Wednesday, August 15th, is the
Solemnity of the Assumption of
The Virgin Mary.
This is a holy day of Obligation.
Masses on Wednesday:
7:30 in the morning
6:00 in the evening

(no vigil Mass Tuesday  Night)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM REGISTRATION OF STUDENTS
Registration Forms for the Religious Education Program for 2007-2008 have been sent to all registered families of students already attending classes.  New First Graders of registered CCD families should be included on the form received.
THESE FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY AUGUST 17, 2007.
New families to the CCD Program and Parish are asked to call Sister Mary Michelle at 447-3550 regarding registration.  Registration forms will be sent to you along with pertinent information regarding the Religious Education Program.
Thank you for your concern in the Spiritual Education of your child.                
                  Sister Mary Michelle

CATHOLIC CHARITIES EVENTS
The Second Annual Catholic Charities Golf Tournament with Bishop Cote will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, at Fox Hopyard in East Haddam, CT.  Registration will begin at 11 am with a barbeque luncheon, followed by a shotgun start at 1 pm, scramble format.  On completion there will be hors d’oeuvres, prizes  and a raffle.  Price for all is $160.  Please call 860-889-8346 x 287 for reservations or e-mail to golf@ccfsn.org.

The Second Annual Bishop’s Lawn Party will take place on Sunday, September 30th, at the Norwich Marina at American Wharf under the tent from 4 to 7 pm.  Please come for excellent food, music and a raffle.  Cost is $50 per person, individually, or tables of 8 at $400.  For reservations, please call Catholic at 860-889-8346 x 287, or e-mail to lawnparty@ccfsn.org.

THANK YOU
Thank you is in order to Paul Deslandes who is painting all the trim of the rectory.  He recently painted the windows of the Church and is now painting the trim of the windows of the rectory.  Thank you very much, Paul.  This is a tremendous help to us all and the trim looks GREAT!  God Bless You.

Thought for the Day :
The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us. We don’t change the message,
the message changes us.

Crusade of Prayer for Vocations: Pray for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life every day.

Outside the Parish
Hospice Southeastern Connecticut offers grief-support groups open to anyone in the public grieving the loss of a loved one.  All groups are FREE of charge, but pre-registration is required.  Please call 848-5699 to register.
Grieving the Loss of a Spouse/Partner
Tuesdays, 6 to 7:30 pm   August 14 at Hospice Southeastern Connecticut, Uncasville, CT
Seniors (60+) Grieving the Loss of a Loved One.  Thursdays, 10:30 to Noon –  August 16 & 23 at East Lyme Senior Center, East Lyme, CT
Parents Grieving the Loss of a Child
1st Tuesday of each month, 6 to 7:30 pm September 4 at Hospice Southeastern Connecticut, Uncasville, CT
Adults Grieving the Loss of a Parent
Wednesdays, 5:30 to 7 pm   August 15 & 22 at 481 Gold Star Highway, Groton, CT
A Get-Away Weekend!!!  Do you need a vacation?  Give yourself and your spouse time away from the pressures of work and everyday responsibilities.  Enjoy a chance to talk and listen to that special someone who loves you!  Enrich your relationship by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend.  Upcoming weekends will be September 21-23, 2007 and November 9-11, 2007.  For more information about Worldwide Marriage Encounter or to register for an upcoming weekend, please contact John & Bev Maley at 203-364-0836 or bjkmaley@aol.com or visit www.wwme.org.

THIS IS THE 6TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TERRORIST ATTACK ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.  WE BEGIN A NEW YEAR IN OLPH.  EVERYONE IS INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.  THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION YEAR.  ADULT ED BEGINS THE FOLLOWING WEEK.  ACTIVITIES GET UNDERWAY. MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!

Polish Pilgrimage Day – Sunday, August 26th, 2007 at the National shrine of Our lady of La Salette in Attleboro, MA.  Services begin at 1:30 pm with Presider  Rev. Msgr. John Jagodzinski from St. Katharine of Siena’s Parish, Wayne, PA.  Bring a lunch or enjoy Polish dishes from the cafeteria from 11 am to 1:30 pm.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS!!!!
We are about to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of
The Blessed Virgin Mary. Just what is the meaning of this feast?

When Mary was a young woman, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to her to announce to  her that God had chosen her to be the Mother of God.  She would conceive in her womb, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and would bear a Son whose name would be  Jesus.  When the Angel greeted Mary, the words, “Hail Mary, full of grace.” was the form of the greeting.  Down through the centuries, these words have been understood to mean that Mary was free from Original Sin. You cannot be “full of grace” and still have “sin” within you. 
Thus, if Mary was free from Original Sin then she was free from death.  For human beings, dying is a result of Original Sin.  Since Mary had no sin, she was free from death.
When the course of her earthly life was finished, Mary was taken into heaven, body and soul.  The Eastern Church has a marvelous term for this.  It is called the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It means the “falling asleep’ of the Blessed Virgin. In Jerusalem, there is a wonderful chapel dedicated to the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin, the falling asleep of the Blessed Virgin. There is a beautiful bronze statue there depicting this event.
This reinforces the concept that Mary did not die. This is a special prerogative given to Mary by her Son, Jesus Christ. At the end of her earthly life, instead of being buried, Mary was taken up into heaven, body and soul.  This is a unique participation by the Blessed Virgin in the Resurrection and Ascension of her Son.  Since Mary was a human being who participated in the life, death and resurrection of her Son, Mary’s Assumption is a sign that one day all Christians will join her in going to heaven, body and soul.  We too, on that day, will rise from the grave. Our bodies will be once again united to our souls and we will enter heaven by the power of the Lord Jesus and spend eternity with Jesus and Mary.

Announced Masses

Monday,  August 13th  Sts. Pontian & Hippolytus                 
7:30 A.M.  Sr. Mary Concepta   (Sr. Michelle)
Tuesday, August 14th St. Maximilian Kolbe      
7:30 A.M.  Jack Cotter  (Wife, Peggy)
Wednesday, August 15th
ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED BIRGIN MARY
7:30 A.M.  Edward Sokol   (Sr. Michelle)
6:00 P.M.   Parishioners of OLPH
Thursday, August 16th  St. Stephen of Hungary                      
7:30 A.M.  Vocations to Religious Life & Priesthood  
Friday, August 17th  weekday of 19th week  of Ordinary Time                                               
7:30 A.M.  Peter Millaras   (Family)