50 years of Faithful Loving Service
As many of you know, Fr. Raymond is celebrating his 50th Anniversary of Ordination. It is certainly an occasion that the whole Church should celebrate with great joy. Because of his long time service at St. John Church in Cromwell CT, we are going to celebrate this important moment in Fr. Raymond’s life with the people of St. John’s. His celebration will be on November 20th at St. John Church in Cromwell. We will have more details for you in the future. All I ask now is that you mark your calendars.
They’re Back…
As some of you “heard” and saw, our Confirmation students are back in class and back in church as a group. I received several complaints that they were very noisy in Church. I have to say, our Confirmation Students have not cornered the market on “noisy in Church.” I promise that the Catechists will try and help them understand that our Church is the House of God and a sacred space. How can they understand that if we don’t teach them? The best teacher, however, is a good example from the rest of us. Please be patient with them and maybe even thank them for going to Religious Education and coming to Mass. All of us, myself included, should reflect on the beauty and wonder of our Lord’s Eucharist Presence in our Church. Maybe all of us have to rediscover the special sacred nature of our beautiful Church. I for one am happy to see the students, and both I and Friar Peter are excited about getting to know them and participate in their classes.
St. Francis Blessing of the Animals
On Saturday, October 8th, at 10:30 am on the brick terrace next to the playground, the friars will be blessing your pets and animals. Please consider bringing your pets and animals to this special Franciscan tradition. Thanks.
Those Darn Confirmation Mass Cards
All right.... we know that there were not enough confirmation cards at the Mass last Sunday, and we know that we told you that they were very important and that if you couldn’t prove that you attend Mass regularly you would risk not getting confirmed... We messed up... they were set aside to be brought over to Church and someone just forgot to bring them over. We will give everyone a pass for last Sunday and I promise those “darn cards” will be brought over on the weekend, if I have to do them myself. Remember, you are supposed to put the confirmation card in the collection basket, not leave them lying around the church.
Blessing upon Blessings
I am sure you agree that we are very blessed as a parish. The two new Friars are settling in and getting to work. Friar Peter has already led school prayers in the morning, attended every religious education session and now he is taking communion to the sick at New Britain General. When he gets back, he is going to work on putting a counter top in our parish computer room. Fr. Martin has already worked with a couple getting married and is on the rotation in the liturgical schedule. Please continue to make the friars feel welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance.