26 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel, CT 06801 Phone: (203)744-5777 Fax: (203)744-3740

Website: www.stmarybethel.org Email: stmaryoffice@comcast.net Visit us on Facebook: StMaryChurchBethel

PARISH OFFICE HOURS: 9am –3:00 pm, Mon. – Fri. (Closed Weekends and Holidays)

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St. Mary Catholic Church February 10, 2019

Sunday, 2/10 Monday, 2/11 Tuesday, 2/12 Wednesday, 2/13 7:00am, 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am & 5:30pm Masses 9:30am RCIA 6:30pm Three6TeenCrew at St. Joseph

6:30am Mass 8:35am Rosary 9:00am Mass 7:30pm Knights of Columbus

6:30am Mass 8:35am Rosary 9:00am Mass

6:30am Mass 8:35am Rosary 9:00am Mass 7:00pm Prayer Service

As a slave, her experiences varied from fair treatment to cruel. Her first owner, a wealthy Arab, gave her to his daughters as a maid. The assignment was easy until she offended her owner's son, possibly for the crime of breaking a vase. As punishment, she was beaten so severely she was incapacitated for a month. After that, she was sold.

One of her owners was a Turkish general who gave her to his wife and mother-in-law who both beat her daily. Josephine wrote that as soon as one wound would heal, they would inflict another.

She told about how the general's wife ordered her to be scarred. As her mistress watched, ready with a whip, another woman drew patterns on her skin with flour, then cut into her flesh with a blade. She rubbed the wounds with salt to make the scars permanent. She would suffer a total of 114 scars from this abuse.

In 1883, the Turkish general sold her to the Italian Vice Consul, Callisto Legani. He was a much kinder master and he did not beat her. When it was time for him to return to Italy, she begged to be taken with him, and he agreed.

After a long and dangerous journey across Sudan, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean, they arrived in Italy. She was given away to another family as a gift and she served them as a nanny. Her new family also had dealings in Sudan and when her mistress decided to travel to Sudan without Josephine, she placed her in the custody of the Canossian Sisters in Venice.

While she was in the custody of the sisters, she came to learn about God. According to Josephine, she had always known about God, who created all things, but she did not know who He was. The sisters answered her questions. She was deeply moved by her time with the sisters and discerned a call to follow Christ.

When her mistress returned from Sudan, Josephine refused to leave. Her mistress spent three days trying to persuade her to leave the sisters, but Josephine remained steadfast. This caused the superior of the institute for baptismal candidates among the sisters to complain to Italian

> The month of February has some very interesting Saint days that most Catholic know very little about, that is until now.

February 6 – St. Paul Mikki and Companions. Paul was the son of a Japanese military leader. He was born at Tounucumada, Japan, was educated at the Jesuit college of Anziquiama, joined the Jesuits in 1580, and became known for his eloquent preaching. He was crucified on February 5 with twenty-five other Catholics during the persecution of Christians under the Taiko, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, ruler of Japan in the name of the emperor. Among the Japanese laymen who suffered the same fate were: Francis, a carpenter who was arrested while watching the executions and then crucified; Gabriel, the nineteen year old son of the Franciscan's porter; Leo Kinuya, a twenty-eight year old carpenter from Miyako; Diego Kisai (or Kizayemon), temporal coadjutor of the Jesuits; Joachim Sakakibara, cook for the Franciscans at Osaka; Peter Sukejiro, sent by a Jesuit priest to help the prisoners, who was then arrested; Cosmas Takeya from Owari, who had preached in Osaka; and Ventura from Miyako, who had been baptized by the Jesuits, gave up his Catholicism on the death of his father, became a Buddhist Monk, and was brought back to the Church by the Franciscans. They were all canonized as the Martyrs of Japan in 1862. Their feast day is February 6th.

February 8 – St. Josephine Bakhita Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering.

Historians believe that sometime in February 1877, Josephine was kidnapped by Arab slave traders. Although she was just a child, she was forced to walk barefoot over 600 miles to a slave market in El Obeid. She was bought and sold at least twice during the grueling journey .

For the next 12 years she would be bought, sold and given away over a dozen times. She spent so much time in captivity that she forgot her original name.

