The weekend mass schedule is:
Saturday – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday – 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
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Our 4:00 pm Saturday sabbath mass will be live-streamed and available on our Facebook and YouTube pages beginning at 4:00pm. 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.
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 29,2024
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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 Friends,This Sunday we welcome women from the parishes of Stratford for Mass and a communion breakfast. I want to thank the women that will join us and ask their prayers for the love of God to be shared in our community. The gathering is a sign of the “togetherness” we can build in the Catholic Community of Stratford.
Peace,
Msgr. Ryan
Mass Times & Reconciliation
SABBATH MASSES
Saturday – 4:00 p.m.
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.
ADORATION
Wednesday mornings, Deacon John Piatak will hold a prayer service at 9:30 a.m. to begin Eucharistic Adoration. Please come and join us for prayer and adoration weekly from 9:30 a.m.-Noon.
HOLY DAY MASS SCHEDULE
Masses will be at 5:30 pm on the Vigil of the Holy Day and Masses on the Holy Day at 9:00 am and Noon.
.PARISH ROSARY
Join us weekday mornings at 8:30am to pray the rosary of the Blessed Mother.
CONFESSION
Saturday 1:15 p.m.–2:15 p.m.
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER
Church is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Handicapped Parking
The four spaces directly in front of the Church on Second Hill Lane are handicapped parking spaces. These spaces are for our parishioners who have a handicap parking sticker.
Wheelchair Seating
We invite you to be seated in the front area of the church. You and your family can be seated. Communion will be brought to you at the beginning of Communion time
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 cnucera@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
Bishop Caggiano's Podcast
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 cnucera@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.
2024 Mass Book
Mass book 2024
Masses Available! We are presently working on the Parish mass book for 2025. The 2025 mass book will be opened around October 1st. The 2024 Mass book still has masses available. Please contact the parish office to schedule a 2024 mass, 203-377-0928 x113.
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.
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:– Sept. 22– Fr. Reginald Norman; Sept. 23- Fr. Michael Novajosky.; Sept. 24 – Fr. John Ograh; Sept. 25 – Fr. Augustine Okoroator; Sept. 26 – Fr. Mariusz Olbrys; Sept. 27 – Fr. George O’Neill; Sept. 28 – Fr. Edison Orozco;. Sept. 29 – Fr. Jose Ignacio Ortigas; Sept. 30 – Fr. Nicholas Pavia; October 1 –.Fr..
We would like to thank the 200 parish households who donated to the Appeal. We are at $67,100.00 which is 99% of our parish goal!
Welcome!
Parish Happenings
“God’s House, Our Home, Our Little Church” Program
Over the next few weeks, you will be hearing about our upcoming renewal program “God’s House, Our Home, Our Little Church”. This effort continues to be very important as we move forward with the mission and vision of Our Lady of Grace Church. We, as a parish family, have changed so many lives in our community! In order to continue our mission and ministries, we encourage all parishioners to spend time in prayer and discussion with your family reflecting on the work we do. Our special Commitment Weekend will be celebrated on September 21 & 22. If you have any questions regarding the “God’s House, Our Home, Our Little Church” Program, please feel free to contact the parish office. More information can be found on the “God’s House, Our Home, Our Little Church page of our website!
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Have you been wondering about the rosaries wrapped around the votive candles in the church?
The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary and includes the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th. Our children will be receiving Rosary Beads and are learning to pray the rosary. Our children challenge all parish members to pray the rosary each day. Our children have placed these rosary beads on the candle stands in church to share with everyone. Please feel free to take a rosary and accept the family challenge to pray the rosary throughout October. Look for the “My Everyday Prayers” booklet for children with easy “how to say the rosary” instructions on back in the booklet racks. Adult rosary booklets are available in front of the statue of the Blessed Mother. There are resources for praying the rosary in Lead.
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Fr. Peter J. Adamski. Pastor of St. James R.C. Church was interviewed on BBC World Services. His BBC radio interview will air on BBC World Services – Heart and Soul program at 8:32am Friday October 4th. It is 27 minutes long. Afterwards it will be available as a Podcast. Here is the link: BBC World Service – Heart and Soul, Father Adamski.
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Catholic Community of Stratford Women’s Communion Breakfast
A wonderful time was had by the women of the Catholic Community of Stratford who attended the Communion Breakfast on Sunday, September 29th. We first gathered together to pray! Msgr. Ryan was the celebrant and welcomed all. After mass we journeyed to the Parish Center for a delicious breakfast and a talk by Betsy Redgate. Thank you to the Committee who planned the Communion Breakfast! More pictures can be seen in our Parish Photo Gallery.
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“Women of Grace”
Thank you to all who attended the meeting! We will post a summary of the meeting soon.
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Blessing of Animals
We will hold our parish “Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 6th at 1pm. The blessing will take place on the lawn behind the Church.
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Virtus Training – All parish volunteers must complete Virtus training, in order to be in compliance with the Diocesan Safe Environments policy. We especially encourage parents of our Religious Education Students to attend. We are offering an in-person Virtus Training here at Our Lady of Grace on Saturday, October 26th from 8 AM to 12 PM in Madonna Hall. To register please visit: https:// www.virtusonline.org/virtus, and click on the “First Time Registrant” link. If you do not have computer access or have questions about the Safe Environment policy or attending the class, please contact Jennifer Volturno at 203-377-0928 x117 or by email: jvolturno@olgstratford.com.
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The Knights of Columbus will be hosting their monthly food drive on Saturday, October 6th, from 10am till Noon in the parking lot behind the Parish Center. Select items needed include: canned tuna, chicken & salmon; cereal, mac & cheese and peanut butter.
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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, September 23rd,. We ask our parish family to keep our volunteers in their prayers as they take care of those who are in need. .
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Liturgical Volunteers
We are looking for a few good parishioners. We are in need of additional Readers and Eucharistic Minister at our Sunday, 11:30 am Mass. Training will be provided by a Diocesan program on-line and a Diocesan mandate will be given. For further information for being a Reader or Eucharistic Minister at Mass, contact Cathy Nucera at 203-377-0928×113 or email cathynucera@olgstratford.com.
We have recently been asked by parishioners a question. Will we ever bring back the ability for parishioners to receive the Precious Blood of Jesus? We believe the following questions will need to be discussed:
1. We will need to call for new Eucharistic Ministers.
2. The new Ministers would have to attend the training program and be mandated by the Bishop.
3. We would have to monitor any new health issues.
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Questions of the Week – September 22nd– 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – True Wisdom
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 • The Wicked Speak
James 3:16—4:3 • True Wisdom and Worldly Desires
Mark 9:30-37 • Second Teaching of the Paschal Event and Words Against Ambition and Envy
Adults: What evidence do you see in the world around you that many do not accept Jesus’ teaching on power and ambition?
Kids: Why do you think Jesus says if you want to be first you should take care of others?
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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 will be announcing each month the second collections and their dates: September 21/22 – Women’s Ministry
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We have added a new tab on our website. This tab, Religious Resources, will include the Diocese of Bridgeport, the Fairfield County Catholic (latest edition), the Leadership Institute, seasonal resources (Lent Easter, Advent, Christmas) and other resources, This will allow us space on the opening website page for parish news, information and activities!
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CallingPost – Please watch for our calls each Friday night at 7pm. If you wish to receive our parish CallingPost call 203–377–0928 X113.
Thank you for receiving our CallingPost message on Friday evening at 7pm. Did you know 86.6% of our parishioners are receiving our CallingPost message? Please listen to our message during Lent!
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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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