February 18, 2018

Dear Friends:

With Ash Wednesday this week, we have launched into Lent, the annual season of repentance and spiritual renewal. These forty days which will culminate in the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter should be markedly different from other days for devout Catholics. The Church offers us all some ideas on how to make Lent a time of spiritual growth and renewal. The traditional “legs” of Lenten observance, as set down by the Lord himself in the Gospel for Ash Wednesday, are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. All of us can make a determined effort to pray a bit more, eat and spend a bit less, and share more from what we have been given with those who are in need.

Several ideas present themselves for your consideration. Last weekend, those who participated at Mass at St. Mary’s heard about the annual Healing Tree Lenten Project. For a small donation of as little as one dollar and no more than fifty dollars, you can help the people of St. Therese in Marbial, Haiti, who live with far less that we have been blessed to have. The money raised from the Healing Tree in past years has helped to fund the annual medical mission to Marbial, to make clean water systems available to the people, and to donate school supplies, over the counter medications and vitamins for use there. The twinning partnership which we have had for over a decade now has done so much good and you are to be commended for your ongoing generous support of the work that is done there.

Operation Rice Bowl is conducted each Lent. By forgoing something that you like or something that you do not really need and instead donating the money you would have spent to Operation Rice Bowl, you bring alive the spirit of almsgiving which has always been praised as a means of spiritual blessing for those who make the sacrifice and material help to those who are in need. Take a rice bowl with you. Put it on the table or somewhere else in your home and put the money you would have spent on non-essentials or things of pleasure into it. When Lent ends, make out a check payable to Precious Blood Parish noting on the check that it is for Operation Rice Bowl and return it to the church. We will send the proceeds to Catholic Relief Services which will then be sure to send the money where it is needed most.

Finally, there is another option. We can fast from using our cell phones each Friday during Lent. Keep your cell phone with you, of course, in case of emergency, but leave it off if possible or try to avoid using it for the day. Spend the time you would have spent on the phone by praying more, by actually talking face to face with family or loved ones. Read a book, perhaps the Bible. Take a walk and as you do so, pray the Rosary or do some meditation.

These are suggestions. Consider them or consider some other worthy way to make this a special Lent, a special time to grow closer to God and others. 

February 4, 2018

Dear Friends,

It is now seven months into the life of our new parish of the Precious Blood, created from the merger of the former St. Mary’s Parish and St. Agnes’ Parish. Some aspects of parish life have remained essentially the same, others have seen some changes. A new Pastoral Council convened in November and a new Finance Council did likewise in December. We have had several social activities which served the purpose of helping us to get to know each other.

Now it is time to announce the revised Mass schedule which will be implemented the irst weekend of January next year, namely January 5 - 6, 2019. This revised schedule is the fruit of careful study and somewhat broad consultation. Throughout the months of July through October of last year, a careful count of Mass attendance was taken at every Mass in both churches. These results were studied, averages for each Mass determined, and then they were presented to the Pastoral Council at its November meeting with the directive that two schedules should be drawn up, each of them having one less Mass on Sunday morning in both churches. The two schedules were produced and then they were placed before the people of the parish for their input. Schedule A received considerably more votes than did Schedule B by a ratio of two to one.

Thus, I announce the following Mass schedule and other changes to the parish schedule effective the first weekend of January next year:

SATURDAY VIGIL MASSES
4:30 PM at St. Mary’s
5:00 PM at St. Agnes’

SUNDAY MASSES
8:30, 10:00, 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM at St. Mary’ 
7:30 and 10:30 AM at St. Agnes’

CONFESSIONS
Saturdays from 3:30 - 4:30 PM at St. Agnes’
Mondays from 6:00 - 7:00 PM at St. Mary’s (except on holidays)

The changes are really “tweaks” with the Saturday vigil Mass at St. Agnes moving back by a half hour, the elimination of the 7:00 AM Mass Sunday morning at St. Mary’s and the combining of the 10:00 and 11:30 AM Masses at St. Agnes into one Mass at 10:30 AM. The change in the confession schedule allows us to schedule weddings as late as 2:30 PM on Saturdays at St. Mary’s, which might be desirable for some couples. It also adds an additional hour of confessions each week on Monday evenings.

