Aug 2012 - Sacred Heart Church, Southbury, CT, USA

From the Heart
Published by Sacred Heart Parish • 910 Main Street South • Southbury, CT 06488 • Vol. 23 No. 3 • August 2012
From the Pastor’s Desk: An Invitation
A
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
s staff liaison for the “Church
Today” team, I have been
honored to work with the team that
arose from the action item in the
Strategic Plan that states “Sacred
Heart Parish needs to continue
educating parishioners about their
role in today’s Church. The current
presentation of the educational
DVD series “Catholicism” is one
Recently a group of parishioners gathered for a first “Sacred Hearts to Hearts” conversation.
result of our team’s work. As we
continue our efforts to raise awareness and educate our parishioners, we are offering an opportunity
we believe and feel and think about God, the Church and religion.
to every parishioner—a chance to be a part of a low-key converWe learn from what we say and from what we hear others say.
sation about the Church.
The Church Today team has developed events we are
In recent years it has occurred to me that we Catholics do not
calling: “Sacred Heart to Hearts: Conversations about the
have a lot of opportunities to have good conversations about the
Church today” to take place in the homes of parishioners. One
Church, our life and faith as members of the Church, the joys and
of our Pastoral Associates will come, offer some brief input
struggles of being part of the community of the Church. There are
about what the Church is, especially in light of the teaching of
times we have conversations in passing when a problem arises.
Vatican II and what we are trying to do here at Sacred Heart.
Sometimes we might talk in social situations about the Church
The conversation will proceed from there. We are looking for
and our life in it, and become confused and overwhelmed by the
people who are willing to host such gatherings in their home.
diversity of opinions we hear or are unsure about the accuracy of
Some important notes are:
the things that are said. But, by and large, we do not talk about the
• Be willing to host a gathering in your home
Church or faith or religion because it is so personal and it evokes
• The meetings will last about one to one and one half hours.
such strong feelings. After all, an old adage tells us never to talk
about politics or religion in public. That is too bad because
(Continued on page 2)
good conversations make us actually wrap words around what
On Our Calendar................................. 2
Marriage: It Takes a Parish ................ 6
Rogation Days ................................ 11
Come Join Us .................................... 2
Strategic Plan Initiative: Haiti .......... 7
Mustard Seed Scholarship .............. 12
Spotlight on Youth............................. 3
How Can We Be Church? ................. 8
Catholic Youth Spectacular ............ 13
The Stephen Ministry ........................ 4
Sound Advice from a Spiritual Friend . 9
Finding a Chance to … ................... 14
Field of Flags .................................... 5
About Town......................................... 10
Faithful Citizenship ......................... 15
On Our
Calendar
September 8, 9:00 A.M.- 3:00 P.M.
Car Wash: Hosted by Mission Trip
Proceeds to benefit Mission Trip.
Rain date is September 15.
September 9, 1:30 P.M.
Baptism Meeting, Emmaus Room
For parents wishing to have their
children baptized. Please call Sister
Pat at 203-264-5071 for registration
and information.
September 10, 7:00 P.M.
Women Sharing Wisdom
See page 13 for details.
September 22
Field of Flags
See page 5 for details.
September 30
An Invitation
(Continued from cover)
•
The host would invite 8-10
parishioners and provide light
refreshments.
Please call me if you are interested in
hosting a gathering so that we can arrange a time that is convenient for you
and one of our Pastoral Associates.
We have held one “Sacred Heart to
Hearts” conversation already and it went
very well. Those involved seemed to
appreciate the opportunity and the conversation. But we want to offer the opportunity to every adult parishioner who
would like to be part of the discussion. It
will help each of us, the pastoral staff
and the parishioners, to appreciate what
the bishops at Vatican II called “the
mystery of the Church.”
We all have good and not-so-good
memories and experiences of Church, as
well as questions about the Church and
where the Church is going these days.
These events provide a great opportunity
to talk with other parishioners regarding
these issues. So, how about it? Will you
host one of these “Sacred Heart to
Hearts”? Contact me and we will get the
conversation started.
Father Joe
Come Join Us
Little Rock Scripture Study
One Book at a Time
Revelation
Tuesday evenings, starting September 11,
at 7:15 p.m.
Genesis
Wednesday afternoons, starting
September 4, at 1:15 p.m.
Luke (abbreviated)
Thursday mornings, starting September
27, at 9:15 a.m.
For additional information phone or
email Ed Duffy at [email protected],
Elizabeth Tishion at 203-264-1390,
[email protected] or Maureen McDermott
at [email protected].
From the Heart
Managing Editor & Layout: Selena Carella
Copy Editor: Deb McGrath
Catholic Youth Spectacular
See page 13 for details.
Communications Committee Members:
Dina Carella, Walt Gaipa, Javier Hernandez,
Colleen Kelly, Pat Kugeman, Dennis McLaughlin
and Rosa Nunes
October 13 & 14, at all Masses
Father Tristante Visits
November 3 & 4, at all Masses
Distribution: Lou Alongi, Francine Anderson,
Claire Barlow, Annette Carman, Veronica
Delaney, Elayne Doherty, Chris Doran, Liz
Kellenbach, Jim Kowalski, Domenic & Josephine
Narducci, Cynthia O’Connell, Bill & Margaret
O’Keefe, Kelly Richardson, Lina Savard, Magdalene Shuster, Ernie Swanberg, and Peg Wildman
Liturgy of Remembrance
Coffee and donuts after Mass.
