Saint Thomas Church 99 Bristol Street, Southington, CT 06489-4599

Telephone: 860-628-4713 Web Site: www.stthomassouthington.org e-mail: stchurch@snet.net

Fax: 860-628-7341 Religious Ed email: stchurchre@yahoo.com

Pastor Rev. Nicholas P. Melo

fr_nick.stchurch@snet.net

Deacon Angelo J. Coppola

St. Thomas Convent 860-621-1904

Director of

Religious Education Sr. Marie Roccapriore, M.P.F.

860-628-9679

Southington Catholic School Mrs. Eileen Sampiere, Principal

860-628-2485

Mass Schedule

Chapel Monday & Tuesday ................................................... 7:30 a.m.

Thursday & Friday .................................................. 12:10 p.m.

Saturday ..................................................................... 8:00 a.m.

Church Saturday Vigil ............................................................ 4:00 p.m.

Sunday ............................................... 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Reconciliation Saturday .................................................................. 2:30 p.m. or by Appointment

Holy Hour (Chapel) Tuesday (for vocation) .............................................11:00 a.m.

Thursday (with Benediction) ...................................11:00 a.m.

Eucharistic Adoration ....................... 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Miraculous Medal Novena (Chapel) Tuesday ..................................................................... 7:00 p.m.

Sponsor Certificates Sponsor Certificates are available in the sacristy of the Church or

the rectory office. You must be an active parishioner, registered with

our parish for 6 months or more. The use of the envelope system

assists in verifying that you are an active parishioner.

Baptism Parents are asked to contact Jean at the rectory to arrange for a

Baptism.

Marriage The Archdiocese requires a minimum of 6 months for marriage

preparation. Couples should contact Fr. Nick at the rectory.

RCIA - The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults If your faith journey has led you to think about the Catholic

Church or to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation,

please join us in the RCIA. For more information contact Sr. Marie

Roccapriore, M.P.F. at the Convent.

ST. THOMAS CHURCH SOUTHINGTON

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20 4:00 Robert W. Baldwin and James R. Kaufmann, req. by the

Baldwin Family

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21

7:30 John and Elsie Keating and Bette Longo, req. by Tony

Longo and family

10:00 Richard A. Brown, req. by family

MONDAY, AUGUST 22 The Queenship of the Blessed

Virgin Mary

7:30 Parishioners of St. Thomas

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23 St. Rose of Lima

7:30 Vincenzo Izzo, req. by Pasquale and Maria DiChello

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 St. Louis and St. Joseph Calasanz

12:10 Luca and Teresa Leonetti, req. by Mario Leonetti and

family

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26

12:10 Michael and Lucy DiLorenzo, req. by the DeLorenzo

and Salce families

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 St. Monica

8:00 Helen DellaVecchia

4:00 Frances and Jim Shaughnessy, req. by Karen and Kevin

Martin

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28

7:30 Veronica and Anthony Lorenzo, req. by Richard and

Beth

10:00 Arnold Furia, Jr., req. by Eleanor Furia

BULLETIN

All bulletin announcements must be submitted in writing no later than the Monday prior to publication. Submitting well in advance of that date is greatly appreciated.

ST. THOMAS PRAYER LINE MINISTRY

To make a request for prayer contact Barbara Burke: 860-621-3129, Noreen Fragola 860-628-2500, or the Sisters at the

Convent: 860-621-1904.

MINISTRY TO THE HOMEBOUND

St. Thomas Parish offers Ministry to the homebound and shut-ins. If you know of someone who would like to receive the Eucharist on a monthly or weekly basis please call the rectory at 860-628-4713.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REGISTRATION 2016-2017

Reminder: Completed re-registration forms for enrolled students with the $50 fee should be returned at this time. Registration forms were sent to parents via email. Registration forms for NEW students, or those entering 1st grade, may be obtained at the entrances of the church or weekdays at the rectory.

A copy of the child’s full birth certificate, baptismal certificate and the non-refundable fee of $50 must accompany the completed registration form.

NEW PARISHIONERS Welcome! We are delighted to have you join our parish. Please

introduce yourself to Fr. Nick after Mass. Parish registration forms

are available in the sacristy after Mass or at the rectory office during

the week.

NEW DAY PROGRAM FOR BEREAVED St Thomas Church will conduct a bereavement seminar beginning September 14, 2016. Anyone grieving the death of a loved one is encouraged to enroll and participate at no cost. The New Day process, developed by Sr. Mauryeen O’Brien, OP, will be used and participants will meet each Wednesday evening from 7 – 9 pm for 10 consecutive weeks. This process has been very successful in helping the bereaved transition to life without their loved one. During each meeting, participants work through one element of the grieving process using prayer, reflection, sharing and journaling. Everything that is shared during the meetings is held confidential. For more information or to enroll please call Vinny Raby at 860-628-9425 or Dorothy Charette at 860-628-4010. You may also call the Parish office 860-628-4713.

2016 - 2017 LADIES GUILD REGISTRATION The Saint Thomas Ladies’ Guild is conducting it’s annual membership drive, the 50th Anniversary year. Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month. The Guild creates a religious and social atmosphere among its members who are dedicated to work together in true Catholic harmony under the guidance of Saint Thomas the Apostle, our patron saint. We would enjoy meeting you. It’s a great way for you to get acquainted with your fellow parishioners. Please complete the form below, include

the $5 membership fee and drop in the collection basket.

