MASS SCHEDULE
Monday – Friday: 6:30 & 9:00am
Saturday: 8:00am & 5:30pm (Vigil Mass)
Sunday: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30am & 5:30pm
RECONCILIATION
Saturday: 4:00 – 5:00pm
STAFF
Father Corey V. Piccinino Pastor
Father Rolando Arias
Parochial Vicar
Father Chris Perrella
Parochial Vicar
John DeRoin
Deacon
Kate Fitzgerald: Parish Secretary & BulleƟn Editor
Pat Jackson: Parish Secretary
Julie Doerner: Business Manager
Paul Orsino: Property Manager
ST. MARY SCHOOL (744-2922)
Sister Anne McCarthy: Principal
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (743-4557)
Mary Ferri: Director
Elizabeth Cuneo: Secretary
RCIA: (203)744-5777 (Call if you are interested in
becoming a Catholic or compleƟng your iniƟaƟon as
a Catholic with ConfirmaƟon and/or Eucharist)
MUSIC MINISTRY
Michael Ferrari: Music Director
Elizabeth Barnes: Choir Director
Karen Ma era: Children’s Choir
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Bob Kozlowski: Chairman (794-8512)
BAPTISMS
Most Sundays at 12:45pm. Please call the Rectory at
least six weeks in advance to schedule your Bap sm
and to sign up for the New BapƟsm Class that is required for both parents and Godparents. These classes are oﬀered on the first Sunday of each month.
Anyone reques ng a Sponsorship form must be a currently registered and prac cing Catholic, and they
must a end one of the New Bap sm Classes to receive it. There is a 3-month wai ng period for a sponsorship form for the newly registered. The Catholic
requirements for a Godparent/Sponsor are: you
must be at least 16 years old; received the Sacraments
of Bap sm, First Holy Communion and Confirma on
in the Catholic Church; a end Mass regularly on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obliga on; receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion regularly;
sincerely try to follow the moral teaching of the Catholic Church; and if married, was married in the Catholic Church.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR MARRIAGE
All couples must meet with a parish clergyman at
least six (6) months before the marriage is to be celebrated.
PASTORAL CARE AT DANBURY HOSPITAL
Prior to Your HospitalizaƟon: You or a family member should noƟfy the Rectory.
Saint Mary Parish
26 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel, CT 06801
Phone: (203)744-5777 Fax: (203)744-3740
www.stmarybethel.org
Visit us on Facebook: StMaryChurchBethel
PARISH OFFICE HOURS:
9am –3:00 pm, Monday – Friday (Closed weekends and Holidays)
October 19, 2014
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Eph 2:1-10; Ps 100:1b-5; Lk 12:13-21
Tuesday: Eph 2:12-22; Ps 85:9ab-14; Lk 12:35-38
Wednesday: Eph 3:2-12; Is 12:2-3, 4bcd-6; Lk 12:39-48
Thursday: Eph 3:14-21; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19; Lk 12:49-53
Friday: Eph 4:1-6; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6; Lk 12:54-59
Saturday: Eph 4:7-16; Ps 122:1-5; Lk 13:1-9
Sunday: Ex 22:20-26; Ps 18:2-4, 47, 51; 1 Thes 1:5c-10; Mt 22:34-40
St. Mary Catholic Church
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
FATHER COREY’S EPISTLE
♦ It is with full hearts that we learn of Sister Anne’s re rement plans. For most of us Sister Anne has been one of the firm foundaons of our parish. In our friendship we have come to know and respect each other well. Her love for our parish is without limit
and this is obvious simply by watching her. The joy and hope of the Resurrec on is more than evident in her life. It is impossible
to put into words what we as a parish owe to Sister. No words would be adequate to express our gra tude for Sister. So on behalf
of the Parish, I simply say Sister Anne thank you, we love you, and we wish you God’s choicest blessings!
Following is the le er Sister Anne sent to the parents of St. Mary School on October 9:
Dear Parents,
It was my plan to write this le er in late Spring, le ng you know of my inten on to re re. As you know, in life, things can
change in a heartbeat!
Most of you know I had a serious fall on June 3, 2014 and sha ered my knee cap. A er surgery I spent three months in Bethel
Health Care Center and came home on September 9th. My outside therapy con nues four mes a week plus exercises daily at
home.
