Saint Mary Parish St. Mary Roman Catholic Parish 55 Catoonah Street Ridgefield, CT 06877 Phone: (203) 438-6538 Fax: (203) 438-4406 www.smcr.org Get Up Early! A Lenten fast doesn’t have to consist of just fasting and abstinence from the things we love, but it can be adding things during this season of Lent that will make our lives more meaningful. What about more prayer time? If Jesus needed to go off and spend time alone with the Father for strength and renewal, imagine how much more we need that. Consider getting up a half hour earlier during Lent to spend quality time with God. There is something powerful in the simple act of offering Him the first part of your day. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. –Jeremiah 29:12
Transcript
Saint Mary Parish St. Mary Roman Catholic Parish
55 Catoonah Street Ridgefield, CT 06877
Phone: (203) 438-6538 Fax: (203) 438-4406
www.smcr.org
Get Up Early!
A Lenten fast doesn’t
have to consist of just
fasting and abstinence
from the things we love,
but it can be adding things
during this season of Lent
that will make our lives
more meaningful.
What about more prayer
time? If Jesus needed to
go off and spend time
alone with the Father for
strength and renewal,
imagine how much more
we need that.
Consider getting up a half
hour earlier during Lent to
spend quality time with
God. There is something
powerful in the simple act
of offering Him the first
part of your day. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. –Jeremiah 29:12
First Sunday of Lent
March 10, 2019
Lent - A Time to Abstain from Indifference
In a Lenten message to the Church, Pope Francis urges us to abstain from indifference. He said:
“Indifference to our neighbor and to God also represents a real temptation for us Christians. Each year
during Lent we need to hear once more the voice of the prophets who cry out and trouble our conscience.”
Describing what he calls the ‘globalization of indifference’ he wrote, “whenever our interior life becomes
caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s
voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. We end
up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people’s pain, and
feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else’s responsibility and not our own.”
I am very proud of the work our Parish Ministries do to take seriously our Holy Father’s advice as we reach
out to those less fortunate than ourselves, from our Guatemalan Mission to our Sister Parish, St. Peter’s in
Bridgeport, to our regular contributions to Dorothy Day Hospitality House, and so much more. May our
offerings of time and effort, of reaching out to those less fortunate than ourselves, enrich this Holy Season
for all of us!
Msgr. Larry Bronkiewicz
Pastor
The Pastor’s Page
MASS READINGS & INTENTIONS
MONDAY, March 11 Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Mt 25:31-46 7:00 AM Val Geiger 12:00 PM Steve Carboni TUESDAY, March 12 Is 55:10-11/Mt 6:7-15 7:00 AM Rose and Charles Calise 12:00 PM Henry James Kozlark - 5th Anniversary WEDNESDAY, March 13 Jon 3:1-10/Lk 11:29-32 7:00 AM Our Parish Ministries 12:00 PM Youth of Our Parish THURSDAY, March 14 Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Mt 7:7-12 7:00 AM Robert A. Law Jr. 12:00 PM Lorraine Perrotta - 4th Anniversary FRIDAY, March 15 Ez 18:21-28/Mt 5:20-26 7:00 AM James John Cally 12:00 PM Claire Walsh SATURDAY, March 16 Dt 26:16-19/Mt 5:43-48 8:00 AM Bill King 4:30 PM Ann & Frank Cicio SUNDAY, March 17 Gn 15:5-12, 17-18/Phil 3:17—4:1 or 3:20—4:1/Lk 9:28b-36 CHURCH 7:30 AM Mary E. Flynn 9:15 AM Rosalie Clarke 11:15 AM Teresa Grommesch HALL 10:30 AM Deceased Members of the Anthony Cally Family 12:00 PM Carey Depuy 5:00 PM Parishioners of the Parish
PPrayers for the Sick Please remember our sick in your prayers, especially Mary Jane Anderson, John Barczak, Joseph Barone, Mary Ellen Bolton, Lily
Howard, Lee and Scott McCaughey, Pat McManus, Patricia Murphy, Kitty O’Reilly, Joseph Petrucelli, Ann and Edward Smith and David State. Only immediate family members may add someone to our prayer list. Individuals will be removed monthly unless we are otherwise notified.
GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING WEEKLY YEAR-TO-DATE
March 3, 2019 $22,931 $177,322 March 4, 2018 $22,446 $205,143 Facilities & Repairs 2019 $3,881 2018 $4,233
Candle Intentions Church Sanctuary Candle
is Burning in Loving Memory of Robert A. Law Jr.
PRE-BAPTISM CLASS Pre-Baptism instruction is required for parents who have not had any within five years and wish to have their child baptized. Our next class will be held Wed, March 13th from 7:30-8:30pm in the Barn. Call our Parish Office to register.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross will be prayed in our Church every Friday at 12:30pm as well as 7:30pm during Lent. (Good Friday at 12pm.)
