Mass Reservations are available every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
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.
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2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
January 17, 2021
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 Friends,
In the coming week, our nation will face a challenging time. The transition of power will be an opportunity for us to join in prayer for our nation to live in peace. I am sharing with you the “Beatitudes”. Please read them each day in prayer so that we might be an example to each other through the teaching of Jesus.Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.May the Peace of Christ be with our Nation!
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 – Confessions have been moved into the Parish Center. Confessions will begin at 1:15pm. 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.
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.
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!
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WE STAND WITH CHRIST
Capital Campaign
Please make a prayerful consideration to support the “We stand with Christ campaign” Your donation assists in building the future of the our Diocese and our Parish! Please click here to learn more about the campaign
May God Bless you always. Msgr. Ryan
Donate Now
Parish Happenings
Covid 19 Advisory
Reminder to our On-line Donors
We have entered a new year, you will need to renew your support for all parish special collections and all Diocesen second collections. Please go to our website for the link https://www.osvhub.com/olgstratford/funds to make your renewal.
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CallingPost
We thank you for listening to our “CallingPost messages.” In listening to our calls, we try to keep you informed during the pandemic time! In addition to the weekly updates and reminders to make a mass reservation, during the winter months, we will send out calls to inform you of any cancellation or changes in schedule. 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 participation and support!
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Thank you for using our reservation system. We ask you to arrive at church ten minutes before mass time. This will enable us to seat all those parishioners who have made reservations. We only have 35 pews available per mass. You will need to follow our reservation policy. Reservations are taken on-line at our website www.olgstratford.com(Wed. 6:00 pm thru Friday at noon). Reservations can be made by phone on Thursdays at (203) 450-6898 from 9:00am – 1:00 pm). You may call the parish office on Saturdays for available seating, the announcement will inform you if any seats are available (203)377-0928 option 4). All who attend Mass will enter the church by the sacristy door. You are to wear facemasks, sanitize hands as you enter the church. You will sit according to social distancing rules. Mass singing will be done by the music minister. Parishioners will receive Holy Communion by the priest’s direction. We thank you for your cooperation.
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Confessions have been moved into the Parish Center. Confessions will begin at 1:15pm. 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!
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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: Jan. 10 – Rev. Sudhir D’Souza; Jan. 11 – Rev. Gilbert D’Souza; Jan. 12 – Rev. Michael Dunn ; Jan. 13- Rev. Francis Eldridge; Jan. 14 – Rev. Thomas Elliott, C.S.C; Jan. 15 – Rev. Gustavo Falla; Jan. 16 – Very Rev. Giandomenico Flora
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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
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.