1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

December 15, 2013
COVER SHEET
CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS:
ST. PATRICK
47 WEST HIGH ST, EAST HAMPTON, CT 06424
PHONE:
1-860-267-6644
CONTACT PERSON:
Lori M. Lechowicz
SOFTWARE:
MICROSOFT OFFICE PUBLISHER 2007
ADOBE READER 8
WINDOWS XP
PRINTER:
Kyocera TASKalfa 400ci KX
NUMBER OF PAGES SENT:
1 through 8
SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION:
December 15, 2013
TRANSIMSSION TIME:
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Please deliver to PARISH CENTER ONLY
(which is behind the church) in the OFFICE.
Do NOT deliver to the church. Thank you.
3rd Sunday in Advent
Welcome to St. Patrick Church
Member of the Blessed John Paul II Community
12-15-13
CELEBRATIONS OF THE
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
ST. PATRICK CHURCH:
Saturday Vigil: 5:00pm AND Sunday: 8:00am & 10:30am
Weekdays: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri: 8:00am
Holy Day Masses: 8:00am & 7:00pm
ST. BRIDGET CHURCH:
Saturday Vigil: 5:00pm AND
Sunday: 7:00, 9:00 & 10:30am - Latin Mass at 12:00pm
Called together by God to experience Jesus and his word,
in the sacraments of the Church and in each other, we are committed to love God
and to embrace all God’s people as witnesses of God’s mercy.
December 15, 2013
St. Patrick Church
47 West High St.
P.O. Box 177
East Hampton, CT 06424-0177
Office: 860-267-6644
Fax: 860-267-7807
Rectory: 860-267-6646
Email: stpatrick47@sbcglobal.net
Web address: saintpatrickeh.org
Pastoral Team
Rev. Walter M. Nagle, Pastor
Sister Dominic Joseph Valla, A.S.C. J.
Pastoral Associate
Lori M. Lechowicz, Administrative Assistant
Dani Annino, Director of Faith Formation
John P. Higgins, Director of Music & Organist
OFFICE HOURS
8:30am - 3:00pm, Monday - Thursday
8:30am - 12:00 Noon - Friday
Bulletin Deadline
Please submit articles no later than
noon on Monday
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
For those who have chosen to cancel their envelope
order since the “On-line Giving” program has begun, the
following are the extra collections for the upcoming
months:
Dec 25 - Christmas Nativity
Jan 1 - Solemnity of Mary
Jan 5 - Spiritual Programs
Handicap Accessible
3rd Sunday in Advent
Welcome to our Parish Family
Newcomers to the parish are invited to introduce
themselves to Father Nagle after Mass and to
register at the Parish Office.
MINISTRY OF CAREGIVING
Please advise the Pastor, Pastoral Associate, or Administrative
Assistant to arrange pastoral visits or Holy Communion for
those who are sick, hospitalized or homebound.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Saturdays from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Also arrangements can
be made by calling the Rectory.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Arrangements can be made by calling the Parish Office.
SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
Couples must contact the Pastor at least one year in advance to
reserve a date and make arrangements.
CHANGING YOUR RESIDENCE
OR PHONE NUMBER
In a large parish, keeping the information on parishioners up to
date is a difficult task. You can be of immense help in this
regard. If you move or change your telephone number, please
contact the parish office (267-6644). Not only will this help
avoid confusion, but it will also save the cost of paying
additional charges for returned mail. Thank you.
Stewardship of Treasure
December 8, 2013
Week 24 of the Fiscal Year
Ordinary Income:
Budgeted Goal
Actual Collection:
On-Line Giving:
OVER/Under:
$6,750.00
7,058.50
876.00
$ 1,184.50
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTIONS
“Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind
regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the
deaf hear, and the dead are raised…” Matthew 11:4-5
When Jesus cured the sick we called it a miracle. Yet God
has blessed us with many good things - our eyesight, our
hearing, our talents, our health and so much more - and we
often take it all for granted. The good steward recognizes
every blessing in life as a miracle from God and strives to
use those gifts for God’s honor and glory.
December 15, 2013
3rd Sunday of
Advent
Saturday, Dec 14
5:00pm Deceased members of the Lanzi family req. by the
Family, Donald Sorvillo req. by the Hale Family,
Howard Tarpey req. by Leonard & Ellen Nicholas
and John Wall req. by his wife and family.
