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The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph December 27, 2015

Friday January 1st: The Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God

8:30 a.m. John Lawrence Turner Requested by Mary Bathrick 10:30 a.m. Bruno Robert Palmieri Requested by Mrs. Karen Mazrek and Family

7:00 a.m. Special Intention

Tuesday December 29th

Wednesday December 30th

7:00 a.m. For the People of the Parish

7:00 a.m. Special Intention 4:00 p.m. Special Intention

7:00 a.m. Special Intention

Thursday December 31st

Altar Servers December 26th & 27th

4:00p.m. Hunter Valarose, Andrew Cherrone, and Juliana Janezic 7:30a.m. Steven Rapillo, Kira Amann, Sarah Lynn Fletcher, and Charles Puckhaber 9:00a.m. Samantha Strell, Jake Ali, Justine Manning, and Julia Murcko 11:00a.m. Stephen Longo, Carina Ciampi, Cara & Patrick Walsh 4:00p.m. David Biddiscombe, Zachary Foti and Roman Putnam

January 2nd & 3rd

4:00p.m. Christian & Alexandra Hakim, and Tristan Colafati 7:30a.m. John & Joseph Deko, and Grace & Maggie Jinks 9:00a.m. Jameson Hardy, Luke Audie, Conner Perry and Serena Staples 11:00a.m. Aidan, Kian, and Rory McCormack 4:00p.m. Hunter Valarose, Andrew Cherrone, and Juliana Janezic

Extraordinary Ministers December 26th & 27th

4:00 p.m. Clark, Elengo, R. Kozaczuk, J. Kozaczuk 7:30 a.m. Christolini, Saviello, Kasinskas, Rowinski 9:00 a.m. Ciaburri, Lussier, J. Ginnetti, Pisani 11:00 a.m. Larkin, Lonergan, Devine, C. DeSantis 4:00 p.m. Please consider volunteering

January 2nd & 3rd

4:00p.m. R. Kozaczuk, J. Kozaczuk, R. Roczynski, J. Roczynski 7:30a.m. Rowinski, Christolini, Kasinskas, Saviello 9:00a.m. Cherrone, S. DeSantis, M. Ricciuti, Glazweski 11:00a.m. Caldarella, Devine, Larkin, Pikulski 4:00 p.m. Please consider volunteering

Readers December 26th and 27th

4:00 p.m. Brennan 7:30 a.m. Fritz, 9:00 a.m. Rossacci

11:00 a.m. Metz, 4:00 p.m. D.J. Ciampi

January 2nd & 3rd 4:00 p.m. Triolo

7:30 a.m. Gomes, 9:00 a.m. Higgins, 11:00 a.m. T. Centorino, 4:00 p.m. D.J. Ciampi

7:30 a.m. Lucille Fitzsimmons Requested by The Family 9:00 a.m. Regino Delegiro Requested by His Family 11:00 a.m. Claire Ruotolo Requested by Kathleen O’Neill 4:00 p.m. Michael George Requested by The Family

9:00 a.m. Pasqualina & Giuseppe Tranquillo Requested by Ernesto & Anna Zarra 4:00 p.m. Gary Vesentin

Saturday January 2nd: Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Sunday January 3rd: The Epiphany of the Lord

Altar Care December 27th

Arlla Simisky, Joanne Buckheit, Virginia Paulate & Diane Ciancola

Saturday December 26th: Saint Stephen, The First Martyr

7:30 a.m. John Stevens Requested by Mark & Cecelia Stevens 9:00 a.m. Harold Collins and Jack Rock Requested by Peggy & John Baker 11:00 a.m. Katherine Napoli Requested by Rose & Charles Napoli 4:00 p.m. John, Della and Johnny Cherubino Requested by Camilleri & Cherubiro Families Monday December 28th: The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

9:00 a.m. Walter Cheetham Requested by Mary Ann & Louis Ricciuti 4:00 p.m. Patricia and Victoria and Elizabeth Daddio Requested by Mr. Daddio

Sunday December 27th: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Eucharistic Adoration Schedule

There is no Eucharistic Adoration on Friday, January 1st

The offertory for December 20th will be reported in next week’s bulletin. Thank you for your kind generosity!

Please go to www.stbridgetcheshire.org to donate online.

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Happy Feast of the Holy Family! Today in Catholic Churches throughout the world we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. At 11 AM this Sunday, December 27th, in the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford, Archbishop Blair will celebrate Mass asking God’s choicest bless-ings upon the families of our Archdiocesan Family of Faith. All are invited to attend. This Feast is not just about the Holy Family, but about our own families too. This Feast presents the Holy Family as a model for all Christian families. It is my prayer that the families of our parish family will be blessed with God’s grace and strengthened in their love for one another, as will we as a parish family be blessed with the love and mercy of God. Happy New Year!!!...This coming week we celebrate and enter into a New Year, 2016! Wow, how time flies by. I feel as though we were just celebrating the New Year for 2015, and here we are! And yet, no matter how quick it has come, we enter into this

New Year mindful that it is a time of new hope, a time of new enthusiasm, a time of new energy. Celebrating a New Year offers fresh starts, new chances, and hopeful beginnings. We are accustomed to a bit of snow in our area during these winter months, though we

have not had much, if any, thus far this winter. The beauty of snow is that it quiets the atmosphere. It is conducive to medita-tion. As we reflect on the past and ponder the future, we look to those dark areas, those obstacles in our lives that inhibit our de-velopment and prevent a stronger communion with God. We can't afford to underestimate the power of sin in our lives. We are lifted, however, by our conviction that where evil and sin abound, grace abounds even more. Grace is indeed everywhere. This New Year is also an Extraordinary Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy which Pope Francis has announced. This is only the 27th Holy Year in history, so it has major significance. On December 8, 2015, the Holy Father opened the Holy Door at the Basilica in Rome marking the beginning of a Jubilee of Mercy. A similar door was opened by Archbishop Blair in the Cathedral in Hartford on that following Sunday. This Year of Mercy is an invitation not only to personally experi-ence the love of God who consoles, pardons, and instills hope as the Holy Father describes the mercy of God (cf: Misericordiae Vul-tus, 3), but it is also an invitation to live out our faith more fully by seeking ways to reflect the love and mercy of God to others, in our own words and actions. This Year provides each of us a unique opportunity to pass through the Holy Doors of the Cathedrals of the world and, if properly disposed, to experience a transformation of our lives with the grace and mercy of God. The Sacrament of Reconcilia-tion is a privileged part in this journey and in this Year of Mercy. I encourage everyone, no matter how long you have been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance, or Confession), to come to Confession in the coming weeks and experience the freedom that God’s mercy offers you in this Sacrament.

Continued...

Continued… At the same time, we are called by Pope Francis to not only re-ceive the Mercy of God, but also to show that mercy in our lives to others, to be “merciful like the Father.” Jesus was very clear that we are not to receive mercy and forgiveness if we have with-held mercy and forgiveness from others. Pope Francis is calling us not just to forgive one another, but, to go out of our comfort zones, individually and as a family of faith, to show mercy to those who are suffering whether spiritually, morally, or materially. That is why the Holy Father has placed special emphasis on what the church has traditionally called the “works of mercy,” both corporal and spiritual, as we begin this Jubilee Year of Mercy. The corporal works of mercy are charitable actions by which we help our neighbors in their bodily needs. We know these to be feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the prisoners, comforting the sick, and burying the dead. To this list could also be added giving alms to the poor. We as a parish family will be focusing on these Corporal Works of Mercy in a special way during the weeks of Lent. It will be an opportunity for us as a family of faith to reach out to others with the mercy and love of God and to fulfill the call of Pope Francis to be instruments of mercy for others. Details about this will be announced in the coming weeks. This Year of Mercy is an invitation to live our faith more fully, and it provides us a unique opportunity to extend kindness, com-passion, and, yes, mercy to those we meet. As always remember to pray for our parish family and ask God’s blessings as we build His kingdom here. Please know that I am praying for you, and I ask for your prayers for me, that to-gether through the intercession of Saint Bridget, our Patron, and united in the Eucharist, we will reflect the presence of Jesus to the world.

Calling All Volunteers!! At this time we are updating our Rectory

Volunteer list. If you would like to be added or removed from the list, please call Madelyn or

Mary Beth in the Rectory at 203-272-3531.

HOLY DAY OF

OBLIGATION

THE OCTAVE DAY OF THE NATIVITY

OF THE LORD.