You were informed in August in a le er from Sister Mary Grace, Superintendent of the Bridgeport Diocesan Schools that I am
not to return to school un l I can return full me. Also at that me, Miss Licare was appointed ac ng principal.
At this me, I do not know when I will be able to return to school.
Since I am unable to give one hundred percent of myself to our great school and be ac vely involved in all aspects of school
and parish life, I am re ring from my posi on as principal of Saint Mary School eﬀec ve October 15, 2014. I will con nue to
reside at Saint Mary Convent for a period of me.
I will be forever grateful for the support, love and graciousness shown to me these past 26 years by clergy, faculty, staﬀ, parents, students and parishioners.
I caught the spirit of Saint Mary’s many years ago and pray that same spirit con nues to grow and flourish at Saint Mary’s and
in each of your hearts as it will in mine.
With gra tude and blessings,
Sister Anne
The following is the le er sent from Sister Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Bridgeport
on October 9, 2014 to the School community:
Dear Parents, Students, Faculty and Staﬀ of St. Mary School:
As you now know from her le er to you, Sr. Anne McCarthy, SSND has determined that it would be best to re re at this me as
principal of St. Mary School, precipitated by her serious injury this past spring and the con nued long road to recovery. This was
not an easy decision by any means but it was one she was already contempla ng before her fall. Her re rement is eﬀec ve on
October 15, 2014.
Also eﬀec ve on October 15th, I am appoin ng Miss Marianne Licare as Interim Principal of St. Mary School un l June 30, 2015.
Arriving in Bethel this July, Miss Licare served first as Assistant Principal before assuming the role of Ac ng Principal in August
when it became clear that Sr. Anne was not ready to return to school. I am confident that with the support of the excellent faculty and staﬀ of St. Mary School, the year will progress very smoothly. Everyone is working diligently to prepare for NEASC accredita on and I know St. Mary School will shine! Assistant Superintendent, Kathleen Casey, will con nue to provide
Sunday, 10/19
Monday, 10/20
Tuesday, 10/21
Wednesday, 10/22
7:00am, 8:30am, 10:00am,
11:30am, 5:30pm
6:30am Mass
6:30am Mass
6:30am Mass
9:00am Mass
9:00am Mass
9:00am Mass
6:30pm Senior Youth Group
6:00pm The Li le Flowers Club
7:00pm October Devo ons
4:45pm Children’s Choir
St. Mary Catholic Church
October 19, 2014
FATHER COREY’S EPISTLE
support and has arranged for some of our experienced principals to assist Miss Licare on an as needed basis.
A full search for the next principal of St. Mary School will begin in mid-April and it should be possible to find an excellent candidate since we will start the process early. Either Kathleen Casey or I will meet with Fr. Corey, the School Advisory Board, the
H.S.A. board and the faculty and staﬀ to ascertain the ideal quali es that are essen al in a new principal for St. Mary School.
Input from parents will be most welcome as we prepare for the search. Also, for your informa on, any exis ng diocesan principal, including Miss Licare, may ask for special considera on in the process. The Oﬃce of the Superintendent will keep you updated on the progress of the search once it begins.
On behalf of the diocese, I want to express my deepest gra tude and admira on to Sr. Anne for her long and exemplary service
to the St. Mary School Community. We will all miss her deeply but she will always be in our prayers, thoughts and hearts. While
she will no longer be involved in administering the school a er October 15th, Sr. Anne will remain at St. Mary Convent un l
around Thanksgiving so that she can con nue her outpa ent physical therapy. This will also give the community ample me to
thank her for her years of dedica on to St. Mary School and Parish. Let us con nue to pray for her full recovery so that she can
truly enjoy the fruits of her many years of service to God's people.
Thank you for your understanding and coopera on as we con nue the academic year. Please be assured of my prayers for you
and your families during this me of transi on.
Sincerely, in Christ,
Sister Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D.,
Superintendent of Schools
♦ Today, I share with you some ques ons and answers I have been asked. I hope you find them interes ng and helpful.