Sunday, Dec 15
8:00am Phil Wall req. by his family
10:30am Jean O’Neil and Emma Moran req. by Claire
O’Neil and Philip Robida req. by Joan Fomento
Monday, Dec 16
8:00am John V. Madalena
Tuesday, Dec 17
8:00am Joseph Gallo, Jr., req. by Jack Dash
Wednesday, Dec 18
8:00am Deceased family of Angelina Madalena
Thursday, Dec 19
Friday, Dec 20
Eucharistic Adoration Immediately following 8:00am Mass
8:00am Special Intention for Fatima LaChance
4th Sunday of Advent
Saturday, Dec 21
5:00pm Deceased members of the Lanzi family req. by the
Family, Pam Hurd req. by the Lechowicz & Finn
Families, and Donald Sorvillo req. by Robert &
Donna Daly-Atherton.
Sunday, Dec 22
8:00am Edward & Ruth Connell req. by Sheila Wall
10:30am Susanne Francasso req. by Leonard & Ellen
Nicholas
Question to Ponder:
What kind of Messiah does my own life’s witness to
Christ proclaim - one with fire and brimstone ready at
hand, or one of whose comfort and healing I am an instrument?
3rd Sunday in Advent
This weekend is Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete
means ‘rejoice’ in Latin. It is one of the two
weekends of the year the priest is allowed to
wear Rose colored vestments. The Word Among Us, in its
meditation for this weekend states: “Today’s first reading tells
how the Israelites will rejoice over the salvation God will bring
them. It speaks about God opening blind eyes and deaf ears. It
speaks about weak hands and knees being made strong. It
speaks about people overcoming their fears. It speaks about a
people blooming like a beautiful flower, all because the glory
of God is being revealed to them. Every time we receive the
Eucharist, Jesus reveals himself to us-and that is a cause for
great rejoicing!”
Pope Francis, in his new Apostolic
Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium states “The Gospel, radiant
with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice.
A few examples will suffice. ‘Rejoice’ is the angel’s greeting
to Mary. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth makes John leap for joy in
his mother’s womb. In her song of praise, Mary proclaims ‘My
spirit rejoices in God my saviour.’” He then continues: “There
are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. I
realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all
times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty. Joy
adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of
light born out of our personal certainty that, when everything
is said and done, we are infinitely loved.”
Joy is not only important in our spiritual health, it is important
in our physical health as well. Consider the following excerpt
from mega-church pastor Joel Osteen’s book Every Day A
Friday: “Dr. Stuart Brown, a psychiatrist, is the founder of the
National Institute of play (really!) He became interested in the
effects of laughter and play in our lives when the governor of
Texas asked him to investigate the tower shootings on the
University of Texas in 1966. As he studied the life of the
troubled young man who had killed sixteen people and
wounded thirty two others, one thing that stuck out was that
this young man had never played normally as a child. He grew
up in such a dysfunctional, high stressed family that his ‘play
life’ was very limited as a child. This so interested Dr. Brown
that he went on to interview other death row inmates. He
discovered that a high percentage of them also had not played
normally or freely as children. Dr. Brown concludes today that
the opposite of play isn’t work; it’s depression. He believes we
need play as much as we need sleep if we want to be
physically and emotionally healthy.’ Proverbs 17: 22 supports
this as it says, ‘A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful
mind works healing.’ When you’re in a good mood and full of
joy, taking time to laugh and play, it’s like taking vitamins or
good medicine. In fact, medical science tells us that laughing
boosts our immune systems. Laughter reduces blood pressure.
People who laugh regularly are 40% less likely to have a heart
attack than those who don’t, some sources say.”
If the holiday season is getting you down because of the death
of a loved one, take some time to laugh and rejoice, for as
Pope Francis says, “You are infinitely loved!”
Happy Gaudete Sunday.
December 15, 2013
Parish Events
St. Patrick Library is located in the workroom of
the Parish Center. All are welcome!
Sunday, Dec 15
9:15am Youth Choir/Church
Monday, Dec 16
7:00pm Pro-Life Meeting & Rosary for Life/Church
7:00pm Finance Meeting/WKRM
Tuesday, Dec 17
7:00pm Sister Elissa Rinere Presentation/Church
Wednesday, Dec 18
Thursday, Dec 19
11:15am Blood Drive/Parish Center
7:00pm Catholic Scripture Study/Parish Center
7:30pm Cornerstone Prayer Group/KofC All are welcome
3rd Sunday in Advent
Matrimony
A beautiful sacrament full of blessings, romance, love, commitment,
comedy, giving, new life, joys, sorrows, adventure, challenges, responsibilities, growth, memories and more.