St. Mary Catholic Church 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thursday, 2/14 Friday, 2/15 Saturday, 2/16 Sunday, 2/17 6:30am Mass 8:35am Rosary 9:00am Mass 6:30pm Didache 7:00pm Choir

6:30am Mass 8:35am Rosary 9:00am Mass

8:00am Mass 8:30am Men’s Ministry 4:00pm Confessions 5:30pm Mass

7:00am, 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am & 5:30pm Masses 9:30am RCIA

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authorities on Josephine's behalf. The case went to court, and the court found that slavery had been outlawed in Sudan before Josephine was born, so she could not be lawfully made slave. She was declared free.

For the first time in her life, Josephine was free and could choose what to do with her life. She chose to remain with the Canossian Sisters.

She was baptized on January 9, 1890 and took the name Josephine Margaret and Fortunata. (Fortunata is the Latin translation for her Arabic name, Bakhita). She also received the sacraments of her first holy communion and confirmation on the same day. These three sacraments are the sacraments of initiation into the Church and were always given together in the early Church. The Archbishop who gave her the sacraments was none other than Giusseppe Sarto, the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice, who would later become Pope Pius X.

Josephine became a novice with the Canossian Daughters of Charity religious order on December 7, 1893, and took her final vows on December 8, 1896. She was eventually assigned to a convent in Schio, Vicenza.

For the next 42 years of her life, she worked as a cook and a doorkeeper at the convent. She also traveled and visited other convents telling her story to other sisters and preparing them for work in Africa.

She was known for her gentle voice and smile. She was gentle and charismatic, and was often referred to lovingly as the "little brown sister" or honorably as the "black mother."

When speaking of her enslavement, she often professed she would thank her kidnappers. For had she not been kidnapped, she might never have come to know Jesus Christ and entered His Church.

During World War II, the people of the village of Schio regarded her as their protector. And although bombs fell on their village, not one citizen died.

In her later years, she began to suffer physical pain and was forced to use a wheelchair. But she always remained

cheerful. If anyone asked her how she was, she would reply, "As the master desires." On the evening of February 8, 1947, Josephine spoke her last words, "Our Lady, Our Lady!" She then died. Her body lay on display for three days afterwards.

In 1958, the process of canonization began for Josephine under Pope John XXIII. On December 1st, 1978, Pope John Paul II declared her venerable. Sadly, the news of her beatification in 1992 was censored in Sudan. But just nine months later, Pope John Paul II visited Sudan and honored her publicly. He canonized her on October 1, 2000. Saint Josephine Bakhita is the patron saint of Sudan and her feast day is celebrated on February 8.

February 10 — St. Scholastica St. Scholastica, sister of St. Benedict, consecrated her life to God from her earliest youth. After her brother went to Monte Cassino, where he established his famous monastery, she took up her abode in the neighborhood at Plombariola, where she founded and governed a monastery of nuns, about five miles from that of St. Benedict, who, it appears, also directed his sister and her nuns. She visited her brother once a year, and as she was not allowed to enter his monastery, he went in company with some of his brethren to meet her at a house some distance away. These visits were spent in conferring together on spiritual matters. On one occasion they had passed the time as usual in prayer and pious conversation and in the evening, they sat down to take their reflection. St. Scholastica begged her brother to remain until the next day. St. Benedict refused to spend the night outside his monastery. She had recourse to prayer and a furious thunderstorm burst so that neither St. Benedict nor any of his companions could return home. They spent the night in spiritual conferences. The next morning they parted to meet no more on earth. Three days later St. Scholastica died, and her holy brother beheld her soul in a vision as it ascended into heaven. He sent his brethren to bring her body to his monastery and laid it in the tomb he had prepared for himself. She died about the year 543, and St. Benedict followed her soon after. Her feast day is February 10th.

February 14 — Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cyril and Methodius must have often wondered, as we do today, how God could bring spiritual meaning out of worldly concerns. Every mission they went on, every struggle they fought was a result of political battles, not spiritual, and yet the political battles are forgotten and their work lives on in the Slavic peoples and their literature.