SOLEMNITY OF MARY,

THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

MASS TIMES

December 31, 2015 Vigil 4:00 p.m.

January 1, 2016 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

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Saint Bridget School “Fostering academic excellence, community awareness and spiritual growth.”

In the spirit of the Great Gatsby, students are

par cipa ng in our auc on fundraiser taking pictures in the finest a re!

On behalf of the students, faculty and staff of St. Bridget School, we wish you a merry

Christmas and all the best for the New Year!

SBS Annual Open House Sunday, January 31st, 10am-1pm

The 17th Annual School Auction on Saturday, February 27th at the Aqua Turf in Southington. Please use the web address below to view more information on the auction and how you

can become a sponsor. h ps://stbridgetschool.ejoinme.org/greatgatsby2016

Facebook for St. Bridget and

Alumni Friends Calling all St. Bridget School Alumni and Friends of St.

Bridget School! Be sure to like us on our Facebook Page! Our Facebook pages are St. Bridget School,

Cheshire and St. Bridget Alumni, Cheshire.

Don’t forget your Box Tops! They can be dropped off at the school office.

WELCOME!

No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church,

No matter what your current family or marital situation,

No matter what your current personal history, age, background, or race,

No matter what your own self-image— You are Invited, Welcomed, Loved,

and Respected here at Saint Bridget Parish. We are here to welcome and serve you.

Together we are all called to conversion in Christ.

Book Study: “The Return of the Prodigal Son” Six Wednesdays from January 20 to February 24

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in St. Bridget Parish Center

“The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Henri Nouwen is the author’s all-time favorite book. It grew out of his reflections on Rembrandt’s painting that depicts this parable. After reading this book you will never view the parable with the same eyes. His insights give a new twist to the parable that will both enlighten and challenge you. The parable’s message of mercy and compassion make it appropriate to read and study this Jubilee Year of Mercy. We hope that you can join us. To register, call Sr. Patricia at 203-272-3531 x1312. You can order the book on your own or have St. Bridget Parish order it for you.

Family Prayer

We bless your name, O Lord, for sending your own incarnate Son

to become part of a family, So that, as he lived its life,

he would experience its worries and its joys.

We ask you, Lord, to protect and watch over this family, so that in the strength of your grace its members may enjoy prosperity,

possess the priceless gift of your peace, and, as the Church alive in the home,

bear witness in this world to your glory.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Ask Father

We know many of you have questions about our Catholic faith because you ask us in passing all the time. Please submit them so that all the parish can benefit from the answers! Please continue to simply write it down and put it in an enve-lope clearly marked “Ask Father”, and it will be answered in the order in which it was received. Only one question will be answered each week. We hope this will be a way for us all to grow in our understanding of the faith.. Q. I o en sit and look at the Crucifix behind the altar, what are the six picture boxes around the Crucifix?

A. The six symbols around the cross are tradi onal images related to the Passion of Christ. Star ng at the top le is the image of three nails, a crown of thorns, and the le ers I.N.R.I. The nails and the crown of thorns remind us of the suffering endured by Christ. The inscrip on I.N.R.I also visi-ble on the cross is the La n words posted by Pilate on the cross (John 19: 19 -20). In La n it reads Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum or Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The next image at the top right is a rooster or cock. It reminds us of Christ’s predic on that Peter would deny him three mes (Mark 14:30, Ma hew 26:30, Luke 22:61, & John 13:38).

The image to the le in the middle is a chalice with a cross rising out of it. The chalice with the cross invokes the image of the Last Supper, when Jesus ins tuted the Eucharist and Priesthood and an cipates the free offering of his life for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 22:20). The image to the right in the middle is a pitcher and bowl. It recalls Pilate’s decision to allow the crowd to make the decision about the death of Jesus. He washes his hands and says, “I am innocent of this man’s blood” (Ma hew 27:24).

The image on the bo om le is a pillar with two whips. These images remind us that Christ was flogged or whipped before he was crucified. These images illustrate just how much Christ suffered for the sake of humanity (Ma hew 27:26, Mark 15:15, Luke 23:16, & John 19:1). The final im-age to the bo om right is a lantern. It invokes the image of Judas and soldiers going to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus (John 18:3). All six images like the crucifix itself are meant to help us more prayerfully recall the sacrifice of Christ, the same sacrifice we enter into when the Eucharist is offered in the Mass.

