Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time—August 18, 2019

Dear Friends in Christ:

Every year millions of people flock to Italy to experience the food, wine, culture and beautiful coastal resorts. Why can’t that be you? IT CAN! Join us on our upcoming pilgrimage to Italy to enjoy all of that and more! Join us as we explore the great religious history of Italy, enjoy some exquisite cuisine, and visit the Vatican—the center of Roman Catholicism and home of Pope Francis. Many have said “I always wanted to go but I am not sure about a pilgrimage.” Well, this is not a pilgrimage in the strict sense. Yes, we visit the holy sites; yes, we have Mass each day; and yes, we are traveling with fellow parishioners. There is also plenty of time worked into this schedule for exploring, especially when in Rome. So, come along and explore this great country with us!

THERE IS STILL ROOM BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT---SIGN-UP TODAY! We are going October 1-10, 2019, to visit the Almalfi Coast and Rome! We will be seeing a lot during these days! We will visit the Floral Gardens of Caesar Augustus in Capri, the Saint Andrew Cathedral along the Amalfi Coast, the excavations in Pompeii, the sites of the life of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio). We will also visit Lanciano, a town most noted for the Eucharistic Miracle which became the foundation for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Finally, we will spend a couple of days in Rome, the Eternal City, where we will see the Vatican Museums, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Catacombs, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and more including plans for the weekly Papal Audience on Wednesday in Saint Peter’s Square.

This pilgrimage includes round-trip air from JFK, four-star hotels in Sorrento, San Giovanni Rotondo, and Rome, 6 dinners, daily breakfast, English-speaking licensed tour escort throughout, private motorcoach transportation, Daily Mass, and more. Cost per person in double occupancy is $3,779.00. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Initial deposit of $500 is due at time of registration. To register, please call Candy at Elite Travel at 203-271-0623 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I hope you will join us!

As we continue to grow and as we continue to discern what God is asking of us as we build up our parish family IT IS LONG OVERDUE that we announce we are seeking a YOUTH MINISTER. Saint Bridget of Sweden is a dynamic, growing parish of over 3,000 families, and WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO REACH OUT TO MORE OF OUR YOUTH! I am most grateful to our Youth Ministry volunteers Marie Jinks, Christine Rapillo, Tina Poet, and Diane Amarante for all that they have done these past couple of years as we began this ministry. It is NOW TIME to hire someone whose responsibility it will be to work with these volunteers and others to meet our young people where they are, help them to know Jesus Christ, and assist them as they strive to become faithful members of the Church.

Therefore, with GREAT EXCITEMENT I announce that we are seeking a part-time youth minister to accompany our teens as they grow in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Youth Minister should be someone who is joyful, enthusiastic, proud of his or her Catholic faith and eager to help young people fall in love with the Lord.

Responsibilities will include the following:

• Aware of the opportunities and challenges of growing up in our culture, our Youth Minister will meet our kids where they are at in life

• Building relationships with the teenagers so as to lovingly and firmly insist that the Gospel has the answers to all their questions about life and is the solution to all their heart’s desires

• Integrate youth ministry as an essential component of vibrant parish culture

• Ongoing recruitment, training, supervision and collaboration with volunteers

• Plan, implement and evaluate events in accord with norms established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Archdiocese of Hartford and the objectives of the Saint Bridget of Sweden Pastoral Council

• Assist in the preparation of the Youth Mass

• Incorporate social media, the parish website and parish bulletin as a means of publicizing the fun and growth of the Youth Ministry experience

• Work with the Saint Bridget Parish School and Religious Education Program to help 8th grade students transition into high school ministry

• Promote servant leadership and community investment through mission trips and service projects chosen and funded by the teenagers

• Work with the Director of Religious Education on programming for middle school and high school parishioners

The Youth Minister will need to possess a strong knowledge and love of the Catholic faith, have a desire to promote all that the Roman Catholic Church teaches and professes, complete the necessary Virtus training and background check, and be willing to work collaboratively with the Pastor, the Pastoral Staff, and the Pastoral Council of our Parish.

Interested individuals can send their resume to rectory@stbridgetcheshire.org. I ask all parishioners to join me in praying that the Holy Spirit will send us someone filled with the love and the joy of being a disciple of Jesus Christ to inspire our young people.

