We are hopeful that 100% of our registered households will respond to the 2025 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: https://www.2025BishopsAppeal.org Thank you for your support.

We thank the 185 donors for this year’s Annual Bishop’s Appeal. The parish has raised $58,986.00 which is 87% of our goal. As of June 30th we did not meet our goal as a Parish, but are still responsible for our obligation of $67,800.00 With your continued support, we know we can get there! Every gift no matter the size makes a difference. If you haven’t had the chance to give yet, it’s not too late. Please prayerfully consider making a donation and helping us reach our goal together as a parish family. Thank you for your continued support and generosity. To make a gift, or for more information, please visit us at 2025BishopsAppeal.org, or call (203)416-1470.

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First Witnesses is a project under the Institute for Catholic Formation at the Diocese of Bridgeport.

First Witnesses is a comprehensive approach that supports parents and parishes in working collaboratively to stem the tide of disaffiliation. Research tells us parents have incredible influence when it comes to their children choosing to remain engaged in religious practices. Birth to age three is the most precious time in a child’s life when the appropriation of ritual and language is strongest. First Witnesses seeks to combine the latest research with practical resources and opportunities for parents and congregations to build a culture of faithfulness. For further information see the First Witnesses website at https://firstwitnesses.org 

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Vacation Bible School: Summer 2025

Mark your calendars: August 18-22, 2025, the Catholic Community of Stratford will be offering Vacation Bible School at Our Lady of Peace Parish. The theme will be Live it Out. Each day will run from 9:00am-3:00pm. Please reach out to Lorena at Imelgar@setoncollaborative.org for registration. Cost is $175 for whole week, with scholarships and half day options available.

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Being a Good Shepherd

On June 30th we will end our fiscal year. Our expenses have caused a deficit of $54,000.00. I have not been able to begin the repair of the church steps, because of the deficit. Some of the larger bills, were the replacement of the lights in the Church, repair of the heating zones in the church, and replacing the locking mechanism on the outer door by the sacristy. The air conditioning in the Parish Center is operating on one compressor instead of two. We are facing larger bills because our church and parish center are considered commercial buildings. Please support us by your contributions to the Capital Improvement collection and Hope for the Future. If you are away, we ask our parishioners to make up their weekly donations. We also have a “visitor envelope,” for you who come and visit. We have currently placed an information card for on-line giving in the pews. Your acts of kindness can bring hope & renewal to our little church.

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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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Parish Raffle

Our Lady of Grace has been invited to participate in an Intra-Diocesan Raffle with St. Roch Parish in Greenwich. Across the years in which the raffle has run, it has proven to be highly successful and has helped participating parishes to raise much needed revenue for their Parish initiatives. The 2025 Parish Raffle offers 23 prizes totaling $40,000. The grand prize itself is $20,000. The drawing will take place on Saturday August 16, 2025 at 11:00pm on the actual feast of St. Roch. Raffle tickets are $25.00 each and the Parish keeps 50% of the total sales ($12.50 per ticket). Prizes this year include: • 1st Prize: $20,000 AMEX Gift Card • 2nd Prize: $6,000 AMEX Gift Card • 3rd Prize $4,000 AMEX Gift Card • 10 additional prizes, in the amount of $1,000 AMEX Gift Card each.

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“Women of Grace”

The Daily Prayer group was begun by the “Women of Grace”. If you have a prayer intention or are in need of prayer, we ask you to call our prayer line. You can call our daily prayer line at 203-377-0928 x117. Please leave your prayer request and our parish group will be praying for your intention.

The Rosary prayer group meets each Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Church. The Rosary is prayed, and scriptural readings are shared. The Rosary Prayer group welcomes women and men of the parish to join in prayer.

We thank the Women of Grace for their participation in the meeting on June 17. A informative discussion took place and the members completed a survey reviewing and renewing the concept of the “Women of Grace”. The next Women of Grace meeting will take place on Tuesday August 19th at 7pm.

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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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Sunday Meet & Greet

Save the Date – The next Sunday Meet and Greet is Sunday July 6th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., outdoors weather permitting. Enjoy a cup of Iced Lemonade or Ice Tea along with some snacks an meet new friends. Supported by the Women of Grace & the Knights.

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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, July 28th. We ask our parish family to keep our volunteers in their prayers as they take care of those who are in need. Our volunteers also ask the help from parishioners by donating bars of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and toilet tissue. We are accepting monetary donations to assist with the meal expenses! The collection buckets will be available outside the rectory garage on July 12/13 to receive your donations.

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Liturgical Volunteers

We ask you to prayerfully consider joining our Team of Liturgical Volunteers. We will have an information night later in the month! Please call Cathy Nucera at 203-377-0928 x113 if interested or with any questions

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Diocesan Vocation Prayer

Heavenly Father, renew your presence among us through the gift of the ministerial priesthood, through which we are given the gift of the sacraments, most especially the Eucharist. Grant courage to those whom you are calling to serve at your altar as priests, 20 that they may receive your call with generosity and respond with their whole hearts. May the stewards of your mysteries grow in number and persevere in holiness of life. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The prayer intention for the Catholic Holy Year of 2025 is to reawaken hope for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Prayer intention

“Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom” Pray Daily!

Holy Year Prayer

Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen.

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Question of the Week – July 13 – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Acting with Mercy

But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Lk. 10:33–34)

Deuteronomy 30:10-14 • God’s command clear
Colossians 1:15-20 • Christ’s fullness and reconciliation<
Luke 10:25-37 • The good Samaritan

Adults: When have you gone out of your way to help a stranger in need?

Kids: Would you help a new student who needed help? Why or why not?

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