Saint Thomas Church 99 Bristol Street, Southington, CT 06489-4599

Telephone: 860-628-4713 Fax: 860-628-7341 e-mail: stthomassouthington@gmail.com

Web Site: www.stthomassouthington.org Religious Ed email: stchurchre@gmail.com

Pastor: Rev. Joseph R. Cronin - fr.cronin@aohct.org Download our App: see MyParishApp.com

ST. THOMAS CHURCH SOUTHINGTON

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23

4:00 Robert and Jeanne Plourd, req. by their daughter

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 FOURTH SUNDAY of ADVENT

7:30 Joseph and Dolores DePaolo, req. by Pamela and Val

DePaolo

10:00 Mary and Gabriel DelChiaro, req. by Elaine Ainsworth

VIGIL of CHRISTMAS

4:00 Louis Avitabile, Sr.—11th Anniversary, req. by Karen

Avitabile

4:00 Annette Miceli Brown, req. by her parents and family

Midnight Ralph Torelli, req. by Kathy and Emil Kopcha

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25 NATIVITY of the LORD

10:00 Dolores Ambrose, req. by Elaine Ainsworth

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26

7:30 Christopher Hjerpe, req. by his parents

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28

12:10 John Kearney, req. by his wife

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29

12:10 Mr. and Mrs. Archelas Vaillancourt, req. by Leopold

Bonin

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30

8:00 Parishioners of Saint Thomas

4:00 Patti Yorski, req. by her husband and daughter

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31

7:30 “V” Jennie Chamberlain, req. by Michele DiBenedetto

and family

10:00 Harry White, Sr., req. by his family

MONDAY, JANUARY 1 MARY, the HOLY MOTHER of GOD

9:00 Joseph Roccapriore, req. by the Sisters

BULLETIN

All bulletin announcements must be submitted in writing no later

than the Monday prior to publication. It is best to send by email

to stchurchre@gmail.com. Submitting well in advance is greatly

appreciated. PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE HOLIDAY

SCHEDULE BULLETINS ARE DUE MUCH EARLIER TO

THE PRESS COMPANY. ANYTHING FOR EARLY

JANUARY SHOULD BE SENT TO US NOW.

NEW PARISHIONERS

Welcome! We are delighted to have you join our parish. Please

introduce yourself to Fr. Joe after Mass. Parish registration forms

are available in the sacristy after Mass or at the rectory office

during the week.

ST. THOMAS PRAYER LINE MINISTRY

To make a request for prayer contact the rectory at 860-628-4713

or, the Sisters at the Convent: 860-621-1904.

BULLETIN ADVERTISERS

Please remember to support the businesses who advertise on the

back of the weekly bulletin. We wish to thank our advertising

sponsors for making this publication possible.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

In Memory of:

John R. Morgan, Sr. Caryl G. Morgan

Otto T. Besescheck Theresa M. Besescheck

John R. Morgan, Jr. Frank Levanti

The Levanti Family The Lavallee Family

The Bogush Family The Pater Family

Rosaire Michaud Francis Fitzsimons

Ernistine Fitzsimons Lena Plourde

John O’Neal Sophie & Evo Mongillo

Elaine Simone Richard Clark

The Cocozza and Cicarelli Families Pat Petrucci

Anna & Louis Petrucci Robert Zbikowski

Edna & Adolph Zbikowski Alexander A. & Ann C. Cima

Angelo & Pierina Carnaghi Elvige Re & Theresa Calcuterra

Alex & Margaret Cima Kristen Milano

Terry D. Cima Maureen Scott

Edward Sisto Salvatore Alfred Gioia, Sr.

Amelia Gioia Louis & Floria Cello

Frank & Annette Mongillo Sophie & Al Tutino

Nancy & Ed MCray Sharon Boutot

Carmine & Filomena Votino Dolores Biafore

Michele & Immacolata Salvati Gloria Gombar

Lincoln & Alexandrina Mongillo Patricia Kozlowski

Helen & Peter Folcik Catherine Louise Whelan

Rose & Lou Fontana Peg & Ted Buzanoski

Anthony P. D’Agostino Thomas Tedesco, Jr.

David D’Agostino Michael Bengston

M/M Thomas Tedesco, Sr. M/M Louis Tiscione

M/M Ernest Giglio Mary & Bob Vachon

Bob, Robert, Louis & Juliette Govoni Josephine Walsh

Aline, John & Sandra Roderiques Louis Avitabile

Robert Davis LuAnn Davis

Joseph Gleason Orest Pospolita

Pelletier & Levesque Families Anthony Iaccarino

Betty Ring Daniel Charette

Nellie Kaczynski Veronica Sadowski

Marie Albert Rose & Pat Latino

Phyllis & Dan Vendetti Joan Latino

Raymond F. Derynioski Jacob & Katarine Hanecak

Patricia Bryda Gary Bryda

Joseph S. Labrie Mary A. Labrie

Claudia & Patricia Labrie Frank W. Dunn, Jr.

