass - 2nd Sunday 12:00 p.m. Italian Mass - 3rd Sunday 11:00 a.m. Spanish Mass - 4th Sunday 11:00 a.m.

RECONCILIATION - Sacrament of Penance (Church Sacristy) Saturday: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. or by appointment SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM (Individual or during Mass) Please call the Rectory to arrange for Baptism. Pre-Baptism Session required – 3rd Saturday: 1:30 p.m. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Please call the Rectory 9-12 months before proposed wedding date to arrange for marriage preparation. ST. CATHERINE’S PRAYER GROUP (Chapel) Tuesday: 8:00 p.m.

Please pray for the deceased members of our parish.

ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE October 31 – November 1, 2015

Sat. 5:00 p.m. Andrew Nanai

Jordan Nanai

Alex Nanai

Sun. 7:30 a.m. Cholo Cruz

Sun. 9:00 a.m. Jacqueline Moran Caroline McShea

Will Newman Jack McShea

Sun.10:30 a.m. Andrew Lydon

Alan Pajer

Sun. 5:00 p.m. Silvano Murljacic

READINGS FOR SUNDAY LITURGY can be found at number 958 in Worship

Saturday, October 24 Rom 8:1-11; Lk 13:1-9 7:00 a.m. Anthony Vitti 5:00 p.m. Salvatore Longo, Jr.

Sunday, October 25 Jer 31:7-9; Heb 5:1-6; Mk 10:46-52 7:30 a.m. Mary Arrighi Thompson 9:00 a.m. Concetta Manuli

10:30 a.m. All the Members of This Parish 11:00 a.m. Dr. Adriano Lopez and Felisa Sanchez Lopez 5:00 p.m. Mario Russo and Teresa and Antonio Russo

Monday, October 26 Rom 8:12-17; Lk 13:10-17 7:00 a.m. Michael Ianniello 5:15 p.m. Sebastiano Puglia

Tuesday, October 27 Rom 8:18-25; Lk 13:18-21 7:00 a.m. Irene Green 5:15 p.m. Katie O'Reilly

Wednesday, October 28 Eph 2:19-22; Lk 6:12-16 7:00 a.m. Corita Gill 5:15 p.m. Patricia Dooley Fortenbaugh

Thursday, October 29 Rom 8:31b-39; Lk 13:31-35 7:00 a.m. Marie Stefanowicz 5:15 p.m. Patricia Klumpp

Friday, October 30 Rom 9:1-5; Lk 14:1-6 7:00 a.m. Thomas Conway 5:15 p.m. All Souls

Saturday, October 31 Rom 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29; Lk 14:1, 7-11 7:00 a.m. Catherine Fitzgerald 5:00 p.m. Sidney Scharf

Sunday, November 1 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a 7:30 a.m. Michael Harris 9:00 a.m. Angelo, Giovanna and Marianna DeAngelis

10:30 a.m. Richard and Elaine Greene – 50th Anniversary (Living)

5:00 p.m. All the Members of this Parish NEXT WEEKEND CELEBRANT SCHEDULE

Saturday, October 31 Reconciliation Msgr. Alan F. Detscher 5:00 p.m. Fr. William F. Platt

Sunday, November 1 7:30 a.m. Fr. Mark D’Silva 9:00 a.m. Fr. Mark D’Silva 10:30 a.m. Fr. William F. Platt 5:00 p.m. Msgr. Alan F. Detscher

PARISH EVENTS AND NEWS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Nov. 1 5:00 Teen Mass/Confirmation Session Mass Followed by dinner and community service activities (see bulletin for details)

Nov. 12 St. Catherine of Siena Support Circle "LinkedIn 201" - guest speaker Donna Sweidan

Nov. 13 Family Fun Night 6:00 p.m., Lucey Parish Hall

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR

Thank you for your generous support for the Little Sisters and the elderly at St. Joseph’s. Your recent donations amounted to $4,209 which will help our mission of helping others to continue. Sister Frances, Isp Little Sisters of the Poor

ALL SAINTS DAY Sunday, November 1

All Souls Mass

Please join us next Sunday, November 1, at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, when the names of those who have died during the past year will be read. All are invited to St. Mary’s cemetery to bless graves at 1:30 p.m. starting at the Mausoleum.

AN INVITATION TO JOIN THE CHOIR!

Come and join the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Choir!