Change is not easy, but it is an essential part of life. I know that some will not be very happy with the new schedule, but I ask that everyone cooperate and adapt to the changes. The future of our parish is bright and I thank you for your support and understanding.

January 28, 2017

Dear Friends:

Every year the last Sunday in January marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week across the country. The Catholic school system in the United States traces its origins back to the work that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton did in the early nineteenth century. In the succeeding two centuries, Catholic schools multiplied and their influence on the life of our Church and our society in general grew exponentially. Many graduates of Catholic schools have gone on to successful careers in many fields and the contributions that they have made have had a lasting impact on life in the United States and beyond. Many of you, myself included, are the products of Catholic schools.

At Precious Blood Parish, we are blessed in that we have not just a Catholic school as part of our parish life, but a Catholic school that is thriving and excelling on so many levels. Financially, our school is on a solid foundation thanks to the foresight of Father Dennis Moran, who served as pastor of St. Mary’s Parish for many years and who, on his death in 1967, bequeathed a sizeable sum to be invested in an endowment for the school. Over the past fifty years, that endowment has grown and it remains available for use, should we ever need it. Happily, however, through the careful stewardship of parish resources, especially by my two immediate predecessors at St. Mary’s, Father Francis Seggel and Father James Cronin, as well as the sacrifices made by parents and even grandparents of our students through the years up to the present, our school is one of the most financially stable in the Archdiocese of Hartford. I pledge to do my utmost to keep that tradition intact as we move forward.

At the beginning of this Catholic Schools’ Week, I extend my deepest gratitude to the parents and grandparents of our students, over 360 in all, for the sacrifices, sometimes great sacrifices, they make to insure that their children and grandchildren receive the benefits of a well-rounded education, an education that is not only academically excellent, but one that tries to instill in our students the importance of faith, of knowing Jesus and what it means to be his disciples in the world of today. Every morning as the school day begins, the students in our school are asked what the motto of the school is. I ask it of them at almost every school Mass as well, and their response is always loud and clear: to live the message of Jesus.

I also want to thank Mr. Frank Lacerenza, the principal of our school, for the excellent work he does. We congratulate him on his selection as the Archdiocesan School Administrator of the Year for 2017. I thank the faculty and the staff as well for all of the work that they do each day. St. Mary’s School is a special place and we are blessed to have it as part of the life of our parish.

Next weekend, as I announced several times previously, I will announce formally the new Mass schedule which will take effect the first weekend in January next year. This schedule is the fruit of extensive consultation, thought, and input from the parish at-large. While I know that not everyone will be happy with some of the changes, I know that I can count on your fullest cooperation as the schedule takes effect eleven months from now. 

January 21, 2018

Dear Friends:

As I write these words, we are in the middle of the annual observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which begins on January 18 and concludes on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25. This annual observance is grounded in the fervent prayer that Jesus prayed on the night before he died as recorded in John 17, namely, “that they may all be one, Father, as you are in me and I am in you.” The timing of this annual week of prayer is aptly connected to the feast of St. Paul’s conversion for it was the great Apostle to the Gentiles who wrote passionately about the unity of the Church as the Body of Christ. Without question, St. Paul probably had many near sleepless nights agonizing over the problems and divisions in the churches he established. As he prayed and worked so hard for the unity of Christians, so must we. In your prayers, ask the Lord to heal the many divisions in his Church, the many wounds that harm the effectiveness of our witness to Christ and our mission as ambassadors for Christ.

We are in the last stages of purchasing and installing a new organ at St. Agnes which will replace the original Allen organ installed when the church was built in1960. We are purchasing a four-year-old Allen digital electronic organ which was used in St. Bernard Church in Tariffville, which was closed when the Archdiocesan pastoral plan was implemented in June. When it was new, the organ sold for $48,000. We are fortunate to be getting it for $20,000. Frank Zilinyi, our music director and organist at St. Mary’s, went up with me to St. Bernard just after Christmas and he signed off on the purchase. It should serve St. Agnes for many years to come.