November 18 & 19, at all Masses
Thanksgiving Breads for Sale
Homemade breads for the holiday.
Baked by Mission Trip.
New members and ideas are welcome throughout
the year. Please contact the parish office, 203-2645071, or Selena Carella at 203-264-4216 for more
information.
Parish offices will be closed on 9/3,
10/8, 11/22 and 11/23.
2
(Continued on page 6)
SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH
Youth Experience Leadership Retreat
A
retreat is a chance to step back from everyday life and
look at ways to improve ourselves, our communities, and
even our world. I recently was given the chance to go on a
Christian leadership retreat at the Holy Family Passionist Retreat
Center. At first, I was hesitant to actually take the opportunity
because it was right in the middle of finals, but I am so glad I
decided to go. The first day we received cards with words like
hope, courage, etc. and a short description written on them. Of
course, I looked at my card and saw the word ‘stress.’ It helped
me realize I didn’t need to be so stressed about my finals and it
reassured me that I was supposed to be there that weekend. I
would highly recommend retreats to people of all ages because
Holy Family has women’s and men’s retreats. I learned so
much about praying and about just being a good Christian. We
meditated in nature, met in small groups for discussions, and
met so many awesome and inspirational people. The most
moving part of the whole retreat was when we listened to a
deacon who knew Emmett Till, the young African American boy
who was murdered by white men in Mississippi. The point of
his speech was to get us to stand up against bullies because
that’s what these white men were—bullies. The deacon’s
brother was going to go with Emmett to Mississippi, but it was a
good thing he didn’t go because he would have suffered the
same fate as Emmett. His son, who has developed something
that is helping find the cure to cancer, would have not been born.
Overall, it was an amazing experience and I would like to thank
the church for sponsoring Holly’s and my participation.
Holly Hanson and Erin Gibbons attended the Christian Leadership Retreat at
Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford. This two-night retreat offers interested teens of high school age opportunities for growth in
personal faith, community building and leadership training. The retreat provides a sacred and restful atmosphere to support teens in the understanding of
their Catholic faith. It enables teens to share their creativity and vitality while
fostering spiritual growth in each other.
morning when we were praying…?” My friend immediately
stopped me and said, “Holly, that was today!” We all began to
laugh as we noticed the deep connection that all of us had developed. It was a short weekend, but the closeness we felt made it
seem like we had known each other much longer. Everyone
who went not only grew stronger in their faith with God, but
they realized that no matter what is bothering them, there will
always be people there to listen and help them through their
difficult times. Everything at this retreat was just perfect. From
the prayer, to the small group sessions, to the talent show, it all
just came together wonderfully. If I was ever given the opportunity to go on this or something like this again, I would not pass
it up. This retreat was an experience I will always remember and
I’m truly grateful that I was given the opportunity to go there.
Erin Gibbons
A
t the Christian Leadership retreat, the relationships I made
with so many people are what affected me most. As I write
this, almost three weeks later, we are still looking to get together.
That short weekend will forever be in my heart. I remember
talking to my new friends on the Saturday night of the retreat
about the meditation prayer that had happened just that morning.
When I brought it up, I said “Hey guys, remember yesterday
Holly Hanson
3
Christ Caring for People Through People
F
rom the moment I first learned of Stephen Ministry several
years ago, I was drawn to its simple premise…the idea of
ordinary lay people, like you and me, trained to give care to
others who are suffering through a difficult time. Thus, it was
with great anticipation that I attended the Leader’s Training
Course in Orlando to learn how to lead and implement the
Stephen Ministry program here at Sacred Heart Church. On the
opening night of the conference, I was struck by the diversity of
the participants. Many Christian denominations, ages and walks
of life were present. In the midst of the current polarization
among God’s people, it was refreshing to be united by the grass
roots principle of Christianity—people caring about people. The
colorful group of 250 learners formed a beautiful picture of the
body of Christ.
As the week went on, I was struck by the organization and
clarity with which the training was presented; it was done with
excellence and conveyed the urgency of our responsibility to
care for one another. You may ask: “Why do we need this type
of ministry at Sacred Heart since there is already much caring
going on here?” The reality is that Christian caring is frequently
unrecognized, unarticulated, and consequently, does not happen.
Without training and a system, God’s people often suffer alone.
Perhaps some of you know this all too well. I know there have
been numerous occasions in my own life where I felt called to
reach out to another, and have failed to act due to one of the
following reasons:
Timeline
• Sister Pat and Lynn Tidgewell attended the Leadership
Training for Stephen Ministers in June and will be commissioned on the weekend of August 18th and 19th.
• Stephen Ministry training will begin the week of August 26th.
• The year-long training program includes 50 hours of study
and practice.
• Commissioning of the first Stephen Ministers is scheduled
for May 2013.
Resources used in Leadership Training
(all by Kenneth Haugk)
• Christian Care-giving: A Way of Life
• Discovering God’s Vision For Your Life: You and Your
Spiritual Gifts
• Speaking the Truth in Love
• When and How to use Mental Health Resources
• Words fell short and I did not know what to say.
• Everything I thought to say seemed cliché and might even be
A Role for Everyone
• Pray for those who feel called to this ministry and step out
offensive, especially the God part.
• Questions like “Do I have the right to ‘pry’ into another’s
in faith to follow this call.
