For the last 7 years, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish has set aside NOVEMBER as STEWARDSHIP MONTH. This is the time each year when each parishioner examines his/her Sunday Offertory contribution. The Sunday offertory is the ONLY way we are able to finance the expenses of our parish.
In the past, large numbers of our parishioners have made substantial, sacrificial increases in their Sunday Offertory. This truly has made the difference in our Sunday Offertory and enabled us to meet our budget demands. In 1998 the offertory ran between $2000. and $2400. a week.  Last week, the Offertory was $3,700.   I cannot tell you how grateful I am to our parishioners who have made great sacrifices to support our Church and the work of God here. This support enables us to remain a Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Norwich NOW and to function well as we seek to meet the needs of a growing parish family in the early years ahead.
This year (2006) we have a goal as we begin the month of November:  We are asking every parishioner to increase his/her weekly offertory by 10%.  Our increasing expenses makes it mandatory that we increase our offertory so we can meet these new expenses (which are NOT under our control). If not, we will become a parish whose expenses exceed our income and thus, questions will rise about our viability as a parish.
November is Stewardship Month. What does this mean? Stewardship is for everyone. It is the task of each person in a parish to give his/her fair share to the support of the parish. There are three basic elements to stewardship: TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE. In November, we concentrate on treasure.
Our budget for 2006-2007 is under great stress. There are many expenses that we cannot control. We receive the bill and we simply have to pay that bill. We have no choice but to meet this bill and we will not be able to meet them without an increase in our parishioner’s contributions.
Question?  What is the answer??
Every parishioner has received a letter from me this week.  Throughout the month of November, we shall concentrate on increasing our revenue by 10%. We must continue to meet our financial demands.
So often in the course of the year, I turn to you and ask for your assistance in working on a project, or planning an event, or trying to make something effective.  Sometimes, I feel people are afraid when they hear my voice on the telephone, because they know I have another request or another need to fill.
Many times I ask those who have special talents, special gifts which we in the parish need at that moment. When they say “Yes”, we have people sharing their time and their talents.  So many folks do this through parish organizations, through the ministries of Lector and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and through just helping. Here they clearly give of their time and talent. Please help us achieve our goal. Please help us arrive at a Sunday collection total which enables us to pay our bills.
                                 Monsignor Bride

Please read Bishop Cote’s letter
SAINT BERNARD HIGH SCHOOL COLLECTION
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
Next weekend, November 11 and 12, the semi-annual collection for Saint Bernard School will be taken up at all Masses.  This occasion is an opportunity to thank God for all parents, faculty, students, administration, staff, and benefactors who daily make numerous sacrifices to insure Catholic education for our youth.  At the same time we thank God for all who over the past fifty years have given of themselves to make Saint Bernard’s what it is today.
In uniting the high school and the academy into one school under the leadership of our new headmaster, Mr. William McKenna, we have taken a very important step forward in implementing the Xaverian Model of formation for all members of the school.  On Sunday, October 8, 2006, Bishop Hart and Bishop Reilly joined me with several St. Bernard Alumni to celebrate St. Bernard’s Golden Jubilee.  That milestone was attained because of generous, dedicated, and deeply committed people who supported the mission of Catholic education.  They have passed on to us a rich legacy.  Today, our support for St. Bernard’s continues this noble tradition of sacrifice and generosity that they have established.
Through its academic, apostolic, religious, athletic, and special programs, Saint Bernard’s continues to enrich and strengthen the faith of its students today.  It provides an excellent Christian formation for youth and it helps students come to know Christ and His Church.  Our generous support for St. Bernard’s will insure that St. Bernard’s will be here for generations yet to come.
Please be generous to this appeal.  Join with the host of dedicated and committed Saint Bernard School educators seeking to give their students the very best and to prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow.
God love you and may He reward your generosity.
                                            Sincerely yours in Christ,
                                         + Michael R. Cote
                                            Bishop of Norwich

 
THE LADIES GUILD WILL MEET ON TUESDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE CHURCH HALL.  THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING BECAUSE A REPORT WILL BE MADE ON THE RESULTS OF THE LADIES’ GUILD PARISH CHRISTMAS FAIR, BAZAAR AND TAG SALE (WHICH WAS HELD ON SATURDAY,OCTOBER 21st .)  An early report indicates that no one died or got sick from eating Monsignor’s pies?????!!!!!?????
Outside the Parish
OPEN HOUSE – Saint Bernard School for Grades 6 – 12. (A Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School)  November 5th, 2 to 4 p.m. Entrance Exam, December 2nd, 8:30 to Noon
$20 registration fee, reservations required. Call 848-1271, ext. 108 – www.saint-bernard.com
The Academy of the Holy Family in Baltic will have their Entrance Exam for 8th grade girls on Saturday, November 18th from 9 to 12 Noon.  Testing Fee is $10.00.  Please call (860) 822-9272 for further information.
CONFIRMATION HERE
Bishop Cote will be here on Friday, December 1, 2006 to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to our freshmen and sophomores. The entire parish is invited to this very special ceremony.

                                        
                 Announced Masses

Monday, November 6th         31st  week in Ordinary Time                         
7:30 A.M. The Faithful Departed --- Souls in Purgatory
Tuesday,  November 7th    31st  week in Ordinary Time                                               
7:30 A.M.   Isabel Rosa  (Friend)
Wednesday,  November 8th   31st  week in Ordinary Time                                                                       
7:30 A.M. The   Faithful Departed --- Souls in Purgatory
Thursday,  November 9th         Dedication of the Lateran Basilica              
7:30 A.M.   Parishioners of OLPH
Friday,  November 10th     St. Leo the Great                                                  
 7:30 A.M.  Intention of Celebrant    (Father Frank O’Keefe)