March 22, 2015 - Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Transcription
March 22, 2015 - Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Holy Trinity Catholic Church 15 ROUTE 37 CENTER · SHERMAN · CONNECTICUT · 06784 VISIT US AT: WWW.HTRCCSHERMAN.ORG PARISH MISSION STATEMENT—We are Holy Trinity Catholic community of faith. We are a diverse and welcoming community of believers in Jesus Christ. We are energized and empowered by Christ’s love, forgiveness and healing. We strive to experience and make Him known to others through joyful worship, heartfelt prayer, formative education, life giving service and supportive fellowship. REV. RICHARD J. GEMZA PASTOR [email protected] KIM SANTORO ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT [email protected] MICHELE CURNAN DIRECTOR OF FAITH FORMATION [email protected] ROB BRERETON DIRECTOR OF MUSIC [email protected] WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday vigil 5:00pm, Sunday 8:30am and 11:00am WEEKDAY MASS: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, Friday 8:00am SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday 4:15pm or by appointment BAPTISMS AND WEDDINGS: Contact the Parish Office PARISH OFFICE PHONE: 860.354.1414 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PHONE: 860.355.1483 WEBSITE: htrccsherman.org E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10:00am-2:00pm Closed Wednesday HOLY TRINITY CHURCH PASTOR’S CORNER SHERMAN, CONNECTICUT Dear Parishioners: This weekend, just a few lines to let you know that I have reconstituted the Parish Council which, until recently, had gone defunct. As you may know, the Parish Council serves in an advisory capacity to the Pastor and most members serve a three year term. Meetings will take place roughly quarterly and our first meeting will take place after Easter. The new Parish Council consists of: Janice Jordan, Trustee Doug Kastilahn, Chairman & Trustee Sean McGrath Tracie Pakrad Mike Pellitier Kim Santoro Please join me in thanking them for their willingness to serve. As we get closer to Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, let me encourage you to continue all your Lenten intentions and sacrifices. If you have perhaps lost a little commitment along the way, for whatever reason, it isn't too late to renew and reset for a strong finish to Lent. God bless you, Fr. Gemza We regret to announce that Virginia Murphy, the mother of Fr. Paul Murphy (4th Pastor of Holy Trinity), has been called to her rest. Please remember Mrs. Murphy and Fr. Paul in your prayers. Condolences may be sent to: Fr. Paul Murphy St. Thomas More Church 374 Middlesex Road Darien, CT 06820 PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Amos Munch, Joseph Tamberelli, Caitlin Pallas, Jack Lago, Theresa Pepe, Bette Broderick, Jackie Crawford, Nancy Grenier, Michael Norel, Heidi Cox, Mike Berger, Doris McAuliffe, Joyce & Bob Kenney, Jane Smith, Patricia Boyle, Patricia Repko, Ardis Faranda, Glenn Hawley, Stephen and Joan Roll & Paula DeSimone REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS The men and women in the Armed Forces and all who protect us. Especially, Corey Celik, Mark Francis Erhardt, Megan Meenan, and Katie Hogan. May they be shielded from danger; and for their families and loved ones. 2015 ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL As the largest private social services agency in Fairfield County, Catholic Charities has been promoting its fundamental mission of caring, compassion, and service to those less fortunate for more than 95 years. Last year, Appeal funds made it possible for this agency to serve more than 1.3 million nutritious meals to needy and vulnerable persons throughout Fairfield County, provided disaster recovery assistance to hundreds of families still suffering from Superstorm Sandy, conduct 15, 000 counseling sessions through their Behavioral Health Clinics, expanded “school readiness services” to 123 children from 46 working poor families through the “Room to Grow” Program, and provided supportive housing services to about 300 individuals. In so many ways, your gift to the 2015 Annual Catholic Appeal will truly help us to help others and enhance human dignity. Holy Trinity Offertory March 14-15, 2015 Saturday, 5:00pm Mass (96) ........................................ $1,135.00 Sunday, 8:30am Mass (91) .............................................. $926.00 Sunday, 11:00am Mass (126) ....................................... $1,263.00 Last weekend, a total of 50 Parish family envelopes were used and 24 loose checks were collected. $277.00 was collected in loose cash. Offertory mailed into the parish office totaled $170.00 313 people attended Mass. Thank you for your continued support! FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 22, 2015 Easter Egg Hunt Saturday March 28 Stations of the Cross - Fridays during Lent 7:00pm in the Church No Stations on April 3rd (Good Friday) Holy Thursday at 4PM April 2nd Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:30pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 10:00pm Good Friday April 3rd Commemoration of the Passion at 3:00pm No Stations of the Cross Confessions Saturdays During Lent at 4:15pm No Confessions on Holy Saturday (April 4th) Tuesdays During Lent 7:00pm to 8:00pm All Confessions heard in the church confessional Fasting & Abstinence Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence from meat. All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from meat. All those between the ages of 18 and 59, inclusive are bound by the fast unless a medical condition indicates