• Pray for those who will be in need of this ministry.
• Pray for Lynn and Sister Pat as they walk through this year
affairs?” erected barriers to taking action.
The result: my responsibility was shirked; an opportunity to
be Christ to another was lost. We were both poorer for my
choice.
Stephen Ministry was developed in response to the inadequacy
we all tend to feel when others are hurting. It is a system of
instructions and guidelines that organize people to live out their
call efficiently. I learned the importance of a system. Systems
make things happen! They happen because a Stephen Minister
is trained to develop and own their God given gifts—gifts that
are already present but perhaps unused due to a lack of good
instruction. A Stephen’s Minister learns about the sacred art of
of study with our participants.
History
Stephen Ministry began in 1975 when Pastor Kenneth
Haugk, trained nine parishioners to offer pastoral care for their
church. He found that while he could offer immediate care, he
could not also offer the follow-up and needs went unmet. He
found a way that the congregation could minister to their members’ needs. This ministry is called Stephen Ministry because
St. Stephen was considered one of the first laypeople in the
early church to provide care for those in need (see Acts 6).
(Continued on page 5)
4
Field of Flags
A traveling memorial and exhibit of over 6000 flags which
represent soldiers who have lost their lives in the wars of
Iraq and Afghanistan.
September 22, 2012 Sacred Heart Church
8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Installation of Flags by Sacred Heart Church and area volunteer groups.
2:00 p.m.
All are invited for prayer and reflection at the Dedication Ceremony.
Our local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion members will
read the names of fallen Connecticut soldiers.
A reception will follow in the parish hall.
To volunteer to assist in this effort please contact
Delores Villano, Sacred Heart ROCK Youth Group
Coordinator [email protected] 203-264-3590
Pastoral Care Initiative
(Continued from page 4)
simply being a good listener, and about assertiveness, the skill
of speaking the truth in love, as well as how to use distinctively
Christian tools like prayer, the Bible and share a
blessing. I was struck by how useful these tools
could be in my own family as I continue to
care for my young adult children and
extended family members struggling with
life’s challenges. The conference left me
eager to learn a new and more effective
way of partnering with Jesus in the mission
of caring for others. The power of God
coupled with our willingness and
training is thrilling!
God’s word came to me towards
the end the conference as a speaker shared her
thoughts on Stephen Ministry by reflecting on the
Sacred Heart of Jesus and there we were, representing
all of you from Sacred Heart Parish…it was a message of
encouragement for us to go forward and become all that our
mission statement says we are. I can’t wait to see the process
unfold.
Lynn Tidgewell
Sister Pat’s Note: We are happy to
announce that thirty-nine parishioners
will begin their a course of study
on Tuesday, August 28 from 6:30
pm to 8:30 pm. Please keep all of
us in your prayer.
5
Sacred Heart’s Marriage Preparation
It Takes a Parish
called the FACET tool. They are also
given a short questionnaire to take
home and complete on their own. Over
the next few months, the engaged couple
meet with their sponsor couple who
facilitate a review of the completed
assessment and help the engaged couple
enter into meaningful dialog about the
issues that their answers reveal as areas
of possible disagreement.
The three leading causes of marriage
failure are money issues, disagreements
about the raising of children and lack of communication. Even
engaged couples who have been together for several years may
not have discussed these issues, including what they might do in
cases of infertility. The process we use allows an engaged couple
to become aware of the other’s thoughts and beliefs on a wide
variety of topics and measures their rate of agreement on issues
that can impact the success of their marriage. It also gives them
an opportunity to practice the kind of conversation that will
enhance their own communication.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the many wonderful married
couples who participate in this ministry as sponsors. They
give of their time and their considerable wisdom to make the
marriage preparation process successful. Much of their ministry
takes place behind the scenes, but is vital to the program. Their
commitment and willingness to share from lived experience are
invaluable.
This program has enabled our parish to participate in a
meaningful way in the preparation of our young adults for the
sacrament of marriage; a vocation which requires much from us.
It demands love, of course, but also patience, kindness, tolerance,
respect for the opinions and feelings of the other, faithfulness,
forgiveness and true commitment. It requires that we work
every day to make it successful.
May our participation in this marriage preparation process
strengthen the engaged couple’s commitment to each other and
to their marriage and may our own marriages be strengthened
by our active participation on their journey to married life and
by the example of commitment and dedication we share at each
Mass of Engagement Blessing.
It is a statistic we have all heard and, perhaps, become used
to hearing. It may no longer be shocking, but it should be. The
results of studies of all U.S. marriages, secular or religious,
vary, but it is safe to say that 40-50% of all first marriages
end in divorce.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a covenant; a
relationship established through the free and informed consent
of two people, who are physically and emotionally
capable of marriage. This is the only sacrament
which the parties confer upon each other. Giving
themselves to each other, with the understanding
that marriage means openness to life and commitment
to faithful love until death. The Holy Spirit is poured out and the
natural bond, even present in a secular marriage, is elevated to a
sacrament. The priest or deacon presiding over the ceremony is
a witness, just like the others present witness the ceremony.
The Church teaches that natural blessings of marriage are
the companionship, mutual support and intimacy of the spouses
and the possibility of sharing in God’s creative, life-giving
work—the procreation and education of children. In a sacramental
marriage there is an additional goal, the spouses accept the
vocation to be a prophetic, visible sign of the unbreakable
covenant between Christ and His Church. Sacramental marriage
is a gift a couple gives to each other.
