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Saint Gregory the Great Parish
85 Great Plain Road
Danbury, Connecticut 06811
203 797-0222
Website: www.danbury.org/stgreg
REVEREND ANGELO S. ARRANDO, PASTOR
Rev. Raymond M. Scherba, Parochial Vicar
Rev. Otoniel Lizcano, Parochial Vicar
Deacons Robert Blankschen, William Murphy, Daniel Myott, Richard Kovacs
The Eucharist
Marriage
Saturday Vigil: 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: 7:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 noon
Daily: 7:00 a.m., 8:45 a.m.
By appointment; call the Parish Office. Arrangements
must be made at least 9 months in advance for proper
preparation.
Ministry to the Sick
Reconciliation
Please inform us about parishioners who are hospitalized
or homebound; Communion for the homebound can be
arranged by calling the Parish Office.
Saturday from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m.
By Appointment, anytime.
Baptism
Please stop by the Parish Office during business hours to
complete a registration form and be sure to introduce
yourself to one of the priests after Mass.
2nd Sunday of each month.
Prior registration is necessary.
Parish Membership
October 26th, 2014
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Please pray for Rose Salvatore, Donald Bucko, all the victims of violence,
and all sick and deceased members of the parish.
MASSES FOR THE WEEK
Mon. Oct. 27 7:00am For All Parishioners
8:45am Special Intention
Tues. Oct. 28 7:00am Special Intention
8:45am Special Intention
Wed. Oct. 29 7:00am Mary Alice Anderson
8:45am Special Intention
Thurs. Oct. 30 7:00am Mary Anne Ryan
8:45am Special Intention
Fri.
Oct. 31 7:00am Development Fund Members
8:45am Special Intention
Sat. Nov. 01 4:30pm M/M Michael Rupolo & LaRose Family
7:30pm Special Intention
Sun. Nov. 02 7:45am Robert Kiniry
9:00am Lena & Charles Fiattini
10:30am Mr. & Mrs. Hoang Tran
12:00pm Special Intention
Weekday Mass Schedule:
7:00 a.m. & 8:45 a.m.
PRESIDER
Sat. Nov. 01 4:30pm Fr. Angelo
7:30pm Fr. Otto
Sun. Nov. 02 7:45am Fr. Angelo
9:00am Fr. Ray
10:30am Fr. Otto
12:00pm Fr. Ray
HOMILIST
Fr. Angelo
Fr. Otto
Fr. Angelo
Fr. Ray
Fr. Otto
Fr. Ray
CALENDAR
Wed. Oct. 29 11:00am Weekly Rosary
Thurs. Oct. 30 6:00pm Sewing Group
Sat. Nov. 01 9:30am Prayer Shawl Ministry
3:00pm Reconciliation
8:00pm AA
We hope that all parishioners
will sign up for Online-Giving.
LOOKING FOR PARISHIONS TO BE
SERVED BY
WeCare
WeCare
is up and running thanks to several parishioners who have volunteered for this important ministry.
We are now looking for individuals that may like to avail themselves
of WeCare’s services. If you know a parishioner that is house-bound or
infirm and could use some personal help, by way of a visit, light housecleaning, needs shopping or errands to run, or temporary meals please
contact the office (203-797-0222).
If you would like to be a member of our WeCare please contact our
office as well. The more volunteers that we have the more individuals
we can serve.
FAMILY BIBLES
Family Heirloom
Bibles: $60.00
Leather-bound Bibles:
$40.00
Paperback Bibles:
$10.00
Thinking of becoming a
DEACON???
St. Gregory’s has been fortunate to have 7 men ordained
to be deacons. A new class
for Deacon formation is being planned.
If any man of the parish
is thinking about becoming a DEACON,
please contact Fr. Angelo.
ST. GREGORY THE GREAT
SCHOOL
Pre-K--Grade 8
Phone # 203-748-1217
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: saintgregoryschool.org
Mission Statement: St. Gregory the Great
School, in cooperation with the parents, was established for the purpose of giving the students a
God-centered, Catholic outlook on life. We are
committed to academic excellence, selfdiscipline and Global Service.
Wednesday, October 29th is individual school
picture day.
Our Grade 8 Class will be in Washington DC
from Wednesday, October 29 th
through Friday, October 31st.
We wish them a safe journey!!
DID YOU KNOW?
St. Gregory’s makes a homily from Fr. Angelo available each week on the internet.
Please check out our parish website:
http://www.danbury.org/stgreg or at
http://awordontheword.blogspot.com
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel tells us that Jesus just silenced the Sadducees in another
pointed argument, so the Pharisees go into conference to test Jesus again. This
time they will try to trip him up not on politics but on one of Jesus’ favorite topics,
religion, faith in God’s kingdom.
The Pharisees, experts in the Jewish law that governed all Israel at the time, trot
out the books of the law. The Jews of that time had about 900 specific laws that had to be followed
in order to maintain a proper relationship with God. These laws concerned what you wore, what you
ate, how you washed, how and when you prayed, and on and on. (Sounds a bit like my own Catholic
upbringing.) They ask Jesus to pick one of these laws and rank it as the most important.
Religious people do love laws. Law is important, but it is not the heart of any relationship
and will never be at the heart of a relationship with God. So Jesus, once again, will not answer the
question simplistically. Rather he chooses to go to the heart of the matter. He refers to the spirit behind all religious law. Jesus references all the prophets of Israel and all the laws ever written in Israel and says: they all mean only one thing. Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and
mind, and soul. And love your neighbor as yourself. He must have stunned his original Pharisaic
audience with his simplicity and his directness.
May our lives be a living proclamation to the world of God’s Love.
FAITH FORMATION
FAITH FORMATION NEWS
Faith Formation classes for grades 1-6
and Jr. High have begun.
More information will be mailed to
families who are registered. If you have not
registered, please call the Office of Faith
Formation at 203-743-5168 for further
information.
Public School children entering 1st grade
should begin Faith Formation classes. Diocesan guidelines require two years of formation prior to reception of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. At this
time, we do not have a kindergarten class.
If you are interested, contact Janice in the
Office of Faith Formation.
CELEBRATING THE LECTIONARY
Celebrating the Lectionary for all children at
the 10:30am Mass.
YOUTH GROUP
Last Sunday, the Youth Group hosted a pizza
party for the new confirmands. Please
contact Rene Hellmann at 203-7971641 for more information.
SCOUT NEWS
CUB SCOUT PACK 9
For info, call Cub master, Philip
Adams at 203-546-0843.
BOY SCOUT TROOP 9
If you are a boy between the ages of 11-17
and would like to join Scouting, call Armen
Stauffer at 203-791-0727.
HOLY NAME SOCIETY
The Holy Name Society is our parish men’s group.
Meets the 2nd Monday of the month.
Next Meeting: Monday, November 10th
Time: 7:00pm, Parish Office Community Room
All men of the parish are asked to attend
Please volunteer to become an USHER.
For information, contact William Houser at
203-743-6125 or [email protected].
Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults
If you or someone you know:
Were never baptized, Were baptized Catholic but never received First Eucharist or
Confirmation, Were baptized in another
Christian Church and now wishes to join the
Catholic Church, Would like to learn more
about the process of becoming Catholic as
an adult, Are a practicing Catholic and
would like to participate in the process as a
sponsor, please call Mary-Ann Houser at
203-743-5168 x108 for information.
The Women of
St. Gregory
We will continue to have our Monday at 11am
& Thursday at 7pm weaving sessions in the
Parish Community Room. Anyone can attend
even if it is only occasionally. For information,
call Rosemary Bouffard at 203-744-6998.
If you are able to volunteer to work or bake
for our table at the Craft Fair, please call
Joan Minahan at 203-743-3109.
Support Our Veterans - Did you know that
there are 200 Vets who attend WCSU? The
university provides a vet's lounge but the
supplies
are
obtained
by
donations.
In honor of Veteran's Day, the Women of St.
Gregory are collecting single serve snacks
and K cups for their lounge. Donation boxes
are at the entrances of the Church. K cups,
cracker sandwiches, microwaveable Mac and
cheese, etc. are welcomed. All donations will
be given to student vets attending our Nov.
12 meeting in the Church at 7 pm. All veterans and their families are welcomed to attend
the women's group meeting.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
The Prayer Shawl Ministry will
meet in the Parish Office Community Room Saturday, November 1st at 9:30am. For more information,
please contact Stephanie Martin at 203-7433783 or via email at [email protected]
.
By Fr. Angelo S. Arrando
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 26, 2014
Pope John Paul II emphasized that the Body of Christ must be visible, audible and tangible and we are
that Body of Christ. In a 1997 address he stated that we must attend to the quality of the signs by which the
liturgy takes place, and he stressed that “the first sign is that of the Assembly itself…everyone’s attitude counts,
for the liturgical Assembly is the first image the Church gives.”
