Welcome
Father Ralph A. Bove Pastor
Letter from the Diocese
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all age and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets. Lk 9:16-17
June 22, 2025 The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Luke 9:11-17 A Catholic friend of mine occasionally says, “The Eucharist is not a noun. It’s a verb.” In so saying, he is making the point that the Eucharist isn’t simply Jesus’ bodily presence given to us in holy Communion. It also manifests the dynamic pattern by which Christ actively loves and saves us. He teaches us to cooperate with that pattern. This Eucharist actually embodies four verbs: Jesus takes, blesses, breaks, and gives. Let’s consider each one. He takes: Do we acknowledge that we are totally in God’s hands? Do we receive everything in our lives as a gift, and act responsibly with it? He blesses: Do we actively reflect that Jesus makes us holy in our baptism? Do we embrace our bodies and souls as temples of God, worthy of love, peace, and joy? He breaks: Do we run from failure and disappointment, from getting old or being ignored? Are we too worried about getting hurt or sick? Do we embrace our sufferings with confidence? He gives: Are we willing to make our lives a gift for others? Are we confident that we will always have enough love to give to others, that God will always provide enough for us? Do we rejoice in giving away what we have to others, expecting nothing in return? This is the dynamic life the Eucharist empowers us to live. — Father John Muir ©LPi
THE NORWICH COMMUNITY KITCHEN will not be serving dinners until Tuesday, September 9th. Enjoy a safe and happy summer!
Prayer to the Holy Trinity Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, who calls us into communion with Him, a life of grace and mystery, reconciliation and unity. Amen. ©LPi
Prayer for the True Presence Jesus, What a gift we have in your True Presence: the assurance of your friendship, your company, your grace, your love. Increase our thirst for you as you, also, desire to draw closer to us. Amen. ©LPi
Divine Delivery A businessman ordered flowers to be sent to the opening of his friend’s new branch office. When the businessman got to the event, he was shocked to see the flowers with the inscription “Rest in Peace.” He was so outraged that he stopped at the florist to complain. “It could be worse,” the florist said, “Just think: Today someone was buried beneath a floral arrangement with the inscription ‘Congratulations on Your New Location!’”
Father Ralph recently announced his retirement after faithfully serving at our Catholic Churches and our community since July 1, 2009. A reception in his honor will be held from 1—3 PM on Sunday, June 22nd at St. Bartholomew’s parish center. (See Invitation) Please join us!
The Knights of Columbus would like you to join them in reciting the Rosary and The Chapel of Divine Mercy at St. Paul’s Church on the first Wednesday of every month from 6—7 pm. Let’s pray for healing for our friends, family and the world.
A Family Perspective by Bud Ozar Body & Blood of Christ June 22, 2025 In today’s gospel Jesus teaches we will find abundance by sharing the little we have. No matter how little time, money or food we have, it is enough to share.
BENEATH THE SURFACE By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman As the Day Was Drawing to a Close. It isn’t uncommon for me to get to the noon hour only to realize that I haven’t yet eaten anything that day. It drives my husband crazy. He was raised by a bunch of Italian women, so he can’t help but think three meals ahead. And don’t get me wrong, I love food — I literally dream of donuts. But some days, I’m just so busy and I keep putting it off until I realize how weak I feel, how light-headed. And I think to myself: Stupid, you’ve done it again. This is what comes to mind today, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, as I read the Gospel account of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. I think of hunger, distraction and the poor planning of those who pride themselves on being capable. “As the day was drawing to a close,” it is written — that’s when the disciples finally realized that 5,000 hangry people is not an ideal situation. I wonder, did Jesus roll his eyes when they came to him, and think, “Finally”? At any point he could have pulled out a fish and said a blessing. But he waited for them to ask. He waited for them to realize how badly they needed it. Sometimes we forget that we need the Eucharist. It’s not just a nice thing to have, a sweet act of devotion, a sacramental item that bolsters our faith. The Eucharist is none of those things. The Eucharist is the food without which we will die. The Eucharist is something we must seek out. Remember: the day is drawing to a close. ©LPi
Choir rehearsal correction: Practice continues at ST. BART’s throughout October on Wednesdays at 4 PM. November’s practices will be at St. Paul on Wednesdays at 4 PM.