Join the Knights of Columbus Council 2978 as the Silver Rose makes a historic visit to our parish family. Each year, from March through the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12th, Silver Roses are distributed and stewarded by Knights of Columbus councils along the way from Canada to Mexico. Every stop, at every parish, is an opportunity for Knights, parishioners, and community members to gather in prayer with the Holy Rosary and to pray for a greater respect for human life, for the spiritual renewal of our nation, and for the advancement of devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of America.

Our Lady of Guadalupe did so much for her people in Mexico that, in 1960, the Columbian Squires, a youth organization of the Knights of Columbus, wanted to give something back to her. The group of young men in Knights of Columbus Council 2312 in Monterrey, Mexico, came up with the idea of running a rose to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Monterrey, Mexico. The rose was chosen to commemorate Juan Diego and the miracle of the roses, an important part of the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

From the story of Juan Diego we know that the Blessed Mother appeared to him and told him to take the roses from the top of the hill in Tepeyac to the Bishop as the sign the Bishop had requested to know that Our Lady had visited young Juan Diego. When he arrived in front of the Bishop he emptied his cloak, the roses fell to the floor, and a remarkable portrait of Our Lady appeared imprinted on the course fabric of his cloak.

The first rose was a natural rose and was blessed by Bishop John C. Cody of London. It was then flown to New York where it was received by Grand Knight Joseph Thomasen, who in turn, took it to Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart. Mr. Hart then shepherded the rose to Dallas, Texas. There, Texas State Deputy Jack Collerin received the rose and took it to Laredo, Texas, where it was finally given to the Squires from Monterrey, Mexico, at the International Bridge in Laredo. They ran the rose from the International Bridge through Sabinas Hidalgo N.L., Mexico, to Cienega de Flores and on to the Basilica in Monterrey, Mexico, on December 12, 1960. This was such a success and a powerful moment in the life of these young men that they decided to do it again. This time with bronze then eventually they used silver as it is a precious metal of Mexico.

“Through [the Silver Rose Program] we honor not only Our Lady of Guadalupe and express the unity of the [the Knights of Columbus], but we also reaffirm [our] dedication to the sanctity of human life. It is to the Blessed Mother that we turn in prayer as we work to end the Culture of Death that grips our society. As we think in terms of ‘One Life, One Rose,’ it is most appropriate that we turn to Our Lady of Guadalupe who made known her will through Juan Diego and the miracle of the roses.”–Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson

The Silver Rose, of course, is a program from the Knights of Columbus used as a vehicle through which we share the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and promote respect for life by participating in this meaningful pilgrimage. All the members of our parish family are strongly encouraged to join us this coming Sunday, August 25th, from 2-3PM in Saint Bridget Church for a Prayer Service as we mark this historic visit of the Silver Rose to our parish family. I am very pleased this program will be visiting our parish and hope you will join us in prayer next Sunday from 2-3PM in Saint Bridget Church.

Don’t forget we want to HEAR FROM YOU! Recently, the Pastoral Staff discussed the desire to hear from you about your story of faith! We would like you to write out your story and share it with us. Please tell us how you became Catholic and why you stayed Catholic. Describe what the Catholic faith means to you. How has the faith helped you in the tough and dark times of life? Tell us about any incredible and uplifting supernatural experiences that have happened to you. Why is Saint Bridget of Sweden your parish? We are planning to incorporate your story of faith into an outreach program for those friends and family members who have left the Catholic faith. The testimony and faith stories from people just like them will have a much bigger impact than if it came only from their priests. Your submission will not be shared without your permission. Please send your story to my attention through the collection or via email to rectory@stbridgetcheshire.org. Thank you!

As always, remember to pray and ask God’s blessings upon our family of faith as we build His kingdom here. Please know that I am praying for you, and I ask for your prayers for me, that together through the intercession of Saint Bridget of Sweden, our Patroness, and united in the Eucharist, we will reflect the presence of Jesus to the world.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time—August 11, 2019

Dear Friends in Christ:

This past week I attended the 137th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have recently been named the new Connecticut State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus. I consider this a real privilege to serve my brother knights for two very meaningful reasons:

1. The new State Deputy (that is the highest ranking officer in the State) is Gary McKeone. Gary and I have known each other since I was first ordained. Gary was a member of Council 2533 in Glastonbury where I served as Chaplain as a newly ordained priest. He and his wife Stacy have remained good friends to me since those early days of my priesthood and I have walked with them and ministered to them in various ways through the years.

