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Prayer and Penance

We stand in the middle of a global and complex crisis.  It is up to all of us – right here, and no one is exempt – to be part of the renewal of the Church. 


To put it simply, the time for a mediocre witness to Christ is over. If this is not a clarion call from Heaven to a personal conversion for every single one of us, I don’t know what is.


What does that conversion look like? It means a new and personal resolve, for each of us, aided by God’s grace, to be the kind of disciples who bring relief, and not pain, to the Heart of Jesus. It means a determined effort, with God’s help, to really turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel. 


To that end, allowing our souls to be cleansed and healed from sin in and through a good confession in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is absolutely essential. Anyone who claims otherwise is simply deceiving themselves.


Listen here as Emma Ryder, director of The Face of Prayer initiative at the Diocese of Bridgeport, shares her experience with Eucharistic Adoration on January 5 & 6, 2019.

Prayer and Penance. Updated on January 6, 2019

Dear Friends, 


Looking for a New Year's Resolution that's positive, realistic, and beneficial for your life? 


Look no further! 


In 2019, on the first Tuesday of each month we will be offering a period of Eucharistic Adoration from 3:00 p.m. to midnight.


The schedule will look like this

  • 3:00 pm ~ Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 
  • and the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy 
  • 4:00 pm ~ Holy Rosary: Joyful Mysteries 
  • 5:00 pm ~ Evening Prayer 
  • 6:00 pm ~ Angelus 
  • 7:00 pm ~ Holy Rosary: Luminous Mysteries 
  • [7:00 pm ~ 8:30 pm: Confessions available] 
  • 8:00 pm ~ Holy Rosary: Sorrowful Mysteries 
  • 9:00 pm ~ Holy Rosary: Glorious Mysteries 
  • 10:00 pm ~ Night Prayer 
  • 11:00 pm ~ Office of Readings (anticipated) 
  • 12:00 midnight ~ Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament


I can think of no better New Year's Resolution than the resolution to stop in for some time of quiet and prayer on the first Tuesday of each month of 2019. 


Everyone is free to stop in for however long he or she wants. As your Pastor, I'll be there for the whole time. 


Here's why we're doing it: 


Back in September, we held a 24-hour period of prayer and fasting in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the abuse scandals in the Church. Following this, as a concrete, ongoing response that our parish can give to the Bishop’s call for acts of reparation, we are designating the first Tuesday of each month in 2019 for a period of Eucharistic Adoration, prayer, and fasting, from 3pm to mid-night on the First Tuesday of each month. 


The first date will be January 8, 2019 


Many people have never experienced Eucharistic Adoration before, and might even be a little intimidated by the thought of spending an extended period in silence and prayer. This weekend, parishioner Emma Ryder, a recent college graduate and the coordinator of The Face of Prayer initiative at the diocese, is sharing at all Masses a brief reflection on her experiences of Eucharistic Adoration, and how and why she has come to love spending quiet time with the Lord — together with some tips on what to do and how to get started. We'll be inviting other parishioners to give similar testimonies in the coming months. 


For now, I offer everyone these words of Pope Saint Paul VI: 


“Anyone who has a special devotion to the sacred Eucharist  and who tries to repay Christ's infinite love for us with an eager and unselfish love of his own, will experience and fully understand — and this will bring great delight and benefit to his soul —  just how precious is a life hidden with Christ in God and just how worthwhile it is to carry on a conversation with Christ, for there is nothing more consoling here on earth, 

and nothing more efficacious for progress along the paths of holiness.” 


Hope to see you, at least for a little while, on Tuesday, January 8th!


God bless you! 

Father Marcello

Why Remain Catholic? (With So Much Scandal)

In light of the recent scandals, I know many people are wondering whether they should remain in the Catholic Church. And I totally get that; the outrage is warranted.  But in this time of crisis, I beg you not to flee, but to fight--not violently, with the weapons of the world, but with the weapons of the Spirit. We need you.


- Bishop Robert Barron

Adoration and Confession

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Confession

At St. Catherine of Siena Parish, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (Confession) is offered:


Tuesday evenings, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Saturday afternoons, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.,


Confessions are heard in the Confessional, which is located in the lobby of the church. The confessional is arranged so that both anonymous and face-to-face confessions are possible.  The Sacrament is also available anytime upon request from one of the priests.  

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Adoration

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is available on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

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Additional Reading

Bishop Caggiano’s Statement on the Abuse Crisis

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Father Marcello's Message to the Parish (Jan 6)

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Father Marcello's Message to the Parish (Oct 28)

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Father Marcello's Message to the Parish (Sep 9)

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Father Marcello's Message to the Parish (Sep 2)

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