To make this a reality in our Sunday worship and in our relationship with our God has been what I am
striving to bring about each week in “We Gather Together”. Too many of us gather each week to for about or
to escape our everyday world. However, “active” participation must also mean that at liturgy, we NEVER
close out the larger world in which we spend so much of our human life. The liturgy helps us to understand
that the Gospel is a living proclamation and helps us to be in the world as active witnesses of our God’s ongoing love for all. Our active participation in the Liturgy of the Word instills and impels our Christian morality
on how to deal in justice and charity day by day with all matter, great and small – to bring Jesus ’compassion
and love for all with whom we encounter. For our attentiveness to be authentic the Word proclaimed must be
carried over into our everyday lives and not solely when we are in church.
Once we acknowledge and believe that Christ is the One Who has indeed gathered us; Christ indeed
has spoken the Word of life to us we can more easily and effectively be prepared to enter into the next part of
our weekly celebration. As surely as Christ has called us to hear His Word proclaimed Christ continues to call
us.
The Liturgy of the Word prepares us to enter into the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Once we understand the
power of the Liturgy of the Word and the very presence of Jesus in the Word, the transition to celebrate the
very presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is a natural flow. Now Christ calls us to His altar where in the person
of the priest, Christ leads us in sacrifice.
Just as we examined the various aspects of the Liturgy of the Word in order to become more engaged
in the challenge and celebration of the Word, so must we do with our understanding of the Liturgy of the
Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is as central to our worship as Catholic Christians as is the Liturgy of
the Word.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a wealth of experiences and of challenges which we will examine over
the next several weeks. One aspect, from the many, is the idea that the Liturgy of the Eucharist is a
“sacrifice”. In order for us to better understand what it is we do at the Liturgy of the Eucharist we have to visit
and understand the precious notion of “sacrifice”. St. Paul, in his letters in the Christian Scriptures, is the one
that introduces us to the notion sacrifice and to Christ’s sacrificial death on Calvary. It is Paul who introduces
us also to the life of discipleship and, in some qualified manner, to the Eucharist itself.
Sacrifice can mean many different things to us and it is important that we have a clearer understanding
of sacrifice if we are to better understand the Liturgy of the Eucharist itself. If not, we do a tremendous disservice to our worship and to Christ Who beckons us and gathers to do what we are doing in memory of Him.
We are being made into a part of the very sacrifice of Jesus.
I believe that most of us when we think of “sacrifice” think of images of bleating animals, bloodletting,
charred flesh and smoking pyres. This understanding of sacrifice tends to bring us to down a one-way street,
focusing on how the bloodletting takes place and why it takes place.
Taize Prayer Service
Will be hosted by the
Choir this Sunday,
October 26th,
at 2:00 pm.
All are Welcome
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS
The next Blood Pressure Screening will be
conducted Saturday, November 1, after
the 4:30pm Mass. Please be sure to take
advantage of this opportunity.
Rake n’ Bake
Plans are underway for our annual Rake
n’ Bake scheduled for Saturday, November 15th, 8:00am-12:30pm.
Lunch will follow. Rain date is Sun, Nov.
16th from 12:00-4:30pm. (No refreshments) If you are a senior or disabled
person who needs to have your yard
raked, contact Robin Maynard at 203775-9203 or at [email protected].
Sign up sheets are in the main entrance
of the Church. It is important to sign–up
early so we know how many are participating. Thank you.
Join Our Prayer Group!
We meet one Tuesday a month, pray together and share our journey in God with
one another. As a background for our
sharing and praying, we will read An Altar
in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor.
Contact Suzanne Dale Wilcox at 203730-9172 or at [email protected].
WORDS OF WELCOME
We wish to welcome all visitors, members, and children
who worship with us today. We pray that
worshipping with us will give you a sense
of fellowship with Jesus and with us as
God’s people, as well as comfort and
strength for all your needs. If you do not
have a Church of your own, we invite
you to make this your home Church.
But above all, we invite you to come to
worship with us at any time.
Hospital Visitations &
Home Visits
Due to the Federal health privacy laws (HIPPA), hospitals
can no longer issue names of
admitted patients to area parishes unless
it is requested by the patient. You or a
family member must let the Admissions
Office know of your desire to have us visit
during your hospital stay. If you would
like a visit at home or a rehab center, call
the Parish Office at 203-797-0222.
ALL SOULS DAY Envelopes can be found
at the all the doors of the
Church. Remember to enroll
your beloved deceased. All
Masses on ALL SOULS DAY
will be offered for all those
enrolled.
Men’s Spirituality meets
every Saturday morning at
8 a.m. in the church.
Come join us!