Finally, I note with gratitude the ongoing generosity of everyone to the new parish. The collections have been quite good and most everyone, perhaps owing to the new envelopes, has started making checks payable to Precious Blood Parish. A gentle suggestion: consider enrolling in the on-line giving program. This insures that your contributions reach us regularly, even when you are away. It eliminates the need to write out checks weekly. It assists us in our bookkeeping as well. All of this is done in a secure and safe manner. Should you have any questions, speak with Meghan Hayes at the parish office. 

January 14, 2018

Dear Friends:

Now that our observance of Christmas has concluded, I must make some observations. Our first Christmas as a newly-merged parish went well, very well. Attendance at Christmas Masses was excellent. The music was very good and the decoration of both St. Agnes’ Church and St. Mary’s Church quite beautiful. I would put either church up against any other in the Archdiocese and would bet that we had the most beautiful decorations of all churches. Thanks to all who helped to make our parish observance of Advent and Christmas so beautiful.

I have noted in recent weeks a drop-off in the number of Mass intentions at St. Agnes. I wonder if it has to do with the merger of the parish offices and the transfer of parish records, including the Mass Books, to St. Mary’s Rectory on Gulf Street which took place at the directive of Archbishop Blair when the merger took effect on June 29. I take this opportunity to remind everyone that Mass intentions are available at both St. Mary’s and at St. Agnes’ both for 2018 and 2019. Contrary to what was previously announced, the 2019 Mass Book will be opened for intentions beginning next Tuesday, January 16. Please contact the parish office at (203) 878-3571 during regular hours to arrange for scheduled Masses. The usual rules apply.

The 2017 Annual Collection was a great success. Our final total for the collection stands at $54,472, which exceeds our goal of $50,000. I thank all who contributed to the collection.

Next Sunday, January 21, is the feast of St. Agnes and we will be celebrating that feast at all Masses at St. Agnes. We will be using the Mass prayers for St. Agnes and the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. St. Agnes was an early martyr of the Church, martyred at a young age according to tradition rather than surrender her virginity which she had sworn to Christ alone. For ages, St. Agnes has been remembered in the first Eucharistic Prayer, known as the Roman Canon, as one of the esteemed martyrs of the Roman Church. In our age of senseless sensuality and unbridled sexual licentiousness, the example of Agnes, who devoted the entirety of her life to the Lord, even to the shedding of her blood, stands before us as a model.

The review of the input supplied by parishioners regarding the new weekend Mass schedule has been completed. I will announce that schedule in early February, having chosen to postpone it so as to avoid any confusion. Again, the new weekend schedule will go into effect the first weekend of January next year, that is January 5-6, 2019. All remains as it is until then. Effective immediately, I am implementing a new policy regarding the celebration of daily Mass in the event of bad weather, a sound policy that is already the norm at St. Agnes and was the norm when I was pastor of Sacred Heart in Bloomfield. Going forward, on those days when the weather is bad and the Milford Public Schools are closed, the morning Masses are cancelled and any intentions will be rescheduled. This policy applies only to weekday Masses. Sunday Masses will be celebrated as scheduled and will only be cancelled on the directive of the Archbishop. I hope that all will understand that this policy has as its sole intent the safety of those coming to Mass. In any event, whenever the weather is bad and the roads are in precarious condition, please use common sense and stay home. It is not worth the possible harm that could come to anyone who is out on the roads and need not be there.

Finally, please note that there will be NO MASS and NO FUNERALS scheduled for St. Agnes this coming Wednesday, January 17. We will need to have the church free so that the soot and stains caused by years of candle usage may be cleaned from the walls in preparation for the painting of the church.

Have a good week. 

