Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

I changed my mind. This was going to be the first summer weekend without a column. However, driving home from retreat I thought of a few matters that I need to address to you and so here we are.
1) Early in July, Conrado Hernandez, a third theologian at Holy Apostles, will begin his Pastoral Year here at OLPH. For the month of July, he will work with Chris. At the end of July, Chris will end his Pastoral Year here and return to Holy Apostles for his Third Theology year in late August. He will have about a month’s vacation before doing that.

2) I announced a bit ago that I would be taking a four day trip to San Diego to attend Thomas O. Bride’s High School Graduation. That will take place June 18-19-20-21.

3) My first week’s summer vacation will take place from July 25th through July 31st. In 2006 and in 2005 Thomas O. and I visited 6 Presidential libraries. When speaking to Thomas O about this year’s vacation, he mentioned that he had never seen where the Presidents work. So we shall visit Washington for just short of a week and this will be informative for Thomas. He is a good traveling partner and I look forward to spending this week’s time with him.

4) Sister Michelle will be on vacation from June 27th through the 5th of July and again in mid or late August for a second week.

5) On August 18th, Father Greg Galvin, the homilist at my 40th Anniversary, and I will again take a Cruise from New York to Bermuda. That is a week long cruise. You may remember that last year’s cruise was the scene of the famous watch purchase and removal of several links along with a good stabbing. There will be no repeat performance this year.

I hope all of you will have a good summer of rest and relaxation. Each one needs this and it is good for us to take some time. Let us pray for the safety of our young people, physically and morally. There are so many difficult places for accidents and danger. Let us pray for each other’s safety and goodness. God bless you all.

Thank you, Dads, Grandfathers, for all you are, for all you do, and for the example you show each of us.
We love you and we need you so very much!
Today we congratulate our Fathers and ask the Lord
to bless them as they lead their families and strengthen them within the family unit which is the basic and most important of all units created by God. Fathers bring an immeasurable strength to that unit. They bring the gift of their maleness, the protection and dignity of manhood as it was created by God. This is so important and so necessary for the entire family and for each one within the family. These strengths are complimented by the beauty and the strong feminine qualities of motherhood. They create a balance of appreciation and respect which in our modern society has often been forgotten and lost. Today, we are able to give proper expression and love to our Fathers who image our God and strengthen us by their special vocation. God bless each and everyone of you, Fathers. May the Good Lord sustain and strengthen you today and every day of your lives. Monsignor Bride

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
A special ‘thank you’ goes to all those who came to the Ladies Guild Tag Sale and Bakery. This requires a great amount of work and time and effort. Many, many people prepared by giving articles to the sale, to setting up the hall, by baking and preparing the food, by hard, unseen work. Thank you to everyone who came to the Tag Sale and supported the work. This is an important parish event and Monsignor Bride wishes to express his gratitude to the Ladies Guild for all they did and do and to all who support these annual events.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM REGISTRATION OF STUDENTS
Registration Forms for the Religious Education Program for 2007-2008 are being prepared and will be sent out the second week of July. We are asking that all families please cooperate and fill out the enclosed short registration form and return it in the envelope provided. Please make checks payable to: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, memo: Religious Education Program.
Registration Forms must be returned by August 17, 2007.
New First Graders of registered families are asked to include them on both forms. Their Baptismal Certificates are needed on the first day of class if baptized in another parish.
New families to the parish are 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 !
Sister Mary Michelle

LEGACY MONTH
“Bishop Cote has issued a proclamation making June 2007, Leave a Legacy Month throughout the Diocese. When we include a bequest to the Church or a service ministry in our will, we give a gift that keeps on giving long after we are gone. Celebrate the good fortune so many of us have enjoyed, by adding to your will a bequest to the parish or to a Diocesan ministry or to another non-profit service agency.”

A Special “Thank You”
A special “Thank you” goes to Don and Amy Morris for the new blue hydrangeas (perennials) at the Pope John Paul II Garden. These were given in Memory of Don and Amy’s Fathers. I am very pleased to thank them on this Fathers’ Day weekend, 2007.

“Pan” Franek & Zosia and their family will be here from Muskegon, MI on Sunday, JULY 29, 2007 at 10:30 to celebrate a Polka Folk Mass., This will be a wonderful celebration and all are encouraged to attend.

Date to Remember
TUESDAY, September 11th, we shall again celebrate our Day of Remembrance, renewal and rededication.

Outside the Parish
21st Annual Rummage Sale – St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Baltic is seeking donation for its annual rummage sale. Donations of furniture, household items, clothing, etc. will be accepted through July 25th. Please call St. Mary Rectory at 860-822-6378 to arrange for pick-up of larger items.
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is scientifically sound and fully consistent with God’s plan for marital love. NFP enhances communication and intimacy, is easily learned, and is 99 percent effective – both for conceiving a child or for responsibly postponing conception. A two-part NFP course will be offered at St. John Church in Old Saybrook from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 22nd. Both married and engaged couples are welcomed. If interested call Steve or Lisa Collison (Certified Instructors) at 860-399-8265.

APPRECIATION DAY FOR ALTAR SERVERS
Last Call!
This is a wonderful day for all altar servers. TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2007. All our servers have received a brochure in the mail inviting their participation. We must have the names by Monday, June 18th.
Drop them in basket OR at the rectory.
Deacon Tomasz is going to deliver the homily
at this Mass.

2007 Annual Bishop’s Appeal
“The gift you have been given, give as a gift”
If you have not made a gift or a pledge to the 2007 Annual Bishop’s Appeal, please do so as soon as possible.

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Fathers’Day)    June 17, 2007
5:00 P.M. Peter Millaras      (Family)
                  Elizabeth Plona   (Millie Gula & Family)
8:00 A.M. Novena of Masses for Fathers
10:30 A.M. Novena of Masses for Fathers

Monday, June 18th     weekday of 11th week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M. Parishioners of OLPH
Tuesday, June 19th   weekday of 11th week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M. Novena of Masses for Fathers
Wednesday, June 20th   weekday of 11th week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M. Novena of Masses for Fathers
Thursday, June 21st   weekday of 11th week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M.   Novena of Masses for Fathers
Friday, June 22nd    weekday of 11th week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M.   Novena of Masses for Fathers

Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist                 June 24, 2007
5:00 P.M.    Novena of Masses for Fathers
8:00 A.M.   Special Intention (Donna Kitlinski)
10:30 A.M. Eve Pickering   (Eleanor Sudol)

From the desk of Monsignor Bride