Religious Education Office Donna Yatcko, Director

Rebecca Flyntz, Admin. Asst. Open from 9am until 1pm

203-272-6504

May we experience God’s unending mercy throughout this Jubilee Year and be instruments of His mercy to others.

Our fifth grade Mass will take place at the nine o’clock Mass on Sunday January 10th. All the fifth grade students of Saint Bridget Parish are invited to attend.

Our Sunday Religious Education classes for Elementary School students will resume on Monday January 4th and Sunday January 10th.

The next class for grades 7 and 8 is January 10th at 8:30 am at St. Bridget School. The next class for the Confirmation Program is January 10th at 5 pm at St. Bridget School. Watch your e-mail for Community Service op-portunities.

Parents, please consider signing up to volunteer as a Door Monitor during your child’s class time. We

need your help to keep our children safe!

INCLEMENT WEATHER: Please update your text alerts for delays and cancellations. All our stu-dents will be receiving more information on our

inclement weather procedures. Franciscan Hospice Care

Seeks Volunteers

Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care, a Catholic home health agency, located on the Meriden/Cheshire line is seeking volunteers to be part of its hospice team. Hospice strives to help individuals with terminal illness live as fully as possible un l nat-ural death Training for new hospice volunteers will begin this fall. Call Chris ne Bolio, at 203-238-1441 for more Informa on or visit www.franciscanhc.org

The Giving Tree Commi ee would like to thank all the generous families of St.

Bridget Church for their overwhelming response to this year’s Christmas wishes

placed on the Giving Tree. Your generosity has brightened this holiday for 130+ families which

includes 23 children and 32 teens, plus 30 adults at a local care facility. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Learning about our Catholic Faith

Mercy and The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Penance is an experience of the gift of God's boundless mercy. Not only does it free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers. We obtain new in-sight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”

Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiv-en. In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy mo-ment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). While all the Sacraments bring us an experience of the mercy that comes from Christ's dying and rising, it is the Sacrament of Reconciliation that is the unique Sacrament of mercy.

Please join us for the new Pastor’s Dinner Club…Registration will contin-ue till the event but the sooner you reg-ister the sooner you are eligible for the weekly gift.

The cost of the dinner is $100 per person. As soon as you register and pay for the dinner, you will be assigned a num-ber on our registration list. Each week, with assistance of a random number finder, a number is chosen and that individ-ual is given a gift of $25. This occurs until the night of the dinner. At the dinner additional larger gifts will be given. Consider being a Table Captain and coordinate gathering 8 or 10 of your fellow parishioners, family or friends to join you. Flyers for registration are at all the doors of the Church. Registration forms along with the monies may be mailed to the rectory, placed in the collection, or dropped off at any time. What a great way to gather together on April 23, 2016 at the Aqua Turf and enjoy an evening of fine food, beverages, and entertainment. A great night out with your parish family and friends.

At the time of printing, the drawing for the $25 gift had not taken place.

ST. BRIDGET PARISH MUSIC MINISTRY “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth

Break into song; sing praise! - - Psalm 98:4

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

***NO PRACTICES BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S***

PRACTICES RESUME ON JANUARY 6, 2016

Children’s Choir: weekly practice on Wednesday, 3:30-4:30pm. Parents of the students are needed to assist at practice on Wednesdays.

Parish Choir & Instrumentalists: choose one of two weekly practice sessions on Wednesday 5:30-6:45pm or 7:00-8:15pm. Please contact Kathy Mahmood if you plan to attend the 7:00pm practice session otherwise no session will be held.

Contemporary Ensemble: monthly on Thursday, 7:00-8:30pm. The Contemporary Ensemble sings monthly at the 4:00pm Saturday Vigil Mass. Check here for January’s Mass.

If you have any ques ons, contact Kathy Mahmood, Music Director, at 203-592-7677 or at the rectory or

come up to the choir lo a er Masses on the weekends.

St. Bridget School 17th Annual Auction Sponsorship Opportunities Available!!

Please consider being a part of this exciting event taking place at the Aqua Turf on

February 27, 2015.

