6
T. U 3 H M e R d , 0 1 ~ 03- -3
ST. JEROME CHURCH
23 Half Mile Road Norwalk, CT 06851 ~ 203-847-5349
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT FEBRUARY 18, 2018
SABBATH MASSES
Saturday 4:00 PM
Sunday 8:00 AM
9:15 AM Young Children's Mass
11:00 AM
6:00 PM Teen Mass
DAYS OF OBLIGATION
Holy Day 9:00 AM, 7:00 PM
WEEKDAY MASSES
Mon-Sat 9:00 AM
HOW TO FIND US……
Parish Website:
www.stjeromenorwalk.org
Parish Email: [email protected]
REACH email: [email protected]
Parish Facebook:
stjeromenorwalk
REACH & TOTAL Facebook:
REACH.TOTAL.stjerome
Parish Twitter: @StJeromeNorwalk
REACH & TOTAL Twitter:
@REACHstjerome
Instagram:
stjeromenorwalk
PASTORAL STAFF
203-847-5349
Rev. David Blanchfield, Pastor
Rev. Rojin Karickal, Parochial Vicar
Rev. Michael Hoag, S.J., Weekend Assistant
Deacon Dean Finch • 203-847-6397
PARISH OFFICE
203-847-5349
Mrs. Pat Florio, Secretary
Office Hours, Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (REACH)
203-846-2111
Mrs. Kathy Coyne, DRE
Mrs. Natalie Raduazzo
Mrs. Kathy Rohr
YOUTH MINISTRY (TOTAL)
Joe and Daniela OʼCallaghan
203-847-0321
MUSIC MINISTRY
203-847-5349
Mr. Donald Nelson
PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON
Dan Loch • 203-846-3980
FINANCE COUNCIL
Jerry Holdridge • 203-966-3658
ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
203-847-3881 Pre K—Grade 8
139 West Rocks Road
Norwalk, CT 06851
Mrs. Linda Dunn, Principal
FAITH DIRECT—ONLINE GIVING
866-507-8757 www.faithdirect.net
Sign up using our church code: CT46, or
by mailing a paper enrollment form available in
the parish office. Also available on our website at
www.stjeromenorwalk.org/Faith-Direct-
enrollment.pdf
MISSION STATEMENT
We the people of St. Jerome Parish, a Ro-
man Catholic community, proclaim our
belief in the message and mission of Jesus
Christ. As disciples of Jesus we are called
to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to
work for its values in the local community
and beyond. We are committed to: wor-
ship, religious education, shared faith and
service. We welcome all people with re-
spect, acceptance and support.
Parish Staff
Altar Flowers
Altar Flowers may be memorialized for a donation
of $50. Please call the Parish Office several
months prior to your desired date.
Adoration & Silent Prayer
Every day between 4:00PM and 5:00PM.
Contemplative Prayer
Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM.
Come spend some quiet time with the Lord.
Perpetual Novena
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal takes place
each Monday following morning Mass
Rosary & Divine Mercy Prayers
Monday through Saturday after daily Mass
Baptisms Please call the parish office during
regular office hours to schedule.
Required Pre-Baptism Class is required for
the first child baptized at St. Jerome.
Reconciliation One hour before vigil on
Saturday. Also anytime by appointment.
Marriages Please contact the Parish Office at
least six months in advance.
Anointing of the Sick First Wednesday of
each month, immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass,
in the sanctuary. Anyone with an ongoing medical
condition or who is seriously ill, anticipating a medical
procedure or operation, is welcome to come.
Gluten Free Hosts are available at all Masses. If
you require a gluten-free host, please see the
officiating priest before Mass.
Bringing up the Gifts at Mass If the Mass
intention has been requested by you or for your loved
ones, and you would like to bring up the Gifts at the
Offertory, please let the ushers know that you are
present and would like to bring up the gifts.
Widows’ Support Group
Meets at 9:30AM on the second Thursday of the
month in the Kevin Eidt Youth Room.
2/17 9:00 am for the sick & their caregivers
VIGIL FOR SUNDAY
4:00 pm Ann & Wally Regan
(Lucille & Wayne Correnty)
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
2/18 8:00 am Tony Neville
(Neville family)
9:15 am Janis Glica Chuba
Ileane Glica
(Chuba family)
11:00 am Robin Spielman Williams
(Pat Florio)
6:00 pm Christopher Hauptman
(All Saints Class of 2016)
2/19 9:00 am Gibert Vincent
(Pat & Jane Castellano)
2/20 9:00 am Bill Tucci
(wife, Esty)
2/21 9:00 am Marie Therese Walterthum
(Lorraine & Tom Larkin)
2/22 9:00 am for the People
2/23 9:00 am Eileen M. O’Melia
2/24 9:00 am for all our deceased
loved ones
VIGIL FOR SUNDAY
4:00 pm David W. Faulkner(10th Ann.)
