November 26, 2017

Dear Friends:

On Wednesday, November 15, the Pastoral Council of Precious Blood Parish convened for its first meeting. All members were present. After initial words of introduction on the part of each council member, we spent some time reviewing the developments of the past several months since the parish merger took place. A discussion of repairs and improvements made and needed on the parish plant took some time. After that, a committee was appointed to draft a new parish mission statement which will be important as a guide for us moving forward, keeping us rooted in who we are and what the mission of the parish is.

The remainder of the meeting was spent in a review of the Mass attendance results taken between July and October and then soliciting the input of council members as we look to a new Mass schedule that will be implemented on January 1, 2019. The normative principle was that each church, St. Mary and St. Agnes, could do with one less Mass on Sunday morning. The new schedule envisions eight weekend Masses, five at St. Mary and three at St. Agnes. The council members were asked for their input on what the precise schedule should be. We have compiled the results and two options emerged. We will be seeking the input of the wider parish community at all Masses on the weekend of December 9 and 10. Parishioners eighteen years of age and older will be invited to express an opinion regarding which of the two options works best for them. The results of this canvass will be studied and carefully considered when a final decision is made. It is expected that the new Mass schedule beginning in 2019 will be announced before the end of December.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, we mark the end of the liturgical year. Come next weekend, a new liturgical year dawns and that will be symbolized most poignantly by the presence of the Advent Wreath.

May God bless you! 

November 12, 2017

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

More than 46 million people in our country are living in poverty. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is an anti-poverty effort on the part of our Church to help people find hope and a better life. Our support for this collection reaches those whom Pope Francis describes as living on the economic and social ‘peripheries,’ or margins, offering them a hand up, not a hand out.

The Naugatuck Valley Project (NVP), a recipient of support from the CCHD, builds community, develops leaders and helps them organize to address community issues such as housing and jobs. Having identified a problem in Waterbury for residents of four downtown elderly high-rise buildings, NVP, working with city officials, helped create a reduced rate parking permit for home healthcare workers serving the elderly. The problem was the constant need of caregivers to attend to their expiring parking meters, leaving the elderly resident alone. Now an affordable parking lot is available—something small in some ways, but very significant to the people involved.

Your contribution to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development collection makes a difference. Please prayerfully consider how you can help the CCHD this year. If you would like more information about the collection and those it supports, visit www.isccb.org/cchd/collection.
Thank you for joining this effort in the spirit of the Gospel.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair Archbishop of Hartford

Thanks to all who have responded so generously to the annual appeal letter for Precious Blood Parish. It is gratifying that so many are moved to be generous. The appeal lasts until December 31, 2017, if you are still considering a gift.

Please remember to make all checks payable to Precious Blood Parish.

Thank you so much. 

November 5, 2017

Dear Friends,

By now, all registered parishioners should have received a letter from me asking your support of the 2017 Annual Collection. The proceeds of this collection are crucial as they are used to make improvements and repairs to facilities at both St. Agnes and St. Mary. The requested gift of $100 per family is quite modest, but if all contribute something, we can go a long way toward achieving the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of our beautiful facilities. I thank everyone for considering my request and please know that all gifts, in whatever amount, are most appreciated.

This Wednesday, November 8, at 7:30 PM at St. Mary’s Church we will be celebrating the annual Mass of Remembrance. During this Mass, the names of all who have died and were buried from both St. Mary’s and St. Agnes’ will be read. Family members will be invited to come forward and light a commemorative candle for their loved ones. A simple reception will follow the Mass in Fr. Cronin Hall. This annual celebration of remembrance is offered each year in the month of November on a date close to November 2, All Souls’ Day. All parishioners are invited to come and remember those who have gone before us in faith.