2. Serving as State Chaplain in the Founder’s State links me to another Hartford priest who in 1882 founded the Knights of Columbus just down the road in New Haven, the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney.

The Knights of Columbus grew from a small group of men in the basement of Saint Mary’s in New Haven to almost 2 million members worldwide! These men have donated over $185 million dollars to charities in 2018, and over 76 million hours of service! The Knights were originally founded to help the men of his (Father McGivney) parish to grow in their faith, to provide financial security for the widows and orphans of deceased members, and to perform acts of charity! The Knights are based on four guiding principles: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism.

This year the theme for the Supreme Convention was Knights of Unity. It is part of a three year focus on the founding principles of the Order. This theme helps to focus our thoughts on how we can live out the principle of Unity as an Order and in our families and parishes. In particular it has gotten me thinking about what it is that unites us as Knights of Columbus, but also what unites us as Catholics. IT IS JESUS CHRIST!

Jesus Christ unites us! All of the information we received in Chaplain’s Class and all that we heard in the general meetings at the convention mean absolutely nothing unless each of us has encountered Jesus. Encountering Jesus is the most important thing that can happen to a person! Why? Because when one encounters Jesus they meet and get to know the Jesus who loves us, who has saved us from our sins, and who gave his life for us on the Cross. An encounter with Jesus can change one’s life! In our increasingly digital age, the moment of encounter can often be lost. We have to seek out ways to encounter Jesus in our lives. This brings me to the question: how do we encounter Jesus?

First, we encounter Jesus in the Scriptures. Yes, my Catholic friends I am telling you to pick up the Bible and read the Scriptures. We Catholics are not known for knowing the Bible as well as many of our Protestant brothers and sisters BUT WE SHOULD. So pick up your bible, dust it off, open it, and allow yourself to encounter Jesus in the Gospels. Spend time in prayer! Especially before the Eucharistic Lord in Adoration! Read the Gospel stories where others encounter the Lord and see how an encounter with Him changes their lives forever, changes the direction they were going, and calls them to a new way of life altogether. We too must learn to allow an encounter with Jesus to set us on a new path of fidelity to Him above all else. We must become changed people and share this good news with others as a way to encourage them to encounter the Lord as well.

Second, encounter Jesus in the Sacraments, especially in the frequent participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass where we receive the Eucharist and in the frequent practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation! Allow Jesus to bring the healing you need in life. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a personal encounter with Jesus, the Divine Physician, who seeks to bring us the healing grace we need so we can begin anew in answering the call to Follow me.

Finally, and only after these first two, can we then encounter, authentically, Jesus in our loving service of those in need. We are not united in serving others simply out of the goodness of our hearts, we are not social service workers. No, we are Catholics united in serving the presence of Jesus in others. Our good works, our works of charity, our unity in reaching out to those less fortunate, is rooted in seeing and encountering Jesus present in our brothers and sisters.

All of these encounters with Jesus—in His Word, in the Sacraments of the Church, and in service of others through works of charity—can transform us to being better disciples.

Last weekend we gave out the recent book from Bishop Robert Barron entitled Letter to a Suffering Church. (If you were not here, remaining copies are available at the doors of the Church while they last.) In this short book, Bishop Barron rather pointedly and honestly addresses the concerns of countless faithful Catholics in recent years as the Catholic Church continues to deal with the sexual abuse crisis, namely, why should I stay? Why remain faithful to the Church amidst such a crisis? Why should I remain practicing my faith during these tough times? Bishop Barron explains it is NOT time to leave the Church but IT IS TIME TO STAY AND FIGHT. He calls us to see the role each of us can play in the renewal of our Church. He calls us all to see our call to becoming holy ourselves, of transforming the lives of others, and of preserving our Church’s traditions by becoming more faithful disciples of the Lord.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Recently, the Pastoral Staff discussed the desire to hear from you about your story of faith! We would like you to write out your story and share it with us. Please tell us how you became Catholic and why you stayed Catholic. Describe what the Catholic faith means to you. How has the faith helped you in the tough and dark times of life? Tell us about any incredible and uplifting supernatural experiences that have happened to you. Why is Saint Bridget of Sweden your parish? We are planning to incorporate your story of faith into an outreach program for those friends and family members who have left the Catholic faith. The testimony and faith stories from people just like them will have a much bigger impact than if it came only from their priests. Your submission will not be shared without your permission. Please send your story to my attention through the collection or via email to rectory@stbridgetcheshire.org. Thank you!