Daily Bread Food Pantry
Baskets are at Church entrances to collect
your donations for the Daily Bread Food
Pantry. The Food Pantry operates year
round with your generosity. Please bring
cereal,
spaghetti
sauce,
macaroni & cheese, canned
fruit & fruit juice for use by
Daily Bread. Thank you for
your continuing weekly donations of food. Your contributions help relieve hunger
year round.
St. Gregory’s Craft Fair
Nov. 7th 5PM-9PM & Nov. 8th 9AM-3PM
Over 30 Crafters & Vendors
Famous Lucky Chips
Dinner Friday Night
Lunch on Saturday
Bakery Table
Silent Auction
How fun to get a unique gift for that special someone while helping St. Gregory’s parish. This is a win-win event with gifts for all ages. At our silent auction the highest bidder will go home with professional hockey tickets, or able
to spend a snow day at a balmy indoor water park, to mining for gems. Want a
night off from cooking? How about steak, Italian, Mexican and so much more!
Shopping for jewelry, doll clothes, groceries? We have that too!
Join us and you can bid anonymously for these gifts and so much more! Our
crafters and vendors bring such a variety of products, you are sure to please
everyone on your list!
SAVE THE DATE – Nov 7th and 8th for two fun-filled days of good food,
friendship, great prizes and gifts galore.
Hope to see you there!
News around the Parish…….
Mark your Calendars!
October 26 2PM Taize Prayer Service hosted by the Choir.
November 7 & 8 Fall Craft Fair a huge fundraiser for our parish.
Come support us!
November 15 Rake & Bake- A great day to help the sick & elderly families in our
parish by raking the leaves on their properties. What a great way to show an act of
kindness. Many volunteers are needed to rake. Please mark your calendars and commit to this needy cause. Please call Robin Maynard to sign up @ 203-775-9203.
November 23 Family Game Board Night. Families come and reserve a table to
eat at and have a board game night. Meet other families. Make friends and get to
know each other. More details will follow…….
December 7 Children’s Christmas Pageant 12:00 Noon Mass.
Characters wanted. Celebrate with us in the Story of: “Oh Holy Night”
December 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception Masses at 7:00 a.m. & 9:30 a.m.
December 14 Christmas Cookie Walk. Volunteers are needed to make their best
Christmas Cookie Recipes. Father Angelo will lead the walk in prayers and you shop
to buy the cookies you like for your Christmas table.
Volunteers will also be needed for the checkout counter. This will be a fundraiser for
our parish. Start looking for those family recipes.
December 21 2PM Lessons & Carols hosted by the Choir.
December 21 7 PM Communal Penance Service
December 24
9:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Masses 4:30 p.m. and 10:00 P.M.—Concert at
December 25
Christmas Day Masses 7:45, 9:00, 10:30 and Noon
For information or on how to get involved & volunteer or if you have other ideas to bring to
our parish; please call the parish office 203-797-0222 and speak to Janice @ ext. 114. We
look forward to hearing from you!
LECTIONARY CATECHESIS
St. Gregory the Great Information Center
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Exodus 22:20-26; Ps 18; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10;
Matthew 22:34-40
The Lord is a God of justice who has no favorites. Yet,
God does show partiality toward the weak, poor and oppressed. Jesus’ parable illustrates this. Two men go to
the Temple to pray: one a Pharisee, righteous in the
eyes of law-abiding citizens, the other a tax collector,
despised by the good people as a lawbreaker. Both men
offer prayers to God. The Pharisee has an exalted sense
of himself. He prays with unbowed head, thanking God
that he is not like those “crooked, grasping, adulterous”
people, or worse, like this wretched tax collector. The
tax collector recognized his own sinfulness and unworthiness before God With humility, he does not raise his
eyes to heaven as he prays a sinner’s prayer: “O God,
be merciful to me!” Jesus says it is this man who went
home justified. God is close to the brokenhearted and
will not allow them to be defeated by despair. God hears
the cry of the lowly. Their prayers do not go unanswered. Like a lightening bolt in the sky, their cries
pierce the heavens and do not rest until they reach their
goal.
Paul understands what it is like to be crushed in prison,
he stands before the jaws of death. His life is poured out
like a sacrificial libation on the altar. He knows how it
feels to be abandoned by those who should come to his
defense. Paul does not hold this against them; he knows
God is on his side, giving him strength. Whatever the
outcome, Paul knows that the Lord will rescue him and
bring him safely to the kingdom. Like an athlete who
has done his best, Paul has “fought the good fight” and
“finished the race.” Just as an Olympic athlete is
crowned with a laurel wreath, a crown of merit awaits
those who are faithful to the Gospel.
