April 6, 2025

Dear Friends:

This Sunday’s Gospel presents a poignant scene. Taken from the eighth chapter of John, this account appears nowhere else in the Gospels. It tells of Jesus’ encounter with a woman who was caught in the act of committing adultery, a very grave sin, a sin which, under the Law of Moses, called for death by stoning. In this account, scribes and Pharisees, those who often prided themselves on their strict observance of all that the Law of Moses demanded, bring this woman before Jesus, shaming her publicly, demeaning and depersonalizing her in the process, in order to try to score a point against Jesus. They wanted to trap him so that they could have a reason to bring charges against him, and ultimately, get rid of him.

They reminded Jesus of what the Law of Moses prescribed for anyone caught in the act of adultery, death by stoning. What does Jesus have to say? If he agreed, ordering the woman to be stoned, he would get into trouble with the Roman authorities who would see such a command as an act of sedition, for Rome had reserved all capital punishment to itself. If Jesus did not order the woman to be stoned, he could be charged with violating the strict demands of the Law of Moses.

Masterfully, Jesus says nothing. Instead, he bends down and begins with write with his finger on the ground. Many commentators through the centuries have wondered just what Jesus wrote on the ground. He could merely be doodling, as he thought about a response. He could have written down the sins of the religious leaders who accused the woman. One interesting idea holds that Jesus wrote on the ground, “Where is the man?” for, as we know, it takes two to commit an act of adultery. Whatever he did write, we do not know.

What we do know is that Jesus straightened up and, ignoring their question, threw the gauntlet, as it were, back in their direction. “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. And, as John tells it, they all left, one by one, beginning with the elders who accused the woman in the first place. In the end, only the woman and Jesus remained.

Jesus treated the woman, nameless to this day, with great compassion and mercy. He treated her as a person worthy of love and respect. For his part, he would not condemn her. But he does tell her to “Go, and from now on, do not sin anymore.” We can only imagine just how that woman’s life that day was changed forever.

This account in John’s Gospel gives us a two things to ponder. First of all, we should never use others, or the sins and failings of others, as a means of settling scores or getting even or even as a means of exalting ourselves. We should never look down on others as sinners, less than ourselves, or even as less than human because of what they have done. All of us are sinners. All of us are capable, given the right set of circumstances, of committing sin, even very grave sin. What we are called to with regard to others, especially when it comes to their sins and failings, is compassion and mercy.

Secondly, we must avoid the temptation to take sin lightly, or to see it as of no account. Jesus certainly did not do so with the woman. While he did not beat her down, condemn her and berate her for her sin, he did not excuse it lightly, either. He met her where she was and called her forward. He did not condemn her, but readily forgave her, and challenged her to be her better self. The same holds true for us. Sin, in any form, in any degree, is loathsome in the eyes of God and it is not be taken lightly. That being said, no sin is beyond God’s mercy. No one is ever written off by God. All are offered readily and often the mercy and compassion of God. All we need do is to acknowledge our sins and accept God’s mercy and forgiveness, and get up and move forward. “Go, and from now on, do not sin anymore.”

Have a good week!

March 30, 2025

Dear Friends:

This week’s Gospel reading, taken from the fifteenth chapter of Luke, is the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son. There are three main characters in the parable: the father who loves his sons equally and without measure, the dutiful, loyal and faithful older son, and the wayward, selfish younger son. When we read this parable, it is common for us to focus on the sinful selfishness of the younger son. In a real sense, even though few, if any of us, sink to the depths of sin as did the younger son, we all tend to identify with him.

Perhaps we would do well to focus this year on the other two characters. The father, who is prodigal in every degree as is his wayward younger son, but prodigal in his extending mercy, welcome, and forgiveness, clearly represents God, who is rich in mercy, abundant in kindness, always searching for us, and welcoming us back with great joy, whenever we hear the call to turn away from sin and come home to him. It is interesting that Jesus makes a point of the father’s habit of looking for his younger son each day, hoping that he would return. How many days passed without his doing so. How many days of pain and heartache he endured. Then, one day, the son comes home, and the father, seeing him far off, runs with joy to meet him. He embraces him, kisses him, gives him a robe, sandals and a ring (symbols of his being fully restored to the family) and throws a gala party for him. The son tries to confess his sins, his waywardness, but the father seems not to focus on that as much as on the joy of having him back.

Then there is the older son, dutiful, faithful, always there. He becomes resentful at the extravagance of mercy his father shows his younger brother. He becomes embittered and feels short-changed, sensing that all of his faithfulness and duty were for nothing. He refuses to go in to the party. He refuses to celebrate his younger son’s coming home, coming back to life. Instead, his father comes out to plead with him to come in, to celebrate, to welcome his brother back. The older son is assured that he is still loved, that he has not been short-changed, but did he ever actually go in? That is the question.

What about us? There is a tendency in all of us to be like that older son: self-righteous, judgmental, condescending, exclusionary. We look down on those who do not live as we do. We tend to see them as outsiders, not to be welcomed, not to be embraced. We can tend to set up barriers to keep them out, to make their way back more difficult, more arduous. While in no way should we ever take sin lightly or treat it as of no consequence, we must try to do all that we can to invite those who have distanced themselves from God, from the Church, from the Christian way of life, to come home, to come back. I love the image that Pope Francis used early in his papal ministry when he spoke of the Church as a “field hospital for sinners.”

As Lent progresses, let each of us take a good, long, hard look within ourselves. May we examine ourselves, knowing both our sinfulness and our virtues. May we ask the Lord to help us to be compassionate, welcoming, and gracious to everyone, even those who fall short of our standards. May we remember that each of us is prone to sin, even very grave sin. May we always remember the old adage, “there, but for the grace of God, go I.”

