SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY

IN ORDINARY TIME

†Masses and Intentions† Sat Confession prior to Sat 4:30 Mass Sat Baptism Noon: Andrew Nathan Doering

Sat Sept 8, 4:30 p.m. Mass at St. Philip † John Doughty Jr., 15th Anniversary by John & Caroline Doughty & Family

Sun Sept 9, 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Jude † John F. Hlobik by the Parish Sun Sept 9, 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Philip † Mr. Gagnier by the Dineen Family

Mon Sept 10, 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Jude † Veronica P. Kominski by the Parish

Mon Sept 10, 2:00 p.m. Mass Atria Waterford Mon Sept 10, No Evening Mass at St. Philip Tue Sept 11, 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Jude Tue Sept 11, 10:00 a.m. Funeral Mass † Veronica P. Kominski

Tue Sept 11, 6:00 p.m. Mass at St. Philip † Chuck Doughty by John & Caroline Doughty Wed Sept 12, 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Jude Fri Sept 14, 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Philip † Catherine & Steve Muska by Memorial Mass Fund

Adoration following Mass till 5:50 p.m. 5:50p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet & Benediction

Sat Confession prior to Sat 4:30 Mass Sat Sept 15, 4:30 p.m. Mass at St. Philip † Victor P. & Lillian Piecyk by Memorial Mass Fund † Veronica Pittam Drake, 19th Anniversary by Robert & Linda Drake Sun Sept 16, 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Jude Sun Sept 16, 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Philip † Rose & Paul Metsack by their Children & Rosemary Piecyk

OUR OFFERING OF THANKS TO GOD LAST WEEK

St. Philip Weekly Offering $3,456.00 St. Jude Weekly Offering $1,388.00

ATTENDANCE LAST WEEKEND

Saturday 4:30 pm St. Philip 09/01/12 81 Sunday 9:00 am St. Jude 09/02/12 133 Sunday 11:00 am St. Philip 09/02/12 142 Total: 356

STEWARDSHIP INSERT “Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5). Society teaches us that possessions are more important than faith. When we are rich in faith we are willing to share our riches.

PRAYER LIST: Caroline Doughty, Billy Grylls, Noah Dionne, Dom & Carol Palombo, Kathy Ringuette, Bob Upton, Anne Crouse, Bruce & Denise Beaudoin, Fr. Greg Jednaki, Del Eckenberger.

Our condolences to the families of Jeanne Krapf and Veronica P. Kominski

PARISH MEETINGS Knights of Columbus: Tue, Sep 11, 7pm, St. Philip Ctr.

Prayer Shawl will resume Sept 11, 6:30pm Rectory. Women’s Bible Study: Tue, Sept 18, 6:30pm Rectory. Parish Council: Tue, Sept 18, 7pm, St. Philip Ctr. Ladies Group: Thurs, Sept 20, 6:30pm St. Philip Ctr. Finance Committee: Tue, Oct 2, 7pm, Rectory.

This week!! Our Parish picnic is on Sunday, Sept 9th at St. Philip’s Parish Hall (due to weather) starting at Noon.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

St. Philip: CCD, Class Sunday, Sept 9, 9:30 a.m. St. Jude: CCD, Class Wednesday, Sept 19.

Confirmation Classes (open for Adult Ed also) Sunday, Sept 16th at St. Philip: 6:00 p.m. Wed, Sept 19th at St. Jude, 7:00 p.m.

REGISTRATION: Forms are in the vestibule. You can return the form and payment to the office. Fee is $50/family. Classes run Sept-May; schedule available soon.

DEFENDING OUR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY On August 1, 2012, the federal healthcare mandate took effect requiring that employers cover free abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and surgical sterilizations. Churches are exempt. However, religious organizations including Catholic hospitals, schools and charities are not. They have been given exactly one year – until August 1, 2013 – to comply with the mandate, which violates religious freedom. Between now and then, it is imperative that you let your elected officials know how you feel about losing this freedom.

If you haven’t already, please contact the offices of your Congressional Representatives and United States Senators to express your opposition to the federal Health & Human Services mandate. For addresses and phones numbers, please visit: www.ctcatholic.org or www.norwichdiocese.org.