One of the most common problems in marriage occurs
when she wants empathy and he's trying to fix things. Tell
your partner what kind of listening you want ... Treat your
mate as if he wants to make you happy but doesn't know
how. You love him, after all. You picked him. Help him
out. (Terrence Real)
Unfortunately, a marriage license doesn't come with a job
description or a set of instructions. There is definitely
"some assembly required." In fact, putting together a modern-day marriage can be likened to assembling an airplane in flight. (Patrician Love)
Friday, Dec 20
Saturday, Dec 21
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
KNIGHTS’ NEWS
Christmas Collection
You responded so generously to the
Thanksgiving food collection. Thanks again
for that wonderful support. However, the need just seems to
keep growing. So it is time to help the less fortunate have a
full Christmas table. The collection this year will take place
Saturday and Sunday, December 14th & 15th at Mass times.
Particular items requested by the East Hampton Food Bank
are: canned hams (1, 2 or 3 lbs), canned pineapple slices, fresh
carrots, celery, onion and potatoes, sweet potatoes or yams,
canned vegetables and rice, vegetable oil, mayonnaise,
mustard, muffin mixes, Christmas candy, candy canes and
Christmas cookies.
Saint John Paul II Regional Catholic
School New Items
Saint John Paul II, in Middletown, "Tour Our School Program"
is offered each Wednesday morning from 9:00am10:00am. No appointments are needed for these tours. Parents
and children are invited to visit the school during this time,
observe our classrooms, see our students in action and meet
the administration. For more information, please visit our
website at www.jpii.org or call 860.347.2978.
Christmas Invite
Our Saint John Paul II students wish to invite the parish
families to our Christmas Programs to be held at the school
campus in the coming weeks. December 11th - 7:00pm - SJP
II Band & Chorus Concert - St. John Paul II Gym. December
18th -7:00pm Grades k-5 Christmas Pageant. Please Come
Join Us
The Gift of Generosity
Please consider making your pledge to the ACA
This holiday season, we thank our generous supporters
of the Annual Catholic Appeal. Your gift helps to
strengthen the ministries of the Diocese of Norwich and
the work of the Church. Unfortunately, there are still
many people in Eastern Connecticut who need your
help. If you are looking for a convenient way to share
your resources with those less fortunate, consider making a gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal through one of
our electronic giving options. As the pace of life speeds
up this time of year, electronic giving provides a safe,
effective and convenient way to serve others through
your financial contribution.
Please visit
www.norwichdiocesedevelopment.org
to make an
online donation, or call the Diocesan Development Office at 860-886-1928 for further information. Thank you
for being a good steward and sharing your gifts with
those less fortunate. May God bless you for your kindness and mercy.
December 15, 2013
Introduction-Liturgy of the Word:
On this Gaudete (“Rejoice”) Sunday, we pause to
acknowledge that our Advent season of preparation is not
one of gloom and dread, but rather of joyful expectation.
Even as we patiently await the coming of the day of the
Lord, signs abound that it is here already. As we celebrate
together today, let us be alert for the traces of God’s reign
already here.
3rd Sunday in Advent
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY: Nm 24:2-7,15-17, Ps 25:4-9, Mt 21:23-27
TUESDAY: Gn 49:2,8-10, Ps 72:1-4,7-8,17, Mt 1:1-17
WEDNESDAY: Jer 23:5-8, Ps 72:1-2,12-13,18-19,
Mt 1:18-25
THURSDAY: Jgs 13:2-7,24-25, Ps 71:3-6,16-17, Lk 1:5-25
FRIDAY: Is 7:10-14, Ps 24:1-6, Lk 1:26-38
SATURDAY: Sg 2:8-14, Ps 33:2-3,11-12,20-21,
Lk 1:39-45
SUNDAY: Is 7:10-14, Ps 24:1-6, Rom 1:1-7, Mt 1:18-24
Dec 14: Deacon John Lillis 1992, Ida Monroe 1990
Apostolate of Prayer for
Priests….Norwich
Dec 15: Emma Moran 2003, Jennie Abbey 2000, Belle Brack
1986, Msgr. Thomas Stack 1980, Louis Falcigno 1980, Fr.
Victor Salmaso 1979, Louise Collins 1979, Charles
VanOudenhove 1975, Edith Nichols 1973, Raymond Cossette
1972
Heavenly Father, may the Immaculate Virgin prepare our priests for the
radiant feast of Christmas so that the Divine Emmanuel might find in each
of their hearts a little cradle scented by the purity of His all beautiful and
loving Mother. For that, may they be purified I the waves of the Divine
Blood of Jesus…..Mother Catherine Aurelia, Foundress
Dec 16: Philip Wall 2005, Fr. William Myers 1987, Jean
O'Neil 1986, Delina Minnick 1983, Marie Beane 1976,
Edward Dickau 1974
12/15: V.Rev. Laurence LaPointe & Rev. Brian
Romanoski
12/16: Rev. Benjamin Soosaimanickam & Rev. V.
