In our Catholic Christian faith, corporal works of mercy are a “big thing.” Jesus not only spoke about service, or corporal works of mercy, He actually did them—giving new meaning to “actions speak louder than words.” In fact, the mission and ministry of Jesus came to be known as “the Suffering Servant” by Scripture scholars and Christ Himself said, “Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (MT: 30:28, MK 10:45 and John 13:1-7)

K-10 begin on Sunday, September 16th at Henry James Memorial School,9:30-10:30 am. Confirmation I & II Classes at HJMS begin at 9:15 am and end at 10:30 am. The evening classes meet at the church, Confirmation I (Grade 9) from 6 pm-7:15 pm and Confirmation II (Grade 10) from 7:15 pm-8:30 pm. Class lists will be posted on our website the first week of September.

What a timely question for today’s secular culture and for our Church. This weekend’s readings speak to the interrelationship between morality and truth and our lived lives—as well as the building block of Truth and its inherent limitations. If something is an absolute truth, it is by its definition, limited in scope. A truth cannot be multiple things or be comprised of different hues of truth. Specifically, let us look to the second reading from the Letter of James where we hear that “All good living and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.”

For those present in Church last weekend when I read a letter from Archbishop Blair and preached on the topic of sexual abuse and the Church, I wish to briefly address again the issue on everyone’s mind: this scandal in the Church. As a priest, this is very embarrassing and very sad. It is beyond my comprehension that anyone—clergy or lay person—could look at a child and see anything other than a child of God, innocent and precious

Archbishop Blair has directed all pastors to hold “listening sessions” in every parish during the summer months. This is to hear from the lay faithful and to enlist their experiences and their knowledge of the parish in which they practice their faith and the interrelationship with the AOH. In fact, the Archbishop asks us to consider three (3) questions during these listening sessions: (1) What are we (as an Archdiocese) doing well? (2) What are we (as an Archdiocese) not doing so well? (3) What are we (as an Archdiocese) not doing that we should be doing?

I am very happy to announce that Manuela Hanshaw has been selected as our parish’s new director of Youth Ministry. Manuela has worked as an assistant to Judy Pluta for two years and has developed a strong working relationship with those teens already involved in our Youth Ministry Program. CLICK TO READ MORE...

In partnership with the Archdiocese of Hartford, we are now embarking on Forward with Faith, a landmark campaign, and the first ever in our 175-year history, being led by the Hartford Bishops’ Foundation, through which every par-ish will be asked to participate. This effort should not be mistaken for the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, which is used to maintain the day-to-day operations of the Archdiocese.

Today the Catholic Church—like all faith institutions—lives in a very different and ever-changing American culture. Gone are the days when Sunday Masses were not just packed but was the priority of the day—over sports, work and other scheduled items—for everyone. Holy Days of Obligation were actually obligatory, and Catholic sports teams and musical bands were part of a town’s everyday life.

Signs, to be effective, must be clear and understandable. To make this point, just think of a time you were at the DMV and couldn’t figure out the correct line to stand in all day…or maybe traveling in a foreign airport where you didn’t speak the language and the signs were “as clear as mud.” That feeling of not-knowing is unsettling to say the least. Today’s gospel is another example of the importance of understanding signs—CLICK TO READ MORE!

Many Catholics today might wonder whatexactly is the relationship between a parish and a (arch) diocese. Is the latter just another level ofadministration, bureaucracy or authority--or is there a more relevant and uniquely empowering connection?

In this weekend’s gospel, Mark chapter 6, versus 30-34, we hear of a difficult and very active missionary trip which the apostles just completed and are told that “they were so busy they didn't even have time to eat.” Later on in this same gospel Jesus invites His apostles to spend some time alone--to refresh themselves, to take a little time off to refresh and Regroup.

Superheroes, faith and miracles—Oh My! While it may be a wee bit dangerous to equate modern-day superheroes with Jesus, theologically speaking—this weekend’s Gospel of Mark (6: 1-6) does make you wonder why Jesus “was not able to perform any mighty deed in His hometown, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He mentions their “lack of faith.” Was that faithlessness a form of “kryptonite” that prevented Him from His miraculous deeds? It seems, from Jesus’ own words, it was?

Last year the Presbyteral Council, a council of priests who advise the Archbishop, was asked by Archbishop Blair for discussion on the need and role of an archdiocesan synod at this time here in the Archdiocese of Hartford (AOH), as part of our ongoing Pastoral Planning efforts. In preparation for our AOH Synod in 2020, the Archbishop has met with all his priests at their respective Deanery Meetings to hear their desires and concerns for the AOH as she continues to meet the spiritual and corporal needs of the Church in the modern world.

On this 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time we hear in the Gospel of Mark two examples of faith-inspired requests for Jesus’ help. The first is from Jairus, a synagogue official seeking help for his dying daughter and the other from an unnamed woman who has been unwell for a long time. And just as in last weekend’s Lukan Gospel-the story of the birth of Saint John the Baptist—faith and trust in God are key to receiving the Lord’s blessings.

John as Herald. Luke’s Gospel this weekend gives us the story of the birth--and the naming--of John the Baptist. First we hear that eight days after his birth, the circumcision is to take place and the child is to be named. The crowds who gathered after hearing of the mercy God bestowed on John’s parents, Elizabeth and Zachariah who we advanced in years, expected that they would follow Jewish tradition and name their child after his father or someone else of importance in the family.

Our parish is seeking a qualified individual to fill this important position now open due to the retire-ment of Judy Pluta. Send letter & Curriculum vitae to: Reverend Michael Whyte, Pastor Saint Catherine of Siena Church PO Box 184 West Simsbury Connecticut 06092.....CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!!!

Will take place immediately following the daily Mass on Tuesday mornings. We will venerate the exposed Blessed Sacrament and conclude with Benediction. This Eucharistic devotion is meant to offer all the faithful an opportunity to spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. We will begin at 9 am and conclude at 10 a.m. It is understood that some folks have to go to work or attend to a family members needs, this does not preclude you from spending some time before the Lord. If you cannot stay for the whole hour, that’s O.K

We are already in the Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time and this weekend’s Gospel of Mark (4:26-34) provides us with the well-known parable of the mustard seed. What does it mean? In this parable Jesus says, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

We all know that recently the Archdiocese of Hartford reconfigured its parishes, closing some and merging others--into a stronger and proactive group of Catholic communities. For some, and understandably so, this is very difficult. It is hard and we must be honest about it. However, times are changing. People do not practice their faith, families do other things on Sundays--sports, work--and there is much confusion and misinformation about important Church teachings.

In today’s gospel from Mark (3: 20-35) we hear some pretty “disturbing” and usual statements of concern about Jesus—from His own family: “He is out of His mind,” they say. Jesus’ behavior is disturbing to them—and Mark states that they “want to seize Him” and take Him away. In fact, Jesus’ contemporaries call Him “Beelzelbul” But as many well educated and meaning folks have noted in the past, “You can’t judge the past with current knowledge (or devotion). And we can’t take our understanding of Mary and Jesus’ contemporaries and their role in His earthly life and apply our own understandings to the actual happenings of the day).