3rd Sunday of Advent

3rd Sunday of Advent
WHAT’S HAPPENING
AT
C.C.D.?
C.C.D. Classes and Inclement Weather
In preparation for the winter months, we wanted to let our families know about C.C.D. classes
and inclement weather: Religious education classes will not be held on days when children do
not have school or have early dismissal from school because of bad weather. Please check local
news stations for information about cancellations.
Advent Giving Tree
‘Tis the season! Saint Mary Church will again participate in an Advent Giving Tree project from
November 29th through December 20th. One tree will be located at the North Entrance to the
church, the other tree at the South Entrance to the church.
How does the Advent Giving Tree work? Select an ornament(s) off one of the trees, follow the
instructions, and purchase the item listed. When you come back to church the following week,
please bring the item with you and place it under one of the Advent Giving trees. All gifts
should be NEW and UNWRAPPED with the ORNAMENT TAG ATTACHED. Thank you very
much in advance for your generosity! For more information, look under the Religious
Education Tab at stmarysnewington.net or contact the Religious Education Office .
We will be helping three groups in need through the Advent Giving Tree this year: poor children
through Saint Augustine Church in Hartford; inmates in CT. prisons through the D.O.C.
Catholic Prison Chaplains; and seminarians in need who are studying for the priesthood.
Blessing of the Manger Scene
On Sunday, December 13th following the 11:30 AM Mass, Fr. Piedrahita will bless the manger
scene. All the young people of our parish are invited and encouraged to take part in the
procession from the church to the manger following the Mass. What an excellent tradition we
have here at St. Mary Church! Partaking in this Advent tradition reminds us that the true
reason for the season- the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! There will never be a
greater Christmas present than Him.
Samantha and Dan
Parish Clergy
Rectory Office
Director of Music
Reverend Carlos A. Piedrahita
Parish Administrator
Kristyn Bieszad, Secretary
Nancy Samulenas, Finance Manager
Phone: (860)666-1591
Email: [email protected]
Elizabeth Trainer
Reverend Nicholas J. Cesaro
In Residence
Permanent Deacons
Deacon Michael O’Toole
Deacon Bruce Thompson
Pastoral Associate
Sister M. Lisette Slisz, D.M.
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Office Hours
Monday– Thursday 9-4 p.m.,
Friday 9-2:30 p.m.
Religious Education Office
Daniel Valente
Coordinator of Confirmation
and Youth Ministry
Samantha Pandolfi
Coordinator of Religious Education
Sunday Mass
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00, 10:00, 11:30 a.m.
Daily Mass
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. (Chapel)
Eucharistic Adoration: 1st Friday from
9-10 a.m. (Chapel)
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 3:15—3:45 p.m.
or by appointment.
600 St. Mary Church
Saint Mary Church, Newington
Dear Parishioners,
Gaudete!
It’s Gaudete Sunday – and, appropriately – the start of a joyful week for us at Saint Mary as we
prepare for the birth of Christ! The word Advent comes from the Latin word meaning
“coming.” Jesus is coming, and Advent is intended to be a season of preparation for His
arrival. While we typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also intended to be a period of
preparation – of prayer, fasting and sacrifice – much like Lent – as we prepare ourselves to greet
our King, both at Christmas and at His final coming at the end of time. On this Third Sunday of
Advent – called Gaudete, meaning “Rejoice! “ from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon for
today’s Mass – we take a break from the penitential purple to light the rose-colored candle on our
Advent wreath, and the priest has the option of wearing rose-colored vestments – symbols of joy
and the happiness we will experience when Jesus comes again.
Blessing Our Manger
As I told you last week, today after the 11:30 Mass we will bless our Christmas manger! I hope
all the children and young people present will join us as in procession to the manger for the
blessing. (You’ll see that the Baby Jesus isn’t in the manger yet; we will put Him there on
Christmas Eve.)
Preparing for the Lord’s Coming in Song
This week we will rejoice in the nearness of Christmas through music, one of the very beautiful
traditions here at Saint Mary. All parishioners are invited to our Saint Mary School Christmas
Concert on Wednesday evening, December 16, at 6:00 in the school’s gym. The youngsters
have been working hard in preparation for the concert, and I can assure you their music is
beautiful. They’ll appreciate your support! And you won’t want to miss our Saint Mary
Church Christmas Concert – Jubilate Deo! –next Saturday evening at 7:00. I have told you
many times how overwhelmed I am at the beauty of the music here at Saint Mary, and I can’t wait
to hear this fifth annual Christmas Concert! The concert will feature five musical groups, all
under the direction of Elizabeth Trainer: the Adult Choir, our parish’s traditional choir; the
Cherubim Choir, featuring children 7-to-12 years old; the Resurrection Choir, which normally
sings at parish funerals; our Teen Choir, which favors fun, contemporary music; and our
Chamber Orchestra, made up of high schoolers, college students and adults. The finale, “An
Irish Christmas Blessing,” will feature all of the groups together – sure to be a magnificent
experience! I hope you’ll be here, and that you’ll join us for a reception in the south vestibule at
the conclusion. If this doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, I can’t imagine what will!
