Rectory Office

Phone: 860-628-4713 Fax: 860-628-7341 E-Mail: stthomassouthington@gmail.com Web Sites: www.stthomassouthington.org www.facebook.com/groups/104009621923

St. Thomas Convent

Address: 20 Eden Place Southington, CT Phone: 860-621-1904

Office of Religious Education

Phone: 860-628-9679 E-mail: stchurchre@gmail.com

Southington Catholic School

Address: 133 Bristol Street Southington, CT Phone: 860-628-2485 Fax: 860-628-4942 Web Site: www.southingtoncathlolicschool.org

September 22, 2019

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).”

Weekend Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil: 4:00PM (Church)

Sunday: 7:30AM & 10:00AM (Church)

Weekday Mass Schedule Monday & Tuesday: 7:30AM (Chapel) Thursday & Friday: 12:10PM (Chapel)

Saturday: 8:00AM (Chapel)

Our Parish Mission Statement

We, the Roman Catholic faithful of St. Thomas parish, nourished by God’s Word and by the

Sacraments, welcome and serve the Family of God. Through evangelization, education, and spiritual

development, we demonstrate the true meaning of God’s love by living in the image of Christ.

Parish Staff

Priests Rev. Joseph R. Cronin—Pastor fr.cronin@aohct.org Rev. John E. Cockayne—(Senior Status)

Deacons Angelo J. Coppola—(Senior Status) Vincent J. Raby

Music Ministry Emil Kopcha—Director Kathy Kopcha—Assistant

Office Manager Heidi Malley

Business Manager Marc Ingriselli

Trustees Susan Howard Paul Miano

Plant Manager Casey Potthoff

Custodial Staff Daniel Conant Bonnie Guimond Marty Lopatosky Harry Masterbone

Director of Religious Ed. Sr. Marie Roccapriore, MPF

Southington Catholic School

Principal Eileen Sampiere

Office Manager Loretta Putala

Advancement Director Mary Alexander

Sanctuary Candles

Church: For Catholic School Teachers

Chapel: For Public School Teachers

Rectory Office Hours Monday—Friday 8AM-4PM

SATURDAY, September 21—St. Matthew, Evangelist

8:00AM John & Marjorie Bores Requested by Rob & Robin Bores

4:00PM Alfonso & Maria Fragola Requested by Frank Fragola and family

SUNDAY, September 22—25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

7:30AM Frank & Carmella Perillo DiBenedetto Requested by Maria DiBenedetto & family

10:00AM Maria Simone & Angelo DelSanto Families Requested by Tom & Maria

MONDAY, September 23—St. Pius of Pietrecina, Priest

7:30AM Those whose funerals were in August: Elsie

Galiette, David Duchemin, Agnes Gaydosh, Gus

Bertuca, Randel Schmidt, & Vincent Susco, Sr.

TUESDAY, September 24—Weekday

7:30AM The Parishioners of St. Thomas Church

WEDNESDAY, September 25—Weekday

NO MASS ON WEDNESDAYS

THURSDAY, September 26—SS. Cosmos & Damian,

Martyrs

12:10PM William & Josephine Dalton Requested by family

FRIDAY, September 27— St. Vicent de Paul, Priest’

12:10PM Richard Daly Requested by family

SATURDAY, September 28—St. Wenceslaus, Martyr;

St. Lawrence Ruiz & Companions, Martyrs

8:00AM Deacon Wes Baxter—10th Anniversary Requested by Terry & Lester Bouchard

4:00PM Marco Ingriselli—Birthday Remembrance Requested by his wife & children

SUNDAY, September 29—26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

7:30AM Alfonso & Maria Fragola Requested by their daughter

10:00AM Stanley & Elizabeth Cop—Anniv. Remembrance Requested by Anthony & Melissa Cop

Father Joe’s Notes My dear friends,

The sad reality of the vocation crisis came crashing down

upon me recently. My father’s cousin, Tim (one of dozens of

Tim Cronins in the family), was on hospice care and died.

So, there were trips to see him and then planning his funeral.

Tim had seven priests in his family: his brother, two brothers

-in-law, one maternal cousin, two paternal cousins (of which

I am one), and his daughter-in-law’s uncle. Of those seven

priests, I am the last one alive. We went from a glut of

priests when Sean and Lisa were married to just one man

standing today in less than two decades. I was really shocked

realizing that I’m it. It was a bit depressing to see it, but I

still have to keep going. There’s too much work to be done

to sit and mope about it.

Many of us hear that there’s a vocation shortage, but we

don’t always understand what that means. After all, there are

still five Catholic parishes in Southington, each with its own

pastor. A crisis exists in the abstract for us, but it hasn’t

really hit home. You need to prepare yourselves for a

vocation shock as I did. In a very short period of time, three

of the priests in this town will be at retirement age. There are

no reserves of other clergy waiting in the wings to come

cover these assignments. There will be changes that will

have to be made. What, I don’t know, but it can’t go on like

this indefinitely.

