1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

21 BRUSH HILL ROAD
NEW FAIRFIELD, CT. 06812
203-746-2200
VISIT US AT:
WWW.SAINTEDWARDCHURCH.ORG
Sunday, May 10th, 2015
Mass Schedule
Monday to Friday 7:30AM & 9:00 AM
Saturday Vigils 4:30 and 6:00 PM
Sunday 7:30, 9:00, 11:00 AM & 5:15 PM
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturdays, 3:45 to 4:15 PM
Miraculous Medal Novena Saturdays at 8:00 AM
Marriage
The proper time of preparation for Marriage is one year
prior to the wedding. Please contact the Parish Office
as soon as possible.
PARISH HOURS
Monday - Thursday
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Closed Saturdays
Phone: 203-746-2200
Fax: 203-746-4856
www.saintedwardchurch.org
STAFF
PASTOR
Rev. Nick Cirillo
203-746-2200, Ext 16
[email protected]
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Rev. Karol Ksiazek
203-746-2200, Ext. 15
[email protected]
This Sunday,
we will have
a May
Crowning
Ceremony of
the Blessed
Mother at the
9:00 & 11:00
masses.
FAITH FORMATION
Director
Mrs. Kathryn La Regina
203-746-4270, Ext. 20
[email protected]
ADULT EDUCATION
Mrs. Carol Zinser
203-746-2200, Ext. 24
[email protected]
MUSIC AND LITURGY
Director
Mr. Dan Kean
203-746-2200, Ext. 38
[email protected]
INDIVIDUAL,COUPLE & FAMILY
COUNSELOR
Dr. Daniel Joynt, Ph.D.
203-770-3171
203-746-2200, Ext. 21
OFFICE MANAGER
Mrs. Luanne Hogan
203-746-2200, Ext. 11
[email protected]
CENSUS, BULLETIN,
WEBSITE COORDINATOR
FAITH FORMATION BILLING
Ms. Debra Tomasetti
203-746-2200, Ext. 14
[email protected]
YOUTH GROUP
Katie Kirrane
[email protected]
203-746-2200
FRONT DESK
Eileen Burke
[email protected]
203-746-2200
LAY LEADERSHIP
Trustee Arlene Callahan - 312-0918
Peter Greco - 746-0744
Parish Council Anthony Graziano - 746-9524
Finance Bill Rilley - 203-313-4378
PRAYER LINE
203-746-2200, ext. 17
VxÄxuÜtàx
Join us THIS Sunday after all morning
masses in the hall for a complimentary
Mother’s Day brunch sponsored by the
Knights of Columbus which will include:
Pancakes, sausages, ham,
pastries, fruit salad, assorted
cereals, donuts & more to
celebrate and honor our
Mother’s!
The 2015 Annual
Catholic Appeal’s goal
for St. Edward’s is
$200,000. We are
currently at 74%;
$149,531 from 420
donors. With the
generosity and support
of our parishioners, I
know we can achieve this
goal. I would like to
personally thank you for
your donation towards
this very worthy cause. I
ask that you kindly and
prayerfully consider a
gift to the Appeal this
year. You may make your
contribution directly by
contacting the Parish
Office or on our website
Mass Times:
Wednesday, May 13th at 5:30
Thursday, May 14th at 7:30, 9:00
& 7:00pm
So then the Lord Jesus, after he
spoke to them, was taken up into
heaven and took his seat at the
right hand of God. But they went
forth and preached
everywhere, while the Lord
worked with them and
confirmed the word through
accompanying signs.
- Mk 16:19-20
Offertory Blessings
For the weekend of May 3rd we received
$17,625.43 for an average of $17,318.90.
Thank you for your generous support of
St. Edward’s!
In the event you use a Welcome Envelope,
please be sure to write your full name &
address (as there may be others with the same
last name) & envelope # (if you know it) so you
may get proper credit for your donation. Thank you!
1
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER-– MAY 10, 2015
Liturgical Year B
MONDAY, May 11, 2015
7:30AM
Lawrence Dugan R/B Ruth & Buddy Barto
9:00AM
Mae & Pete Jano R/B The Family
TUESDAY, May 12, 2015
Stanley Jablonski R/B Mr & Mrs Edward Tata7:30AM
rynowicz
9:00AM Jim Liso R/B The Family
WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015
7:30AM
Mary & Luke Lyons
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK
MAY 17, 2015
Solemnity of the Ascension of the
Lord; Seventh Sunday of Easter
Reading 1: Acts 1:11:1-11
Reading 2: Eph 1:171:17-23
Alleluia: Mt 28:19a, 20b
Gospel: Mk 16:1516:15-20
Over the past 2 weekends volunteers from
St. Ed’s joined together for their 17th year
participating in Homefront Project.
