Mass reservations are available from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday until 12:00 noon on Friday. If you go to that page earlier you might see a message (Uh,Oh! This is somewhat embarrassing!). Don’t worry the page will be available at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Pastor's Message
Dear Friends,
As we plan, for the next steps to opening our Church for Mass and the Sacraments, I need your assistance. We are preparing a survey so that we can serve people as they return to Church life. As Pastor, I need to balance the spiritual life of the parish and the health of parishioners which is guided by guidelines and mandates which are beyond my control. I thank you for your support as we have journeyed through the re-opening plan. Our volunteers have stepped up with suggestions and then volunteered their time to make the system work. You will soon be receiving a survey! In order to serve the people returning to church, we ask for your thoughts! This will be a process that will take time. I ask your patience and understanding! The survey will ask about your returning to Mass. Where and how Mass will be celebrated.
Mass Reservations (Please Read)
We are at a point where our masses are becoming full! Remember, we have only 35 pews available, because of social distancing. There is a maximum of 60 people plus volunteers and staff. You must take into consideration that some people come as one person, others come as couples, and then some are families. Your reservation is essential for the health and safety of all parishioners. Mass times currently are Saturday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 8:00 am and noon. It is required that reservations be made to attend Mass. We need pertinent information with this reservation to ensure you have a seat for your chosen mass and to have contact tracing records. We are limited to 60 people per mass. Please complete a separate reservation for everyone who will attend mass with you. Reservations can be made on our website on the Mass Reservation page starting Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm through Friday at noon weekly. Phone reservations are being taken Thursdays from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm by calling (203) 450-6898. Please make your reservations.Thank you,
Msgr. Ryan
Mass Times & Reconciliation
SABBATH MASSES
Saturday – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday – 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.
Masks are required
Reservations are required. The registration forms are available at 6:00 p.m. every Wednesday on the Mass Reservation page.
The Sunday mass will be videoed. It will be available by 4:00 p.m on Saturday on our website, Facebook and YouTube.
Returning to Weekend Mass in the Church
We want to give you some directions so we can help you assist us in meeting the challenges ahead!
At this time, we are encouraging those with mobility issues to watch at home. Please park in the parking lot in the normal way! Please do not park on the street. Place your face mask on before leaving the car. Only enter and exit the church by way of the sacristy door. All other doors will be locked. You will be greeted by volunteers and asked for your reservation and you may make your donation at that time! There will not be an offertory collection during Mass. As you enter the church please use the hand washing station. An usher will direct you to your seat, families may sit together. There will be no seating in the alcoves aside the Sanctuary.
Weekday Mass Schedule
Beginning on Monday, July 20 the morning mass will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9:00 am. The church will open at 8:45. Seating will be limited to the front half of the church. There will be no mass on Wednesday morning. For those who will attend morning mass you will be expected to wear a face mask and practice social distancing! You will need to sign a register with your name and phone number to record your attendance. You will also be expected to use the spray and wipes that will be provided to clean the area you used for morning mass. The cleaning of the church is im- portant to the rest of the parish so that the church will be prepared for prayer time and the scheduling of funerals. Thank you for your cooperation.
The Church will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Monday – Friday for private prayer.
Please note: You may find that we will have to interrupt our daily prayer between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. This schedule will be interrupted when we have a funeral Mass being celebrated in the parish. Please watch the signboard at the door for changes in the schedule.The church will be open during Saturday Confession time. In order to make this prayer time available. We will need your assistance in cleaning your prayer space. We will provide spray and wipes for your use in cleaning the space you used during your prayer time! Thank you for your cooperation.
Confessions during the pandemic – Parish confessions are being held Saturdays from 1:15 until 2:15 PM in the parking lot of the parish church please look for Monsignor Ryan who will be in the area to greet you and to lead you through the sacrament of penance. Thank you to all those who have taking advantage of the sacramental moment. We look forward to assisting you! If it should be a rainy day the confessions will take place closer to the parish garage behind the rectory You can also call for an appointment.
HOLY DAY MASS SCHEDULE
Holy Day mass will be videoed and available on our website, Facebook and YouTube.
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!
Be Still and Know that I am God – Psalm 46:10
Parish Happenings
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother
August 15th is a Holy Day! Since it occurs on a Saturday it is not a day of obligation. Further details for the Holy Day Mass will be in next week’s bulletin on Facebook and on the website.
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College Students
College Students from our parish will soon be returning to their College studies. We ask you to join the parish in prayer for our students. May they have a healthy year. We pray the they will adapt to the many changes ahead and prosper by means of the gifts God has given them. Be Safe! And God Bless!