When Father Joe came to Sacred Heart as pastor, he brought
with him a style of marriage preparation that he had used in his
former parish. It involves the greater parish community, not just
the engaged couple.
This wonderful process begins with a Mass of Engagement
Blessing in which many of you have participated. At this Mass,
the engaged couples pledge their commitment to each other and
to the marriage preparation process and meet their sponsor couples
for the first time. There are prayers for the couple and for their
marriage and a blessing is sung by the assembled congregation.
It is a beautiful ceremony that reminds us all of the sanctity of
sacramental marriage, the importance of the support of the community and the significance of the marriage preparation process.
Following the Mass of Engagement Blessing, we hold a
small reception for the engaged couples, their family and their
sponsor couples. This provides an opportunity to get to know
each other because the sponsor couples will play an important
part in the marriage preparation process. When the reception is
over, the engaged couples complete an assessment instrument
Deacon Chuck
6
Strategic Plan Initiative
Haiti
T
he Sacred Heart Church Strategic
Initiative Team for Haiti is one of
the seven strategic initiative teams
formed over the past couple of years
working to focus Sacred Heart’s efforts
toward the realization of its Mission
Statement; featured prominently in the
church foyer and almost every week on
the front of the Sacred Heart bulletin.
The team is a group of parishioners
from within the larger Sacred Heart Haiti
Committee. The Haiti Committee’s
primary aim is to further the relationship
and bonds between Sacred Heart Church
and the parish of Our Lady of Seven
Sorrows (OLSS) in Grand Boulage,
Haiti; committing ourselves to fulfilling
the promises expressed in the covenant
between our two parishes.
The purpose of the Strategic Initiative
Team for Haiti is to help guide and focus
the considerable energies and talents of
the larger Haiti Committee so that the
prayers, works and contributions of
Sacred Heart have the best chance of
success in meeting our mutual goals,
including our own conversion. Our success
depends upon adopting goals that, when
achieved, will lead us on a path that
helps our brothers and sisters of Our
Lady of Seven Sorrows begin the very
arduous journey out of poverty and into a
“…better future for Haiti and for Grand
Boulage…” (Fr. Tristant, Pastor, OLSS.)
In his letter to Sacred Heart (published in
the May 2012 issue of From the Heart),
Fr. Tristant raisesd a very important
point that we must all understand: “We
do not move forward without the
collaboration and support of the good
people of Grand Boulage.”
In addition to all the material improvements we have achieved for the people of
Grand Boulage, we can feel our faith
growing because of our relationship with
Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, but it is hard
to articulate how, and why, it is happening.
The following quote from Dialogue
of Life: A Christian Among Allah’s Poor,
the memoir of Fr. Bob McCahill, a Mary
Knoll missionary priest to the Muslim
poor in Bangladesh, offers great insight
into the process.
“It seems to me that the poor evangelize us by giving us various types of
good examples. They instruct us in patience under adversity. They edify us by
their uncomplaining struggles. They inspire us by undergoing suffering without
becoming bitter. They encourage us to
face our own problems more bravely by
grappling with the pain in their lives.
They teach us about the simplicity with
which one can live a human life. They
offer us a model for prayer life by their
dependence on God; that is, in times of
great need they look to God before all
else. They do not appeal to God secondly
or lastly after other possibilities have
failed them. When we witness their efforts to survive with dignity amidst the
hardships they constantly encounter,
they help us to put into perspective our
own overblown problems. Through the
struggling poor we begin to understand
how good God is to us and how stingy
we are with our thanksgiving to God. If
we think about them deeply enough, they
put us to shame, for, though they are
oppressed, they can still laugh and sing.”
Jesus told us that the poor will always
be with us; we will always have those
who need our help. We at Sacred Heart,
in concert with the parishioners of Our
Lady of Seven Sorrows, have agreed to
the following goals for Grand Boulage:
• An educated population, focusing
first on the youth,
7
• A healthy population,
• A Grand Boulage community that is
self-reliant,
• For our parish and theirs to grow
together spiritually.
Education is key to achieving all of
these goals and we are providing funds
to train teachers, subsidize salaries for
these same teachers and furnish classroom
materials and books. We also work to
develop incentive programs for teachers
who work a tour of duty in the outlying
chapels. The value of well-trained teachers
cannot be overstated.
We have also formed sub-committees
to address these important issues:
• Clean and more easily accessible
water
• Education
• Grants to sustain our work into the
future
• Strengthen the relationship between
our parishes.
The solutions won’t come cheaply,
the needs are daunting and we know how
important the support and contributions
from our parish are towards meeting
our mutual goals. The prior actions of the
good people of Sacred Heart who are so
generous with their time, talents and
resources, are most encouraging. Together
we will raise Our Lady of Seven Sorrows
and Grand Boulage from poverty; and in
the process, deepen and enrich our faith.
Bruce Palmatier
Team Members:
Chuck Dietsch (Sponsor), Catherine
Hughes, Peter Hughes, Dorne Dietsch,
Bruce Palmatier, Christine Granja, Dave
Rohlfing, Rich Gaffney, Jeff Corbishly
How Can We Be Church?