Have a good week!

March 23, 2025

Dear Friends:

I am happy to welcome Deacon George Sartor to the clergy of our parish. He was assigned to Precious Blood Parish by Archbishop Coyne after serving previously in parishes in East Haven, and more recently, at St. Raphael here in Milford. Deacon George is known to many of you. He was a member of the former St. Mary Parish in his young- er years, and then moved to Woodmont and, for a number of years, was a member of the former St. Agnes Parish. I look forward to working with Deacon George as we try to serve the people of our parish. Please greet him and welcome him personally, if you have not yet done so.

In any community, there is always the problem of rumors, stories that are spread around that very often unfounded or factually false. There is a rumor that Danielle Hogan, our parish secretary, has quit. This is not true. What is true is that she has decided to devote more time to a business operated by her family, as she is needed, and so she is reducing her hours here at the parish. Danielle will still be in the parish office for a day or two each week. At the same time, I am happy to welcome Danielle O’Brien to the parish staff. She will serve a dual role in the parish office, serving as secretary and as an assistant to Meg Hayes, our business manager. Danielle has children in our school and has volunteered as the treasurer of the Home and School Association. She also has extensive experience in bookkeeping. Her assistance to Meg is needed and very much welcomed.

I feel a need to remind everyone about being on time for Mass. It is disruptive for people to come into Mass late and disturb those already in church trying to participate in the Mass. While sometimes being late cannot be helped, often all that is required is for everyone to make the effort to leave in sufficient time so as to be in church before Mass begins. If one is late for Mass, and I mean more than

five or ten minutes late, then one should not normally receive Communion. I have witnessed personally some people coming into church around the time of the consecration or even later and then presenting themselves for Communion. This is improper and should not be done. We are fortunate to have six Masses each weekend in the parish. So there are sufficient opportunities for parishioners to come to Mass on time.

I hope that many will join us this Sunday afternoon at 2:00 at St. Agnes for the production of “Tolton.” It is superb and lasts just over an hour. It is a very good way to spend part of a Sunday afternoon in Lent.

Have a good week!

March 16, 2025

Dear Friends:

Next Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM at St. Agnes, there will be a production about the life of Father Augustine Tolton, who was the first African-American priest ordained in the United States. Fr. Tolton, who was born in rural Missouri in 1854 and died in Chicago in 1897, lived a model and exemplary life, a life of such remarkable holiness, that he is now being considered for canonization as a saint. He already has been granted the title of “Venerable,” which is indicative of his extraordinary holiness. This one-man production about the life of Fr. Tolton, I am told, is quite good, very interesting, inspiring, and worthwhile. It will last just over an hour. I hope that many of you will take the time to come to St. Agnes next Sunday afternoon. It is a good way to spend a small part of a Sunday afternoon in Lent.

By now, most of you have received in the mail a request from Archbishop Coyne soliciting your gift to the 2025 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. Our parish goal remains at $160,000, which may seem like a lot, but given the size of our parish, it should be attainable. Among the many worthy projects funded by the Appeal, one stands out in particular: the promotion and support of vocations to the priesthood and the diaconate. Owing to the people of the Archdiocese praying the prayer for vocations, there has been a great uptick in the number of men interested in exploring the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood, or a vocation to the diaconate. One of our own will be entering into priestly formation in the seminary come the fall, and another is already a bit along on the way to becoming a deacon. This costs money. It is estimated that to support each seminarian with room and board, tuition, books, and medical insurance costs $69,000 a year, totaling over $1.4 million in all for the year. All of us can lend our support to these men who seek to serve the Church through our prayers and our financial support. A gift or pledge to the Appeal would be the perfect way to do so.

The Ash Wednesday collection, as of this writing, stands at $10,181, over a thousand dollars more than we took in last year. The proceeds will be sent to the Beth-El Shelter to help them with the work that they do. We will send it the week of March 23 to allow anyone who has not made a gift to do so.

Have a good week!

March 2, 2025

Dear Friends:

This Wednesday, March 5, is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is a season that has been called the “springtime of the soul” for it is a time to pause and reflect on our lives and to take into account our sins and failings. Awareness of our sins and failings can fill us with a sense of hopelessness and despair, but it should not. Lent reminds us that God is kind and merciful, a God who does not hold our sins against us, a God who wants everyone to be converted and to live better lives in this world and to live forever in eternity.

In this bulletin is the schedule for Lent and Holy Week. Ash Wednesday will be a busy day, with five Masses and a Liturgy of the Word service. At all of these celebrations, ashes will be imposed after the homily, as directed by the rubrics. In keeping with our custom since the pandemic, we will once again impose ashes on the top of the head and not on the forehead. This is the way that ashes are imposed in much of the world and it certainly is a more sanitary way of doing it. Furthermore, it aligns very well with the clear message of the Gospel for Ash Wednesday, taken the sixth chapter of Matthew, where Jesus teaches us to avoid what I would call “ostentatious” acts of piety, doing pious things as a way of showing off or drawing attention to ourselves. The “work” of Lent is interior in nature and whatever we do for Lent, be it receiving ashes, taking time for extra prayer, fasting from food, or our cell-phones, or whatever else, or giving alms to needy causes, is strictly between ourselves and God. We should not be looking for attention or applause. Of course, witnessing to our faith is crucial, but we should do so principally by a changed way of life and not by seeking accolades for ourselves.

