A British diplomat was coming to America for the first time.  He was on an important assignment and it was expected that he would be interviewed extensively by reporters upon arrival in Washington, D.C.  He had been briefed, before his departure, on the ways of the American Press Corps.  He was told to weigh his answers to reporter’s questions carefully, lest his words be used out of context and possibly detract from the importance of his mission.  The first question he was asked by a reporter was, “Are you going to visit any nightclubs during your stay in Washington, D.C.?”  To which the diplomat naively replied, “Are there any nightclubs in Washington D.C?”   The next day, he read an account of the interview in the morning newspaper.  It stated that, upon landing in the United States, his first words were, “Are there any nightclubs in Washington, D.C.?”

Beginning at a very tender age, our T.V. addicted generation is learning from the commercials that twisting reality with words is to be expected and accepted in the game of everyday life.  And, when we come to church, do we have any real reason to believe that we are not participating in the everyday game of saying one thing and meaning another?  “Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest.   Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” (Mk 10:43-44)  Does anybody think that Jesus is playing the game of saying one thing and meaning another?   Jesus doesn’t mince words.  Jesus doesn’t try to use words to twist reality.   He means every word of that instruction to his disciples.

It is not our position in life that counts, but what we do with it.  It is not the mere exercise of power and authority that counts. What matters is how we exercise that power and authority.  Status as important as it may be, does not explain the human person.   Jesus is telling us that Christian faith is not something to be acquired now, so that after our fifty or eighty years on earth, we will be able to enjoy the luxury of happiness in the afterlife.   Jesus is telling us that Christian faith is not a luxury, but it is a necessity.  It is necessary now, because now is when we need to know who we are, and how we ought to live and relate to one another.  “To live humanly is to live for others.”  That is a beautiful-sounding maxim.  But it will do nothing to enrich our lives until we actually begin to live for others.

“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (Mk 10:45)

We will read Lumen gentium. In 1964, the Second Vatican Council taught that the council fathers wanted to “bring the light of Christ to all men, a light brightly visible on the countenance of the Church” (Lumen Gentium, No. 1).

This is how they started to speak about the Church, so this is where we, as members of the Church, need to start to speak about it as well. If we start with the scandals or the politics, then we are starting with the flaws, human flaws, and we are not allowing ourselves to stand in awe of what Christ (not sinful human beings) is doing in the Church. If we look prayerfully at the right places in the Church, we shall see Christ!

To read the document, click here. To learn more, join us on November 10, 2021 at 7:30pm for a presentation by Dr. Joan Kelly via zoom.  You can register here.

Dr. Joan Kelly teaches in the Catholic Studies Department at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. She is a graduate of Saint Joseph College in West Hartford (now the University of Saint Joseph), received a master’s degree in Theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a doctorate from the Graduate Theological Foundation at Notre Dame in Indiana. Dr. Kelly also teaches in the Diocese of Bridgeport’s deacon formation program and until recently was engaged with the theological formation of the seminarians at St John Fisher Seminary in Stamford. She received the Papal Cross from Pope John Paul II in recognition of her commitment to the teaching mission of the Church.

Join us once, or join us once-a-month to unpack a new Church document and learn more about the implications for the faithful of today. Every second Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm, we will gather virtually to learn a bit more. Each document will be available in advance online.  Future dates are scheduled for: Dec 8, Jan 12, Feb 9, Mar 9, Apr 13, May 11, and Jun 8.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

450. Why did God "bless the Sabbath day and declare it sacred" (Exodus 20:11)?

God did so because on the Sabbath day one remembers God's rest on the seventh day of creation, and also the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt and the Covenant which God sealed with his people.

Further reading: CCC 2168-2172, 2189

451. How did Jesus act in regard to the Sabbath?

Jesus recognized the holiness of the Sabbath day and with divine authority he gave this law its authentic interpretation: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath" ( Mark 2:27).

Further reading: CCC 2173 

These excerpts are from the Compendium of the CCC. Get your own copy here. Copyright © USCCB - Shared with permission.