Tradition tells us that the brothers Methodius and Constantine (he did not take the name Cyril until just before his death) grew up in Thessalonica as sons of a prominent Christian family. Because many Slavic people settled in Thessalonica, it is assumed Constantine and Methodius were familiar with the Slavic language. Methodius, the older of the two brothers, became an important civil official who would have needed to know Slavonic. He grew tired of worldly affairs and retired to a monastery. Constantine became a scholar and a professor known as "the Philosopher" in Constantinople. In 860 Constantine and Methodius went as missionaries to what is today the Ukraine.

When the Byzantine emperor decided to honor a request for missionaries by the Moravian prince Rastislav, Methodius and Constantine were the natural choices; they knew the language, they were able administrators, and had already proven themselves successful missionaries. But there was far more behind this request and the response than a desire for Christianity. Rastislav, like the rest of the Slav princes, was struggling for independence from German influence and invasion. Christian missionaries from the East, to replace missionaries from Germany, would help Rastislav consolidate power in his own country, especially if they spoke the Slavonic language.

Constantine and Methodius were dedicated to the ideal of expression in a people's native language. Throughout their lives they would battle against those who saw value only in Greek or Latin. Before they even left on their mission, tradition says, Constantine constructed a script for Slavonic -- a script that is known today as glagolithic. Glagolithic is considered by some as the precursor of cyrillic which named after him.

Arriving in 863 in Moravia, Constantine began translating the liturgy into Slavonic. In the East, it was a normal procedure to translate liturgy into the vernacular. As we know, in the West the custom was to use Greek and later Latin, until Vatican II. The German hierarchy, which had power over Moravia, used this difference to combat the brothers' influence. The German priests didn't like losing their control and knew that language has a great deal to do with independence.

So when Constantine and Methodius went to Rome to have the Slav priesthood candidates ordained (neither was

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a bishop at the time), they had to face the criticism the Germans had leveled against them. But if the Germans had motives that differed from spiritual concerns, so did the pope.

He was concerned about the Eastern church gaining too much influence in the Slavic provinces. Helping Constantine and Methodius would give the Roman Catholic church more power in the area. So after speaking the brothers, the pope approved the use of Slavonic in services and ordained their pupils.

Constantine never returned to Moravia. He died in Rome after assuming the monastic robes and the name Cyril on February 14, 869. Legend tells us that his older brother was so grief-stricken, and perhaps upset by the political turmoil, that he intended to withdraw to a monastery in Constantinople. Cyril's dying wish, however, was that Methodius return to the missionary work they had begun.

He couldn't return to Moravia because of political problems there, but another Slavic prince, Kocel, asked for him, having admired the brothers' work in translating so much text into Slavonic. Methodius was allowed by the pope to continue saying Mass and administering baptism in the Slavonic tongue. Methodius was finally consecrated bishop, once again because of politics -- Kocel knew that having a Slavonic bishop would destroy the power of the Salzburg hierarchy over his land. Methodius became bishop of Sirmium, an ancient see near Belgrade and given power over Serbo-Croatian, Slovene, and Moravian territory.

February 22 — The Chair of St. Peter The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter celebrates the papacy and St. Peter as the first bishop of Rome. St. Peter's original name was Simon. He was married with children and was living and working in Capernaum as a fisherman when Jesus called him to be one of the Twelve Apostles.

Jesus bestowed to Peter a special place among the Apostles. He was one of the three who were with Christ on special occasions, such as the Transfiguration of Christ and the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemani. He was the only Apostle to whom Christ appeared on the first day after the Resurrection. Peter, in turn, often spoke on behalf of the Apostles.

When Jesus asked the Apostles: "Whom do men say that the Son of Man is?" Simon replied: "Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus said: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood have not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to you: That you are Peter [Cephas, a rock], and upon this rock [Cephas] I will build my Church [ekklesian], and the gates of hell shall not

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAYER SERVICE Join us for quiet prayer at 7:00pm in the Notre Dame Center for our own personal intentions and for the whole world.

Our next meeting of the St. Mary MEN'S MINISTRY group will be on Saturday, February 16 at 8:30am in the Parish Hall. Come share in the positive Christian fellowship and learn how you can better strengthen your personal faith journey. For more information, email Craig DeFreese at acdefreese@snet.net or Eric Keener at stmarys06801@gmail.com.