Antony Alaharasan
Dec 17: Stanley Sobolewski 2004, Dominic Biondi 2001,
Armand LeBlanc 1982
12/17: V.Rev. James Carini & V.Rev. Douglas Mosey
Dec 18: Gladys Bobbi 1994, Bill Owens 1985
12/18: Rev. Mark O’Donnell & Rev. Joseph Whittel
Dec 19: Helen Scalf 2002, Rose Czop 1988, Leon Smola
1988, Mae Bornman 1987, George Loos 1987, Anna Stover
1984, Frances O'Neill 1983, Sr. Theresa Austin 1980, Joseph
Karlhofer 1977, Rose Ouellette 1970
12/19: Rev. Stanley Szczapa & Rev. Christopher Zmuda
12/20: Rev. Richard Breton & Rev. James Thakootathil
12/21: Rev. Christopher Feeney & Rev. Izydor Sadowski
Dec 20: Carmen A'Quino 1978, Anna O'Brien 1970
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord. May their souls
and the souls of all the faithful departed through the
mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
WORD OF LIFE - BULLETIN BRIEF
“The fight for the right to life is not the cause of a special
few, but the cause of every man, woman and child who
cares not only about his or her own family, but the whole
family of man.”
~ Dr. Mildred Jefferson, Pro-life Physician
“The right to life is the first among human rights.”
~ Pope. Francis, Address to Catholic Gynecologists,
September 20, 2013
LOVE THEM BOTH
The number of abortions in the United
States has declined 25% since 1990.
Still, 1.2 million U.S. abortions occur yearly.
They [the women] are never allowed to look at the ultrasound
because we knew that if they so much as heard the heart beat,
they wouldn’t want to have an abortion. (Dr. Randall, former
abortionist)
“Abortion is a hard enough thing for any woman to decide
without the torture of seeing the baby on an ultrasound
screen.” (Dr. L. Lacroix, Planned Parenthood)
Pregnant? Need help? Contact St Gerard’s Center for
Life, 22 Maple Ave. Hartford, CT 06114 (860-548-9500)
December 15, 2013
3rd Sunday in Advent
DECEMBER HEALTH TIP
Tips for coping with Stress and Depression over the Holidays.
It is easy to get bogged down with the array of demands the
holidays bring: parties, shopping, baking, cleaning & entertaining. Here are some practical tips to help minimize the
stress the holidays can bring.
Acknowledge your feelings. If you have recently lost a loved one
or can’t be with your loved ones, this can bring up sad feelings.
Acknowledge these are normal feelings and it is okay to take time
to express these feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just
because it's the holiday season.
Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. Volunteering your time to help others
is also a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.
Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last
year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often
change as well. Choose a few to hold on to and be open to creating new ones.
Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends
as they are, even if they don't live up to all of your expectations.
Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion.
Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide
how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your
budget.
Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting
friends and other activities.
Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you
feeling resentful and overwhelmed.
Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a
free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt.
Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15
minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to
handle everything you need to do.
Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts,
you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious. If these
feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health
professional. Information provided by the Mayo Clinic
THE ADVENT
WREATH
The third Sunday of Advent
symbolizes Joy with the Shepherd’s
Candle reminding us of the Joy the
world experienced at the coming
birth of Jesus.
The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete
(Rejoice) Sunday. On this day we celebrate that
our waiting for Christmas is almost over. Rose is a
liturgical color that is used to signify joy, so we
light the rose candle on the third Sunday of Advent.
3rd CANDLE – THE CANDLE OF JOY
The angels sang a message of JOY!
“…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him
in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in
the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said
to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a
sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in
a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor
rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see
this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us
about.” (Luke 2:7-15)
Continued next week.
Defending Our Liberty #94
Dec. 15, 2013
CHRISTMAS DAILY
PRAYER
Always be on my lips,
Jesus, Word of God:
Gloria in excelsis!
Always guide my actions,
Jesus Prince of peace:
Gloria in excelsis!
Always illuminate my way,
Jesus, Light from light:
Gloria in excelsis!
It has been a special privilege for me to serve for the
last ten years as your Archbishop. I personally testify that Hartford is a beautiful Archdiocese with
tremendous developments that show us to be always seeking better experiences of Church. I know
that you will support Archbishop Leonard Blair and
continue to fight for religious freedom. Please be
assured of my ongoing prayers. ~ Archbishop Henry
J. Mansell
If you haven’t done so already, please voice your
opposition to the mandate by calling President
Obama at the White House at 202-456-1111 or Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius at 202-205-5445. Let them know that the
mandate is in violation of our First Amendment
right to religious freedom.