 

Doing Our Part To Change History For The Better 

In 1948, The World Medical Association created the Geneva Declaration as a proclamation of human rights. It was a direct response to the atrocities that had been committed by the Nazis. They were coming out of a period where it had been acceptable to kill, mistreat and perform experiments on those who were thought of as inferior. Therefore, the Geneva Declaration was a means for declaring respect for human life. The oath included this clause, “I will have the utmost respect for human life, from the time of conception.” However, in 1984, it was altered to no longer acknowledge conception. Instead, they replaced it with the words, “from its beginning.” That too did not survive. In 2005, it was deleted altogether, leaving no reference to the earliest stages of life. It’s shameful how this literally documents our society’s degradation of life. That leads us to the present. What will future generations see in the history we leave behind? The tragic reality is that we have a culture of death where 60 million innocent babies have been denied the right to live in the U.S. Abortion mills thrive across the country where the unborn aren’t only killed, but abortionists profit from their "profession." Yet, we have voices that are speaking out affirming the value of life. Technology, via ultrasounds, is showing the world the truth and beauty of development in the womb. Women help centers are located in communities across the country, reaching out to abortion-vulnerable women and saving babies’ lives. Pro-life legislation is being introduced on both federal and state levels. Much progress is being made; but make no mistake, it’s a bitter ongoing battle. For victory, we must each do our part so that we may stand at the turning point in history, where this generation will restore a culture of life.

You are invited to come be part of St. Mary's Parish Retreat.  This is a personal retreat, open to all adult men and women.  This retreat is the perfect time to grow more deeply in your faith and even closer to our Lord.  Friday, October 22 - Sunday October 24.  Seton-Neumann Center, Danbury, CT.  Contact Maryilyn Kain at kainma56@gmail.com or call 203-994-7808 with any questions.

St. Mary Parish in Ridgefield is hosting via Zoom a monthly/bi monthly series of conversations on racism to gain understanding to heal the racial divide. Participants can join at any time. The discussion will be based on the reading Bishop Edward K. Braxton’s Pastoral Letter “The Racial Divide in the United States: A Reflection for the World Day of Peace 2015”.  You can register by visiting https://www.smcr.org/conversations-on-racism

You are invited to the 10th Annual Sacred Heart Congress
Date: November 6, 2021
Time: 9 am EST to 12 pm EST
Location: St Paul, Westerville Ohio
You can register at WelcomeHisHeart.com and a live stream is available.

On Sunday, October 17 at 1:00 pm. Notre Dame High School in Fairfield will host an Open House for prospective students and their families. The Open House will give students a comprehensive look at the academic, athletic and extracurricular programs as well as ND’s partnership with Sacred Heart University. 

The Entrance Exam will be offered on October 30 and November 13 at 8:00 a.m. All eighth grade applicants must take an entrance exam at one of the four Diocesan high schools. All applicants must complete an on-line application. Complete information can be found on the school’s web site, www.notredame.org 

Individual tours are available for parents and students.  Please contact our Admissions Office at 203-372-6521 to schedule a visit. 

Notre Dame is a co-ed high school located in Fairfield that has been educating students since 1956. The student body of 500 students represents 36 area cities and towns.

Cardinal Kung Academy,  a diocesan school in Stamford CT offering a co-ed classical education for grades 7-12, is hosting a high school and junior high school Open House on November 8th. Meet the faculty, administration, family, and students that make CKA an exceptional experience for your teen.  RSVP requested
Interesting in visiting immediately? Call the school at 203-329-8296 or visit  http://www.cardinalkungacademy.org to schedule a tour or shadow day.

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish's 29th Annual Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, November 6th, 9 am-4 pm. Vendor Applications are now available at stmarguerite.org under “Breaking News”. Questions? Email fallfestival@stmarguerite.org or call 203-775-5117, x215. St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish is located at 138 Candlewood Lake Road in Brookfield.

We wish to thank all of our parishioners who have been mailing in or dropping off their donations, and those who have signed up for Online Giving.  We appreciate your generosity and desire to continue to support the parish.  

Please note that we have upgraded our Online Giving Platform.  It is very user friendly.  If you shop or do your banking on-line please consider this format for your donations.  You have the option to make a one time gift or set up a recurring cycle that suits your timing and budget  You can visit the site by clicking the button below.

If you would like to make a one time donation to our Sunday Collection, please click on the button below.