From the desk of Monsignor Bride 

We have begun the season of Lent. We have received ashes which reminded us that life is fleeting and that we must give our efforts and time to insure we are building a life which will be rewarded with heaven. In addition, the receiving of ashes is a call to each of us to repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a very important call to us in this world today.

We have begun a new program of praying for vocations at home entitled CHALICE  PROGRAM OF VOCATIONS. Each week, at each Mass, a family will take home the chalice and place it on the table where the main meal is eaten.  Before  the meal, a special prayer for vocations will be prayed,  The chalice will be returned to Church the following week so a new person(s) can take the chalice home.  PLEASE SIGN UP!

On Friday of this  week during Lent, and each Friday of Lent, we shall have Stations of the Cross.   This solemn prayer brings us into contact with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the glory that comes to us from his carrying his cross. This is a most important and necessary devotion for us as we seek to do penance during this season of lent.

TODAY, we will have  the Mass of Anointing of the Sick. This Sacrament of the Sick is offered to anyone over 50 years of age.  It is also recognition that our bodies are weak and in need of constant healing, in need of the grace Jesus gives us so that we may reflect his strength and the power of the Holy Spirit working through these mortal bodies.  We hear so much about sickness, illness, terminal illness, and the aches and pains of normal living. Come, receive the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of his healing which is so evident in the Gospel pages of the New Testament. This year we have had an extraordinary numbers of serious ill parishioners who have been anointed. So  many of these were very poignant moments, very special encounters with the Lord. They bought a great deal of strength to the ill person and the same to family members caring for the ill person. It would be impossible to relate how wonderfully strengthening and supportive this sacramental encounter with the Lord was.   Come to this Mass of Anointing and experience this yourself.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week we will have our Annual Mini-parish Mission of Reconciliation. Monsignor Robert Brown will be the Celebrant and Preacher.  It centers on the Sacrament of Penance and calls each and every Catholic in our parish to come to confession as we begin the season of Lent. COME TO THE MISSION!  COME AND RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AS WE BEGIN LENT! COME AND JOIN YOUR FELLOW PARISHIONERS AND RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT OF PEACE WITH THE GRACE OF THE LORD IN YOUR SOUL.

Lastly, for Lent we have our annual Operation Rice Bowl with daily donations for the poor.  Each person, each family should have an Operation Rice Bowl in the family dwelling to remind us that during Lent we must help others.  As we concentrate on the gifts Jesus gives to each of us by his suffering and death, so we must remember those who have not and who need more than they have. The heart and soul of the Gospel is following Jesus and reaching out. These initial days of Lent, mentioned here, help us to get started well, to begin Lent. Let us continue!

 Monsignor Bride

Mass of Anointing - THIS SUNDAY
Our annual Mass of anointing will take place at 2:00 P.M. this Sunday, February 25, 2007.  This Mass is for all seniors.  It is for anyone with a chronic or disturbing illness.  Anyone undergoing testing, treatment for a serious illness should be anointed.  This Mass at 2:00 p.m. DOES FULFILL your Sunday obligation.
Come yourself!   Invite a friend who might not be able to come because there is no ride. Bernice Ray is coordinator of this.  Call Bernice (442-4255) if you know of someone who might need a ride.

                      MINI- PARISH MISSION
ON RECONCILIATION
Each year, during the first week of Lent, we have a mini-Parish Mission (3 nights) on reconciliation.
It is appropriate that we begin this Monday, the first week of Lent   (Mon 2/26 - Tues 2/27 - Wed 2/28) with going to Confession. Many wait until Holy Week for this.  This misses the opportunity to practice Lent in all its fullness.  
Monsignor Robert L. Brown, Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, will give this year’s mini-Mission.  Monsignor Brown is an accomplished preacher, a spiritual director to many, and a wonderful priest. We are delighted to welcome Monsignor Brown to Our Lady of Perpetual Help for this important time in our parish and in the spiritual life of our people.
Monsignor Brown will preach at the Mass each night.  Following the Mass Monsignor Brown and Monsignor Bride will hear confessions.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS ARE PRAYED EACH FRIDAY OF LENT AT 6:30 P.M.
Every Friday is Day of abstinence.

 Monsignor Bride’s 40th Anniversary of Ordination  --  May 4, 2007 --
Monsignor  will celebrate a Special Mass on Saturday, May 5th, at 5:00 P.M.
followed by Pot Luck Supper in Hall.
This celebration will be a Pot-Luck Supper with parishioners bringing various foods for the supper, as we did for Sister Michelle’s 25th Anniversary here with us.  Monsignor will  purchase roast beef, Bread, vegetable, salad, hors d’oeuvres, dessert will be brought by all parishioners. This will truly be a celebration of Monsignor’s priesthood with all parishioners participating, please God.  Mark your calendars now and plan for this wonderful Saturday evening event on May 5th.

CRUSADE OF PRAYER ON  fRIDAYS
7:30A.M.   Morning Mass
8:00A.M.   Exposition of  the Blessed Sacrament
                 followed by   Morning Prayer             
8:15 A.M.  to  4:45 P.M. Individual Adoration and
                  Praying for Vocations  all day in  Church
4:45 P.M.   Evening Prayer /Benediction/Closing

Choir practice 
this Thursday, March 1st,  at 6:30 P.M.

Please pick up your Rice Bowl Box for your Lenten outreach for the poor.

                 
    TRUE LOVE WAITS…         For High School Young Adults – 4-Part Series on March 4, 11, 18, 25th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM – At. St. Bernard’s High School, 1593 Norwich-New London Tpke. (Rt. 32), Uncasville. (Meet in the cafeteria.)  A straight forward presentation on love, sex,  consistent with Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.  Includes 3 seminars and a closing Mass.  At the closing Mass, participants have the opportunity to make their own commitment to God to integrate their sexuality and their spirituality as adult men and women.  Parents and friends are welcome to attend.  To register, or for more information, call the Office of Family Life at (860) 889-8346, ext. 283 or 282.
  
 

                     Announced Masses

Monday, February 26th    Lenten Weekday                        
7:30 A.M. The Souls in Purgatory 
6:30 P.M.  Intention of Reconciliation

Tuesday, February 27th  Lenten Weekday                        
7:30 A.M. An Increase of Vocations
6:30 P.M.  Intention of Reconciliation  
Wednesday, February 28th   Lenten Weekday  
 7:30 A.M.  
 6:30 P.M.  Intention of Reconciliation 
Thursday, March 1st    Lenten Weekday                                   
 7:30 A.M.  Parishioners of OLPH   
Every pastor is required by Canon Law to have a Mass offered for the parishioners of his parishioners once a week.  This is called the   “Pro Populo Mass.”        
Friday, March 2nd  Lenten Weekday  
7:30 A.M.  Intention of Celebrant
6:30 P.M.   Stations of the Cross