I must say a word regarding letters sent to me. I welcome all letters from parishioners, be they letters of praise or letters of criticism. While we try to do things well here at Precious Blood Parish, that does not mean that we are above criticism. Over the years of my priesthood, I have received a number of letters from parishioners that have offered some very good suggestions. I will say this, however. I will not read any letter that comes to me unsigned. The first thing I look for on opening a letter is the signature of the person who sent it. If the letter is unsigned, it is tossed into the wastebasket unread. If you have any critiques to offer by way of a letter, please be charitable and have the courage to sign it. I assure you that I can take criticism, but I have little time or patience to deal with letters sent to me by anyone who lacks the courage to stand behind what he or she has written.

Have a good week.

October 29, 2017

Dear Friends:

The celebration of Confirmation held last Sunday was a beautifully moving occasion, even if St. Mary’s Church was packed to capacity and then some. One hundred twenty-eight young people of the parish from both St. Mary’s and St. Agnes’ churches were confirmed by Archbishop Blair, as were eight adults. We congratulate them all and pray that the Spirit of God poured out on them in the Sacrament of Confirmation will strengthen them in their faith, help them to grow in their relationship with the Lord, and be effective witnesses to Christ and the Gospel, something sorely needed in our trying times.

This week we launch into the month of November, the month traditionally dedicated to prayer for all of the faithful departed. This Wednesday, November 1, is the Solemnity of All Saints and a holy day of obligation. Because of Halloween festivities, there will be no vigil Mass at either St. Mary or St. Agnes churches. There will be six Masses in all on the holy day itself. Four Masses will be offered at St. Mary’s: 7:00 and 9:00 AM, 12:00 Noon, and 6:00 PM. Two Masses will be offered at St. Agnes, one at 9:00 AM and the other at 12:10 PM.

Thursday, November 2, is officially called the day of Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, but more traditionally known as All Souls’ Day. On that day, we remember all of our loved ones, indeed all of those who have gone before us in faith and await the resurrection. A tradition in the Church is the use of All Souls’ envelopes. Many of you have them in your envelope packets, but for those who do not and wish to make use of one, they are available at the entrances of both churches. Write the names of those whom you wish specifically to be remembered in prayer, enclose whatever offering you wish and drop it in the mail or in any collection basket. These will be gathered and placed on the altar in both churches for the entire month of November and those whose names are listed there will be specially remembered at all Masses throughout the month.

Again, a gentle reminder that the Precious Blood Parish Corporation has now been legally established. When making offerings by check, please make the check out to Precious Blood Parish. We ask that, going forward, no checks be made payable to either St. Mary’s Church or St. Agnes’ Church. Have a wonderful week.

October 15, 2017

Dear Friends:

The ongoing process of merging parishes is continuing and this weekend I announce a major advance in that process. I have appointed the following twelve members of Precious Blood Parish, six from St. Mary’s and six from St. Agnes to a three-year term on the inaugural Pastoral Council. The members are:

Brian Burgh
Doris Nash
Felix Lizasuain
Hilma Nolan
Mary Beth Kricsciun
Michael Dorney
Pamela Amendola
Patrice Dunn
Patricia Byrne
Raymond Stattel
Richard Jagoe
Robert Lessard

I welcome them to the Pastoral Council and look forward to working with them as we seek to grow and enliven our new community of faith. The first meeting of the Precious Blood Pastoral Council will be held on Wednesday, November 15 at 7:30 PM in the basement meeting room of St. Mary Rectory on Gulf Street. At this meeting, we will review the purpose of a pastoral council according to Church law, form a subcommittee to begin working on a mission statement, and review the count of Mass attendance for the months of July through October, with an eye to developing two or possibly three Mass schedules to be submitted for a vote to the people of the parish. The new weekend Mass schedule will take effect January 1, 2019.

I am pleased to announce that Archbishop Blair has appointed Deacon Paul Jennings to serve the people of Precious Blood Parish. Deacon Paul hails from the Diocese of Bridgeport where he was ordained as a deacon in 2002. He and his wife recently moved to Milford. He has extensive professional experience particularly in the field of pastoral care for the sick. He has served as Director of Pastoral Care at both Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, New York and at St. Vincent Medical Center in Bridgeport. I know that you will give Deacon Paul a warm welcome.