MEATLESS LENTEN FRIDAYS All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat for
all those who are 14 and over. LOAVES AND FISHES
“Loaves and Fishes” is a Lenten Campaign to help feed the hungry of Fairfield County. We encourage you to put aside the cost of one meal per week and enclose it in the “Loaves and Fishes” envelope for the poor in our area. Envelopes are available at the Church and Parish Hall
entrances and at our Parish Office. LENTEN FISH FRY DINNER!
Friday, April 5th More Info Coming Soon!
Page 3 Living Our Faith
SINGERS FOR EASTER! We are looking for singers who wish to sing with the Adult Choir on Easter Sunday and/or the Easter Vigil. Rehearsals are Wednesday nights from 7:30-9pm. Contact Darren Motise at 845 242 7276.
RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE
Prepare for Sunday Mass by watching Opening the Word, a 5-7 minute video to help you ENGAGE in
the readings at Mass. It’s updated each week! Go to www.smcr.formed.org to view or register
for FORMED.
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE 1-800-273-8255, suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee
Students in Grades 4-6 competed in the Saint Mary Spelling Bee, sponsored by the CT State Council of the Knights of Columbus. Winners go on to compete in Regional Competition in March. Congratulations to Owen Dunleavy, Grade 4, Katie Dickson, Grade 5, and Nola Peressutti, Grade 6 for winning their grade level and moving on to the Regionals. Winners from the four regional competitions will go on to the State competition at the end of March. Best of luck!
Saint Mary School is currently accepting applications for the 2019-2020 school year. For more information, or to set up a tour, please contact Anna O’Rourke at (203) 438-7288, or visit www.smsridgefield.org.
CALLING ALL SENIOR CITIZENS!
Please join us at our next luncheon on Tuesday, March 12. Rosary begins in the Hall at 11:30, Mass will be at 12:00, with lunch to follow. Come enjoy good food and good company. Please RSVP to the Saint Mary School Office, 203-438-7288 by Monday, March 11. Suggested donation $6.
FAITH FORMATION CORNER
Do You Want to Fast This Lent?
Fast from hurting words – say kind things
Fast from sadness – be filled with gratitude
Fast from anger – be filled with patience
Fast from pessimism – be filled with hope
Fast from worries and have trust in God
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity
Fast from pressures and be prayerful
Fat from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy
Fast from selfishness – be compassionate to others
Fast from grudges and be reconciled
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen
--Pope Francis
Page 4 Learning Our Faith
CATHOLIC ACTION
DONATE: FOOD PANTRY Food collected in March goes to the Ridgefield Food Pantry. Collection bins are in the Church and Hall. Thank you for your generosity!
MARQUETTE COUNCIL OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Our goal is to offer our members and their families an opportunity to share God’s love through service to our Priests, Parish and community. Want to enrich your faith & model strong values for your family? Learn more at www.KOFC.org or contact Phil Del Giudice, Grand Knight, [email protected].
PILGRIM VIRGIN To arrange for a visit of the Pilgrim Virgin statue to your home, please call Elma Stoveken at 203-894-1341 or email at [email protected]
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Our Adoration Chapel, the oldest one in Connecticut, is open 24/7. The entrance is near our Religious Ed Office. Stop by anytime or sign up for an hour @ www.smcr.org, or if you do not have computer access, contact Monica and Bill at 914-533-2832.
Open Adoration Hours: Monday 3:00 am Tuesday 11:00 pm Wednesday 1:00 pm Thursday 1:00 am & 5:00 pm Saturday 10:00 pm Sunday 9:00 pm EVERY Thursday evening, 7-9pm, in our Adoration Chapel, the Chaplet of Mercy, 7 Sorrows of Our Blessed Mother and 15 decades of the Rosary sung and prayed. Please join us!
ST. MARY PARISH MEN’S MINISTRY LENT IS A GREAT TIME TO TRY MEN’S MINISTRY MEETINGS! Get up early the Saturdays of Lent as your Lenten sacrifice and spend an hour and half experiencing our Men’s Ministry from 6:30-8:00AM in our Parish Hall. Besides having a welcoming community of 50 to 60 like-minded men, we also serve free bagels, coffee & OJ to ease the pain of a very worthwhile early wakeup call!
M A S S S C H E D U L E
Saturday 8:00 AM, 4:30 PM Vigil Mass
(Church) Sunday
7:30 AM, 9:15 AM, 11:15 AM (Church)
10:30 AM Family Mass, 12:00 Noon and
5:00 PM Youth Mass (Hall) Monday - Friday
7:00 AM and 12:00 noon (Church)
Holy Days of Obligation
Vigil Mass 7:30 PM 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 Noon
7:30 PM (Church)
O T H E R S A C R A M E N T S
Reconciliation
Every Tuesday & Thursday from 12:30-1PM and every Saturday
from 3:30-4:30PM (Church)
Baptism Celebrated each Sunday
at 12:30 PM New parents must attend a pre-baptism class. Call Parish office
to schedule both Marriage
Call Parish Office at least 9 months prior to wedding
Anointing of Sick Call Parish Office to make
arrangements In case of serious illness or
death in the family, call Parish Office immediately.
