Four County Catholic September 2016

FOUR COUNTY

CATHOLIC Volume 28 • Number 8 • September 2016

God’’s Mercy Transforms Hearts

norwichdiocese.org

Serving The Counties Of Middlesex, New London, Tolland, Windham & Fishers Island, NY

“To serve rather than expect to be served.”

- Saint Teresa of Calcutta

FOUR COUNTY

CATHOLIC

In this Issue: page

19

norwichdiocese.org

“El Papa Francisco nos ha puesto una gran tarea: ser una Iglesia misionera, pobre y que sale al encuentro del otro.”

Serving The Counties Of Middlesex, New London, Tolland, Windham a & Fishers Island, NY

­Established in 1989 and published each month except July.

Made Possible in part through your generous support of the Annual Catholic Appeal

To all subscribers: The September Four County Catholic is the third issue to be printed in partnership with the Hartford Courant as printer and graphic layout designer. One of the newly built-in cost efficiencies is a slight reduction in the length of the paper. This size adjustment, you will find, also enhances the ease of handling of the paper. We hope you enjoy the new format and the continuing role of the paper, in print and online, to share the vitality of the diocese and our faith.

Thank you. The Editorial Team.

Sister Mary Jude Lazerus referencing Pope Francis’ description of the mission of the Church.

page

12

Publisher

Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D. Bishop of Norwich

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Angela Arnold, Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation, acknowledging Michael and Pamela Lynch for establishing an endowment with the Catholic Foundation in the name of their parents, Martin and Joan Lynch, of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Gales Ferry.

31 Perkins Avenue, Norwich, CT 06360-3613 Fax 860.859.1253 Director of Communications/Executive Editor

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Katie Ledecky, Gold Medalist swimmer on U.S.A. Olympic team, speaking to the Catholic Standard.

ON THE“To lead is toCserve.”

ATHOLIC COVER: FOUR COUNTY

God’’s Mercy Transforms Hearts

G & FISHERS ISLAND, NY CESE.OR D, WINDHAM

NORWICHDIO

September 2016

N, TOLLAN SEPTEMBER 2016 UMBER 8 • NEW LONDO VOLUME 28 • N MIDDLESEX, COUNTIES OF SERVING THE

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"Xavier High School motto as exemplified in summer Leadership &AN THER TH “TO SERVE RA SERVED.” Service programs.

EXPECT TO BE - Saint

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Periodical Postage paid at Hartford, CT 06101 and at additional offices.

utta Teresa of Calc

Saint Teresa of Calcutta pictured with the beloved children she so often held in her arms as she ministered and cared for the poor in Calcutta, India. Mother Teresa was canonized a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, September 4, 2016.

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Four County

Our DIOCESE

CATHOLIC THE MOST REVEREND

MICHAEL R. COTE. D.D.

BISHOP OF NORWICH

LET FAITH LEAD THE WAY Mother Teresa has a message for us. We need to listen.

You and I were among the millions worldwide who earlier this month witnessed the elevation to sainthood of Mother Teresa of Calcutta as bestowed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

By liturgical tradition, it was a formal ceremony in the magnificent setting of St. Peter’s Square before tens of thousands of pilgrims and leaders of state. Yet, it was unmistakably humble as was so appropriate for a saint whose life was devoted to caring for the poor. It struck me that this contrast was uniquely reflective of Mother Teresa’s life. She was ever the humble servant who loved and cared for the poorest of the poor; while at the same time, the world granted her celebrity status she was characteristically reluctant to embrace. Even in her reluctance, she became the most admired person of the 20th century. Here was an authentic living saint who held sick and abandoned children in her arms much of the time, and yet, in contrast, also held a Noble Peace Prize and held the respect of world leaders. Just as Pope Francis is known as the “People’s Pope,” Mother Teresa, during her life and now in eternal sainthood, is very much the

“People’s Saint” of our time. Her legacy of love, outreach and service to others is a legacy still active inside us as Christians committed to lifting up our brothers and sisters most in need.

Personally, I am also drawn to her deep understanding of the true spiritual essence of charity. By naming her ministry the Missionaries of Charity, she conveyed early-on how charity is at the heart of the Christian mission. It must be in our heart to serve God’s will. Having chosen “Above All Charity” as my Bishop’s motto, I feel especially close to Mother Teresa. Above All Charity was adapted from 1Peter 4:8-9, a passage that contains the message to all believers that “above all things have fervent charity among yourselves.” In a biblical context, the word charity refers to the special love we should have for others. It is not about ourselves. It is all about others. When we realize that charity in its purest sense is the love in our hearts for others, then we can express that love and behave as truly charitable Christians. It starts in the heart. Mother Teresa knew this. She lived charity.

What better example of charity as love for one another could there be among

us than Mother Teresa. She understood the power of love. She understood those suffering from hunger and those suffering from spiritual hunger and loneliness. She understood the hunger for God, especially among the young. She understood all these conditions without ever considering herself above it all. We know that she, herself, experienced some dark moments and internal trials. She knew first-hand the need we all have for kindness, compassion, mercy, love and a warm sincere smile. “We must love until it hurts” is how she often expressed it.

As the years pass, now nineteen years since she has departed this world, many I’m sure recall her in the familiar white and blue striped sari usually against the backdrop of the streets of Calcutta. To some, it may evoke a far away missionary image -- far from our world, our time, our struggles. This would, of course, be far from the truth of the powerful relevance of Mother Teresa in our lives here and now.

She universally made the connection between a charitable loving heart and peace in the world. It was through prayer that she believed we would break through to peace. As a caregiver and a teacher, she

promoted the practice of families praying together. She believed in the power of prayer and that where there is prayer, there is love. And peace will follow.

In this Year of Mercy and at a time when the world is hungering for peace and charitable caring in our hearts, Mother Teresa has a message for us. We need to listen.

“We have been created to love and to be loved; not created to be just a number in the world. We have been created for some purpose, and that purpose is to be love, to be compassion, to be goodness, to be joy, to serve."

Saint Teresa of Calcutta lived this message. We need to take it to heart.

Sincerely yours in Christ’s love and joy,

Bishop Michael R. Cote

La Madre Teresa tiene un mensaje para nosotros.

Necesitamos escucharlo.

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, Usted y yo estuvimos entre los

millones en todo el mundo, quienes a principios de este mes presenciamos la exaltación de la Madre Teresa de Calcuta a la santidad concedida por

el Santo Padre, el Papa Francisco.

Por tradición litúrgica, fue una ceremonia formal en el incomparable escenario de la plaza de San Pedro. Sin embargo,

sin lugar a dudas fue humilde tan perfectamente adecuado para una santa cuya vida se dedicó a cuidar a los Continued on page 4

September 2016

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

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Four County

Our DIOCESE

CATHOLIC

Continued from page 3

pobres. Me impresiona que este contraste fue singularmente reflexivo de la vida de la Madre Teresa. Ella siempre fue una servidora humilde quien amaba y se preocupaba por los más pobres de los pobres; mientras que, al mismo tiempo, el mundo le concedió el estatus de celebridad que característicamente era reacia a aceptar. Incluso en su resistencia, se convirtió en la persona más admirada del siglo 20. Aquí estaba una auténtica santa viviente quien tuvo en sus brazos, la mayor parte del tiempo, niños enfermos y abandonados, y, sin embargo, en contraste, también mantuvo el Premio Novel de la Paz y mantuvo el respeto de los líderes mundiales. Al igual que el Papa Francisco es conocido como “El Papa del Pueblo”, la Madre Teresa, durante su vida, y ahora en la santidad eterna, es en gran medida la “Santa del Pueblo” de nuestro tiempo. Su legado de amor, de extensión y de servicio a los demás es un legado que sigue activo dentro de nosotros como cristianos comprometidos a levantar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas más necesitados.

Personalmente, también me siento atraído por su profundo conocimiento de la verdadera esencia espiritual de la

caridad. Al nombrar su ministerio Las Misioneras de la Caridad, ella transmitió desde el principio que la caridad está en el corazón de la misión cristiana. Debe estar en nuestro corazón servir a la voluntad de Dios. Después de haber elegido “La caridad por encima de todo”, como mi lema de Obispo, me siento especialmente cercano al enfoque de la Madre Teresa.

La Caridad por encima de todo fue adaptado de la 1 carta de Pedro 4:8-9, un pasaje que contiene el mensaje para todos los creyentes que “por encima de todas las cosas tengan caridad ferviente entre ustedes.” En un contexto bíblico, la palabra caridad se refiere al amor especial que debemos tener para otros. No se trata de nosotros mismos. Tiene que ver con los demás. Cuando nos damos cuenta de que la caridad en su sentido más puro es el amor en nuestro corazón para los demás entonces podemos expresarnos y comportarnos como cristianos verdaderamente caritativos. Comienza en el corazón. La Santa Madre Teresa lo sabía. Ella vivió la caridad. ¿Qué mejor ejemplo de caridad de amor por los otros podría haber entre nosotros que el de la Madre Teresa?

Ella entendió el poder del amor. Ella

entendió a quienes sufren de hambre y a quienes sufren de hambre espiritual y de soledad. Ella entendió el hambre de Dios, especialmente entre los jóvenes.

Ella entendió todas estas condiciones sin siquiera considerarse a sí misma por encima de todo. Sabemos que ella misma experimentó algunos momentos oscuros y aflicciones internas. Ella sabía de primera mano la necesidad que todos tenemos de la bondad, la compasión, la misericordia, el amor y una sonrisa cálida sincera.

“Debemos amar hasta que duela” es como a menudo ella lo expresaba.

A medida que pasan los años, ahora diecinueve años que ha partido de este mundo, estoy seguro que muchos pueden recordar su conocido sari rayado blanco y azul reconocido por las calles de Calcuta, Para algunos, puede evocar una imagen misionera muy lejana-lejos de nuestro mundo, nuestro tiempo, nuestras luchas.

Por supuesto, esto, está lejos de la verdad de la poderosa relevancia de la Madre Teresa en nuestras vidas aquí y ahora.

abrirnos paso hacia la paz. Como protectora y maestra, ella promovió la práctica de familias que oran juntas. Ella creía en el poder de la oración y que donde hay oración, hay amor. Y la paz seguirá.

En este Año de la Misericordia y en el momento en que el mundo tiene hambre por la paz y el cuidado de caridad en nuestros corazones, la Madre Teresa tiene un mensaje para nosotros. Tenemos que escucharlo.