Finally, a reminder that the parish corporation has been legally established. Therefore, going forward, kindly make all checks payable to Precious Blood Parish, no longer to either St. Mary Church or St. Agnes Church. As always, we thank you for your generous support of the parish.

October 1, 2017

Dear Friends,

The Liturgy Committee of the new parish met on Monday, September 18 and set the schedule for the fall as well as the Advent and Christmas seasons to come, more quickly than we can imagine even as the temperature hovers in the 80s as I write these words. The spirit and the tone of the meeting was encouraging. We must work together as a single parish, even with two campuses, as it were. All of the people of Precious Blood Parish should feel at home both at St. Mary’s on Gulf Street and at St. Agnes’ on Merwin Avenue.

In the near future, several events are approaching. First of all, this coming Saturday, October 7, which falls three days after the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we will be holding the annual blessing of animals which will take place at 12:00 Noon on the grounds of St. Mary behind the church hall where the statue of St. Francis is situated. I am pleased to say that the trip to New York City on October 21 is full and those going include a nice mixture of people representative of the new parish and some from elsewhere.

Archbishop Blair will be at St. Mary’s on Sunday, October 22, at 1:30 to celebrate Sunday Mass and to confirm approximately 130 young people from Precious Blood. Admission to the ceremony is by ticket, as space is limited. Three tickets will be given to each confirmand. While some may be unhappy with this, I ask your understanding as the scheduling of Confirmation is set by the Chancery in keeping with the not insubstantial scheduling demands of the bishops. Pray for those who are to be confirmed that they will embrace their Catholic faith with vigor and be effective witnesses to Jesus wherever they go.

In the near future, I will be making appointments to the new Precious Blood Parish Council and the new Precious Blood Finance Council. Six members each from both St. Mary’s and St. Agnes’ will sit on the Parish Council for a term of three years. Four members each from both St. Mary’s and St. Agnes’ will sit on the Finance Council also for a term of three years. Going forward, each year we will appoint two new members each year from each church so that a rotation in membership can be established and avoid having members serve unduly lengthy terms. For two years, the membership of both councils will be quite large but that will shrink to size as the first appointees go off each council in due time.

Those who attend St. Agnes may have noticed some changes in the church. The lighting has been greatly improved with the installation of new, energy efficient light bulbs. The contract has been signed for the installation of a new state-of-the-art sound system which should be installed by the middle or the end of October. The Reconciliation Room has been painted and new furniture put in place. As we move into the winter months, we are looking to repaint the entire interior of the church. Unfortunately, part of this project entails the significant and costly cleaning of the soot that has accumulated from years of candle usage. This means that in all likelihood, due to soot problems and fire code issues, the use of votive candles at St. Agnes will be eliminated once we commence with the painting of the church.

By way of information regarding the availability of Mass intentions, there are open Masses, some on Sundays and many on weekdays, available this year at St. Agnes. Anyone who would like a Mass celebrated for a specific intention should inquire at the parish office at St. Mary’s either in person or by telephone.

In his homily last weekend, Archbishop Blair called all of us to be open to the many good possibilities that can come from the new parish configurations throughout the Archdiocese. Here at Precious Blood, there are great possibilities at hand. I envision a lively, strong community of faith in the central and eastern parts of Milford. I know that I can count on the cooperation of all as we move forward together.

Have a great week!

September 17, 2017

Dear Friends:

The first annual Precious Blood Parish picnic, held last Sunday on the grounds of St. Agnes, was a great success. Several hundred tickets were sold and it gave us all an opportunity as a new parish to meet and greet one another. Of course, an event like this does not just happen. A great deal of time and hard work went into making it possible. To that end, in the name of the entire parish community, I thank the members of the St. Joseph’s Men’s Club, Boy Scout Troop 712, the Ladies’ Guild of St. Agnes, and anyone else who contributed in any way to pulling this off. I am grateful to those who set up, cleaned up, and sold tickets as well. To one and all responsible in any way, a big THANK YOU!

