Mass Reservations for weekend masses will be available at 6:00 p.m on Wednesday until 12:00 noon on Friday.
Please click here to register.
If you prefer you can call and make a reservation on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. Please call 203-450-6898.
*****************
Pastor's Message
Dear Friends,On this Easter Sunday, after spending the last year with many challenges because of the pandemic, I ask you to join me in prayer asking the Lord Jesus to fill us with his spirit of Resurrection! May the Easter light guide us to peace and understanding!
On behalf of the Parish Staff and myself may I wish you a Happy and Blessed Easter. May we all know the Light of Christ.
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 the homepage of our website and on our Facebook and YouTube pages.
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
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9:00 am.
Wednesday – Communion Service
The church will open at 8:45. Seating will be limited to the front half of the church. 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 important 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
Confessions during the pandemic – Confessions have been moved into the Parish Center. Confessions will be from 1:15pm – 2:15 pm All are encouraged to come and follow social distancing in the Parish Center foyer. Confessions will be in Madonna Hall! Confession will be heard until all confessions are celebrated.
Confessions are being celebrated in the Parish Center because it allows for better air filtering and social distancing. Please follow all State Mandates, and if you are feeling ill, please stay home!
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
New to the Parish? Please Click Here to register!
************************
2021 ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL
Parish Happenings
We’ve posted pictures from Holy Week and Confirmation on the Photo Gallery tab of the Parish Life page.
**********************
Easter Water
Families not choosing to join us for Mass on Easter Sunday, will be able to pick up a packet of Easter Holy Water and a Renewal Card of your Baptismal Promises, after Easter Masses in boxes at the parish garage. We hope you will bless yourself each day during the Easter Season and renew your Baptismal promises often! (The Easter Water packet will be available while they last outside the parish garage each weekday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.)
**************************
The Knights of Columbus “Drive Through” Food Drive will be on Saturday, April 10th 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.
**************************
or calling 203-450-6869. Meals also sold at the door.
Re-opening of our Parish Center
We are asking for your assistance in joining a parish task force, that will assist Msgr. Ryan in preparing and planning the re-opening of our parish center. The Governor’s Plan states we can now have up to 100 people attending gatherings in our center. We must develop a plan to follow the mandates for cleaning and social distancing, and other mandates. If you would like to join our task force, please email Msgr. Ryan at msgrryan@olgstratford.com.
*************************
The Diocese has created a website that will contain all the materials associated with our efforts at spiritual and pastoral renewal. It is entitled “A Call to Renewal” and it can be accessed at https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/call-to-renewal/welcome/, or click “A Call to Renewal” at the top of the Homepage of our Diocesan website.
*********************
Diocese of Bridgeport – Stay in contact with Bishop Caggiano and the Diocesan Ministries through their many Social Ministry accounts. They are listed here.
***************************
Your Offertory Donation is Important!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued generosity and your weekly donations to Our Lady of Grace Church. Your weekly donation is the foundation of the parish so that we can maintain a good financial balance in the parish. Please continue to make your weekly donations by mail, drop box, or by electronic online giving. Second Collection: April 4th – Easter Offering; April 11 Capital Improvement
Thank You for Make-up Donations – A special note of thanks to all parishioners, for their generosity in giving your make-up envelopes. Your commitment to Our Lady of Grace Parish supports our parish and our ministry!
***************************
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.The Second Collection: February 28, Hope for the Future, March 7, Capital Improvement
************************************************
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: April 4 – Fr. Nicholas Pavia; April 5 – Fr. Alfred Pecaric; April 6 – Msgr. Joseph Pekar ; April 7 – Fr. Churchill Penn; April 8- Fr. Sunil Pereira; April 9 – Fr. John Jairo Perez ; April 10 – Fr. Christopher Perrella
***************************************
Why be a Member of the Parish?
Your completion of the parish registration form enables the parish leadership to better communicate with you during this pandemic time. Many parishioners seek Mass cards, sacramental certificates, sponsor certificates. Your membership enables us to communicate in a timely manner . Please join us using the on-line registration link or contact the parish office (203) 377-0928, if you prefer NOT to register online.
2020 Mass Book
The 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.
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.