Live by Example
something for others. Recognizing that there is so much that we
have here and so little in other places, Jenny realized that “there
is enough in the world; it’s just how it’s distributed.” She asked
herself, “What can I do? How can I help?” Her answers led her
to begin collecting gently used clothing to send to Ecuador. She
started with her own children’s clothing, and then began to get
her friends involved. Before she knew it, the Boy Scouts, the
Girl Scouts and even Wesley’s Shoes in Southbury were
helping her to help the poor.
Jenny’s goal is to share with the neediest wherever they are.
So in addition to helping
the poor in Ecuador, she
enny Roper has answered the call to
now distributes clothing
live a Christian life and contribute to
within the greater
the community. When I first met her,
Waterbury area—to Safe
Jenny was a facilitator for Women in
Haven, Carolyn’s Place
Faith. She was instrumental in helping
and St. Vincent de Paul,
me develop my own prayer life at the
just to name a few.
weekly Women in Faith (WIF) meetings.
Jesus said, “…Amen, I
Jenny is an amazing woman. She
say to you, whatever you
was born in Ecuador and educated there.
did for one of these least
When she was 19, her father died and the
brothers of mine, you did
family was devastated. Jenny felt that
for me.” [Matthew 25:40]
Jenny
and
her
son
Matthew
stacking
boxed
clothing
donations.
Joanna
she needed “to do something shocking.”
Jenny Roper has served
Hlyway, Jenny Roper, and Marty Scholz at the June 2012 Ladies Garden
Since it had always been her father’s
Jesus and shown us all
Party fundraiser for Children to Children.
dream to move to the United States, she
what “Being Church” is all
and her family decided to fulfill his wish.
about.
When she arrived here, the first thing Jenny did was to go to
Pat Kugeman
school to learn English.
Ed. Note: This article is the second in a series profiling parishioners who
In 2000, Jenny and her husband Bill Roper moved to
have answered the call to “Be Church.” It was inspired by the question Fr. Joe
Southbury where they joined Sacred Heart Church. Their three
left us with while on his sabbatical last year, “How can we be Church without
sons, Matthew, 16, David, 12 and Alex, 8, lead active lives
a resident pastor?”
participating in sports, as well as many school activities. Jenny
has many roles. She works 24 hours a week for the Social
Security Administration, volunteers her time to WIF and
Parish Emergency Assistance Fund
manages her home. When I asked how she does it all, she
Are you a registered parishioner of Sacred
replied, “Faith has to be lived at home.”
Heart parish who is experiencing some
As if this wasn’t enough to keep her busy, in 2009, Jenny
financial hardship? If so, remember that we
answered God’s call and started a non-profit foundation, Children
have an Emergency Assistance Fund to offer
to Children. This charity is dedicated to helping children in
one-time help to you if you choose to avail yourself of it.
need. She attended Catholic schools in Ecuador, where she was
Application forms are in the church atrium by the main bulletin
inspired by the charitable work of the nuns. She saw “pure
board. Please submit your completed form to Sister Pat in the
poverty” there and she always knew that she wanted to do
parish office.
J
8
Sound Advice from a Spiritual Friend
A
nd so dear Reader, as I narrate
these events, you find me back on
my familiar bench by the Heritage Village waterfall drinking coffee to fortify
my contemplation.
Contemplating what, you ask? My
pet peeve—our ability to keep asking our
Savior for something, anything, i.e. cures
or happy birthdays, lost and found
(especially when St. Anthony fails to
answer our requests). I find it amusing
that many of us, including myself, can’t
remember what we ate for lunch a few
hours past but we remember a request
prayed for weeks ago.
“Humanity just keeps going; invigorated by his grace. Sometimes I wonder
why, but then I guess you would answer
in your defense, ‘He sees the big picture.’”
My contemplation ended abruptly
with the spilling of my coffee.
“I haven’t heard from you in
months!” I exclaimed.
“I knew you were going to say that,
Dennis. You never listen to me although
I certainly hear you. There are times I
find your requests to be laughable, but
then who am I to judge.”
“What?” I answered, challenging my
personal Angel. I am unable see my
devoted protector, but can recognize and
interpret his various silences, sighs or even
sarcasm, which I believe he reserves
only for me. In case you didn’t know, I
strongly believe the Holy Spirit provides
all angels with tasks which are played
straight, to use the vernacular. When one
brings God’s message to humans, this is
serious business.
Keep in mind I still haven’t recovered
from our last conversation when my
angel informed me that he was a he.
Somehow I took comfort in that since I
might find it somewhat disconcerting to
swap confidences with a female angel,
but I digress.
Finding the prolonged silence unnerving, I quickly asked my dear friend,
“What’s new?” Which I thought was
more respectful than “Wha’s up!”
“Well, at least you are on speaking
terms with your charge.” Now, that deep
voice was certainly not from my angel.
“Dennis, I would like you to meet
one of my friends. He covers the Protestant crew.”
“Oh, dear! He does seem surprised.
He isn’t one of those people who think
only Catholics go to heaven?” said the
same deep voice. “At least he’s sitting
down. I guess we should be grateful that
he spilled his coffee at his initial conversation with you since he certainly would
have spilled it now. He’s not prejudiced
is he?”
“No. He is far more enlightened than
that. I mean he actually listens to his
pastor’s homilies, which I have told him,
many times, that he will find them to be
a great help in strengthening his spiritual
needs. Loving Protestants is one of those
needs.”
