Monday Message, February 9, 2026
KNOW
New
Many thanks to all who attended the catechist’s retreat with Sr. Johanna in the cold, and especially to the Institute team who worked so hard to make it happen.
Update – The First Communion Parent Meeting with the Bishop scheduled for St. Matthew parish on March 12th is now on March 11th. Please update your parents.
There are three FHC meetings this week. See the list here. Do not forget to let the host parish know how many to expect so that they can be prepared and the Institute team can be prepared with the bishop’s gifts to parents.
We have our parish leader check in tomorrow. Guests include folks who will teach us about the Pontifical Missions.
There is a Lunch and Learn on Wednesday at St. Mark parish. Remember, this is for local leaders who wish to learn more about LEAD.
Registration is open for the Diocesan Men’s Retreat on March 14th. Details here.
Registration will open this week for Diocesan Youth Day on March 28th. Details here.
Reminders
Pastors will receive this memo this week about record-keeping for Confirmation. I am providing it here in advance for your reference.
Pastors received this memo (with corrected links) last week. It includes a link to request Confirmation dates.
If you have adults who lack ONLY Confirmation, send them here.
If he hasn’t already, Deacon Chris Greer of Seton Collaborative fame will be in touch this week to see if you are interested in bulk purchasing books directly from publishers. Be on the lookout for his email. Publishers have already been informed that we plan to implement this approach to save money. If you have not heard from him, email him at this address.
Ministry Day 2026 information and registration are now live. Check it out. We are excited to have the dicastery’s lead for communications with us all the way from Rome! If you want to register a group from your parish, please email us with the names and other details. We are happy to bill you.
All Youth Ministry Leaders are invited to two listening sessions in the coming weeks. Read the memo here and email us to RSVP.
Ready for Lent – check out these great resources.
FROM THE FIELD
Jessica at St. Luke is looking for anyone hosting a Confirmation retreat between now and early April. Please email Jessica if you can help.
Maureen Hance is looking to borrow robes for the March 20th confirmation at Christ the King and St. Therese. Please email Maureen directly if you can help.
The Diocese of Bridgeport’s Ministry of Accompaniment, in partnership with the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health and the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, invites applications for a unique leadership development opportunity. The Fiat Mental Health & Church Life Fellowship is a year-long formation opportunity to support you in your life and ministry. Find more information here and here.
REFLECT
This week’s readings are all. about listening. We are challenged to act as though we believe, to behave so that what we preached is reflected in our actions, and to stop talking a good game without actually living like Jesus.
A tall order these days. It’s easier said than done. It’s easier to gossip than it is to keep our mouths shut. It’s more fun to engage in idle talk than it is to build up the kingdom.
Yet that is what we are called to do – act like disciples, not just follow the crowd blindly. Perhaps this week, as we prepare for Lent, we can start to listen without judging, speak kindly without petty commentary, and take Jesus seriously when he challenges us to do as he does.
I will if you will.
LAUGH