Take a look at our new auction website and picture your logo there with a link to your website!

https://stbridgetschool.ejoinme.org/greatgatsby2016

Please contact Krista Ostuno 203-509-6056 or Courtney Hansen 203-376-2990 for details.

Email inquiries to SBSGreatGatsby@gmail.com

The candle before our Tabernacle shines this week for

Families of the Archdiocese of Hartford

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Our U.S. Military Prayer List Captain Cassandra Andrea USAF Captain J. Michael Andrea USAF

Captain David B. Beale, 101 Airborne Division Sergeant Brian Caouette

Captain Leslie Ann Capuano, USMC LT JG Hollis Ann Capuano, USN

Sergeant 1st Class David Colafati, US Army STS-1 Jake Ford, US Navy

Petty Officer 2nd Class Martin Houston, US Navy Cdr. Thomas A. Ianucci, USN, Chaplain

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jim Muthig 1st Lieutenant Dennis L. O’Reilly, USMC

Corporal David T. Peterson USMC Ensign Jake Patrick Reid, USN

1Lt. Alexander James Topitzer, 2nd Infantry Division 2Lt. Matthew Neil Topitzer, 2nd Infantry Division

Captain Ryan Van Wie, US Army Airman First Class Joe Villano USAF

Corporal Bernard Vitti, Jr. Marine Corps

If you have names to place on our U.S. Military prayer list, please contact Mary Beth in the Rectory at

203-272-3531 or office@stbridgetcheshire.org with the names of family & friends who are on active duty. Please

provide name and branch of service. In this way, our whole parish community can help bring them home safely

by our prayers.

Through the grace of God, parishioners continue to be very generous with dona-tions to the Community Food Pantry. The needed items vary, but this week

we have a particular need for: Ketchup, mayo, shampoo conditioner, toilet paper and facial tissues. Please continue to donate any items you would like to donate. PLEASE DELIVER PERISHABLE GOODS WHEN WE ARE OPEN. The Food Pantry CANNOT ACCEPT EX-PIRED or OPENED items. The Pantry is located at 51 Railroad Avenue, Cheshire, CT (behind Rossini’s Pizza). Hours are: Monday-Wednesday-Friday mornings, 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday, 3:00 p.m.– 6:15 p.m. The phone number is 203-699-9226 and the mailing address for any monetary donations you wish to send is: Cheshire Community Food Pantry

P.O. Box 457, Cheshire, Connecticut 06410

Thank you for your continued support of the Food Pantry and for helping our fellow neighbors!

Saint Bridget Prayer Line

Requests for prayer may be submitted to the Prayer Line by calling Dell Kasinskas at 203-272-0070 or emailing akasins@sbcglobal.net. There is a need for "pray-ers", that is, people who pray. Please consider offering your time.

PARISH BINGO THURSDAY EVENINGS

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SELL TICKETS, WORK IN THE KITCHEN,

AND TO BE CALLERS! If you are interested, please come on

Thursday, or call Nancy (860) 212-6426. The doors to the Parish Center open at 5 p.m. and BINGO begins at 7 p.m. If the jackpot on December 17th did not get awarded, the jackpot for Thursday, January 7th will be

$1625.00! Come early and have dinner with us for only $4.00!

Men’s over 30 basketball Sundays @ 7pm in the school gym

Anointing of the Sick If you or your loved one is in the hospital or home-

bound and would like to arrange for the Anointing of the Sick, please call the rectory.

Ministers of Communion If you or a loved one is homebound, in a nursing home

of convalescing after surgery, call the rectory to ar-range for a communion visit.

Friendly Visits New to St. Bridget-A team of trained volunteers is in the making to provide visits to parishioners who are

homebound or in a nursing home.

Parish Visitor Program Many of us have experienced the isolation of being sick and being forced to stay indoors. If this were a permanent situation, we can imagine how lonely and isolating this could be. At this time we are forming a Parish Visiting Program at St. Bridget Parish so our homebound persons, those in senior housing or nursing homes could have a regular visitor. When you brighten someone’s day you in turn are blessed. A Parish Visitor is not the same as an Extraordinary Minister. On Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 7 pm in St. Bridget Parish Center we will have an informa-tional meeting. Please call Sr. Patricia at 203-272-3531 x1312 if you are interested or have questions. Please pray to see if God is calling you to this minis-try.