January 7, 2018

Dear Friends:

We celebrate the Epiphany this weekend, the mystery of the manifestation or showing forth (which is what the word epiphany means in Greek) of Jesus as the Savior of the whole world. In actuality, the Epiphany is Part 2 of the Christmas story. On Christmas night, we read the story of the birth of Jesus as told by Luke. Angels appeared in the heavens, announcing the birth of the Savior to shepherds who were watching over their flocks in the fields at night. The announcement of such a wondrous event to shepherds is astounding, for shepherds were considered to be the lowest of the low among Jews in the societal standards of Jesus’ day. They were deemed to be dirty, unclean, unreliable rascals. They were “outsiders” as it were, living on the inside of Jewish society, but at the very fringes, barely noticed by anyone and looked down on by everyone.

This weekend, we read the story of the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem as told by Matthew. The Magi are never described as kings or even as wise men. They are called “astrologers from the East” who arrived in Bethlehem looking for the newborn King of the Jews for they had come to worship him and do him homage. As “astrologers from the East,” the Magi were likely pagans, perhaps practitioners of sorcery, perhaps Persians who practiced an ancient form of pagan religion known as Zoroastrianism, which is still practiced by a minute number of believers in the Middle East, particularly Iran, which is modern Persia. Like the shepherds, the Magi were also outsiders, not Jews at all, but nonetheless, they came in a search of the one who was born as King of the Jews, recognizing him as kingly, divine, and the One who would save the world, Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) alike.

Outsiders are those who are excluded. In our time when senseless terrorist attacks take place again and again, there is increasing fear of those who are different, those who are from outside of our zone of experience. And while it makes eminent sense for sovereign nations to exercise control of their borders and to exercise caution in scrutinizing who may or may not enter a country, we should not be paralyzed by irrational fear. Epiphany and the whole Christmas mystery remind us that God is the Creator of all things and every person. God includes everyone in his plan of salvation. Everyone is offered salvation by God through Christ. No one is excluded except those who reject that offer of salvation. 

We pray that God may help us to open our eyes and our hearts to those around us so that we may see his hand at work in the marvelous variety of cultures, peoples and traditions that make up the world in which we live. On this day of Epiphany, may we, like the Magi and like the shepherds before them, have our eyes and hearts attuned to God, open to whatever way he may choose to show himself to us. 

December 24, 2017

Dear Friends:

As we bring our observance of Advent to a swift conclusion with this Fourth Sunday of Advent also coinciding with Christmas Eve, all of us at Precious Blood Parish wish all of you a blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with health and much happiness. Please note that the parish office closed at 12:00 Noon on Friday and will reopen Wednesday, December 27, at 9:00 AM.

For purposes of convenience, I list here the schedule of Christmas Masses at both churches:

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 [CHRISTMAS EVE] Christmas Vigil Masses
4:00 PM at St. Mary and at St. Agnes
4:15 PM in the St. Mary School Gym [with Pageant]
6:00 PM at St. Mary
Christmas Night Masses
10:00 PM at St. Mary and at St. Agnes Christmas Day Masses
8:30 AM and 10:30 AM at St. Mary
10:00 AM at St. Agnes.

One final note: the Annual Collection is now winding down. The response has been excellent and I thank those who have contributed. If you would like to make a contribution, please do so before December 31 if you would like it included in your contribution statement for income tax purposes. 

December 17, 2017

Dear Friends,

With this Third Sunday in Advent upon us, the tone and the focus of this season of preparation shifts to a more intense and joyful anticipation of our coming celebration of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea which we celebrate at Christmas. We light the third candle on the Advent wreath, traditionally rose in color, and there is the option of wearing rose colored vestments at Masses this weekend. For those of us who are adults, it may take a bit of effort to stimulate a sense of joy at this point in Advent. Most of us tend to be harried by all that has to be done as Christmas nears. The real delight is to see the reaction on the faces of children at this time of year. Their excitement and joyful anticipation know no bounds. It is little wonder, then, that Jesus tells us in the Gospel that we must become like children if we are to enter the kingdom of God. So, let us pray that the timeless eternal God may instill in all of us, no matter what our age may be, just a bit of the joyful anticipation that should be ours at the coming celebration of the Incarnation, the wonder that God would become one like us in all things but sin so as to teach us how to live and lead us to salvation.