Families welcomed!

What better way to participate in the liturgy than in prayerful song.

Parents are invited to bring your children. (Child must be able to read)

We rehearse on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. (just prior to Mass) in the choir room.

If you are interested please contact Rita Lapcevic at ritalap@sbcglobal.net or 203-637-1413.

LECTORS

The 2016 books for Lectors have arrived. All Lectors should visit the Sacristy to pick up their new books. Please note that the books are grouped in alphabetical order and each person should take their assigned book.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

A PROJECT OF SAMARITAN’S PURSE

This is our 11th year contributing to this worthwhile project. Shoe boxes will be passed out to anyone interested in participating in this project. Gift-filled shoe boxes are distributed in over 100 countries to a less fortunate child.

If you would like to participate, please do so by deciding whether your gift will be for a boy or girl and the age category: 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. You may gift wrap the box, but the lid must be wrapped separately from the bottom of the box and not sealed, or you may use one of our prepared boxes that simply have to be filled.

There are certain items which should not be included such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.

A label stating whether it is for a boy or girl and the age category must be taped to the outside lid of the box. Please enclose a check in the amount of $7.00 for each box to help cover shipping. Checks should be made payable to Samaritan’s Purse.

Filled shoe boxes should be dropped off on the table at the entrance to the church the weekend of November 14th & 15th. No boxes will be picked up or delivered after that date. When these boxes are delivered, a small bible booklet will be given to each child in their own language. Please know that this is a global project and these boxes are delivered to children all over the world that are the poorest.

If you have any questions you may call Carol Weigold at 637-9619. Once again, thank you for your support.

P.S. If you wish to track your box you may do so online and print out the labels to attach to the box. It’s kind of fun to find out where your box went.

FAITH COMMUNITY NURSING MINISTRY

Since April 2015, St. Catherine’s Faith Community Nursing ministers have made approximately 170 separate contacts with fellow parishioners by visiting, bringing Eucharist, and praying with and for them. We humbly ask you to continue to pray for us, and especially to seriously consider if you are being called to join this caring ministry!

PARISH EVENTS AND NEWS ****************************************************************

Financial Report

Sunday Offertory (for the last four weekends) September 19 & 20…………………….. $13,067** September 26 & 27…………………….. $19,017** October 3 & 4…………………………… $11,362 October 10 & 11………………………... $ 8,804** **includes Monthly and/or Annual Offertory donations

Take the Simple Way to Support your Parish!

Automatic Electronic Giving (AEG) allows you to make your Sunday Offertory donations with your VISA, MasterCard or American Express Credit Card or by using electronic funds transfer (EFT). Visit St. Catherine’s website (www.stcath.org) or contact the Business Office for details.

****************************************************************

A NEW LOOK FOR OUR SUNDAY EVENING MASS

Next Sunday, November 1st, at the 5:00 p.m. Mass the teens will begin to participate in the liturgy in new and exciting ways. We are still looking for teens and young adults to serve as volunteers and participate by singing, or playing an instrument, reading, helping the ushers or simply helping pick up the song sheets and papers left after Mass.

Msgr. Detscher hopes to make this Mass more family and young adult friendly. It’s a great way to wrap up a busy weekend. Come and spend time with the Lord with your family, and the family of St. Catherine’s.

If you are interested, please contact Deacon Lou at lhowe@stcath.org, or call him at 203-637-3661 x328.

BIRTHRIGHT OF GREATER STAMFORD

Birthright of Greater Stamford is seeking volunteers to help support women with unplanned pregnancies to bring babies to term. Volunteers provide pregnancy tests, listen to client concerns, and connect women with medical, financial, legal and other needed resources. Ability to commit 3 hours per week in the office is required. Schedule is flexible and training is provided.

Birthright is located at 388 Summer Street, Stamford. If interested, you can call the office at 203-348-4355. Please go to www.birthright.org for more information on this international organization dedicated to life.

St. Catherine’s Players announces audition calls for its 2016 production of Peter Pan!

Open Auditions will be held on:

Monday, November 30th – 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 1st – 7:30 p.m.

Lucey Parish Hall Broadway's timeless classic musical whisks you away to a place where dreams are born and children never grow up! Peter Pan, the TONY Award-winning musical has been performed around the world and delighted audiences for more than 60 years.