Copies of Matthew Kelly’s book THE BIGGEST LIE IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY — How Modern Culture is Robbing Billions of People Happiness is available at no cost in the vestibule of the Church. Please feel free to take a copy.

Like us on Facebook at ‘StMaryChurchBethel’ and follow us on twitter ‘@StMaryBethel’

Religious Ed Office hours are Mon., Tues., Wed., and Thurs. 9:30am-2pm (203)743-4557

REGISTRATION is continuing for the 2018-19 School Year. You can download the Religious Education Registration forms from our website stmarybethel.org and return them to the Religious Ed office.

Offertory for the weekend of February 2/3, 2019

Collection: $10,396.00 On-Line Giving: $4,014.00

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

RCIA is here at St. Mary’s! The RCIA program prepares candidates to be received as members of the Catholic Church. Potential candidates are often found among family members of our Parish Community.

Our RCIA program meets Sundays after the 8:30am Mass. If you or someone you know is interested and has not reached out, please contact the Parish Office at 203-744-5777

FATHER COREY’S EPISTLEFATHER COREY’S EPISTLE prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven". (Mt 16:13-20)

In saying this Jesus made St. Peter the head of the entire community of believers and placed the spiritual guidance of the faithful in St. Peter’s hands.

However, St. Peter was not without faults. He was rash and reproached often by Christ. He had fallen asleep in the Garden of Gethsemani instead of praying, as Jesus had asked him to do. He also denied knowing Jesus three times after Christ’s arrest.

Peter delivered the first public sermon after the Pentecost and won a large number of converts. He also performed many miracles and defended the freedom of the Apostles to preach the Gospels. He preached in Jerusalem, Judaea, and as far north as Syria.

He was arrested in Jerusalem under Herod Agrippa I, but miraculously escaped execution. He left Jerusalem and eventually went to Rome, where he preached during the last portion of his life. He was crucified there, head downwards, as he had desired to suffer, saying that he did not deserve to die as Christ had died.

The date of St. Peter's death is not clear. Historians estimate he was executed between the years 64 and 68. His remains now rest beneath the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The St. Mary School Cheerleaders will be hosting a BAKE SALE after all the morning Masses today, Sun., February 10.

We are pleased to announce the 2nd ANN H. STOSSER SCHOLARSHIP for new incoming K - 8 students. Two scholarships for one full year’s tuition have been provided through the generosity of Ann and Bob Stosser. Ann and Bob are longtime supporters of our parish and school and are the parents of three St. Mary School graduates. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2019. Please go to our website (www.StMaryBethelCT.org) and click on the “Ann H. Stosser Scholarship” button on the front page. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Garvey at LGarvey@StMaryBethelCT.org or by calling 203-744-2922.

As a result of high interest in our exceptional PRE-K PROGRAM, we are very excited to announce

the opening of a new Pre-K class NOW. Registrations are being accepted for the class, with a start date of mid-February. Please contact Linda Garvey at lgarvey@stmarybethelct.org or 203-744-2922 for registration information.

The 25TH ANNUAL ST. MARY SCHOOL DINNER AND AUCTION will take place on Saturday March 16, at Michael’s at the Grove in Bethel. Tickets are on sale now at https://s m h s a b c t . e j o i n m e . o r g /theroaringtwentyfifth. Seating is limited, so buy your tickets soon! We are also looking for contributions to the auction catalog. If you have something that you can donate to the auction, we would love to hear from you! Please contact India Jonas (indiajonas@gmail.com). All contributions are greatly appreciated.

EFFORTLESS FUNDRAISING Please consider participating in some of the “effortless fundraising” programs that support our school. The Amazon Smile foundation will donate 0.5% of your purchase to us by accessing Amazon via https://smile.amazon.com/ch/32-0445968. SMS has also partnered with Shutterfly and every order placed here automatically generates a 13% (of purchase price) donation to SMS. To place an order, please visit sms.shutterflystorefront.com. Visit our school website at www.stmarybethelct.org and click on “Effortless Fundraising” for more information and links to these sites. Thank you for participating!

EVERY CLIP COUNTS!! Please continue to collect & save Box Tops! It’s such an easy way to earn funds for our school. Questions? Contact Heidi Paris: heidimparis@hotmail.com

Please visit us on FACEBOOK at “St. Mary School, Bethel” to see photos and news of the latest happenings at SMS!

