Pastor's Message

Dear Friends,

How is you Christmas Shopping going? Can I add one more gift for Christmas this year?

How about inviting someone to join you for Christmas Mass. One of my nurses told me about her experience on returning to Church and Holy Communion. She traveled home from college and had no intention of going to Church. Her Grandmother just mentioned, would you come to church with me? Is it not strange that Jesus works with a simple invitation!

The Feast of the Holy Innocents is December 28. It has been our parish tradition to burn lighted candles on the Feast of the Holy Family (Dec. 28/29) to remember any child who has died by miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, accidental, or natural death. Candles will be available on the table by the Icon of Mary on the weekend of December 14/15. Please label the candle with the child’s name and your candle will burn at all Masses the weekend of Dec. 28/29.

Peace, Msgr. Ryan

Mass Times & Reconciliation

SABBATH MASSES
Saturday – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday – 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.

DAILY MASS
Monday – Friday at 9:00 a.m.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Friday mornings at the 9:00 a.m. mass

CONFESSION
Friday 8:30 a.m.–8:50 a.m. Saturday 1:15 p.m.–2:15 p.m.

Please note: No Confessions on Saturday, December 7th.

The church is open from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for those who wish to stop in to pray in front of the Tabernacle or the Marion icon.

HOLY DAY MASS SCHEDULE
Vigil Mass – 7:00 p.m.

Holy Day Masses – 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 Noon

PLEASE NOTE: Feast of the Holy Innocents –The Feast of the Holy Innocents is December 28. It has been our parish tradition to burn lighted candles on the Feast of the Holy Family (Dec. 28/29) to remember any child who has died by miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, accidental, or natural death. Candles will be available on the table by the Icon of Mary on the weekend of December 14/15. Please label the candle with the child’s name and your candle will burn at all Masses the week-end of Dec. 28/29.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve Masses – December 24th
4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.. and 10:30 p.m.

Christmas Day Masses – December 25th
9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

New Year’s Eve Mass – December 31st – 5:30 p.m.
New Year’s Day Masses – January 1st – 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon

We have developed a policy that safe-guards our parishioners and will allow time for our parish contractors to clear the property during storms.

Weekdays: When the schools are closed or delayed or the Town or State has advised against travel, Daily Mass will be cancelled for that day. The parish will notify channel 8, channel 3 and the radio stations of the cancellation.

Weekends: When severe weather occurs during weekend Mass times, please check the local TV and Radio stations and our parish website for cancellations. It becomes very difficult to keep the sidewalks, driveways, and parking area clear if it snows during Mass time.

Your safety is important to us!

Any Mass intention affected by the cancellation will be said during the next week.

Handicapped Parking

The four spaces directly in front of the Church on Second Hill Lane are handicapped parking spaces. These spaces are for our parishioners who have a handicap parking sticker.

Wheelchair Seating

We invite you to be seated in the front area of the church. You and your family can be seated. Communion will be brought to you at the beginning of Communion time!

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Are you or do you know someone who is looking for personal growth in their Catholic Faith?

If you are an adult who has never been baptized

If you are an adult who has been baptized in a non-Catholic community

If you are an adult who has been baptized in the Catholic Church but never received Eucharist or Confirmation

If you are an adult interested in finding out more about the Catholic Faith, RCIA may be for you. For further information or questions you may call Linda Skowronski at 203-375-8992 or email Denise at denisebartelson@olgstratford.com

Bishop Caggiano's Corner

Welcome!

WELCOME TO OUR LADY OF GRACE PARISH
Join us to pray, smile, listen, encourage, and invite others to come home. Be Still and Know that I am God – Psalm 46:10

PARISH REGISTRATION
Why register? Through your participation as a “Parish Steward”, you continue to help a community of faith grow. You gain services when you need them, such as Baptism, Visitation of the Sick, Sponsorship Certificates and a place for a Funeral. You will also receive updated information regarding the parish by email or by our auto-call system.

