Does it

matter? March 3-7

with Father Hickey

Our Lady of Grace

Lenten mission

MISSION SCHEDULE Saturday & Sunday at the weekend Masses

DOES IT MATTER WHOM WE WORSHIP?

Monday

DOES IT MATTER IF WE WORSHIP?

Afternoon Session in Parish Hall

Light Refreshments ................................... 1:00 pm

Lecture Starts ............................................. 1:30 pm

Evening Session in the Church

Light Refreshments .................................. 6:30 pm

Lecture Starts ............................................ 7:00 pm

Confession to Follow

Tuesday

DOES IT MATTER HOW WE WORSHIP?

Afternoon Session in Parish Hall

Light Refreshments ................................... 1:00 pm

Lecture Starts ............................................. 1:30 pm

Evening Session in the Church

Light Refreshments .................................. 6:30 pm

Lecture Starts ............................................ 7:00 pm

Confession to Follow

Wednesday

DOES IT MATTER WHERE WE WORSHIP?

Afternoon Session in Parish Hall

Light Refreshments ................................... 1:00 pm

Lecture Starts ............................................. 1:30 pm

Evening Session in Church

Light Refreshments .................................. 6:30 pm

Lecture Starts ............................................ 7:00 pm

Confession to Follow

Recommended Reading

Letters to a Young Catholic by George Weigel

FATHER

THOMAS HICKEY

Fr. Thomas Hickey spent over twenty-five years of

his life as a Baptist minister. Compelled by the

undeniable witness of history and the inescapable

conclusions of Scripture, Fr. Hickey resigned his

ministry and was received into full communion with

the Catholic Church in 2002. To his great surprise, he

was given an opportunity to study for the priesthood

at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, CT with the

Archdiocese of Hartford.

In May of 2010 he was ordained to the priesthood by

Archbishop Henry Mansell. He served three years as

Parochial Vicar at St. Paul and St. Augustine parishes

in Glastonbury, CT, four years as Pastor of St.

Stephen parish and school in Hamden, CT, while

teaching Holy Scripture at Holy Apostles Seminary,

and is currently Pastor of St. Mary Magdalen parish

and school in Oakville, CT.

MISSION THEME

DOES IT MATTER?

In a world where increasingly more people are

identifying their religion as “none,” Catholics have

to face—and answer—the question “Does it

matter?” Does it matter whom we worship? Does it

matter where we worship? Does it matter how we

worship? Does it matter if we worship at all?

The growing secularization of our world has led to

widespread criticism and disdain for religion, the

pervasive influence of relativism has reduced truth

to a matter of opinion, and the insidious narcissism

of our day has yielded gods of our own invention.

We hear phrases like “The Church needs to get

with the times,” or “I’m spiritual, but not religious,”

or “The Universe wants to bless me.” Our mission

will examine how we answer these questions and

challenges—first for ourselves, and then for those

around us.

SAT & SUN

DOES IT MATTER?

The weekend homilies will focus on the Scripture

readings of the day and present an overview for the

Mission. Each day, examine the journey of a

prominent 20th-century Catholic convert in light of

the four characteristics of the Church: one, holy,

Catholic, and apostolic.

March 3 & 4

Does it matter WHOM we worship?

Notes:

MONDAY

DOES IT MATTER?

Monday’s mission will focus on the growing trend

of this generation to call upon “The Universe” as if

it is something bigger than God. This attempt to

escape the need to worship will be examined in

light of Romans 1:16-32.

March 5

Does it matter IF we worship?

Notes:

NOTES

TUESDAY

DOES IT MATTER?

Tuesday’s mission will deal with the perception

that the Church is “behind the times” and

irrelevant in the modern world. This tendency to

blur the unchanging message of the Church will be

examined in light of various Scripture passages.

March 6

Does it matter How we worship?

Notes:

NOTES

WEDNESDAY

DOES IT MATTER?

Wednesday’s mission will address those who claim

to be “spiritual but not religious” and the

disintegration of morality that follows from such

thinking. The conversation of Jesus with the

woman at the well in John 4 will be used to

evaluate this flight from religion.

March 7

Does it matter where we worship?

Notes:

NOTES

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;

Thy justice like mountains high soaring above

Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;

In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;

We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,

And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.

Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light

Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;

All laud we would render, O help us to see:

’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.

PrayerGracious God, our loving Heavenly Father, we present our

hearts and minds to You for the transforming work of Your

Holy Spirit to renew us in faith, hope, and love through this

time we have given to You.

May we continue to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord

Jesus Christ, Your Beloved Son, that we may be blameless and

innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a

crooked and perverse generation, and shine like lights in the

world. (Php 2:15)

We ask this through Christ our Lord, with the intercessions of

the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Grace. Amen.

“IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE”

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Pray for Us.