Take note, too, that we will be praying the Stations of the Cross for all the Fridays of Lent at St. Agnes at 7:30 PM. We will have our usual daily Masses and the usual two hours of confessions each week, with additional time for confession on Holy Saturday morning. Finally, by way of encouraging almsgiving, as has been the custom for several years now, we will take a collection on Ash Wednesday at all services, and the proceeds will be donated to the Beth-El Shelter. Last year, our parish donated some $9,000 to Beth-El from this collection. At the doors, too, there are rice bowls for anyone who would like to make use of them during Lent. Please bring back your donations at the end of Lent and they will be sent to the Archdiocese and then to Catholic Relief Services to do good for the needy and the poor. It would be most helpful if you could convert coinage into bills or a check, as it is a burden to count large amounts of coinage.

May this season of Lent be a time of significant spiritual renewal for us all!

February 16, 2025

Dear Friends:

As we celebrate the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, I note that Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent is just two and half weeks away. Lent is our annual time in the Church for spiritual renewal, a determined effort to reform our lives by rooting out the sins we commit, be they mortal or venial in nature. It is a time for us to turn back to God, to turn our lives over to the Lord once again, making an effort to live each day more and more in line with the Gospels and what Jesus asks of us.

As we prepare to begin Lent, now is the time for each of us to consider what we will be doing to make the forty days a time of authentic spiritual renewal. We can dedicate ourselves to time for prayer each day, or more time if we are already serious about prayer. We can make a resolution to spend time in adoration and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Both churches are open every day affording almost anyone the time and space for prayer before the tabernacle. The Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday evening in Lent. You could also pray the Stations of the Cross on your own privately. It almost goes without saying that celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation (“going to confession”) ought to be part of any proper observance of Lent.

We can resolve to practice the discipline of fasting, certainly regarding food in keeping with the discipline of the Church regarding fast and abstinence. We might wish to expand on the idea of fasting and abstinence by resolving to spend less time each day online or on social media, making a concerted effort to connect with others face to face wherever possible. We can certainly resolve to practice charity in what we say or do to others, pledging never to say something online that we would never say in person to another, and pledging never to do anything to another that we would not want done to ourselves.

Finally, we should consider almsgiving, giving of our time, talent and treasure to others. We can give alms through the Operation Rice Bowl effort sponsored by Catholic Relief Services. There are opportunities on a local level as well, such as supporting the parish special needs fund, the Deacon John Rigely Food Pantry, or the Beth-El Shelter.

What will you do to make this Lent a special one? Now is the time to start thinking and making some serious plans. Elsewhere in this bulletin, the parish schedule for Ash Wednesday, the weeks of Lent, and the days of Holy Week is available to you. Please cut it out and keep it handy as Lent approaches.

Have a good week!

February 9, 2025

Dear Friends:

In these early weeks of the new year, the readings from the Gospels at Mass are taken from the early days of Jesus’ ministry. In the text taken from Luke for this Sunday, we hear about how Jesus began to call his disciples. Jesus encounters fishermen along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, namely Simon, as well as James, and John, both of whom were sons of Zebedee, who were partners in business with Simon. By the end of the reading, Luke tells us that all three “left everything and followed him.”

That is astonishing. What was it about Jesus that moved these rough and ready men of the sea to abandon their livelihoods and follow him? Was it something about the way Jesus looked at them? Was it something Jesus said or the way he said it? We do not know, but we do know that Jesus called them to be “fishers of men” and they answered the call. Along the way as the story of the Gospels unfolds, there will be others called by Jesus as well, until there were twelve in all, whom he named apostles. It would be these men who would go to spread the message of Jesus around the known world, and from there, others would build on their work. The result of this is marvelous and it has been life changing, not just for those who respond to the call of Jesus, but for the world itself. No single individual has had the impact on the history of the world that Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, has had.

We are part of this story. We, too, have been called by Jesus to follow him, to live by his teachings, to change the world around us, often in little ways, and ultimately, to live forever with him. The call is renewed each day. Do we hear the call to follow Jesus each day? Or do we drift along from one moment to the next, even aimlessly? Do we see our lives as having a purpose and an ultimate goal? Or do we live only for the moment?

One poignant moment in the Gospel today occurs after the great catch of fish is made. Peter, overwhelmed by the wonder of the catch, is filled with an immediate and intense awareness of his sinfulness and unworthiness. Falling before Jesus, he begs him, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Jesus responds only in love, urging him to have no fear, to follow him, and to bring others to him.

This scene should instill in us two things. We should be aware of our sinfulness, that we are sinners, all of us, without exception. I once heard it said that if we do not see ourselves as sinful, as sinners, we have no need of Jesus, who saves us from our sins. Secondly, we should not let awareness of our sinfulness discourage us. We can repent. God still calls us forth from where we are and asks us to work with him, not only for our own salvation, but for the salvation of others as well. We are all instruments in God’s hands, and we can do great things for God, if we wish to and if we allow God to work in us and through us.

I conclude with one note of “business” as it were. There will be a reception held in honor of Deacon Nick Genovese on Sunday, March 2, from 1:00-3:00 PM in Father Callahan Hall at St. Agnes. I hope that many will stop by to greet Deacon Nick, to wish him well, and to thank him for all that he has done over the years for the people of the parish.

Have a good week.

January 26, 2025

Dear Friends:

Last weekend in my homily, I focused on the words of Mary spoken to the waiters at the wedding in Cana: “Do whatever he tells you.” I asked just what it is that Jesus tells us to do and I gave a listing of those things, a listing that is exhaustive in no way, but substantial enough. For the benefit of those who were not there, and in response to a number of requests from those who heard the homily, I now give you that list:

1. Seek peace. Be a person that promotes harmony in your relationships with others.

2. Be a light for others. Put your good deeds, your way of life, out there for all to see. Spread positivity.

3. Be a person of prayer. Make time and space each day to spend time with God in prayer. Practice silent prayer. Seek to connect with God and to know God better and what God wants of you and for you.

4. Forgive others. Life is too short to bear endless grudges which eat us up emotionally and sap us spiritually. Forgive, and if it is difficult, ask God for the help you need. You cannot expect God to forgive you if you are unwilling to forgive those who hurt or offend you.

5. Seek God’s Kingdom above all else. Put God at the center of your life and things will begin to fall into place in ways that may surprise you.

6. Love your neighbor. Treat others in the way you want to be treated, everyone without exception.

7. Humble yourself. Think of others more than of yourself. Listen to what others say and be open to other points of view. Do not think you know everything or have all the answers. You don’t. Don’t think that you are perfect or better than others. You probably are not.

8. Exalt others. Try to think the best of others, especially those whom you do not like or with whom you do not agree. Putting others down does no good and it diminishes you as well. Kindness and compassion go a long way.

9. Serve the least. Don’t ever overlook or, even worse, ignore those in need. Whatever we do for them, we do to Jesus himself. Our salvation may well hinge on this.

10. Go and make disciples. Live in such a way that others will know that you believe in Jesus. Help others to find that same hope and purpose in life that you have discovered through your faith in Christ.

11. Love one another. This is the fundamental, bottom-line commandment. If we do this, Jesus says that all will recognize us as his disciples. Break down any walls or barriers that might keep us from connecting in love with others.

12. Trust in God. God has made promises, and God keeps his promises. He has promised to be with us through everything, good and bad, thick or thin, until the end of the ages. Rely on God’s power and guidance in all the challenges of life. It’s there for the asking.

I would add one addition to the list, that being Take sin seriously, repent, and try to root it out of your life. The very first words Jesus spoke beginning his public ministry were a proclamation and a call. He proclaimed that the Kingdom of God is at hand. He called people to repentance as a fitting response to the presence of the Kingdom.

Have a good week!

January 12, 2025

Dear Friends:

This weekend’s celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord brings to a close the Christmas season in the Church. It has been, as it always is for many people, but not all by any means, a special and warm time of the year, a time filled with good memories. It is far too short in duration, but may we try to keep the “spirit”of Christmas going every day throughout the year. As Kris Kringle said in the film Miracle on 34th Street, “Christmas is not a day, but a frame of mind.”

I know that I speak for the other members of the clergy as well as the staff in expressing gratitude to all who sent cards, cookies and other baked goods, and gifts for Christmas. It was very much appreciated.

Now that the new parish Mass schedule has taken effect, I was encouraged to see that just about everyone made adjustments. The reduction in Masses is not necessarily a bad thing. It enhances the spirit of community that comes from having our larger churches a bit fuller, and it helps the priests to celebrate the Masses well, avoiding the temptation to be lax owing to having too many Masses to say, the temptation being to just “rattle off” or “get through” the Mass. The Mass is the central act of our faith in the Church and it must be celebrated properly and prayerfully.

I am grateful to all who have expressed an interest in counting the weekly collections. We will be arranging meetings in order to review procedures, fill out forms for background checks, set preliminary schedules, and other matters. These meetings, one during the day for those who can come during the day, another in the evening for those who can come then, will be scheduled for early February. A letter will be forthcoming in the near future. It is my hope to have the new counters start beginning with the First Sunday of Lent, which is March 9.

Speaking of volunteers, we are in need of additional lectors (readers) and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. We can use additional readers at every Mass, save the 9:30 at St. Agnes, and we can use extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at all Masses. One need not be afraid of reading in Church. Training will be provided for both ministries. If you are interested please contact the rectory at (203) 878-3571 and leave your name, the ministry you would like to do, and what Mass (es) you would prefer.

Finally, a reminder is in order now that we are in the middle of January. If the Milford Public Schools are closed because of the weather, the morning Mass will not be celebrated and all evening meetings are cancelled. This obviously applies to weekdays. On weekends, Masses will be celebrated unless a dispensation is given by the Archbishop. In every instance, though, please use good sense and stay safe. If the weather is bad and the roads are treacherous, the obligation to come to Mass is not in force.

Have a good week!

December 15, 2024

Dear Friends:

In October, at the annual convocation for priests of the Archdiocese held in Groton, a change in policy for deacons was announced. This past week, a notice came from the Office of the Diaconate that this policy has been formally implemented by Archbishop Coyne and that it applies to all deacons in the Archdiocese of Hartford, effective January 1.

The retirement age for deacons is normally seventy-five (75) years of age. Going forward, on attaining the age of 75, every deacon is to meet with the pastor to discuss his ministry, his health and his willingness to continue or not. The Director of the Diaconate is also involved in this discussion at some point. Once the consultations have taken place, a deacon may ask to retire outright or to continue in active ministry, writing a letter indicating his wish to the Archbishop. If the deacon chooses to remain in active ministry, the Archbishop will grant permission for a year, and every year thereafter, up to the age of eighty (80), that same process of consultation must be undertaken. These deacons are considered Senior Deacons Active. If the deacon asks for retirement, his faculties as a deacon are suspended and he is no longer permitted to assist at Mass, preach, baptize, or witness and bless marriages. These deacons are considered to be Senior Deacons Retired. Special permission on a case by case basis may be sought from the Archbishop in the case of family baptisms, funeral Masses, or weddings.