This is the Broadway version of the show with mainly adult principals and an active ensemble of all ages. Children must be at least eight years old or in third grade. Callbacks will be Wednesday, December 2. Come with a prepared song and sheet music in your key for the accompanist. A group dance audition will be held each evening. In addition, please bring a list of your rehearsal and production date conflicts (January through mid-March).

Rehearsals begin on Monday, January 4, 2016 and are held Monday through Thursday and Sunday evenings. Not all cast members are called for all rehearsals and times vary depending on role.

Production dates are March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13, 2016 with curtain times of Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Joe Guttadauro will direct, Rita Lapcevic will provide music direction, Zachary Kampler will conduct the orchestra, and Matthew Blank will choreograph. Wendy Blumenthal and Jody Breakell are the producers of St. Catherine’s Players.

For information or to volunteer, please visit us at: www.stcatherinesplayers.com or you may also email stcatherinesplayers@gmail.com.

Like us on Facebook at “Saint Catherine’s Players” for the latest updates.

PARISH EVENTS AND NEWS

FAMILY FUN NIGHT

This year’s first Family Fun Night was on October 9. As a team building activity, parents and children had to build a church with spaghetti and marshmallows and the table with the tallest church won a prize. The building had to be done in silence with the children doing the building and the parents directing. The rest of the evening was on prayer styles, ie. drawing God, praying in color, praying with movement and song.

“PLIGHT OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST”

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Lucey Parish Hall

You are invited to attend this discussion of the "Plight of Christians in the Middle East".

George Marlin, Chairman of Aid to the Church in Need-USA, will share the background of the current conflicts that have claimed the lives of thousands of Christians. Statements from the Bishops of those countries will be included.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Karen Shields, DM at 203-629-2727 or drkaren@optonline.net.

SECOND DIOCESAN WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

FAITH, LOVE & MERCY A Day of Prayer and Reflection

Saturday, November 7, 2015 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

(breakfast and lunch included) Hyatt Regency, Greenwich

Join us for Mass with Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, adoration and reconciliation. Featured speakers will include Father Peter Cameron, OP, “Made for Love, Loved by God” and Sonja Corbitt, Catholic Author and Speaker.

The cost is $55 pp. For more information, please contact Maureen Ciardello at 203-416-1445 or Marcy Haley at 203-416-1627. You may also send an email to womensconference@diobpt.org.

SOCIAL SENIORS

Join St. Catherine’s Social Seniors on some of their wonderful trips. For more information, including pricing, call Carol Weigold at 203-637-9619 or Roseann Benedict at 203-979-9104. Trips fill up quickly so contact us immediately if you would like to join us.

************************************************* These 3 trips are “waitlist only”

Oct 26: Dancing in the Street at Aqua Turf – Day Trip Nov 10: USO Tour at Grand Oak Villa - Day Trip Dec 10: Glen Miller Band Holiday Show at Aqua Turf

************************************************* Jan 13: Mohegan Sun Casino - Day Trip Jan 22 – 24: Spa—Lodge at Woodloch Feb 1 – 11: Cruise to Caribbean March 23: Food halls of NYC: Eataly, Chelsea Market, Plaza Hotel Food Hall April 8 – 10: 2 night overnight trip to Washington DC Monuments and Cherry Blossoms May 23 – 25: 2 night overnight to PA - Sands Casino, Samson at Sight & Sound Theater, Longwood Gardens June 15: St. Clements Caste - “They Write the Songs” – lunch/show - Day Trip June 6-19: Alaskan Cruise (see details below) July 25: Lobster trip surprise - more info to follow Aug 10: Mohegan Sun Casino - Day Trip Aug 31: The Duprees at the Aqua Turf show/lunch – Day Trip Sept 28: Big E - in Massachusetts - Day Trip Oct 13:

CT Oktoberfest – Lunch - Day Trip Nov 9: Stars and Stripes show/Foxwood Casino - Day Trip Dec. 7: Holiday Show ALASKA – June 6 – 19, 2016 Join St. Catherine’s for a 14 days/13 nights deluxe escorted land/cruise tour to Alaska. Holland America cruise liner will guide you to the wonderful sights of Fairbanks, Denali, Zaandam, Seward, Glacier Bay, Haines, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Inside Passage, Vancouver. A trip you have always dreamed of. Make those dreams come true. For brochure, pricing or more information call Roseann Benedict at 203-979-9104. Space limited. Call immediately for details.

