Monday Message, February 10, 2025
KNOW
The delegation from the Diocese of Bridgeport had an amazing time at NFCYM’s Exchange last week in Atlanta. Talk to Deacon Ed or Deacon Dave, Priscilla Wanderly, Chris Otis, Colin Petramale, Bill Staley, Carmela, Sue, or Todd in the office, or Robert Pascale in Campus Ministry for more information.
We have a Parish Leader Check-In tomorrow. Link is here. One of the items we will discuss is what to do if someone cannot make the Confirmation scheduled at your parish. As you know, we do not publish the schedule for Confirmation. Moving forward, Susan Baldwin will field all calls and emails related to those who need to find retreats, alternate dates, etc. Please direct all emails and questions to Sue at this email address.
The Rite of Election is coming up. See this memo for instructions on how to prepare your folks.
Lunch and Learn is at St. Lawrence this month. See this link for details.
If you are interested in learning more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and how your parish may be eligible for a $20,000 grant for children and worship, you must attend the meeting with Sr. Mary Michael Fox in Weston on February 20th. See this page for more information.
A new process for requesting dates for Confirmation was announced a few weeks ago. The memo from the bishop is here. The link to the form was sent to pastors on Friday. You can find it here. The Bishop would prefer that the pastors submit the information and that only one request per parish be submitted. So that you know, this will be the only request for Confirmation for the entire pastoral year. There will no longer be separate fall and spring request forms. The deadline to submit this initial request is no later than Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Please forward the names and email addresses of all those you invited to the parent meeting with the bishop (not just those who showed up) to Carmela, as the bishop requested, so he can follow up. Nearly 20 parishes still have not done this.
If you have practicing Catholics over the age of 18 who need only Confirmation, please send them to this link (assuming your parish does not offer formation).
We have updated the Start with Sunday site to include marketing materials. Could you check it out here?
SAVE THE DATE
On May 1st, Bishop Caggiano will invite all parish faith formation leaders to a strategy session to discuss how best to engage parents in the formation of their children.similar summit with principals in March—details to follow. A similar meeting will be held in March with principals and pastors. Read about it here to get a sense of what is coming.
REFLECT
In Wayne Muller’s book Sabbath, the author reminds us that rest is not optional; it is a command. The Ten Commandments command us to keep holy the Sabbath, and for a faithful Jew, that meant resting from work. The busyness of our lives can become like violence in our midst, forcing us to work day and night, respond to emails at all hours, and work tirelessly to “get the job done.”
When we live without listening to the timing of things, when we live and work in twenty-four-hour shifts without rest – we are on war time, mobilized for battle. Yes, we are strong and capable people, we can work without stopping, faster and faster, electric lights making artificial day so the whole machine can labor without ceasing. But remember: No living thing lives like this. There are greater rhythms, seasons and hormonal cycles and sunsets and moonrises and great movements of seas and stars. We are part of the creation story, subject to all its laws and rhythms.
This week, let us make a conscious effort to rest. It’s been a crazy few months and our bodies and minds will function much more effectively if we take time this summer to unplug, recharge, step back, and rest.
Now if only I could follow that advice…
LAUGH
