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Merciful Saviour Gift Shop
392 South Main St., Colchester
Spring 2023
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3. FROM THE BISHOP
4. FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD
Evangelization through transformation
5. VOCATIONS CORNER
Update from the new director
6. ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL
Volunteers thanked for their service
7. OFFICE FOR SAFE ENVIRONMENT
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
8. FEATURE STORY — ADDICTION TO ADORATION
Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future
10. THEOLOGY 101
The power of words
Christian & Catholic books, art, greeting cards, jewelry, church supplies, sacramental gifts & more!
T-W 10am-5pm • Th-F 10am-6pm • Sat 10am-3pm
PROMISE to Protect Pledge to HEAL
12. COVER STORY
Transforming lives at St. Vincent de Paul, Middletown
14. MONTH OF MARY
A country transformed
16. MARRIAGE MATTERS
Growing in friendship and holiness
17. OUR YOUTH SBS qualifies for World Championship
18. PENTECOST
Living Pentecost during the Eucharistic Revival
19. IN MEMORIAM
20. WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
Our Lady Queen of Hope Award
21. DIAKONIA
22. FAITH FORMATION
Virtual Confirmation Program prepares adults
23. MEMORIAL DAY
Reflecting on the deeper meaning of sacrifice
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We Can Help
To report inappropriate conduct of any kind by a Diocesan Bishop please contact ReportBishopAbuse.org or call 1.800.276.1562. To report inappropriate contact of any kind by a representative of the Diocese of Norwich or for assistance for victims, please call: The Diocesan Reporting Line @ at 800.624.7407.
If the incident involves a minor (persons under the age of 18), you must also call: State of CT Department of Children and Families Care Line 1.800.842.2288 OR State of NY Child Protective Services 1.800.635.1522
Incidents involving abuse of vulnerable adults aged 18-59 should be reported to: Connecticut Department of Developmental Services - AID Division for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities 1.844.878.8923
Incidents involving abuse of vulnerable adults aged 60 and over should be reported to: Connecticut Department of Social Services for the Elderly 1.888.385.4225
THE OUTPOURING OF THE Holy Spirit
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The celebration of Easter is much more than a one-day experience. Eastertide continues for 49 days, culminating in the Holy Spirit anointing the apostles and the Church at Pentecost.
After the events of Holy Week, the disciples hid behind locked doors in the Upper Room out of fear. They were fearful of those in power who tortured and killed Jesus.
Their fear is our fear. Sometimes, we are fearful of standing up for what is right. Sometimes, it can be as simple as letting others know that we are people of faith. The apostles left the Upper Room, but only after they had been strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
We have experienced that same strengthening when we were anointed at our Confirmation.
Recently, there have been a few examples of fearlessness that played out in the public media. One might call them countercultural.
Harrison Butker, the 27-year-old kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, is outspoken about his Catholic faith. He made the gamewinning kick in the most recent Super Bowl. Giving glory to God, he said this about his Catholic faith, “I think it really entices a lot of young people who are looking for answers. They’re looking for happiness. And for me, I found happiness in embracing the faith offered in the Catholic Church.”
In the world of basketball, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzella, a devout Catholic, was asked by a reporter “Did you get a chance to meet with the royal family, and if not, what was it like having them there in the building?“ She was referring to Prince William and Princess Kate of Wales, who attended the Celtics game. His reply: “Jesus, Mary and Joseph? I only know of one royal family.“
His response was so innocent and refreshing. Spoken totally without fear of embarrassment or being judged. A husband and father not afraid to live and share his faith.
Easter strengthens us as Christians and inspires us the whole year to be mindful of our faith’s gift of eternal life, and to be grateful, helpful and loving to each other at every opportunity.
The generosity of a compassionate follower of Jesus Christ begins with a thankful heart. We may share our gratitude by way of encouraging others. Offering words of comfort. Sharing our time and energy to help those in need. Being willing to be steadily supportive of our diocesan ministries. We are at our compassionate best when we are united as a community of faith.