“And what about me? I’m mentioned
several times by one of my favorite writers,
Enoch.”
Oh good grief! A third voice, tenor in
timber.
At the Heritage Village waterfall
bench, I now envision three angels
standing (more or less) in front of me.
“Who…”
“A representative from the Jewish
side completes the circle, at least in your
world. There are others but you are not
ready for that,” responded my angel.
“Are you the one who is always
giving prophets instructions on what the
Lord wants?” I asked frankly. It may not
have been a thought provoking question,
9
but it might satisfy the students in Old
Testament bible class.
“Does the Pastor include my faith
when he’s preaching on spiritual need?”
asked the Jewish angel.
Suddenly, I felt a true moment of
enlightenment.
“I’m sure he does,” was my profound
answer. In an attempt to challenge one’s
intellect, even if that intellect is an angel’s,
I spoke again.
“And let me ask, while we are together,
what can we do collectively to
strengthen our actions concerning Social
Justice?” I then sat back on the bench,
anticipating the flow of the pearls of
wisdom.
I was greeted with absolute silence.
Finally a deep voice replied, “Love
one another.”
More silence.
“That’s it?” I responded incredulously.
“That’s it,” answered my angel.
“Simple, yes, but there is a lack of
understanding which is profound. Dennis,
take this message to others and you may
be surprised with their reaction,” added
the Jewish angel.
“I’m no prophet!” I said this with a
little more drama than I really intended.
“Now, that is a statement to which
we all agree.”
I felt, rather than heard, the laughter
from the angels and I didn’t know
whether I should have hurt feelings or
not, forgetting my angel can read my
mind. The others too, I suppose.
“Regarding your hurt feelings, get
over it and just follow through with our
advice.”
Get over it!! Just, get over it?!?! I
thought.
“Yes, get over it. Now, get writing.”
Sound advice from my dear friend.
(Continued on page 6)
ABOUT TOWN
Newbury Place
A
couple of years ago when I was ‘About Town’ I noticed a
sign that read Newbury Place on a store. I was curious and
went over to investigate. I was pleased and surprised to behold a
delightful shop full of gift items beautifully displayed. It didn’t
occur to me that I would write about it someday.
A number of years ago, as they shared wine and conversation
about gifts shops, the three owners, Liz Page, Eva Schick and
Amy Cameron decided to open a store together and Newbury
Place was born. Liz, who is in charge of publicity and advertising,
says the name represents the combination of their hometowns;
Liz is from Newtown and Eva and Amy live in Southbury. The
building at 41 Oak Tree Road off Main Street was available and
it became the home of their joint venture. They use the pineapple
as their logo because it represents hospitality, a thoroughly
Christian attribute, which they embody in more ways than their
friendly greeting to all who enter the store.
Every January the women offer a $10 certificate to anyone
who brings in a used winter coat which is donated to St. Vincent
de Paul. Another way the shop helps those in need is by hosting
benefits for area foundations and charities and giving 15% of
the proceeds on all sales where the purchaser mentions the name
of the organization. In addition to our own Hoof it For Haiti
fundraiser, they have also held benefits for Ann’s Place, a Danbury
charity that provides services to help cancer victims and Regional
Hospice and Home Care of Western CT-Southbury Chapter.
The people who promote the charity are responsible for the
publicity. As they walk around the store they tell the customers
to mention their name and 15% of the proceeds for those sales is
given to the charity.
You may have seen Tucker Gowan’s name in the Sacred
Heart bulletin asking people to send him e-mails or cards to
encourage the 17 year old, a victim of leukemia. Newbury Place
sponsored a day for his benefit and again, “mention the name”
and 15% of the proceeds was given for his benefit.
The women make good use their talents: Amy does the
shopping, Liz does the PR work and Eva takes care of all the
bookkeeping. They take turns working different days and as Eva
said, “The three of us are never here on the same day.” The three
partners also are busy mothers and a couple of their daughters
work part-time at the shop.
The owners are interested in helping their own communities,
PTO, Scouts, and other local groups have benefited from the shop.
Liz showed me a calendar and it is surprising all the people who
have used this way of collecting funds for their causes. Liz said,
“We are very grateful for the success we have achieved and
want to give back.”
It is very inspiring to witness how success and charity could
go hand in hand. It would be wonderful if more business people
offer this advantage. Although they have been in business for
only six years we wish them God’s blessings for many more
good years.
While you are “About Town” you may want to enjoy this
lovely gift shop and visit with these sharing and caring owners
and enjoy their hospitality.
Newbury Place is open Tues. – Sat. 9:30-5:30 Sun. 11-4.
Visit their website www.newburyplace.com.
Dina Carella
Ed. Note: If you have any ideas for future ‘About Town’ articles, please contact
Dina Carella at 203-267-7353.
Neighbors Helping
Neighbors
N
eighbors Helping Neighbors is a
ministry at Sacred Heart that
reaches out to those among us who need help; such as grocery
shopping, rides to church or to local doctor appointments. We
are in need of volunteers, so if you would like to help, or know
someone who is in need, please call Marilee Adams at 203-2675775 or Lisa Fox at 203-262-8847.
10
Rogation Days
Asking for God’s Blessing for the Fruit of our labor
O
nce upon a time most of the
world’s population consisted of
farmers. Farmers
paid particular
attention to the
cycles of nature,
to the climate and
weather. They
learned how to
read the stars,
the sky, to judge
the correct time
to plant and to
harvest crops.