Leonide Bouchard Stella Bouchard

Kenny Bouchard Nettie & Stanley Keller

Verna & Stephen Kveckak Reno Mastriani

Joseph & Mary Zacchio Alfonso & Maria Fragola

Louis & Michaela Perillo Anthony &Teresa Zacchio

Pusk Cirillo Louis Perillo Family

Roy, Dick & Jimmy Antonio Zacchia Family

Elizabeth Longo Isabella Gozzo

Robert Gionfriddo Ernest Wright

Robert Wright Anna DiCapris Wright

Ronald Wright Caterina & Alfonso D’Angelo

Nicholas DeLuco Joe Rigano

Norah Hanson Dolly Osgood

George Whyte, Sr. Iona & Sisto Palmieri

Katherine & Simon Cyr Rocco L. Calabrese

Tom Nedjoika & Family Francis Galliher and Family

Ann & Ken Donahue Boleslaw Kowalczyk

Angela Melican Lauren Bernier

Continued next week…….

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT / VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 24, 2017

Readings for the Week of December 24, 2017 Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

[2a]/Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38

Monday: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 [3c]/Heb 1:1-6/Jn

1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14

Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc

and 17 [6]/Mt 10:17-22

Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 [12]/Jn 20:1a, 2-8

Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5--2:2/Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8 [7]/Mt 2:13-18

Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 [11a]/Lk 2:22-35

Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17/Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 [11a]/Lk 2:36-40

Next Sunday: Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3, 3 -4, 5-6, 8-9, [7a, 8a] /Heb 11:8,

11-12, 17-19 /Lk 2:22-40

My dear friends,

Merry Christmas! (I know it’s the Fourth Sunday of Advent,

but Christmas Eve is this evening. It’s the shortest week of

Advent ever!) I hope and pray that this letter finds you all happy

and healthy. I pray that your celebrations with family and friends

are joyous. May this Christmas season be a time of peace and

happiness in your home!

I want to take a moment to thank all of the parishioners of St.

Thomas Church. I have been here now for six months, and you

have been incredibly welcoming to me. It’s never easy to move

and learn a new system, but you have made that transition much

smoother than I could have imagined. Your gracious acceptance

and great hospitality has been a blessing for me. I am most

grateful to you all. Thank you!

This Christmas, remember that graciousness and welcoming

spirit. You have welcomed Christ into your hearts; you have

welcomed me into your home; now welcome all God’s people

with that same generosity of spirit into your lives. You have a

great capacity for kindness and compassion that you really

should appreciate. I hope you recognize that in all your

relationships, whether with the oldest friends and family or with

the newest visitor too our community. You can make another

person’s life much happier and better by just being as kind as you

have been to me. When you do that, you truly live the message

of Christmas.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God Incarnate. He came to share our

humanity and give us his blessings. He is not a distant God who

cannot understand or care about human problems. Jesus is

human and deeply cares about our lives. He came and always

welcomed those who were most in need of kindness: the sick, the

grieving, the alienated, and the marginalized. The Lord warmly

welcomed the stranger and made them feel as if they were the

most important person. He has done that for us, and now we

should do the same for others. To live the love of God is the

Christmas message. You are capable of doing it very well. Keep

up that good work!

On behalf of everyone here at St. Thomas, Church, I wish you

a most blessed Christmas!

Happily yours in Christ, Fr. Joe

PS – In gratitude for welcoming me into your lives and homes, I

want to welcome you. We will have an open house at the rectory

after Masses on Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th.

Coffee and…. will be served there, and you can see the rectory

decorated for Christmas. I hope to see you there! Let me extend

the same hospitality to you have offered to me.

Father Joe’s Notes

The Church Sanctuary Candle is offered this week in

memory of Louis Avitabile, Sr., requested by Karen

Avitabile.

The Chapel Sanctuary Candle is offered this week in

memory of The deceased members of the Ferrucci

Family, requested by Angie and family.

HOLY DAY

Monday, January 1st is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother

of God. Mass will be celebrated in the church at 9:00 a.m.

Because it falls on a Monday there is no obligation.

K OF C FREE THROW CHALLENGE

The Southington K of C Council #15 is sponsoring a Basketball

Free Throw Challenge for boys and girls age 9-14 at the

Southington Catholic School Gymnasium, Saturday January 6th,

with a rolling registration beginning at 10:30am to 12noon, and

the competition starting at 11am. The event is free. Pease join us

for this very fun event. Any questions, please call Phil Mazzatti

860-276-8228 or email mazzophi@att.net. Snow date: January

13th.

We wish to congratulate the parents of Harris Duke Getz who

was baptized at St. Thomas Church last weekend.

BIBLE STUDY

The next Bible study class will meet Thursday evening,

December 28st at 7pm in the school cafeteria. We will cover

Galatians 5. Please bring your bible.

SAVE THE DATE!

St. Thomas Parish will be holding a Potluck Supper on Saturday,

January 20th, after the 4pm Vigil Mass. All parishioners are

invited to bring their favorite ethnic or family dish to share. This

will be a great time to break up the mid-winter blues. If you

would like to help plan this fun event, please contact BJ Raby at

860-628-9425.

LADIES GUILD

The St. Thomas Ladies Guild will meet on Monday, January 8th,

2018 at 7:00pm in the church basement. All are welcome to

attend a short general meeting followed by a Pizza and Movie

night. Many thanks for all those who supported our Bake Sale and

Raffle recently. Many outstanding desserts were offered along

with a huge assortment of raffle items. Congratulations to all the

winners!