As we go forward, there are other social events and activities planned. First up is a bus trip to New York City scheduled for Saturday, October 21. We will be visiting Ground Zero, the 9/11 Museum and other areas in lower Manhattan connected with the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We will then head uptown for lunch and some time in the area of Times Square before returning to Milford in the evening. I plan to make the trip and I hope we will have a good number going. Details are in this bulletin.

On Saturday, October 28, we will be holding an Oktoberfest celebration in the gym of St. Mary’s School. Tickets, available for a nominal price, will be available in the near future. Those who went last year may remember what a good time it was. Be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible for there will be a limited number sold.

A reminder of the meeting of the Liturgy Committee which will take place Monday evening of this week, September 18, beginning at 7:30 in the hall at St. Agnes. Anyone who is interested in the liturgical life of our parish and in planning the schedule for Advent and Christmas, which are, by the way, coming soon, should plan to join us.

Finally, by way of advance notice, the annual Blessing of the Animals held in connection with the feast of St. Francis of Assisi will be held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, October 7, on the grounds of St. Mary’s outside the church hall in the area where the statue of St. Francis is situated. Dogs should be on leashes, and cats do better if they are crated, as do other furry creatures who might be brought.

Have a good week.

September 3, 2017

Dear Friends:

As I write these words, the history of our new parish of the Precious Blood has just passed the two- month mark. On June 29, two venerable parishes, St. Mary and St. Agnes, ceased to exist and from them was formed a new parish that has a presence on two campuses, one on Gulf Street, the other on Merwin Avenue. The merger of St. Mary and St. Agnes was undertaken so that the Church in the middle and eastern parts of Milford might better be able to do the work that the Church is supposed to do: celebrate the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, preach the Gospel, form the faithful in the Christian way of life in accordance with the Catholic tradition, and serve those in need, be it materially or spiritually. All of this has been happening in excellent fashion since the establishment of St. Mary Parish, the mother parish of Milford, in 1874 and the establishment of St. Agnes, first as a mission of St. Mary from 1906 until 1954 when St. Agnes was established as a parish in its own right.

Thus far, seemingly little has changed and this has led some to think that a parish merger will mean no changes. That is not the case. Thus far, I have been deliberately slow, being very careful to observe and undertake a study of what both churches have by way of possibilities, both in terms of the people as well as the facilities.

We are well into a four-month count of weekend Mass attendance. Once we complete this count on the last weekend of October, we will compile the results and consider carefully how we can adjust the weekend Mass schedule so that the needs of the people will best be served. Whatever the results may be, there will be changes in the weekend Mass schedule that will go into effect in January of 2019. Some will have to change the time, and even perhaps the place where they will worship on Sunday. Some who go to St. Mary may decide that the new schedule determines that they go to St. Agnes. The opposite is also true

What will come is a new configuration of Mass schedule and parish ministries and services. Duplications will be eliminated and avoided as much as possible. All of this is done, not to inconvenience anyone, but to insure that the new parish can best carry out its sacred mission. As I have said before, I say it again: all of us, clergy and parishioners alike, will be asked to make changes and adjustments in how we do things, where we do things, and when we do things. It will not be easy. Not everyone will be happy. Change is never easy and always a challenge, and for some, a big challenge.

I am asking for parishioners who might be interested in sitting on the new Parish Council to let me know of their interest. This new Parish Council will be vitally important in a consultative role as we move forward. The task at hand, beginning with the setting of a new weekend Mass schedule, will set the tone of parish life as we move forward. Further along, the Parish Council will provide invaluable advice to me as we situate parish ministries and activities so as the best serve the needs of all the people of Precious Blood Parish. Again, if you are interested in being considered for appointment to the Parish Council, please call (203) 878-3571 and leave your name and telephone number for me. I hope to have the Parish Council appointed and in place for an initial meeting early in November.