(Maureen Faulkner & family)
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
2/25 8:00 am Hank Canty
(family)
9:15 am Steven Frederick Wojnicki
(Frank & Pat Hauptman)
11:00 am Christopher Hauptman
(Barbara & Ed Bagnato)
6:00 pm Jess Yap
(Chris & Helen Eidt)
The altar flowers for this
weekend have been
donated in memory of
David Faulkner
by Maureen Faulkner & family.
I am writing this on Ash Wednesday, but you will not see it until the First Sunday of Lent.
As I write it, there is talk of snow on Sunday, so maybe you won’t be reading it! Lent is al-
ways one of my favorite times of the liturgical year since it gives me the motivation to prac-
tice some discipline and pay attention to what is most important in life: listening for the
promptings of God deep within my heart.
I am greatly influenced by the spirituality of St. Ignatius. One of the highlights of my life
was doing a 30 day silent retreat with a Jesuit trained in giving the Spiritual Exercises of
Ignatius. One of its main purposes is to teach us true freedom so that we may use the
things of this world wisely. Ignatius says, “Consequently, as far as we are concerned, we
should not prefer health to sickness, riches to poverty, honor to dishonor, a long life to a
short one. The same true is true in all things.”
When sickness, or a fractured knee comes, we learn that God can come to us in vulner-
ability and change. The secret is to keep your eyes and ears open for his presence in your
dally life. The more you watch for the Lord, the more you see his presence.
One of the most powerful means to notice the Lord in your life is the daily examination of
consciousness. There are many ways to do this prayer. Here is one from Fr. Jim
Blumeyer, S.J. found in his article “Finding God the Ignatian Way.” In this prayer you re-
view your day either in twelve or 24 hour blocks. First you ask the Lord to show you where
He was in it all. Then review the day as if seeing it on a video. Blumeyer suggests asking
yourself these questions:
1. What energies dominated your mind and heart this day? Did they bring you closer to
or further away from God?
2. Where was I inattentive to the sense of beauty, truth, and goodness in my life to-
day?
3. Where did I fail to respond to the needs of others?
4. Did I experience any regret about this day?
5. What am I most grateful for this day?
Doing this exercise each day will lead to a significant Lent. The better your Lent, the more
joyful your Easter!
THIS WEEK AT ST. JEROME…….
Sunday 2/18 REACH & TOTAL—no classes
Monday 2/19 Women’s Scripture Group 9:30 AM
Tuesday 2/20 Bible Study 9AM
Adult Faith Sharing 7PM
Wednesday 2/21 Bible Study 7PM—Rectory Living Room
Contemporary Prayer 7PM
Women’s Scripture Group 7:30PM
Thursday 2/22
Friday 2/23
Saturday 2/24 Men’s Ministry 7:00 AM
FOODfast at St. Philip
WEEKLY OFFERTORY SUMMARY
February 11, 2018 $3,683
February Total to Date $9,448
February Offertory Budget $41,033
As always, thank you for your
generous donations to our parish!!
We pray for those who bravely serve our country
in the military and those deployed in dangerous
locations. Thank God for those who have returned
home safely. Our service people include:
Spec. Jason Kulik, United States Army
PFC Andrew Chimento, United States Army
PFC Devon Barker, United States Army
LCpl. Jack H. Whitney, USMC
SSgt. Cameron Prescott, USAF
LENTEN FRIDAY
SUPPERS & TALKS start-
FRIDAY 2/23 @ 6:00PM
We will have Soup & Bread Sup-
pers each Friday in Lent: Feb. 23,
March 2, 9, 16, and 23. Supper starts at 6:00 PM
with a witness talk at 7:00 PM. Our first Witness
Talk is being given by Joe O’Callaghan, our Youth
Minister. We will end with evening prayer.
On March 23 we will have a showing of slides
from our recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Please sign up in the church hallway for mak-
ing meatless soups for our Lenten Fridays. We
need many soup-makers. Please bring your soup
in a crock pot or large pot with a heating plate if
you can. Please bring beverages. We’ll supply the
breads, coffee, and tea.
2018 Wedding Jubilee
Mass & Concert
Will take place on Sunday,
April 29
th
at 3:00 PM at St.
Theresa in Trumbull. Bishop
Caggiano will be celebrating the Wedding Jubilee
Mass for couples celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,
and 50 + year wedding anniversaries. As a spe-
cial gift to those celebrating, the Mass will be im-
mediately followed by a concert by our Diocesan
Youth Choir. To register, please visit
www.formationreimagined.org. Space is limited,
please RSVP by April 18, 2018.
OUR LENTEN CROSS --
TAKE A TAG OR TWO
EACH WEEK!
At the front of the church, the
large wooden Cross hung with
colored tags invites us to partici-
pate in prayer and giving of our-
selves during Lent. Take a tag or
two at any time through the Wednesday of Holy
Week and complete the action on the tag.
