While it seems like the whole nation is at a standstill we must remember that those who are homeless or without sufficient food supplies—life still remains the same for them—the lack of shelter and food is ever present. Now is not the time for us to step away from them. In that vein, I am very happy to hear from our parishioners who run our Parish’s Pantry Partners, Feed the Hungry and St. Elizabeth House food ministries are still up-and-running.
Until we are all able to once again gather together in public for the celebration of the Mass and to receive the Sacred Eucharist, our parish will remain connected as one family in faith through the celebration of the Sunday Mass via the internet. You may pray the Sunday Mass with us by going to stcatherine.info and select the link for the livestreamed Mass. You may join the Mass live at 11 a.m. on Sundays.
It is apropos that an old Chinese proverb declares, “May you live in interesting times!” Indeed. We are living in both interesting and scary times. However, faith gives us an antidote to fear and to worry—an antidote that is both practical and spiritual. Did you know that in the Old Testament the statement “Do Not Be Afraid” appears 365 times?
Even though the church, the building, may not provide for the public worship—the Mass—due to Governor Lamont’s order against large-gatherings, the Church—the Institutional Church—is still in full operation as a spiritual center and guide. In fact even our church building is open each and every day here at St. Catherine of Siena from 8 a.m. until 6:30p.m.
Last week I introduced the Archbishop Blair’s directives on Church practices during this unknown time of the Coronavirus the Archbishop, out of an abundance of precaution, informed all pastors to ask parishioners to receive Holy Communion in the hand rather than on the tongue. This request is purely a precautionary measure and not just for the one distributing Holy Communion but also in charity for other parishioners...
Out of an abundance of precaution, Manuela Hanshaw and I have decided to cancel (postpone) the Boston Mission Trip at this time. Due to the “unknown” of the Coronavirus and to best maintain the health and safety of our teens, this precautionary measure is appropriate.
Each year the Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford promotes the AAA aimed at raising money to support the many and necessary Catholic Church’s Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy—as well as other non-Catholic non-profits that by their work carries out the actions of Christ. As we begin this annual fundraising event, many people will participate in a uniquely Catholic outreach comprised of charity and hope. Why is it uniquely Catholic?
Mt Tabor is the setting for Matthew’s Transfiguration account; this comes to us by tradition. There is a beautiful Church on the Mountain that has a mosaic in it that depicts Jesus beautifully glorified in Light. Fr. Donald Senior, Scripture Scholar, tells us that the Matthean Gospel today draws upon the Book of Daniel using imagery of Jesus’ glory to remind us of the beauty of Christ when returns to earth at the End Time
I write to thank everyone involved with our most recent Forward with Faith event in our parish, the presentation by Dr. John Rosemond regarding raising children through leadership and guidance rather than by “parenting” via negations. The key message or theme of John’s presentation is that raising children well requires mothers and fathers who see their role as guides and not merely friends or “buddies,” and that our parents represent to us (their children) the unique and identical relationship of God to His children