I am told that there are two kinds of priests. What does that mean? When a reference is made to two kinds of priests, it is a reference to Diocesan priests and non-Diocesan priests. They diﬀer in the authority that they are called to obey and in the vows that
they make. Allow me to explain. The Diocesan priest is under the supervision of the Diocesan Bishop. To the Bishop, he makes the
vows of obedience and chas ty. He does not make the vow of poverty, this meaning that he can own property or be involved in
opera ng a business, over and above the ministry capacity in which he is called to serve. Usually these priests will only minister in
their Diocese during their life me. The non-Diocesan priests belong to a Religious Order such as the Franciscans, the Jesuits, the
Dominicans, the Oblats, the Redemptorists, etc... They make the vows of obedience, chas ty and poverty. They do not own anything. What they use, it belongs to the religious community. If they receive earnings for work performed, the check goes to the
Religious Order that provides all of their daily needs. They answer to their superior who answers to the "Provincial" (the District
authority). These priests are appointed to a Church/Parish by their Provincial. The Provincial works closely with the Diocesan Bishops within his district. Any of these Bishops may ask him to manage a Church/parish or open up a mission within their territory. He
may accept or deny the requests. If he accepts them, he then sends forth his priests by appointment for a number of years. A er
the comple on of a set number of years, these priests are transferred elsewhere. These priests may minister in numerous Parishes, Dioceses, Provinces/States and countries during their life me.
I heard that Catholic priests have supernatural powers. What are those powers? 1. The Catholic priest has two supernatural
powers. They are: the power to change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; and
the power to forgive sins in the Sacrament of Confession (Penance/Reconcilia on).
How many types of Bap sm is there in the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church teaches that there are three types of Bap sm.
They are Bap sm by water, blood or desire. The Sacrament of Bap sm by water, either by sprinkling or by immersion, both being
valid. Bap sm by Martyrdom, also called the "Bap sm by blood," refers to the martyrdom of the believer who is killed for his/her
Thursday, 10/23
Friday, 10/24
Saturday, 10/25
Sunday, 10/26
6:30am Mass
6:30am Mass
8:00am Mass
9:00am Mass
9:00am Mass
8:30am Men’s Ministry
7:00am, 8:30am, 10:00am,
11:30am, 5:30pm
7:00pm Choir Rehearsal
4:00pm Confessions
9:00am-1:00pm St. Mary School
Open House
5:30pm Mass
3:00pm Junior Youth Group
6:30pm Senior Youth Group
FATHER COREY’S EPISTLE
faith before he/she had a chance to be bap zed. Bap sm of Desire applies to those who wishing to be bap zed, die before receiving the Sacrament. This desire may have been explicit (fully and clearly expressed) or implicit (implied but not directly expressed.)
What are the 3 parts of the Catholic Church? The 3 parts of the Catholic Church (the Body of Christ) are: The Church Militant
(Those on Earth); The Church Suﬀering (The souls in Purgatory); and The Church Triumphant (The saints in Heaven).
What are the fruit of the Holy Spirit? According to modern versions of the Holy Bible, the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit are: love,
joy, peace, pa ence, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
What does it mean to be "born again?" The true meaning of being "born again" is that through the Sacrament of Bap sm, the
person has become a new creature. (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1265) The bap zed person has received the "newness of
life." [Rom. 6:4] This new crea on is everything! [Gal. 6:15]
Does that mean that those who are "born again" are saved? No! The Sacrament of Bap sm provides the new birth that secures
"eternal life" but not salva on. The eternal life that the Chris an receives is his "first installment" [2 Cor. 1:22] towards salva on.
Now, by the grace of God, the believer is obligated to walk his living faith in Christ. He must shine in the fruit of the Holy Spirit [Gal.
5:22-3] as a living stone. "Faith without works is dead." [Jas. 2:26].
What is the Seal of Confession? The Seal of Confession means that the priest cannot discuss with anyone anything that was disclosed to him during the Sacrament of Confession. On that ma er, Canon Law # 983. §1 states: "The sacramental seal is inviolable;
therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason."
Canon Law # 1388. §1 states: "A confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal incurs a latae senten ae [eﬀec ve by law]
excommunica on reserved to the Apostolic See; one who does so only indirectly is to be punished according to the gravity of the
delict." That means that a priest who relates to someone what he heard during the Sacrament of Confession, he can be excommunicated.
