Our Journey Towards Holiness
Almsgiving ~ Works of Love
We invite you and your family to join our parish community in two ways of almsgiving ~ participating in the CRS Rice Bowl project and contributing to and helping us to assemble Blessing Bags.
CRS Rice Bowls
Each year, Catholic Relief Services sponsors the Rice Bowl project. We are asked to contribute the savings from our Lenten fasting. Seventy-five percent of donations are used to support CRS work around the world, the remaining 25% is used to fight hunger in our diocese.
Participating is simple ~ place the Rice Bowl in a prominent place in your home, perhaps on the dinner table. Before meals, read and pray with the reflections provided on the calendar enclosed in the Rice Bowl. Place your contributions in the Rice Bowl.
We will collect the Rice Bowl donations on Palm Sunday weekend, March 23 & 24.
Using the Rice Bowl reminds us of how many of our brothers and sisters around the world and here in our local community suffer from hunger on a daily basis.
Blessing Bags
Our “Blessing Bags” are collections of individual-size personal care items and easy to eat foods that are packaged in plastic bags and distributed to homeless and those who are guests at food distribution centers. We will be bringing our Blessing Bags to Safe Net Ministries and to Cornerstone in Rockville.
A list of recommended items is below. Contributions can be placed in the baskets under the statue of the Blessed Mother.
We will assemble the bags on Saturday, March 23 at noon in the Parish Center. Please join us as we pray for those who will receive our gifts.
Ideas for Blessing Bags: Toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss; Antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer; Granola bars, packets of tuna, beef jerky, gum, fruit snacks, dried fruit, peanut butter crackers, cereal bars; Deodorant, shampoo, hand lotion; Lip balm; Hand warmers, gloves; Socks; Small toilet paper roll
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD
Have you noticed? Work has begun on the roof of the Parish Center. Hopefully this work will be completed soon and we can begin repairs on the inside. Thank you all for your generous contributions to our Walking Together to Honor, Build, and Protect Our Future Capital Campaign!
2023 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
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 stedwardparish@stedward-stafford.org or sgkelley08@yahoo.com
Trustees - Sandra Comarella or David Syzch; Comsandy@cox.net or szychmd@yahoo.com
Finance - Sandra Comarella or David Syzch; Comsandy@cox.net or szychmd@yahoo.com
Knights of Columbus Council 1395 - David Broer; Grand Knight kofc1395@gmail.com
Ladies' Guild - Pat Saunders; President
March calendar not yet available
For the new martyrs
We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm.
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 stedwalkingtogether@gmail.com.
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 stedwardparish@stedward-stafford.org
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 manicholas@norwichdiocese.net 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 April 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 SGKelley08@yahoo.com 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.