This Sunday we hear of a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, asking for Jesus’ help based upon his faith, and his request is granted by Jesus. This gospel is unlike Mark’s account last weekend when James and John, the sons of Zebedee, do not realize or understand—nor do they see—for what they were asking. Today’s gospel is significant for a number of reasons:

All Souls Day and Prayers Our Catholic Church celebrates the noble souls of our faithfully departed each November. On Sunday, November 3rd at the 11 a.m. Mass we will recall the names of all those who have died in 2024 and were buried from our parish. The Book of the Dead will be placed before the altar, our cantor will recall the names aloud of our deceased loved ones this year, then a bell shall toll and a moment of silent prayer will be offered as I incense the names inscribed upon our Memorial Book.

It is amazing sometimes how folks will ask a question without giving a thought as to its impact on others—or the demands an answer may place on them. Trial lawyers live by an important rule: “Never ask a question for which you do not know the answer.” James and John should have been better “prepared” to question the Lord in today’s gospel. Jesus’ response “You do not know what you are asking,” put them in their place—or perhaps made them at least think more deeply about the question being asked.

Today our readings are all about the vocation’s journey—a vocation to the priesthood, to religious life or to family and married life. For each of these vocation calls us to empty ourselves individually and seek the “common good,” whether that “good” is for Christ and His Church or for the family-it is a faith-filled and lived journey.

Our first reading this weekend focuses our attention on the universality of God; His universal call to all peoples, all whom He has created and desires to have come home to Him in Eternal Life. The Book of Numbers also directs us to consider the power of God’s Holy Spirit that it is not limited by time and space but rather as is God is semi-eternal

For nearly 5 years now I have had the privilege to work with our Archdiocesan Catholic schools and our parish-based faith formation leaders. I have learned so much from all of these dedicated Catholic workers. I asked Archbishop Coyne if I might now return to parish work fulltime, and he graciously accepted my resignation and provided for my return to fulltime parish ministry effective October 1. It is my “sure and certain hope” that I will not see torches at the rectory after this announcement?!?

This Sunday’s readings prepare us to reflect on Christ’s identity and our own identity as a Catholic as well as on our faith in general and the cost of being a follower (disciple) of Christ in the world around us. Each reading this weekend is replete with symbolism, especially the Gospel, which should help us to dig deeper into the meaning—the why behind the thou shalt nots of our faith.

Our gospel this Sunday is rich in Catholic tradition illustrated by a man who is deaf and mute, who comes to Jesus by the faith of others, and then there is the resulting praise of others. These are all important faith-filled issues to consider

Law, Order & Life. It appears that Law & Order isn’t just a popular, long running TV series or a political agenda, but that law and order has a purpose in our spiritual lives, so let us listen to God’s love explained in Sacred Scripture.

Hold your calendars open for a gala celebration of St. Catherine of Siena Parish 50 Years. When: November 16, 6 pm Where: The Riverview, Weatogue Friendship, dinner, music and reminiscing—50 years of faith, service, friendship and the Holy Spirit— honoring the past, celebrating the present, and planning for the future! Invitations forthcoming.

What does it mean to believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? Believing calls us to know who God is, thus to have wisdom and knowledge of our God, and then to be a “doer” (to be in action)—thus to literally live out the faith of the Catholic Church, the Faith of our Trinitarian God.

Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers Lectors proclaim the Word of God, the Old Testament and the New Testament, at the Masses. I am asking that if you have considered being a lector, please call the parish office, 658 1642 and asked to be placed on the list. New Lector Training - Sat, Sept. 21st, 10 a.m. in the church; New Eucharistic Minister Training - Tues, Sept. 24th, 6:30 p.m. in the church; New Altar Server Training - Sat, Sept. 28th, 10 a.m. in the church.

As you will notice in the atrium and vestibule, there are two red boxes complete with note cards, which are offered for your use in providing me with your input on issues, obstacles or other reasons why people are not attending Mass and living out their faith in our parish community. These boxes will remain in the church until September 1, but shall be emptied every week as we begin the research to rebuilding and expanding our faith community.

It has been nearly four years since the Covid virus upended our Nation and the world. As most people and entities have returned to normal, it is time for the Church and our Catholic population to embrace the “full and active participation of the Faith” as Vatican II would say. It is more than time for us to return to normal, and that means for those who are well and able, to “fully and actively participate in-person in the Mass

If you have knowledge or suspect that a minor or vulnerable adult (an adult with an intellectual disability) has been sexually abused, in any manner, by personnel of the Archdiocese of Hartford, you are urged to report this information to: Faith Vos Winkel Victim Assistance Coordinator 860-541-6475 faith.voswinkel@aohct.org

We all understand that a doubting Thomas is a skeptic who refuses to believe without direct personal experience – the reference to the Gospel of John's depiction of the Apostle Thomas, who, in John's account, refused to believe the resurrected Jesus had appeared to the ten other apostles until he could see and feel Jesus's crucifixion wounds.

The Catholic Church honors Christ’s Presence in the Holy Eucharist with a special feast owing to St. Juliana of Liège, a 13th-century Norbertine canoness from Belgium. She had a great love for the Eucharist. When she was 16, she had a vision in which the Church was a full moon with a dark spot. The dark spot signified that the Church was missing a feast dedicated solely to the Body and Blood of Christ.

Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, when after the Ascension of Christ into Heaven, God the Father and God the Son sent—the Procession of—Holy Spirit—their Love for each other—into the world to guide, defend and keep from error His Church on earth.