Opening of Our Archdiocese’s Jubilee Door of Mercy
You may have watched (on EWTN) as Pope Francis inaugurated the Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy
by opening the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception. Today he is opening the Holy Door at the Church of Saint John Lateran – his
cathedral church as Bishop of Rome – a signal to bishops all over the world to open Holy Doors
at their cathedrals this day.
Following Pope Francis’ lead, Archbishop Blair will open our own Holy Door at the Cathedral of
Saint Joseph this afternoon at 3:00. He has invited all parishioners of the Archdiocese to be
present for this special liturgy, which will include a procession through the Holy Door, Evening
Prayer, and Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. I encourage you to attend if
you can.
Father Piedrahita
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600 St. Mary Church
Saint Mary Church, Newington
Celebrate the Year of Divine Mercy
Saturday, December 12, 2015
4:00 Vito Summa
By Wife and Family
Sunday, December 13, 2015
8:00 In Honor of Roman Kipnez
By Vera Moss
10:00 Michael B. DeMaio
By His Family
11:30 John Jennings
By The Family
Monday, December 14 2015
8:30 Sabrina Klin for a quick recovery
By CCD Office
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
8:30 Nancy Valente (1st Anniversary)
By Her Son, Dan
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
8:30 Arthur and Virginia Favreau
By Daughter Nancy Carlson
Thursday, December 17, 2015
8:30 Dominica Lisella
By Cristina Arcari
Friday, December 18, 2015
8:30 Stanley Wood
By St. Mary Staff and Volunteers
Saturday, December 19, 2015
4:00 Beatrice and Ernie Carrier
By The Family
Sunday, December 20, 2015
8:00 John and Eva Walenteons
By Larry and Susan Haynes
10:00 Zygmut and Wladyslaw Lacic
By Wife and Children
11:30 Peter Cenci - By Mary Beth Cenci
A Fatima/Divine Mercy Holy Hour will be held Sunday
December 13 at 2pm at St. Joseph Church in New
Britain. Everyone is welcome to come pray for personal
healing and peace.
Jubilee of Mercy
Responding to Pope Francis’ call to celebrate the Jubilee
year, Archbishop Leonard P. Blair will officiate at a special
liturgy Dec. 13 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph and invite
pilgrims to enter through a “Holy Door of Mercy”. The
event will begin at 3pm with prayers and a procession
through the Holy Door. All are encouraged to attend!
Assistance Needed
Two homebound parishioners would like to attend the
Saturday 4 p.m. Vigil Mass here at St. Mary on a weekly
basis. Please call the rectory if you are willing and able to
offer them rides. Thank you!
The Joy of Giving through our Advent Tree
You have been very generous, as many of the tags on our
Advent Giving Tree have been taken and the gifts already
returned. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity, there is
still time to participate in this wonderful program that
supports poor children, seminarians, and inmates. We all
know that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and
participation in our Advent Giving Tree can’t help but
bring you joy! Rejoice during this Third Week of Advent –
for the Lord is truly near!
Mindful of those who are sick, please pray for the following people,
and those who care for them.
CherieLee Bell
Claire Bialaski
Edmund Bialaski
Kyle Bloom
Frances Brandt
Frank Bury
Terry Bury
Joan Aschenbrenner
Pamela Cafritz
Alice Daly
Michelle DeSimone
Deborah Durity
Helen Esberg
Russell Fancher
MaryLou Giangreco
Simone Laflamme
Kasey Grimaldi
Richard Grossi
Dennis Horrigan
Michael Jarnutowski
Catherine Kurtz
John Matuzak
Iris Rodriguez
Cheryl Lafrance
Darlene Rood
Ryan Rood
Carol Round
Wes Webster
Jim Yoerkie
Gavin Morris
Anthony Caccavale
Please call the rectory each month to add or keep a name on the bulletin prayer list.
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600 St. Mary Church
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Saint of the Week
John of the Cross
Priest and Doctor of the Church
December 14
Saint John of the Cross is inextricably linked with Saint Teresa of Avila (also known as Saint
Teresa of Jesus), about whom we wrote in our October 11 bulletin. Reformers of the Carmelite
Order, they are celebrated as founders of the Discalced (shoeless) Carmelites – followers of a
stricter rule than followed by the Carmelites.
th
Born in Spain in 1542, John grew up in poverty,
and at 14 took a job caring for hospital patients
suffering from incurable diseases. Thus,
surrounded by poverty and suffering, he learned
to seek happiness in God – not in the world –
and the course of his saintly life was set.
