Saturday Vigil ..................................................................................... 4:30 p.m. Sunday............................................................................. 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Weekdays, Monday through Thursday .................................. 6:30 a.m. SACRAMENTOFRECONCILIATIONSaturday ...................................... 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment SACRAMENTOFBAPTISMFamilies preparing for Bap sm must a end a pre-bap smal class. Classes are held the third Sunday every other month. Please call the parish office to make arrangements.
Bap sms are celebrated on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 12:00 noon. SACRAMENTOFMATRIMONYThose preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage should schedule an appointment with Fr. Leary and Music Director Tim Stella.
Pastor ...................... Reverend James F. Leary
Deacon ............................... James E. Hickey, Jr.
PARISHMEMBERSHIPThrough bap sm we become God’s sons and daughters, and brother and sisters of each other in Christ. Every family in the parish should be properly registered and each family should receive a set of envelopes. New parishioners should register at the Parish Office. Single adults over 21 years of age should register separately from parents. This registra on is our only means of cer fying anyone as a member of our parish family.
CHURCH OF SAINT PETER CLAVER WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT March 15, 2015
Saturday, March 14 4:30 PM Memorial: John Buckley Sunday, March 15 8:30 AM 1st Anniversary: Joanne Farrell 10:30 AM 2nd Anniversary: George S. McKenna
Monday, March 16 6:30 AM For the Parishioners of St. Peter Claver Tuesday, March 17 6:30 AM Memorial: Liam McGee
Wednesday, March 18 6:30 AM For the Parishioners of St. Peter Claver Thursday, March 19 6:30 AM For the Parishioners of St. Peter Claver Saturday, March 21 4:30 PM 30th Anniversary: Paul Liner Sunday, March 22 8:30 AM Memorial: Maria Kovolski 10:30 AM 1st Anniversary: Robert Magharn
THE WEEK AHEAD AT ST PETER CLAVER
Monday, March 16 6:00 – 7:00 PM Lenten Confession ~ Church Wednesday, March 18 10:00 AM Playgroup ~ Hall 5:30 PM Stations of the Cross ~ Church 6:00 PM Soup Supper ~ Parish Hall Thursday, March 19
6:00 PM Lenten Evening – Creating Sabbath Space ~ Hall
Friday, March 20 7:00 PM Townwide Stations of the Cross ~
St. Mark the Evangelist Church
TOWN-WIDE STATIONS OF THE CROSS… will take place at St. Mark the Evangelist Church
on Friday, March 20 at 7:00 pm Please join us!
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
First Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 The people of Judah practiced many abominations, even polluting God’s temple in Jerusalem. They mocked the messengers he sent among them, until he grew so angry he delivered them to the King of the Chaldeans. Those who weren’t killed were exiled and became servants for seventy years. Cyrus, King of Persia, was ordered to build a temple to God in Jerusalem, and he freed the servants as God had inspired him to do. Second Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10 Paul declares that God brought us to life in Jesus, though we had been dead from our sins. He reminds us that it was not a reward for our good service so no one should take credit. Instead, we must remember that it was not our doing, but a sign of God’s mercy and love for us. Gospel: John 3:14-21 God so loved the world, he sent us his only Son so that all who believed would have eternal life in him. The light came into the world, but those who were wicked avoided it, for fear that their evil deeds would be exposed. But those who believed were unafraid of the light, where it would be clear that their deeds were done in God.
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Second Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9
Gospel: John 12:20-33
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR Next weekend we welcome the Little Sisters of the Poor. The collection taken for them will be exclusively for the care of the elderly poor who reside with them at St. Joseph’s Residence in Enfield. The Little Sisters of the Poor have been serving the needs of the elderly poor in Connecticut for over 100 years. They are most grateful for your generosity.
GRAND PIANO FOR SALE
Our beautiful piano in the Parish Hall is for sale. Formerly owned by Bob Ellsworth, it is in excellent condition, and was professionally regulated. It is 6’1” in length and has a high gloss ebony finish. If interested, contact Tim Stella at 860-983-4029.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Lent 2015
Town Wide Lenten Mission March 15th – 18th, 7:00 PM ~ St. Timothy Church ~
Please join us for four evenings with Deacon Art Miller, a well-known, dynamic preacher and Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Black Catholic Ministries.