One item that calls for immediate consideration is a meeting of anyone interested in membership on the Liturgy Committee. This committee sets the tone of liturgical life in the parish and it also establishes the parish liturgical schedule for the months ahead. We will meet on Monday, September 18, at 7:30 PM in the hall at St. Agnes. At this meeting, we will be considering the schedule for November and December, with particular attention given to the Advent Season and the schedule of Christmas Masses. Anyone interested is strongly encouraged to attend.

August 20, 2017

Dear Friends:

The merger of St. Mary’s and St. Agnes’ Parishes into our new parish of Precious Blood is now just shy of two months old. From my perspective I am grateful for the spirit of cooperation and the flexibility that has been shown by you, the people of the parish. Of course, from time to time, situations arise that are awkward and some strong feelings can be expressed, but I suppose that is what can be expected whenever we are asked to change, to adapt, and to adjust. We are all in this together and it will be successful only to the extent that we, clergy and parishioners alike, are willing to adjust and change our ways of thinking and, to some extent, our ways of doing things.

As we move forward, we are taking a careful look at the physical plants at both churches. Both plants are approaching or have exceeded sixty years of age and both are in need of some repairs and improvements. Of course, this will cost some money, but at the moment, the financial resources of the parish should be able to cover the needed expenses. As of this writing, I am in the process of preparing the letter that will go to all parishioners of Precious Blood, asking your support of the 2017 Annual Collection. This collection may be something new to the people at St. Agnes, but it is quite familiar to the people of St. Mary. The proceeds of this collection go entirely to maintenance and improvement of the parish grounds and facilities.

This is the time of year when families adjust to the changes that come with the end of summer. Many college students have already left or will be leaving this week to begin a new year of studies. We wish them well and hope that they have a profitable and enjoyable time away at school. We remind them at the same time not to neglect their faith relationship

with God. Spend some time each day in prayer and become involved with the Catholic campus ministry at the schools they attend. Of course, here in Milford and in surrounding towns, the public schools and our own St. Mary’s School will open for the new school year next Wednesday, August 30. We wish all the children of the parish success in the coming academic year.

This weekend at St. Mary’s we welcome our missionary preacher, a Dominican Father, who will share some of what his order is doing in the missionary field. He will ask our support of their work and the proceeds of the second collection will be sent to assist his order. The missionary appeal at St. Agnes will take place the weekend of September 30 and October 1. A representative of the Holy Cross Fathers will be with us and the second collection taken that weekend at St. Agnes will be sent to assist his order as well.

Finally, we live in stressful times, times of upheaval, violence and the threat of war, both home here in the United States and abroad. Our prayer is that peace will prevail, that cool heads and hearts will restrain any temptation to lash out at others for whatever reason.

August 6, 2017

Dear Friends:

As you read these words, I am away on vacation in Florida. I will return this coming Thursday, August 10. Vacation time is important, even if it is what some call a “stay-vacation,” a time for taking a break from the daily grind and the normal routine of life which, for many of us, consists of getting up each morning, going to work, returning home and taking care of family and household duties, a little time for relaxation, then retiring for the night only to start the whole cycle all over again the next morning. Work is vitally important to the human spirit and for more reasons than it supplies the funds we need to live and to thrive. Work, as Pope St. John Paul II taught in his encyclical on human work (Laborem Exercens) is literally a share in the ongoing creative work of God. Work is essential to human dignity and purpose.

At the same time, there must be time for rest and relaxation. An occasional time away from the daily routine is a time for recharging our batteries. It is also a time for us to “stop and smell the roses” as it were, a time to take in the wonders of the world and the beauty of nature. For me, vacation is utter free time. There is no schedule. I retire at night when I want to and rise in the morning when I feel like it. It is a time for relaxing by a pool or at the beach. It is a time for reading. On a typical vacation, I can read upwards of six or seven books, something that is not possible for me given the schedule I keep most of the rest of the year.