Name: _____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________ Phone: _______________

1st Banns-Alexandra Limanni and Matthew Schneider

COMMUNION MASS AND BREAKFAST

St. Thomas Ladies Guild will kick off the new year with a Communion Mass and Breakfast on September 11th. Non-members and spouses are welcomed to join us. The 7:30 Mass will be offered for the deceased members of the Guild, followed by breakfast at the Country Pride Diner located at 1875 Meriden Waterbury Tpke, Milldale. The cost of the breakfast is $15 and may be paid at the event. Reservations must be made by calling BJ Raby at 860-628-9425 by September 8th. Dues for the 2016-2017 year are $5 and may be paid at the breakfast.

The sanctuary flowers are generously donated this week by George and Nawal Haddad.

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME AUGUST 21, 2016

Readings for the Week of August 21, 2016 Sunday: Is 66:18-21/Ps 117:1-2/Heb 12:5-7, 11-13/Lk 13:22-30 Monday: 2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12/Ps 96:1-5/Mt 23:13-22 Tuesday: 2 Thes 2:1-3a, 14-17/Ps 96:10-13/Mt 23:23-26 Wednesday: Rv 21:9b-14/Ps 145:10-13, 17-18/Jn 1:45-51 Thursday: 1 Cor 1:1-9/Ps 145:2-7/Mt 24:42-51 Friday: 1 Cor 1:17-25/Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11/Mt 25:1- 13 Saturday: 1 Cor 1:26-31/Ps 33:12-13, 18-21/Mt 25:14-30 Next Sunday: Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29/Ps 68:4-7, 10-11/Heb

12:18-19, 22-24a/Lk 14:1, 7-14

ARCHDIOCESAN BLUE MASS

Join Archbishop Leonard P. Blair to Honor First Responders at the 2016 Blue Mass on Sunday, September 11th at the Cathedral of St. Joseph at 11am. Police, Fire, Emergency Responders, the Dept. of Corrections and other organizations who are in the service of protecting the public’s well-being, will participate in an opening procession on Farmington Avenue in Hartford. The procession will lead into the Cathedral where Archbishop Blair will celebrate the Sunday Liturgy. While this annual event will once again honor the courage, generosity, personal sacrifice and life-saving competencies of first-responders, it will also be an occasion to reflect prayerfully on our unity as “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The Church Sanctuary Candle is offered this week in memory of Jean Kirychuk, requested by family.

ARCHDIOCESAN ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY

A special Mass will take place at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hartford on Sunday, October 16th at 2:00pm. All couples celebrating their 25th, 50th, 60th and any other special wedding anniversaries this year are invited! Archbishop Leonard Blair will be the main celebrant. Mass will include the renewal of marriage vows, followed by a simple reception and an opportunity for a photo with Archbishop Blair. Family members and friends are encouraged to attend. Please call the Rectory/parish office by September 9th at 860-628-4713 to respond to this invitation.

ST. ALOYSIUS RAFFLE TICKETS

Parishioners from St. Aloysius Church in Southington will be selling raffle tickets here at St. Thomas Church after all Masses, Aug. 27/28th. The tickets are for their Annual Picnic Raffle for $1.00 each. Prizes are $2,000, $1,000, and 2-$500 cash prizes. The drawing will be on September 11th at their Annual Picnic.

We wish to congratulate the parents of Brennan Matthew Savage, Alessia Theresa Rubino-Sorvillo and Orlando Robert Ortalizio, who were baptized at St. Thomas Church last weekend.

SOUTHINGTON CATHOLIC NEWS!

Thank you – Southington Catholic School will begin its second academic year on September 1st. The success of our town’s new Catholic school can be credited to the support of many generous friends of Catholic education. The Southington Catholic School community is grateful for the time, talent and treasure that all the area pastors, parishioners and community leaders have contributed to keeping Catholic education a thriving option in Southington. Share Your Love of Reading- Southington Catholic is looking for volunteers interested in assisting in our school library. Please call 860-628-2485 if you are available to enjoy a few hours a week helping our students pursue their love of reading. Bring a friend and share this rewarding experience. Prayers of gratitude are extended to all our benefactors.

Pastor’s Corner... I wanted to bring you up to speed on the Pastoral Planning Process the Archdiocese is undertaking. As you know, this has been going on for over a year. Partners’ Edge LLC is the firm the Archdiocese has hired to oversee this endeavor. They have compiled extensive demographic statistics for the entire Archdiocese including both church and government data. The purpose of this Plan is to restructure the Church of Hartford to better provide for the needs of all Catholics well into the future. As Archbishop Blair frequently says, we have more than enough priests to serve the needs of Catholics who attend Mass any given Sunday, but we have too many Masses and churches to judiciously utilize our resources. Near the beginning of this process you were invited to participate in an online survey to get your feedback and input. Meetings have been held with the clergy of each deanery. A week ago, each pastor brought representatives from each parish together to discuss the specifics of the Meriden Deanery, of which we are a part. Another meeting is scheduled soon. Feedback will then be given to the Archdiocese, and Partners’ Edge LLC, who will unveil the first draft of their recommendation late in the 1st quarter of 2017 for discussion. It is clear that the current model will no longer work effectively. Currently there are 213 parishes and 186 active priests. Of those 186, 14 are over the age of 75. Additionally, twelve work full time in special ministries. However, in just five years, there will be just 137 priests, and by 2026, only 105. This does not take into consideration those who will die or become too sick to continue until retirement. A radical restructuring of our Archdiocese is needed. While change is never easy, it is usually necessary if growth is to take place. Please pray daily for the Holy Spirit to enlighten us how to proceed. It is God’s church, it has been through tremendous changes down through the centuries since its inception at the Last Supper, and if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us, it will continue for many more generations to come.

Fr. Nick

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