I don’t know where this “Blessing of Time” came from or who wrote it.   I give credit to the author of this piece.  

Time is slow for those who wait.

Too swift for those who fear.

Too long for those who grieve.

Too short for those who rejoice.

But for those who love, time is not.

Lord, we thank you for your gift of the seasons.

Through your reflected beauty,

they help us mark the passing of time.

Bless with your special accuracy

those who help us be organized and on time,

who help us keep our schedules and appointments.

Bless us with sensitivity

when we impose

on the precious time of others.

For those whose time is now eternity,

share the blessing of your light and peace.

You said, “Watch and pray,

for you know not the day or the hour.”

May the anticipation of your coming

turn us to you each day.

Take from us the guilt and failure of the past

by deepening our faith in your forgiveness.

Spare us all anxiety and worry for the future

by strengthening our trust

in your ever watchful and loving providence.

Teach us to live each day in your love,

cherishing each moment as we experience it.

leaving all else safely in your hands.

Hear us now in your mercy

and extend your blessing to the instruments,

calendars and timepieces,

we use to measure time.

Bless our clocks and watches

so we may experience the miracle of each second.

May they help us not miss what is important

while you keep us from machine-like routine.

Free us from being clock-watchers, and

make us time lovers.

Bless our calendars,

these ordered lists of weeks and months

of Holy Days and Holidays, of feasts and fasts,

all our special days of remembering.

May these calendars, our servants,

grace our homes and lives.

May they remind us of birthdays

and other gifted days,

as they teach us the secret

that all life is meant

for contemplation and celebration.

And finally, Lord, bless this New Year,

each of its days and nights.

Bless us with full means and new moons,

with happy seasons and healthy lives.

Grant to us, Lord, this gift of 2022,

a year of love and peace.   Amen.

             ********

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord,

On a personal note, this is the last reflection I am writing for the Flocknote as your pastor.  The bard from the book of Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time for everything.”  And my time has come to pass the baton to my successor.  It is time to say thank you for all you have been and for all we have accomplished together.  It has been an extraordinary journey.  I am ever so grateful that we had a great time in building this family of faith.  We fought a good fight and we have kept the faith.  It is time to pass it on!

Love you all and God bless you.

Fr. Joseph A. Prince

Religious Education classes are now on Christmas break until January.
Classes will resume in the New Year.    Parents, please check the bulletin
and the website for information and the calendar.

8:00 am  Holy Mass

9:30 am  Holy Mass

11:30 am  Holy Mass

5:00 pm  Holy Mass

                          

9:30 am  Holy Mass

3:30 pm Confessions

5:00 pm  Holy Mass

After 5 PM Mass in McKeon Hall

Menu: Salad, Roast Beef Dinner, Wine, Soft Drinks, Dessert & Coffee/Tea

Cost: $25 Adults, $10 Children 4-13, Children under 4 – Free

RSVP: Make your reservation today and no later than Wednesday, January 5, 2022. 

Call or Email: 

Cindy Conti 203-438-3111  c.conti6877@gmail.com or 

Dolores Pin 203-743-9840  dpapsq@live.com

Make checks payable to:  Prime Timers

Participating in the Synod is a spiritual exercise of discernment and listening.  Every journey is unique, and the Church wants to know about your journey in all its aspects, whether your experience is good and no matter your views on the Church.  

There will be several opportunities to join in this process.  There will be live sessions, groupings throughout the ministries, virtual sessions and old-fashioned pen-to-paper. See the reservation form for the January sessions below.  You can RSVP for the session of your choice by leaving the completed form in the basket in the church vestibule, or email it to SES_Synod@yahoo.com.  You can be part of a group, request a one-on-one session with a delegate or write an anonymous note.

 

This process is open to all baptized and cannot work without you.  Whether you attend daily Mass or have not been inside a church in twenty years, your voice is important and should be heard.  It does not matter what you have done or your so-called status in life.  When you participate, you are a child of God with something important to share!  So, please join us in one of these opportunities.

God bless.

Drawing on decades of leadership experience, bestselling author Chris Lowney examines the profound challenges facing the global Catholic Church, shares real life stories of Catholics making a difference, and offers practical suggestions for change. The Catholic Church is suffering its worst decline in five centuries.  Join us to learn more about the challenges we face and see where you may be called to lead.  

Please reserve your copy of Everyone Leads before December 31st, by clicking on the sign up link below or calling/emailing the parish office.  A copy of the book and a reflection guide will be provided at no cost.  

A conversation with the Author will take place on March 10, 2022.  

Our parish has a subscription to FORMED, a premier online platform filled with over 4,000 Catholic studies, movies, audio dramas, talks, e-books, and even cartoons for our children. FORMED has content from over 60 apostolates, including Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press, and the Knights of Columbus, with material that is professionally produced, engaging, and solid in its catechism. Best of all, this material is free to you.

You can enjoy FORMED on your computer, or on your television with an inexpensive Roku device or Apple TV. You can even listen on your phone as you commute to work or do chores. 

To gain access to all of FORMED’s content, follow these simple steps:

That’s it! You’re in. You can get the free FORMED app for your phone by searching FORMED Catholic in your app store.