“Hemos sido creados para amar y ser amados; no hemos sido creados para ser sólo un número en el mundo. Hemos sido creados con un propósito, y ese propósito es tener amor, tener compasión, tener bondad, tener alegría, para servir”.

La Madre Teresa vivió este mensaje.

Debemos llevar en el corazón el mensaje de La Santa Madre Teresa.

Atentamente en el amor y la alegría de Cristo,

Ella hizo la conexión universalmente entre un corazón amoroso caritativo y de paz en el mundo. Fue a través de la oración que ella creía que podríamos

Michael R. Cote Obispo de Norwich

Rejoice in Hope

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Cruise on the Argia

Days of Recollection

Golf Classic

Alanon Woman’s

Sacred Art Institute

Dinner

Sunset Cruise with K of C October 2, 2016

September 2016

Retreats

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God invites us in the midst of the noise and distractions we face every day to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him.

September 16-18, 2016 With Sr. Linda Fisher

Women’s Weekend

September 23-25, 2016 With Fran Karpiej, OFS

Set some time aside for Him, book your retreat today!

(860) 536-0565 www.endersisland.com

Visit us on Facebook.

October 10, 2016 With Deacon Tom Everard November 1, 2016 With Mother Olga

Illumination & Gilding September 11-17, 2016 With Valerie Weilmeunster Russdian Iconography in the Prosopon Tradition October 9-15, 2016 With Susan Kelly VonMedicus

October 3, 2016 13th Auunal Enders Island Golf Classic 13th. Annual Anders Island Medal of Honor Dinner October 14, 2016 **For all events, please call or register online.**

Four County

Our DIOCESE

CATHOLIC

VOCATIONS CORNER

FATHER GREGORY GALVIN, DIRECTOR OF PRIESTLY VOCATIONS

B

Opening their hearts to the call of God

y the middle of August, high school graduates from across the country were beginning to head off to college orientation. High school football teams began their summer pre-school opening camps. Now, after the Labor Day weekend, children head back to school and the new academic year for everyone is underway again.

After celebrating the ordination of four priests and two permanent deacons this past June and July, I am now able with great joy to announce, welcome and express our prayerful support for two new seminarians for the Diocese of Norwich!

We welcome Mr. Jacob Ramos and Mr. Larry Barile. These are two very fine men who have both opened their hearts to the call of God to consider the possibility that He is asking them to each be one of His priests. Jacob was assigned by Bishop Cote to apply to Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland where he joins two of our other seminarians, Mike Bovino and Normand LaFlamme.

Larry was assigned by Bishop Cote to apply to Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts where he also joins two of our Larry Barile seminarians, Frank Gilbert and Deacon Ron Blank.

Jacob Ramos is originally from Meriden, Connecticut. Jacob graduated from UCONN three years ago. He spent one year with the Dominicans discerning a religious vocation, but found he was being called instead to discern a diocesan priestly vocation.

Larry Barile originally grew up in Coventry, Connecticut where his mom lives; and he has lived in South Windsor, Connecticut for many years. He has been a nurse at the Veterans Hospital in Rocky

OUR DIOCESE

A Day of Reflection at for Vocations Holy Hour St. Mary of the Visitation (860) 887-9294 Church

Hill for over twenty years and has been very active both in his home parish in South Windsor and assisting also at St. Mary Church in Jacob Ramos Coventry over the years with religious education.

Please keep Larry and Jacob, along with each of our other seminarians, in your prayers as they begin another year of formation. Please also continue to beg the Harvest Master to continue sending our diocese men who desire to do something remarkable by opening themselves to being instruments of Christ the High Priest.

VOCATION NOTES FOR THE FALL: Please join us on September 22nd at St. Peter’s Church in Higganum at 6:00pm for

our Monthly Eucharistic Holy Hour with Bishop Cote as we give thanks for the recent ordinations and for a continually growing number of young men responding generously to the call to serve as a priest of Jesus Christ.

Other upcoming Holy Hours this fall: October 27th in Bolton, at St. Maurice Church at 6:00pm; St. Bridget of Kildare Church on November 17th at 6:00pm in Moodus, and December 15th at St. Jude Church in Willington, at 6:00pm.

In a special way throughout this year, please keep seminarian Frank Gilbert in your prayers as this is the year he can be called to ordination as a transitional deacon. Frank could be ordained sometime next spring or summer and then would anticipate ordination to the priesthood in the Spring/Summer of 2018 along hopefully with Deacon Ron Blank. Thank you all for your continued support and Four County many prayers for the work of the vocation CATHOLIC office. God bless you all.

The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, leads the Holy Hour: Father Greg Galvin, Director of Priestly Vocations vocations@norwichdiocese.net

www.God-Calls.com

ather Michael Giannitelli of St. Mary of the Visitation Church in Clinton recently held a Day of Reflection in Visitation Hall. His subject was the Spirituality of ordinary time.

Father Michael covered the Liturgical Cycle, the colors associated with each cycle and their significance. His emphasis was on Ordinary Time, the longest season in the five-season cycle.

Father Michael spoke about how our daily lives are filled with ordinary time that can be spiritual and bring us closer to God by being conscious of our routine.

In this cycle, the Church is focused on the first thirty years of Jesus’ life. These were His routine ordinary public years lived in an extraordinary way. He was a carpenter. His friends were fishermen.

He preached. He taught. He healed. In our lifetime, Mother Teresa may be the best example of using ordinary time in an extraordinary way.

Eighty people participated in the two part conference which ended at 1:00pm after a luncheon that was filled with very lively discussions and leaving all proud to be Catholic.

The World Needs Heroes.

All young men have that deep desire to do something remarkable, to be someone remarkable.

Have you considered the call?

Father Greg Galvin 860-887-9294 www.God-Calls.org Office of Vocations • Diocese of Norwich, CT • vocations@norwichdiocese.net

September 2016

F

Submitted by Mary Burnett

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Four County

Our DIOCESE CATHOLIC Matching Grant Announced for Outreach to Haiti’s Capital Campaign to Rebuild Clinic and Mission House

By Dan O’Sullivan, Director, Outreach to Haiti NORWICH - The Most Reverend Michael R Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich announced that the Diocese of Norwich is making a matching grant of $100,000 to the Capital Campaign for the Diocese's Outreach to Haiti ministry.

Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti (and its predecessors - Haitian Ministries and Hospice St Joseph) has been in Haiti for over 30 years. Its facilities in Haiti were largely destroyed in the earthquake of 2010. After carefully developing plans for an economical replacement facility, a capital campaign was launched.

To date $250,000 has been raised, but building costs have increased and the target is now $450,000.

When a potential donation from a major charity that would have completed the fundraising fell through, Bishop Cote decided action needed to be taken. He stated, "It is more than 6 years since the earthquake. It is time we had the

important to our spiritual growth as a diocese. For those already involved, I know you will support this need to the extent you can. For those who have not yet had the opportunity to support this effort, I invite you to prayerfully consider if this is something the Lord wants you to support.”

To learn more about what Outreach to Haiti does, and the clinic and mission house rebuilding efforts, logon to http://outreachtohaiti.org/capitalcampaign or call 860-887-1019.

Building hope from the ashes of the earthquake.

new building to help serve the people of Haiti."

The temporary sheet metal and plywood structure that is being used for the clinic was built in 2010 with the help of Catholic Relief Services, and expected to last no more than 5 years.

Bishop Cote explained that "From the beginning in 1985, the ministry has lived the gospel message by empowering the people of Haiti to help themselves by

promoting the health and education of Haitians. While we have helped tens of thousands of Haitians over that period, just as important has been the spiritual enrichment of hundreds of people inside and outside the Diocese, as they have stepped forward to lead and support this effort over the years. I regularly hear from so many generous supporters that they have received so much more than they have given. I believe this ministry is

How to Donate to Rebuild the Clinic and Mission House Here are three ways to donate to the capital campaign: 1.) Send a check to Outreach to Haiti at 815 Boswell Ave, Norwich, CT 06360 2.) Go to http://outreachtohaiti.org/ capital-campaign. Press the donate button at the bottom of the page, and follow the instructions.

3) Call Outreach at 860-887-1019 x819, and they can assist you in your donation.

Franciscan Guest House and

VACATION IN KENNEBUNK BEACH, MAINE!

Saint Agnes Church 22 Haigh Avenue, Niantic, CT 06357 Phone: 860-739-9722

E-mail: dona.st.agnes@sbcglobal.net

September 2016

www.saintagnescatholicchurch.com .org

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Mass Times:

Sunday Masses: 7:00am, 9:00am & 11:00am (Saturday 5:00pm Summer, 4:00pm Winter) Weekday Masses: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9:00am, Saturday 8:00am Confessions: Saturday 4:00pm Summer, 3:00pm Winter Adoration: Every Friday 10:00am-5:00pm St Francis Chapel, Crescent Beach; Mission of Saint Agnes, Niantic Reverend Gregory C. Mullaney, Pastor

Retreat Facilities

a Enjoy our full breakfast, stroll the beach and Kennebunkport shops. a Visit the Monastery for daily Mass, devotions, and gift shop. a Choose from 65 rooms, with own AC, Bath, and Cable TV. a On the Scenic Trolley Route a Offseason retreat rooms at $50+tax

Franciscan Guest House A little taste of Heaven on Earth 26 Beach Ave., Kennebunk, Maine telephone 207-967-4865 • toll free 1-844-253-2972 email info@franciscanguesthouse.com www.franciscanguesthouse.com

Four County

Our DIOCESE

CATHOLIC

Outreach to Haiti Announces 2017 Gala Plans

For the Love

of A Child

T

By Drew Hoffmann he Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti has announced its 10th Annual “For the Love of a Child” Gala plans. Drew Hoffman, Chairman for this annual fund raising effort, advised that this increasingly successful event has been scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2017. The popular Gala has been moved to a larger venue in order to accomodate

the increased support from attendees from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Florida. Hoffman stated: “In anticipation of over 225 guests, the committee has selected the newly renovated Deanston House in Storrs, CT for the next celebration”.

As in years past, the event will include a keynote speaker, entertainment, silent auction

and excellent food. Once again the committee will be accepting sponsorships and advertising from both national and regional businesses and individuals. Key sponsors and advertisers last year included major contributors from Virginia, Connecticut, and Texas. If you are interested in co-sponsoring this 10th Gala please contact the Outreach to Haiti office at 860-877-1019.

