SAINT EDWARD'S LADIES GUILD CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
December 2, 2023 from 8:30 to 1:00 PM
Light breakfast and lunch available. Cookie plates, baked goods, frozen pierogi and golabki, handmade Christmas crafts and tag sale items will be available for purchase
FIRST SUNDAY of ADVENT
 |
As we begin the Advent season, we light the first candle on our Advent wreath, which represents Hope. The first Sunday of Advent not only leads us to anticipate the birth of Christ but celebrate the beginning of a new liturgical season as well. The first candle is purple, the primary color of Advent and a color symbolizing royalty. Sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle,” the first candle reminds us of Isaiah’s foretelling of the birth of Christ and all the promises God gave us in the Old Testament that would be fulfilled by the birth of Jesus. Advent is not just looking back at the first coming of Christ at Christmas, but our personal preparation for His Second Coming. In the Gospel we hear Jesus say: "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come." (Mark 13:33). |
ADULT FIRST COMMUNION & CONFIRMATION CLASSES
 |
We will be offering classes for those adults over the age of 16 who have been baptized but who have not received Holy Communion and/or the Sacrament of Confirmation. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, February 7, 2024 and continuing through Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The Sacraments will conferred during the Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 30, 2024. All candidates must submit documentation of Baptism and First Communion (for those who have already received the sacrament). Candidates must also complete an information form that can be obtained from the Parish Office. All those interested are asked to contact Corinne Lorenzet (860-684-2666, [email protected]) or call the Parish Office for more information. |
ADVENT RECONCILATION SERVICES
Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Part of our Advent preparation is penance, a word that at its root is like the Greek word metanoia. The meaning of metanoia is the “a change of heart”, “a turning around”, in the spiritual sense, a conversion, a turning of our hearts back to God.
We will be offering two Advent Reconciliation Services this year: Sunday, December 10th at 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday, December 12th at 11:00 a.m. (Adoration will conclude at 11:00 that morning). The service will consist of several readings and the opportunity for receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We hope that you will make attending part of your Advent prayer.
Reviving Our Liturgy Committee
The Liturgy Committee has begun meeting and is working on our Advent and Christmas celebrations. We welcome anyone who would like to join us. For more information, contact Corinne Lorenzet (860-684-2666, [email protected]).
2023 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
We continue to remember our loved ones and our saints this November, giving thanks for their presence in our lives and our church as we celebrate 155 years of parish life here at St. Edwards. We also give thanks to our God as well for all who continue to care for our parish by supporting our Walking Together to Honor, Build and Protect our Future capital campaign. With your generosity, we have exceeded our goal of $304,000 and we should have an updated figure from Our Sunday Visitor in the upcoming week. But know that work on the heating system is approved and started and we have the funds to pay for it!
We are so grateful for you.
Campaign pledges are still coming in. Once the 4 major projects are completed, we will work with the building and grounds committee to identify the next vital project that needs our care. The list is lengthy and while not prioritized, it can be viewed on our parish website. If you are still interested in submitting a pledge, it’s certainly not too late.
Again, we thank you as we continue to walk together and pray together to honor, build and protect our future.
In gratitude for your generosity and love of our parish,
Father Peter and the entire campaign team
Knights of Columbus Council 1395 Christmas Food Drive
This year, like in the past few years, the Knights of Columbus will not be collecting canned or dry goods. Instead, we will be accepting monetary donations only. The collection will start Thanksgiving weekend. The Knights will match up to $750 for all the money collected from the parish. The proceeds will be donated to the SafeNet Ministries Inc. in January. Marked envelopes are in the pews and can be dropped into any collection basket during mass through the end of December or dropped off at the Parish Office. To assist us in this process we ask that donations be in cash or checks (made out to “K of C Council 1395” ). The Knights of Columbus thank you in advance for any donation you can make.
Online giving is now available!
We heard you during the Walking Together initiative. One of the requests was to adopt Online Giving. With the help of several resources we have been able to make it happen. Please visit our giving site at Give Now
Anne DeSantis | 10/28/2023
Lord Jesus Christ,
Thank you for your love and guidance in all our lives each day. You give us the grace to live in your love in peace. Lord, on this day, we lift our hearts and minds to all those who suffer because of violent conflicts in the world. We think of those families whose hearts ache because of war. Those who are forced to leave their homes and their families due to brute force and destruction. Those who cannot sleep, eat, or live happily because of warfare and fighting all around them. We offer our prayers for the children, families, the young and the old, the sick, and the abandoned who do not have resources, food, and shelter for daily living. We pray for mothers, fathers, grandparents, and all those deeply concerned for their family members and friends.
Lord, help us to offer our time, our sacrifices, and our deepest prayers at each moment for those affected by war. We pray that we can model after you, Lord Jesus, as one who offered yourself for the sake of others and for their welfare. We pray for our enemies the same way you did when you gave your life for the salvation of the world.
At this moment, Lord, we pray for those who suffer greatly at the hands of those who cause ruination to others and to the world. We pray for the conversion of their hearts. We understand conversion is possible for everyone who is alive, and we pray for peace in their hearts to turn to you and away from the brutality of war. We lift our prayers for those who protect others from violence and who stand for justice through service.
Jesus, we love you above all, and we trust you with every aspect of our lives. Help us to entrust you more both in this present moment and for the future of the world as we pray for peace. Most of all, help us to continue our prayers at each moment through the intercession of your Mother Mary and all the angels and saints.
We ask this in the Name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Anne DeSantis, MA Theology, is the author of the book Love and Care for the Marginalized,
40 Meditations for Catholics. She is a wife, mother, podcast and TV host, and the Executive
Director for the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation at Nonnatus.org.