C E M E T E R Y
203-438-3606 A D O R A T I O N Monica & Bill Brown
Our Mission: LIVE the gift of our faith, ENRICH our understanding of that gift, and
PRACTICE our faith in compassionate service.
PALM (PASSION) SUNDAY – APRIL 14 4:30 PM Vigil Masses, in our Church
7:30 AM, 9:15 AM (with Choir and Procession of Palms) and 11:15 AM in our Church
10:30 AM, 12:00 Noon and 5:00 PM in the Nancy Bossidy Recreation Center
HOLY THURSDAY – APRIL 18
7:30 PM - Solemn Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (with Choir) in the Church followed by
Procession and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Parish Hall
GOOD FRIDAY – APRIL 19
12:00 Noon – Stations of the Cross in the Church 3:00 PM – Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (with Choir) in
the Church 8:00 PM – Tenebrae in the Church
HOLY SATURDAY – APRIL 20
10:30 AM Traditional Easter Food Blessing in our Church
8:00 PM Easter Vigil with Choir in our Church **PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS NO 4:30 PM VIGIL MASS**
EASTER SUNDAY – APRIL 21
CHURCH 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM and 10:15 AM (with Choir)
NANCY BOSSIDY RECREATION CENTER 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM (with Children’s Choir),
11:00 AM (with Life Teen Choir) and 12:30 PM
**PLEASE NOTE: MASS TIMES CHANGE EASTER SUNDAY & THERE IS NO 5 PM MASS**
HHoly Week Schedule
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Saturday, March 16th tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
5:30PM - Saint Mary Parish Hall
KIDS’ MENU Pizza, Salad, BBQ Pork Sliders, Lemonade & Cupcakes for Dessert
HORSDOEUVRES Leek Fondue Tarts BBQ Pork Sliders Steak & Cheese Spring Rolls Irish Soda Breads & Irish Brown Breads with Churned Butter
CASH BAR Beer, Wine, Irish Coffee, Sparkling Water & Sodas
Adults: $25 Kids: $10 (10 yrs & under)
BUFFET DINNER Mixed Greens Irish Style Salad Corned Beef - Assorted Mustards Cabbage, Carrots and Potatoes Colcannon Irish Shepherd’s Pie
DESSERT Irish Apple Cake Custard Sauce Shortbread Cookies Coffee/Tea
Irish Music!
St. Mary Parish Hall: 183 High Ridge Ave, Ridgefield CT – Parish Office: 203-438-6538, www.smcr.org
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Knight Talks Series presents…
Drugs in the Home Parishioner Marilyn C. Kain will lead the discussion on how children, teens and adults find themselves exposed to addictive drugs in the home. She will cover best practices to keep a safe home, discussing with your kids the substances that may exist in your home, and signs to look for to detect a problem. Further, Marilyn will discuss the costs and benefits of medications often prescribed to youth.
Tuesday, March 12th at 7:30 PM
St. Mary Parish Hall (@ Saint Mary School)
Marilyn C. Kain, M.S., LADC, LPC is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), has been employed by the Christian Counseling Center in Brookfield, CT for over 31 years and has spent 22 years as an adjunct professor in the Division of Justice and Law Administration at Western Connecticut State University. In 2018, she received the CT Board of Regents for Higher Education Adjunct Professor of the Year Award for the CT State College and University system and has presented at the last two National Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conferences in the area of substance abuse and drug abuse awareness.
St. Mary Parish Hall @ St. Mary School, 183 High Ridge Avenue, Ridgefield CT, 06877 – Office: 203-438-6538, www.smcr.org
We encourage all to attend this important event!
Visit ascensionpress.com to learn more!Visit ascensionpress.com to learn mo
Thousands sought Jesus during his life.
Only a few followed him to Calvary.
What will you do?
Filmed on location in the Holy Land, No Greater Love is a biblical pilgrimage that reveals Christ’s amazing love for us. Best-selling author Edward Sri guides you through the last hours of Christ’s life. You will walk step-by-step with Jesus from the garden of Gethsemane to Mount Calvary. Every step of the way, Old Testament prophecies, messianic expectations, biblical symbolism, and historical context shed light on the mystery of Christ’s suffering and death. Experience a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s immeasurable and unconditional love for you—and grow closer to Jesus.