Sanctuary Candle is lit for John Doughty, Jr. and the Blessed Mother Candle is lit in Memory of John Doughty, Jr. by the Doughty Family and also for a Special Intention by a parishioner.

Flowers for Mary’s Chapel this week are in memory of

Jules and Colleen Girardet.

5TH ANNUAL CT CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE is coming up at Goodwin College, East Hartford on Saturday, October 27th, 8:30am-5:00pm. For info and tickets, please visit www.ctcatholicmen.org. ST. PHILIP’S CRAFT FAIR will be Saturday, Dec 1, 2012. BASKET DRAWING: Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about the kind of basket or item you might like to donate to our Christmas Craft Fair raffle. BAKE SALE: Please contribute generously as this is a big fundraiser for our church.

Congratulations to Brenda Poirier & Ed Masterson married Aug 25th at ST. Philip’s.

We will once again be participating in the 40-DAYS-FOR-LIFE in Norwich. The initial Mass will be on Tuesday, Sept 25th at 7:00pm at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The vigil begins on Wednesday, Sept 26th outside of Planned Parenthood, 12 Case St., Norwich. We will be responsible for covering one day and signup sheets will be available. Our parish coordinator is Sheila Taylor 860-429-3283 or staylor3283@charter.net. Our PRAYER SHAWL group makes baby blankets

for BIRTHRIGHT of Windham as well as prayer shawls. New members are always welcome and you may knit or crochet your shawls. If you don't know how to knit or crochet but would like to be a part of the

group we will teach you! Meetings are from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tues, each month beginning Sept 11, 2012 in the St. Philip Rectory. Do you or someone you know need a Prayer Shawl? Contact: Carolann Hernberg: 860- 487-0449 or chernberg01@snet.net.

BUILDING UPDATE Work continues on the north side walkway and the church windows. Preparations are set to fix the beam in the hall. We are very blessed that the cost for this work is far less than we anticipated. Presently, we will have to make a decision whether to take up the church hall tiles this fall or later on.

Father Kennedy

BLUE MASS AND BRUNCH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILES

Sunday, Sept 23, 2012 at 10:15 am St. Patrick Cathedral.

Thank you to everyone that helped to build the St. Jude garden or donated

money to the project. We will have another work day to finish the project on Sunday, September 16th

beginning at 1 pm. Fen Deskus VOCATION OFFICE PRAYER CAMPAIGN Join in praying for our seminarians at your convenience. Take a post card from the holder in the vestibule for any or all of our seminarians. Pray for that seminarian, write a brief note if you choose and drop it in the mail. Let your future priests know you are supporting them and ask them to pray for you. May God continue to send us shepherds after his own Heart! Save the date, Saturday, 9/22/2012, for an exciting and inspiring event, “Preparing for the Year of Faith and the New Evangelization” held at Symphony Hall in Springfield, MA. Speakers include Father Mitch Pacwa, Sister Jane Morrissey, Jeff Cavins, Marcellino D’Ambrosio, and Patrick Madrid. Tickets are available at the box office and on Ticketmaster. For more info call 413-523-0263 or visit www.yearoffaithconference.com.

Youth Explosion IV on Sun, Sept 23, 12:30-7:30 pm, at St. Bernard School, Uncasville, CT is open to youths in grades 7-12. Hear the LIFT Band from Boston, celebrate Mass with Bishop Cote, and be inspired by Chris Stefanic, a nationally known ‘youth’ speaker. Spend the afternoon sharing your faith with other youths from the Diocese. For info & to register visit www.youthexplosionct.com or call Marge Vanner, Office of Faith Events 860-848-2237

St. Joseph Living Center Fall Festival: Sat, Sept 15th 10am-3pm at 14 Club Rd. Windham – rain or shine! C&C Farm stand (mums, pumpkins, vegetables),

Corn Chowder, Burgers & Dogs, Crafts, Jewelry, Home Goods, Bake Sale, Tag Sale, Face-painting and Fire Safety for Kids. Fantastic Raffle: Apple iPad 3rd Gen wifi 64gb; 50” TruSlim Frame TV; $300 Wal-Mart Gift card: Amazon Kindle-Fire. Tickets available now in the lobby and sold that day. 3:00 Drawing – Winner need not be present. OUR LOCAL FOOD BANKS are in need of the

following: peanut butter, jelly, jam, cold cereal, pasta sauce, rice, canned meat and noodles or any canned or dry

goods you are able to offer. Thank you for your donations and support.

