Masses for the Week

SATURDAY, February 27

8:00 AM Youth of the Parish

5:00 PM Dick Cantin

SUNDAY, February 28

7:30 AM Clem Luppachino

9:30 AM Margaret Welch 4^th Anniversary

11:30 AM Special Intention

MONDAY, March 1

7:00 AM Alice McVay Jarvis

TUESDAY, March 2

7:00 AM Margaret Welch 4^th Anniversary

WEDNESDAY, March 3

7:00 AM Church of the Assumption Parishioners

THURSDAY, March 4

7:00 AM Margaret Bodyk

FRIDAY, March 5

7:00 AM Special Intention

9:00 AM First Friday School Mass

SATURDAY, March 6

8:00 AM Donald & Laura Robb

5:00 PM Gary Comeau 4^th Anniversary

SUNDAY, March 7

7:30 AM Celso Morson & Deceased Members of the

Morson Family

9:30 AM Richard Tierney

11:30 AM Robert Tedone

Eucharistic Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration will begin on Friday, March 5^th following the 9:00 am First Friday School Mass and end on Saturday, March 6^th at the 8:00 am Mass.

Ladies Guild Meeting: There will be a Board Meeting of the Ladies Guild on Monday, March 15, 2010 at 7:45pm in the Church hall meeting room.

Parish Council Meeting: There will be a meeting for the members of the Parish Council on Sunday, February 28^th at 7:00 pm. in the Parish library.

Lent, 2010

ABSTINENCE THIS WEEK

This week, on Friday, Catholics over 14 years of age may not eat meat.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Will be held this Friday, March 5, at 1:00 pm at Church of the Assumption and at 7:00 pm at Saint James Church.

Ladies Guild: Ladies and Young Ladies of the Parish

The Irish Step Dancers from Golden Harp Irish Dance will be in the Church of the Assumption Church Hall on Monday, March 1^st at 7:45pm to entertain the Ladies Guild.

Please come and be our guest. Refreshments Served.

For questions or more info, please contact Margaret Brewer at 860-647-1962.

Parish Social Ministry Retreat: The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry will sponsor a social ministry retreat entitled “Biblical Justice: Our Roots and Wings for Social Ministry”, on Saturday March 13^th, at St James Church in Rocky Hill. The guest speaker will be Tricia Hoyt. Treat yourself this Lent to a day of prayer, fellowship, and renewal. The $30.00 fee includes refreshments and lunch.

Registration forms and additional information are available at www.catholicsocialjustice.org or by calling 203-777-7279.

MACC Food Pantry: Thank you to all who contributed last weekend to our monthly collection for the MACC Food Pantry. We had a total of 54 bags. TheConfirmation students who helped with the delivery were: Dean Gates and Sean Manzu. John Oleksiw provided his truck for the transportation. Our next collection will be the weekend of March 20-21. Questions, please call Joan Troy 860-643-0841.

Your offertory gifts for the support of Church of the Assumption Parish were:

February 21, 2010 - $4,494.00

Thank you for your generosity!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS…

Religious Education Classes on Monday for all students Grades 1 – 8. Classes are as follows:

Grades 1-5 Monday 3:40-4:40 p.m. in the School

Grades 1-5 Monday 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the School

Grades 6-8 Monday 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Church

Meeting Rooms and Library

CONFIRMATION PROGRAM

The next class will meet on, Sunday, March 7^th at 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. in the Church Meeting Rooms and Library

Operation Rice Bowl - Second Week of Lent

The Transfiguration

Jesus’ transfiguration was a moment of hope for the disciples, giving them the strength to endure the future sacrifices they would make as they formed the early Church.

As we continue our journey with Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl, let us be mindful that our Lenten sacrifices help to give hope to our brothers and sisters in need.

Assumption School’s 7^th & 8^th Grade Students will be serving a St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner on Saturday, March 13^th at 6:00pm in the Assumption Church Hall. Tickets are $15.00 for 12 years and up and $7.00 for under 12. Tickets will be on sale after Masses on February 27/28 and March 6/7 and at the door.

For further information, contact Monique Giola, 860-643-0622.

Assumption School Presents………

A Night of Comedy, Saturday, March 20^th at the Irish American Home, 132 Commerce St., Glastonbury.

Must be 21 or older to attend

Doors open at 7:00pm. Show starts at 8:15pm.

Come and enjoy a night of laughter and help support our children.

