February 5th

Dear Friends,

On March 1st we will gather to begin Season 1 of ALPHA- a series of group conversations that explore the basics of the Christian faith in a friendly environment. It is a place to connect with people, where you can say anything you like or nothing at all. Everyone is welcome. Consider coming (and inviting a friend) to the first meeting to see if it is for you. The meeting starts with dinner at 6:30 pm and will conclude by 8:30. To help us to know many to plan for, please contact Deacon Rob at rfmorris@hotmail.com.

St Paddy’s Day marks the end of winter for me, something I am looking forward to! We’ll have our annual St Patrick’s Day Corned Beef Dinner on March 4th, something you hopefully have marked on your calendar. Information went out in the mail a few weeks ago, along with raffle tickets. Forms for the Ad Book were in last week’s bulletin and are available on the parish web site. Once again, this promises to be a fun and festive event, offering a little “break in the action” during an otherwise somber Lent.

This Sunday closes out the Annual Catholic Schools Week in our Archdiocese, and our parish is blessed to have two Catholic schools: Bridgeport Catholic Academy and Saint Gabriel Catholic School. Our schools have been entrusted with the education and faith formation of about 450 children- quite a responsibility! But it is also a blessing for us. Our closing Mass at Nativity of Our Lord (11am) is followed by an Open House at BCA.

February 2nd, last Thursday, was the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Candles are blessed on the feast of the Presentation, as Jesus is the Light of the World. The day after is the feast of Saint Blase, a day on which those newly blessed candles are used to bless throats:

Through the intercession of Saint Blase, bishop and martyr,
may God deliver you from every illness of the throat and every other illness.

And may your week reflect the encounter with Christ
we experienced at Mass today!