Blue tags - Malta House (young, low-income, un-
married pregnant women), Manna House (the
Norwalk soup kitchen), AmeriKids (children with
HIV/AIDS), & Notre Dame Convalescent Center.
Purple tags are Prayer Requests.
Pink tags are Acts of Kindness suggestions.
Off-white tags are Acts of Prayer suggestions,
Yellow tags are “40 Ideas for Lent.”
Thank you for your generosity, prayers, and good
deeds this Lent!
One area that the Annual
Catholic Appeal works is
with our Leadership In-
stitute. The Institute
works in tandem with par-
ishes to ensure effective sacramental preparation
by offering opportunities for support, formation, and
mentoring for parish leaders. Our collective mis-
sion is that all who are preparing to receive the
sacraments may be transformed by their encounter
with Jesus through the sacraments.
TWEETS OF THE WEEK
@Pontifex “When we confess our
sins with humility and sincerity, we
receive forgiveness and are reunited
with God and our brothers and sisters.”
@BishopCaggiano “As we begin Lent, perhaps
we can reflect upon the following questions:
What do I desire in my life? Why do I desire the
things that I seek? For if Lent is a time when we
can come to know our hearts better, our strug-
gles with temptations of our life will become eas-
ier.”
@JamesMartinSJ “Gospel: It is indeed strange
to hear Jesus tell us to wash our faces and show
no outward signs of fasting, on a day when we
place ashes on our foreheads. But the point is
hypocrisy. If you’re doing good, there is no need
to trumpet it. God sees it all, and is your only
‘audience’. ”
• There is no TOTAL tonight. Rehearsal for the
Fourteen Steps continues next week. Regular
sessions of TOTAL will resume after Easter.
(Our program through Lent will be rehearsals
for The Fourteen Steps.) All teens are invited
to participate. Parents, your help will be
needed in the weeks to come. Please check
your email for weekly updates.
• Small group classes for Confirmation begin
this week. Please make sure you attend all
classes and notify Daniela if you need to
switch a class.
• The FOODFast event at St. Philip is on Febru-
ary 24. Registration for the event is CLOSED.
O n l i n e d o n a t i o n s a c c e p t e d a t
www.stphilipnorwalk.org. Select “Donate to
FOODFast” and it will link to the Catholic Relief
Services fundraising page. Checks should be
made out to Catholic Relief Services and sent
to St. Philip ‘attention Alan Yoder’ or given to
Daniela O’Callaghan.
OLD TESTAMENT
BIBLE STUDY
TUESDAYS
& WEDNESDAYS
Feb. 20 - April 10
During Lent we will offer a weekly Old Testament
Bible Study program on Tuesday mornings AND
on Wednesday evenings:
TUESDAY MORNINGS -after the 9:00 AM Mass
in the REACH Resource Room, we will continue
with Sessions 9-16 of 25-minute DVD presenta-
tions of “Enjoying the Old Testament” by Fr. Rich-
ard J. Clifford, S.J., Ph.D. After each video, there
will be a half-hour of discussion led by Dan Loch.
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS - in the rectory living
room at 7:00 PM. On Wednesday evenings the
Bible Study will start over with Sessions 1-8. After
each video, there will be a half-hour of discussion
led by Fr. David.
Each participant receives a free Study Guide.
ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST COMPLETE
VIRTUS TRAINING!!
SAFE ENVIRONMENTS
All volunteers 18 years and over must be in
compliance with the diocesan mandate.
P l e a s e s e e t h e V IRTUS web s i t e
(www.virtusonline.org) click “First-time registrant”,
click “view a list of sessions”, search ‘Bridgeport,
CT (Diocese)”.
Some upcoming training dates:
New Covenant Center (Stamford) 2/21—6 PM
St. Aloysius (New Canaan) 2/26—6 PM
FOOD DRIVE --
NEXT WEEKEND
February 24-25
Our local food pantries
are looking to restock
their shelves after the holiday donations have
been given away. Please contribute what you
can to help feed our neighbors, whose need per-
sists during all seasons of the year. The MOST
NEEDED items include: canned soup (other
than chicken noodle); canned and dried
beans; canned vegetables and fruit; oatmeal
packets; peanut butter; granola, protein or
breakfast bars. Volunteers will be in the hall-
way after each Mass collecting donations of
$5.00 for the purchase of a variety of these
items. You may drop off your donations in the
hallway at any time and volunteers will make sure
they are delivered. As always, thank you for your
generous gift for our hungry Norwalk families.
This Sunday, February 18th—No Classes
Next Sunday, February 25th
Grades 1-6— 9:15 Mass followed by class
Grades 7-8—6:00 Mass followed by class
MASS
INTENTIONS 2018
****There are
many available
times for Mass intentions. Please drop
by or call the Parish Office.