“Theology of the Body for Teens” New Middle School Edition, Discovering God’s Plan for Love and Life Presentation Sponsored by the Office of Family Life: Thurs, Sept 20 ~ 6:30pm–8:30pm, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Hall, Quaker Hill, CT. Thurs, Sept 27 ~ 6:30pm–8:30pm at St. Maurice Church Parish Center, Bolton, CT. This Introduction is intended for middle school and teen educators as well as home school parents who want to learn about and see materials on TOBTeens new Middle School Edition and the High School Edition. Learn how this program, based on the teachings of John Paul II, can provide your teens with the knowledge and understanding they desire concerning God’s plan for life and love. There is no charge. www.TOBforTeens.com website provides info. Susan Williams at 860-889-8346 ext.283.

SACRED PASSION: A MARRIED COUPLES RETREAT

A getaway weekend to remember! Sept 21-23. This weekend is designed to renew and rejuvenate your relationship as a married couple, providing an opportunity to deepen your relationship with each other and with God. The weekend is facilitated by three married couples and an Oblate priest and is sponsored by the Immaculata Retreat House, Willimantic, CT. To register or for info, please contact David and Elizabeth Eddy, 860-462-6719, send an email to eddyop@gmail.com or contact the Immaculata Retreat House at 860-423-8484. You may also register online at immaculataretreat.org.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASSES ~ (NFP) is scientifically sound, helps with fertility problems, is easily learned and 99% effective for conceiving or responsibly postponing a baby. NFP is your loving and safe alternative to dangerous chemicals, devices, synthetic hormones and side-effects of contraception and birth control. Find out why NFP couples have very successful marriages. NFP class for married and engaged couples is 3- part monthly. A class begins on Sat, Sept 8th in Westerly, RI, call the Brodeurs at 401-596-3443. A class begins on Mon, Sept 17th at St. John’s in Old Saybrook, call the Collisons at 860-399-8265. To register for a NFP class go to www.ccli.org. For info: Susan Williams, Office of Family Life, at 860-889-8346 ext. 283. ENGAGED ENCOUNTER WEEKEND ~ One of the most important parts of your wedding planning is

your marriage preparation program. Engaged Encounter is a weekend-long program and meets all the aspects of marriage preparation required by the Diocese. Visit www.engagedencounter.org.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER By offering Married Couples the beautiful experience of a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend, the Catholic Church is affirming and supporting you in your

chosen vocation – Marriage. Take advantage of this great gift to enhance your relationship and enjoy a love-filled weekend away together. To register for the next weekend in East Hartford on Sept. 14-16 or information call 860-376-0440. Next weekend Nov 16-18. For info or to register for a weekend, call Joe and Jane Staszowski at (860) 644-7260 or meweekend@gmail.com or visit www.wwme.org.

Marriage Prep Class for Engaged Couples “God’s Plan for a Joy-filled Marriage” offered by the Office of Family Life. To register for the 4-session class please call 860-889-8346 ext.283. Fri. Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, 2012 6:30pm-8:45pm At St. Joseph Church Hall, 11 Baltic Rd., Occum Cost: $50.00 per couple.

RACHEL’S VINEYARD RETREAT WEEKENDS If you are silently grieving after an abortion; healing, forgiveness and peace can begin with a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. Retreat Sept 28-30 in Litchfield, CT Call Marie: 203-631-9030. Website: www.rachelsvineyard.org. “Project Rachel” is also a Diocesan outreach for anyone in need of healing. Priests in “Project Rachel” can help you through healing and forgiveness. Call 860-889-8346 ext. 283 or 800-554-5173. All inquiries are confidential.