The major change in this policy affects all deacons in that, on reaching the age of eighty (80), all deacons are automatically considered Senior Deacons Retired. Deacon Nicholas Genovese, who has been a stalwart and mainstay at St. Agnes for many years, and at Precious Blood more recently is affected by this policy change. Therefore, as per the policy, effective January 1, 2025, Deacon Nick will be a Senior Retired Deacon. He will still be around, but he will no longer be able to assist at Mass, preach, baptize, or witness and bless marriages. I must say that I am sorry to lose his capable assistance. He was a valued collaborator with Fr. Francis Callahan at St. Agnes for many years, and his collaboration with me has proven to be equally so. I am not happy with this change in policy, but it is the decision of the Archbishop and we must abide by it.

A word about “faculties” is in order. All deacons and all priests work with the bishop, assisting him in the care of souls by administering the sacraments. We receive the “power” to do so by virtue of our ordination, but we cannot exercise that power without the granting of specific permission to do so by the bishop. This “permission” to exercise the ministry in the name of the bishop is what we commonly call “faculties.” That permission can be with- drawn at any time by the bishop, usually for reasons of age, incapacity, or disciplinary matters.

Please understand that Deacon Nick is not being singled out in this decision made by the Archbishop. It applies to all deacons, without exception, once they reach their eightieth (80th) year.

Deacon Nick turned 80 on November 8. In summary, I thank Deacon Nick for his generous service to the parish over many years. I know that he will be around, visible, and active as his time, health, and circumstances allow.

December 8, 2024

Dear Friends:

Back in the early part of the year, a financial review was conducted on both our parish and our school. This is a normal event, mandated every three or four years. The goal is to assist the pastor in proper implementation of financial controls and procedures as set down by the Archdiocese of Hartford. The results of our parish and school review were generally positive and recommendations for changes were made. Those recommendations, for the most part, have been implemented already or are in the process of being implemented.

I write about this because one of the recommendations made for our parish is that we need to change the way parish collections are counted, tallied, and prepared for deposit in the banks. For many years, going back even before I came to Milford, there has been a team of four people, usually paid by the parish, who come in on Monday mornings to open the envelopes, separate the cash and the checks, count the collections for each Mass, and then prepare the funds for deposit. This system has worked well, but the Archdiocese insists that it must be changed.

Therefore, I am asking for help. I will need several teams of people willing to come in to count the collections going forward. It will have to be on a volunteer basis, as we are no longer able to have employees count collections. Given that we are reducing our Mass schedule to six Masses in the new year, it is possible to have two teams each week come in, one team of three on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 11:30 and another on Monday mornings from 9:00 to 11:30. It can all be done on Monday morning, if need be, but it will take longer than two and a half hours. The collections for the 4:30 PM vigil Mass on Saturday, as well as the 7:00, 8:15, and 9:30 AM Masses on Sunday can be counted Sunday morning. The collections for the 10:45 AM and 4:30 PM Masses on Sunday can be counted on Monday and the final bank deposit compiled and prepared. The thinking behind this is that some parishioners who work on weekdays might be free to help us on Sunday mornings. Those who are retired or do not work can do so on Monday. In the end, I would think that twenty-four people (or more, given the need for substitutes), would work well. Two teams of three would count each week, and no team would be needed more than once a month.

The requirements for this are clear. Anyone who wishes to help us in this work must be honest, able to keep information confidential, and reliable. In accordance with the policy of the Archdiocese of Hartford, background checks will be made and we will arrange for proper VIRTUS training, all in keeping with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults. I ask anyone who is interested to speak to me or to call the parish office at (203) 878-3571, leaving your name and contact information. I may also approach individuals whom I think would be good candidates to ask them to consider helping the parish in this way. Come the new year, it is my hope that we will have a meeting for purposes of orientation and then implement the new system of counting collections no later than Lent, which begins in March.

Know that I am grateful for your generous support of the parish and that I consider it to be a serious trust that I have to be sure that the money given to the parish is properly and carefully used.

Have a good week!

December 1, 2024

Dear Friends:

This first Sunday in December brings us to the dawn of a new liturgical year as we launch into the season of Advent. This short season is devoted to hopeful preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s birth at Christmas, an event in history, and it is also devoted to hopeful preparation for the Lord’s return in glory at the end of time as the Judge of the living and the dead. It is my hope that all of us will strive to step back from the hectic pace of activity at this time of year, with all of the preparations that go on for Christmas, so as to take some more time for quiet prayer, reading over the Scriptures of the days of Advent as we make our way along, Be sure also to take the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Christmas.

As we begin the liturgical year of 2025, we enter into what is called a “Holy Year” or a “Jubilee Year.” Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first Jubilee Year or Holy Year in 1300 and every twenty-five years since, his successors have followed suit, with additional Holy Years celebrated for special anniversaries along the way. It is amazing to think that we are already one quarter of the way through the new century. Pope Francis has designated the theme of this Holy Year to be Christian hope. His proclamation of the Holy Year, issued in a solemn document released on Ascension Thursday this year, is titled “Spes Non Confundit,” words taken from St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans (Rm 5:5), which proclaim that “Hope does not disappoint.”