He also serves at St. Mary Church in Simsbury
Lenten Corporal Works Of Mercy For MARCH 14/15, our ‘work’ SHELTER THE HOMELESS, we would appreciate paper goods and all types of cleaning supplies for the FRIENDSHIP CENTER SOUP KITCHEN at MERCY HOUSING. For MARCH 21/22, our ‘work” VISIT THE IMPRISONED, we will direct our actions to the needs of women and men cared for in the CT prison hospice programs with our donations to purchase personal care items. Please place your donation in the baskets located on the entry tables. (Checks should be made payable to St. Peter Claver Church).
Creating Sabbath Space In Our Lives Continues
Thursday evenings during Lent here in the St. Peter Claver Parish Hall
March 19, 26, and Tuesday, March 31 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Join us for the next video series with Ron Rolheiser, OMI, facilitated by Gigi Frailey.
Lenten Confessions For your convenience all churches of the Archdiocese will be open for Confessions every Monday during Lent from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. For more information visit Light4you.info
GOOD FRIDAY SACRED CONCERT The St. Peter Claver choir is proud to present a very powerful and spiritually moving concert this year on Good Friday, April 3rd, at 7:30 PM. The program will feature our wonderful choir, instrumentalists and soloists. Selections from Mozart, Rutter, and Lloyd Webber will be performed, as well as a sung Passion According to Saint John, with special guest, Charles Pistone, singing the role of Jesus. Please join us for this memorable event to heighten the solemnity of this season. Only a free will offering will be requested.
ST. ANN OF AVON YOUTH MINISTRY PRESENTS “HIS LAST DAYS”
Saturday, March 28, 7:00 pm at Avon High School His Last Days is a moving musical portrayal of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection with music by Dallas Holm and Steve Green. Special effects lighting and wonderfully moving music enhances this very professional presentation. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door of by calling Joan Gould at 860-673-9858 Ext. 226.
The following reflects finances through the end of February 2015
2015 2015 2014 Actual Budget Actual (same period) $54,735 $66,154 $63.283
Includes ParishPay contributions: $7,177
FEBRUARY EXPENSES Payroll/Taxes: $26,917; Insurance: $1,752; Employee Benefits: $8,498; Parish Office Expenses: $1,863; Religious Education: $2.286; Cathedraticum: $11,588; School Support Tax: $1,588; Repairs & Maintenance: $13,339; Utilities: $4,855; Charity: $1,316.
We thank you for your continued support!
2015 ARCHBISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal helps provide the critical funding needed to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, counsel those in despair, offer much-needed assistance to the unemployed, and make medical care available to those without health insurance. Your gift to the 2015 Appeal will help to continue these and other vital ministries, services, and programs that reach out to so many in need.
GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON
What can we give in return? I you want to give him yourself to serve as a priest or religious, call Fr. Anthony Smith, Director of Vocations, Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary, 860-242-5573, email [email protected] or visit the web at www.vocationshartford.org.
PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE CAMPAIGN PETITION
In their continuing effort to defeat the Physician-Assisted Suicide legislation, the CT Catholic Conference is requesting your assistance and cooperation as they continue their campaign to oppose this legislation. In order to coordinate this effort, we are asking parishioners to sign a petition urging the Judiciary Committee to strongly oppose Physician-Assisted Suicide when the committee members debate and vote on this legislative proposal. Please stop by to sign the petition on the table located in the back of the church on your way out today. Also available is a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding Physician-Assisted Suicide in Connecticut.
In today's Gospel, we learn that Jesus made up for all our sins by dying on the Cross. It wasn't fair that He should die for sins He didn't commit, but Jesus wanted to give us new life and sent His Holy Spirit so that we could be strong enough to say no to sin. The Gospel says that if we believe all that Jesus did for us, we will someday live with Him in Heaven. Images of darkness and light are used in John’s Gospel to help us reflect on the forgiveness of sins we receive through Christ. Because Jesus died for our salvation, we do not hide our sins from God. Instead, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we confess our sins to God, confident that God forgives us. During Lent, many people take the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that they can experience the joy of God’s forgiveness!
Contact the Faith Formation Office with any questions at 860-521-2904 or email at [email protected].
