ST. JEROME CHURCH

23 Half Mile Road Norwalk, CT 06851 ~ 203-847-5349

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

SABBATH MASSES

Saturday 4:00 PM E.S.T. & 4:30 PM D.S.T.

Sunday 8:00 AM

9:15 AM Young Children's Mass

11:00 AM

6:00 PM Teen Mass

DAYS OF OBLIGATION

Vigil 7:00 PM

Holy Day 9:00 AM, 7:00 PM

WEEKDAY MASSES

Mon-Sat 9:00 AM

HOW TO FIND US……

Parish Website:

www.stjeromenorwalk.org

Parish Email: norwalkstjerome@cs.com

REACH email: reachstjerome@optonline.net

Parish Facebook:

St. Jerome Norwalk

REACH & TOTAL Facebook:

REACH St.Jerome

Parish Twitter: @StJeromeNorwalk

REACH & TOTAL Twitter:

@REACHstjerome

Instagram:

reach.total.stjerome

PASTORAL STAFF

203-847-5349

Rev. David Blanchfield, Pastor

Rev. Rojin Zacharias K.M., Parochial Vicar

Rev. Michael Hoag, S.J., Weekend Assistant

Deacon Dean Finch • 203-847-6397

deacon.dean.finch@gmail.com

PARISH OFFICE

203-847-5349

Mrs. Pat Florio, Secretary

Office Hours, Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (REACH)

203-846-2111

Mrs. Kathy Coyne, DRE

Mrs. Natalie Raduazzo

Mrs. Kathy Rohr

YOUTH MINISTRY (TOTAL)

Joe and Daniela OʼCallaghan

203-847-0321

jocallaghan@optonline.net

danielaoc@optonline.net

MUSIC MINISTRY

203-847-5349

Mr. Donald Nelson

Mrs. Joan McFarland

PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON

Dan Loch • 203-846-3980

FINANCE COUNCIL

Jerry Holdridge • 203-966-3658

ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

203-847-3881 Pre K—Grade 8

139 West Rocks Road

Norwalk, CT 06851

Mrs. Linda Dunn, Principal

FAITH DIRECT—ONLINE GIVING

866-507-8757 www.faithdirect.net

Sign up using our church code: CT46, or

by mailing a paper enrollment form available in

the parish office. Also available on our website at

www.stjeromenorwalk.org/Faith-Direct-

enrollment.pdf

MISSION STATEMENT

We the people of St. Jerome Parish, a Ro-

man Catholic community, proclaim our

belief in the message and mission of Jesus

Christ. As disciples of Jesus we are called

to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to

work for its values in the local community

and beyond. We are committed to: wor-

ship, religious education, shared faith and

service. We welcome all people with re-

spect, acceptance and support.

Parish Staff

Altar Flowers

Altar Flowers may be memorialized for a donation

of $50. Please call the Parish Office several

months prior to your desired date.

Adoration & Silent Prayer

Every day between 4:00PM and 5:00PM.

Contemplative Prayer

Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM.

Come spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Widows’ Support Group

Meets at 9:30AM on the second Thursday of the

month in the Kevin Eidt Youth Room.

Perpetual Novena

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal takes place

each Monday following morning Mass

Rosary & Divine Mercy Prayers

Monday through Saturday after daily Mass

Baptisms Please call the parish office during

regular office hours to schedule.

Required Pre-Baptism For September

2017—Monday, 9/25. Class is required for the

first child baptized at St. Jerome.

Reconciliation One hour before vigil on

Saturday. Also anytime by appointment.

Marriages Please contact the Parish Office at

least six months in advance.

Anointing of the Sick First Wednesday of

each month, immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass,

in the sanctuary. Anyone with an ongoing medical

condition or who is seriously ill, anticipating a medical

procedure or operation, is welcome to come.

Gluten Free Hosts are available at all Masses. If

you require a gluten-free host, please see the

officiating priest before Mass.

Bringing up the Gifts at Mass If the Mass

intention has been requested by you or for your loved

ones, and you would like to bring up the Gifts at the

Offertory, please let the ushers know that you are

present and would like to bring up the gifts.

9/9 9:00 am John V. Collins

(Nora Price)

VIGIL FOR SUNDAY

4:30 pm Peter Guglielmo

Peter O’Rourke

Fr. Elio Persechino

(family)

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

9/10 8:00 am Antonio Bonaddio

(Rentas family)

9:15 am Anne Leone

(Somma family)

11:00 am Vincenzo Iannone, Jr.

