2020 initiated many new unusual things in our lives: of course, the Coronavirus itself, and then everything we do day-in and day-out has been impacted by this virus. Nothing is the same. Faith calls us to a higher good, to remain connected beyond the physical realm and to be one with others spiritually. In 2020 Saint Catherine of Siena parishioners connected to others by stepping up to the plate...

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, a liturgical celebration of Invitation and Response, which builds to love and right relationship in Heaven. In one or two baptisms which I have performed over the years, especially if the child is a little older than an infant, I have heard a devout, usually older, family member say at the moment of Baptism: “Now God loves this child.” Wow! That’s bad, really bad theology.

“Epiphany” means manifestation, and the Epiphany of the Lord is “Jesus’ manifestation not only to those three Magi from the East, but it’s also a symbolic but real manifestation of the Christ to the whole world. The Magi, travelling from a foreign and non-Jewish nation, reveal that Jesus came for all people and all are called to adore Him.” History and Tradition tells us that these “Wise Men” who studied the stars were aware of the Jewish belief that a Messiah was coming.

The Christmas account of the Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem is a fact. The meaning of the Christmas message, whether one believes in Jesus or not, does not change His message. The Love of God the Father and the action of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, is not dependent on our belief but is Eternal Truth. It is a message of Love, Hope and Charity and this message is meant for one and all.

With the pandemic’s isolation, we have been hit with a “perfect storm”: (1) fewer people able to attend Mass, thus hear about the AGT and collect their envelopes to donate to these two great causes, and (2) increased needs for healthcare assistance (MHC) and more help for food and assistance due to lost jobs and reduced hours. People are struggling even more due to this pandemic.

Those who have registered for indoor Mass, please arrive no sooner than 15 mins before Mass through the atrium doors. Ushers will have lists for those signed up for the Church proper & Russell Hall. Please see the Usher. All who have signed up for indoor Mass, please park in the back parking lot (unless using handicapped spaces). Those who plan to listen to the Mass in their car, (101.1 FM) please park in the front lot. For those listening to Mass in their car and who wish to receive Communion, please exit your car and line up for Holy Communion at the Atrium doors where you see the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

As we endure this pandemic’s ongoing restrictions and concern for the contagion, most of us have altered our lives a great deal, including not regularly receiving the Eucharist and thus for many, through no fault of their own, are being distanced from Christ Sacramentally. Long term, this is a concern for us individually and for the Church as people might become comfortable with “attending Mass” from the couch

As I mentioned last weekend, our parish is in need of Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, and traffic helpers for our Christmas Mass schedule. For the Masses we will need 5 Eucharistic Ministers, (between the ages of 18 and 60) four of whom will be (2 each) in Russell Hall and the church proper, and two will distribute at the Atrium doors heading outside. As for Ushers, we will need two (2) each at all the Masses, the role of the usher is to greet and help seat the attendees in the locations (church and Russell) for which they have registered.

I invite you to participate in this great program. Stop by the church and take an envelope off one of our Advent Giving Trees and return the envelope with your donation to the Church, or go to www.stcatherine.info and make a donation through FAITH DIRECT online giving. You may call the parish office, 658 1642, for any assistance. Our Advent Giving Tree program runs through the Feast of the Epiphany in early January. Thank you in advance for your generosity and most of all, for your lived faith and reason. May God continue to bless you and those you love with His abundant grace.

Get involved this coming Advent Season with wonderful events! 1. Advent Wreath Making Kits 2. Advent Bible Study 3. Advent One Evening Bible Study: Christmas Separating the Holy Day from the Holiday 4. Growing Catholics is looking to give the 90 residents of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Enfield some much needed holiday cheer

This last weekend of the liturgical year is a celebration of the universality of Jesus Christ as our true leader—a King—as the Church turns its attention to life on earth and its ends as we know it in the consideration of eternal life. We begin Advent next Sunday, and the Season is a time to prepare for the coming of the infant Jesus in the Nativity at Bethlehem and it is also a time of expectant waiting—when we wait for the Second Coming, the return of Jesus Christ (the Parousia) when He comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

According to scripture scholars and other faith educators, a “talent” as used in today’s Matthean Gospel is “more than an inborn trait” but rather we are to understand it as “a huge allotment of Divine goods that God entrusts to Jesus’ disciples” for the building up of the Kingdom of God.

RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), and it is the formal program that allows individuals to become members of the Catholic Church. RCIA programs tend to start in the fall, so this is a great time to begin considering joining the program.

In the next three weeks we will conclude the current liturgical year in the Church and Advent (Sunday, 29 November we shall start the Advent season, concluding on Thursday, 24 December, Christmas Eve). Advent asks us to consider the Coming of Emmanuel, the Son of God, and the Salvation of the world—in the Christmas event but it also asks us to consider the Second Coming of Christ at the End Time. So let us now consider the end-time as we prepare for Advent.

All Saints' Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church celebrated annually on November 1. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. It should not be confused with All Souls' Day, which is observed on November 2, and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven.

On Saturday, 31 October 2020 at 11 am, the Hartford Cathedral of Saint Joseph will be home to the celebration of the Beatification Mass of the late Hartford priest, Fr. Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus (KOC) and Hartford parish priest who died at the age of 38 during the pandemic of 1898-1890.

Just a friendly reminder about your All Souls’ envelopes and the PRINTING of names of our deceased family and friends for the Sunday Masses on October 31st and November 1st, as we recall and pray for their noble souls. And that the names of your loved ones shall be remembered in prayer all November long at both the daily and weekend Masses

This weekend, as our nation enters the homestretch of the political season, is a perfect time for Sunday’s scriptural message of Love from a Divine standard especially as our nation appears to be “at odds” with herself, it is good to hear the messages of compassion, love, mercy all wrapped up into action—reminding us that our Catholic faith is not just a faith of the intellect, but also one of action—being lived us all.

In the Catholic tradition, we celebrate All Souls Day by remembering our dearly departed in prayer, for the repose of their noble souls, and to assist them in-and-through our prayers on their journey to Eternal Life. It is common belief today that once someone dies they go straight into the Kingdom—no questions asked, and while that is our hope, we know that Christ and His Church teaches that for some, there may be a “place” which provides time and grace to purify the soul.

As a faith community, we are called to be people of prayer—and that is what we shall do. We need to pray for our Nation and all in our government who lead her. For the President and First Lady, for our Speaker of the House and Senate and House Majority- and Minority-Leaders, and for everybody up-and-down the tickets and at every level of government.