SAVE THE DATES!!!

COME HOLD MY SON MISSION CONCERT with Daniel Oberreuter

Sunday, March 10 at 7:00pm Daniel Oberreuter, the lead singer of the Catholic band, The Thirsting, will be holding a solo acoustic Parish Mission Concert called Come Hold my Son. Inspired by the song written by Oberreuter, Come Hold my Son Parish Mission concert takes listeners on a journey through the mysteries of the rosary. The mission concert begins fun and upbeat. Then as it progresses, Daniel reveals his soul through story's and images that challenge and push each listener to greater conversion of their heart.

The Concert will be preceded by a “Pot Luck” soup dinner in the Parish hall following the 5:30pm Mass.

LENTEN MISSION RETREAT with Father Sam Kachuba

Mon., March 18 — Wed., March 20 at 7:00pm

Father Kachuba will be holding a 3-evening retreat on the Eucharist. Fr. Sam was born and raised in Stratford, CT where he attended St. James and St. Mark parishes. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in Trumbull in 2001 and entered St. John Fisher Seminary in Stamford. He studied philosophy at Fordham University in the Bronx (BA 2004), before continuing his seminary formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. There, he studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University (S.T.B. 2007, S.T.L. 2009). Fr. Sam was first assigned to St. Pius X Parish as a seminarian in the summer of 2006. After he was ordained a priest in 2008, he was again assigned to St. Pius for the summer, before returning to Rome to complete his studies.

Fr. Sam served as parochial vicar at St. Pius from 2009-2011. From 2011- 2014, he was assigned to St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Greenwich and as Assistant Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Bridgeport. In January 2014, he became Director of Vocations and Episcopal Chaplain at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford.

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano appointed Fr. Sam Pastor of St. Pius X in January 2015. Fr. Sam loves when people pray for him, enjoys playing music, is a huge fan of “Lord of the Rings,” and has a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Calcutta and Bl. Chiara Luce Badano.

Online Giving is here at St. Mary! Reasons to sign up for Electronic Giving: No need to write checks or bring cash to church. Peace-of-mind knowing that the church is receiving

your contribution even if you are unable to attend. More secure than checks. All contributions are recorded for you on your bank

statement with date of settlement. Visit our website www.stmarybethel.org to get started or go to www.osvonlinegiving.com/994 to register.

Hello ladies and gents,

Don't forget that this Sunday (2/10) at 6:30pm we are meeting at Saint Joseph's. We will be having a make your own Sundae bar while we make Valentine's Cards for the elderly at Bethel Healthcare. Also, who was Saint Valentine? Yes, he was a real man! We will learn about him as well. It's going to be a lot of fun. We'd love to see you there. Please come by and make the short drive to Saint Joseph's in Brookfield.

In Christ,

Drew

Contact Drew Donovan, Regional Youth Coordinator at Three6TeenCrew@gmail.com for more information on any of the activities or if you wish to volunteer!!

As you know, this cold and flu season is in full swing. Because of this, are implementing the following procedures until the end of the flu season:

We are temporarily suspending offering the Precious Blood of Christ at Mass.

Please, if you are experiencing severe cold and flu symptoms, do not come to Church. There is no sin incurred if you are sick and do not come to Mass.

We will be following these procedures until the end of the flu season. Please use common sense in all these matters. Thank you for your cooperation and stay well!!

6:30AM MASS POLICY FOR SCHOOL DELAYS/CANCELLATIONS

If there is a school delay or closing in Bethel due to the weather, there will be no 6:30 a.m. Mass that day.

Please use common sense when it comes to the 9:00am Mass. If there is a significant snow fall even at 9:00 am, please do not venture out. This is a matter of safety. If the 6:30 a.m. Mass is cancelled, the Mass intention will be said privately by the priest that day.

SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP

Consider giving yourself a gift this new year. The gift of a Spiritual Companion.

A spiritual companion is someone who provides a way to deepen your spirituality. If you desire to enhance your connection to what is Holy in your life you might be interested in meeting with a spiritual companion. He or she will help you to explore your spiritual life. Typically, spiritual companions meet once a month for approximately one hour.

“Spiritual companioning is a sacred relationship. The conversation takes place within an atmosphere of trust, respect and support. All information is held in strict confidence. Both trained spiritual directors and those in training receive supervision.” Spiritual Life Center, Inc.

If you would like to know more about spiritual direction/spiritual companionship please call: Michele Curnan at 203 733-8673 or e-mail at mcurnan@htrccsherman.org

GOD’S WORD FOcR CHILDREN

Our next meeting is on Mon., February 11 at 7:30pm in the Parish Hall. We will say the Rosary at 7:00pm in the Church.

A p p l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e KNIG HTS OF C OLUMB US Pavia Council Scholarships are available in the parish office. Two scholarships will be awarded to students entering their Freshman

year of college starting in the Fall of 2019. Eligible applicants must reside in Bethel CT or their father must be a member of Pavia council #48. Applications are due on 4/2/19.

The Knights of Columbus are a Catholic men's fraternal ministry. Charity is the first principle of the Knights of Columbus, and we are Catholic men of faith and men of charitable action. If you are at least 18 years of age, we invite you to join us. Please contact Grand Knight Bill Taylor at (503) 550-7176 or email gkofpavia@gmail.com. Like us on Facebook.com/Pavia48!

READINGS FOR THE WEEKREADINGS FOR THE WEEK

Mon.: Gn 1:1-19; Ps 104:1-2a, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35c; Mk 6:53-56 Tues.: Gn 1:20 -- 2:4a; Ps 8:4-9; Mk 7:1-13 Wed.: Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17; Ps 104:1-2a, 27-28, 29bc-30; Mk 7:14-23 Thur: Gn 2:18-25; Ps 128:1-5; Mk 7:24-30 Fri.: Gn 3:1-8; Ps 32:1-2, 5-7; Mk 7:31-37 Sat.: Gn 3:9-24; Ps 90:2-4abc, 5-6, 12-13; Mk 8:1-10 Sun.: Jer 17:5-8; Ps 1:1-4, 6; 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20; Lk 6:17, 20-26

Enjoy a free subscription to FORMED, a wonderful website that has been called a “Catholic Netflix.” FORMED has inspiring movies and video based studies, audio talks and e-books from the Church's most compelling speakers and authors.

Our parish has invested in FORMED, so that each of us might grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and in our desire to share our Faith with others, especially those closest to us.

With your free access to FORMED, 24/7 on your smartphone, computer, iPad, or Kindle, you can:

Prepare for Mass each week by watching an insightful five-minute video on the Sunday Readings;

Enjoy movies as a family that are both nourishing and entertaining;

Enrich your marriage with the award-winning video program Beloved; and

Help your children grow in faith and character with engaging children’s materials.

It’s EASY and FREE to Register! Go to stmarybethel.formed.org. Click “Register” and enter you name, email address,

and desired password You’re all ready to access the inspiring and

engaging content on FORMED! For children, there is a FORMED KID’S KORNER with videos and other activities to share with them throughout the year!

AROUND THE DIOCESEAROUND THE DIOCESE On Sunday, March 17 (St. Patrick's Day) St. John Fisher Seminary in Stamford will be hosting a "SPORTS DAY" for high school aged men. It will begin at 1:30pm and run until 6:30. This event will involve the whole human person - mind, body, spirit (and stomach). Come and play dodge ball and other games, and will spend time before the Blessed Sacrament in adoration, pray vespers. Food will be served! For more information or to register, Call St. John Fisher at (203) 322-5331

DOROTHY DAY HOSPITALITY HOUSE is 36 years old and is asking for your prayers. You may have heard our shelter has been served with a cease

and desist order by the City of Danbury. Through a technicality of our original shelter permit, we are in court to keep the doors of our shelter open. We have always tried to serve our fellow brothers and sisters with love and at no expense to the taxpayer. Hundreds of community volunteers, including many from this parish, lend a hand each month. With the power of prayer, we hope to serve our community as long as our services are needed, treating people with the dignity and respect we all deserve. As Mark 11:24 states, “Therefore I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours”. (www.dorothydaydanbury.org)

203-788-7675

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEKMASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