In our day of ever-increasing uncertainty and anxiety, there is a great need for renewed hope and we would do well to reflect on Christian hope, which is one of the “theological virtues,” as set down by St. Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 13). As the Holy Father puts it, “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring.” Hope is not simply naive optimism or looking around at the world through “rose-colored glasses.” Christian hope is intricately connected with the other two theological virtues, faith and love. Christian hope, grounded in a solid faith in the goodness of God shown forth in his giving up his Son for us, is also built upon the virtue of love, God’s love poured out to us in the Holy Spirit, a love we are called to return to God and to others. Based on this, Christian hope is grounded in God, trusting that God will see us through the mists of the future safely and that, as St. Paul proclaims, “for those who love God, everything works out for good.” Elsewhere in this bulletin, I will arrange to print the “Act of Hope.” I suggest that you pray it each day throughout the coming year.

Have a good week!

November 10, 2024

Dear Friends:

During the month of October, as is the custom, we undertook what is known as the “October Count.” During all the weekend Masses, the ushers went down the aisles of both churches and took a count of Mass attendance. We also estimate the number of parishioners who receive Communion. The results are reported to the Archdiocese, and this year we are required to submit an updated seating capacity for each church. I estimate that each of our churches can accommodate 600 people comfortably. This data will be used by the Archdiocese as well as ourselves to gauge the number of Masses needed each weekend. No changes should be expected as we are reducing already from eight Masses to six starting in January.

The results of this year’s October Count indicate that our average weekend attendance for the parish as a whole stands at 1559 people, with three quarters of those attending Mass doing so at St. Mary’s Church. The average weekend Mass attendance for St. Mary’s stands at 1127, whereas the attendance for St. Agnes stands at 432. This is not surprising given the size of St. Mary’s Parish prior to the merger in 2017. St. Mary’s on its own was one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese, and even now as a merged parish, we are, I am told, the fifth largest in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

While I, as most pastors are, remain concerned about the numbers of parishioners who come to Mass regularly, I will not sound the alarm just yet. With a revised and reduced Mass schedule coming in January, I would expect that the numbers attending each Mass will increase and bring our attendance close to the 50% threshold which the Archdiocese wants to see. That number will be about 300 people per Mass. It behooves everyone to encourage people they know who used to come to Mass to return to doing so, and not just for statistical purposes. Regular participation at Mass and receiving the Eucharist are an essential, base-line necessity for anyone who claims to be Catholic. All that is needed often is a personal invitation from us. Please consider doing so.

Our Annual Collection is doing very well. After just a few weeks, the gifts we have received amount to $35,000, half of our goal. The projects designated for funding in this year’s Annual Collection are worthy ones. I have been told that we have one of the most beautiful and best maintained parish plants in the Archdiocese. All of us can be justly proud of that, and I add a word of thanks to Rob Lynch and the maintenance staff for the excellent work they do on a continual basis. If you have not made a gift to the Annual Collection yet, please consider doing so.

October 27, 2024

Dear Friends:

As we come to the end of the month of October, we see all around us signs of the dying of nature. The Church echoes this in her liturgy during the month of November as we come to the end of the liturgical year and prepare to launch into Advent. It is no accident that the month of November begins with two liturgical celebrations focused on the “after-life” or what follows death. On November 1, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints when we remember “holy men and women of every time and place” as the opening prayer for this feast once prayed. In celebrating the saints, we rejoice in the lives of holiness and fidelity that they lived, lives that serve as models and encouragement to us as we make our pilgrim journey through life. We remember that they are friends of God and our friends who can pray for us even now. On November 2, we remember All Souls, our beloved dead, who, undergoing final purification before entering into the life of heaven, are in need of our prayers. The entire month of November is dedicated to commemorating the faithful departed, and all of us have loved ones numbered among them. I, for one, make it the practice that whenever there is no obligatory celebration for a given day, I celebrate the Mass for all the deceased. Know that your loved ones will be included in my prayers.

By way of reminder, this Friday, November 1, is the Solemnity of All Saints and a holy day of obligation. There will be four Masses on that day: at 7:00 AM and 12:05 PM at St. Mary’s and at 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM at St. Agnes’.

I have received a few complaints about the impending change in the Mass schedule that will be implemented on January 2. I will say again in response to these complaints that the changes are being made at the direction of the Archbishop. I am not trying “to close” St. Agnes’ (as anyone would note seeing that the new schedule eliminates a Mass both at St. Agnes’ and St. Mary’s). Finally, the schedule is designed to be able to be covered by a single priest if ever necessary. I should also say that, under Canon Law, the pastor has sole authority over the parish schedule and that he can set it as he sees fit. In my defense, I did consult with both the parish clergy and the parish council before deciding to make the changes that I did.

One more thing needs to be said. We are now nearly seven and half years into the life of our merged parish. Everyone needs to think less of churches and more of the parish as a whole. Flexibility and openness is what is called for on the part of everyone. If your preferred Mass is being eliminated in January, choose another Mass even if it is in the “other church.” While churches are important nostalgically, our faith is grounded in Jesus Christ, not in a particular building. By way of some perspective, my home parish in Waterbury when I was a child was one of the five largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford. That church is now closed, with no Masses being celebrated there at all. Yes, that is sad, very sad, but the Church, the Faith, lives on.

The practice of praying for vocations to the priesthood has been bearing fruit. This fall five men entered the seminary, and next fall, eleven are being admitted. We must thank God for the blessing of vocations, be they to the priesthood, the diaconate, the religious life, married life, or the single life. All are vocations. All are God’s chosen paths for those whom he calls to holiness and fulfillment.

Finally, it is that time again. Next Saturday evening, before retiring, set your clocks back one hour as Eastern Standard Time begins.

Have a good week!