In some places, churches have been clustered together into

one parish with each individual location still open. The

problem with this, there will be many fewer Masses being

covered by one priest who has to get from one to the other in

short order. It’s expensive to run them all and not meeting

the same need. Sometimes, clergy go circuit riding when

very limited. On my vacation, I went to Mass one Sunday in

Amherst, Nova Scotia. A priest came that weekend from

Halifax to cover Masses. That is a distance of over 120 miles

and two hours in a car, without traffic! What you have

known in the past is not where we are now, and it certainly

bears little resemblance to where we will be going very soon.

What are we going to do? Well, I hope we pray for and

support vocations of young men, or even older ones entering

for the second half of life. We need new priests to come up

and serve the Church in the future. Having said this, even if

we could get 20 men a year to enter for the next few decades,

it still wouldn’t stem the tide of losses we will experience.

The numbers of priests, deacons, and religious will be fewer

and few each year. It is a simple fact.

As we move forward in the months and years to come, you

can’t be shocked and give up hope. You will need to

exercise your vocation as baptized Christians to serve our

Lord, Jesus Christ. You will be teaching the children and

caring for the sick. You will be gathering for prayers and

leading communal service. You will have to understand that

the Church cannot keep doing what was done 20 years ago or

even what we are doing now. It’s time we start praying and

working together to find solutions to meet the spiritual needs

of the community for the next century. It can be scary, but

don’t give up hope. There’s much to be done. Don’t mope;

just pray and act. We will endure, with God’s help!

Hopefully yours in Christ, Fr. Joe

Question: Father, I want to donate my body for medical

research when I die. Is this permissible in the Church?

Answer: The short answer: yes, with a caveat. Organ

donation is not only acceptable, but lauded by the Church. If

a person could offer the gift of life, or enhancing the health of

another, that would be a beautiful gift of charity. Donating of

one’s body for scientific research does just that. When

bodies are used to educate physicians on the glorious

workings of human anatomy, then it helps them treat the

living better. If researchers could have access to the body to

see how diseases progress, then they might be able to better

treat conditions in the future. The last few pontiffs have not

only allowed bodies to be donated for scientific research, but

they praised the gifts of those who gave as most noble. The

one reservation is how the body is handled after research.

The Church asks that the body be treated with dignity after

the research is complete. Even after all the research has been

done, the body is a beautiful creation of God, made in the

Lord’s image and likeness, and so needs to be treated with

respect. The body needs to be buried, or if cremated, the

ashes interred. If that were done, then there wouldn’t be a

problem with donating your body for scientific research. You

may donate your body for scientific research, as long as the

institution properly buries the body after it is done.

Ask Father

Readings for the week of September 22, 2019

Sunday: Am 8:4-7/Ps 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 [cf. 1a, 7b]/

1 Tm 2:1-8/Lk 16:1-13 or 16:10-13

Monday: Ezr 1:1-6/Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 [3]/

Lk 8:16-18

Tuesday: Ezr 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20/Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5

[1]/Lk 8:19-21

Wednesday: Ezr 9:5-9/Tb 13:2, 3-4a, 4befghn, 7-8 [1b]/

Lk 9:1-6

Thursday: Hg 1:1-8/Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b [cf. 4a]/

Lk 9:7-9

Friday: Hg 2:1-9/Ps 43:1, 2, 3, 4 [5]/Lk 9:18-22

Saturday:Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a/Jer 31:10, 11-12a, 13 [cf. 10d]/

Lk 9:43b-45

Next Sunday: Am 6:1a, 4-7/Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 [1b]/

1 Tm 6:11-16/Lk 16:19-31

Parish Information Devotions & Groups

Holy Hours In the chapel—rectory basement

Tuesdays: 11:00AM—Noon (for vocations)

Thursdays: 11:00AM—Noon (with Benediction)

Eucharistic Adoration In the chapel—rectory basement

Thursdays 8:00AM—11:00AM

Miraculous Medal Novena In the chapel—rectory basement

Tuesdays at 7:00PM

Italian Rosary Group First Tuesday of each month—7:30PM (Parish Center)

Lap Blanket Ministry Parishioners make blankets for patients in local health

care facilities . Anyone who crochets is invited to join

us in the church basement. One Wednesday Evening a

month 7:00-8:15PM. Next Meeting—September 25th.

Ladies Guild The Ladies Guild meets the first Monday

of each month, and hosts hospitality in

the church meeting room each first

Sunday after both 7:30 & 10:00 mass.