All proceeds from the event are used to maintain the four major Outreach to Haiti programs in Haiti: medical, education, nutritional and parish twinning efforts. Additional information on these programs can be found at www.outreachtohaiti. org or by calling Dan O’Sullivan, Director of Administration and Programs, Outreach to Haiti in Norwich, CT at 860-877-1019.

Several trips to different destinations: the Holy Land; Italy; France, Portugal, & Spain; Poland; Medjugorje, Lourdes, & Fatima; Ireland & Scotland; England; Austria, Germany, & Switzerland; Greece & Turkey; Viking Cruises; Caribbean Cruises; Budapest; Prague; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Peru; Domestic Destinations; Columbia; Brazil; Argentina; etc…

We also specialize in custom trips for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.

Call us 24/7 508-340-9370 Hablamos Español 855-842-8001 www.proximotravel.com anthony@proximotravel.com

Norwich, CT (860) 887-7468 www.mmpct.com New London, CT (860) 701-9171 www.mmpnl.com

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September 2016

Prices starting at $2,499 ~ with Airfare Included from anywhere in the USA

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Our DIOCESE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Tuesday, September 20

Annual Diocesan Mass of Remembrance A Mass in memory of children who have died from stillbirths, miscarriages or abortions whether recently or years ago. The Mass of Remembrance is an opportunity for familes to recognize the gift of life and the loss of the life of their children.

Bishop Michael R. Cote will be the main celebrant at the Cathedral of St. Patrick, Norwich at 6pm.

Refreshments will be served following the Mass.

For more information, call Catholic Family Services Office at 860-848-2237, Ext. 306.

Sunday, September 25 26th Annual Blue Mass

All law enforcement officers (federal, state, and municipal, active and retired) their families, and parishioners are invited to Mass and reception in the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, at10:15am. Bishop Cote, the Bishop of Norwich, will celebrate the Mass and Deacon Clifford Thermer of Saint Brigid and Saint Helena Parishes, in West Hartford, in the Archdiocese of Hartford, will serve as the homilist.

Friday-Sunday, September 30 – October 2

Divine Will and Divine Mercy: The Great Signs of Our Times Come hear the Good News of the coming Reign of God's Will within each of us and within the world.

Friday 4:30pm to Sunday 12:00pm., St. Thomas Seminary, 467 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield. $225(includes overnight accommodations, meals and retreat), $150 (includes meals only ), Fr. Robert Young will explore how the Will of God is essentially tied to the Mercy of God through the Devotion to Divine Mercy made known through St. Faustina Kowalska, For more information and to reserve a place, please call (860) 872-9294. Space is limited.

Saturday, October 8 September 2016

Just for Fun

8

Back by popular demand, from the creator of MisGivings, comedian Dave Kane leads everyone through a maze of laugh-filled interactive comedy quizzes, contests, prizes and surprises. It will bring you back to your childhood parties and remind you of early TV game shows! Join us for comedy, laughter, prizes and surprises; it’s all Just for Fun!

Four County

CATHOLIC

2x10 SpiritualRenewal September 16FCC_Main 8/24/2016 11:01 AM Page 1

Pasta & Meatball dinner at 6:00pm followed by the show at 7:30pm. Beer & wine available. Tickets $20pp advance purchase only. Contact Janet at 860-871-7910 or jjdeforge@gmail.com for tickets or more information. St. Luke Church hall, 141 Maple St. Ellington, CT.

Saturday, October 8

A Day with Dr. Edward Sri The Cathedral of St. Patrick will host a day with Dr. Edward Sri from 9:30am until 3:30pm. Dr. Sri is a theologian and author that regularly appears on EWTN. Tickets are $20/adults, $10/students and religious are free with advanced registration. Lunch is included. For more information or for clergy/ religious to advance register, please go tohttp://bit. do/Dr-Edward-Sri or email BJDaly@aol.com or call 860-861-1895.

Sunday, October 9

St Faustina’s Miracle – The Digan’s Tell Their Story Maureen Digan and her husband, Deacon Bob Digan, will tell their incredible story about the miracle that changed their lives and led to Sister Faustina’s Canonization. And, learn what it means for you. The talk will take place at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 752 Norwich Salem Turnpike, Montville at 2:00pm. There will be a short reception in the Church Hall after the talk. While there is no charge, there will be an opportunity for a voluntary free will offering. For information, call Our Lady of the Lakes Church at 860-859-1575.

“It was NOT YOU who chose me, it was I WHO CHOSE YOU (your name here), to go forth and bear fruit!”

John 15:16

Prayer Group Mass Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 7:30PM St. Patrick, East Hampton.

Life in the Spirit Seminar -“Release of the Holy Spirit” Wednesday, September 21, 2016 Two sessions: 2:00-3:30PM and 7:00- 8:30PM Spiritual Renewal Center, Norwich.

Residents Retreat Friday, September 23, 2016 St. Joseph Living Center, Windham.

9:30AM to 4:00PM. Inbound Prayer Ministry (Freedom) Saturday, September 24, 2016 10:00AM Spiritual Renewal Center, Norwich Call for Appointment 860-887-0702.

Mass of Healing and Hope 2nd & 4th Mondays of September & October Mass at 2:00PM and 7:00PM with Individual Prayer.

Charismatic Prayer Meeting Every Tuesday afternoon 2:00-3:00PM Spiritual Renewal Center, Norwich.

6 Weekly Holy Hours – Before Elections Let’s pray for “Christian Leadership for our Country”.

The 6 Tuesdays before elections 2016.

7:00- 8:00PM at Spiritual Renewal Center, Norwich.

Philips Conference “A Time to Become Renewed” Saturday, October 15, 2016 9:00AM to 4:00PM Spiritual Renewal Center, Norwich.

Call to Register 860-887-0702.

Wednesday, October 5th

Television Mass

Monsignor James Carini At 10:00am Channel 11 WCCT Comcast Channel 20 WTXX Charter

spiritual renewal services Diocese of Norwich

Dial-A-Prayer (860) 887-7767

P.O. Box 6 • 11 Bath Street Norwich, CT 06360 • (860) 887-0702 email: Renewal@catholicweb.com

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Saturday, October 15

23nd Annual Firefighters Mass The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, will host and celebrate the 23nd Annual Firefighters/EMS Mass that will take place at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, at 5pm. Deacon Wayne Sandford will be the homilist. At 3pm. those who are able will gather at Chelsea Parade to process down Broadway with fire and EMS apparatus.

Reception to follow in Cathedral Hall – all are invited to attend.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Silver and Gold Jubilee Anniversary Mass All couples married 25 & 50 years or celebrating any significant anniversary year are invited to attend a Silver and Gold Jubilee Anniversary Mass at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich at 2pm. Come and renew your wedding vows in a Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael R. Cote. For more information call Catholic Family Services Office at 860-848-2237, Ext. 306.

Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me (state request here). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle, even so, you are the Saint of Miracles.

O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.

Promise publication and for nine consecutive days, pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.

~ AG~

Defending Our Religious Liberty The Catholic Church invests in the common good. It runs and operates schools, hospitals, universities, charities and social services.

Our government and society have long relied on them for help and taken advantage of the vast network that churches and religious institutions provide to aid people in need and to help form good citizens.

But, when we are told we’ve got to stop being who we are, to put aside our beliefs, or plainly go against our conscience in order to be allowed to contribute to the common good, we must speak out.

If you haven’t done so already, please voice your opposition to the federal health care mandate by calling U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell at 202-205-5445, and your elected state representatives. Let them know that the mandate is in violation of our First Amendment right to religious freedom.

Pope Francis @Pontifex • Recent Tweet

Mercy does not just mean being a “good person” nor is it mere sentimentality. It is the measure of our authenticity as disciples of Jesus.

The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, has made the following clergy and diocesan appointments in the Diocese of Norwich:

Clergy Appointments

Reverend Bogdan Olzacki, OSPPE, new to the Diocese, to Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, Rockville.

Effective: August 16, 2016.

Deacon Octavio Flores, newly ordained, to Hispanic Ministry, to Saint Francis of Assisi Church, Middletown, and to assist the Office of Vocations with Spanish Language requirements.

Effective: August 11, 2016.

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Deacon Benedict LoCasto, newly ordained to Spiritual Direction, Immaculata Retreat House, Willimantic, and Church of the Holy Family Parish, Hebron, and Saint Columba Parish, Columbia.

Effective: August 11, 2016.

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September 2016

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Diocese of Norwich Issues Financial Report

T

he Diocese of Norwich has issued a financial report for The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation and The Annual Catholic Appeal of The Diocese of Norwich, Inc. for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.

The Diocese of more than 228,520 Catholics spent $4,773,058 on funding for ministries and programs, including but not limited to, Catholic Charities/ Family Services in Norwich, New London, Willimantic and Middletown, St. Vincent de Paul Places in Norwich and Middletown, Project Northeast in Putnam, the Hispanic and Haitian Ministries throughout the Diocese, and the offices of Faith Events, Prison Ministry, Pastoral Planning, and Ministry to the Sick.

Contributions and collections including the Annual Catholic Appeal and diocesan assessments accounted for approximately 30 percent of the total diocesan revenue of $18,632,598.

Contributions and collections increased .2 percent from the previous year, to $3,386,861 and diocesan assessments were $2,267,090, an increase of 2 percent from the 2014 fiscal year.

Insurance premiums that the Diocese charges various diocesan entities for property and liability coverage, amounted to $2,626,411. Insurance premiums paid to Catholic Mutual

Insurance and other commercial carriers for property and liability insurance, for Catholic Umbrella Pool assessments, claims paid under the self-insurance program, and auto and workmen’s compensation insurance amounted to $1,895,979.

The Diocese is a member of the RETA Trust, which is a selfinsured trust comprised of Catholic Dioceses and organizations nationwide with over 40,000 insured lives participating in its medical plan.

The plan operates as a fully insured plan and is presented in the financial statements in the same manner as the other types of insurances carried by the Diocese.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 premiums billed under the plan were $7,511,440 and payments to the Trust were $6,516,618.

All Diocesan investments are made

September 2016

Congratulations!

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Father Brian J. Converse Father Michael C. Giannitelli Father James J. Sucholet On Your th year of Ordination to the Priesthood

in accordance with guidelines issued by the USCCB and they are subject to an independent scanning process semi-annually by Aquinas Associates to ensure compliance with these guidelines. For the year ended June 30, 2015, net investment income including realized and unrealized gains and losses on securities was $417,902 which is fairly reflective of overall market trends.