SAT., FEBRUARY 9 5:30 + Allison Napolitano — The Kuhn Family

SUN., FEBRUARY 10 7:00 + Kathryn Becher — St. Mary School 8:30 + Stephen Tranzillo — The Keener Family 10:00 + Catherine Gadarowski — Marie Miller 11:30 + Frank J. Brisco, Jr. — Dave & Mary Fancher 5:30 + Rose Simonelli — Charles & Daughter

MON., FEBRUARY 11 6:30 + The DeWitt/Fitzgerald Family 9:00 Logan Duffy and all the Sick Children — Family

TUES., FEBRUARY 12 6:30 + Kim Dackson — Kate Fitzgerald 9:00 + John Gallagher — The Gavin Family

WED., FEBRUARY 13 6:30 + Margaret Milea 9:00 + Dorothy Boscola — Fran Ebert

THU., FEBRUARY 14 6:30 + Louis DiMatteo — The DiMatteo Family 9:00 + Nick Dono — Mary & Bob Sawitsky

FRI., FEBRUARY 15 6:30 For an End to Abortion 9:00 + Edward J. Gallagher, Sr. — Family

SAT., FEBRUARY 16 8:00 + Thelma Watson — Peter & Mary Ellen Leone 5:30 + Link Hurgin (8th Anniv.) — Jeanne Hurgin

SUN., FEBRUARY 17 7:00 + Patrick Troy — Tom & Mary O’Leary 8:30 + Harold Beckert — The Keener Family 10:00 + Zoraida Sanchez — Brian & Shannon Vanderheiden 11:30 + Jean Lussier — Drew Donovan 5:30 + Phyllis Ducibella — Husband & Daughter

STAFF Father Corey V. Piccinino, Pastor Father Robert Wolfe, Parochial Vicar Deacon John DeRoin Kate Fitzgerald, Parish Secretary & Bulletin Editor Sue Dolan, Parish Secretary Julie Doerner, Business Manager Paul Orsino, Property Manager

ST. MARY SCHOOL (744-2922) Greg Viceroy, Principal

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (743-4557) Mary Ferri, Director

Maggie Kent, Secretary

RCIA (203)744-5777 Call if you are interested in becoming a Catholic or completing

your initiation as a Catholic with Confirmation and/or Eucharist.

YOUTH MINISTRY Drew Donovan (203)744-5777

MUSIC MINISTRY Michael Ferrari, Music Director Elizabeth Barnes, Choir Director

FINANCE COMMITTEE (794-8512) Bob Kozlowski, Chairman

BAPTISMS: Sundays at 12:45pm (excluding the 1st Sunday of each month). Please call the Rectory at least six weeks in advance to schedule your Baptism and to sign up for the Baptism Class that is required for both parents and Godparents. These classes are offered on the first Sunday of each month. Anyone requesting a Sponsorship form must be a currently registered and practicing Catholic, and they must attend one of the Baptism Classes to receive it. There is a 3-month waiting period for a sponsorship form for the newly registered. The Catholic requirements for a Godparent/Sponsor are: you must be at least 16 years old; received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Catholic Church; attend Mass regularly on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation; receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion regularly; sincerely try to follow the moral teaching of the Catholic Church; and if married, were married in the Catholic Church. ARRANGEMENTS FOR MARRIAGE: All couples must meet with a parish clergyman at least six (6) months before the marriage is to be celebrated. PASTORAL CARE AT DANBURY HOSPITAL: Prior to your hospitalization, you or a family member should notify the Rectory. HOLY COMMUNION FOR THE SICK: To any of those who are homebound or hospitalized and interested in having a visit by a priest, please contact the parish office. Anyone interested in serving in this ministry, please call the Parish Office at 744-5777. PRAYER LINE: If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, please call our Prayer Line. Our team leader is Maggie Kent (203-731-4738).

MASS SCHEDULE

Monday – Friday 6:30 & 9:00am

Saturday 8:00am & 5:30pm (Vigil Mass)

Sunday 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30am &

5:30pm

RECONCILIATION

Saturday: 4:00 – 5:00pm

Name:

Address:

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State Zip Code

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Email:

FOR A BROCHURE WITH FULL DETAILS, CONTACT OR DETACH & MAIL TO :

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26 Dodgingtown Road

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