4:45 P.M.
     Evening Prayer/Benediction/Closing

Please join this powerhouse of prayer to the Lord.  We need additional members in the early hours of the afternoon.

 CCD Classes will resume this week, Monday and Tuesday.

Pastoral Sharing

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Peter and Andrew, James and John hear the call of the Lord, drop everything and follow him.  They were not the sort of people who any one would suspect of being religious.  They were common, everyday people, fishermen.  They were not the sort of people anyone would suspect could convince others to change their lives.  They were common, everyday people, fisherman.  But they were called.  They responded.  And God worked his wonders through them.

No one should feel discouraged from being a priest or a sister for that matter because he or she does not feel worthy enough.  Who is? And no one should be deprived of the opportunity to become a priest, or a sister for that matter, because  relatives want something else for them. To discourage a vocation is to discourage a person from entering into the greatest life in the world.

There was a day, not all that long ago, when the people felt obliged to provide priests and sisters from their family for the future of the Church.  “Who is going to be the priest in our family?”, they would ask.  I don’t believe that we need to go back to the methodology of the past, but we do need to embrace the Christian, Catholic attitudes that motivated the people to seek among themselves those who would be open to the call of the Lord and encourage them to follow him.

This Sunday we pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  May more and more of our  young men and women receive the call.  May they listen to the call.  May they follow, and, may they allow the Spirit to work through them.

God Bless you.
Fr. Mariadas J. Lipton

Outside the Parish
OPEN HOUSE at Saint Joseph School, 25 Squire Street, New London, CT on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  Registration for New Students, March 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9 to 11 a.m. and March 6th, 6 to 8 p.m.
Married Couples – Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers a weekend experience designed to give married couples the opportunity to improve their relationship.  The weekend provides an environment for couples to spend time together, away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, while encouraging them to focus on each other and their relationship.  The dates are:   April 25-27, July 18-20, September 19-21 and November 7-9.  For more information about Worldwide Marriage Encounter or to register for an upcoming weekend, please contact Joe and Jane Staszowski at (860) 644-7260 or visit www.wwme.org.
Hospice Southeastern Connecticut offers grief-support groups open to anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one.  These discussions happen in a supportive and non-threatening atmosphere.  All are free of charge.  Pre-registration is required:  please call 848-5699.
Grieving the Loss of a Spouse/Partner – Thursdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m. on January 31, February 7, 14, & 21, 2008 at L&M Hospital, Conference Room 3, New London, CT                OR
Tuesdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m. on January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4, 2008 at Hospice Southeastern Connecticut, Uncasville, Ct.
Adults Grieving the Loss of a Parent – Tuesdays, 5:30 to 7 p.m. on January 29, February 5, 12, & 19, 2008 at 481 Gold Star Highway, Groton, CT
 

Announced Masses

Monday, January 28th    Saint  Thomas Aquinas
7:30 A.M.  Bishop Daniel Hart
Tuesday, January 29th 3rd Week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M.  Parishioners of OLPH
Wednesday, January 30th   3rd Week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M. Unborn
Thursday, January 31st   Saint John Bosco
7:30 A.M.   Russell Kennedy  (Wife & Family)
Friday, February 1st     3rd Week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M.  Sal Saracino  (Ken & Sean Capano)