After entering the Carmelite Order and being
ordained a priest, John considered joining a
stricter order, the Carthusians. Instead, he met
Teresa of Avila, and acceded to her request that
he work with her to reform the Carmelites,
returning the order to the old rule and a stricter
life centered on prayer.
John traveled throughout Spain, founding or
reforming many monasteries based on Saint
Teresa’s principles and helping her to found
many convents. After some time members of the
Carmelite order, threatened by John’s proposed
reforms, kidnapped him from his dwelling in
Avila. He was thrown into prison, where he
spent nine months in a 6’x10’ cell, with only a
tiny, high window for light. He was regularly
beaten and given no change of clothing or much
to eat. Each day he stood on a bench to read his
breviary by the meager light coming through that tiny window. During that terrible, desolate
time, John had nothing and no one – only God. When not being tortured, he spent his days
writing, in poetry and prose, about God.
Finally escaping after nine months, he had no idea where he was, or in what direction to
travel. He followed a dog, who led him to civilization, and found shelter in a convent infirmary,
where the nuns nursed him back to health.
Known for his writings – poetry and studies on the growth of growth of the soul – John of the
Cross is considered one of the foremost Spanish poets. Two of his works, A Spiritual Canticle of
the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ, and Dark Night of the Soul, are widely considered to be
masterpieces of Spanish poetry. Another writing on prayer, Ascent of Mount Carmel, is loved by
many.
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600 St. Mary Church
Saint Mary School News
652 Willard Avenue, Newington
Phone: (860)666-3844
Website: www.stmarynewington.com
Marge McDonald, Principal
Joan Tortora, Director of Advancement and Admissions
Polly Evans and Donna McPherson, Administrative Assistants
Gift Cards Available
The Season of Advent at Saint Mary School
Saint Mary School will again be selling Gift Cards to
your favorite stores and we will be able to order any
special cards you need for Christmas gifts. Order
forms and lists of retailers are in the North and
South entrances to the Church today. Our school
receives a percentage on each card sold and there is
no additional cost for you
As the world prepares for the coming of the Lord,
the students at Saint Mary School celebrate
Advent in their own special ways; learning about
the season and why it isn’t just about trees and
Santa, but that the real reason is the birth of the
Baby Jesus. As we sing in one of our concert
songs, “Happy Birthday, Jesus…the real gift is
You.” Here are some of the ways we are observing
Advent at Saint Mary School:
You may stop at the school to place an order. Orders for Christmas must be placed at the school by
Wednesday, December 16 at 3pm. Cash or checks
(payable to Saint Mary School) are accepted. For
your convenience, we will be selling the most frequently requested cards such as Stop and Shop,
Dunkin Donuts, and Starbucks after Masses next
Saturday and Sunday, December 19th and 20th.
Look for SMS representatives at the South entrance
to the Church. Of course, you may stop at the
school and pick up these cards at any time as well.
Our parishioners are always very supportive of this
program and we look forward to helping you with
your shopping for Christmas and all year long.
Christmas Concert
Please join us Wednesday, December 16 for our
school Christmas Concert and Living Nativity.
There has been a slight change in time. We will
begin at 6pm with our school band and then continue on with our Pre-K through Junior High students singing and acting out the story of Jesus’
birth.
Open House At Saint Mary School
Please spread the word! Our next Open House
dates are: Sunday, January 31 from 12pm to 2pm
and Thursday, February 4 at 6pm.
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Each Monday morning, the school as a community
lights the Advent Wreath and prays together. Our
Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 classes also have a special
service every week. They meet together on
Monday mornings and light a candle (battery
operated) on their classroom wreath and sing
songs about Advent. Pre-K 3 has a display of
Advent Wreaths they made on their board and PreK 4 students cut out the leaves for their wreath.
Our Kindergarten and Primary classes are learning
the Christmas story as well. Kindergarten
students colored wreaths to take home and share
with their families. They made beautiful collages
of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in the stable. The
stable was made of popsicle sticks. In Primary
class the children are coloring Advent Wreaths
and hearing Christmas stories each day. Our
Upper Primary class created a beautiful wreath of
their hands which is displayed in the hallway.
They have created acrostic poems using Advent
words and light their classroom wreath with a
special prayer each day.
Next week we will share the Adventures of the
Intermediate and Junior High classes as they
prepare for the coming of Jesus.
Box Tops
We will be emptying our Box Tops containers
soon. Please continue to bring your Box Tops to
the receptacles in the Church. We thank you for
your help.
600 St. Mary Church