Expenses for seminarians totaled $353,960, and include expenses for tuition and subsistence for current seminarians and payment of educational loans for seminary graduates who are active priests in the Diocese.

Payments to aid in the support of retired and infirm priests were $186,592 and the Post Retirement Benefits were $102,855 totaling $289,447. These costs are offset partially by the Easter Sunday collection, which amounted to $209,277.

Administration expenses decreased by 9 percent to $1,822,072 consisting primarily of $1,108,384 in direct employee expenses including salaries, payroll taxes, pensions and medical insurance.

Direct subsidies to high schools attended by diocesan students were $1,428,500 including the fair market rental value of the facilities.

Included in the Statement of Activities at June 30, 2015, is the accrual of a lawsuit settlement stemming from a sexual abuse claim from the year 1976. The total settlement of the suit amounted to $1,100,000. Insurance coverage provided $1,100,000 toward the settlement and paid the legal costs of defense.

In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, the Diocese was required to adopt the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 158 which requires full disclosure of postretirement benefits. The actuarially determined benefit of the priests’ postretirement benefits at June 30, 2015 was $3,560,550 and $4,876,877 at June 30, 2014.

The combined diocesan financial statements do not reflect the finances of the Diocese’s parishes or any of its schools.

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Celebrating Advent December 16-18, 2016 at Wisdom House Litchfield, CT Summer: July 27, 2017 at Miramar Retreat Center, near an ocean beach in Druxbury , MA. Contact Deacon John & Peggy Scarfi jscarfi@verizon.net 845-621-7000 www.starofthesearetreats.com

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Combined Statements of Financial Position June 30, 2015 and 2014

Assets

2015

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Diocesan Corporation Cash and Cash Equivalents - Annual Catholic Appeal Inc. Total Cash and Cash Equivalents Short-Term Investments Accounts Receivable Current Unconditional Promises to Give Loans Receivable Cash Restricted to Future Programs Beneficial interest in Trusts Catholic Umbrella Pool Interest Long-Term Investments Property and Equipment, Net Total Assets

$

619,100 755,154 1,374,254 2,447,927 4,636,066 812,514 996,023 53,622 519,662 484,754 6,884,489 4,267,549 $22,476,860

2014 $

529,833 898,373 1,428,206 2,121,425 5,461,258 892,732 1,026,642 53,438 491,397 525,392 6,857,204 4,448,469 $23,306,163

Liabilities

2015

Lines of Credit Advances $ 276,543 Accounts and Accruals Payable 576,088 Agency Obligations 356,591 Grants Payable 188,225 Split-Interest Liabilities 47,339 Loans Payable 2,410,718 Other Retirement Obligations 3,560,550 Total Liabilities $7,416,054 Net Assets Unrestricted 8,248,060 Temporarily Restricted 6,283,084 Permanently Restricted 529,662 Total Net Assets $15,060,806 Total Liabilities and Net Assets $22,476,860

2014 $

276,543 411,725 469,747 250,000 52,384 2,410,718 4,876,877 $8,747,994

7,394,212 6,662,560 501,397 $14,558,169 $23,306,163

Combined Statements of Activities Revenues and Support Contributions and Collections Diocesan Tax Insurance Program- Property Insurance Program- Medical Investment Income Net Realized and Unrealized Gains Change in Value of Split-Interest Agreements Gain/Loss on Asset Disposition Insurance Proceeds Facility Rental & Other Income Total Revenue and Support

2015 $ 3,386,861 2,267,090 2,626,411 7,511,440 328,013 89,889 27,174 - 1,100,000 1,295,720 $18,632,598

2014 $ 3,334,745 2,262,084 2,629,984 7,630,086 258,689 1,044,695 (9,589) 6,296 1,216,333 $18,373,323

Expenses Ministries and Programs Retired and Infirm Priests Seminarians High School Subsidies Insurance Program-Property Insurance Program-Medical Administration Fund-Raising Interest Uncollectible Support & Insurance Litigation Settlement Depreciation Total Expenses Change in Net Assets Post Retirement Benefit Recognition Net Assets Beginning Net Assets Ending

2015

2014

$ 4,773,058 186,592 353,960 1,428,500 1,895,979 6,516,618 1,822,072 373,419 125,146 525,000 1,100,000 243,088 $19,343,432 (710,834) 1,213,471 14,558,169 $15,060,806

$ 4,674,113 187,168 337,623 1,409,700 1,907,837 6,355,650 2,011,537 386,993 127,450 256,857 $17,654,928 718,395 (136,339) 13,976,113 $14,558,169

September 2016

June 30, 2015 and 2014

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Ledyard Couple Establishes Catholic Foundation’s 22nd Endowment passed in 2015, after Martin had

By Mary Ellen Mahoney died in 2013, Michael and Pamela knew that they wanted to fulfill their ichael and Pamela parents desire to continue to support Lynch of Ledyard their Parish even after their deaths. understood how Michael and Pamela turned to the much Michael’s Catholic Foundation in order to bring parents, Martin and Joan Lynch, Martin and Joan’s wishes to fruition loved their parish, Our Lady of and established the Foundation’s Lourdes Parish in Gales Ferry. The 22nd endowment. This endowment, elder Lynches lived in Ledyard established by Michael and Pamela during most of their 58 - year Lynch in honor of Martin and Joan marriage, and were communicants Lynch, 8/24/2016 is named the OurAM Lady of 1 2x6 ImmaculataRetreat September16FCC_Main 11:33 Page at Our Lady of Lourdes. When Joan Lourdes Parish Endowment Fund.

M

Immaculata RetReat House A Ministry of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate 289 Windham Road, Rte. 32 Willimantic, Connecticut MARRIED COUPLE S RETREAT September 23 -25, 2016 A weekend designed to renew and rejuvenate your relationship.

The retreat’s environment is one of fun and is non-threatening.

Couples young and old are invited to deepen their relationships with each other and with God. Offering is $380.00.

GARDEN RETREAT Tuesday, October 4, 2016 Father Ron Meyer opens the 4th in a series of garden retreats with “Thanksgiving Harvest”. Enjoying the fruits of your labors. Prayer, conference, Celebration of Eucharist, Homily, lunch, and resource sharing. Offering is $25.00.

September 2016

8 –DAY PERSONAL DIRECTED RETREAT

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Sunday, October 9-16 and Sunday, November 6 - 13.

A time of reflection on scripture for 8 days where the directee’s sacred story is carefully considered with daily guidance from an experienced spiritual director in order to intensify your personal relationship with God. Find out what God’s desire is for you.

Offering $650.00 private room/bath, all chef prepared meals.

To register or for more information: Phone: 860-423-8484 or E-mail -info@immaculataretreat.org

As an endowment, the fund will live on in perpetuity, much like Martin and Joan’s love for their Church and faith. Each year, the fund’s earnings will be distributed to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and the money used to support it in its mission.

On behalf of Bishop Michael R. Cote and the Board of Directors of the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Norwich, Angela Arnold, Executive Director of The Catholic Foundation, is happy to formally announce that on July 21, 2016, the Catholic Foundation entered into an agreement with Michael and Pamela Lynch to establish the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Endowment Fund. Upon its signing, Angela Arnold who had been neighbors of the Lynches for years, remarked to them, “What a great way to honor your parents; they would be so proud!”

Father Brian Converse, Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is very thankful that his parishioners have decided to support the Parish in such a substantial and ongoing way. "I am most grateful to Marty and Joan Lynch for providing this wonderful legacy and to Michael and Pamela Lynch for establishing this endowment which will ensure the continuation of the many ministries of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Gales Ferry and Ledyard. This is a true heritage gift which provides an opportunity and a way for parishioners, who believe in sharing their gifts and reaching out to others, to leave a legacy of care and support

reaching far beyond their lifetimes.

By supporting the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Endowment Fund, parishioners can take strong steps to ensure the future of our spirit-filled parish. I would ask the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes to prayerfully consider our Parish Endowment.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our Parish, especially your support of our primary mission to share our Catholic faith.” Father Brian Converse, Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Gales Ferry, CT Both Martin, a retired Pfizer scientist and Joan, a former nurse, spent much of their lives caring for others and giving back, so it was no wonder they wanted to help their church in such a significant way. Martin served Ledyard as a Town Councilor for 12 years, and as a member of the town’s Planning Commission and Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission, and both were active in parish activities.

Michael Lynch, the oldest of Martin and Joan Lynch’s seven children, knew how important their parish was to his parents as a place of worship.

Michael Lynch noted that “The Foundation was the perfect vehicle to ensure that Martin and Joan Lynch, as founding members of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, continued the legacy of supporting charitable organizations. The Our Lady of Lourdes Church was an important part of the Lynch family and Martin’s belief in long term financial planning led to the establishment of the Our Lady of Lourdes endowment which

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in honor of her mother. This endowment, named the Margaret L. Keller Catholic Charities Heritage Endowment, supports Catholic Charities and each year its earnings will be used to assist single mothers break the cycle of dependence by continuing their education. Others have established endowments to help their favorite Catholic school in the form of tuition scholarships. For example, the William F. Jr. and Flora L. O’Neil Scholarship Fund disburses assistance to two St. Bernard School students each year. There are a number of ways people may structure their endowments. An endowment may be set up to support more than one organization.

For instance, The Eugene and Anne O’Neill Endowment Fund divides its earnings each year to provide funds to both St. James Church, Danielson and Mercy High School.

The Catholic Foundation’s first endowment was the Bishop Daniel A. Hart Fund for the

Homeless. This endowment provides support to a variety of organizations in the Diocese that assist people in need by providing food, emergency needs, and other social, educational, and spiritual assistance. This past June, the Bishop Daniel A. Hart Fund for the Homeless made monetary grants totaling $8,945.00 to St. Vincent de Paul Place, Norwich; Catholic Charities, Middletown, New London, Willimantic and Norwich and St. Vincent de Paul, Middletown.

Each year the Catholic Foundation hosts an Awards Dinner to which it invites all the recipients of its yearly grants as well as the donors who have established endowments within the Foundation. This year, on June 23rd, the Foundation celebrated its 16th Awards Celebration with close to 200 people in attendance, many of whom were children receiving tuition assistance from the Foundation. Over the past 16 years, the Foundation has disbursed over 3.4 million dollars of assistance.