(family)

6:00 pm Dr. Ed Flynn

(Brian Kennedy)

9/11 9:00 am for all souls lost

on Patriot’s Day

9/12 9:00 am for those suffering or lost to

Patriot’s Day illnesses

9/13 9:00 am for caregivers

9/14 9:00 am for the People

9/15 9:00 am Irene Ostasiewicz

(family)

9/16 9:00 am for deceased parents

VIGIL FOR SUNDAY

4:30 pm Robert Iannacone

(wife, Marguerite)

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

9/17 8:00 am Christopher Hauptman

(Weller family)

9:15 am Marco Monteiro

Clara DiMeglio

Fran Tucci

(family)

11:00 am Vincent Garvey

(family)

6:00 pm Allen Doppke

(Jim & Nicole Tobin)

The Banns of Marriage

are announced for the

third time between

Thomas Lawton

and

Erika Kruczkiewicz

This will be my last column in this series about Brian Doyle. I hope they have made you

want to go out and purchase some of his novels, poems, and essays.

It saddens me that once I have finish reading everything he ever wrote, I already have

read three of his five novels, there will be nothing more. He is now officially on my list of

heroes.

In his book of essays, GRACE NOTES, he has an essay called “Let it Go.” In it, he

speaks of a night when he could not sleep, a night when he was close to despair. In the

midst of his dark night he hears the Blessed Mother speak to him. “Let it Go” she said.

For a year he tells no one, not even his wife. Finally he tells two friends and both admit

that they had been spoken to in moments of great darkness.

He says this about Mary: “She lived, married, bore Him, endured, wept over his icy

corpse, died. When she died, her body rose into the heavens and vanished from earthy

view. But I tell you, she spoke to me one cold wet night in Western Oregon, and her

words are burned in my heart, as if she reached down with a finger like a sweet razor

and traced them there in the morning, and I cannot explain how her words changed eve-

rything, and how there was the first part of my life and now there is the part after she

spoke to me.”

On a humorous note, when I used this story in a homily, one parish wit said all she could

think of was the song from FROZEN! So much for my homily!

THIS WEEK AT ST. JEROME…….

Sunday 9/10 TOTAL info for 9th graders & parents 7PM

Monday 9/11 Women’s Scripture Group 9:30 AM

Tuesday 9/12

Wednesday 9/13 Contemplative Prayer 7:00 PM

Women’s Scripture Group 7:30 PM

Thursday 9/14 Widow’s Support 9:30 AM

Friday 9/15

Saturday 9/16 Men’s Ministry 7:00 AM

WEEKLY OFFERTORY SUMMARY

September 3, 2017 $3,757

September offertory budget $40,000

As always, thank you for your

generous donations to our parish!

We pray for those who bravely serve our country

in the military and those deployed in dangerous

locations. Thank God for those who have returned

home safely. Our service people include:

Spec. Jason Kulik, United States Army

PFC Andrew Chimento, United States Army

PFC Devon Barker, United States Army

LCpl. Jack H. Whitney, USMC

NEED A RIDE TO THAT DOCTOR OR

DENTIST APPOINTMENT???

Bill Halstead, our parishioner and a social con-

cerns member, is President of FISH of Norwalk.

FISH is an all volunteer organization offering free

rides for medical related appointments within the

city of Norwalk.

Please contact Bill at 203-354-2835 for further in-

formation.

Mass for those with Down Syndrome

Family and Friends are invited to Mass asking for

the intercession of St. Robert Bellarmine on Sunday,

September 17, 9:30 am at St. Mary Church in Nor-

walk, CT. Father Joseph Koterski, S.J., will be the

celebrant. There will be a reception following Mass,

all are welcome.

In addition, please come and join the MOMs+DADs

prayer/support group (Mother of Mercy spiritual Di-

vine Advocate for Down Syndrome) the third Thurs-

day of every month, 7:30 pm at St. Mary Parish Cen-

ter. The next prayer meeting will be September 21.

Inquiries welcome at strapostolate@optimum.net.

Keeping Kids Catholic - A Blueprint for Faith

& Family - With statistics showing an alarming num-

ber of young people leaving the Catholic faith, is it pos-

sible to keep kids within the Church? Yes! Come hear

Fr. Joseph Gill, who has 15 years of experience work-

ing in youth ministry, present on how we can help our

kids to develop a real relationship with God and be-

come passionate about their Catholic faith. The talk will

take place on Wednesday, Sept. 20 from 7-8:30pm at

Trinity Catholic High School in the Teacher's Lounge.

There is no cost, and parents of all ages are welcome!

• There will be a brief, but mandatory, Confir-

mation meeting for all incoming 9th grade

Confirmation candidates and their parents

after the 6:00 Mass this Sunday. We will dis-

cuss the requirements and preparation neces-

sary for your child to receive Confirmation in

the Fall of 10

th

grade.

• All teens are invited to Opening night of

TOTAL next Sunday, September 17 after

the 6:00 Mass. We hope you’ll join us for a

night of faith, friendship, and fun. We will meet

in the Kevin Eidt Youth Room immediately af-

ter the 6:00 Mass. Come see what you can

expect at TOTAL this year. Teens are wel-

come to bring a friend. Please make sure you

send in your TOTAL registration form (grades

11, 12) or Confirmation registration form

(grade 9) a.s.a.p.. If you need a form please

contact the REACH office or Daniela O’Cal-

laghan at danielaoc@optonline.net.