The Parish of St. Edward the Confessor is pleased to welcome you to our website. If you need additional information, please call the Church Office at 860-684-2705 or send us an email through "Contacts" and with God's help, we will gladly assist you with all your religious needs!
OUR MISSION
Blessed by the grace of God and nurtured by the Eucharist as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, our mission as the Roman Catholic Church of St. Edward the Confessor is to support the spiritual needs of our community. We engage in outreach guided by the Holy Spirit, using our time, talent, and treasure to serve God's people.
Parish Council - Laurel Stark and Steve Kelly ; President and Vice-president [email protected] or [email protected]
Trustees - Sandra Comarella or David Syzch; [email protected] or [email protected]
Finance - Sandra Comarella or David Syzch; [email protected] or [email protected]
Knights of Columbus Council 1395 - David Broer; Grand Knight [email protected]
Ladies' Guild - Pat Saunders; President
"Why do we .... kneel?"
Kneeling is a sign of humility. It's a common posture for personal prayer and worship (think being taught as children to kneel by the side of our beds to say our prayers before going to sleep).
We kneel after the singing of the Holy, Holy, Holy until after the Amen at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer. Kneeling reflects our adoration and reverence of the Real Presence of Jesus made present during the consecration. Kneeling also demonstrates our spirit of repentance.
After the Our Father and Sign of Peace, for which we stand, we kneel again in preparation for receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. After receiving Communion, we kneel in prayer for the gift of the Eucharist.
“WHY DO WE...sit?”
We sit several times during the Mass, most notably for the readings before the Gospel, the homily, and the preparation of the gifts. The posture of sitting demonstrates receptivity and attentive listening.
By sitting, we open ourselves to receive the Word of God in the first two readings and responsorial psalm. After the priest has reposed the Blessed Sacrament after Holy Communion, we sit for a moment of silent reflection on the gift of the Eucharist we have received.
“WHY DO WE...stand?”
For those who attended St. Edward School (or any Catholic school), you may remember that we always stood when a priest entered our classroom. Standing, in many cultures and situations, is a sign of respect and honor. During Mass, standing reflects our attentiveness and readiness to participate and to respond, so we stand during most of the prayers. We always stand for the reading of the Gospel, for these are the words of Jesus himself.
From the earliest days of the Church, standing has been understood as the stance of those who have risen with Christ and seek the things that are above (USCCB, 2010). Standing is a posture meant to represent the resurrection; we have risen with Christ and seek things from above.
For the Pope
We pray for the Holy Father; as he fulfills his mission, may he continue to accompany the flock entrusted to him, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Our parish council continues to work on the hopes and concerns that have been brought up during our Walking Together sharing sessions. We will continue to update you on our progress.
Please continue to forward your comments, your hopes and concerns, as well as any time and talents you can share with our parish to the Walking Together email [email protected].
As always thank you for your time and your efforts to invigorate our parish!
Click this link to view the final report
Prayerfully submitted,
The Walking Together Team
Andrea Broer, Sandy Comarella, Joanne Deskus, Zofia Fitzgerald, Corinne Lorenzet, Laurel Stark
The St Edward Building Committee is working on developing a list of work and / or projects that we would like to see done here on our campus. So far the list is in a brainstorming stage and includes the big ticket items as well as small things that could be accomplished by volunteers in a few hours or days. It also includes projects that may be cost prohibitive right now but we want to be sure we have everything in front of us so we can begin to prioritize. This is the list we have right now.
If you have ideas that are not on this list or would like to volunteer some time please contact the Parish Office at (860)684-2705 or email [email protected]
A REMINDER FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT ATTEND MASS IN PERSON: Mass is televised daily at 10:00 a.m. on both WCCT-TV (WB20) and WCTX-TV (MyTV9). Mass is also available throughout the day on EWTN. Live-stream Mass is also available widely on the Internet, at sites such as Bishop Robert Barron’s “Word on Fire” (www.wordonfire.org/daily-mass). Most on-line Masses are available to watch at your convenience.
DIOCESE OF NORWICH NEWS AND EVENTS
The Catholic Family Services office provides resources and support to parishes and families to promote and celebrate happy and holy marriages and families. The office provides programs in the areas of marriage preparation, marriage enrichment and support, natural family planning, chastity for teens and serves as a resource for various diocesan support groups.
HOPE AND FAITH VIDEO SERIES -
Let the Office of Faith Events brighten your Wednesday mornings by signing up for the weekly Hope and Faith video series. Throughout the year be inspired with varied reflections on Lent, Advent, the Saints, Gratitude and much MORE! There are two easy ways to receive our weekly video… Simply send your e-mail to [email protected] Or have the videos sent right to your cell phone by texting @lentvid to #81010.
Additional events and legal notices are listed under the Diocese Menu Tab.
PARISH COUNCIL NEWS - The Saint Edward Parish Council is seeking nominees for the positions of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary as well as additional new members. Our next meeting will be January 9th at 7 PM in the Parish Center. All are welcome to attend. If you are interested in one of these roles or would like additional information, please contact Stephen Kelley at [email protected] or by phone at 860-810-8096. Become a leader in our Parish Community!!
PLEASE ACCESS THE CURRENT LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION FROM THE DIOCESE OF NORWICH UNDER THEIR MENU ITEM ON THIS WEBSITE.
https://www.norwichdiocese.org/
WEBMASTER NEEDED - Saint Edward's is looking for a new webmaster. Duties will include weekly updates of the web site. If you are interested please contact the Parish Office at 860-684-2705.
