St. Thomas More Church

St. Thomas More Church

374 Middlesex Road • Darien, Connecticut • 06820 (203) 655-3303

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Saint Thomas More Church

Parish Office Hours

9:00AM to 3:00PM Monday - Thursday 9:00AM to 1:00PM Friday

Liturgical Schedule www.stmdarienct.org Saturday Vigil Mass ...4:30PM Sunday Masses ...7:30AM, 8:45AM, 10:00AM, 11:30AM & 5:15PM Confessions ...Saturdays 3:45PM-4:15PM Sundays 8:20AM-8:40AM & 4:45PM-5:15PM Baptisms ...Sundays 12:30PM (by appointment) Daily Masses ...Monday through Saturday 9:00AM Eucharistic Adoration Tuesdays 7:30PM-8:30PM (with Confession) ...

First Fridays 10:00AM-4:45PM Parish Clergy [email protected] Rev. Paul G. Murphy, Pastor ...655-3303 ext 12 Fr. Ignacio Ortigas, Parochial Vicar ...655-3303 Rev. Mr. Gauthier Vincent, Deacon ...219-9275 Parish Staff [email protected] Gigi Williams, Office Manager ...655-3303 ext 10 Anna Bauts, Business Manager ...655-3303 ext 25 Religious Education [email protected] Nikki Mitchell, Director & Grade 1-6 Coordinator ...655-3077 Jennifer Sommer, Grade 7 & Confirmation Coordinator .655-6295 ext 15 ..

Betsy Reilly, Administrative Assistant ...655-3077 ext 21 Happiness Preschool [email protected] Maria Hillman, Director ...655-6053 ext 14 Geraldine Flynn, Administrative Assistant ...655-6053 ext 23 Youth Ministry [email protected] Paul Brunner, Coordinator ...655-3303 Music Ministry [email protected] Galen Tate, Music Director/Organist ...655-3303 ext 19 Adult Religious Education

Jim Davis, RCIA ...[email protected] Maryann Knag, Tuesday Bible Study ...[email protected] Outreach & Ministries

Women’s Circle ...[email protected] Prayer Shawl Ministry, Patty Catino ...[email protected] Bereavement, Lillian Toll ...966-9367 Lay Leadership

Joseph D. Roxe, Parish Trustee ...655-9908 Brian D. Young, Parish Trustee ...972-1178 Mary Jo Dyer, Finance Council Chairperson [email protected] ...

Other Contacts

Parish FAX ...655-6478 Religious Education & Happiness Preschool FAX ...655-8901 Parish E-mail ...[email protected] Parish Media (Website/Bulletin) [email protected]..

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“Ite ad Joseph”

The Consecration and Solemn Feast of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, Foster Father of Jesus and Patron of the Universal Church - March 19, 2021 Ite ad Joseph, “Go to Joseph”. These were the words of Pharaoh to the people of Egypt during the years of famine (Gen. 41:55). Go to St.

Joseph is an ancient prayer of the Church in reference to the patriarch Joseph, who provided grain for the people to eat in relief of their hunger. With the birth of Jesus, the prayer was seen as being fulfilled in the person of Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus, the provider and protector of the Holy Family. 

Throughout the centuries the Church has declared Joseph the Patron Saint of the Universal Church, of Men, of Husbands, of Fathers, of Families, of Workers, of Artisans, of Chastity, of a Happy Death and numerous other causes.   In celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s Proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis promulgated his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”) and proclaimed a special “Year of St. Joseph”, from December 8, 2020- December 8, 2021. 

To mark the Year of St. Joseph, Bishop Caggiano consecrated the people of the Diocese of Bridgeport to the protection and intercession of Saint Joseph during the solemn celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph.

Furthermore, Bishop Caggiano invited all pastors to celebrate a similar Mass at their local parishes, and to lead the parishioners in a similar consecration on the same day at the same time. Many of our St. Thomas More Parishioners joined me in celebrating,The Solemnity Mass and Consecration of Saint Joseph, at St. Thomas More Church, on Friday, March 19 at 7:00PM. You can still view the livestream of our Mass on our website: stmdarienct.org.

As a lead up to the Solemnity and Consecration, St. Thomas More Parish, along with Bishop Caggiano and the faithful of the Diocese of Bridgeport, joined His Holiness, Pope Francis, in a daily recitation of the Novena to St. Joseph before the start of our daily Masses.

Other devotions to St. Joseph our parishioners may want to access for spiritual enrichment throughout this year honoring St. Joseph, would include: The Litany to Saint Joseph, The St. Joseph Prayer (Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer), The Litany to St. Joseph, and meditating on the Scriptural references to St. Joseph (Mt. 1:16, Lk.

1:26-27, Mt. 1:24, Lk. 2:16-17, Lk. 2:21, Lk. 2:22,24, Mt. 2:14, Lk.

2:50-51, Wis. 3:1-3). Also, I might recommend any of the books written by Fr. Donald H. Calloway, reflecting on the person of St.

Joseph. Wednesday is traditionally the day of the week the Church has set aside for devotion to St. Joseph.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Yours in Christ, Fr. Paul

Cover: St. Joseph with the Infant Jesus by Guido Reni (1635)

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Daily Masses

Monday through Saturday • 9:00AM Daily Masses are also streamed live on our website

and are available for later viewing.

Church Open for Daily Prayer

Monday through Friday • 7:00AM-7:00PM Saturday • 7:00AM-2:00PM

Adoration with Benediction

Tuesday • 7:00PM (Feb. 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) First Friday • 9:30AM-4:45PM (March 5) 4:45PM • Litany and Consecration to the

Sacred Heart followed by Benediction

Youth Group Mass & Lenten Breakfast

Friday • 6:45AM (Feb. 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26)

Stations of the Cross

Friday • 7:00PM (except March 19)

Confessions

Tuesday • 7:00PM to 8:00PM Saturday • 3:45PM to 4:15PM

Sunday • 8:20AM-8:40AM & 4:45PM-5:15PM

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ARM On behalf of  the Thomas Merton Center  and Catholic Charities we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Fr. Murphy, parishioners and all of the parish staff of St. Thomas More for your generosity in supporting the Thomas Merton Center's Project Warm. Thanks to all of you we were able to provide more than 1200 gloves, socks and hand warmers to many struggling individuals and families in Bridgeport.

This winter and since the COVID crisis began the number of people that TMC serves has increased exponentially. We provide hot meals twice per day, 5 days a week to individuals and families in need and also provide 10 days of groceries to more than 400 struggling families each month. Thanks to you we were also able to include warm socks and gloves with our meals to keep our guests warm during the brutal cold we have experienced this winter. The  people TMC serves are hourly workers who have recently lost jobs, immigrants, homeless, or mentally ill individuals struggling to make ends meet. Thank you for treating our  most vulnerable neighbors with the love and respect they deserve!  A pair of socks and a set of gloves can mean the difference between dignity and despair for our guests. If you missed the event and would like to make a financial donation or partner with us in the work we are doing, visit: themertoncenter.org. THANK YOU!

Mike Donoghue, Director, Catholic Charities of Fairfield County Bill Colson, Director, Thomas Merton Center

To request a Mass Intention for the faithful departed, please contact Gigi Williams in the Parish Office: 203-655-3303 or [email protected].

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TEWARDSHIP Offertory

Be sure to visit stmdarienct.org/fpm10 to see a wonderful slide-show retrospective celebrating Father Paul’s ten years at St. Thomas More!

Saturday, March 20 Mass Online at 9:00AM

9:00 AM Roshan Kharwa Silloo Madan

4:30 PM Kathleen Shevlin Annmarie & Tom Ryan Sunday, March 21 Mass Online at 7:30AM

7:30 AM Stefano Simeone Rosey Costello

8:45 AM The People of the Parish

10:00 AM Stanislava & Leszek Tiburski Mark & Mariola Kaminski

11:30 AM Frank Lawless Fredda Lawless

5:15 PM Carmen Aguilar Moreno The Cope Family Monday, March 22 Mass Online at 9:00AM

9:00 AM Peggy Lowery The Smaldon Family

Tuesday, March 23 Mass Online at 9:00AM 9:00 AM Intentions of Patty Portanova The Luongo Family Wednesday, March 24 Mass Online at 9:00AM 9:00 AM Gladys Costello Residents of Costello Way Thursday, March 25 Mass Online at 9:00AM 9:00 AM Alice McGann Laura & Tim Grozier Friday, March 26 Mass Online at 9:00AM 9:00 AM Jeffrey Leon Donoso His Mother & Sister Saturday, March 27 Mass Online at 9:00AM

9:00 AM Ellen Newson Jeanette Williams

4:30 PM Delia Conway Rita Stone

Sunday, March 28 Mass Online at 7:30AM

7:30 AM Richard Stubbs Wendy Stubbs

8:45 AM John Foster The Conroy Family

10:00 AM The People of the Parish

11:30 AM Robert Barrett Walking with Purpose 5:15 PM Paul Chludzinski His Wife & Daughters

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Contributions for

March 14 Actual Budget Variance

Weekly Offertory $22,243 $18,250 $3,993

Month-to-Date Offertory $41,910 $36,500 $5,410 FY-to-Date Offertory $702,085 $719,119 -$17,034

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Order a Palm Cross ($15 each) at

stmdarienct.org/palm

Order by Tuesday, March 23 for Parish Hall pickup on Saturday, March 27

Palm  Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, and every year churches distribute palm  leaves to recall Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The crowds greeted Jesus by throwing cloaks on the ground in front of the colt he was riding. “They took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out,

‘Hosanna: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel’. (Jn. 12:12-13)

The palm branches are then taken home as a daily reminder throughout Holy Week and the Easter Season that Christ is the king of our home, that we hope to share in his victory over death and that we look forward to sharing in the glory of his resurrection.

Many Christians have a tradition of giving more meaning to the  palm  leaves by weaving them into the shape of a  cross to better symbolize  that Christ’s victory was accomplished by his crucifixion. The palm crosses are then displayed in our homes or placed at the graves of loved ones.

The Book of Revelation describes the saints in heaven as, “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding  palm  branches in their hands” (Rev. 7:9). In western Christian art, martyrs are often shown holding a palm frond (see St. Thomas More, St. John Fisher and St. Edmund Campion in our church narthex), symbolizing that they share in Christ’s victory.

Because the palms are blessed, they are now sacramentals, which are sacred signs instituted by the Church. Sacramentals should be treated with respect and never be thrown away. Palms may only be burned or buried in the garden.

We encourage all of our parishioners to display a Palm Cross in their homes this Holy Week, and we are grateful for your support of the parish.

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Palm Sunday

March 27 & 28, 2021 Regular Weekend Mass Schedule

Visit stmdarienct.org/massonline at 7:30AM Visit stmdarienct.org/massindoors to Register for all Holy Week & Easter Liturgies

beginning on Monday, March 29 at 8:00AM.

Day of Reconciliation

Monday, March 29, 2021 From 3:00PM to 9:00PM at St. Thomas More Church (Darien)

St. Aloysius Church (New Canaan) St. Matthew Church (Norwalk)

Holy Thursday

Mass of the Lord's Supper

Thursday, April 1, 2021 • 8:00PM Mass Visit stmdarienct.org/massonline for the livestream

Note that the Church will be open for prayer from 7:00AM to 5:00PM on Holy Thursday.

There will be no 9:00AM Daily Mass.

Good Friday

Friday, April 2, 2021

Celebration of the Lord's Passion • 3:00PM Visit stmdarienct.org/massonline for the livestream

Note that the church will be open for prayer from 7:00AM to 1:00PM and 5:00PM to 7:00PM on Good Friday with

Stations of the Cross at 7:00PM.

There will be no 9:00AM Daily Mass.

Holy Saturday / Easter Vigil

Saturday, April 3, 2021 • 8:00PM Mass Visit stmdarienct.org/massonline for the livestream

Note that the church will be open for prayer from 7:00AM to 5:00PM on Holy Saturday.

There will be no 9:00AM Daily Mass.

Easter Sunday / Resurrection of our Lord

Sunday, April 4, 2021 Masses in the Church are at 7:30AM,

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8:45AM, 10:00AM & 11:30AM

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Visit stmdarienct.org/massonline for the livestream

Note that there will be no 5:15PM Mass on Easter Sunday.

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The pandemic experience we are all living through has caused such major changes in our daily living that it can also be considered an invitation to make spiritual changes. God has not abandoned us, but He does want something. Join us as we explore Jesus' ministry of healing and preaching in Galilee and His suffering, predicted death and resurrection. All are welcome. Just have a Bible. Join us in the Church on Tuesdays from 10:00AM-11:30AM or at stmdarienct.org/bible. Meetings are led by Maryann Knag, MAT, MAR, a trained catholic Bible scholar who teaches under the Magisterium. For more info, contact Maryann at (203) 213-4809.

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Walking with Purpose is a woman’s Catholic Bible study that aims to bring women to a deeper, more personal relationship with Christ by offering personal study and small group discussions that link our everyday challenges with solutions given to us through the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church. Visit stmdarienct.org/wwp to register and for a complete schedule of sessions in person or on Zoom. Questions? Email Kelly Frank at [email protected].

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IOCESE Loaves & Fishes

YOU can transform lives with your Lenten offering! Please help our most vulnerable neighbors struggling to feed their families due to the COVID-19 crisis. Catholic Charities is a leading provider of food resources throughout the county, serving over a million meals to individuals, families and the homebound elderly since the pandemic began. Catholic Charities food service programs

continue to provide critically needed assistance via our soup kitchens, food pantries, and meal deliveries to the elderly. Your donation will make a difference in the lives of a hungry family!

Make your Loaves & Fishes donation at www.ccfairfield.org/

donate (select Loaves & Fishes) or mail your check payable to

"Catholic Charities" to: Loaves & Fishes, 238 Jewett Avenue Bridgeport CT 06606.

Annual Catholic Appeal 2021

I am immensely grateful for your support last year to the Diocese of Bridgeport’s 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal. What a challenging year it was and thanks to the generosity of so many we were able to serve thousands of Fairfield County individuals and families through our ministries and programs. Catholic Charities alone served over 1.2 million meals since the pandemic began.

You should have received information by mail about our 2021, Arise Annual Catholic Appeal and how your support assists the ministries and programs our parishes cannot provide to the community on their own. We cannot do it without you and I am immensely grateful for your support of works of Faith and Ministry; Education and Catechesis; and Charity and Pastoral Services the Appeal provides to all people in our Diocese.

- Bishop Frank J. Caggiano Visit stmdarienct.org/arise to find out more.

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CHEDULE With the, at times, rapidly changing Guidelines relating to the ongoing pandemic, please visit the COVID-19 Latest Updates banner at the top of our website, www.stmdarienct.org for our latest information. We remind you to:

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Register Online no later that 12:00 noon on Saturday

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Arrive 15 minutes prior to Mass start time to check in

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Follow all posted signage regarding masks & the sanitizing of hands All Parishioners (including family members, as applicable) are reminded to adhere to all State and Local advisories regarding self- quarantine as a result of contact-tracing or travel.

Prayer, Worship and the Sacraments

The church is open Monday - Friday from 7:00AM to 7:00PM and on Saturday from 7:00AM to 2:00PM for personal prayer.  All pews, pew endings and door handles are disinfected daily and hand sanitizer is available at all church doors. We would ask that anyone coming to the church practice “social distancing" and sanitize their hands upon entering and exiting the church.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

• Visit stmdarienct.org/massindoors for complete information on how to register up to one week prior.