On Saturday, April 25th a group of 49
parishioners began work to improve the home
9:00AM Tom Cunningham R/B The Foley Family
of a complete stranger. To be a part of this
5:30PM In thanksgiving, to all who teach our FF children
group is a blessing and to observe how
THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 Ascension of the Lord
everyone works together and see what can get accomplished in a day is
amazing.
7:30AM Maria & John Sarcone
Volunteers included teenagers who probably would have liked to be
9:00AM Thomas Cunningham R/B The Letizia Family
sleeping in and retired folks taking time away from their own home projects.
7:00PM Pro Populo
There were men and women who already work fulltime jobs during the week
and could have been doing yard work and jobs around their own homes.
FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015
Also among the volunteers were professional and skilled workers of all kinds
7:30AM Katie Mattia R/B Neil & Rosanna Tomasetti
who shared their knowledge and expertise working together for the day.
9:00AM Karen Fraser R/B The Family
The crew arrived at 7:30 a.m. and quickly started raking leaves,
trimming
trees and bushes, removing shingles from the roof of the two story
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015
home, scraping loose paint off the siding to prep it for painting and doing
4:30PM Jerry & Lillian Kehoe R/B Tom & Fran Cunningham
numerous repair jobs inside the home. Everyone worked hard, got along
6:00PM Robert Johnson R/B The Biasetti Family
and jumped in wherever they saw they were needed. While working we had
the opportunity to catch up with fellow parishioners, many of whom we only
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015
see this one time a year.
7:30AM Claire Saporito R/B The Brown Family
On Saturday, May 2nd, Fr Nick came to the worksite early and said a
prayer
with us to bless us as we began our second day of work on the
9:00AM Mary Cipolla R/B Jan & Rich Obarowski
house. He spoke of the connections we were making with not only each
11:00AM Mary Roma R/B The Griffin Children
other, but also about the connection we were making with a family in
another community by helping make it possible for them to stay in their
5:15PM Jean Mancuso R/B Luanne & Bill Hogan
home.
The Sanctuary Lamp will burn for the special intentions for
It’s always a big push at the end of the second day to finish the roof,
Shannon Cunningham at the request of Barry & Mary Cummins. finish painting inside and out, and finish the many repair jobs and cleanup.
The Chapel Lamp will burn for Virginia Rodriguez-Yanez at
Together, everyone did it! With the work and devotion of over 100
the request of The DelMonaco Family.
volunteers during the 2 days the project was completed. The sense of
satisfaction could be seen on everyone’s faces. The amazing thing with this
group of people is they keep smiling all day, especially the guys up on the
roof!
Volunteers came back to St. Ed’s to celebrate the 6:00 mass together and
enjoyed a potluck supper, which many of the workers themselves had
prepared dishes for.
A majority of the same people from St. Ed’s have been volunteering for
the Homefront Project since it began 17 years ago. The Homefront Project
at St. Ed’s has become a community of people who show their appreciation
Jane Feidelson, Gerald Fitzgerald, Theresa Stroh,
and thankfulness for what they have by serving someone in need. They join
Jim Lewis, Hannah, Richard, Eddie Nielsen,
together to share their time, talent and treasure to improve the home of a
Betty Podlaha , Frank Meli, Jim Leaden, Charles Finnegan, family they’ve never met. If you would like to get involved, mark your
calendar for the first Saturday in May next year and we would love to
Alexander Owens, Peggy Sullivan
welcome you.
If you, or are a loved one is sick and
would like to be on our prayer list please
contact the parish office at 203-746-2200.
Thank you!
We are a community within the community of St. Ed’s who
welcome all and live St. Ed’s mission: “We Are The Living
Presence Of Jesus Christ As Recognized Through Our Love,
Prayer
And Service.”
2
I I I Daniel Negron & Jamie Neumann
Marriage Jubilee
St. Edward’s will have our Annual Marriage Jubilee on Sun., June 7th at the
11:00 mass with a blessing during mass
and a recep on to follow in the hall.