December 15, 2013
PRAY for our ACTIVE MILITARY
Have you seen the St. Patrick Prayer Board for active
military personnel who are fighting on the front lines for
our freedom? It’s located in the vestibule of the Church, to
the left as you enter from the front steps. We post the
pictures and rank of relatives of our parish family members
and ask that you remember them in daily prayer. Please let
us know if there are any family members you would like
posted...and may God keep them safe.
“Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as
they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless
acts they perform for us in our time of need. We ask this in the
name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.”
Bereavement Support Groups
Every first and third Monday: 5:00-6:30pm, Conference
Room A or B, Middlesex Hospital, Middletown. Every second
and fourth Thursday: 6:30-8:00pm, Shoreline Medical
Center, 260 Westbrook Rd., Essex. Every second and fourth
Wednesday: 10:00-11:30am, One MacDonough Place,
Community Room. (The Hospital’s assisted living facility on
the corner of Main St. Extension and MacDonough Place.) For
more information, please call Chaplain Dennis McCann,
Middlesex Hospital Chaplain, 860-358-6725.
3rd Sunday in Advent
AMERICAN RED CROSS
BLOOD DRIVE
Hi Red Cross Supporter,
I'd like to take a second and offer you my deepest thanks for all
you do to help us achieve our mission of helping save lives.
I know we all get busy during the year, but you made time to
help others. You generously gave your time to host a blood
drive and recruit donors so that blood is available for those in
need. Because of your actions, others will have the opportunity
to spend more time with their loved ones; that's something
they'll never forget. Richard Benjamin, M.D., Ph.D., Chief
Medical Officer, American Red Cross
On December 19th the American Red Cross will, once again,
hold a blood drive in the Parish Center from 11:15am—
5:15pm. For more information or to make an appointment call
Kim
at
860-681-3464
or
email
Kimberly.moreland@redcross.org.
St. Patrick Church Ministries
Altar Servers: Susan Lanzi 267-9984
Altar Society: Maureen Sweeney 267-2520
SAVE THE DATES
ACTS Retreat/Men& Women:
Warren & Beverly Edwards 267-9926, Al & Isabel Vela 2671508, and John & Carol Lambert 267-9157
CHRISTMAS ON THE HILL: Come view the wonderful
Christmas displays and artworks of Fr. Ronald Meyer and also
Nativity scenes from around the world at Immaculata Retreat
house every Sunday from 1:00-5:00pm until Epiphany Sunday.
Free cookies & refreshments. Donations accepted.
Baptism Contact: Sister Dominic Joseph 267-6644
HOLY WEEK RETREATS: Come and spend Holy Week on
the Hill at Immaculata Retreat House. For more information
call 860-423-8484.
Cobalt Lodge: Daisy Conway 267-0833
MUSIC FOR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS: Holy Family Retreat Center will celebrate the joy and beauty of this sacred season with beautiful music. December 22nd at 2:00pm & 7:00pm.
Reception will follow. Tickets $35. Call 860-760-9705 or go to
www.holyfamilyretreat.org.
Guild: Melissa Jones 467-6544 & Nancy McFatter 267-4653
CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES: Holy Family Retreat Center
will hold Christmas Eve Masses at 4:00pm and 5:30 pm. All are
welcome!
Baptism Class: Mary Kaye Varni 267-9050
Catholic Scripture Study: Kathy Anderson 365-5003
Child Advocate: Peggy Puzzo 267-9932
Coordinator of Caregiving: Sister Dominic Joseph 267-6644
Eucharistic Adoration: Sheila Wall 267-9486
Knights of Columbus: Keith Lanou 860-680-4988
Marriage Encounter: Dan & Pam Harazim 267-1184
Nurses’ Ministry: Mary Gould 860-267-4643
Pastoral Council Chair: Peter Bergan 267-4341
Prayer Group: George & Regina Looby 267-8203
Prayer Line: Jann Dalton 267-5720 & Pat Powers 267-8529
Pro-Life: Bill & Debbie Lonsdale 267-1878 and
Rev. Walter Nagle 267-6644
R.C.I.A.: Sister Dominic Joseph 267-6644
Vocation Contact: Rev. Walter Nagle 267-6644
Wedding Coordinator: Michelle Donahue 342-0435
Westside Manor: Deb Desrocher 267-0705