Parent Meeting for First Communion Preparation
Sunday, January 12 at 9:00 am in the Franciscan Center
Is your child ready to prepare for First Communion?
We are kicking off our 2025 First Communion preparation with a parent meeting on Sunday, January 12 at 9:00 am. Children are usually 2nd grade or older, and must be attending one of our three Elementary options for Faith Formation. Click to learn more about our Youth Faith Formation options.
Prayer Square Workshops with the Prayer Shawl Ministry
Sundays, January 12 and February 9, 2025
During Community Sundays after the 8 and 10 am Masses
At the January 12th and February 9th Community Sundays, ministers will be available to teach how to start knitting these simple squares. The ministry feels it is the right time to invite parishioners to take and/or to make Prayers Squares for Peace and distribute them throughout Lent.
Prayer Shawl Ministry Meetings
Meets twice per month
Evening meetings are on the 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom: Winter/spring dates are January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, and June 9
Daytime meetings are on the last Thursday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the Franciscan Center: Winter/spring dates are January 30, February 27, March 27, April 24, May 29, and June 26
Please consider joining us at any time this year to learn the art of making Prayer Shawls and to help us continue to reach out to others in our community through this ministry of love.
For more information, contact Janet Bristow at [email protected]
Drumming Circle
~ try something *new*
Mondays, January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2
6:30-7:30 pm in the Franciscan Center
Did you know that drumming is good for the spirit as well as the heart and mind! Please join us for an evening of African drumming rhythms once a month. Anyone can learn to drum – no musical experience is needed. If you have a drum, please bring it with you. Let us know if you need a drum by calling the parish office, 860-756-4034. First-time participants, please arrive by 6:15 p.m.
Facilitator: Elaine Wiatr
Sponsored by the Women of Hope Ministry
Group Spiritual Reflection
Every Tuesday, on Zoom, 12:30-1:30 pm
Every Wednesday, in-person, 12:40-1:40 pm
Our gathering will reflect upon the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday to guide us on our path of discipleship. As companions on the journey, we listen, reflect and share how the Word speaks to our hearts through the Spirit. There is no need to do any advance preparation for the session. Come as you are with an open heart.
Facilitators: Mary Espinosa, Joan Osella and Elaine Wiatr
In Quiet Prayer
Wednesdays from 7:30-8:00 am on Zoom
Thirty minutes of quiet prayer practice every Wednesday morning, from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m.. Join us on Zoom to be “In Quiet Prayer “with others. We begin with a brief ritual of offering compassion for the needs of our world and ourselves. A prayer or reading is offered, and is followed by 20 minutes of silence for personal intentions, through prayer, reflection, meditation or contemplation.
Divine Reading
Each month on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, in-person, 7:00-8:00 pm
January 15; February 5 & 19; March 5 & 19
April 2 & 16; May 7 & 21; June 4 & 18
Please consider joining us for “lectio divina” (divine reading.) It is a prayerful reading of a bible passage in order to discern its message for each of us today. We have found that meeting in person gives the experience greater intimacy and impact. If you haven’t tried it yet, please do! The process is simple and will be explained each time, and sharing is welcome, but optional.
Co-facilitators: Sheila Denion and John Lemega
People of Hope ~ “The Flowing Grace of Now”
Every Wednesday from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm on Zoom
“To see requires a deeply contemplative spirit and an open heart. To see requires learning to live awake. When we begin to live awake, we will see teachers everywhere”, writes retreat guide and author Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr. Using her book, The Flowing Grace of Now, we will ponder one essay per week which will usher us into the presence of spiritual teachers at work in our lives—inviting us to listen to these teachers, deepen our faith, and learn from their wisdom. Please join our facilitator, Pat Curtis, each Wednesday 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, to gather with others for weekly inspiration using experiences from our daily lives. Our goal is to keep hope alive and steadfast even as difficult personal and world events press upon us. This “People of Hope” gathering is available to you every Wednesday morning ~ attend when your schedule allows to receive the gifts of spiritual nourishment and growth. Join us!
Facilitator: Pat Curtis
Free Will Offering
Clare Gallery: Upcoming Exhibit “Colorful Silence“
Artist’s Virtual Talk: Thursday, January 23 from 7:00-8:00 pm
Artist Reception, Sunday, March 2, 1:00-3:00 pm
Brother Mickey O’Neill McGrath, Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, is a writer, painter, and storyteller. His work will feature quotes from modern “mystics” such as Richard Rohr, Dorothy Day, St. Therese, as well as others.
“Got HOPE?”
Back in the early 1990’s, an advertising campaign was designed to increase the consumption of milk by using the tagline “Got Milk?”. Would a good tagline befitting our current state of affairs be “Got Hope?”.Are we at a point in our personal and cultural lives when we need to increase our “consumption of hope”?
You are invited to spend three sessions this winter with facilitators from our Adult Formation Ministry as we consider the message and impact of Hope upon ourselves and our world. We’ll look at scripture, writings from civil rights activists, and religious leaders of our time to stimulate our ponderings and conversation.
Please join us in January and February on Zoom on the following Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm:
January 28, February 4 & 11
Why in the evenings? So that all parishioners, those working and those retired, have the opportunity to join in.
Why virtually on Zoom? Because our parishioners travel from over 120 different zip codes… because winter weather might blow in and we’ll still be able to keep our scheduled gatherings.
Why these dates? There are no conflicts with UCONN Women’s and Men’s Basketball Games!
We look forward to spending this time with YOU!
Pat Curtis and Adult Faith Formation Facilitators
SPSA Community Day at Dunkin’ Park
Sunday, June 15
Ever wanted to walk out onto Dunkin Park baseball field??
For the first time, our group will have the opportunity to hold the Big Flag during the pre-game ceremony!
Tickets will go on sale in late March.
Looking for more events to nurture your faith during this winter season? Check out our events calendar for more programs you can join!