Bible Study Group This week, Sept. 26th, we will read

Exodus 5 & 6 – Meeting Pharaoh.

All are welcome to join us in our

examination of Scripture!

Thursdays at 1:30PM or 7:00PM

in the Chapel (Rectory basement)

(The classes cover the same material—you need only attend one)

Sacraments

Baptism Parents, contact the rectory to schedule a

baptism. There’s a preparation meeting for

parents having their first child baptized.

RCIA—Adult Sacraments Anyone interested in becoming Catholic, give us a call!

Reconciliation Confessions are Saturday from 3:00 PM until 3:30 PM

in the reconciliation room in the church, or you could

call to make an appointment with Father Joe.

Marriage We need six months for marriage preparation. Couples

should contact Father Joe to schedule a meeting.

Sacrament of the Sick Should you, or someone you know, need an anointing,

please call Father Joe at the rectory to schedule a visit.

Homebound / Hospital Please, contact the rectory if you or a

family member is homebound or in the

hospital. We can arrange for a

Eucharistic Minister to bring you the

Blessed Sacrament at home.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

St. Thomas Cemetery

If you or your family are looking to purchase a plot or

niche in the columbarium, give us a call in the rectory

office. We’ll have our Plant Manager, Casey Potthoff,

meet with you and explain the options for graves and

markers. Please, call the rectory to schedule a meeting.

Sponsor Certificates

They’re available in the sacristy or in the rectory office.

You must be an active parishioner, registered with our

parish for at least 6 months. The use of the envelopes helps

verify that you’re an active parishioners. You must also

have completed your Sacraments of Initiation and be in a

valid marriage. If you have questions, call us.

New Parishioners

Welcome to St. Thomas! We’re delighted to have you join

us. Introduce yourself to Father or the Deacons after Mass.

Parish registration forms are available in the sacristy and

the rectory office. Take one for the family, and a separate

form for each member. Once completed, mail them to us

or drop them in the collection basket.

Collections for September 15th

Weekly—$6562 / Maintenance—$2500 / On Line—$1242

† Southington Catholic School †

St. Thomas Religious Ed. †

Classes Have begun!

Grades 9 & 10

Sundays

6:00-7:30pm

Grades 1 thru 8

Mondays

4:15-5:30pm or

6:00-7:15pm

Catechist

Needed! We need a teacher for a 5th grade class

Monday evenings at 6PM. Please, call

Sister Marie for more details.

GROCERY AND

SCRIP CARDS

You can order grocery cards, gas cards, department

stores gift cards, movie tickets, etc. Every purchase

you make earns us rewards for Southington Catholic

School. Gift cards are great for birthdays, thank you

gifts and holidays. Please call the school (860-628-

2485) for more information and to obtain a complete

list of participating retailers. This list is also available

at the rectory. THANK YOU!

Southington Catholic School

has a wonderful middle

school program!

Our current 8th grade

averaged a 12th grade

6th month level on all

the standardized tests of

the Iowa Exam last year.

Each student has an individual Chrome Book

for use in the school.

The students take Spanish as an academic

course four times each week and are well

prepared for high school foreign language

programs.

With small classes, your child will receive

more one on one time with teachers to help

in achieving academic excellence.

We are enrolling now for

the current academic year. Give us a call! Feel free to ask us questions

about the school or to take a tour. Arrange to

have your child shadow a class for a day.

HELP OUR SCHOOL!!!

MATCHING GRANTS

Does your employer participate in a

“matching” donor program? Several

large corporations in our region will

match your donation to a verified

non-profit, such as a Catholic school.

Is your company one that will

reward their employees for volunteer

hours to a non-profit? You might be

surprised! Please call the

Advancement Office (860-628-2485 ext. 114) at

Southington Catholic School for more information on

how you can partner in supporting Catholic education in

our town. OUR STUDENTS THANK YOU!

Rachel’s Vineyard

Retreat

WEEKENDS FOR HEALING

AFTER ABORTION

If you are suffering

from an abortion,

experience the great

healing love of Jesus

Christ on a Rachel's

Vineyard Retreat

weekend this coming

November 8 - 10, 2019 in Litchfield, CT. The

weekend healing process includes discussions, Living

Scriptures with meditations, the Sacrament of

Reconciliation, a Memorial Service and Mass of

Entrustment. Participation is totally confidential and

offers a beautiful opportunity to experience God's love,

forgiveness and compassion. Both women and men

have participated in past retreats and have ranged in

age from teens to mid-eighties. The fee for the

weekend is $175.00 for meals, private room and all

retreat materials. Scholarships are available for

financial assistance. For more information contact

Marie Laffin by phone at 203-631-9030, you can email

her at mlaffin@prolifeministry.org, or simply visit the

website at www.rachelsvineyard.org.

