The weekend mass schedule is:
Saturday – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday – 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
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The 4:00 pm Saturday sabbath mass will be live-streamed and available on our Facebook and YouTube pages beginning at 4:00. It will be posted here on our home page usually by 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening and available on all three throughout the weekend.
The readings for this week’s mass can be found by clicking on this link.
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21th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 23, 2026
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Please give or sign up today – your donation is now more important than ever – Thank you!
To signup 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 and choose option 1.
Pastor's Message
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,This Sunday, Jesus asks each of us a very personal question: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” His answer reminds me that faith is not simply knowing about Jesus—it is trusting Him, following Him, and placing our lives in His hands. In our busy lives, it is easy to put many things before God. This week, let us take a moment to ask ourselves: Is Jesus truly at the center of my life and my family? May we renew our faith in Christ, trust Him in our joys and struggles, and allow His love to guide our daily lives. May God bless you and your families.
With sincere appreciation and gratitude,
Fr. Paul Sankar
Always Remember You Are Beautiful & Be Happy!
Mass Times & Reconciliation
SABBATH MASSES
Saturday – 4:00 p.m. (Mass is also live-streamed)
Sunday Masses are at 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
We invite parishioners to present the Offertory Gifts! Our 4:00 p.m. Saturday sabbath mass will be live-streamed. The mass will continue to be available on our Facebook and YouTube pages beginning at 4:00pm on Saturday and throughout the weekend! It will be available usually by 6:00 p.m on Saturday on the homepage of our website.
.DAILY MASS
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday at 9:00 a.m. Join us at 8:30 a.m before mass as we pray the Rosary.
Why be a Member of the Parish? Not a registered member of OLG! Many parishioners seek Mass cards, sacramental certificates, and/or sponsor certificates. We invite you to become a parishioner filling out the Become A Parishioner form found in the bulletin and emailed as attachment to MLopez@olgstratford.com dropped in the Drop Box by the rectory or by using the on-line registration link. If you prefer NOT to register online call the Parish Office at 203-377-0928 x 113.
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
2026 Mass Book
MASS BOOK 2026
The Masss Book for 2026 is open. Please be advised the we have received notice that mass stipends has increased to $15.
You may schedule your mass intentions by phone (203-377-0928 x 113) or in person the rectory M-F 9-3. We ask that you schedule no more than 6 weekend masses at this time. The stipend for weekday masses remain at $15 and $20 for weekends.
Please consider having a Sanctuary Lamp lit for your intentions. The stipend is $10.00 per Lamp. Mass cards can be picked up in the Parish Office during office hours. 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 Cathy at the Parish Office (203) 377-0928 x 113.
We ask that you pray for our all priests, especially the priests in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Click on the link for the monthly Pray for Our Priests calendar. Each week on our home page we will list the names of the priests to be prayed. The priests we are asked to pray for: August 1 – Fr, Marcel Saint Jean; August 2 -Fr. Christopher J. Samele; August 3– Fr. Paul R. Sankar ; August 4 – Fr. George S. Sankoorikal; August 5 – Fr. Raymond M. Scherba; August 6 – Fr. Samual V. Scott; August 7 – Fr. Ralph Segura; August 8 – Fr Bose Raja Selvaraj August 9 – Fr. Philip Sheridan; August 10 – .Fr. Eric W. Silva; August 11 – Fr. Johnson Singarajan; August 12- Fr. Norbert Siwinski, O.F.M.; August 13 – Fr. Piotr K. Smolik; August 14 – Fr. Francis Snell; August 15 – Fr. Birendra Soreng.
Welcome!
Parish Happenings
We Have several events in September! Don’t forget to mark your calendar!
More information to follow as the event gets closer!
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St. Michael’s Lent
St. Michael’s Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and prayer, observed in the Catholic Church, beginning on August 15th (the Feast of the Assumption) and ending on September 29th (the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel). It is a time to seek spiritual renewal and deepen one’s relationship with God, often incorporating practices like fasting, prayer, and reflection. We will provide you with a “weekly guide” with prayers and readings! May we accompany each other in Faith and Prayer!
We invite you to join us in this special devotion. Come pray the Rosary with Mary D. every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm, as we offer a Rosary each week for the intentions of St. Michael’s Lent. All are welcome to deepen their faith and seek the powerful intercession of St. Michael and Our Blessed Mother.
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Bingo begins Thursday, July 16th! Be Part of the fun!
Doors open at 4:30. Bingo begins at 6:30p.m. Admission is $1. The cost an all nighter package is $14 so $15 with the $1 admission fee. A second package would be $14 because the admission fee is already paid.