For all couples celebra ng an anniversary in 2015 which ends in “0” or “5,” star ng with 10
years or anyone celebra ng 50+ years are invited.
Please RSVP to the parish office. We will need how many
years married and the number of people a/ending so
we can prepare for the recep on.
Congratulations!
The Red Cross will conduct a Blood
Drive on Friday, May 22nd from
1:001:00-6:30 in the church hall.
hall Please
stop in and donate blood.
Pentecost Gathering
You are invited to gather at the
steps of the Altar immediately
following the 6:00pm mass on Sat., May 23rd to
celebrate the Holy Spirit-The Father’s Gift. We will
always remember the time spent before the Altar
and God our Father, the Giver of the Promised,
Holy Spirit, will witness our prayers, praise and
thanksgiving to Him. Let us take a few moments
to come to the Altar and with our voices give
thanks and then listen to prophetic, revelation
and Grace the Father brings to us. Come Holy
Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful. All are
welcome!
...Let the one who thirsts come forward; and the
one who wants it receive the gift of life giving water. ~Rev. 22:17
Bishop Caggiano is coming to St. Edward’s
to celebrate the 11:00 mass on May 24th;
Pentecost Sunday. There will be a reception
to follow in the church hall. Please join us!
May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Mother
Rosary Prayer Group Come join us for the Rosary. The
Prayer Shawls are a warm embracing token of
love for someone in need or for someone in
happiness. We typically meet the 1st and 3rd
Saturdays of the month in CR C. Our next
meeng is: Saturday May 16th at 9:00am. We
are currently working on shawls and lap blankets. All skill
levels welcome! Please join us for any meeng for a fun &
relaxing morning!
We are in need of a permanent usher for the 6PM
Saturday evening mass. If you regularly attend this
mass and would be willing to help with the usher
and collector responsibilities please let Gloria or
Lennie know after mass.
All of the items in the Lost and Found cabinet will be
cleaned out on May 15th. If anyone feels that they may have
something in that cabinet please check in the Usher's Room
before that date otherwise it will be disposed of.
Thank you!
REGINA CAELI ACADEMY, a homeschool resource center in
the Catholic tradition, in Wilton, CT,
is hiring for the following:
1st/2nd grade tutor, 2015-2016 academic year. High School
science and math tutor, 2015-2016 academic year. These part-time,
salaried positions begin August 2015. The main requirements are a
love of learning, a desire to serve, and an Oath of Fidelity to the
Catholic Church. RCA meets Mondays and Thursdays only, from
8:00am - 3:30pm. For more information, please send your resume
and contact information to Mrs. Karen D’Anselmi, Center
Coordinator for Education at [email protected] or call
(203)701-9154. Please visit our website: rcahybrid.org.
GLORY GATHERINGS
Glory Gatherings will meet Tuesdays 7-8PM in the
cry room. On First Tuesdays there will be special
prayer time for your healing. Come and be refreshed. The Word of the Lord brings restoration.
2015 is your time for His Grace to you and your
concerns. . . . . for God all things are possible. Mt 19:26. Ask
and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and
the door will be opened to you. Mt 7:7. Open your heart and
receive treasure, freedom and hope God has just for you. As
you listen to the Holy Spirit He imparts wisdom, words of
knowledge, prophetic words, healing and
scriptures that remind us of God’s promises for us. All are welcome.
Rosary is a powerful prayer where we can meet the
Blessed Virgin Mary. We can meditate on the mysteries of the lives
of Jesus and Mary. We meet on
Saturday mornings in the chapel
at 9:00 am. Come relax and enjoy this very therapeutic prayer!
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP
The next Alzheimer's Support Group meeting will be held
on Thursday May 14, 2015 at 10:30 am in CR Rm. A. The
group will be facilitated by a trained Alzheimer's Assoc.,
Support Group Leader, Jennifer Bittner. For further information, contact
Jennifer at (203) 312-5020 (Home) or (203) 770-1047.
203-746-4270
Faith Formation Registration for the
2015-2016 school year continues!
Payment plans are available for you.
Registration forms and fee schedule for new
students are available on the website. Incoming
first graders will need a copy of their baptismal
certificate. Please consider volunteering! Any
questions please call the Faith Formation
Department at 203-746-4270.