Janis Pataky - Director of Faith Formation Religious Education for Gr. 1 – 5 203-637-3661 x329 -- j.pataky@stcath.org Deacon Louis Howe - Assoc. Director of Faith Formation Gr. 6 – 8 & Youth Ministry 203-637-3661 x328 - lhowe@stcath.org Janet Wrabel - Confirmation Coordinator 203-913-4393 - wrabel@stcath.org

Jesus said: "Let the children come to me." May God move the hearts of His people that they respond to His call so that we may have the right people in the right places in our programs.

We could use a hall monitor for Wednesday. Please pray about it and call Janis Pataky 203-637-3661 x 330 or email: j.pataky@stcath.org

Evening for Catechists – November 5 All catechists in Vicariate 1 and 2 are invited to an evening of “Hands on Catechesis” at St. Matthews Church, Norwalk, CT. This is presented by John Collins/sponsored by Sadlier Publishing. BYOS-Bring your own scissors. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.; Light Supper at 7:00 p.m. and presentation at 7:45 p.m. RSVP to Janis Pataky at j.pataky@stcath.org.

Confirmation Session 3: Sunday, November 1 -- 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

*Mass followed by dinner and preparing apple pies for Thanksgiving Day Food Baskets.

*All candidates, with at least one parent, please go directly to Church for 5:00 p.m. Mass.

Sign up to be a special participant in the Mass. Greeters, gift bearers, lectors (readers), ushers, along with singers and musicians are needed for this Mass. Please contact Deacon Lou Howe ASAP to volunteer for one of these spots. Training will be available.

Remember: All candidates need to be a special participant in 3 Masses prior to May 2016.

Please sign up by Tuesday, October 27 at www.signupgenius.com under email wrabel@stcath.org and look for Session 3.

Please go directly downstairs to the Lucey Parish Hall after Mass for dinner and apple pie making. Parents are invited to join us for dinner and baking. Adult help will definitely be needed.

But he kept calling out all the more,

"Son of David, have pity on me."

Gospel Reflection - Mark 10: 46-52 When someone calls attention to himself in a crowd, others sometimes say, "Stop making a spectacle of yourself!" In today's gospel story, it is the blind beggar Bartimaeus who is irritating the crowd. He is shouting so persistently to Jesus that the people are embarrassed by this public display of neediness. They attempt to shush him. But Bartimaeus shouts, "Son of David, have pity on me!" Jesus hears the beggar's plea and restores his sight. He tells Bartimaeus that his own faith has healed him.

We all suffer from blindness of one kind or another because we fail to see things as Jesus does. "I want to see" should be our daily prayer to him.

Question of the Week: When does being Jesus' disciple require courage?

Family Discussion Questions for the Gospel Why do you think the crowd was so irritated by the blind beggar's behavior? What experiences do you have of people being embarrassed by those who are odd or different? How does Bartimaeus respond to the complaints of the crowd? How does Jesus's response differ from the crowd's? Why do you think Jesus heals Bartimaeus? What are some of the influences in our society that weaken our ability to see as Jesus does? What kinds of blindness might people your age experience? How can you improve your spiritual eyesight?

Peace and Blessings, Deacon Lou

Thought for the week “Once St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God’s goodness and asked our Lord ‘How can I thank you?’ The Lord replied: ‘ATTEND ONE MASS’.”

Middle and High School Youth Group

The Middle School and High School Youth Groups will have a KICK-OFF Meeting following the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Sunday, November 1st.

Join us for pizza and then the groups will make sandwiches for the various shelters and soup kitchens in our area that are always in need.

We have so much to offer our community. When we shine a light for others, we also light our own path. Please consider joining us!

There will be no youth group activities or meetings until after this November 1st meeting.

Visit www.stcath.org for the full class calendar.

What’s happening in Faith Formation Grades 1 – 12

The Religious Education Office hours are Monday – Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 1 - Family Program in the Lucey Parish Hall 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, November 3 - No Religious Education Classes (Election Day)

Wednesday, November 4 - Grades 1-5 . . . Religious Education Classes in session Grades 6–8 . . . No Classes

Thursday, November 13 - Family Fun Night – 6:00 to 7:30; Lucey Parish Hall

Are you looking for an opportunity to serve your community and benefit others while enriching your own life?

Sunday, November 1 After the 5:00 p.m. Mass

Room 102