First Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2020
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Pastor's Message
Dear Friends,I hope that you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving! The new normal has challenged us to begin new traditions. I missed many of the gentle touches that came from family and friends. I missed the big Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings. I then come back to reality, thank you Lord for keeping us safe!
This weekend begins the Season of Advent. I am sure there will be many challenges during the next weeks because of the pandemic. You will soon be receiving our Christmas mailing. This mailing was created in September, and there is some updating to be done. The Christmas Mass schedule will probably be changed because of mandates regarding the pandemic.
We will continue our video Masses, and will do some “live-streaming” Masses. We ask you to be generous to our parish at Christmas! Please watch for our emails and callingposts as we move through this Advent time!
Peace,
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.
CONFESSIONS
If the weather is warm, we will continue to have confessions by the rectory garage. When the weather gets colder, we will be move our weekly confessions on Saturdays from 1:15 pm until 2:15 pm into the Parish center. Please enter the Parish Center through the Red Doors, and follow the signs.
WINTER WEATHER POLICY
We have developed a policy that safeguards 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 effected by the cancellation will be said during the next week.
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
New to the Parish? Please Click Here to register!
Parish Happenings
WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS – The Knights Annual Breakfast with Santa will be a drive through event on Sunday, December 6th from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. As in the past we will also be collecting NEW & UNWRAPPED baby items for our Annual Unwed Mother Baby Shower. All gifts will be distributed to local Catholic agencies during January, 2021 (cash also accepted).- PRICE: Adults $10.00 / children 4 thru 12; $5.00 / toddlers – three and under FREE. ALL ORDERS consist of scrambled eggs, pancakes, hash browns and sausage. (NO ALA CARTE). A hot chocolate package and Candy Cane will be included with each order, NOTE: The first 50 vehicles who pay for an Adult Breakfast will also receive a “Keep Christ In Christmas” magnet (suitable to display on your sleigh, a $5.00 value!!)
Advent – The first Sunday of Advent is November 29 . This year is moving so quickly! We will have our Parish Advent wreath in our Church. We invite you to create your own traditions during Advent, to celebrate the Coming of Christ this Christmas!
We have added a page on the Our Spiritual Life tab for Advent. There you will find link to an Advent calendar. and a blessing for your Advent wreath. We will be adding resources so don’t forget to check back often.
Our next Drive Through Food Drive will be Saturday, December 5, between 10 am and 12 noon behind the parish center. Contact Tony Salerno at 203-615-1932 or Bob Sliwinski at 203-377-3786 with any questions.
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If the weather is warm, we will continue to have confessions by the rectory garage. When the weather gets colder, we will be move our weekly confessions on Saturdays from 1:15 pm until 2:15 pm into the Parish center. Please enter the Parish Center through the Red Doors, and follow the signs.
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The Fairfield County Catholic is now online! Click here to read the November 2020 edition.*******************************
Healing Prayer – Do you know someone seeking a healing in their life? We will have a Book of Healing before the Blessed Mother Statue in Church. You may add your name or the name of your loved one who are asking for the Blessed Mother’s intercession for healing. You may also call George Zamary at (203) 377-0928 x9, if you wish to add you name to our list!
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CallingPost – Stay connected with the Parish. Watch for our Wednesday night reminder to make a reservation for mass and our Friday night update calls. We are happy to hear so many of our parishioners are receiving our calls. Some of you may have blocked the parish messages. CallingPost will continue to call until the message is received. Please help us to provide you with good information and watch for our CallingPost messages. If you are not receiving our messages please contact the parish office ( (203) 377 – 0928 Ext. 13 or email StaceyBreyan@olgstratford.com Thank you for your continuing support.
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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: Nov. 29 – Fr. Nello Barachini.; Nov. 30 – Fr. Cyrus Bartolome; Dec. 1 – Fr. James Bates ; Dec. 2- Fr. Ciprian Bejan; Dec. 3 – Fr. Flavian Bejan; Dec. 4 – Fr. Matthew Bernelli; Dec. 5 – Fr. Robert Biroschak.
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Weekly Offertory Donation
Thank you to 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!
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.
.Make-up Envelopes – We ask your assistance in supporting the parish. We are falling behind with our weekly offertory, and we know there are many reasons for us falling behind. We invite you to help us by making up donations. Thank You!
Please call Stacey at the Parish Office (203) 377-0928 x13 with any questions or concerns.
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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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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 robo-call system. To register, stop by the Parish Office or fill out the Parish Registration Form and drop it in the Drop Box by the Rectory garage, offertory basket during mass or mail it. Office hours: M–F, 9:00am – 3:00pm
2020 Mass Book
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. The weekend mass donation is $20.00 and the weekday mass offering is $10.00. Masses can be said for either “living” or “deceased”. If a specific day is unavailable, please consider having a Sanctuary Lamp lit for your intentions. The stipend is $10.00 per Lamp. 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.