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all age and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets. Lk 9:16-17
June 22, 2025 The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Luke 9:11-17 A Catholic friend of mine occasionally says, “The Eucharist is not a noun. It’s a verb.” In so saying, he is making the point that the Eucharist isn’t simply Jesus’ bodily presence given to us in holy Communion. It also manifests the dynamic pattern by which Christ actively loves and saves us. He teaches us to cooperate with that pattern. This Eucharist actually embodies four verbs: Jesus takes, blesses, breaks, and gives. Let’s consider each one. He takes: Do we acknowledge that we are totally in God’s hands? Do we receive everything in our lives as a gift, and act responsibly with it? He blesses: Do we actively reflect that Jesus makes us holy in our baptism? Do we embrace our bodies and souls as temples of God, worthy of love, peace, and joy? He breaks: Do we run from failure and disappointment, from getting old or being ignored? Are we too worried about getting hurt or sick? Do we embrace our sufferings with confidence? He gives: Are we willing to make our lives a gift for others? Are we confident that we will always have enough love to give to others, that God will always provide enough for us? Do we rejoice in giving away what we have to others, expecting nothing in return? This is the dynamic life the Eucharist empowers us to live. — Father John Muir ©LPi
THE NORWICH COMMUNITY KITCHEN will not be serving dinners until Tuesday, September 9th. Enjoy a safe and happy summer!
Prayer to the Holy Trinity Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, who calls us into communion with Him, a life of grace and mystery, reconciliation and unity. Amen. ©LPi
Prayer for the True Presence Jesus, What a gift we have in your True Presence: the assurance of your friendship, your company, your grace, your love. Increase our thirst for you as you, also, desire to draw closer to us. Amen. ©LPi
Divine Delivery A businessman ordered flowers to be sent to the opening of his friend’s new branch office. When the businessman got to the event, he was shocked to see the flowers with the inscription “Rest in Peace.” He was so outraged that he stopped at the florist to complain. “It could be worse,” the florist said, “Just think: Today someone was buried beneath a floral arrangement with the inscription ‘Congratulations on Your New Location!’”
Father Ralph recently announced his retirement after faithfully serving at our Catholic Churches and our community since July 1, 2009. A reception in his honor will be held from 1—3 PM on Sunday, June 22nd at St. Bartholomew’s parish center. (See Invitation) Please join us!
The Knights of Columbus would like you to join them in reciting the Rosary and The Chapel of Divine Mercy at St. Paul’s Church on the first Wednesday of every month from 6—7 pm. Let’s pray for healing for our friends, family and the world.
A Family Perspective by Bud Ozar Body & Blood of Christ June 22, 2025 In today’s gospel Jesus teaches we will find abundance by sharing the little we have. No matter how little time, money or food we have, it is enough to share.
BENEATH THE SURFACE By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman As the Day Was Drawing to a Close. It isn’t uncommon for me to get to the noon hour only to realize that I haven’t yet eaten anything that day. It drives my husband crazy. He was raised by a bunch of Italian women, so he can’t help but think three meals ahead. And don’t get me wrong, I love food — I literally dream of donuts. But some days, I’m just so busy and I keep putting it off until I realize how weak I feel, how light-headed. And I think to myself: Stupid, you’ve done it again. This is what comes to mind today, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, as I read the Gospel account of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. I think of hunger, distraction and the poor planning of those who pride themselves on being capable. “As the day was drawing to a close,” it is written — that’s when the disciples finally realized that 5,000 hangry people is not an ideal situation. I wonder, did Jesus roll his eyes when they came to him, and think, “Finally”? At any point he could have pulled out a fish and said a blessing. But he waited for them to ask. He waited for them to realize how badly they needed it. Sometimes we forget that we need the Eucharist. It’s not just a nice thing to have, a sweet act of devotion, a sacramental item that bolsters our faith. The Eucharist is none of those things. The Eucharist is the food without which we will die. The Eucharist is something we must seek out. Remember: the day is drawing to a close. ©LPi
Choir rehearsal correction: Practice continues at ST. BART’s throughout October on Wednesdays at 4 PM. November’s practices will be at St. Paul on Wednesdays at 4 PM.
________________________________ Please Note, Tuesday & Thursday Masses are now at 9:00 AM
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