God endows us … with Himself. We are called to a divine love. This is the Christian destiny. God calls us to sanctity, which can only be achieved after an experience of the fire of God’s love.
This is Pentecost. We received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit at our Baptism and Confirmation, and we continue this outpouring every time we receive the Eucharist.
I pray that you do not remain locked in your “upper room”, but instead find yourself transformed by this outpouring of grace. Step out, be fearless and share it with others.
Today, I call upon the Holy Spirit, the love of God Himself, who was breathed out upon the disciples at Pentecost in tongues of fire. May the Holy Spirit breathe new life within us, within the Church. We ask the Holy Spirit to transform us with the fire of God’s love. Have a blessed Pentecost.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
EL DERRAMAMIENTO DEL Espíritu Santo
Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo,
La celebración de la Semana Santa es mucho más que una experiencia de un día. La Pascua continua durante 49 días y culmina en Pentecostés con la venida del Espíritu Santo a los Apóstoles y la Iglesia.
Después de los acontecimientos de la Semana Santa, los discípulos se escondieron por miedo detrás de puertas cerradas en el Aposento Alto. Tenían miedo de aquellos poderosos que torturaron y mataron a Jesús.
Su miedo es nuestro miedo. A veces temenos miedo de defender lo que es correcto. A veces puede ser tan simple como dejar que los demás sepan que somos personas de fe. Los apóstoles abandonaron el Aposento Alto, solo después de haber sido fortalecidos por el Espíritu Santo.
Hemos experimentado ese mismo fortalecimiento cuando fuimos ungidos en nuestra Confirmación.
Recientemente, ha habido algunos ejemplos de valentía que se desarrollaron en los medios públicos. Uno podría llamarlos contraculturales.
Harrison Butker, el pateador de 27 años de Kansas City Chiefs, habla abiertamente sobre su fe católica: “Creo que realmente atrae a muchos jóvenes que buscan respuestas. Están buscando la felicidad. Y yo encontré la felicidad al abrazar la fe ofrecida en la Iglesia Católica.”
En el mundo del baloncesto, un reportero le preguntó al entrenador de los Boston Celtics, Joe Mazzella, un católico devoto, “¿Tuviste la oportunidad de reunirte con la familia real y, si no, cómo fue tenerlos allí en el edificio?” Se refería al príncipe Guillermo y la princesa Kate Middleton de Gales, que asistieron al partido de los Celtics. Su respuesta, “¿Jesús, María y José? Solo conozco una familia real.”
Su respuesta fue tan inocente y refrescante. Habló totalmente sin miedo a la vergüenza a ser juzgado. Un esposo y padre que no tiene miedo de vivir y compartir su fe.
La Pascua nos fortalece como cristianos y nos inspira durante todo el año a ser conscientes del don de nuestra fe de la vida eterna, y a ser agradecidos, serviciales y amorosos unos con otros en cada oportunidad.
La generosidad de un seguidor compasivo de Jesucristo comienza con un corazón agradecido. Podemos compartir nuestra gratitud animando a otros. Ofreciendo palabras de consuelo. Compartiendo nuestro tiempo y energía para ayudar a los necesitados. Estar dispuesto a apoyar constantemente nuestros ministerios diocesanos. Estamos en nuestro mejor momento compasivo cuando estamos Unidos como una comunidad de fe.
Dios nos llama a la santidad, que solo puede alcanzarse después de una experiencia del fuego del amor de Dios.
Esto es Pentecostés. Recibimos una efusión cada vez que recibimos la Eucaristía. Oro para que no se quede encerrado en el Aposento Alto, sino que sea transformado por esa efusión de gracia. Salga, no tenga miedo y compártalo con los demás.
Hoy invoco al Espíritu Santo, el amor de Dios mismo, que fue exhalado sobre los discípulos en Pentecostés en lenguas de fuego.
Que el Espíritu Santo sople vida nueva dentro de nosotros, dentro de la Iglesia. Pedimos al Espíritu Santo que nos transforme con el fuego del amor de Dios. Que tenga un bendecido Pentecostés.