MARRIAGE BUILDING AND REPAIR: Retrouvaille provides tools to heal, re-establish communication, and gain new insight into your marriage. A series of 6 sessions follows the weekend phase. Couples come to Retrouvaille, which is Catholic in origin but open to all, with a sincere desire to repair and build a stable, loving marriage. For information or to sign up for the next weekend on September 21-23 in Meriden call 413-525-1634. Website www.retrouvaille.org.

A Parent’s Guide: Teaching the Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality. A DVD is available for you to purchase from www.catholicparents.org it has been featured on EWTN and is based on the 1995 document by the Pontifical Council for the Family ‘The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality”. This entire document can be read on the EWTN website on libraries. The document and DVD is on target for our present time and age appropriate on when, how and what to say to your children. For info call Family Life Office at 860-889-8346 ext. 283.

GOLFERS: Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich 7th Annual Golf Tournament Wed, Sept 19th at Fox Hopyard in E. Haddam. Most Rev. Bishop Michael R. Cote will attend. Registration begins at 11am, with a scramble format and a shotgun start. The fee is $175/golfer for 18 holes, a BBQ lunch and prizes and raffles. An excellent opportunity for a great round of golf at a premier course while assisting the works of Catholic Charities in our diocese. For info and applications contact Marek Kukulka at 860-889-8346 ext. 267.

Do you or someone you know need a Prayer Shawl? Contact: Carolann Hernberg: 860- 487-0449 or chernberg01@snet.net.

BEREAVEMENT AND GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS

Bereavement support offered at Catholic Charities offices, call 860-889-8346 ext.260 for information. For additional bereavement support in the diocese call the Family Life Office at 860-889-8346 ext. 283. www.bereavedparentsusa.org ~ A support group for parents and siblings grieving the loss of a child. Meets at St. John’s, Cromwell call 860-632-1040. At St. Anne’s, Sturbridge, MA call 508-764-6170. www.compassionatefriends.org ~ A support group for parents and siblings grieving the loss of a child. Check website for meeting locations throughout the diocese. www.marysplacect.org ~ A center in Windsor, CT supports children, teens and adults in their grieving of family members.

ATTENTION CATHOLIC SINGLES

The Catholic Alumni Club Int’l is looking to expand into the Norwich diocese. We provide a group dedicated to social, cultural, civic and spiritual relationships in a Catholic setting. For more info, please check out the following site or contact Steve at valksr@yahoo.com or www.caci.org.

Interested in learning about Adoption? Catholic Charities provides services for all members of the adoption triad: infant adoption placements, domestic and international home studies and adoption searches. Contact our Adoption Coordinator at: 860-889-8346 ext.282 or susansedensky@ccfsn.org for more info. REGISTRATION: If you are new to our parish or your registration is not current, please fill in a form with up-to-date information. Also, your pledge and use of the parish envelopes helps us plan our budget and provides you with a tax record.

RETREAT OPPORTUNITIES:

Immaculate Conception Spiritual Renewal Center, Putnam, CT: www.ImmaculateConceptionSite.org.

Immaculata Retreat House, Willimantic, CT: www.immaculataretreat.org.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend: www.wwme.org.

SHARE YOUR JOY! If you or a loved one are celebrating a special event let us know so we can celebrate with you.

Where are our shut-ins? Please call the rectory if

you have a loved one in the hospital

or in a nursing home so we can visit,

bring the Eucharist and keep in touch.

MEMORIAL MASSES: To remember your loved ones in Memorial Masses please call the office or stop in. Let us know if you’d like a yearly Mass offered.

We would like to start a Cemetery Committee to maintain and beautify our cemetery. If you are able to help out, please call the office.

Divorcing and/or resolving child custody issues? Many parents are concerned about the effects of divorce, separation or family disruption on their children. Catholic Charities offers ongoing, monthly one day PARENTING EDUCATION CLASSES in Norwich, Rockville and Middletown. Catholic Charities also offers a monthly 2- part Spanish/bilingual parenting education class in Willimantic. Attendance at both sessions in the Willimantic class is required for the certificate of completion. Fees are determined by the State of CT. Please call toll free 1-866-883-1624 ext. 263 for registration and class locations and dates.