otherwise. Any medication is to be taken as prescribed; water and medication do not break the fast. The days of fasting allow one full meal for the day, but one may have two additional very light meals if needed, providing those two meals together do not make a full meal. All those age 14 and over are bound by abstinence on the appointed days unless a medical condition indicates otherwise. Donations are needed of individually wrapped candy. Please drop off candy in the vestibule by Wednesday 3/25. Thank you. Coming soon to Holy Trinity: "A Journey to the Potter's House" on April 17th in the Parish Hall. Further information to come. You can also visit the website: http:// www.ajourneytothepottershouse.com/ “Pope Francis and the Promise of Family” Dr. Scott Hahn, his wife Kimberly and Dr. Alan Hunt will offer inspiration, encouragement and creative solutions to the challenges of married life and parenting as envisioned by Pope Francis, on Saturday April 18th at All Saints’ School in Norwalk. Event is from 830am to 5pm. For more information check poster in vestibule. Defending Our Religious Liberty This Week’s Classes Grades 1-4 Sunday March 22 9:45-10:45am Grades K-4 Monday March 23 3:15-4:35pm Next Week’s Classes Grades 1-4 Sunday March 29 9:45-10:45am Grades K-4 Monday March 30 3:15-4:35pm Recently the state of California started forcing all health insurers in the state to include elective abortions in the health plans they sell. Other states will be putting the pressure on their health insurers, as well. This problem is addressed by the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R 940). This measure adds a long-overdue conscience clause to the Affordable Care Act, and strengthens the Weldon amendment that forbids governmental bodies receiving federal Health and Human Services funds from discriminating against those who decline to take part in abortion or abortion coverage. Please support the Health Care Conscience Rights Act. (H.R. 940) by writing to your congressman or woman. If you haven’t done so already, please voice your opposition to the federal health care mandate by calling U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell at 202-205-5445. Let them know that the mandate is in violation of our First Amendment right to religious freedom. 5TH SUNDAY IN LENT TEXT REFLECTION "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be." In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks about death. He gives the analogy of the grain of wheat that must fall to the ground and die in order to produce much fruit. Later, he speaks about how he will be "lifted up from the earth," making reference to his crucifixion. He says that the fruit of this will be that he will "draw everyone" to himself. Jesus is telling us that death yields a greater good, that it produces fruit. So, when he insists that we must follow him, we can take courage. Yes, following Jesus means accompanying him all the way to the cross. It means that we too are called to carry our own cross and die to ourselves: "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life." But this death leads to a greater kind of life. When we stay connected to Jesus through thick and thin, we receive eternal life in the end! Jesus says, "The Father will honor whoever serves me." The season of Lent is designed not only to help us reflect a bit more deeply on the sufferings and death of Christ, but also to prepare us for the glory that follows. The joy of Easter and the triumph of the Resurrection are all the more powerful precisely because they emerge out of the darkest, most "hopeless" of situations. When we cling to Jesus even through these kinds of circumstances in our own lives--whether they be sickness, unemployment, conflict, or disappointment--we are those servants that Jesus spoke of, the ones who go where Jesus goes, even when the going gets tough. But let us remember, as we march through Lent, that this journey will bear much fruit. ©2012 Liturgical Publications Inc FAITH AND YOUR FAMILY BEATITUDES FOR PARENTS Blessed are they who accept the awkwardness of growth, for they are aware of the choice between marred furnishings and damaged personalities. Blessed are the teachable. For knowledge brings understanding, and understanding brings love. Blessed are the men and women who in the midst of the unpromising mundane, give love, for they bestow the greatest of all gifts to each other, to their children, and – in an ever-widening circle – to their fellow men. Saturday, March 21 5:00pm Pasquale Crocco r/b Richard & Dolores Brush Sunday, March 22 5th Sunday of Lent 8:30am Intentions for Holy Trinity parishioners 11:00am Bruno Ragosta r/b the Hatcher Family Monday, March 23 8:00am Matthew M. Gillotti r/b Aunt Karen Tuesday, March 24 8:00am Intentions for the sick of the parish Wednesday, March 25 No Mass Thursday, March 26 8:00am Paula Fischer-Gillotti r/b Karen Fischer-Perkins Friday, March 27 8:00am All Souls Saturday, March 28 5:00pm John Buscemi r/b Barbara & Ben Palagonia Sunday, March 29 Palm Sunday 8:30am Intentions for Holy Trinity parishioners 11:00am Brian Monaghan r/b the Hatcher Family READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 22, 2015 Sunday: Monday: Jer 31:31-34/Heb 5:7-9/Jn 12:20-33 Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62/ Jn 8:1-11 Tuesday: Nm 21:4-9/Jn 8:21-30 Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Gn 17:3-9/Jn 8:51-59 Friday: Jer 20:10-13/Jn 10:31-42 Saturday: Ez 37:21-28/Jn 11:45-56 Next Sunday: Mk 11:1-10 or Jn 12:12-16/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:611/Mk 14:1--15:47 or 15:1-39