The Coming Engagement On this Sixth Sunday in Ordinal Time, we hear from the Gospel of Luke, chapter six, verses seventeen and twenty through twenty-six, in which we hear of the Beatitudes and the Woes. The context and setting of this gospel occurs just after Jesus has appointed His twelve apostles and then descends from the mountain top to level ground, a plain, and a large crowd has gathered to see and hear Him—the people want to be healed and taught. Scholars tell us that the setting emphasizes Jesus’ accessibility and His desire to connect with the marginalized and the suffering.

On this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we hear the Lukan Gospel (5:1-11) and according to scripture scholars there are at least seven (7) themes upon which one may pray or meditate. The gospel narrates the calling of the first disciples, specifically Simon Peter, James and John, while they were fishing. The seven themes are: Divine Call and Response; Faith in Action; Abundance through Obedience; Transformation and Mission; Humility and Recognition of Sin; Community and Collaboration; and, The Eucharistic Symbolism.

When we prepare to receive Holy Communion, it must be with openness to the Sacrament and with a well-prepared soul and mind. What am I receiving? When we approach the altar, am I prepared by prayer to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Savior of the World? And am I reverent, or am I chewing gum (I have seen this) or am I greeting people enroute? After I have consumed the Body or the Blood, do I return to my pew and pray, do I join in with the Communion hymn of praise, or do I rush out of the Church to avoid the announcements and to get to breakfast fast?

Confirmation and More… This weekend’s gospel is vitally important for everyone, but especially for our Confirmation students and their parents, as the gospel illustrates Luke’s purpose to portray the power and importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

On Monday, March 24th at 9:30 a.m. or Tuesday, March 25th at 7 p.m., there will be a book club discussion on “33 Days to Eucharistic Glory” by Matthew Kelly’s organization, Dynamic Catholic.

The Wedding Feast at Cana is the first miracle Jesus performed during His earthly ministry, but if Jesus were to reappear today, with regards to the above mentioned Catholic marriage stats, He might have to “pull off” a different kind of miracle when it comes to securing enduring marriages. But I digress…At the Wedding Feast of Cana there are multiple themes for our consideration, including but not limited to transformation, divine revelation, and the role of Mary in the life of Christ

In today’s gospel’s first verses (15/16), Luke directs us to reflect on the expectations the people, whom John the Baptist is preaching to, about of the coming Messiah, Jesus. We are told that the Baptist recognizes the people’s eagerness as he speaks to them about “the one who is to come after him” and emphasizes the Messiah’s transformative power. This reflection allows us to consider our own expectations of Christ in our lives—what will He do for me and what does He call me to do and be?

As today’s gospel recounts the journey of the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus, we have a passage that is rich in the themes of revelation, worship, and the recognition of Christ’s significance. The Magi’s journey, guided by a star, signifies the search for truth and meaning in life. Catholics are called to embark on our own journeys of faith, seeking a deeper understanding of God and His Will for us

On this the first Sunday liturgy of 2025, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, which is a significant feast in the Roman Catholic Church meant to emphasize the appearance of the Lord to the Gentiles by the visit of Magi (Wise Men or royalty) to infant Jesus. The Epiphany calls us to acknowledge the manifestation of the Christ as the son of God to all the nations. Our Catholic traditions calls us to highlight several leading aspects of this feast:

A blessed thank-you to all our parishioners for your active participation in our Christmas Masses. The 4 pm Vigil on Christmas Eve, the children’s liturgy, was packed and actually was at per-Covid numbers. Amen! To our ushers, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers, decorators and more—THANK YOU for all your faith and for all that it leads you to be and do here at St. Catherine of Siena Parish. Amen!

St. Francis Hospital in Hartford is—and must be—a gem in the Crown of the Archdiocese of Hartford—as a Catholic institution was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery in 1897, continuing today the healing ministry of Christ, it is the largest Catholic hospital in New England with 617-acute care beds and 65 bassinets. Today St. Francis Hospital is owned by Trinity Health New England, a Catholic healthcare corporation and still works closely with the archdiocese and the Catholic traditions of caring for everyone.

On the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word meaning “Rejoice,” is the first word of the introit of this day’s Mass proclaiming the theme of this weekend, one of hope-filled joy calling us to sing aloud the proclamation of Jesus Christ. The Introit (Introitus) of the Mass is the fragment of a psalm with its antiphon sung while the celebrant and ministers enter the church and approach the altar.

Dear Friends in Christ, In the coming weeks, our parishes will take up the annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. This campaign is crucial, benefiting more than 24,000 elderly sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who have been faithful servants within the Church, devoting their lives to service. Since 1988, the collection has raised over $1 billion. In the Archdiocese of Hartford, five communities totaling 280 women religious benefited from last year’s collection.

The Who and the Why: Once again, our parish will see our Advent Giving Trees in the vestibule and the atrium, complete with white lights and envelopes hanging on the branches. And,once again, we are seeking support for two important and worthwhile charities. The Who: First, our Neighbors in Need Fund (NIN) and The second “who” are the Knights of Malta House of Care

The gospel this weekend is from St. Luke who speaks to us about preparation for the “…day that will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth…be vigilant…” That Last Day, like taxes, will come. Will you and I be prepared, as good Catholics, to meet the Lord and be judged? Will the outcome of eternal life be a real “surprise to me?”

Advent is a liturgical season that lasts four (4) weeks, which also marks the beginning of the Church Year—so Happy New (Church) Year! It is structured as the fourth Sunday before Christmas for its beginning and is a time of preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus on Christmas Day. The predominate color for this liturgical season is purple, symbolizing penance and preparation. However, on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, Rose is the color of the liturgies (Masses, prayer services, etc.) used to signify Joy and Hope.

This solemnity is celebrated to emphasize the Kingship of Christ and to extol His authority over all creation. It is interesting that we celebrate this solemnity on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time and right before the beginning of the Season of Advent; and immediately after all the hoopla of the US presidential elections. A little perspective here for our human condition

I want to express my sincerest and most appreciative thanks and gratitude to those involved with planning and executing the November 16th 50th Anniversary Gala dinner and celebrations at The Riverview in Weatogue last Saturday night.

Again, this weekend we hear about scribes—last week it was a scribe who came to Jesus and asked Him a question about the key Commandment, which was about coming to know or learn about the essence of our faith so that one might know how to truly live one’s life in faith. This week we hear Jesus warn about the duplicity of the scribes in general: are they religious leaders or courtiers

This Sunday we hear of a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, asking for Jesus’ help based upon his faith, and his request is granted by Jesus. This gospel is unlike Mark’s account last weekend when James and John, the sons of Zebedee, do not realize or understand—nor do they see—for what they were asking. Today’s gospel is significant for a number of reasons: