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

March 8, 2020

Second Sunday of Lent

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 (Church during Lent) 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: Michael Manware

Requested by family

Chapel: Charles, Emma, & Robert Herzy

Requested by William & Irene Spring

Rectory Office Hours Monday—Friday 8AM-4PM

SATURDAY, March 7—SS. Perpetua & Felicity,

Martyrs 8:00AM The Parishioners of Saint Thomas Church

4:00PM Ralph & Maria Parlapiano—Birthday

Remembrance Requested by family

SUNDAY, March 8—Second Sunday of Lent 7:30AM Stephen & Helen Keltonic—39h & 32nd

Anniversary Requested by Genevieve Maigarie

10:00AM James Pavlick, Sr. Requested by Rosemary, James Jr., Maura, & Jordan

MONDAY, March 9—St. Frances of Rome, Religious 7:30AM The Parishioners of Saint Thomas Church

TUESDAY, March 10—Lenten Weekday 7:30AM Michael Volpe Requested by Joseph Volpe

WEDNESDAY, March 11—Lenten Weekday NO MASS ON WEDNESDAYS

THURSDAY, March 12—Lenten Weekday 12:10PM Givanni & Carmela Vecchio Requested by Pat & Maria DiChello

FRIDAY, March 13—Lenten Weekday 12:10PM Jerry Rungi Requested by niece Patty

SATURDAY, March 14—Lenten Weekday 8:00AM Frances & Vincent Piazza Requested by Sr. Gina

4:00PM William & Helen Spring, Carol & Jack Potter,

Florence & Edward Podhajski Requested by William & Irene Spring

SUNDAY, March 15—Third Sunday of Lent 7:30AM Nicola & Saveria Sabino—Birthday

Remembrance Requested by daughter Teresa Scirocco & family

10:00AM Harry White, Sr.—Anniversary Remembrance Requested by family

Father Joe’s Notes My dear friends,

As we journey through Lent, we often

focus a great deal upon sin and suffering.

Our prayers remind us of our own

sinfulness and failures to love God

properly. This is an important fact, but it

isn’t the whole picture. If we see nothing

but sin, how would we see forgiveness and

healing? We have to recall this is a time of

charitable works and hope. Lent is about

more than sin; it’s about love. Some of

our people here help us see this.

Last Sunday, we sent our catechumens

and candidates to the cathedral for the Rite

of Sending. They have been drawn to join the Church or

complete their Sacraments. For months, they have been

learning the ways of our faith. Julia Zaslazsky and Julissa

Ventura are preparing for Baptism at the Easter Vigil.

Seth, Sean, and Chloe Glidden are all preparing to receive

First Holy Communion. They understand that Jesus loves

them and wants them to follow him. They have reached a

point in their journey where we feel they are ready to be

blessed by Archbishop Blair to move them toward the

coming Paschal celebration. Continue to pray for them as

they prepare to join us at the Altar of God. We also can

learn from them something about ongoing conversion.

At this time, I am happy to announce the recipients of

the 2020 St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation

here at St. Thomas: Ed & Maura Baker.

Maura has served as a catechist for more

than three decades, teaching our children

Scripture, particularly the Old Testament.

She comes to our Bible study class to learn

more to share with them. You see Ed

serve as a lector, but he also teaches our

Confirmation students and is on the team

organizing and running the men’s ACTS

retreats. They love the Lord and share that

devotion with others in our community.

They help us see Christian charity in

action. If you would like to celebrate with

them, the awards will be presented at the

Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford on Sunday, March 22nd

at 3PM.

I want to say a word of thanks to Ron Ingriselli. He not

only is the head of the ushers here at St. Thomas, but

serves on our Liturgy Committee. When we expressed a

desire to hang a simple wooden cross on the back wall of

the apse, where the Resurrected Christ is normally, he said

he could help. Ron made us a beautiful cross. It will hang

throughout Lent to remind us of the sacrifice of our Lord

on a simple cross in Jerusalem. Ron generously assisted

us to enhance our worship space. Thank you!

Many of our parishioners show us the importance of

Christian charity and deepening our faith. This season of

Lent is a time to grow in these virtues. Don’t just be sad,

take the opportunity to repent and see forgiveness as a

great blessing and a source of joy. This holy time of year

can be a cause to celebrate good things. We are all called

to help each other see that.

Gratefully yours in Christ, Fr. Joe

Question: What does “INRI” mean on the crucifix?

Answer: That’s simple, if you know Latin. INRI is the

abbreviation of Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudeorum. That

translates into English as: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the

Jews. That was the official charge against Jesus posted on

the cross. While the charge was most usually written in

Greek, the common language of the time and place, we are

told by the Gospel of John that Pontius Pilate ordered it to be

written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Rather than carving all

three languages or even longhand of the Latin, most cross

makers simply include the abbreviation of INRI on the

crucifix.

Ask Father

Readings for the week of March 8, 2020

Sunday: Gn 12:1-4a]/2 Tm 1:8b-10/ Mt 17:1-9

Monday: Dn 9:4b-10/Lk 6:36-38

Tuesday: Is 1:10, 16-20/Mt 23:1-12

Wednesday: Jer 18:18-20/Mt 20:17-28

Thursday: Jer 17:5-10/Lk 16:19-31

Friday: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a/Mt 21:33-43, 45-46

Saturday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20/Lk 15:1-3,11-32

Next Sunday: Ex 17:3-7/Rom 5:1-2, 5-8/Jn 4:5-42

LENTEN SERVIICES

CONFESSIONS Mondays 6PM—7PM in church

Saturdays 2:30PM—3:30PM in church

STATIONS OF THE CROSS Fridays at 7:00PM in church

TEACHING MASS Sunday, March 29th at 4:00PM

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 9:00AM—11:00AM

Miraculous Medal Novena In the chapel—rectory basement

Saturdays after the 8:00 a.m. Mass

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—March 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, March 12th, we will b

studying Joshua, Chapter 2—The

Reconnaissance of Jericho. All are

welcome to join us!

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 Lenten Confessions are Saturdays 2:30 until 3:30 PM

and Mondays from 6 until 7PM in the reconciliation

room in the church, or call to make an appointment.

Marriage We need a minimum of six months for preparation.

Couples should contact Father Joe to set up 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 March 1st

Weekly—$6606 / Puerto Rico—$2774 / Online—$2170

† Southington Catholic School †

St. Thomas Religious Ed. † SAVE THE DATE!

First Reconciliation

Our Second Grade Religious Education

class students will come for First

Reconciliation on Monday, March

23rd at 4:15PM.

Children will come

to the church for a

brief ceremony and

then will have time

for their individual

Confession.

Southington Catholic

School Annual Raffle

Tickets are now on sale for our annual raffle. Prizes are

paid with a check to the winner.

The prizes are:

1st Prize—$2,000

2nd

Prize—$1,000

3rd

Prize—$500

4th

Prize—$500

5th

Prize—$250

Tickets are $3 each, and they are available individually

or in books of ten tickets. The winning drawing will be

on Friday, April 24nd in the school cafeteria. Tickets

will be available at the school office.

MEATLESS FRIDAY MEALS!

Southington Catholic School invites you to enjoy a

meatless meal on Friday evenings during Lent. Pasta

Fagioli, salad, bread and dessert will be served in our

school cafeteria. The cost is $ 7.00 per adult, or for

children under 7 years of age, they pay their age.

(There is a maximum prace of $30 per family.) You

may get an order to go for $8. A side option is offered

each week of either of macaroni and cheese or pierogis.

For more information, call 860-628-2485. We hope to

see you on Fridays, when dinner will be served from

5PM to 7PM. Volunteers are invited to join the

planning committee. All are welcome!

Southington Catholic School

Annual Golf Tournament

In honor of Joe Angelillo

Friday, May 8th

Southington Country Club

You’re invited to join with

friends and neighbors in honor-

ing our friend’s memory, Joe An-

gelillo, at the Southington Cath-

olic School Golf Tournament.

This wonderful event features

great golf, delicious food, and

the very important opportunity

to support Catholic education in

our town. Sponsorships are

available by calling Southing-

ton Catholic School or emailing scsgolfcom-

mittee@gmail.com. Register your foursome

today! Call 860-628-2485.

Stewardship

Stewardship Thought:

“Mature disciples make a conscious

decision to follow Jesus, no matter

what the cost”

[USCCB],Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, Tenth Anniversary

Edition, 2002, page 42)

Bereavement Workshops

We have bereavement workshops for

anyone grieving the death of a loved

one. Our New Day group is being

formed now. The first meeting is this

Wednesday at 6:30 PM. To enroll, or

for information, call Deacon Vinny

Raby 860-628-9425. The other option

is Solace & Peace. It serves the needs of those in the

later stages of grief. It’s an open, facilitated group that

meets monthly to discuss various topics related to grief.

The next meeting will be This Tuesday 6:30 PM. For

more info, call Sandra Sequenzia (860) 877-2290.

Baby Bottle Boomerang

Did You Return Your Baby Bottles?

Next weekend (March 14/15th) we will finish collecting all

the baby bottles that were recently distributed. Please return

them next weekend so that we can show our gratitude and

support to the staff and volunteers at Carolyn’s Place, the

Catholic pregnancy resource center serving the greater

Waterbury area. As Jesus tells us, “Whoever receives one

child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever

receives me, receives not me, but the One who sent me.”