And they prayed.
They prayed for
rain, for snow, for
sun, for all they
needed.
So embedded in life was this process
that we find Mark giving witness in the
days of the early Church: “Jesus said,
‘This is how it is with the kingdom of
God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed
on the land and would sleep and rise
night and day and the seed would sprout
and grow, he knows not how. Of its own
accord the land yields fruit, first the
blade, then the ear, then the full grain in
the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he
wields the sickle at once, for the harvest
has come.’” (Mark 4:26-29 NAB)
Jesus also said, “To what shall we
compare the kingdom of God, or what
parable can we use for it? It is like a
mustard seed that, when it is sown in the
ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on
the earth. But once it is sown, it springs
up and becomes the largest of plants and
puts forth large branches, so that the
birds of the sky can dwell in its
shade.” (Mark 4: 30-32 NAB)
You may be unfamiliar with the term
Rogation Days, since the Catholic
Church seldom currently includes this
practice in its
liturgical
calendar. Beginning in the
fifth century,
during the
planting season, parishioners would join
in processions and prayers to ward off
the evils of plague, drought, and other
disasters.
The Collect, part of the Introductory
Rites, for this Mass asks God to give and
to preserve the harvests of land and sea,
and “prosper all who labor to gather
them,” giving thanks to Father, Son and
Spirit. Mark 4:26-32 is the gospel for
Rogation Monday.
As we enter the harvest season, our
crop may differ from the past; or we
may, in fact, harvest the produce of both
our soil and our toil as in the past, it
seems to me to be a good time to harvest
our thoughts and memories for the year
11
as well, a good time to reflect and give
thanks.
Recently I was privileged to visit
several relatives I had not seen for quite
some time. Driving more than 1,800
miles through the South we paused to
celebrate a life passed and rejoice in those
battling to overcome life’s difficulties. A
dear cousin-in-law, an eminent theologian
in the Presbyterian faith, left us with
a beautiful grace before meals. He
borrowed it from Markings by Dag
Hammarskjold, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel
Laureate. It is a short, simple and profound prayer: “For all that has been––
Thanks. For all that shall be—Yes.”
I hope to employ this prayer for far
more than meals and use it to implore
grace in each moment of the day.
While our church no longer incorporates the Rogation Days into its calendar,
there is nothing to stop us from praying
at harvest time and as the seasons change;
it is as simple as ‘thanks’ and ‘yes.’
Colleen Kelly
The ABC’s of Getting a College Scholarship from Your…Church?
I
n the May issue of From the Heart we detailed how annual
financial distributions from the Mustard Seed Fund are made.
Fifty percent of each year’s disbursement is donated to worthy
charities, and twenty percent is provided for scholarships in
higher education for parishioners, ten percent for youth ministry
and twenty percent for parish needs.
With a limited number of funds available and a growing
number of applicants, awarding the scholarships becomes more
competitive each year. What follows is a composite picture of
the average applicant and the selection criteria used in the
process of examining the applications.
The following data, gathered from the most recent 25
scholarship winners, yield an interesting profile. Our recipients
are busy, very busy, young adults.
A typical student has been a parishioner for 16 years and
has a median high school GPA of 3.58. Most likely they have
chosen a particular major and will be living on campus. Their
annual tuition cost will average $45,700.
As I said, the applicant is very busy both within and outside
the parish. There is a high probability that he or she would have
participated in the parish Mission Trip (every applicant that
participated in Mission Trip was awarded a scholarship, but not
all winners participated.) Other ministries listed included altar
server, lector, choir member, Faith Walk, The Rock youth group
or J-Walking. Participation in extracurricular activities was not
limited to the parish. Academic clubs, honor societies, varsity
athletic teams as well as chorus, marching band and community
service clubs keep our student busy as well. Our profile student
could be a member of scouts, or a Special Olympic or Relay for
Life volunteer. They might work 25-30 hours a week in a restaurant, at a golf course, officiating at a youth sports game or as a
life guard. If that isn’t enough, he or she could be the one scholarship recipient that is a certified EMT and be putting in many
hours of service throughout the year.
There are six criteria used to evaluate each application:
• Financial need (Five objective sub-components): 35%
• Parish and Public Service (Church ministries, academic and
athletic activities, community service): 35%
• Work Experience: 10%
• Essay: How Can I Use My Gifts and Talents to Provide Service to Help Others? (500 words): 10%
• Cumulative GPA: 5%
• Interview with Mustard Seed Scholarship Sub-Committee: 5%
In the essays written by our 25 scholarship winners, the median rating by a committee member was 90 out of a possible
100, and nine of them scored 100!
Undoubtedly, this group of scholarship achievers has learned
their ABC’s.
Walt Gaipa
2012 Mustard Seed Scholarship Recipients
(seated) Amanda Forney, Hannah Theriault,
Megan Gaffney, Onna Jaegar, (middle row)
Kathleen Mooney, Emily Kaplita, Azania Brodeur,
Jackie Hylwa, Kristen Valera, Colin McCrory,
Billy Galante, Casey Moran, Fr. Joe, Maria Mucci,
(back row) Lauren Baranowski, Haley Moser, Matt
Granja, Evan LaRosa, Nick Carella.