More FAQs to come!
Moms and Girls (ages 5 & up) Join us for our first
mee ng of the LITTLE FLOWERS GIRLS’ CLUB
Monday, October 20 at 6:30pm in the Parish Hall.
The Li le Flowers Girls’ Club is a program whose goal is to provide young Catholic girls (and Moms), from age five and up,
with an opportunity to gather and learn about their Catholic
heritage, faith, virtues and tradi ons through games and cra s,
scripture, saints' biographies and the Catechism of the Catholic
Church. Any ques ons, call Mary at 203-743-4557.
YOUTH GROUP IS BACK!!! Our next mee ng of the SENIOR
SCHOOL YOUTH group will be on Sun., Oct.19 immediately
following the 5:30pm mass. Join us for friendship, fun, and
pizza in the parish hall.
OCTOBER DEVOTIONS to the Blessed Mother begin
this Monday, Oct. 20 at 7pm in the Church and each
Monday in October. Each devo on will have the Rosary, prayers and the Litany of Our Lady of Fa ma.
Contact Dean Aufiero at [email protected] for
more info on our Youth Group ac vi es or if you wish to volunteer.
ST. MARY MEN’S MINISTRY Come share in the posive Chris an fellowship & learn how you can be er
strengthen your personal faith journey on Sat., Oct.
25 at 8:30am in the Parish Hall. For info, call Eric Keener at
(203)739-0468 or [email protected].
Join us for our next BIBLE STUDY on Wed., Oct. 29
at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall class as we con nue to
discover God's plan for our salva on and His Church
here on Earth as wri en in the book "Acts of the
Apostles". wri en by Saint Luke. For info contact Rick Lawlor
at [email protected], 204-470-8084. You don't need to
a end every session to learn something new, so please join us.
All are welcome!
ST. MARY BOOK CLUB: Our next book is “Hail Holy
Queen” by ScoƩ Hahn. Join us on Wed., October 29 at
7:00pm, in the Children’s Room.
YOUTH GROUP
The JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP (Grades 6-8) first mee ng will
be on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 3:00pm In the Parish Hall! Come
join us and see what the Junior Youth Group is all about!!!
Religious Ed Oﬃce hours
Mon., Tues., Wed., and Thurs. 9:30am-2pm
RegistraƟon has begun for the 2014-15 School
Year. Any child entering Kindergarten or First Grade who is not
currently registered, may download a Registra on Form from
our website and drop it oﬀ at the Religious Ed Oﬃce.
Welcome to those newly BapƟzed
Colin John Merrill
I I I — Michael Zoller & Emily Jo Dakin
Oﬀertory for the weekend of October 11/12
Collec on: $10,338.00
On-Line Giving: $2,374.00
SAT., OCTOBER 18
5:30 + Paul English — Robyn & Joan Benne
SUN., OCTOBER 19
7:00 + Deceased Members of the McCarthy Family
8:30 + Jennifer & Johnathan Timm — Grandma
10:00 + David Whitmore, Sr. — Diane & Jim Ryan & Family
11:30 + Alfonso Arboleda — Family
5:30 + Tim Mulvey — The Stevens Family
MON., OCTOBER 20
6:30 + George Sakorafos — Claudia & George Braden
9:00 + Joseph Cleary, Jr. — Family
TUES., OCTOBER 21
6:30 + Cathryn Z. Costello
9:00 + Thomas Cunningham — Sister Cathy Geoghegan
WED., OCTOBER 22
6:30 + Margaret Pluﬀ — Family
9:00 + Margaret McAuley — The Roberts Family
THU., OCTOBER 23
6:30 + Kathleen Mo ola — Children
9:00 + Charles Schaub/Santo Matarazzo — Mike & Mary
Marinaccio
FRI., OCTOBER 24
6:30 Heavenly Stock Inten ons
9:00 + Charles Garguilo — Mary & Bob Sawitsky
SAT., OCTOBER 25
8:00 + Elaine Guempel—The Dakin Family
5:30 + Link Hurgin (Birthday) — Jeanne Hurgin
SUN., OCTOBER 26
7:00 + Catherine Dee — Pat & Paul Orsino
8:30 + George Viebrock, Sr. — The Viebrock Family
10:00 + Margaret Pluﬀ — Family
11:30 + Robert & Johnathan Timm — Grandma
5:30 + Kellianne Gartland — Family
On Friday Nov. 28 we have been invited by the COMMUNITY OF
BENEDICTINE WOMEN AT THE ABBEY OF REGINA LAUDIS for a
special, prayerful alterna ve to "Black Friday". The Abbey,
founded in 1947 in Bethlehem, CT is a community of contemplave Benedic ne women dedicated to the praise of God through