FREE ONGOING FORECLOSURE PREVENTION AND 8 HOUR HOME BUYERS EDUCATION CLASSES are being offered by Catholic Charities in Norwich, New London and Plainfield locations. Do you need help with purchasing a home or falling behind on mortgage payments? Need help with budgeting or filling out applications for EMAP? All services are provided free at Catholic Charities, a HUD approved Counseling Agency. For details call 860-889-8346 ext.271.

THE CATHOLIC TOUR (877-627-4868) Pilgrimage to Rome for the Opening of our Holy Father’s proclaimed “Year of Faith” plus a Mediterranean Cruise Oct 9-21. jimadair@theCatholicTour.com.

Emergency Mobile Psychiatric Services (EMPS) works with children from birth to age 18 and their families to help provide support when a child is in crisis. For more information about this program visit the website: www.chrhealth.org or contact: Rebecca Marcotte, MA, EMPS-NE Clinician Community Health Resources, 7B Ledgebrook Dr, Mansfield, CT 06250, 860-456-0038 x233.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR LIFE! “Choose Life” License Plates with smiling faces are promoting adoptions and traveling everywhere as a witness to Life and Love. Give a gift that keeps on giving, it’s so easy! Go to www.fund-adoption.org for info or to download an application form. The license plate helps fund agencies such as Catholic Charities. DIOCESE OF NORWICH VOCATION OFFICE: As of Aug 6, the Diocese collection for the Seminary fund is $99,638.94. We have 9 seminarians studying this year. Please keep them in your prayers.

RECRUITMENT FOR PRISON MINISTRY A training program, “Gift of Grace” has been developed for those interested in prison ministry. Bishop Hines Conference Room, 201 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360. Saturdays, Sept 15, Oct 20, Nov 3, Dec 2, 2012. Pre-registration is required. Parish teams are encouraged. There is a particular need for people who are bi-lingual in English & Spanish. For more information, please contact Sheree Antoch at the Prison Ministry Office 860-848-2237 x 211 or prison@norwichdiocese.net. Eucharistic Adoration: Two adorers are needed

each hour after Mass on Fridays at St. Philip 9am to 5:50pm. Please call Sandra Mullarkey: 860-

429-0322. We need people who can commit to one hour, as well as people able to substitute when necessary. All parishioners from St. Philip and St. Jude

are invited. Come visit East Catholic High School, 115 New State Rd., Manchester, CT during our Open House on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 6:45 p.m. The entrance exam for eighth graders will be given on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 8 a.m. at East Catholic High School. Pre-registration for the exam is advised but not required. Visit

www.echs.com or call our Admissions office at 860-649-5336 x456 for more information!

2012 ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL We are still in the midst of our 2012 Annual Catholic Appeal drive. To date: St. Philip has pledged $13,638 or 75% of the diocesan goal: St. Jude has

pledged $9,014 or 85% of goal.

SAVE THE DATE! 3RD ANNUAL SETON SCHOLARSHIP DINNER Will be held on Sunday, October 28, 2012 Lake of Isles, 1 Clubhouse Drive, North Stonington, CT 06359. For more information contact Ann Crooks at 860-887-4086. LIGHTHOUSE CATHOLIC CDS: There are new CDs with good Catholic teaching and some

excellent testimonies of individuals and their faith walk. Thank you for all your donations, they help to keep the program going. If you have questions or requests contact Donna Vertefeuille

at 860-429-4508 or email donna@vertefeuille.org.

ALTAR SERVERS AT ST. PHILIP AND ST. JUDE We have a great need for more altar servers. If you have never served ~ now is a good time to start. We will have an informational meeting for those interested. Please call the office: 860-429-2860.

Silver and Gold Jubilee Anniversary Mass Sunday, Oct 21 ~ 2:00p.m. Inviting all couples married 25 & 50 years, to participate in and renew your wedding vows in a Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael R. Cote at the Cathedral of St. Patrick. Family and friends are invited to share in this special testimony and witness to love and marriage. Light refreshments will be provided following the Mass. Registration is through the Parish office. Sponsored by Annual Catholic Appeal. Visit the College of Saint Mary Magdalen annual

Fall Visitor Weekend Oct 5th – 7th, 2012. All high

school students and recent graduates are invited to attend our Fall Visitor Weekend. Weekend coincides with the Warner Fall Foliage Festival. In addition to Fall Foliage Festivities, visitors will have the opportunity to attend classes, meet one on one with faculty and admissions representatives, stay in the student residences, attend Mass and participate in spiritual life

on campus, and tour our campus. Reserve your place

today! Contact the Admissions Office

atadmissions@magdalen.edu or call toll free:

877.498.1723.

“Donation Angel” ~ Donate any type of vehicle: cars, boats, etc. running or not. Donation Angel is a car donation program that raises funds to support our Catholic Charities of Norwich and its mission to respond to Christ’s call to care for those in need by providing services for individuals and families. Click or call now for free quick removal of your unwanted vehicle and receive a tax deduction. For info call Ray at: 866-434-1131or raydonationangel@yahoo.com. www.ccfsn.org www.donationangel.org You’re Invited! ‘Chair’-ity for Haiti Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti invites you to an evening of music, food, beverages, and a silent auction of various chairs and Haitian artwork on Sept 28th, 6-10 pm. This “chair”-ity event will feature an assortment of decorative chairs for your living room, bedroom, front porch, ski lodge or summer cottage. The chairs have all been designed, painted, reupholstered, and donated from local groups and individuals for this wonderful cause. Come enjoy the last Friday in September at the beautiful Mystic Art Center in downtown Mystic. Spend time with friends, learn about what's going on in Haiti, and see some of the great work being done there. Tickets are $30 at the door. e are still accepting chair donations- if you are interested in donating a chair please call Anna DeBiasi at 860-

848-2237 x206 New Study Looks at “At-Home Dads” Most full-time, “at-home Dads” interviewed for a new study were not forced into this role after a job loss. They tended to be “men who had, in concert with their spouses,” made the choice to dedicate themselves to full-time parenting. It appears too, that at-home dads are very good parents. To read the article, go to Marriage News at: www.foryourmarriage.org.

Special Presentation The Current Fight To Preserve Religious Liberty – Our First Freedom: Is it real? How will it impact religious institutions and individuals? What can I do?

When: Tuesday, September 11th

, 7:30 – 9:00pm (immediately after the 7:00 pm Mass) Where: Our Lady of Lourdes Church 1650 Route 12, Gales Ferry, CT. Presenter: Deacon David Reynolds, Legislative Liaison Connecticut Catholic Conference

First Amendment of the United States Constitution – “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” ______________________________________________________________________________ On January 20th the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a mandate that all employers provide free insurance coverage for sterilization, abortion inducing drugs, and contraception. The exemption provided for "religious employers" was so narrow that it failed to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations. It also failed to provide conscience protections for individuals with deeply held religious beliefs. Since then a large number of religious institutions, Catholic and non-Catholic, and individuals have taken legal action to stop the mandate, viewing it as an infringement on first amendment rights. This issue is not about whether you agree with the Catholic Church on the issue of contraception, but rather it is about freedom of religion and conscience and the right of the Catholic Church, or any

religious denomination or individual, to teach and live out what they believe.

Please join us as speaker, Deacon David Reynolds, explores: The evolution of this mandate as part of the federal health care reform law and pro-

choice agenda.

It’s implication on first amendment rights now and in the future.

What we as faithful Catholics should be doing to reverse the mandate.

The presentation will be followed by a time for open discussion.

Diocese of Norwich Office of the Bishop

201 Broadway Norwich, Connecticut 06360

(860) 887-9294

MOST REVEREND MICHAEL R. COTE, D.D. MEMO To: Pastors and Pro-life Representatives From: Bishop Michael R. Cote, D.D. Date: September 4, 2012 RE: 40 Days for Life – Nationwide Pro-life Program A Program of Prayer, Fasting Peaceful Vigils and Outreach September 26 through November 4, 2012 Vigil Mass on Tuesday, September 25, 2012

This will be the sixth year of our participation in this prayerful and informative program to unite over 290 locations in the United States and Canada to end abortion and promote the sanctity of human life. This initiative has been undertaken by individuals and local Pro-life organizations throughout the United States and Canada.