Please mark your calendars for our Faith Formation
Volunteers’ Appreciation Dinner
We hope you can join us on:
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
We’ll begin with the celebration of Mass at 5:30 which
is the vigil Mass for The Ascension of Our Lord when we
celebrate the day that Christ, in the presence of His
apostles, ascended bodily into Heaven. We’ll then
follow with our End of Year Meeting…a dinner to show
you our appreciation for all you do!
Please RSVP by Monday May 11th to:
[email protected].
I would like to personally thank the Faith
Formation staff for the great job they did the
last two weekends for First Communion.
They were a beautiful day for the children and their
families. It takes a lot of hard work and preparation for
these events to go smoothly. We are blessed to have such
a hard working and dedicated staff! Blessings! Fr. Nick
First Birthday Celebration
Your family at St. Edward the Confessor
Parish, wishes your child a Happy 1ST Birthday!
We share the same joy and happiness with you
as we did on the day of your child’s Baptism. As
one family of our community of faith, we would like to
celebrate this Birthday along with the other children born in
2014. Also, anyone who has adopted or moved into the parish
and has a child born in 2014 are welcome to attend. We
cordially invite you and your family to join us for the 11:00
a.m. Mass on May 31st, 2015. During this Mass we will
confer a special blessing on the children. This will be followed
by a small reception in the parish hall just after the Mass for
some birthday cake. We encourage you to attend the
reception since it affords us the opportunity to get better
acquainted as a Parish Family. RSVP is Required. Please RSVP
before Monday, May 25th by
calling Janet Hansen at
203-746-1919 or by email at [email protected].
Nazareth Program…. is it what you are looking for???
This year-long, alternative Faith Formation program is for
families of children in grades 1-5. WE NEED 1ST GRADERS!! It is
comprised of two consecutive weeks of parent-run instruction in
July in the church hall. It also includes a number of liturgical
events during the rest of the year, as well as ministry and parish
involvement opportunities. It is open to registered parishioners
who complete a simple interview process and demonstrate a
desire to enter the program as an entire family, particularly with
regard to the year-round liturgies and participation in. If you are
interested in the Nazareth Program for your families’ Faith
Formation needs, please check out our website for more information about Nazareth or contact Beverly Steiger at:
[email protected].
Terrific Two’s Program Registration for Fall 2015Spring 2016: Thurs. May 28th for
parishioners from 9:30-11:00 in CR A &
Tues. June 2nd for non-parishioners
The next Respect Life meeting will be
Tues. May 19th from 7 to 8 in CR A.
There is one paid spot open for Steubenville
East Conference the weekend of July 15-17th.
Please contact Fr. Karol in the parish office
ASAP if your child is interested in attending.
There will be a parent & child meeting on
Sunday, May 17th after the 5:15 mass in the
hall. It is mandatory to attend. There will be
papers to be filled out and signed by the parents
as well as a video presentation.
“The challenge is to make the Church’s “yes” to Life concrete
and effective. The struggle will be long, and it needs each one of you. Place
your intelligence, your talents, your enthusiasm, your compassion and your
fortitude at the service of life!”— Pope Saint John Paul II, Homily, World
Youth Day, August 15, 1993. Please continue to pray the Prayer of the
Spiritual Adoption of the Unborn Baby. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love
you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby whom I have
spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.
4
Women's Group will meet on Tuesday, May
12th from 7-8pm in Conf. Room A. Please
come for an evening of learning and discussing the faith.
Monday, May 11, 2015
6:00 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
3:00 PM
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:30 PM
Congratulations to Grand Knight
Joe Simmons who received a
special leadership award at the
annual KC Conference this past Saturday in
Stamford. This is great news for Joe and our
Knights council! Joe dedicates and volunteers many
hours in service to the Dorothy Day House in
Danbury, Homefront and Rebel Care of New
Fairfield. We are blessed to have him lead our
council of Knights.