One of the other topics discussed at the Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention was of course the recent violence that has shaken our country once again. This past week alone we saw violent events: the shootings in California, Mississippi, Texas and Ohio. These have certainly shaken us once again to the core. Innocent and unsuspecting people enjoying a day at an Annual Garlic Festival, others shopping for back to school supplies, and others engaging in the nightlife of Dayton all experienced senseless violence by young men using guns. At candlelight vigils across the country people gathered to offer prayers for those killed and their families. Politicians renew the debate once again about the how to do something to address this issue in our society. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson called on all of us in attendance at the Convention and Knights everywhere to bring more civility to our interactions each day. Let’s restore civility into our daily encounters with others. We need it in our society, in our political discourse, in our schools, in our workplaces, and even in our homes!

Update on Father Philip O’Neill…many have asked after Mass why we have not included Father O’Neill in our prayers for active duty service people. The reason is that Father O’Neill completed his military training and is back in the Archdiocese for the immediate future while he awaits orders to serve in active duty. He is currently taking an assignment in the Archdiocese assisting where there is need for weekend help. We keep him in our prayers during this time of transition and once he is officially serving in active duty we will be sure to add him to our list in the weekly bulletin.

CALLING ALL GOLFERS! CALLING ALL SUPPORTERS OF ST. BRIDGET SCHOOL! WE NEED YOUR HELP! This is the 25th Anniversary of the reopening of St. Bridget School and we are gearing up for the 6th Annual St. Bridget School Golf Tournament…This will be held at the Country Club of Waterbury on Monday, September 23, 2019. This is one of the two major fundraisers for our parish school; please assist us in any way you can.

Here are a number of ways you can assist us:

1. YOU can consider sponsoring our event. If you own a business or work for one who supports local charities consider asking them to be a sponsor or put an ad in our ad book for the tournament (we expect a pretty full field, and additional people to attend the dinner following the tournament which means these booklets will be dispersed to a good number of friends from the greater Cheshire area). We really could use as many sponsors as possible…sponsorships make the tournament a success. https://stbridgetschool.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/6thAnnualGolfOuting2019/RegistrationForSponsorship/tabid/1070914/Default.aspx

2. YOU can join us! We have available spots for golfers ($175 per golfer), and if you don’t golf you can still get in on the fun by getting some friends together to come for a nice dinner that evening and support our parish school by your participation at this event and your opportunity to win a raffle prize. Cost for dinner only option it is just $50.

3. YOU can donate an item for our raffle. We are in need of a variety of items for the raffle which is held during the dinner at the tournament. Items such as: a grill, a big screen television, foursomes to local golf courses, any electronic equipment from entertainment to home improvement, gift cards to local restaurants, bottles of wine or spirits, or anything your creative minds can come up with. Items can be dropped off to the school office or rectory office any day during the week, or in the sacristy at Mass on the weekend. Please be sure your name is on it so we may properly thank you!

ANY AND ALL information including registration forms and sponsorship forms can be found online at https://stbridgetschool.ejoinme.org/golf2019. Thank you for whatever you can do to assist our parish school in this important fundraising effort.

As always, remember to pray and ask God’s blessings upon our family of faith as we build His kingdom here. Please know that I am praying for you, and I ask for your prayers for me, that together through the intercession of Saint Bridget of Sweden, our Patroness, and united in the Eucharist, we will reflect the presence of Jesus to the world.

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time—August 4, 2019

Dear Friends in Christ:

This week I had a “first.” You would think that I have had all the firsts possible for my priestly ministry since I have been a priest for 16 years now, but no this past week I experienced a “first” and it got me thinking about priesthood. You see last Tuesday, July 23rd, Doreen Festa, a member of our parish staff passed away. This past Wednesday I celebrated her Funeral Mass. It was the first time I have had to celebrate a Funeral Mass for someone who worked for me. Doreen worked for the past couple of years assisting in our Religious Education Program and helping the little ones of our parish family.

So there I was at the altar, doing my thing-my priestly thing-when it dawned on me that this was the first time in my 16 years that this happened. It was a privileged opportunity to commend to the love and mercy of God the soul of someone who was such a joy to know and work with. It was a privileged opportunity to remind those in attendance, many of our fellow parish staff members, that Jesus is there for us in every moment of every day and certainly in the midst of our sorrow and grief. Jesus is there asking us to place our trust in His promise that all who live and believe in Him will never die!

Doreen’s sister gave the eulogy and she shared an experience which I had with everyone there, it was my last experience of being in the presence of Doreen. Last Tuesday I had planned to go to Yale-New Haven Hospital to see Doreen in the evening but in the middle of the day I was on the highway coming back from a funeral in Torrington and something (God) told me to just keep going down Route 8 and go see Doreen NOW. I am SO glad I listened to that prompting. As I arrived, it was clear that it was near the end of Doreen’s life. I told her I was there for her to pray for her and all of a sudden she opened her eyes wide, reached out to hold my hand, and tears came down her face. After a moment or two of comprehending this experience, we prayed the Prayers of Commendation of the Dying for Doreen and a little later that day she passed away.

I guess I share this story with you because it is one of those privileged moments we experience as priests and I want others to come to know what it is like for us as priests to enter into these moments, these sacred moments, with our parishioners. This experience reminded me how important our ministry is to the sick and the dying! We need more priests to be there for our loved ones in these fragile moments, these moments that can be an experience of profound faith. PLEASE PRAY FOR MORE VOCATIONS!!!

You can pray for more vocations through our Vocation Prayer Chalice Program which we started last summer! Now, more than ever, the Church is in need of young men and women eager to commit their lives to serving in a sacrificial way through the priesthood and consecrated life. As you know, this cannot be accomplished without prayer.

This Vocation Prayer Chalice Program is a way to encourage families to pray together for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Each Saturday/Sunday at Mass, one volunteer family (whether it is a family of two or eighteen) will accept the responsibility of praying for vocations at home with their family during the coming week. We will call the family up to the altar after Communion to receive the Chalice and the program booklet. The booklet contains prayers and reflections for the family to share each day of the week as they pray for more vocations. The family takes the Chalice home and displays it in a prominent place of honor for all members to see during the week, perhaps on the dining room table. At a special time each day, maybe after dinner or before bed, the family will come together to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life and at the same time explain and prompt young children and teenagers to consider how God is calling them into a deeper relationship with Him.

We are looking for 52 families to commit to one week of prayer for an increase in Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life. One week of prayer is all I am asking of you to help ensure that a priest will be there for you and for me in our times of need. Will you consider this important ministry as a family? Sign up today at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044fa8aa2fa3f94-vocations.

DID YOU KNOW?...This is a question that often gets asked. Did you know this or that? Well I want to ask you, did you know?

Did you know that our parish sends out a weekly message through myParish app?

Did you know you can access our bulletin, our events calendar, and prayer resources through the parish app?

Did you know that we are able to send out reminders for events through the app?

Did you know that our parish family is utilizing Facebook and Instagram as a tool to reach out to our parishioners?

Did you know that I do a Facebook live post on Tuesday mornings titled #beyondthebulletin commenting on a Monday poll question?

Did you know that Father Federico does a Facebook live post on Thursday mornings titled #triviathursday following a post on Wednesdays with Catholic Trivia?

Did you know that we post a fun #fenwayfriday with my dog Fenway helping around the parish and the school?

Did you know we also put out motivational messages on Facebook and Instagram?

Did you know we have updated our Parish Website to a newer, fresher, user-friendly design?

DON’T MISS IT! SIGN-UP TODAY! During the year we want you to stay informed and spiritually connected with our parish family! To do so we invite you to join our online presence. Visit our newly designed website www.stbridgetcheshire.org, check us out on Facebook @ St. Bridget of Sweden Parish, Follow us on Instagram @st.bridgetofsweden and of course DOWNLOAD THE NEW PARISH APP by texting App to 88202…download the app…search for our parish…and get started using this new tool of communication!!!