In order to continue its mission, the Foundation continues to work with people and organizations within the Diocese to establish more endowments in the near future.

If interested in doing so, please contact Mary Ellen Mahoney, Development Manager at (860) 886-

1928 or by email at memahoney@ norwichdiocese.net. In the alternative, if one would like to support the Foundation but not establish an endowment, individual donations are also accepted by the Foundation for any of its endowments.

September 2016

is an important step towards ensuring the Church can continue to serve the local Southeastern Connecticut community.”

Since its inception in 1998, the Catholic Foundation has provided a place where individuals and parishes may invest their money in the form of an endowment and thereby provide ongoing support for organizations and people within our Diocese. First envisioned by Bishop Daniel Hart, the Catholic Foundation‘s mission is to provide a mechanism for the establishment of endowments to benefit the Diocese of Norwich and its parishes, schools, agencies and organizations. The Foundation, through its Board of Directors, invests the assets and distributes earnings according to the wishes of the donors, in accordance with its Spending Policy. The establishment of endowments provides greater financial stability and growth for our Diocese and its organizations.

Many private individuals have established endowments within the Catholic Foundation to support their special interests. Jacqueline Keller, former Diocesan Director of Communications, established an endowment this past spring

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“By means of the Funeral Rites, it has been the practice of the Church, as a tender Mother,…to commend the dead to God…and to give witness to its own faith in the future resurrection of the Baptized with Christ.”

(Congregation for Divine Worship ~ 1969)

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CATHOLIC

Celebrate Life in Fashion

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he Holy Trinity Community cluster of churches, St. John, Christ the King, and St. Mark successfully launched their inaugural fundraising event “Celebrate Life in Fashion” on Friday, August 12th featuring Southern Exposure located in Mystic and Old Saybrook as well as Crystal Mall’s Ann Taylor Loft. Most of the models were recruited from the three churches and had the crowd cheering and rocking to the upbeat music at the Christ the King Church hall. Entertainment provided by Arthur Murray Dance Center in Niantic, CT wowed the crowd with a rumba and a hustle routine that added to the festive atmosphere.

National March for Life.

The ministry evolved from the work of Joan Carlson, St. John Church, Faythe Papp, St. Mark Church and Christ the King Church pro-life committee led by Belinda Murano. Combining the efforts of the churches has brought about renewed enthusiasm through the leadership of Mim Simmone, Chairperson of the group and Marian Landry Co-Chair.

Our new cluster creates an opportunity to develop a culture that embraces everyone and not just the people with whom we are acquainted. There is strength in numbers! We can work in a more powerful way to accomplish Christ’s mission, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”. The collaboration and sharing of talents to make this event a success demonstrates that we can accomplish much for His glory through a unified effort.

The evening was truly a celebration of the unity and cooperation that has developed among the three churches as well as the support of St. Joseph and Our Lady of Sorrows parishes.

The goal is to continue pro- life efforts made by the Diocese of Norwich, CareNet Centers, Birthright and promote the

The combined resources and talents facilitate the development of new initiatives to educate and support people concerning the critical life issues that we face.

Future programs being considered involve family retreats, which will allow families to spend time discussing Christian responses to every day challenges, praying, and having fun together.

There is a need for clarification of misinformation regarding euthanasia, partial birth abortion and resources for women experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. Sponsoring lecture series for the community and bringing abstinence and STD awareness to the local schools are areas we hope to include in our future plans.

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Live life to the fullest at

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Prayer to St. Jude

Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.

Make use I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.

~ AG ~

September 2016

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P

(Vatican Radio) ope Francis on Sunday, September 4, 2016, celebrated the Rite of Canonization for Mother Teresa of Calcutta, at a Solemn Mass offered in St Peter’s Square.

During his homily, the Holy Father said, “Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defence of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded.”

Pope Francis’ homily for the Mass for the Canonization of St. Teresa of Calcutta:

September 2016

“ Who can learn the counsel of God?” (Wis 9:13). This question from the Book of Wisdom that we have just heard in the first reading suggests that our life is a mystery and that we do not possess the key to understanding it. There are always two protagonists in history: God and man. Our task is to perceive the call of God and then to do his will. But in order to do his will, we must ask ourselves, “What is God’s will in my life?”

We find the answer in the same passage of the Book of Wisdom: “People were taught what pleases you” (Wis 9:18). In order

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to ascertain the call of God, we must ask ourselves and understand what pleases God. On many occasions the prophets proclaimed what was pleasing to God. Their message found a wonderful synthesis in the words “I want mercy, not sacrifice” (Hos 6:6; Mt 9:13). God is pleased by every act of mercy, because in the brother or sister that we assist, we recognize the face of God which no one can see (cf. Jn 1:18). Each time we bend down to the needs of our brothers and sisters, we give Jesus something to eat and drink; we clothe, we help, and we visit the Son of God (cf. Mt 25:40).

We are thus called to translate into concrete acts that which we invoke in prayer and profess in faith. There is no alternative to charity: those who put themselves at the service of others, even when they don’t know it, are those who love God (cf. 1 Jn 3:16-18; Jas 2:14-18). The Christian life, however, is not merely extending a hand in times of need.

If it is just this, it can be, certainly, a lovely expression of human solidarity which offers immediate benefits, but it is sterile because it lacks roots. The task which the Lord gives us, on the contrary, is the vocation to charity in which each of Christ’s disciples puts his or her entire life at his service, so to grow each day in love.

We heard in the Gospel, “Large crowds were travelling with Jesus” (Lk 14:25).

Today, this “large crowd” is seen in the great

number of volunteers who have come together for the Jubilee of Mercy.

You are that crowd who follows the Master and who makes visible his concrete love for each person. I repeat to you the words of the Apostle Paul: “I have indeed received much joy comfort from your love, because t the saints have been refreshed thro (Philem 1:7). How many hearts h comforted by volunteers! How m they have held; how many tears th wiped away; how much love has b out in hidden, humble and selfless This praiseworthy service gives v faith and expresses the mercy of t who draws near to those in need.

Following Jesus is a serious tas the same time, one filled with joy; certain daring and courage to reco divine Master in the poorest of the to give oneself in their service. In so, volunteers, who out of love of the poor and the needy, do not exp thanks or recompense; rather they

From heaven to fulfill

“she lights the

dark

and the hearts of ough you” have been many hands hey have been poured s service! voice to the the Father,

sk, and, at ; it takes a ognize the e poor and n order to do f Jesus serve pect any y renounce

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CATHOLIC all this because they have discovered true love. Just as the Lord has come to meet me and has stooped down to my level in my hour of need, so too do I go to meet him, bending low before those who have lost faith or who live as though God did not exist, before young people without values or ideals, before families in crisis, before the ill and the imprisoned, before refugees and immigrants, before the weak and defenceless in body and spirit, before abandoned children, before the elderly who are on their own. Wherever someone is reaching out, asking for a helping hand in order to get up, this is where our presence – and the presence of the Church which sustains and offers hope – must be.

Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defence of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded. She was committed to defending life, ceaselessly proclaiming that “the unborn are the weakest, the smallest, the most vulnerable”. She bowed down before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road, seeing in them their God-given dignity; she made her voice heard before the powers of this world. For Mother Teresa, mercy was the “salt” which gave flavour to her work, it

was the “light” which shone in the darkness of the many who no longer had tears to shed for their poverty and suffering.

Her mission to the urban and existential peripheries remains for us today an eloquent witness to God’s closeness to the poorest of the poor. Today, I pass on this emblematic figure of womanhood and of consecrated life to the whole world of volunteers: may she be your model of holiness! May this tireless worker of mercy help us to increasingly understand that our only criterion for action is gratuitous love, free from every ideology and all obligations, offered freely to everyone without distinction of language, culture, race or religion. Mother Teresa loved to say, “Perhaps I don’t speak their language, but I can smile”. Let us carry her smile in our hearts and give it to those whom we meet along our journey, especially those who suffer. In this way, we will open up opportunities of joy and hope for our many brothers and sisters who are discouraged and who stand in need of understanding and tenderness."

e light of those in kness on earth.”

September 2016

she continues l her mission as

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Hispanic Ministry Moving Forward with the V Encuentro

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By Sister Mary Jude Lazerus, S.C.M.C.

he four previous Encuentros in Hispanic Ministry have been grace-filled moments, effective in responding to the spiritual needs of the Hispanic People. The needs of our times now call us to a Fifth Encuentro.

Society is changing at an alarming rate, and so are our Hispanic communities. Today, there are approximately 42 million Hispanics present in this country, the majority Catholic in name but not in practice. Many feel marginalized, out of place; secularization and materialism are taking their toll on families; second and third generation young people often do not feel at home in the Church. The V Encuentro is a process to begin to look closely at these and many more challenges that threaten to weaken the faith of the Hispanic People.

Pope Francis has challenged us to be a Church that is missionary and poor, a Church that goes out to meet the other where they are found. In that spirit, the theme of the V Encuentro is Missionary Disciples: Witnesses of the Love of God. The main work of the Encuentro will take place in the parish. This national event is organized by means of committees at the national, regional, diocesan, and parish levels. In the Diocese of

Norwich, our diocesan team is in place and has begun its work. In October, with the support of Bishop Cote, we will begin the training of the parish teams. The work of the parish teams will be to prepare the parishes to participate in this great experience during Lent of 2017.

The V Encuentro invites us all to open our hearts in this time of grace, as together we discover what God has prepared for the Hispanic People, integrated into the life of the Catholic Church in the United States.

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Pope Francis’ Prayer Intentions for SEPTEMBER During the month of September, Pope Francis will pray for two intentions, one universal, the other dealing with evangelization.

His first intention is for the youth, so they may have more education and employment opportunities.

The second intention is for catechists, so they may give witness by living in a way that's consistent with the faith.

September 2016

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Four County

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El Ministerio Hispano Sigue Adelante con el V Encuentro Nacional Por eso el lema de este Encuentro es Discípulos Misioneros: Testigos del Amor de Dios.

El trabajo más fuerte del Encuentro se realiza a nivel de la parroquia. El manejo de este evento nacional se hace por medio de equipos en diferentes niveles: nacional, regional, diocesano y parroquial. En la Diócesis de Norwich, el Equipo Diocesano ya está formado y trabajando. En Octubre, acompañado y animado por nuestro obispo, Mons.