• Lectors are needed at the 6:00 Mass. If any

teen is interested in becoming a lector, please

contact Daniela or Joe. Service hours will be

given for reading at Mass.

HONOR WAY

Our Honor way is looking beautiful

out front—please stop by and take

a look.

We will be selling a second run of

bricks—limited to 70 “first come,

first served!” We will only be sell-

ing the 4x8 sized bricks. Price per

brick will be announced.

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

@Pontifex “Jesus is always there

with an open heart. He throws open

the mercy that he has in his heart.

He forgives, embraces, and understands.”

@BishopCaggiano “To care for creation de-

mands that we recognize that all humanity has a

common interest and responsibility to protect the

home we all share.”

@JamesMartinSJ “Gospel: Jesus asks us to

be ready for judgment. How will we be judged?

By how we treated the ‘least among us’. The

poor and marginalized.”

Notre Dame High School of

Fairfield - Class of 1997 - 20

Year Reunion -Saturday, Septem-

ber 16th - Riverview Bistro, 946

Ferry Blvd. in Stratford. For details

and to purchase tickets con-

tact ndhsclassof1997@gmail.com or call 203-650-

6904. The cost per ticket is $70 in advance and

$80 at the door. This includes dinner, open bar

and music.

ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST COMPLETE VIR-

TUS TRAINING!!

SAFE ENVIRONMENTS

******IMPORTANT ******

All volunteers 18 years and over must be in com-

pliance with the diocesan mandate.

P l e a s e s e e t h e V I R T U S w e b s i t e

(www.virtusonline.org) click “First-time registrant”,

click “view a list of sessions”, search ‘Bridgeport, CT

(Diocese)”.

Some upcoming training dates:

All Saints Catholic School(Norwalk) 9/12 5:30 PM

St. Pius X (Fairfield) 9/13—6:00 PM

St. Joseph (Norwalk) 9/17 1:30 PM (en español)

THE FACE OF PRAYERR.Are

you the face of prayer? Are you will-

ing to pray with Bishop Caggiano

every day? Join the movement. Text

a selfie, your prayer intention, or

simply the word “pray” to 55778 and

join in the journey as we learn more about the

power of prayer.

On September 23, 2017 Bishop Caggiano will lead

a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of

the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.

Check out www.thefaceofprayer.com for more

information about the Face of Prayer and to reg-

ister for the pilgrimage to the National Shrine.

Please spread the word and join the movement.

CLASSES START SEPT 17TH!

Registration forms have been emailed to all cur-

rent families. If you did not receive your form,

please contact the REACH office—

reachstjerome@optonline.net or 203-846-2111 or

visit the website.

**Any families with children entering

Kindergarten or 1st Grade or new to our

program, please contact the office for a

form. Forms are available on our web-

site. www.stjeromenorwalk.org

We now accept credit card for payments of your

REACH and TOTAL tuition. Information was

emailed and is also available on our website.

PARISH FESTIVAL

SUNDAY, 10/1

11:30AM - 3:00 PM

Join us for an afternoon of

fun, food, fellowship, music,

and games right at the

church. (Food service ends at 2:00 PM.)

Tickets will be on sale for two weekends:

Sept. 16-17 and Sept. 23-24.

Adults -$10 ($12 at the door)

Seniors (72 and over) - $5

Children (12 and under) – FREE with a paying

adult. (Children need only come down to the hall

after REACH classes end at 11:30 AM to be

right at the Festival.)

This year’s ALOHA HAWAIIAN THEME will ap-

peal to children of all ages and their families!!

Plentiful food: Teriyaki-marinated London broil,

baked chicken fingers, grilled chicken Teriyaki,

kebob medley (cocktail franks, pork, pineapple,

& shrimp), hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburg-

ers, grilled vegetables, grilled pineapple, cole-

slaw, pineapple fried rice, watermelon and fruit

balls, green salad, mac & cheese, popcorn, ice

cream, ice pops, ambrosia, and desserts.

Children can play games and enjoy the inflat-

ables, the magician, balloon-sculpture, the

doughnut eating contest, face-painting, tempo-

rary tattoos, and arts & crafts!

TICKET SELLERS & VOLUNTEERS

NEEDED FOR PARISH FESTIVAL

We need volunteers to sell tickets on the weekends

of Sept. 16-17 and 23-24 for ten minutes after each

Mass. Please help by signing up today on the bulle-

tin board festival display in the church hallway for

simple food prep, serving food, children’s games and

Arts & Crafts, grilling, set-up, watching children at

the inflatables, collect tickets, and make and share

desserts.