Pastor’s Corner

Raffle Thank You – June 4 2017

Posted on Jun 10, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

I hope all 300 who attended the 22nd annual parish raffle had a great time. From my view point it as a perfect day on so many different levels.

First, people jumped in to help. The sign-up sheet for volunteers went up only one week before the raffle day and still we had many helpers. I am grateful to this year’s leaders: John Kuczo, Karen Christensen, and Missy Ely. They were aided by a large kitchen crew that produced a delicious meal: Kevin & Kathleen Harrington, Vinnie and Amy Russo, the L’Archevesque’s (Lee, Ana, & Lee Jr.), Lorriane & Tom Larkin, Jenn Prescott, Barbara Bagnato, Ronalee Grant, Pat Olson, Woody Wood, Ron Secchi, Bob Yap, Joe Jimenez, Joan Fiorelli-Beran and all those who served and decorated. Special mention should be given to Lee L’Archevesque who headed up the food committee.

Pentecost Sunday – June 4, 2017

Posted on Jun 9, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

Today is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. Here at St. Jerome Church we have much to celebrate. This is a community with strong lay involvement. Just last week we saw that strength in an election of new Pastoral Council members from a list of 17 strong candidates. On Saturday June 3rd, we will see another sign of strength: the 20th Annual Parish Raffle.

As I write this, we are ahead of last year and even the weather looks like it will help out. Both my trusted weather apps predict sunshine. The raffle committee led by Karen Christensen, John Kuczo, and Missy Ely has sprung into action, and with lots of team- work, everything will be perfect.

5th Sunday of Easter – 05/14/2017

Posted on May 15, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

Pastoral Council elections are this weekend and next. The list of candidates is both excellent and diverse, so please be sure to vote.

As you know, last weekend we had the Annual Catholic Appeal in pew weekend. In addition to the 171 families who had already made pledges, another 50 families made pledges of $10,000. So we go into the second half of May with about $3,500 to go to make our goal of $85,000. Your response last weekend means that we are almost certain to make goal, it will just take a little more time. It is important not only that we make goal and have a high participation rate but that we also do our fair share of the important work being done by the Diocese.

4th Sunday in Easter – May 7, 2017

Posted on May 8, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

Astonishing, here it is, the Fourth Sunday of Easter. First Communion is next weekend, as is Mother’s Day. One of the perks of being pastor is that I can choose the Masses at which I preside. I always preside at the 9:15am Mass on Mother’s Day. I do so because it is our tradition here at St. Jerome to have First Communion on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. All year long we have been watching the first communicants prepare for the day. Then, the next day, which is usually a Sunday of Easter, the children come back to be with the 9:15am congregation, who have been praying for them all year long. Add in our May crowning and our weekend blessing of mothers, mix it all together and you have one exciting morning!

Easter Sunday – April 16, 2017

Posted on Apr 24, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

I am writing this on Palm Sunday evening. On this Palm Sunday when we proclaim Matthew’s version of the Passion narrative, I am thinking ahead to the triduum, which highlights the pattern of the Christian life: dying and rising. On that first Easter Jesus sets the bar. He empties himself completely through his life and death, a death that comes about because he remains faithful and challenges power. Then on that Sunday the Father raises Jesus up so that the Power of the Holy Spirit might be released. It is that Spirit who is the Spirit of Jesus in the world that empowers all the good we see around us.

5th Sunday in Lent – April 2, 2017

Posted on Apr 4, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

Three things came together for me this weekend, all of them speak to the strength of this parish. On Friday night, Domenica Gioiella gave a witness talk at our Lenten Soup and Bread. In that talk, she spoke of the many, many, heroes and heroines in the first half of the parish history. Throughout our history as a parish, there have always been “the twelve”. When I use that term I am thinking both of the 12 Apostles but also of the foundational group of lay leaders who make this parish what it is. Of course, it is almost always more than twelve. (In our case it is probably 4 times that number.) As Domenica started to name them, she told everyone present to stop and say his or her own name because they too are in that number.

4th Sunday of Lent – March 26, 2017

Posted on Apr 4, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

You will be reading this on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, traditionally known as Laetare Sunday . The name comes from the first word of the opening prayer – Rejoice. This Sunday is a turning point in Lent. Prior to today, Lent has been trying to make us aware of our sinfulness and need for repentance. From today until the end of Lent, the focus will be on Jesus and all he has done for us – cause for rejoicing indeed.

3rd Sunday in Lent – March 19, 2017

Posted on Mar 19, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

Lent is moving along quickly and who would have guessed that February would be mild and the first two weeks of Lent snowy! I am writing this the day before the blizzard and I must admit to feeling some excitement about the upcoming storm.

Those of you who know me well know that my second choice for a profession would have been that of a meteorologist. So let me combine both and do a theological reflection on snow days. First, I love them. They are pure gift. Here at St. Jerome, no one is in the building, the phone is not ringing. It is usually beautiful outside. There is empty/full time and no pressure.

2nd Sunday in Lent – March 12, 2017

Posted on Mar 18, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

I am writing this on Wednesday morning March 8th. I say that because I am going to look both backwards and forwards. Last Sunday was the First Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, it is the day when the Bishop calls the Catechumens (those to be Baptized) and the Candidates (those to be either fully initiated or received into the Church) to the Easter Sacraments.

This year the ceremony was held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield and 1200 people packed the Church! We tend to focus on what happens in the local parish but as Catholics, we should never forget that we belong both to a Diocese, led by a Bishop, and to a wider Church to which we are linked by that same Bishop, in our case, Bishop Frank Caggiano. Our five candidates: Brett Sullivan, Gaye Joyce, Luisabel Rosario, Luisa Rosario and Luisana Rosario were all astounded to realize that they were now part of something worldwide.

1st Sunday in Lent

Posted on Mar 5, 2017 in Pastor's Corner

Lent is here and so there is still time to make a resolution. I recommend a few moments in which you ask the Lord to show you the one area of your life that needs attention. Don’t assume you know the answer. Ask the Lord and wait for him to give you an inspiration. You might be surprised.