From the desk of Monsignor Bride

One of the pleasant benefits of a vacation for me is the chance, the opportunity to do some reading, which seems to escape me on a day to day basis when life is so busy.  This year I read two books; one was the “The Great Bridge” by David McCullough, a history of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.  David McClullough is one of my favorite authors. He wrote “Truman” which is an extensive biography, and he recently wrote Theodore Roosevelt’s Biography.
However, today I wish to address the second little book entitled, “The Vision of Old Andrew, the Weaver.” The publication date on the front of the book is 1900 but I was told this was the second edition with the first date 1879. The book is 3 ¾ by 6 inches and is only 126 pages. 
Old Andrew refers to a man in his old age. He is an outstanding Catholic but has fallen on bad times because his weaving business has fallen off; the town in which he lives has declined in population. “His loom had begun to flag. His idleness kept growing more and more each day, he saw his bread diminishing, he barely had sufficient food for his daily meal.”
He had come to yearn for death because he sees the alternative as horrible and demeaning and humiliating. He knew he had to visit the local parish friary and to literally beg for some sustenance but he knew its plight was equal to his own. 
One day he decided to visit the old cemetery chapel, to pray for guidance, and to ardently hope the Lord would grant his wish to die.  While there he encounters a vision from the past, a friend who has gone to his eternal life and who would readily exchange places with Andrew, because he was in and would spend considerable time in purgatory. The remainder of the book deals with the need for people of this earth who believe and who practice their faith to pray unceasingly to God for themselves, for their own holiness and those who have gone before. In a word this book could be a wonderful homily on All Souls Day or an expose on Purgatory and the need to pray our beloved out of its confines. There is a sad treatment of the many who have entered hell because of the poor response to Faith they had in this earthly life. The author describes “the lost” as those “who strove to drown in the tumult of worldly things and worldly pleasures only to encounter the torture and pain of a lost salvation. Oh, if those still in life could only grasp the lesson that others have now learned, so they could escape our miseries.”
 Andrew’s angel from the past then calls him to a renewed understanding of the need to pray for the souls of the faithful departed. He tells Andrew that in the past, funerals were celebrated with multiple prayers for the one who has died while also remembering all of those in purgatory who are in need of prayer. Prayers were said, psalms were chanted for all who rested in the cemetery and elsewhere. “But who ever hears of such a funeral today (written in 1879)? Now-a-days they carry the dead to the grave without a cross or candle, or a torch to light the dreary path of death; all is cold and meaningless as if this were the final moment. Perhaps a tombstone is erected and the famous RIP is added but never a prayer is recited. When it is over they never again trouble themselves about us.”
When the story comes to an end, he awakens in the cemetery and realizes that he has not beheld a vision but rather a dream…a dream which has taken him back to the roots of his faith and given him the courage and strength to face the reality of the life he has been given to live.
As Andrew came to understand this encounter, he recalled the words,”Remember…the greater the affliction that threatens you, the greater the opportunity of heaping up treasure in heaven. Even the loss of spiritual consolations is not without peculiar recompense. All of these will bring  merit  for  heaven.”

                         Monsignor Bride

Mass of Anointing
Our annual Mass of Anointing will take place on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at 2:00 P.M. in the afternoon.  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 follows closely after Ash Wednesday as we begin our Penitential Season to insure that our bodies and are souls are fitting receivers of the grace of God.
Come yourself!  Invite a friend who might not come! 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.
As we begin Lent with the imposition of ashes, it is appropriate that we begin the first week of Lent
 (Mon -2/26 Tues 2/27 Wed –2/28) with the 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, has accepted Monsignor Bride’s invitation to give this year’s mini-Mission.  Monsignor Brown is an accomplished preacher, a spiritual director to many, and a wonderful priest. He has been here recently during Monsignor Bride’s vacation. 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.
Mark February 26, 27 and 28  at 6:30 P.M. on your calendars.

Burning of the Sanctuary Lamp for a special intention. Telephone the Rectory to request a particular week for  your intention. This practice has received a broad appeal within our parish and it is another sign of your devotion and respect for Our Lord, present in the tabernacle and for each of us.

                    
                 To  Emmitsburg, Maryland
Monsignor Bride will travel to Mt. St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg this week.  He will leave on Sunday after the 10:30 morning Mass and will return to Connecticut on Wednesday. This will be his last Seminary visitation this year, he expects.
  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 25th Anniversary here with us.  Monsignor will  purchase Roast Beef for the meat and the other dishes of Pasta, 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.
                                        Outside the Parish

                       
                    Announced Masses

Monday, February 5TH    St. Agatha     
7:30 A.M.  Marianna Cerreto  (Louis Cerrato)
Tuesday, February 6th     5th  Week of Ordinary Time                      
7:30 A.M.  Donald Callahan  (George & Nancy Henry)  
Wednesday, February 7th    5th  Week of Ordinary Time                                 
7:30 A.M.  Sr. Mary Concepta  (Sr. Michelle)
Thursday, February 8th  5th  Week of Ordinary Time           
 7:30 A.M.   Parishioners of OLPH                  
Friday, February 9th   5th  Week of Ordinary Time                      
7:30 A.M.  Intention of  Celebrant