CAR WASH

Our Confirmation students will be hosting a car wash

during the parish picnic this Sunday. They will be in

front of the school

between 11AM and

2PM. Cost is $5 for

a regular sized car or

$8 for larger (vehicles

(SUVs). All proceeds

go to Catholic

Charities to help with

hurricane relief in the

Bahamas.

Mercy High School Open House for Middle School and Transfer Students

1740 Randolph Road Middletown

Sunday, November 3, 2019

1:00 -4:00 pm

1:00 p.m. Presentation by the

Administration

Entrance Exam Class of 2024

Saturday, November 9, 2019 &

Saturday, November 16, 2019

1740 Randolph Road Middletown

8:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

This year, the 40 Days for Life

Campaign will be from September 25th

through November 3rd, 2019. The annual

Archdiocesan Respect Life Mass celebrated

by Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, is

scheduled on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at

11:00 A.M. at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in

Hartford. The 40 Days for Life Campaign is

now international and continues to grow.

Please join in this historic campaign to end abortion,

through Eucharistic Adoration prayer, and/or prayerful

vigil for one hour at the Hartford GYN Center (abortion

clinic) on Jefferson Street in Hartford, CT. Sign-up

posters are available at the ramp entrance to our church,

and also at the door leading into our Parish Chapel.

A 12-hours of Eucharistic Adoration for pro-life is

scheduled at St. Aloysius Church, 254 Burritt Street,

Southington, on Monday, October 7th from

7:00 A.M. through 7:00 P.M. Please

consider spending one half to one hour in

prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for

building a culture that cherishes every

human life. Sign-up posters are available at

the ramp entrance to our church, and also at

the door leading onto our Parish Chapel.

The 20th Annual Pro-Life Conference

presented by Our Lady Queen of Angels Outreach

Ministry will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2019

from 8:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M., at Holy Angels Center,

585 Main Street, South Meriden, CT 06451. Please

register by calling 203-235-6381. The conference

includes keynote speakers, Pro-Life Mass presided by

Father Glen Dmytryszyn, Pro-Life Director of the

Archdiocese of Hartford, and lunch.

40 Days for Life

Su

pp

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dvertisers—

Tha

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Stewardship

Stewardship Thought:

The dishonest manager in

today’s parable knew how to

manipulate money to his

advantage. But the Gospel

warns that no one can serve

both God and money. Which

do I serve? Is my

stewardship such that

anyone can tell?

Based on reflections prepared by

Reverend Thomas Gentile and

the Office of Mission

Advancement

JOIN US! THIS SUNDAY ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC

11am-3pm.

FOOD, FUN,

CLOWN, DJ!!!

Come one, come all

next Sunday,

September 22nd to our

annual parish picnic

here on the grounds

adjacent to the

Church. There will be

music, games and

activities for children

of all ages, as well as raffle prizes. Burger,

hot dogs, rolls and fixings will be

provided. We ask you to bring a side dish to

share, beverages for yourself and lawn chairs,

blankets, etc. If you would like to volunteer

to set up or serve, call us!

Della Vecchia Funeral Home 860-628-2293 www.dellavecchiafh.com

Manor Inn 860-628-9877 Manorinnrestaurant.com

Al Joy Tire Service 860-628-2728

Youssef B. Khawaja, MD Internal Medicine & Endocrinology

860-621-9353

Plantsville Funeral Home 860-621-4656

www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com

Giovanni’s Pizzeria 860-621-2299

Dow Gutters 860-726-0045

Landscapes Unlimited Residential and Commercial 860-621-7820

Pest Control 2000,LLC 860-628-8783

Ragozzino’s Deli & Catering 860-621-6979

Serfafino Pharmacy, INC 860-628-7979

www.stores.healthmart.com/serafinopharmacy

Religious Teachers Filippini 860-621-1904 www.filippiniusa.org

Waste Material Trucking Company, INC Residential & Commercial 860-747-6816

Showcase Realty Inc. 176 North Main Street—Southington 860-276-2000

Landino Landscaping Residential and Commercial

860-620-2133 www.landinolanscaping.com

PN Auto Body & Repair 860-793-1999

V.Nanfito Remodeling & Repairs 860-621-6898

CV Tool Company 860-621-0494

Volpe & Sons Automotive 860-628-0067

Della Porta EyeCare, LLC 860-582-0702 www.bristoleyes.com

Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care 203-238-1441 www.FranciscanHC.org

Paul Gregory’s—Bistro & Catering 860-621-9999

Plantsville Family Dental 860-621-2700 www.plantsvillefamily dental.com

Connecticut Casualty Company 1-800-922-2886 www.ctcasualty.com

Catholic Cemeteries Association of the

Archdiocese of Hartford, Inc.