Don’t miss out! The pilgrimage to Italy is only a couple of months away and there is STILL ROOM BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT---SIGN-UP TODAY! Want to join us on our pilgrimage to ITALY? There are TWO SEATS LEFT!!! We are going October 1-10, 2019 to visit the Almalfi Coast and Rome! We will be seeing a lot during these days! We will visit the Floral Gardens of Caesar Augustus in Capri, the Saint Andrew Cathedral along the Amalfi Coast, the excavations in Pompeii, the sites of the life of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio). We will also visit Lanciano, a town most noted for the Eucharistic Miracle which became the foundation for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Finally, we will spend a couple of days in Rome, the Eternal City, where we will see the Vatican Museums, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Catacombs, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and more including plans for the weekly Papal Audience on Wednesday in Saint Peter’s Square.

This pilgrimage includes round-trip air from JFK, four-star hotels in Sorrento, San Giovanni Rotondo, and Rome, 6 dinners, breakfast daily, English-speaking licensed tour escort throughout, private motorcoach transportation, Daily Mass, and more. Cost per person in double occupancy is $3,779.00. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Initial deposit of $500 is due at time of registration. To register, please call Candy at Elite Travel at 203-271-0623 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I hope you will join us.

CALLING ALL GOLFERS! CALLING ALL SUPPORTERS OF ST. BRIDGET SCHOOL! WE NEED YOUR HELP! This is the 25th Anniversary of the reopening of St. Bridget School and we are gearing up for the 6th Annual St. Bridget School Golf Tournament…will be held at the Country Club of Waterbury on Monday, September 23, 2019. This is one of the two major fundraisers for our parish school, please consider assisting us in any way you can.

Here are a number of ways you can assist us:

1. YOU can consider sponsoring our event. If you own a business or work for one who supports local charities consider asking them to be a sponsor or put an ad in our ad book for the tournament (we expect a pretty full field, and additional people to attend the dinner following the tournament which means these booklets will be dispersed to a good number of friends from the greater Cheshire area). We really could use as many sponsors as possible…sponsorships make the tournament a success. https://stbridgetschool.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/6thAnnualGolfOuting2019/RegistrationForSponsorship/tabid/1070914/Default.aspx

2. YOU can join us! We have available spots for golfers ($175 per golfer), and if you don’t golf you can still get in on the fun by getting some friends together to come for a nice dinner that evening and support our parish school by your participation at this event. You will also have an opportunity to win a raffle prize. Cost for dinner only option it is just $50.

3. YOU can donate an item for our raffle. We are in need of a variety of items for the raffle which is held during the dinner. Items such as: a grill, a big screen television, foursomes to local golf courses, any electronic equipment from entertainment to home improvement, gift cards to local restaurants, bottles of wine or spirits, or anything your creative minds can come up with. Items can be dropped off to the school office or rectory office any day during the week, or in the sacristy at Mass on the weekend. Please be sure your name is on it so we may properly thank you!

ANY AND ALL information including registration forms and sponsorship forms can be found online at https://stbridgetschool.ejoinme.org/golf2018. Thank you for whatever you can do to assist our parish school in this important fundraising effort.

THE PARISH PICNIC WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!!! SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR PARISH PICNIC! Our THIRD ANNUAL Parish Picnic will be on Sunday, September 15, 2019, beginning with the 11AM Mass which will be celebrated on the field behind Saint Bridget School! OUR PARISH PICNIC IS FREE TO ALL PARISHIONERS and will include games on the field, bounce houses, musical entertainment, tasty food, one or two surprises, as well as the opportunity to meet new friends and build up our parish family!!!

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Many hands make light work! We need help with the welcoming booth, set-up, kitchen, grilling, desserts, youth volunteers, kid’s games volunteers, and clean-up. If you can help in any way please or email the Picnic Committee at sbosparishpicnic@gmail.com.

Father Federico and I are praying for good weather that day and we hope you will all join us as we come together as a Parish Family for this awesome day of faith, fun, and sun!

As always, remember to pray for vocations, pray for our young people, pray for our parish families and ask God’s blessings as we strive to build His kingdom here. Please know that I am praying for you, and I ask for your prayers for me, that together through the intercession of Saint Bridget of Sweden, our Patroness, and united in the Eucharist, we will reflect the presence of Jesus to the world.