October 20, 2024

Dear Friends:

As the month of October continues to unfold, we are fast approaching November, the month dedicated in the liturgical year to prayer for the dead. Of course, at every Mass, prayers of suffrage are offered for all who have died, asking God’s mercy for them and begging God to take them to himself. But in the month of November, our beloved deceased are remembered in a special way. First of all, we will have our annual Mass of Remembrance for all who died and whose funerals were celebrate in our parish churches and/or by our parish clergy since last October. This Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00 PM at Christ the Redeemer Church. A simple reception will follow in the hall after the Mass. I should add that often during the entire month of November, on days when there is no obligatory celebration, I usually offer the Mass “For All the Faithful Departed” as well.

Secondly, in your envelope packets, you should have received an envelope for All Souls’ Day, November 2. If you would like your beloved dead remembered in a special way during November, you may write their names on the envelope, enclose whatever offering you wish, and drop the envelope in any collection basket or in the mail. These envelopes will be placed on the altars in both churches and those whose names are written on them will be remembered in a special way.

My letter requesting your support of the Annual Collection is now in the mail. I ask that you read it carefully as it lays out some improvements we hope to make on the properties at both St. Mary’s as well as St. Agnes’. The goal this year is a modest $70,000. The suggested offering per household is $100.00, but any gift of any size would be most appreciated. If we all make a contribution, the collection will be a success. Please make your gift by December 31 if you wish credit for income tax purposes.

Have a good week!

October 6, 2024

Dear Friends:

Some months ago, I announced that, come January, we will be reducing the number of weekend and weekday Masses celebrated in our parish. This reduction is being implemented at the direction of the Archbishop who asks that parishes schedule Masses in such a way that the church is no less than one-half full at every celebration of the Eucharist.

The current schedule of eight weekend Masses will be reduced to six effective the weekend of January 4-5, 2025 and the current schedule of weekday Masses will be reduced from two each day to one each day beginning January 2, 2025. This entails the elimination of the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass on Saturday at St. Agnes’ and the combining of the 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM Sunday morning Masses at St. Mary’s into one Mass at 10:45 AM. The new schedule will also shift the other Sunday morning Masses somewhat slightly. The current 7:30 AM Mass at St. Agnes’ will move back to 7:00 AM and the current 8:30 AM Mass at St. Mary’s will move back to 8:15 AM. The current 10:30 AM Sunday Mass at St. Agnes’ will move back to 9:30 AM. This adjustment is being made so that a single priest, when and if necessary, can cover the entire schedule of six weekend Masses. While it is my hope that weekend help can be obtained when necessary, it is also apparent that, in the case of illness or emergency, that will not always be possible.

The weekday schedule will combine the current two morning Masses (8:00 at St. Mary’s and 9:00 at St. Agnes’) into one Mass at 8:30 AM each day. The morning Mass will be celebrated at St. Agnes’ on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and at St. Mary’s on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The weekly Holy Hour currently held at St. Agnes’ on Friday will move to Wednesdays after the 8:30 AM Mass.

Additional modifications are in the works as well. The folk choir which currently leads the music at St. Mary’s at the 8:30 AM Mass on Sunday will be moving over to the 9:30 AM Mass at St. Agnes’ on January 5. This decision was made due to several factors. First, St. Mary’s Church, thanks to the hard work of Father James Cronin, my predecessor at St. Mary’s, and the generous gifts of so many parishioners, has a magnificent pipe organ that should be used whenever possible. Furthermore, it is a complex instrument and not just any organist can play it, and play it masterfully. We are fortunate to have Jean-Pierre Dumont as our organist and I would like to have him continue. Since we are eliminating one of the Masses that Jean-Pierre currently plays, it makes good sense to arrange to have him play the organ at the 8:15 AM Mass. Finally, with the move to St. Agnes’, the folk choir will benefit greatly from the acoustics there, which are much better than those at St. Mary’s Church. Those who are devotees of the folk choir will note a significant difference.

Change is difficult and challenging. We all have to face it in life from time to time. I know that not everyone will be happy with this arrangement, but the decision has been made and made by me with due consideration for the needs of the entire parish. I ask that everyone adjust and cooperate with this as best they can.

September 29, 2024

Dear Friends:

Church law requires every pastor on an annual basis to provide a report on the spiritual and the financial state of the parish. Normally, in the past, this would be done in the early months of the year, usually in February, but now with the change in the fiscal year for parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford from January 1 through December 31 to July 1 through June 30, this is the time for such a report.

Enclosed in this bulletin is a letter from me detailing the state of financial affairs for our parish. Please take the time to review it and, if you have any questions, contact Meaghan Hayes, our business manager, who will assist you. I will say here, though, that, due to your generous support of the parish, the financial state of Precious Blood Parish is quite good. I thank each and every one of you for all that you do for our parish.

Precious Blood Parish, now in its eighth year of existence after the parish restructuring process that took place in 2017, remains one of the larger parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford, with just under five thousand households registered. Almost every week, it seems, there are letters going out, signed by me, welcoming new families and parishioners. This is a sign of a healthy parish.

In terms of the pastoral life of the parish, Precious Blood remains a large and complex parish with a great deal of activity going on. In the past year, we celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism for one hundred forty (140) children. We celebrated First Communion for one hundred four (104) children, and Confirmation for eighty- three (83) young men and women in their junior year of high school. We celebrated the marriages of eight (8) couples and we commended one hundred forty-seven (147) souls to God in the rites of Christian Burial, most importantly, the funeral Mass, during the year. All of these are, on the surface, just numbers, but they do speak to a lively and active Catholic community, carrying on the tradition of the three parishes which existed before the merger, namely St. Mary, St. Agnes and Christ the Redeemer.