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The Diocese of Bridgeport has asked us to pray for our priests. They publish a monthly list of priests to pray that month. We have added a Pray for Our Priests page to our website with the names of the priests bring prayed for during the month. Each week on our home page we will list the names of the priests to be prayed for that week. The priests we are asked to pray for this week are:
Aug. 1 – Roger McDonough; Aug. 2 – Frank McGrath; Aug. 3 – Carl McIntosh; Aug. 4 – Gregg Mecca; Aug. 5 – Leonel Medeiros; Aug. 6 – William Millea; Aug. 7 – Arthur Mollenhauer Aug. 8. -Guido Montanaro
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“Drive Through” Food Drives will take place at Our Lady of Grace behind the parish center Saturday, August 8 between 10 am and 12 noon. Please be as generous as possible. Here are some items needed (cash donations are accepted and converted into Stop & Shop food cards): canned ravioli, boxes of macaroni and cheese, jars of pasta sauce, flavored rice (e.g. Rice a Roni, Lipton), instant boxed potatoes (all types), cans of baked beans/pork and beans, pancake mix and syrup, dry milk, jelly/ jam, cold and hot cereal, condiments: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, canned fruit, canned meals: ravioli, hash, beef stew, DIAPERS-ALL SIZES
Contact Tony Salerno with any questions at 203.378.5900. God bless and Thank You in advance for your generosity.
Your safety is also our concern, so you are asked to stay in your vehicle at all times. Prior to arrival place food donations in your trunk or back seat so it may be removed without getting out of your vehicle.
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The Leadership Institute of the Diocese of Bridgeport is presenting a webinar series – Conversations About Race. Please join us Thursdays at 1 pm for these important webinars that will focus on the racial challenges we face in America and in the Catholic Church. If you can’t make or miss the 1:00 live webinar it will be replayed at 7:00 pm
Pre-registration for the live webinars (at 1 pm) is required, but registering once will register you for all webinars. Click here learn more and/or to register.
“We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools.”–MLK, Jr.
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Make-up Envelopes
May we encourage your weekly support of the parish. If you are away or unable to join us, we ask you to make a makeup donation for the weeks you were away. This will help us to continue to maintain A steady budge. Thank you for your generosity!
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Please visit our Musical Moments of Prayer page weekly.Our Lady of Grace Social Media – You can view Sunday mass on the website, Facebook or YouTube!
Please Like and Follow Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church Stratford CT on Facebook!
Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church Stratford CT. Please subscribe to our channel.
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Weekly Offertory Donation
As we reopen our Church, I want to thank all those parishioners who are supporting our Parish. Your generosity to online giving, weekly envelopes, the use of the drop box, and by mail have continued to give financial support for the ministry and work of our parish. Thank you again for your generosity!
To make donations during this time of masses being cancelled please consider:
1. Mailing your donation to the Parish directly.
2. Dropping off your donation in lock box that has been installed outside to the left of the garage located next to the rectory sidewalk.
3. Go online to our EFT/Online Giving and sign up temporarily.
Please call Stacey at the Parish Office (203) 377-0928 x13 with any questions or concerns.
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On-line Giving Program
Please consider signing up for our Online Giving as another way to safely, securely and/or temporarily donate to the parish during this time of the virus. Please click on “On-Line Giving Button” on our website or by clicking this link, https://www.osvhub.com/olgstratford/funds. For customer assistance please call 1-800-348-2886 choose option 1 or the Parish Office at (203) 377-0928 x13.
To insure the proper date for your donation, we will be announcing each month the second collections and their dates. (May 3, Capital Improvement)
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2020 Mass Book
Remembering Someone Special
Parish Memorial Books – When you wish to remember a special someone, remember that Our Lady of Grace Parish has a Memorial Program. The purpose of the Memorial Program is to provide the funding of small projects within the parish. For example, vestments, ritual books, and other liturgical needs. This is a wonderful way to acknowledge someone living or deceased or in thanksgiving for a prayer answered. The Memorial Books are displayed in the Chapel area by the Tabernacle. For information on the OLG Memorial Program or to make a donation please call Stacey at the Parish Office (203) 377-0928 x13.
The 2020 Mass Book is available for your Mass intentions. As we continue to reopen our church programs, I invite you to once again consider mass intentions for your loved ones and family members. The weekend mass dona- tion is $20.00 and the weekday mass offering is $10.00. The office will be open on Wednesday 9:30 until noon so that you can pick up your mass cards and make your mass intentions. Please call prior to coming to the rectory on Wednesdays. A staff member will meet you in the rectory garage.
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.