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2026 Bishop’s Appeal
We are hopeful that 100% of our registered households will respond to the 2026 Bishop’s Appeal. While the level of sacrifice will differ from parishioner to parishioner, an Appeal gift this year is within the reach of the majority of our people. Please prayerfully consider supporting the Bishop’s Appeal with a pledge or one-time gift as your means allow. Your support is much needed and will be greatly appreciated! To learn more please visit: www.2026BishopsAppeal.org. Thank you for your support.
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Rosary Prayer Group
The Rosary group meets each Wednesday from 6:30pm to 7:00pm in the Church. The Rosary is prayed, and scriptural readings are shared. The group welcomes women and men of the parish to join in prayer.
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Daily Prayer Group
Do you need prayers for yourself or a loved one? We would love to pray with you and for you!
Due to cost cutting measures, effective immediately prayer, intentions for the daily prayer group will no longer have a dedicated phone extension. Requests now can only be made using the following email address: olgdailyprayergroup@gmail.com. We apologize for any inconvenience in the short notice. Please include your name, intention and phone number in case we have any questions. We continue to invite both women and men to join our group. Please email your name, and email address to the above email if interested
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Adoration Schedule Update!
Please note that we will no longer have Adoration on Wednesdays. Our last Wednesday Adoration will be on April 29. Beginning in May, Adoration will take place on Fridays following the 9:00 AM Mass with Fr. Paul from 9:30 to 10am. We will also have the healing mass and anointing of the sick blessing on Fridays. We invite all parishioners to join us in this time of prayer and reflection. Please note there will no longer be a prayer service on Wednesday mornings.
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We would like to thank our on–line donors for their support of our parish. We would like to ask our donors to check their accounts. We have noticed that your credit card may have expired or you have changed account numbers. Your financial support to our parish are important! Please call (203) 377–0928 x113.
.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 x113. To insure the proper date for your donation, we post the second collections here. August 29/ 30 – No second collection.
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Bible Study
Our Bible Study has been a wonderful success, and we are grateful to everyone who participated throughout the year. Thank you for your commitment, insights, and fellowship as we grew together in faith and understanding of God’s Word.
Bible Study will take a break for the summer and will resume the day after Labor Day. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the fall for another enriching season of learning and fellowship.
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“Women of Grace”
Save The Dates:
Tues Sept 1 and Thurs Sept 3 – Drop off days for tag sale donations. 2-4 pm and 7-8 pm, at the door to the parish center.
Tues Sept 8 and Thur Sept 10 – drop off days too. Call Patti if questions, (203) 260-5105
Sun Sept 13 – Parish Picnic, 12:30 pm – 4 pm. Food and games & Fellowship. Sponsored by the KofC and Women of Grace. See flyer. (available in church or our FaceBook page)
Tues Sept 15 – our meeting – in Madonna Hall, 7 pm. We need your help with tag sale prep that night.
Fri Sept 18 – Sun Sept 20 – Our Parish Giant Tag Sale
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Lord’s Kitchen – The volunteers from Our Lady of Grace Parish will be serving the meal at the Lord’s Kitchen on Monday, August 24th. We ask our parish family to keep our volunteers in their prayers as they take care of those who are in need. Our volunteers ask the help from parishioners by donating bars of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and toilet tissue. We are also accepting monetary donations to assist with the meal expenses! The collection buckets will be available outside the rectory garage on August 15/16 to receive your donations.
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Altar Servers Needed!
Do you have a child who would like to serve at the altar? We are inviting children who have received their First Communion to consider becoming Altar Servers. Serving at Mass is a beautiful way for our young parishioners to grow in their faith, learn more about the Mass, and actively participate in our parish community. Training will be provided. If your child is interested in becoming an Altar Server, please contact the Parish Office at 203-377-0928 X 113 for more information. We would love to welcome new servers!
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Eucharistic Ministers
Will you answer the Lord’s call to ministry? The parish is in need of your assistance. We are asking you to join our Eucharistic Ministry. There will be training. This call to ministry will help us renew ministers and add a Communion Station at our larger attended masses. For further information, please contact Cathy Nucera at 203-377-0928 x113.
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Perpetual Adoration
As part of Bishop’s Frank’s vision for “The One” Each Deanery is to have a place for “Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist. For the Stratford Catholic Community, Perpetual Adoration is held at St. Mark Parish.
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Hospital and Nursing Home
Please let the Parish Office know if you are currently in the hospital or Nursing Home. We will keep you in our daily prayers.
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