Sinceramente en el amor de Cristo,
Michael R. Cote
WAYNE GIGNAC Communications Director & Executive Editor
SPRING IS A TIME OF TRANSFORMATION. We see it in nature with the budding of trees and the blooming of flowers.
Personally, I am drawn to transformation stories. Hopefully, you are too. Stories where the main character becomes more courageous, more loving or more moral because of some life changing event or encounter. In the Bible we see this in the experiences of Job. In the movies think of Bill Murray's character in Groundhog Day.
The stories that I particularly enjoy, the ones that grab me, are the true stories of people who turn from a path that leads to destruction and through grace are transformed and find themselves on a path that hopefully will lead them into the arms of God.
Perhaps the reason that we are drawn to these types of stories is because we are part of a Church that is overflowing with transformation.
In the Eucharist, bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. In fact, all the sacraments have a transformational element.
Water poured out in Baptism is both an external sign and a spiritual reality of a transformed soul. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we enter the confessional weighed down by sin and leave with a soul brimming with God’s mercy.
So, if you enjoy transformation stories you are going to appreciate Deacon Ben’s article of a local man’s journey from Addiction to Adoration. And then there are the students who, along with their professor, are bringing about transformation in people on the margins with something More than Food
We are always on the lookout for great transformation stories. If you have one, or know of one, please contact me at Communications@NorwichDiocese.net. And as always, please pray for us and remember to sign up for our email newsletter at NorwichDiocese.org/ Newsletter.
KEVIN M. REILLY
ON DECEMBER 20, 2022 , Bishop Cote appointed me as vocation director for the Diocese of Norwich. Since that appointment, I have been busy trying to get up to speed with the details of our men in formation, with particular emphasis on those three men who are approaching the end of their Third Theology year, which typically culminates with ordination to the transitional diaconate.
I began by meeting with each of our seminarians to see how they were doing in the four areas of formation — human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral — and to see how the challenges of COVID affected their journey over the last few years. I was pleased to hear that our seminarians were doing well and continuing to grow as they follow Our Lord on this journey.
The next step in getting up to speed involved making a trip to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to evaluate the seminary itself and hear reports on each of our seminarians. The Mount, like all seminaries around the world, is preparing to implement a new program known as a Propaedeutic year, which will be required going forward as a year of prayer, discernment and preparatory human formation prior to beginning formal academic studies, which involve two years of Philosophy and four years of Theology. I was very relieved and greatly assured by this visit, as the Mount seems to be doing exceptionally well in guiding men on behalf of their respective dioceses.
I have been praying extensively for our seminarians and those who are being called by Our Lord today to follow Him in this sacred service. Over the course of many Holy Hours before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, I have discerned a critical need for prayer going forward. I am asking for your help in this necessary work. It has become clear to me that we must pray for the pastors of our parishes throughout our diocese. Each pastor seeks to be a shepherd of Christ to those souls entrusted to him. As such, each pastor is the vocation director of his parish. I simply work with those candidates who are referred to me from the parishes.
Many priests have been fatigued by ever increasing administrative demands in addition to the weight of the spiritual needs of the parish. Pastors with multiple churches are trying their best to tend to every spiritual need of their parishioners but there are only so many hours in a day. I encounter many priests who, like many parents, are just tired. A little worn out. An exhausted priest might be so focused on what they have to do next, that they don’t notice the young man called to the priesthood or young woman called to religious life. I am asking you to strengthen them with your prayers and sacrifices offered to our Lord on their behalf. There will be many steps on our journey to strengthen our Vocations Program. I ask you to take this first one with me and to pray with the passion and zeal of the countless saints that have preceded us. May God bless you abundantly for your faithful response of prayer!
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April 20th — St. Philip in Ashford — 6pm May 11th — St. Andrew in Colchester — 6pm
3rd Year Theology
Mount Saint Mary Seminary
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Mount Saint Mary Seminary
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