Cote, comenzaremos el entrenamiento de los equipos parroquiales. El trabajo del Equipo Parroquial será preparar la parroquia para participar en este gran experiencia, a realizarse durante la Cuaresma del 2017.

El V Encuentro nos invita a todos abrir nuestros corazones a este tiempo de gracia para nuestra comunidad católica hispana. Bienvenidos a la aventura del V Encuentro. Juntos vamos a descubrir lo que Dios tiene preparado para nuestra Iglesia Latina, integrada en la historia de la Iglesia Católica de los EE.UU.

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os cuatro Encuentros anteriores han sido momentos de gracia en el Ministerio Hispano, por el avance que se ha logrado para responder mejor a las necesidades espirituales del Pueblo Hispano. Ahora es el momento para celebrar el V Encuentro, debido a los retos que nos enfrentan actualmente.

La sociedad en la cual vivimos está cambiando a una velocidad vertiginosa.

La realidad del Pueblo Hispano también ha cambiado. Hoy, somos 42 millones de hispanos en este país con una mayoría católica, pero muchos de ellos no practicantes. Muchos aún, a veces se sienten discriminados y marginados, aunque con una fe enraizada. La secularización y el materialismo están impactando nuestras familias, nuestros jóvenes de segunda y tercera generación están perdiendo su identidad, no encuentran su lugar en la Iglesia o se sienten excluidos. El V Encuentro es un proceso para empezar a responder a estas necesidades.

El Papa Francisco nos ha puesto una gran tarea: ser una Iglesia misionera, pobre y que sale al encuentro del otro.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has named Bishop Kevin J. Farrell of Dallas to head the Vatican's new office for laity, family and life.

The Dublin-born bishop celebrated his 69th birthday Sept. 2nd, the day after the new Vatican office officially opened.

In a statement a few hours after his appointment was announced in Rome, Bishop Farrell said he was "extremely humbled" Pope Francis chose him to lead the new office.

"I look forward to being part of the important work of the universal Church in the promotion of the laity and the apostolate of the laity and for the pastoral care of the family in accordance with the pope's recent apostolic exhortation, 'Amoris Laetitia,' ('The Joy of Love'), and the support of human life," he said.

Pope Francis, in a brief apostolic letter formally establishing the new "Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life," said the office should respond "to the situations of our age and adapt to the needs of the universal Church."

The church, as an "attentive mother," must show special care and concern for the lay faithful, for families and for the sacredness of human life, he wrote in the letter, which was released Aug. 17. "We want to offer

them support and help so that they would be active witnesses of the Gospel in our age and an expression of the goodness of the Redeemer."

Pope Francis created the new office by combining the pontifical councils for the laity and for the family. Statutes for the new office, published in June, said it was being established "for the promotion of the life and apostolate of the lay faithful, for the pastoral care of the family and its mission according to God's plan and for the protection and support of human life."

Its new head, Bishop Farrell, has been Bishop of Dallas since 2007. Before that, he was an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Washington. He currently serves as treasurer of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Pontifical Council for the Family had been headed by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, 71, since 2012. Pope Francis appointed him chancellor of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family and president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

The Pontifical Council for the Laity had been led since 2003 by Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, 71. The Vatican did not announce his new assignment.

Pope Francis chats in person with Facebook CEO Zuckerberg

VATICAN CITY (AP) -Pope Francis has met with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Zuckerberg's wife, Priscilla Chan, at the Vatican.

Vatican spokesman Greg Burke says one topic of discussion at the meeting was "how to use communication technologies to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and make a message of hope arrive, especially to those most in need."

The atmosphere appeared informal, with the chat taking place in the Santa Marta residence, the guest house in Vatican City where the pope lives.

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Pope names Dallas bishop head of new office for laity, family, life

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LITURGY NOTES Sister Elissa Rinere, C.P., J.C.D.

O

Saint Hildegard of Bingen 1098-1179

September 2016

n September 17th, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Hildegard of Bingen. Although she is not mentioned in the liturgical calendar of the United States, Hildegard is very well known and has been revered in the countries of Europe for almost 900 years.

Hildegard was born in what was then the Holy Roman Empire, and what is now central Germany, at the very end of the eleventh century. She was the tenth child born to her parents. According to the custom of the day, at least one child in a family was “given to the Church,” and this was Hildegard’s path. When quite young, possibly about eight years old, Hildegard was sent to live in a convent.

There, in addition to leading a life of prayer, she learned to read and write, studied Scripture, theology and even learned the basics of music theory.

When she was in her 30’s, Hildegard became the abbess, or leader of her own monastery of nuns, in the city of Bingen, a city located on the banks of the Rhine River. Here, Hildegard began writing accounts of her very intense prayer experiences, or visions, which had come to her since childhood.

In explaining her visions, Hildegard wrote of the unity of God, and the unity of all the world in God. She wrote of the “greening” of God’s people as they grew in grace and holiness. She wrote of a

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Office of Worship

“verdancy” that was deep within the soul and flourished in the radiance of God’s love.

In addition to writing, Hildegard produced extraordinary paintings to illustrate the visions. One very famous illustration is of several concentric circles with God, depicted as light, at the center, and surrounded by all elements of creation.

These writings and paintings were well known during Hildegard’s lifetime. After her death they were preserved in her own monastery, and copies of the manuscripts were preserved in other monasteries of Europe for almost 800 years.

In addition to writing and painting, Hildegard was also a composer of sacred music. She composed hymns, and even operas and morality plays which were performed in her own monastery and throughout Europe. The music, along with the writing and artwork, was also copied and preserved over the course of several centuries.

Then, in the Twentieth Century an extraordinary thing happened - these manuscripts were “discovered.” In 1985 a recording was made of Saint Hildegard’s music, and it won a Grammy Award! The album (still available today) is entitled “A Feather on the Breath of God.” This is the phrase Hildegard used in her own writings to describe herself being led through life

by the will of God. Following this initial success of this recording in the music industry, several other albums of Hildegard’s music were produced and are now easily available.

The popularity of Hildegard’s music led to the translation and wide availability of her writings, and even her artwork. Today, her writing and spiritual insights, along with commentaries, are easily found in bookstores or on the internet by anyone who might be interested.

With this newfound popularity in the Twentieth Century, Hildegard’s cause for canonization in the Church also received newfound attention. Although she had reached the point of being declared “Blessed,” the canonization process had not moved forward for some time. Pope Benedict XVI (now Emeritus) took into consideration the centuries of popular devotion Hildegard had received, as well as her enduring influence in the Church, especially in Germany, and on May 10, 2012 declared Hildegard to be a saint.

Her feast day, traditionally observed in Germany on September 17, was extended to the worldwide Church.

Just a few months after her canonization, on October 7, 2012, Saint Hildegard was named a Doctor of the Church. She is only the fourth woman in the history of the Church to be given that title. The

others are Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower).

There is much more that can be said of the life of Saint Hildegard. For instance, during her lifetime she corresponded with popes and emperors about various crises in the Church, and her advice was heeded.

At least 800 of these letters still survive.

Also, for the last twenty years of her life, from 1160 until her death in 1179, she undertook what might be called speaking tours up and down the Rhine River valley.

This was a highly unusual activity for a woman of her day. Of course, travel was arduous, usually involving walking or riding a horse or mule, and even camping out in all sorts of weather. But wherever Hildegard went, people from the towns and villages gathered in public squares and cathedral churches to hear her speak.

These travels stopped when Hildegard was 80 years old. She returned to her monastery in Bingen, and died there on September 17, 1179.

Today, the city of Bingen still stands on the banks of the Rhine River in Germany.

It is a tourist destination, not only for its beautiful location, but also for its history, which is deeply intertwined with the life and spirit of Saint Hildegard.

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Miracle of Mercy - Come Hear the Personal Witness!

o you believe in miracles?

The Church does. Miracles change lives and help make saints. Miracles happen just as much today as they have throughout all of human history. The trouble is that sometimes we aren’t aware of miracles.

Perhaps life gets too busy or suffering can cause doubts to arise. Read on if you need a little hope.

International speakers, Deacon Bob Digan and his wife Maureen, from Lee, MA will speak at 2:00 PM on October 9th at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Oakdale, CT. They will share their moving and personal witness of how Maureen and their son received instantaneous physical healings through the direct intercession of Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska while visiting her tomb in Krakow Poland. These miracles helped to move Sister Faustina closer to canonization.

The focus of the program “The Miracle that led to St. Faustina’s Sainthood: Bringing Divine Mercy to the World” is sponsored by the Divine

Mercy Faith Community in our diocese (Our Lady of the Lakes, St John the Evangelist and Our Lady of Perpetual Help). It is a Jubilee Year of Mercy event and they are hoping for a very good turn out from our diocese, so please plan on attending. Mr. Paul Robillard, a member of the Divine Mercy Faith Community, has been passionate about getting the word out about this event and enthusiastically invites everyone to come on Sunday, October 9th.

Sunday, Oct 16, 2016 Father Ralph DiOrio

Apostolate of Divine Mercy & Healing Maironis Park, Shrewsbury, MA Holy Mass, Spoken Word. Come in the Spirit of Pilgrimage.

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Mr. Robillard is hoping this event will help people see “the canonization of St. Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament from a most unique and personal viewpoint, ” and believes that those who attend will leave having “a better understanding of Divine Mercy and how each person can take advantage of God's unlimited mercy for themselves, as well as people around them, and how a person can spread the word about Divine Mercy.”

Deacon Bob Digan is hoping that people will receive “hope, encouragement and understanding”

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from their presentation “Story of a Miracle, the prophetic message of Divine Mercy.” The afternoon will consist of two talks and the Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed in between. Maureen will talk about miracles and her experience with St Faustina. The second talk is entitled "Now is the Time for Mercy." Mr. Robillard hopes people will get a unique and personal viewpoint of St. Faustina’s canonization.

The Digan’s have shared their story on national TV including on NBC Nightly News, A & E and in the popular video “Ocean of Mercy”.

Parochial Vicar, Fr. James Sucholet, who is also the Diocesan Director of the Divine Mercy invited the Digan’s to speak to their community and has opened it up to the public. There is no fee but a freewill offering will be taken and a DVD will also be for sale. Preregistration is not required, just come!

Anyone in need of more information is asked to call Diane DeWick at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, 752 NorwichSalem Turnpike, Oakdale, CT at 860-859-1575.