12
Attention parishioners in grades 9-12
Faith-Food-Fun-Fascination-Friends…
Who: Thousands of Catholic teens from the Archdiocese of Hartford
What: 2012 Catholic Youth Spectacular
This year’s theme:“Sacraments: God’s Enduring Treasures, Celebrations of Grace”
When: September 30, 2012
Where: Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary
Event Overview: Great Music, Speakers, Food, Prayer and Praise!
12:00 p.m. Depart Sacred Heart
12:15
Registration
1:15
Official welcome, opening procession & prayer
1:45
Vince Nims
3:15
Picnic & Field Activities
5:30
Mass with Archbishop Mansell
7:00
Departure from event, arrive at Sacred Heart at 8pm
Cost: $30 (plus bus fee if needed, paid at day of event) due by September 10th
Ready to represent Sacred Heart?
Register at Confirmation Orientation or at the Faith Formation Office 203-264-5065.
Forms and more information located on the Faith Formation Bulletin Board
Contact: Ami Conlan, Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation
[email protected]
Women Sharing Wisdom
W
omen Sharing Wisdom is a monthly meeting for women interested in growing in their love of God and their call to discipleship. This year’s theme focuses on the women of the New Testament who followed Jesus. Our time together includes presentation, sharing, reflection, and, of course, friendship. All are welcome. Please bring a bible and a notebook. For more information call
Sister Pat at 203-264-5071 or email her, [email protected]
Our first meeting is Monday, September 10 from 7 to 8:30. At this meeting we will spend some time in “Sacred Heart to Hearts:
conversations about the Church today.” These are small round table discussions that are being offered around our parish. We have
been announcing these meetings to the parish as they serve to “raise awareness about what the Church is, how the Church has
changed and how we each have roles of service that make the Church happen and we would benefit from some good conversations
among ourselves….We will offer some brief input about what the Church is, especially in light of the teaching of Vatican II, and what
we are trying to do here at Sacred Heart. The conversation will proceed from there. We all have good and not-so-good memories and
experiences of Church, as well as questions about the Church and where the Church is going these days.” This will be our opportunity
to talk with one another about it and it will set the stage for our future discussions on our role as today’s disciples of Jesus.
Finding a Chance to Change the World
One grilled cheese sandwich at a time
A
s a lifelong member of Sacred
Heart Church, I am happy to
share a few of my amazing experiences attending a Catholic university.
I am a student at Duquesne University,
located in Pittsburgh, PA. Duquesne
University was founded by members
of the Spiritan Congregation. Its
mission is enriching the life, the mind
and the spirit of every member of its
community.
Aside from the new friends I have
made, my academic studies, and the
great environment the city offers me, Duquesne has opened so
many doors for participation in community service. Coming
from as great a parish as Sacred Heart, I was familiar with having
many opportunities available to make a difference. I attended
the Mission Trip for three years and was involved in making
sandwiches and meals for the local food shelter and other
activities. When I first arrived at Duquesne, I was worried that
I would not have opportunities such as these to help make a
difference. I had not yet realized that by attending a Spiritan
school and living in a city, the opportunities would be endless.
I also quickly learned that the motto of Duquesne ‘It is the
Spirit who gives life’ wasn’t just words. In the first few days
of my arrival in Pittsburgh, I helped to clean the streets of a
distressed urban neighborhood. It felt great to be welcomed into
the community with such open arms and be able to make a
difference in my new home. As time went on I found more
activities to join. I sold raffle tickets at professional sporting
events as fundraisers to benefit a variety of local charities. I also
had the opportunity to join a club here at Duquesne called Circle
K. This is a community service oriented club, where we volunteer our time for any organizations that are in need. Circle K’s
new addition is a FeelGood club. We will be only the 19th
university in the country to initiate this club. FeelGood’s
mission is to end world hunger in our lifetime by raising funds
selling an assortment of gourmet grilled cheeses for a donation
of an amount that ‘feels good.’ It is very exciting to be a part
of such a determined group of peers and to be involved in the
beginnings of a great charitable event.
It is truly inspiring to be living on a campus where so many
students volunteer their precious time to improve the well-being
of Pittsburgh. I am looking forward to continuing my service at
Duquesne University when I return in the fall, and would
strongly suggest younger members of the parish consider all this
university has to offer as they plan their futures.
Amanda Forney
Ed. Note: Amanda will enter her sophomore year at Duquesne University in
the fall. She is a recipient of a Mustard Seed Scholarship.
Coming soon to Sacred Heart!
M
aking Music Praying Twice is a weekly music
education program which allows children (birth to
age five) and parents/caregivers an opportunity to grow in
faith and community. The program of music and movement
designed to foster the Catholic faith and to enrich education
and family life, pursues a profound goal: While the gift of
music education is invaluable, the gift of music combined
with prayer is immeasurable.
Watch the bulletin and Faith Formation Bulletin Board
for more information for the Fall Ordinary Time-Advent
program.
For more information contact Ami Conlan, Pastoral Associate of Faith Formation, [email protected]
203-264-5065
14
15
From the Heart
REMINDER
Sacred Heart Parish
910 Main Street South
Southbury, CT 06488
First Holy Communion and Confirmation
Do you have a 1st grader or a child who needs to
receive one of their Sacraments?
Sacred Heart has two-year sacramental
preparation programs, so it is
important to enroll your child in
GIFT this year in order to receive the
Sacrament in 2014.
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit No. 55
Southbury, CT