prayer and work. The nuns of the abbey chant the Mass and full
Divine oﬃce each day, while expressing the tradi onal Benedicne commitment to manual work and scholarship through various contemporary media and professional disciplines. We will
leave St. Mary's at 1:45 PM via Bus. While there we will meet
Mother Dolores Hart at a book signing for her book The Ear of
the Heart. An Actress's Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows,
visit the Abbey's Monas c Art Shop for their Christmas Season
opening day, view the Abbey's 18th-century Neapolitan Creche,
go to the Abbey Curch Jesu Fili Mariæ for Vespers at 5:00pm and
arrive back at St. Mary approximately 6:45pm. The cost for
trip is $30 per person. Please call the Rectory or drop oﬀ your
payment to sign-up by Tuesday, November 11th. If you like,
you can bring so drinks and snacks for the bus ride. For more
informa on call Tony Caraluzzi at 203-730-0804.
OPEN HOUSE! SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 An 'Open House Fair' will
be hosted in the Parish Hall from 9:00 – 12:30. Hear first hand
from current parents, students, faculty and alumni about their
experiences at SMS! All are welcome! Following the Open
House, there will be a ribbon cu ng ceremony at 12:30 in the
school to celebrate the opening of the new Science Lab. Thank
you to all parish members, family and friends of St. Mary School
who made our science lab possible!
St. Mary’s 9TH ANNUAL HARVEST WINE TASTING will be held
on Saturday evening, November 15th in the Parish Hall. Spread
the word and gather friends and family for an evening which
has quickly become a community favorite!
Cra ers and Vendors Wanted! St Mary School ANNUAL
CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR will be held on Saturday, December
6th. If you are interested in having a table at the fair please
contact Kathy Friscia at 914-320-7779 or Email [email protected].
REGISTRATION for students entering Pre-school through Grade
8 is ongoing. Please call the school at 203-744-2922 or email
our
Admissions
Coordinator
Linda
Garvey
at
[email protected] for informa on. You can also visit
our website at www.stmarybethelct.org for school and registraon informa on.
AROUND THE DIOCESE
DEFENDING OUR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY If religious liberty is not
properly understood, all people suﬀer and are deprived of the
essen al contribu on to the common good, be it in educa on,
health care, feeding the hungry, civil rights, and social services.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) encourages you to stay informed about your right to religious liberty, which is guaranteed under the First Amendment. Please
voice your opposi on to the health care mandate by calling
President Obama at the White House at 202-456-1111 or U.S.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell
at 202-205-5445. Let them know that the mandate is in viola on
of our First Amendment right to religious freedom.
On Thurs. Oct. 30, 2014 at 7:30am at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury, CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF GREATER DANBURY
will host a Celebrity Breakfast to benefit the Danbury Behavioral
Health Clinic, Morning Glory Breakfast Program & the Family
Loan Program. Ernie Anastos, the creator & host of Posi vely
Ernie, will be the keynote speaker. Tickets are $60 per person.
Go to www.danburycelebritybreakfast.eventbrite.com for reserva ons.
Register for the IMMACULATE HIGH SCHOOL Placement Test
(HSPT) to be given on November 1st and 15th. Spend a day at
Immaculate, meet faculty and students, tour our campus and
learn more about your “Bright Future” at Immaculate. For details please visit www.immaculatehs.org/admissions, or
contact
Tom
Burns,
Director
of
Admissions
at [email protected] or call (203) 744-1510, X 148.
Our next mee ng will be on Mon., Oct. 27 at
8:15pm in the Parish Hall.
Come support our Shredding Day Fundraiser!!