Thank you very much.

Ladies Guild Scholarship

The St. Thomas Ladies Guild

Scholarship is available to High

School Seniors who are a member

of St. Thomas parish and will be

enrolled in college in the next

academic year. Applications are

available in the rectory office and

are due by March 27th.

Archbishop’s Annual Appeal Growing in Faith; Giving in Love

Your support of this year’s

Archbishop’s Appeal ensures that

essential charitable, educational, and

pastoral ministries of the Archdiocese

of Hartford are carried forward. We

hope you will help exceed our parish

goal, as you so generously did last year.

If you would like to make a gift, kindly

mail in your pledge card. For more

information, or to make your donation online, just go to

https://appeal.archdioceseofhartford.org/appeal/.

PASSION PLAY TICKETS

The contact names and phone numbers to call

to obtain tickets for the Passion Play are:

Diane 860-628-4197

Bonnie 860-621-7005

Tickets are also available online at

www.stthomassouthington.org/get-tickets

PASSION PLAY PERFORMANCES

Saturday, April 4th

at 7:30PM

Palm Sunday, April 5th at 3:00PM

Monday, April 6th

at 7:30PM

Tuesday, April 7th

at 7:30PM

Wednesday, April 8th

at 7:30PM

No performance on Holy Thursday

Good Friday, April 10th at 7:30PM

Faith and Justice Summit on

Human Trafficking

THIS Saturday March 14th, the Office

for Catholic Social Justice Ministry will

co-sponsor an awareness event on human

trafficking. It will address labor

trafficking and the demand side of labor

and sex trafficking. You'll hear from

national experts, and learn about the

critical role you and your church can have in preventing

human trafficking, and dialogue about top-priority issues

that will accelerate human trafficking awareness and

survivor support ministry in New England. The fee is $30.

Lunch will be provided. The event will be held at the

Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Hartford, 467

Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, 9:00 – 3:00, Lunch included

Registration is available at https://www.thriveevents.org/

faithandjustice

Su

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Tha

nk th

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Al Joy Tire Service 860-628-2728

Youssef B. Khawaja, MD Internal Medicine & Endocrinology

860-621-9353

Plantsville Funeral Home 860-621-4656

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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

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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

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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.

K of C Scholarship

The Isabella Council #15 is accepting applications from

high school seniors who are members of a Catholic

Parish in Southington. They must be seeking further

education in a recognized institute of higher learning

during the upcoming academic year. Applications are

available in the Rectory office. Due by March 30th.

Saints Corner

During the Easter Vigil, we sing a litany of

saints. We seek the intercessions of those

saints in heaven with Christ for those

about to be baptized. The hope is that the

baptized will join the saints forever in

praising God’s glory. Throughout Lent,

we’ll review a few of the saints’ names

you might hear that evening.

St. Triduna: An eighth century saint, she worked in the

early efforts to convert Scotland. According to one

legend, she came from Greece and was responsible for

bringing the bones of St. Andrew to Scotland. She’s a

patroness of the blind, as it’s claimed that she cured a

blind woman in England. A later day bishop, John of

Caithness, prayed to her after being blinded and then

regained his sight. Her feast day is October 8th.

St. Ludmila of Bohemia: A princess converted and

baptized by St. Methodius during his mission to the Slavs

in 871. She and her husband, Duke Boriwoj, shared the

Christian faith with their subjects. It didn’t take. She had

much greater success in the education of her grandson, St.

Wenceslaus (Good King Wenceslaus of the carol).

Ludmila’s daughter-in-law, Drahomira, became jealous of

her influence upon her son. She wanted him to be a

political schemer, not a Christian caring for the poor - as

Ludmila taught. Drahomira hired men to strangle her

mother-in-law for teaching Wenceslaus devotion to God

above devotion to state. St. Ludmila was murdered in

921. She is the patron saint of the Czech Republic,

converts, and against problem in-laws. Her feast day is

September 16th. (Fun fact: she’s Fr. Joe’s 35th great-

grandmother.)

St. Catherine of Siena: Born in Siena, Italy in 1347, the

24th child (yes 24th!) of her parents’ 25 children. After

years of solitude in prayer when first becoming a

Dominican, she worked to care for the poor and the sick.

She was a mystic and a spiritual writer. Her works have

inspired many to greater prayer lives and led to her being

named a Doctor of the Church. We know about her

writings, but did you know she’s the patron saint of nurses

and against fire? Her patronage of fire comes from that

fact that she often had ecstatic visions and fell into fires,

but neither her clothes nor body were ever burned. Her

feast day is April 29th.