I would be remiss if I were not to remind us all of the importance of Sunday, the first day of the week, what is called the Christian Sabbath. Sunday is a day for rest, a day to spend with family and friends, a day when we avoid doing all unnecessary work. Sunday is not to be just another day like the other six days of the week. Of course, Sunday is a day for prayer and worship and no good Catholic spends a Sunday without making time for Mass and time for prayer. So, think about how you spend Sunday and make some adjustments if you realize that you are not making the best use of this weekly day of rest and prayer.

I received word that the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated this year on Sunday, October 22 at 1:30 PM at St. Mary’s Church. We are honored and privileged to have Archbishop Leonard P. Blair as the celebrant. Confirmation will be conferred within Sunday Mass on that day. We expect to have a class of over 130 candidates and in order to allow the best use of limited space in the church that day, wewill have to issue tickets for admission. How many tickets will be issued to each candidate remains to be determined. The candidates for Confirmation will be informed once we have had a chance to determine what will work best.

Have a wonderful week!

July 16, 2017

Dear Friends:

For those of you who knew Fr. Chacko at St. Mary’s, some news is in order. Fr. Chacko, after a time of vacation, has been appointed as Parochial Vicar (the new term for Assistant Pastor) at the now- linked parishes of St. Francis Xavier and Our Lady of the Lakes, both located in New Milford. Fr. Chacko assumes his new assignment on July 17. Until now, these two parishes were separate communities of faith with St. Francis Xavier staffed for many years by the Franciscan Friars and Our Lady of the Lakes under the pastoral care of a priest of the Archdiocese. Until June 29, Fr. Fred Langlois, remembered by many at St. Mary’s for his years as Parochial Vicar under Father Cronin, served as pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes. Fr. Fred is now retired and, as of July 17, both parishes will be served by Father Gerard Dziedzic as pastor. Fr. Dziedzic for a number of years served as chaplain here in Milford at Lauralton Hall. In a future bulletin, we will supply an address where you may write to Fr. Chacko, once we determine where he will actually live.

A reminder of the Open Forum concerning the merger of St. Agnes and St. Mary into the new Parish of the Precious Blood which will be held this coming Tuesday, July 18, beginning at 7:00 PM in the hall at St. Agnes Church on Merwin Avenue. I will be there, as will Deacon John Hoffman and April Bryant, our Communications Director, to answer any and all questions and concerns which you, the people of the parish, may have. Coffee and refreshments will be served. All interested parishioners are urged to attend.

We are now undertaking a careful count of the attendance at weekend Masses both at St. Agnes as well as St. Mary’s to determine which Masses best serve the needs of the new parish. This count will be taken each weekend through the end of October and the results then studied. Several possible new Mass schedules will be developed and put to the parish for a vote. The new schedule, which will consist of no more than eight weekend Masses between the two churches, will be put into effect beginning January 1, 2019. It is fair to say that changes are afoot at both churches in this regard and that adjustments will be required of us all, clergy and parishioners alike. I know that I can count on the cooperation of everyone.

In the near future, I will be appointing members from both St. Agnes and St. Mary’s in equal proportion to serve on the new Parish Council and the new Finance Council. While a Finance Council is required under Church law, a Parish Council is highly recommended. Both bodies serve in an advisory capacity to the Pastor as he seeks to fulfill his responsibility for the oversight and good management of the parish. I look forward to the formation of both councils and to working with them to insure that our new parish is strong and vital.

July 9, 2017

Dear Friends:

The merger of both St. Agnes and St. Mary’s into Precious Blood Parish necessitated the development of a logo for the new parish, a “brand” as it were. With that in mind, on my return from the meeting of priests that gathered on May 3 when the Archbishop announced the new pastoral plan, I took to the internet to seek possible options for a logo. Some of the options I came upon were not in keeping with what I thought the new parish name focused on, namely the Blood of Christ which saves us from sin and everlasting death, the Blood of Christ in which we share at every celebration of the Eucharist.