To register, stop by the Parish Office or fill out the Become A Parishioner form and drop it in the offertory basket during mass
Office hours: M–F, 9:00am – 3:00pm

Parish News

On the Road to Bethlehem

A Sunday Prayer Time for Parents and Infants, Toddlers, and Pre-Schoolers

How can I go to Church with a child who might be noisy! Is there a way to teach my child about Church, while not disturbing others? Are there ways for my child to learn about God? Yes! We invite our young families with young children to come and experience a short prayer, a time for crafts and community, and play time for your child.

On Sunday, December 15th at 9:00 am in the Church we will have a short prayer with music, followed by a gathering in Madonna Hall for a Christmas puppet show and craft. Our program will be from 9:00 – 10:30 am. Coffee and juice will be served, please feel free to bring a snack for your child.

For more information please call Melissa Lembo at 203-556-0611 or Denise Bartelson at 203-375-6133.

Thank you to all who attended the Knights of Columbus Breakfast with Santa. We also thank all those who helped setup, prepare, serve breakfast and all who helped in any way to make this a special and fun breakfast! Of course we thank Santa for taking time from his busy schedule to be with us! Click here to see more pictures!

Helping those that can’t help themselves

The Knights are collecting NEW and UNWRAPPED baby gift items to be distributed to local Catholic agencies in January. They will be brought to the Annual Connecticut Knights of Columbus Pro-Life Mass and we invite our parish family to assist by donating NEW and UNWRAPPED items until the weekend of January 12, 2020. Just drop items outside sacristy or contact Tony Salerno at 203-378-5900.

Wish List includes: Booties, Baby Bath, Baby Lotion, Baby Shampoo, Baby Wipes, Bath Towels, Bibs, Blanket sleepers, Blankets, Bottles, Comb and Brush Sets, Crib Sheets, Desitin Ointment, Diaper Bags, Dia-pers, Hats and Sweaters, Onesies Outfits, Pacifiers, Rat-tles, Sleepers, Socks, Strollers and Stuffed Animals. Monetary contributions will also be gratefully accepted. Please make your checks payable to “Connecticut Knights of Columbus.” Memo line – Pro-life Mass. (You may drop in offertory basket in a clearly marked envelope “KOFC PROLIFE MASS”)

Knights will lead a Rosary Sunday, December 29 at 9:30 prior to the 10:00 a.m. Mass in praying the Rosary. Free How to pray the Rosary cards will be available to all who would like one. Prayer intentions slips are also available. Knights lead a rosary each month there is a 5th Sunday in the month.

OUR LADY OF GRACE GIVING TREE

The Faith Formation Office will again be sponsoring the Giving Tree for Christmas. These items will be distributed between St Charles Outreach Program and Stratford Social Services through Sterling House. Please return the items as soon as possible back to the Church . The deadline is December 8. We appreciate your generosity for so many years and thank you in advance for helping again with this most rewarding community work.

SAVE THE DATE

Faith Formation Movie Night! Friday, December 13, 2019 All are invited to see the Polar Express! Doors open at 6:30! Come in your pajamas! If you like, bring a blanket! $3.00 per person to reserve spot. Limited seating includes free beverage, choc lollipop and a special gift. Other Items will be available for purchase. There will be Face Painting, Raffles, and a Santa Claus visit. No food or drinks allowed to be brought.

Parish Pastoral Council

We are now looking for 2 new members to join the Council. The Council meets six times a year to advise the Pastor on spiritual and pastoral needs and programs of the parish. If you are interested in more information or would like to volunteer for the Council, please contact Jack Boitano, Parish Pastoral Chairperson at 203-377-2917.

Parish Finances

We would like to thank those who have raised their weekly donation to the parish. Your donations are helpful to us to meet our budgeted goals.

We are working to correct problems we have been having with our EFT program. We thank the parishioners who have called about the problems with their EFT accounts. WE ASK THOSE PARISHIONERS EFFECTED BY THE SYSTEM PROBLEM TO MAKE THEIR DONATIONS IN PLAIN ENVELOPES WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. We hope to resolve the problem quickly.

2020 Mass Book

The 2020 Mass Book is now available for your Mass intentions. Masses can be said for either “living” or “deceased”. Mass stipends are $10.00 for Masses said during the week and $20.00 for weekend Masses. If a specific day is unavailable, please consider having a Sanctuary Lamp lit for your intentions. The stipend is $10.00 per Lamp.