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING CLASSES
GRADES 3 - 6 Sunday Students: Sunday, March 15, 9:30-10:30am
Weekday Students meet as follows: Tuesday, March 24, 3:45-4:45pm Wednesday, March 25, 2:15-3:15pm
GRADE 7 Students meet Sunday, March 22, 11:45am-12:45pm
GRADE 8 Students will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesday, March 24 or Tuesday, March 31, from 6:30-7:30pm. We will begin with a brief Penance Service fol-lowed by individual confessions.
ADAPTIVE PROGRAM Sacramental Preparation for Special Needs Students has begun. Our next session will take place on Tues-day, March 24 from 6:30-7:30pm. Families are asked to bring their Sacramental Kits with them to class and all necessary forms for those who wish to be confirmed.
CONFIRMATION PREPARATION
GRADE 9: Students will meet on Sunday, March 22 at 11:45am-12:45pm. Students are asked to participate in the Stations of the Cross Prayer Service on Wednesday, March 18 at 5:30pm.
GRADE 10: Confirmation Candidates meet Sunday, March 29, 11:45-1pm. Letters to Pastor and Memorial Mass Intentions are now due. Candidates are asked to participate in the Stations of the Cross Prayer Service on March 18 or 25 at 5:30pm.
FAMILY & CHURCH CLASSES GRADE 1
Sunday Students: March 22, 9:30am - 10:30am Tuesday Students: March 24, at 3:45pm - 4:45pm
GRADE 2 Sunday Students: March 29, 9:30am- 10:30am Tuesday Students: March 24, 3:45pm- 4:45pm
Wednesday Students: March 25, 2:15pm-3:15pm
A special way to be prayerful during Lent is to “walk” with Jesus on the road to Calvary through the Stations of the Cross. Each week, the students are welcome to walk through the stations as part of their Lenten Lesson. March 18 - Gr. 9 and 10 and March 25 - All Grades
We meet at 5:30pm in the Church on the above dates. Stations are led by the stu-dents, but ALL parishioners are invited each week, as well as students in every grade lev-el. The Stations are followed by a Soup Sup-per in the Parish Hall.
An email link has been sent to all registered families with sign up information.
The Pretzel - A Reminder to Pray!
Pretzels began in the 6th century at an
Italian monastery. A monk was prepar-
ing unleavened bread for Lent and
twisted the scraps of bread dough to
resemble arms in prayer. He named his
creation Pretiola, a word meaning little
reward, and gave it as a treat to the
children who recited their prayers.
“For we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”
Ephesians 2:10
The 4th Sunday of Lent is sometimes called Laetare Sunday. Laetare is a Latin word that means “Rejoice.”Even as we observe our Lenten sacrifices, we Rejoice in anticipation of the Joy that will be ours at Easter!
During the Lenten Season we are especially blessed by the Giving Hearts of our Children who have shared these Gifts of Love on their Offertory Envelopes:
Helped my Grandma; Said my prayers; Did my hair with my Mom; Spent time with friends; Helped at home; Practiced piano; Helped my sick Grandmother; Helped at barn; Make my bed every morning; Set and cleared the table for dinner; Cleaned my room; Helped Mom fold clothes; Received my First Reconciliation; Prayed at Stations of the Cross; Took care of my baby sister while my Mom was busy.
We also thank our Confirmations Students and their Fami-lies for their generous food donations to the St. Elizabeth House Dinner. May God bless you all for your kindness!
SUMMER MISSION TRIP UPDATE
We have room for 2 more girls in the group that St. Peter Claver is
sponsoring for the CHWC Summer Mission Trip to serve the City of
Hartford July 12th - 18th. Registration Forms are available in the
Parish Center.
SUMMER MISSION TRIP
FEMALE ADULT CHAPERONE NEEDED We are still looking for one more female adult to chaperone our
St. Peter Claver teens who will be serving in the City of Hartford with
the Catholic Heart Work Camp on July 12th through Saturday
morning July 18th.For more information check out:
www.workcamp.com and call Anne Carroll with any questions at
860-561-4912.
YOUTH GROUP TO FORM TEAM
TO WALK IN CT WALKS FOR HAITI SPC Youth Group is registering a group to participate in the 6th
Annual, CT Walks for Haiti on Saturday April 25th. This 2.5 mile
walk through West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square begins at