Thus, our logo focuses on the cup filled with wine, with grapes lying around the cup, reminding us of the words of St. Paul that are found in his First Letter to the Corinthians, namely, “The cup of blessing that we bless, it is not a participation in the blood of Christ?” (cf. 1 Cor 10:16). Wine is called the “fruit of the vine,” the result of the crushing of many grapes so that their fermented juice might become the wine which is blessed and then consecrated, thus transformed into the very Blood of Christ himself. In the background of the logo is an ancient symbol for Christ, the combination of two Greek letters, chi and rho, which look like a “P” overcrossed by an “X”. These two Greek letters together spell “CHR” which, of course, are the first three letters of “Christ” which means “anointed one,” translated in Hebrew as “Messiah.” Thus, looking at the new logo, we can see it is a clear symbol which proclaims the “Blood of Christ,” blood precious beyond all price, and as the Votive Mass of the Precious Blood proclaims, it is the precious Blood of Christ on which all salvation depends.

This new parish logo appears prominently on our new bulletin, on the new parish website, and it will appear on the parish stationery and the new parish checks which will be printed once the parish corporation is legally established. A friendly reminder: if you make contributions by check, please continue to make them out to either “St. Mary’s Church” or “St. Agnes’ Church” until further notice.

It is also important to note that, by decree of the Archbishop, all parish records, including sacramental records, Mass books, and the like, are to be located at St. Mary Rectory on Gulf Street. Thus, if you need sacramental records, you will need to call or go there. If you wish to schedule a Mass, when you call or visit the office, please indicate the church in

which you would like the Mass to be celebrated. All calls for funerals, weddings and pastoral care, including sick calls, should likewise be directed to the residence on Gulf Street. For your reference, the number is (203) 878-3571.

Have a good week!

July 2, 2017

Dear Parishioners of Precious Blood Parish:

This marks the inaugural issue of the new bulletin for our new parish. As the pastor of Precious Blood, I look forward to working together with all of you, the other parish clergy and the members of the parish staff as we come together as a new community of faith. It is my strong hope that we, as former members of St. Mary Parish and St. Agnes Parish, will come to know each other, learn the traditions of each parish, and seek to know, love and serve the Lord as a vibrant community of faith that encompasses the eastern two-thirds of Milford.

I am keenly aware that I can not do this alone. I am thankful that Archbishop Blair has assigned two priests to assist me in serving the people of Precious Blood. Father Sam John comes to us from the Diocese of Pathanamhitta in India. Fr. Sam was ordained as a priest on April 6, 2010 and since his ordination he has served capably in several pastoral assignments in his home diocese before coming to the United States and the Archdiocese of Hartford. Fr. Deny Varghese comes from Kerala, India. He is also a priest of the Diocese of Pathanamhitta and was ordained priest on February 23, 2013. Fr. Deny served as secretary to the Bishop of his diocese and as a pastor of a parish as well. I know that you will welcome Fr. Sam and Fr. Deny and that you will come to appreciate their warmth and gentleness as representatives of Christ to his people.

A bit of housekeeping is in order. The canonical establishment of Precious Blood Parish took place this past Thursday, June 29. However, the legal paperwork that is needed to establish the Precious Blood Parish Corporation has not yet come to us. Thus, we ask that, until further notice, that if you make a contribution or pay for anything by check connected with the parish, that you continue to make your check payable to either St. Mary’s Church or St. Agnes Church, as you have been doing. When the parish corporation is legally established, we will ask that all checks be made payable to Precious Blood Parish.

I am delighted to be the first pastor of the newly-merged parish. I am equally delighted that Fr. Francis Callahan will continue to live at St. Agnes and assist as he is able to do so. If there are any concerns, questions or suggestions, please feel free to call me at (203) 878-3571, write to me, or speak to me after any of the Masses.