For Reflection: Have I acted more like the Pharisee or
the tax collector today? How is Pope John Paul II’s
“preferential option for the poor” realized in my parish?
How can I lift up the lowly?
SOCIAL CONCERNS
Children & Teens Smoking - Cigarette smoking during
childhood and adolescence produces significant health
problems among young people, including an increase in
the number and severity of respiratory illnesses, decreased physical fitness and potential effects on the rate
of lung growth and maximum lung function. Most importantly, this is when an addiction to smoking takes hold
which often persists into and sometimes throughout
adulthood. If current tobacco use patterns persist, an
estimated 6.4 million current child smokers will eventually die prematurely from a smoking-related disease.
Every day, almost 3,900 children under 18 years of age
try their first cigarette, and more than 950 of them will
become new, regular daily smokers. Half of them will
ultimately die from their habit. People who begin smoking at an early age are more likely to develop a severe
addiction to nicotine than those who start at a later age.
Of adolescents who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes
in their lifetime, most of them report that they would
like to quit, but are not able to do so. If you’re interested in Social Concerns, please contact Stephanie
Martin at 203-743-3783 or at [email protected].
Parish Office—203-797-0222
E-mail address
[email protected]
Bulletin Notices:
[email protected]
Please submit bulletin notices ten days prior to publication.
Office Hours:
Mon.– Fri, 9:30 am — 3:30 pm
Parish Secretaries:
Mary Lou Cuff & Rachel Gaulard
Corporate Trustees:
Roger Gavagan, Anthony Lucera
Office of Faith Formation—203-743-5168
Director:
Mrs. Mary Ann Houser
E-mail address:
[email protected]
Assistant Administrator
Mrs. Darlene Rabito
E-mail:
[email protected]
Youth Ministry:
Mrs. Rene Hellmann, 203-797-1641
E-mail:
[email protected]
7—8 Coordinator:
Ms. Peggy Forster
E-mail:
K—6 Coordinator:
E-mail:
Catholics Coming Home:
Celebrate the Lectionary:
Pre-Baptism:
Pre-Cana:
R.C.I.A.
[email protected]
Mrs. Janice Rudisill
[email protected]
Deacon Bill Murphy, 203-744-3927
Mary Tracey, 203-790-4223
John & Judy Pitrelli
203-312-3564
Call Parish Office, 203-797-0222
Bruce & Patty Barrows, 203-746-3232
St. Gregory the Great School—Region IX—203-748-1217
Principal:
Sister Mary John O’Rourke
Secretary:
Mrs. Terri Kennen
Parish Ministries
Altar Care:
Altar Servers:
Bereavement:
Choir:
E-mail:
Eucharistic Ministers:
Hospitality:
Lectors:
Shut-Ins:
Ushers:
Mrs. Ruth Lucera, 203-794-1045
Deacon Bill Murphy, 203-744-3927
Fr. Ray. 203-797-0222
Ms. Jenny Li - 203-285-8356
[email protected]
Deacon Bill Murphy, 203-744-3927
Mrs. Kathleen Kelly, 203-792-1833
Deacon Bill Murphy, 203-744-3927
Deacon Bob Blankschen, 743-3091
Mrs. Mary McCormack, 792-7611
William Houser, 203-743-6125
Parish Contacts
Alcoholics Anonymous:
Calendar:
e-mail:
Catholic Singles:
Finance:
Holy Name Society:
e-mail:
Parish Advisory Council:
Pro-Life:
Scouts (Girl):
Scouts (Boy):
Scouts (Cubs)
Seniors:
Women of St. Gregory:
George, 203-792-5976
Barbara Bozeman, 203-797-0222
doubleb43@comcast. net
Fr. Angelo, 203-797-0222
Stephanie Martin—203-743-3783
William Houser, 203-743-6125
[email protected]
Peter Buzaid, 203-743-5504
Rose Mary Peat,
Claudette Novella, 203-746-9771
Keith Vinchkoski, 203-794-9094
Philip Adams, 203-778-9856
Fr. Angelo, 203-797-0222
Rosemary Bouffard, 203-744-6998
CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS
St. Gregory the Great Church #257600
85 Great Plain Road
Danbury, CT 06811
TELEPHONE
203 -797-0222
CONTACT PERSON
Mary Lou & Rachel
SOFTWARE
MSPublisher 2007
Adobe Acrobat 9.0
Windows XP Pro
PRINTER
HP Laserjet 1200
TRANSMISSION TIME
Tuesday 5:00
SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION
October 26, 2014
NUMBER OF PAGES SENT
1 through 10
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS