Catholic Schools Week!

National Catholic Schools Week begins today.

Have you considered Catholic school for your son or daughter?

Join us TODAY at Saint Paul School for an Open House: Sunday, January 29, 1-3pm.

SPS may be just the right fit for your child! Ask us about financial assistance!

SPS is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 academic year. Visit our website or contact our Admissions Director, Kelly Esposito, to learn more. To download an application, click here.

Catholic High School

Do you have an 8th grader or high school student? Contact our nearby Catholic High Schools to learn about how your child can receive an excellent education and so much more!

Ask about financial assistance!



* East Catholic, Manchester

* Mercy, Middletown

* Northwest Catholic, West Hartford

* St. Paul Catholic, Bristol

* Xavier, Middletown

Saints of the Season

Upcoming feast days:

February 3 - Saint Blaise

Patron of Throat Illnesses and Animals

Our friars will hold a Blessing of the Throats after all weekend Masses on February 4th/5th.

"While we invoke St. Blaise for his protection against any physical ailment of the throat, we should also ask is protection against any spiritual ailment — profanity, cursing, unkind remarks, detraction or gossip...."

Click here to learn more about St. Blaise.

February 8 - Saint Josephine Bakhita, Patron of Human Trafficking Survivors

"Josephine was kidnapped at the age of 7, sold into slavery and given the name Bakhita, which means fortunate. She was resold several times...

Click here to learn more about Saint Josephine Bakhita.

There will be a Prayer Vigil against Human Trafficking on Wednesday, February 8th from 7-8pm at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Rocky Hill. Click on the flyer for details.

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A new movie, Sound of Freedom, starring Jim Caviezel tells the story of Tim Ballard, a former US government agent who quits his job in order to devote his life to rescuing children from global sex trafficking.

The movie was officially released in November 2022, but its distribution has been delayed for unknown reasons. Click here to watch the trailer and let us know if you find out where it can be viewed or purchased!

February 11 - Our Lady of Lourdes

In Lourdes, France, in 1858, thirteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous was collecting pieces of wood as part of her daily chores when she noticed a startling wind and rustling sound. The noise came from a nearby grotto. When Bernadette looked toward it, she saw it filled with a golden light, and a beautiful lady. 

It was at this grotto that the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette 18 times and where millions of Catholic pilgrims visit the healing waters at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes... click here to read more from "5 fascinating facts about the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes".

To read more about Saint Bernadette and the history of Lourdes, click here.

Recommendations:

• Watch the movie "The Song of Bernadette" made in 1943!
• Visit The Shrine of Lourdes in Litchfield CT!

Celebration of Marriage

National Marriage Week will take place from February 7-14 and World Marriage Day is on Sunday, February 12.

These observances are an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family. 

Prayer for Married Couples

Almighty and eternal God, You blessed the union of married couples so that they might reflect the union of Christ with his Church: look with kindness on them. Renew their marriage covenant, increase your love in them, and strengthen their bond of peace so that, with their children, they may always rejoice in the gift of your blessing. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Click here for Daily Marriage Tips!

Looking Ahead

Lent begins on February 22nd!

Ash Wednesday 2/22/23 Mass Schedule:

7am, 8:45am*, 12pm, 5pm and 7pm

All Masses are at St. Paul Church

*School Mass-All Are Welcome

A separate email with the complete schedule for Lent will be coming soon.

Vocations

The Archdiocese of Hartford will be highlighting the need for religious vocations beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing throughout the upcoming year.

We will continue to share information and resources regarding vocations, and we invite you to keep this intention in your prayers.

The World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life will be celebrated in the Church on Thursday, February 2, 2023, and in parishes on the weekend of February 4-5, 2023.

Please pray for all those who have made commitments to the consecrated life, and be sure to thank them on their special day. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God's gift of their vocation. Click here for more information.

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The Little Sisters of the Poor, which has locations across the country including St. Joseph's Residence in Endfield, CT will host a Virtual Come and See Zoom vocation event for single women age 17-35 on Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 2:00-3:15pm.

Discerning? Or just curious about religious life? Contact Sr. Carolyn at vocation@lsp-usa.org or (860) 402-4478. Visit Little Sisters of the Poor for more information.

March for Life

The 50th Annual National March for Life took place last week, January 20th, in Washington DC.

Click here to watch a recording of the event which brought tens of thousands of pro-life supporters to the nation's capital.

The pre-march rally featured several inspiring speakers including:

• Tameka Walden (1:10:05)

• Former NFL coach Tony Dungy and his wife Lauren Dungy (1:47:50)

• Dr. Christina Francis, M.D., board certified OB/GYN (2:00:10)



• Summer Smith, Liberty University Students for Life President (2:02:45)

• Sr. Mary Casey O'Connor, S.V. and Casey Gunning (2:12:10)

• Actor Jonathan Roumie from the TV series, The Chosen (2:20:05)

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Save the date for the Connecticut March for Life in Hartford on Thursday, March 22, 2023!

If you’d like to get involved or learn more about our St. Paul Parish Culture of Life Ministry, please email Ashley at

respectlife@stpaulkensington.org.

Additional pro-life resources:

• Family Institute of CT
• Respect Life
• Focus on the Family: Pro-Life Arguments Explained

Religious Ed

The next Children's Mass is scheduled for Sunday, February 5th at 9:00am. Please join us!

Click here for a printable schedule of upcoming Children's Masses.

Please keep our First Communion and Confirmation students in your prayers as they continue to prepare to receive these special sacraments in the Spring.

Religious Ed families: Our February activities will be posted soon on our Family Faith Activities page.

Scholarship Opportunities

The Knights of Columbus Msgr. Thomas L Greylish Council # 3675 will award college scholarships to graduating high school students:

* Alfred Greco Scholarship—student is required to live in Berlin and have father or grandfather who is a Knight. Click Here for the application.

* Terrence Lescoe Scholarship—student is required to live in Berlin. Click here for the application.

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The New Britain Council of Catholic Women is pleased to offer two, $1,000 scholarships to either 8th graders planning to attend a Catholic High School or high school seniors planning to attend college.

The Council is only accepting digital applications which can be obtained by emailing a request to the NBCCW at nbcouncilcatholicwomen@gmail.com or to the parish office at ourchurch@stpaulkensington.org. The deadline for submission is May 5th.

Young Adult Event

Calling All Young Adults!

Join other young adults from across the state for a “weekend away” of rest, rejuvenation, and exploring the faith! The Crossroads 4 Christ Young Adult Retreat will take place on March 10th-12th at the Immaculate Conception Center in Putnam, CT. Enjoy inspiring talks, small groups, social time, Mass, Adoration, and opportunities for Confession. Registration opens on February 3rd. Cost: $150 per person. Open to young adults, ages 18-39. Check out crossroads4christ.org for more info and registration!

Children's Rosary

Our Children's Rosary Group meets on the first Saturday of each month at 10am at Sacred Heart Church. The next prayer group will be held on February 4th. All are welcome! The children lead the Rosary while others in attendance pray along. For more information, contact Cheryl Batter at cherylbatter@att.net.

Children's Choir

Reminder! Our Children's Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings in St. Paul Church from 6:00-6:30pm. All are welcome to join! If your child would like to sing in the choir or if you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Kramer-Tierney at 19ckt64@gmail.com.

Scripture Study

Our Scripture Study Group will begin a new Spring Session in March!

An Information Session will be held on Thursday, March 2 from 7:00-8:30pm in the St. Paul Church Hall.

The Spring Session will cover the Book of Genesis, Part 2 - Chapters 26-50.

All are welcome to attend the Information Session and learn more about our Scripture Study Groups. There is no need to have attended the Fall Session in order to join the Spring Sessoin!

Click here to learn more about the Little Rock Scripture Study program.

Ministry Opportunities

Reminder!

St. Paul parishioners are invited to consider serving as Readers or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) at Mass. There will be a day of reflection and training session on Sunday, February 19 for new and current members.

Click here to learn more about these special ministries and how you can join.

Helping Hands

We recently mailed letters to all parishioners age 80+ informing them about our Helping Hands Ministry which provides support to our senior citizens, some of whom are alone or homebound or separated from their loved ones.

The age cut-off of is somewhat arbitrary, so if you think a parishioner who is under age 80 would appreciate one of these letters, please contact Joan in the parish office by email at j.vancour@stpaulkkensington.org or by phone at 860-828-0331

If you would like to learn more about joining our Helping Hands Ministry, please contact Mark or Mary-Jane Duplin at mfduplin@outlook.com or 860-666-0162.

Women of Faith

All women of the parish are invited to join our Women of Faith group.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 7pm in the St. Paul Church Hall.

This group offers a place where women come together once a month to share common threads, journeys in life, difficulties, strengths, sorrows and attributes, and how our faith helps us get through it all.

For more information, visit our Women of Faith page or email Cheryl, Lynn and Karen: womenoffaith@stpaulkensington.org

That Man Is You!

A new 13-week session of our TMIY! Men’s Group is underway!

New members are welcome! Join us for food, fellowship, and faith on Saturday mornings at 6:30am in the St. Paul Church Hall.

To learn more, visit the TMIY website or visit our parish TMIY page.

Click here for a printable flyer with more details.

Full of dynamic speakers sharing insights into our faith, this season will enlighten your mind with spiritual truths that will help transform the world.

SPS Auction

Saint Paul School's 27th Annual Auction Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023!

Save the date and click here to visit the auction website.

FORMED

All St. Paul parishioners have FREE access to the digital content at Formed.org!

To create a new account, click on this link and then select "Sign up as a parishioner". Type in "St. Paul Kensington CT" and follow the simple prompts.