Looking ahead, it is my hope that we will see more parishioners step forward to serve as readers (lectors) at Masses on weekends and weekdays, more parishioners willing to be considered as Extraordinary Ministers o Holy Communion, and more young people willing to be altar servers at all our Masses in both churches. To that end, and to promote a greater participation of more in the life of our parish on many levels, we will be arranging for a “Ministry Fair” to be held at both churches, probably in late October or early November. We have not had one since the merger and the last one we had at St. Mary’s was quite a few years ago, perhaps ten years ago. More information will be forthcoming.

September 1, 2024

Dear Friends:

I am pleased to announce that I have hired Lisa Monahan to serve as the new Director of Faith Formation for our parish. She will take up her duties September 15 and will oversee the catechetical program for the elementary and middle school level. Lisa is a parishioner of Precious Blood Parish. She is married and has two children. She is an administrator in the Hamden Public Schools and brings with her both a commitment to our faith and a broad expertise in education. Registration for the parish faith formation program will begin after Labor Day. It is best for parents to consult the parish website beginning this coming week.

At the same time, I also announce that, after a number of years in the full-time position of Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation, Deacon John Hoffman will be stepping down effective September 30. Deacon John turned 70 in April and has expressed a desire to have more time to spend with his children and grandchildren. We certainly cannot begrudge him for wanting that. He has been an invaluable collaborator with me for these years and I cannot thank him enough for the work that he has done. He retires from his full-time position in the parish, which means necessarily that he will not be as available as he has been. I am happy to say, however, that he will not be leaving us entirely. He will still be with us on weekends, assisting at Mass and preaching as scheduled. He will assist at funerals when and if he is able to do so. I wish him well as he enters into a new phase in his life, and I know that all of you will express your gratitude and appreciation to him.

At the same time, I would be remiss if I were not to mention the good work that Deacon Nicholas Genovese does in the parish, particularly at St. Agnes. He is officially a deacon of the Archdiocese with Senior Status, which is a way of saying that he is past the retirement age, which is 75. Happily, he continues to assist at St. Agnes and even at St. Mary’s, by serving as deacon at Mass, preaching as scheduled, assisting at funerals, and more. The work of both of the deacons in our parish is invaluable to me and, I know, to all of us.

Have a good week!

August 11, 2024

Dear Friends:

We all know that we are in the midst of an intense election season with a presidential election looming in the fall. Many of us, myself included, are on edge as the future of this country may well be held in the balance by what the voters decide November 5.

That being said, there have been a few comments made to me, primarily from parishioners who attend St. Agnes on the weekend about some parishioners wearing or displaying caps with political statements on them, expressive of their political beliefs and their backing of a particular candidate. There has been a request that I do “something” about this. I have heard the comments and have taken time to reflect upon them. My answer is that, mindful of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, I must be careful to try to balance the right to practice one’s religion freely without government compulsion or restraint with the accompanying right in the same amendment to speak freely without fear of retribution.

It goes without question that no one ministering actively in any liturgy in either church should be active politically in church. This precludes the wearing of obvious items of clothing, inclusive of buttons or lapel pins, that endorse one candidate or another. This prohibition includes all priests, deacons, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers. This prohibition does not extend to the actual wearing of such items of clothing to church, but only to wearing them while exercising their function in the liturgy. Those who are regular parishioners and who attend Mass without being actively engaged in ministry therein are not affected. I cannot mandate that certain items of clothing not be worn, and I would not do so normally unless there is a question of indecency. That being said, however, in the spirit of comfort and consideration for all, I ask that all of us exercise restraint when it comes to promoting political candidates in any way while in church. It is best to leave that outside of the church as much as possible, irrespective of our political passions.

Some of you may not agree with this decision, but I have made it after careful consideration of all the factors involved. I ask for the cooperation of everyone.

Have a good week.

July 28, 2024

Dear Friends:

With this Sunday’s reading of the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, we begin a series of five Sundays where the Gospel readings are taken from the sixth chapter of John, what is referred to as the “Bread of Life Discourse.” It is a lengthy teaching given by Jesus himself on the understanding and the meaning of the Eucharist. We would do well to read over these passages again and again, asking the Lord to open our minds and our hearts to a deeper faith in his Real Presence in the Eucharist. There are parts of the Bread of Life Discourse which seem graphic and even startling, such as when Jesus says, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you will not have life in you. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.” As with ordinary food and drink, we consume the bread and the wine which is the actual Body and Blood of Christ. As food, when digested, becomes the source of growth, sustenance and strength for our physical bodies, so, too, does the Eucharist, the actual Body and Blood of Christ, when consumed by us, become the source of our spiritual growth, sustenance and strength.

It may be merely coincidental, but I think it is more providential that we read from the Bread of Life Discourse in these weeks following the National Eucharistic Congress that was held in Indianapolis last week. As Catholics, we need to connect with our Eucharistic Lord more than ever. It is in the Eucharist that the Lord has provided a concrete, tangible sign of his Real Presence among us. Too many Catholics have lost their faith in the Real Presence, and tend to see the Eucharist as little more than a symbol, a symbolic memorial ritual. A careful reading of the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, done in the context of prayer, can go a long way toward connecting us anew to what the Church teaches about the Eucharist. Moreover, it can renew and deepen our faith in the Presence of our Eucharistic Lord. I would suggest strongly that you consider stopping in to church during the week for some quiet prayer before the tabernacle. The Lord is there, waiting for you and for me. If we were to put this devotion into practice, it will have marvelous effects in our lives. Both churches are open every day of the week, usually until the middle of the afternoon or later.

Have a good week!