Our Masses Online

• Visit stmdarienct.org/massonline to view our weekend Mass online every Sunday at 7:30AM.

• Visit stmdarienct.org/dailymassonline to view our 9:00AM Daily Mass Monday through Saturday.

Parish Office and Communication

The Parish office is open by appointment. Priests can be contacted at: 203-655-3303 or [email protected]. Refer to the Parish website and bulletin for all staff and clergy e-mail addresses.

We continue to send Parish wide notices by way of Constant Contact. Visit stmdarienct.org/cc to sign up. Refer to our Parish website regularly for all Parish information and updates.

Currently Fully Registered

Email [email protected]

to join a waitlist.

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We have begun our Annual CRS Rice Bowl collection this Lent. Join our faith community and more than 14,000 Catholic communities across the United States in a life-changing Lenten journey. Consider these suggestions in your family’s Lenten plan:

• Use your CRS Rice Bowl and Lenten Calendar daily to guide your prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

• Prepare simple, meatless meals on the Fridays of Lent to eat in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world.

• Visit crsricebowl.org to watch videos of the people and communities you support through your Lenten gifts to CRS Rice Bowl.

You may also drop off your Rice Bowl off at door A of the school building beginning April 5. Thank you for participating in CRS Rice Bowl with your family and thank you for your support!

Fifth Week of Lent

“Redress the wronged: hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.” Isaiah 1:17. When HEROS hear the problems people bring to them they five everyone a chance to tell their side of the story. Somewhere in all stories is the truth, and heroes care about finding it. On the mountain where Jesus shone like the sun, his friends heard God say, “Listen to him,” Jesus spoke truth every day of his life. Jesus listened, too! He listened to the teachings of God’s people that taught him to do justice and love goodness every day. All those who listened to Jesus, then and now, learn to live as Jesus did. We see the truth, and Jesus will help us find it. Look in this word scramble for these words: to, make, learn, aim, your, good, justice, do.

Can you use those words in making two sentences that go with today’s verse? Look in Isaiah 1:17 for your clue!

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With funds from the Midnight Run collection and the Souper Bowl of Caring, the Youth Group was pleased to donate $1,000 to DOMUS to help its mission of providing a support system for vulnerable youth in Stamford. Senior leaders Luke Johnston, Lauren Blatney and Ryan Blatney along with other YG students, presented the gift to DOMUS board member Charlie Hannigan.

Charlie expressed immense gratitude and shared that donations like these help DOMUS to continue its programs providing necessities such as   food, clothing, educational support, work training and assistance to continue on to higher education.

DOMUS works with young people that others will not work with.

These youth experience extraordinary traumas such as death or incarceration of a parent, abuse, poverty, domestic violence and more. DOMUS gives these young people facing adversity the love they deserve and empowers them with life skills for a better future. Many thanks to DOMUS for its great work!

The Youth Group has been getting a great turnout at its Lenten Friday morning Masses held in the Church at 6:45AM before school. Come join us for the last one this coming Friday, March 26.

Individually wrapped breakfast sandwiches are given out on the way out for your ride to school! All high school students are welcome.

Youth Group Calendar of Upcoming Events

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Sunday, March 21   Mass & YG Meeting

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Friday, March 26 YG Lenten Mass

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Sunday, March 28 Palm Sunday - No YG

Youth Group Procession at 5:15PM Mass

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Friday, April 2  Good Friday - No YG Mass

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Sunday, April 4  Easter Sunday - No YG

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Sunday, April 11 & 18 April Vacation - No YG

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Cardinal Kung Academy, Stamford - April 11, 12:30PM-2:30PM.

RSVP requested. High School Placement Test - April 17. Call the school at 203-329-8296 or visit  cardinalkungacademy.org  to schedule a tour or shadow day. Accepting applications for 2021-22 for grades 7-12.

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