Dates – Times – Location
Cost – Registration
For More Information
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LOVEA BIBLICAL WALK THROUGH
CHRIST’S PASSION
This 5 week study begins Monday,March 25, 2019 from 7 to 9 pm
in St. Mary School
$30 for study materials,payable at the first session
Update�● Three members of St. Mary Parish (Tony Fernandez, Mary Staudt, and Colleen Fallon) traveled to Guatemala�
in the summer of 2018 on an educational mission and two members, Ellen Miller, RN and Paula Molloy�visited in the fall to see the opening of the water project.�
Angelitos de Dios School in Santa Maria de Jesus�● Angelitos de Dios is the only Catholic School in the village of 30,000. Serving the poor families of the village,
their mission is to change the community through providing a good education to the children.○ Thanks to generous donations and support of Helping Hands Medical Missions, we brought $1400 of�
children’s books (written in Spanish) and 7 chromebooks to the school. These were the first books�of children’s literature they have had. We also brought two suitcases of teaching supplies and�classroom materials.�
● We saw the new computer center generously donated by a parishioner and the first internet and wifi in the�school.� �
● We were able to secure a Google apps for Education account for the school and train the teachers how to�use Google Drive, Docs, Presentation, and Gmail, all free programs for educational institutions.�
● We were able to demonstrate how to use children’s literature in the classroom to teach literacy skills.● We have just sent $4700 to the school for tuition 78 students for the school year which began in January.�
The school still needs $8000 in donations to cover operating expenses for the 2019 school year. We will�have another Guatemalan FIesta Fundraiser on May 11, 2019 to raise funds for this project.�
● We are hoping to plan another trip this summer to do more teacher training, which is greatly appreciated by�the faculty in Angelitos de Dios. Anyone interested should contact Mary Staudt at [email protected].�
Tony, Colleen and the students Reading new books Training teachers on Google Apps for Ed�Water ProjectEllen Miller and Paula Molloy were part of the joyful celebration of the opening of the Water Catchment System in�October 2018. Thanks to the generosity of many donations and grants, and the hard work and supervision of Ellen,�Marco Tulio, the chief engineer in Santa Maria de Jesus, and the labor of many men in the village, this system is�supplying clean water to almost 20,000 people who previously had to wait on line for water which was only available�for 30 minutes, three days a week. This project has been several years in the making, and we are grateful to God for�its completion. It represents a real and palpable improvement in the lives and health of families in Santa Maria.�
�(left) One of the new�public taps����(right) Ellen and Paula at�the water celebration�
�
A LENT TO REMEMBER
Using the highly-acclaimed Augustine Institute programs Symbolon and Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession, A Lent to Remember explores the ways God reaches out to each of us with his mercy. Through Christ’s suffering on the cross in the Paschal Mystery and his perpetual reception of his people in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God makes his love, his very self, present to us in the world. By reflecting on the Paschal Mystery and making a step-by-step examination of the Rite of Confession, A Lent to Remember communicates God’s invitation to each one of us to come experience his indescribable love this Lent. FORGIVEN
FORGIVEN explores the grace and healing offered in Confession and shows how this sacrament of mercy reveals the depth and bounty of God’s love. By looking at God’s revelation of his mercy in Scripture and making a step-by-step examination of the Rite itself, FORGIVEN communicates God’s invitation to each one of us to come experience his indescribable love in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
BOOK CLUB
Relive the Most Important Week in History. This Lent join us for the first ever FORMED-wide book club! Readers will work their way through Pope Emeritus Benedict's masterpiece, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week. Led by Father Joseph Fessio, founder of Ignatius Press and former student of Pope Benedict, this book club will delve into the week of Christ's Passion in a discussion group right on FORMED. Father Fessio will kick off the book club on Monday, March 4 on FORMED Live! Tune in as he shares personal stories about Pope Benedict's influence on his own life and the worldwide impact of this important book. INTO THE DESERT Our Lord teaches that prayer is a relationship and a vital necessity. And yet, many of us have difficulty committing to daily prayer. Follow Jesus into the desert this Lent and discover intimacy with God in this 6-week video-based study with daily meditations in the participants guide. Dr. Tim Gray masterfully uses the discipline of Lectio Divina to show you how to make prayer an effective effort of love and intimacy. This series captures the secret to opening our hearts and minds to Scripture as the means to hear from God and then respond in conversation, basking in his presence and resolving to live in and through his love. LENTEN REFLECTIONS – DAILY VIDEO REFLECTIONS
Journey through Lent with Dr. Tim Gray. Set yourself up for a transformative 40 days with FORMED Lenten Reflections. Get daily videos from esteemed Scripture expert Dr. Tim Gray delivered right to your inbox. Don’t miss a day of growing closer to our Lord.
LENTEN PROGRAMS ON FORMED!
GET ACCESS TO THE BEST CATHOLIC CONTENT!
GO TO WWW.SMCR.FORMED.ORG TO REGISTER FOR FREE. OUR GIFT TO OUR PARISHIONERS!
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