In these last two weeks of Advent, there will be additional times for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which should be at the heart of any proper observance of Advent. Confessions will be heard on Monday evening from 6:00-7:15 at St. Mary’s Church and also on Saturday of this week from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at St. Mary’s and from 4:00-4:45 PM at St. Agnes. If you have not made your Advent confession, now is the time to do so. If you have been away from the sacrament for a long time, even for years, now is the time to come back and to discover that peace of heart that God alone can give, that peace that will fill you with the joy that God wants all of us to experience.

The poll of parishioners regarding the new weekend Mass schedule to be implemented in January of 2019 takes place after the homily this weekend. We felt it necessary to postpone it from last weekend owing to the inclement weather that might have kept some from coming to church. In order to avoid confusion, I will announce what the new Mass schedule will be sometime in February or March. Again, I remind everyone that the current weekend schedule remains in effect through next December.

As I announced some weeks ago, we are eliminating the use of vigil candles at St. Agnes in anticipation of cleaning the church of soot and preparing to paint the church early in the new year. To that end, the last weekend candles will be available at St. Agnes will be December 30-31. If the candle supply runs out before that, there will be no more available. I can understand that this will require adjustment on the part of some, but I ask for your cooperation as we seek to make some aesthetic improvements in the church. We will also be responding to some real concerns raised by our insurance company.

Have a good week!

December 3, 2017

Dear Friends:

As we begin the season of Advent, we launch into a new liturgical year. In the Lectionary, the cycle of readings for Sunday Mass this year is Cycle B, during which we will read from the Gospel of Mark on almost all the Sundays of this year, with some exceptions during Lent and the Easter Season as well as a six-week period during the summer when we will read from the Bread of Life Discourse found in chapter six of the Gospel of John.

The season of Advent has two primary purposes, one of which is keeping us fixed on the coming of the Lord at the end of time, which will be our focus for the first two weeks or so. The latter days of Advent focus our attention on preparing to celebrate the wonder of Christmas as we remember the birth of the Lord as one like us in all things but sin. It is my hope that these weeks of Advent will not be unduly overshadowed by the hectic preparations for Christmas. Advent is a season in its own right and as such, we do not sing Christmas carols or set up the Christmas crib in church during this time. Advent has a rich musical heritage in its own right and it is only proper that we make full use of as many Advent hymns as possible during this all-too- short time of year. Of course, our personal observance of Advent should include time for quiet prayer each day to take us away from the hectic nature of this time of year. It should also include our celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To that end, there will be additional hours for confessions both at St. Mary’s and at St. Agnes’ as Christmas approaches.

Next weekend at all Masses in both churches, we will be conducting a canvass of the parishioners regarding the new weekend Mass schedule that will take effect in a year’s time, namely on January 1, 2019. All parishioners, eighteen years of age and older, will be asked to indicate which of two proposed schedules they prefer. We will take into serious consideration the input we receive in making a final decision. Again, however, I want to emphasize that the current weekend Mass schedule will remain in effect throughout 2018. It will effect those who wish to schedule Masses for loved ones in 2019 and beyond. Once we have reached a determination as to which of the two options is most preferable, I will announce the new schedule.

A reminder that the Annual Collection remains underway. To date, the total received stands at almost $43,000. To those who have made a gift, I

thank you. I encourage those who have not yet made a gift to do so before December 31 if you wish your gift to be included in the total sum of your donations to the parish for income tax purposes.

Once again, going forward, please make all checks payable to Precious Blood Parish. We will be closing the accounts of the old St. Mary’s Parish and the old St. Agnes’ Parish in the next several weeks. After that, we will have to return all checks not made payable to Precious Blood Parish so that they can be reissued. I know very well that old habits die hard, but I thank you for your cooperation. 

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.