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Four County

Our YOUTH Sacred Heart School, Groton

Mr. Lawrence Fitzgerald, Principal 50 Sacred Heart Drive, Groton, CT 860-445-0611 www.sacredheartgroton.org/school

CATHOLIC Sacred Heart School, Taftville

Mother Christina Van Beck, SCMC, Principal 15 Hunters Ave, Taftville, CT

Phone: 860-887-1757 www.sacredhearttaftville.org

St. Edward School, Stafford Springs

St. James School, Danielson

Ms. Monique Almquist, Principal 120 Water St, Danielson, CT Phone: 860-774-3281 www.stjamesdanielson.org

Mrs. MaryAnne Pelletier, Principal 25 Church St, Stafford Springs, CT Phone: 860-684-2600 www.stedward-stafford.org

Academic Excellence. Character. Self-Confidence.

Ribbon cutting ceremony/First Day of School

S

By Shari Marderness Communications Coordinator, SBS

24

recognition of Saint Bernard’s “rigorous standards of excellence in educating generations of young men and women.”

The citation was read during a brief assembly by State Rep. Kevin Ryan, a 1970 graduate of Saint Bernard.

St. Joseph School, North Grosvenordale

Ms. Sharon Briere, Principal 26 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, CT Phone: 860-923-2090 www.schoolofstjoseph.org

“This is an incredible facility that has served me well throughout the years, not only by the friends I made here, but also the education provided to me,” he said.

“It was an incredible experience.”

In addition to Rep. Ryan, the recognition was drafted by Senator Cathy Osten, Rep. Michael France, Rep. Kathleen McCarty, Senator Paul Formica, and fellow Saint Bernard alumni legislators Rep. Mike Demicco ’76 and Senator Andrew Maynard ’80.

“This is a testimony to the greatness of this school,” said Headmaster Don Macrino. “Sixty years in existence, it’s had a remarkable influence on eastern Connecticut and beyond. Any place you go in eastern Connecticut, you hear about the love and memory of students who have gone to Saint Bernard School.”

“You continue that tradition,” Mr. Macrino told the student body. “We’re very proud of you, as we are proud of our alumni.”

The students, staff and dignitaries St. Mary-St. Joseph School, Willimantic

Ms. Abby Demars, Principal 35 Valley St, Willimantic, CT Phone: 860-423-8479 www.smsjschool.org

then gathered outside the school’s auditorium for the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon to celebrate recent hallway renovations and ongoing construction of the school’s new state-of-the-art science lab.

The ribbons were cut by longtime teacher Jim Leone and his daughter

Marie (Leone) Londregan, a new teacher and 2008 SBS alumna. Seniors Jack Feeley and Julie Sedensky, who have attended SBS since the sixth grade, also helped.

The Rev. Brian Romanowski, a 1994 alumnus, offered a blessing for the renovations and new school year.

Saint Bernard School Open House Saturday, October 22, 2016 12:00pm

Information Session November 15, 2016 at 6pm

Find out if you have what it takes to be a saint at: www.beasaint.us

Now accepting applications for the 2017/18 year.

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St. Michael School, Pawcatuck

Mrs. Doris Messina, Principal

63 Liberty St, Pawcatuck, CT Phone: 860-599-1084 www.stmichaelschoolct.com

St. Patrick School, Norwich

Mrs. Catherine Reed, Principal 211 Broadway, Norwich, CT Phone: 860-889-4174 www.st-patrickschoolnorwich.org

d653933

September 2016

tudents at Saint Bernard School began classes on Aug. 29 and were part of a ribboncutting ceremony recognizing recent renovations and the Catholic school’s 60th anniversary.

To celebrate this milestone, local and state legislators presented an official State of Connecticut Citation in

Four County

Our YOUTH St. John School, Old Saybrook

Mother Elaine Moorcroft, SCMC, Principal 42 Maynard Road, Old Saybrook, CT Phone: 860-388-0849 www.saintjohnschoolos.com

CATHOLIC St. Joseph School, New London

St. Joseph School, Baltic

St. John Paul II School, Middletown Mrs. Kathleen Pec, Principal 87 South Main St, Middletown, CT Phone: 860-347-2978 www.jpii.org

Sr. Mary Patrick Mulready, SCMC, Principal

Ms. Marianne Cote, Principal 25 Squire St, New London, CT Phone: 860-442-1720 www.sjsnl.com

10 School Hill Road, Baltic, CT Phone: 860-822-6141 www.stjosephbaltic.org

From the Superintendent’s Office‌..

My Dear Friends, September is here and the sounds of happy children can be heard throughout the schools in the Diocese of Norwich. Our students will be learning more than what academic curricula can provide. In addition to our high academic standards, they are learning to be faith-filled, moral young men and women who will become our future leaders.

We are at a time in history when morality seems to have gone astray.

What we are teaching in our Catholic schools is how to live as Jesus did, and how to love God and love our neighbor with all of our hearts. Now more than ever, the exposure to deeply rooted tenets of our Catholic faith can and will make a difference in our world. Our Catholic schools provide the safe havens, the discipline, and the loving care that will form future solid Christian adults caring for each other and our earth.

According to research provided by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), Catholic school students are more likely to pray daily, attend church more often, retain a Catholic identity as an adult, and donate more to the Church. (Sander, 2001) NCEA also states that Catholic school graduates are more civically engaged, more tolerant of diverse views, more committed to service as adults, and less likely to be incarcerated than their public school peers. (Campbell, 2001). For these reasons alone, not to mention the many others, investment in Catholic education is an investment in our future.

Thank you for supporting our Catholic schools and I ask you to please keep our important ministry in your prayers always.

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St. Bernard School, Uncasville

Mr. Donald Macrino, Headmaster 1593 Norwich-New London Tpke, Uncasville, CT Phone: 860-848-1271 www.saint-bernard.com

Academy of the Holy Family, Baltic

Mother Mary David, SCMC, Principal 54 West Main St, Baltic, CT Phone: 860-822-9272 www.ahfbaltic.org

Marianapolis Preparatory School, Thompson

Mr. Joseph Hanrahan, Headmaster 26 Chase Road, Thompson, CT Phone: 860-923-9565 www.marinapolis.org

Mercy High School, Middletown

Mary McCarthy, RSM, President 1740 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT Phone: 860-346-6659 www.mercyhigh.com

Xavier High School, Middletown

Brother Brian Davis, C.F.X, Headmaster Mr. Brendan Donohue, Principal 181 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT Phone: 860-346-7735 www.xavierhighschool.org

September 2016

ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED. By mail make checks payable to: St. John School Raffle

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Our YOUTH

Xavier High School: A Summer of Leadership" & Service

CATHOLIC St. Mary – St. Joseph School 35 Valley Street – Willimantic, CT 06226 860-423-8479 • www.smsjschool.org

A Magnet School for Values

• • • • • • •

PreK—3 year olds (3 half days) PreK – 4 year olds full or half days Full day Kindergarten – Gr.8 Before and after school care Weekly Art, P.E., Music, Library, Technology Classes Student to Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Challenging academic program

Trust your child to a Catholic School where faith, knowledge and life meet.

F

FCC News Desk or Xavier High School students, summer break is not only time off from class and academics, it is the time to participate in the exciting and humbling service opportunities that Xavier has to offer. At Xavier we live by the motto “to lead is to serve” and our service trip to Camden, New Jersey as well as our Xavier Leadership Institute allow us to live out that message.

On Monday, August 15th, nine Xavier students and two faculty members left for the Romero Center in Camden, New Jersey. They represented Xavier by serving the poor and vulnerable members of the Camden community through their work at soup kitchens, drop-in centers, day camps, health care facilities, nursing homes, and community centers. While at the Romero center, they had a chance to learn about Catholic social teaching and to reflect on and share their experiences with students

from other schools.

In addition to the Camden trip, sixtythree seniors and several faculty members gathered at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford from August 7-11th to continue a long-standing tradition – Xavier Leadership Institute (XLI). This was the forty-fifth XLI in Xavier’s history. While the faces have changed, the mission remains – to prepare the next senior class to step into their role as leaders in the Xavier community. Through workshops, group work, talks, team activities, prayer, and reflection, this year’s XLI attendees learned more about themselves, each other, Xavier, and leadership. They grew closer as a class as they prepared to welcome our newest Falcons, the Class of 2020.

To learn more about Campus Ministry at Xavier High School, visit us at Open House on Sunday, October 23rd, 2016, 1:00-3:30 PM. An additional Open House will be held on Thursday, November 3rd, 2016, 6:00-7:30 PM.

September 2016

Come visit us!

27

Four County

Our YOUTH

Registration is Open for Youth Explosion 2016

E

By Linda Norton

ach year our diocesan Youth Explosion is a unique experience with its own theme and special focus, and this year is no exception. In fact, it may be the best year yet! Teens will have an unforgettable experience this year. We are bringing in two internationally recognized personalities who are youthful, dynamic, creative and spirit-filled! In addition, our own Bishop Cote celebrated Mass and some of our priests will be available for those interested in going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the day. And, of course, there will be food too!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 2, 2016. Doors open at St. Bernard’s High School in Uncasville at 11:30 AM with the event starting at noon

and ending at 7:00 PM. This year’s theme is “Got Mercy?” to coincide with Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Our keynote speaker is Danny Ray who hails from southern California.

Danny travels around the world creatively sharing the Gospel, especially with youth.

His website says that his “passion is to empower people to ‘run a better race’ in life. I do this through making people laugh, and blowing their minds with unique illusions. I have had the privilege of captivating millions of people around the world.” (www.dannyray.tv). Parents and pastors reading this article will be interested to know that Danny has a Masters of Divinity, ten years of Church Youth Ministry experience, and attended the School of Creative and Performing Arts in San Diego.

Our praise and worship leader this

CATHOLIC

year is Catholic recording artist Sarah Kroger from Georgia. She and her family have always been involved in parish ministries and that helped Sarah develop her God-given musical gifts and going to college for vocal performance. Sarah has used her voice and musical gifts way beyond her parish through Life Teen Events, Steubenville Youth Conferences, World Youth Day in Brazil and at an international Christian Music Festival in Italy. (http://www.sarahkroger.com/).

Quoting Sarah’s website “Her goal as a worship leader is to “create a space for people to encounter God in an authentic, personal way.”

This year’s Youth Explosion will be a mix of music, performance art, dynamic speaking, Mass and opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation – all which help teens develop a better relationship

with Jesus and His Church! Plus we have an official “Got Mercy?” Youth Explosion T-shirt for sale for teens who want to add to their t-shirt wardrobe! Teens from a variety of parishes will be in attendance so meeting new friends is certainly part of the deal!