The Program will begin on Wednesday, September 26, 2012, and run through Sunday, November 4, 2012. There will be a “40 Days for Life” Vigil Mass on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich. The Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, D.D., will be the principal celebrant and homilist.

For these forty days, the focus will be to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity with prayer, fasting and peaceful activism. The major strength of the campaign is its simplicity. The three key components are:

Prayer and Fasting: Inviting people of all faiths throughout the area to join together for 40 Days of fervent prayer and fasting to end abortion;

Peaceful Vigil: Standing for life through a peaceful public witness outside a local facility;

Community Outreach: Taking positive and upbeat pro-life message to all areas.

Each participant will be asked to sign a statement of Peace to keep the key components of prayer, fasting and community outreach during the campaign.

I am encouraging each pastor and pro-life representative to adopt a day and involve their parish in this initiative. Over the last year, there continues to be a great deal of judicial activism over human life issues and strong national media attempts at quieting pro-life efforts. This positive peaceful activity can raise the level of awareness for the sanctity of human life.

Please contact Brian Daly for more information, to reserve a day and for materials to promote the effort: Norwich Campaign Coordinator - Brian Daly, BJDALY@aol.com or call 860-822-1788.

I commend this program of prayer, fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach to you and ask God’s blessings on your efforts to preserve life at all stages of its existence.

Diocese of Norwich

Office of the Bishop 201 Broadway

Norwich, Connecticut 06360 (860) 887-9294

MOST REVEREND MICHAEL R. COTE, D.D.

September 4, 2012 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It brings me great joy to invite the youth of the Diocese of Norwich to two faith events this fall; the Fourth Annual Diocese of Norwich Youth Explosion (YXIV) on Sunday September 23rd at Saint Bernard School in Uncasville and the second annual Teen Mass and Vigil for Life on Sunday October 14th at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Norwich.

At YXIV on Sunday, September 23rd starting at 12:30 p.m. you will have the opportunity to meet many other youth in grades 7-12 from parishes throughout the Diocese of Norwich who share your faith. I especially look forward to joining you personally to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass. In addition you will learn about the challenges of living in a world that attempts to change the “truth” as presented by Chris Stefanic, have the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, participate in Eucharistic Adoration, and hear outstanding music provided by Jon Nivan and the LIFT Band from Boston. YXIV concludes at 7:30 p.m. To register and learn more about YXIV visit www.youthexplosionct.com On Sunday, October 14th the Diocese of Norwich will hold its Teen Mass and Vigil for Life. The day will begin with tours of the Cathedral of St. Patrick at 2:30 PM by the Cathedral Staff. At 3:30 p.m. there will be a presentation by the Truth Squad on the facts about abortion in a manner appropriate for youth in grades 7-12. There will also be time for the youth to meet with representatives from Birth Rite to educate themselves and others about how to help young girls and women with unexpected pregnancies. Following the 5:00 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral we will have a quick dinner and then depart to the Planned Parenthood in Norwich to spend an hour in prayer from 7-8:00 p.m. for the women, men, and children who have been impacted by abortion. It is highly appropriate that the theme for the YXIV is “Set Free”. This was chosen from the Gospel of John 8:31-32 where Jesus states, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Throughout history society has continuously tried to remake the truth to suit man’s desires instead of focusing on the truth of Christ. It is the Church’s task to ensure that we pass on the truth of our faith to each generation. Both the Youth Explosion and the Teen Mass and Vigil for Life are focused on this effort. For this reason I ask all Pastors, Youth Ministers, and Director of Religious Education in our parishes to encourage your youth to attend and to actively support these two faith inspiring events.

If you need any additional information about these events, please contact Marge Vanner at 860-848-2237 x312 or faithevents@norwichdiocese.net . Sincerely yours in Christ,

Bishop of Norwich