Thanks to the Knights for spreading
mulch and planting outside to make
our church look beautiful! ~ Fr. Nick
5:30 PM
6:00 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 AM
9:00 AM
9:15 AM
9:30 AM
10:30 AM
6:00 PM
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
10:00 AM
8:00 PM
7:30 AM
8:00 AM
8:30 AM
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
6:30 PM
1st & 2nd Gr Families Dinner & Gathering/Hall
Prayer Group/Cry Room
Al-Anon/MR 9
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Children & Youth Choir/Church
AA Mee ng/Hall
Women's Group Mee ng/CR A
Glory Gatherings/Cry Room
Fundraiser Commi/ee Mee ng
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Ascension of the Lord Vigil Mass/Church
Teacher Apprecia on Dinner /Hall
Adult Choir Prac ce/Church
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Ascension of the Lord
Ascension of the Lord Mass/Church
Ascension of the Lord Mass/Church
Making Music Praying Twice/MR 7 & 8
Ladies Guild Sewing Group/Hall
Alzheimer's Support Group/CR A
Contemporary Choir/CR A
Knights of Columbus Officers Mee ng/CR C
Knights of Columbus Business Mee ng/Hall
Ascension of the Lord Mass/Church
Friday, May 15, 2015
Abili es Beyond Disabili es/Kitchen & Hall
Women's AA Mee ng/Area 9 & Kitchen
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Blood Pressure Screenings/CR B
Youth Group Flower Sales
Speaker for Wine Gala/Fundraiser
Men's Ministry Mee ng
Miraculous Medal Novena/Prayer Chapel
Holy Yoga/MR 1-4
Rosary Prayer Group/Prayer Chapel
Prayer Shawl Ministry/Hall MR 7-8
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Blood Pressure Screenings/CR B
Youth Group Flower Sales
Speaker for Wine Gala/Fundraiser
Sr. Youth Group/Hall
PARISH COUNSELING
Dr. Dan Joynt Ph. D. is a WCSU Professor and a
CT Licensed Professional Counselor working with
individuals, couples and families. He can be
reached either at 203-770-3171 or by a message to the Parish
Office (746-2200). There is no cost for a first session.
Special consideration is available for subsequent counseling
services.
5
Question box— I thought that we were supposed to bow our heads at the mention of the name of Jesus and
Mary. Is this right? People are not consistent.
Postures and Gestures of the Congregation at Mass:
In our Catholic worship, we use outward signs to show inward dispositions. Simply put, we express with our bodily positions and gestures what we hope is happening inside of our
hearts and souls. These symbolic gestures are a wordless liturgical language, the origin of which is often lost in history. It is good from time to time to refresh our practice and renew
our awareness of these gestures and how they fit into our Catholic prayer.
The Sign of the Cross -- We make the sign of the cross before we pray to collect ourselves and to fix our minds upon God. We make it when we finish praying in order that we may hold
fast the gift we have received. In temptations we sign ourselves for strength; in dangers, to be protected. The cross is signed upon us in blessings in order that the fullness of God’s life
may flow into the souls. Think of these things when you make the sign of the cross. It is the holiest of all signs. Make a large cross, from forehead to abdomen, to left shoulder then right
shoulder, taking time, thinking what you do. Use this sign to mark yourself with the power of the Cross of Christ.
Striking the Breast -- The gesture of striking the breast expresses sorrow, unworthiness, extreme humility. When Jesus died on the cross, even those who cheered for his death, struck
their breasts in sorrow (Lk 23:48). In this gesture we see an interior meaning that calls us to repentance. To strike the breast is to beat against the gates of our hearts and stir them from
the outside-- to shake the soul to be aware that God is calling us.
Bowing -- A bow indicates a moment of respect and acknowledgement of the presence of greatness or holiness. In the Mass, we are surrounded by holy words and actions, so we bow
from time to time as an acknowledgement of certain moments of our time in prayer. Here are some moments what a bow of the head is appropriate:
when the name of Jesus Christ is pronounced—to honor the Savior
when the names of the Trinity are pronounced—to honor God’s majesty
when the name of Mary is pronounced – to honor the holy Mother of God
as a sign of reverence for the cross—the instrument of our salvation
before receiving holy communion—to recognize the holiness of the Blessed Sacrament
during the recitation of the Creed when we say “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man,”
– to show respect for the moment of the Incarnation.
Kneeling -- Kneeling is an almost universal ritual gesture of homage, honor, reverence and worship. There are many biblical references to kneeling and these passages reveal that it is an
ancient sign of respect, obedience, and reverence. Kneeling is a customary ritual posture in both public and private worship because it indicates our awareness of the greatness of God
and our need for him..
Genuflecting -- Another telltale sign of a Catholic is genuflection, which is touching the right knee to the floor while bending the left knee. The sign of the cross is made simultaneously with
this gesture. Catholics genuflect only in front of the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist is the real body and blood of Jesus, so Catholics show the ultimate form of respect by genuflecting
or kneeling before him.