We are hoping that all parishes will register a group, but individual registrations will also be taken. At only $20.00 per person, this year’s Youth Explosion is a real bargain! Register at http://youthexplosionct.com/ . Priests interested in providing the Sacrament of Reconciliation that afternoon are asked to contact Liza Roach, our Diocesan Youth Minister, and anyone else needing information can also contact Liza, at (860)848-2237 x305 or lroach@ norwichdiocese.net

INSTANT QUOTES AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.GERARDIONLINE.COM

September 2016

We have been getting our customers the right coverage at the right price for close to a century.

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Monsignor Anthony Rosaforte and Donna Moore, Art & Gym teacher at St.Patrick Cathedral School, welcome students back to school, on Wednesday,August 31, 2016.

Enrollment is up by 20+%.

Full story on enrollment gains upcoming in October Four County Catholic.

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Four County

Our YOUTH

CATHOLIC

These two game-changing Olympians are serious Catholics

S

By Mary Rezac In a recent interview with Us Magazine, the athlete unpacked her Olympic bag, explaining the significance of each item.

Along with her bottled water, bobby pins, Beats headphones and cheetah-print umbrella, Biles carries a white rosary.

"My mom, Nellie, got me a rosary at church," she told the magazine. "I don't use it to pray before a competition. I'll just pray normally to myself, but it's there just in case."

Biles was adopted by her grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, when she was five years old. Her mother, a drug addict, had struggled to care for Simone and her siblings.

After the adoption, Simone has called Nellie and Ron "mom and dad." She attends Sunday Mass with her parents, and regularly lights a candle to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, before big events, according to olympic.org.

Katie Ledecky was also one of the top gold medalist athletes at this year’s games.

The Bethesda, Maryland athlete has no obvious physiological advantages.

Measuring in at 6 feet tall, she is often on the shorter end of the swim roster. Her hands and feet aren't particularly large, and her general physique offers her no

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S E T O N S C H O L A R S H I P D I N N E R

Honoring the recipients of the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D. Award for Contributions to Catholic Education in the Diocese of Norwich: M o t h e r M a r y D a v i d R i q u i e r , S . C . M . C .

A t t o r n e y M i c h a e l E . D r i s c o l l R e p r e s e n t i n g t h e l a w f i r m o f B r o w n J a c o b s o n , P . C .

M r . W i l l i a m J . R u s s e l l , C . P . A .

S U N D A Y , O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 A T 4 : 0 0 P M M Y S T I C M A R R I O T T H O T E L 6 2 5 N O R T H R O A D , G R O T O N , C T $ 1 5 0 P E R P E R S O N

$ 5 , 0 0 0 S E T O N S P O N S O R P r e m i u m r e s e r v e d t a b l e f o r 1 0 , f u l l - p a g e p r o g r a m a d $ 2 , 5 0 0 A Q U I N A S S P O N S O R R e s e r v e d t a b l e f o r 1 0 , h a l f - p a g e p r o g r a m a d $ 1 , 5 0 0 N E W M A N S P O N S O R S e a t i n g f o r 4 , q u a r t e r - p a g e p r o g r a m a d

I n d i v i d u a l p r o g r a m a d s a r e a l s o a v a i l a b l e .

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e c o n t a c t K a t h y G a i t o a t 8 6 0 - 8 8 6 - 1 9 2 8 o r k g a i t o @ n o r w i c h d i o c e s e . n e t W W W . N O R W I C H D I O C E S E D E V E L O P M E N T . O R G

Katie Ledecky. Credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Children's National Health System. Simone Biles.

Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

upper hand - so much so that a summary of her physical-assessment tests at the U.S. Olympic Training Center referred to her as "remarkably unremarkable."

But what is remarkable about Ledecky is her inner drive. A young woman with a gentle demeanor outside of the pool, Ledecky swims with an "aggression and the kind of fury" the moment she begins a competition. She's adopted a type of "galloping" stroke typically used by male swimmers like Michael Phelps, and has a "tough as nails" determination to be the best, according to her coaches.

“She’s the greatest athlete in the world today by far,” Michael J. Joyner, an anesthesiologist and researcher for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., specializing in human performance and physiology, told the Washington Post.

“She’s dominating by the widest margin in international sport, winning by 1 or 2 percent. If [a runner] won the 10,000 meters by that wide a margin, they’d win by 100 meters. One or 2 percent in the Tour de France, over about 80 hours of racing, would be 30 or 40 minutes. It’s just absolutely remarkable.”

Like Biles, Ledecky has shattered world records.

Also like Biles, Ledecky's Catholic faith is central to her identity.

Ledecky attended Catholic school Little Flower School in Bethesda through 8th grade, and then Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart for high school - her whole life.

“My Catholic faith is very important to me. It always has been and it always will be. It is part of who I am and I feel comfortable practicing my faith. It helps me put things in perspective,” Ledecky told the Catholic Standard in a recent interview.

She also confirmed that she says a "Hail Mary" before each event.

“I do say a prayer – or two – before any race. The Hail Mary is a beautiful prayer and I find that it calms me,” she told the Catholic Standard.

After winning her first Olympic gold 4 years ago, Ledecky paid a visit to the convent of the sisters from her grade school, Crux reported. She wanted to thank the sisters for their support over the years, and give them a chance to celebrate with her.

Catherine Ronan Karrels, Stone Ridge’s head of school, told Crux that Ledecky “is so grounded in her faith, and supported by a really loving family and community.

She’s an amazing young woman, who happens to swim.”

September 2016

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil imone Biles and Katie Ledecky are two of the most well-known names from this year's Summer Olympic games in Rio. Biles, a record-shattering gymnast with a sparkling smile and bubbly energy that shines through her routines, is the U.S. gymnastics team fan favorite and multi gold medalist.

"Biles competes with a joy and abandon that has been lacking in women’s gymnastics in recent years," wrote Liz Clarke for the Washington Post. "All too often, grim-faced pony-tailed youngsters clench their jaws, furrow their brows and inhale an ocean’s worth of air before hurtling into rigorous tumbling passes.

Their feats may be acrobatically eyepopping, but the strain of pulling them off is palpable.”

"Biles, by contrast, exudes utter delight, competing as if the four-inch-wide balance beam is the sidewalk in front of her house, the vault and uneven bars mere elements of her backyard swing-set and the mat a magic carpet for high-flying fun," Clarke wrote.

But behind her jaw-dropping performances is a strong family and faith life that Biles (literally) carries with her.

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F

Catholic Elementary School Collection September 17th & 18th, 2016

AITH FOR THE FUTURE “The Catholic school climate, mission and purpose positively impact student achievement and attendance.” (Harvard University Press) St. Micha

63 Liberty el School S 860-599-10 treet, Pawcatuck www.stmic 84 haelschool ct.com

Sacred H

15 Hunte eart School rs 860-887-17 Avenue, Taftville www.sacre 57 dhearttaftv ille.org

Sacred H

50 Sacred eart School 860-445-06Heart Drive, Groto n www.sacre 11 dheartgrot on.org/sch ool

St. Josep

26 Main S h School tr North Gro eet, P.O. Box 137 sv 860-923-20 enordale www.schoo 90 lofstjoseph .org

St. John

42 Mayna School rd 860-388-08 Road, Old Saybr ook www.saint 49 johnschool os.com

St. Mary

35 Valley - St. Joseph S c S 860-423-84treet, Willimantic hool www.smsj 79 school.org

St. Edward

School 25 Church S 860-684-26 treet, Stafford Sprin gs 00 www.stedw ard-stafford .org

St. Josep

25 Squire h School S 860-442-17 treet, New London www.sjsnl 20 .com

St. John P Catholic aul II Regional

School 87 South M 860-347-29 ain Street, Middletow 78 n www.jpii.or g St. Patric

k

Cathedra 211 Broad l School w 860-889-41 ay, Norwich 74 www.stpat rickschooln orwich.org

St. Josep

10 School h School H 860-822-61 ill Road, Baltic 41 www.stjose phschoolba ltic.com

St. James

120 Water School S 860-774-32 treet, Danielson http://stjam 81 esdanielso n.org1

September 2016

• Meets high academic standards • Gives daily life to the Gospel message • Provides our students the opportunity to grow academically and spiritually

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YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF ALL THE CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE DIOCESE OF NORWICH IS IMPORTANT! w w w . n o r w i c h d i o c e s e d e v e l o p m e n t . o r g

FAITH FOR THE FUTURE

Annual Catholic Elementary School Collection

11th Annual Catholic Charities GOLF TOURNAMENT at Fox Hopyard Golf Club, East Haddam, CT Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Registration 10:30 am • Lunch 11:30 am • Shotgun Start 1:00 pm Awards & Hor d’oeuvres 6:00 pm To sponsor or register to golf, visit our website: www.ccsfn.org

For more information or to register, contact: Christine Jackel at 860-886-1928 x12 or cjackel@norwichdiocese.net

GOLD $3,500

SILVER $2,500

Highest profile on all promotional materials. Name included in all media-related materials. Name and logo as an official sponsor on our website. Highest profile on sponsor board. Name on golf carts. Signage.

One foursome included.

High profile on all promotional materials. Name and logo as an official sponsor on our website.

High profile on sponsor board.

Name on golfer gifts or golf carts. 2 golfers included.

Selective recognition in all promotional materials. Company name on sponsor board.

Name and logo as an official sponsor on our website.

Recognition on table tents name during meals.

CLOSEST TO THE PIN $350 Company name on sign placed at Closest to the Pin Tee. Company name on the sponsor board.

LONGEST DRIVE $350 Company name on sign placed at the Longest Drive Tee. Company name on sponsor board.

PRACTICE GREEN $350 Company name on sign placed at Practice Green.

Company name on sponsor board.

Merrill Lynch

Backus Hospital

BRONZE $1,200 Company name on sponsor board. Name included in all promotional materials.

Name and logo as an official sponsor on our website.

TEE SIGN $200 Company name on sign at one of the 18 Tees throughout the day.

Company name displayed on sponsor board.

Connect to healthier.™

September 2016

PLATINUM $6,000

Sponsorship Opportunities

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FOUR COUNTY

CATHOLIC

Made Possible in part through your generous support of the Annual Catholic Appeal

norwichdiocese.org

September 2016

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