One of the comedians featured will be Dr. Jay Sutay, a local pediatrician, who brings his tales from the exam room, his experience working with kids and their parents, as well as his own tribulations as the father of two teenage daughters to his stand up comedy.

There is a cash bar; bring your own food.

Tickets will be sold after Masses on Feb. 27/28 and March 6/7. Advanced tickets are $20.00, at the door $25.00.

For tickets or information, please call, Kathleen Pavan at 860-680-2287.

MEMORIAL CANDLES

Week of 2/28/2010

Mary's Altar St. Joseph's Altar

Jeanne Poncelet Alfred Poncelet

Nancy Ann Galligan Helen Fuller

Sadie Lauretti Barbara Zorick

Roger Lemire Paul & Clara Gomes

Health Special Intention (2)

Good Health for Our Holy Father

Special Intention

To request candles, please fill out the Candle Offering Envelopes located in the church, by the candles, then place in the collection or return to the Parish Secretary at the Rectory. Requests will be honored on a first come basis. Extras will be placed with the following week’s requests.

Volunteer Opportunities at Saint Mary Home: Do you have time to share with others? Opportunities include, bring residents to daily in-house Mass, pet therapy visits, bingo, card playing and art. Reading to residents, cheering for a favorite sports team, or simple one-on-one conversation.

For additional info on volunteering, please contact Michelle Russell at 860-570-8307 or mrussell.smh@mchct.org

The 2010 Census: Coming Soon

As the 2010 Census approaches, each of our households will receive a form. Since the census has an impact on the community in which we live and work, we are encouraging participation by all.

As mandated by the U.S. Constitution, every person living in the United States must be counted, both citizens and noncitizens. Data from this national count helps determine key funding and government representation decisions. Please complete and mail back your form and encourage your family, friends and neighbors to do the same. For more information, visit, www.2010census.gov

BINGO

EVERY TUESDAY EVENING AT 6:30 PM IN THE CHURCH HALL, DOORS OPEN AT 5 PM.

PROGRESSIVE PRIZE………………………..$1100.00

Meeting on the Future of Assumption School

I regret to have to tell you that Assumption School is facing a financial crisis – one that affects every member of Assumption Parish. It’s important that you understand the situation, as I need the benefit of everyone’s best thinking in evaluating how to proceed.

In a nutshell, Assumption School will end this fiscal year with a deficit of over $200,000 – and that deficit must be made up by Assumption Church. (This is in addition to our parish subsidy, your contributions via the monthly collection, and the proceeds from our weekly Bingo.)

In addition, Assumption School had already amassed a deficit of more than $250,000 in the previous three years – and the Church has been forced to make up that entire amount.

The crux of the problem: at the present rate Assumption Church will be bankrupt in less than five years. I know you don’t want that to happen, and as I have fiduciary responsibility for the parish, I cannot permit it to happen.

I understand that this situation will come as a surprise to many. Members of the Assumption School Board have told me they had no idea of the seriousness of the situation, and I must assume that not many others did either.

Since becoming your Pastor last July, I have worked hard at attempting to understand the situation and to consider what our options might be. It seems clear to me that the single, overriding reason for the consistent financial shortfall is the school’s low enrollment. There are now just 147 children attending the school and 19 of those are in pre-kindergarten. The Sixth Grade has just eight students!

An important note: I am convinced that this financial crisis is in no way attributable to either the quality of education or the dedication of staff at Assumption School – or to the amount of effort and support by parents and parishioners over the years. Assumption is a wonderful school – and I am as distressed at the problem we face as I’m sure you will be.

Recently I discussed the dilemma with our Parish Trustees and Finance Council and with the Assumption School Board. I plan to meet with the teachers once they return from vacation. Now I want to meet with interested members of the parish as well as with parents of the children in our school.

(Over, Please)

I invite all who are interested in discussing Assumption School’s — and Assumption Church’s – financial crisis to come to a meeting on Sunday, February 28 at either of two times: 2:00 – 3:30 or 5:00 – 6:30 in the Church Hall. At those meetings we will present the situation as we understand it and review several possible scenarios for going forward. Of course, you will have an opportunity to ask questions and offer suggestions.

These meetings are for all Assumption parishioners – not just for those who have children in our school – for the financial stability of our parish is at stake. I look forward to a thoughtful discussion with you on February 28.

In the meantime, please join me in praying that the Holy Spirit will guide us in finding the right path for Assumption School, and that He will give us the wisdom to protect both our school and our church so that we may serve the needs of many future generations of Assumption parishioners.

Father Cavanaugh