Join the Church Choir The school calendar announces a new school year is upon us. In your church choirs, we never really take a break: the faithful ones show up every Sunday to lead you in songs and praise. We sang with the Chenango Choir Hospice at the Christmas tree lighting and still found our way to Special masses in- cluding the Solemnity Mass, Confirmation, Lenten and Holy Week and Christmas Eve. We are a smaller parishes blessed with such joy and love. Although we don't take a break from summer masses, we do take a break from our weekly practices. We will be REBOOTING our choirs in September. So please, I ask of you simply this: PRAY for us. It is a labor of love, enthusiasm and great joy when we gather. SING with us. There is no greater encouragement to us, than to hear you sing. JOIN US! If you can't read, you will learn. If you want to read music, I will teach you. If you can't make every week, it's ok! NO one can. But with more members, it is certainly easier. The beauty of these choirs is in the four years I have been blessed with them, there has nev- er been a "bad" combination of voices. It's a miracle in itself. Please, see Joanie if you need or want more information. Let there be JOY!

CHOIR PRACTICE BEGINS on Wednesday, 9/11 at 4 PM at St. Bartholomew’s Church. It continues each Wednesday and rotates each month between churches. October’s practices will be at St. Paul, November’s at St. Bartholomew, etc.

CHOSEN AND APPOINTED JOHN, 15:16 Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts September 7, 2024, 9:30 am—3:30 pm Immaculate Conception Church, Greene, NY You are here at this moment in time for this very purpose! God has chosen you and appointed you for some thing only you can do. We have all been equipped by the Holy Spirit to take part in God’s creative plan. Have you ever wondered what spiritual gifts you may have to offer? Please join us for this presentation that will help you discover the gifts that God is inviting you to share! $35 registration fee includes lunch. Meg Castellini will journey with us as we discover our own unique mission. Meg has been creating and facilitating retreats in the area for the past 17 years. Developing programs which illuminate God’s presence in our daily lives is her passion and joy. Meg is a spiritual director and trained hospital chaplain. Schedule:
9 AM: Check-in, coffee/tea and pastries (provided)
9:30 AM—12 PM: Morning session
12—12:30 PM: Lunch (provided)
12:30—3:30 PM: Afternoon session, followed by 4 PM Mass at ICC for those who wish to attend
To register for the retreat and for more information, contact ICC Parish Life Director Mary Wentlent at mwentlent@syrdio.org of (607) 656-9546.

The Norwich Community Soup Kitchen will be and ready to serve dinners again starting Tuesday September 10th. Doors will open at 4pm and start serving at 5:15pm. If you would like to volunteer please call the office at 607-337-2215.


Firm in Faith, Active in Charity, Together in Hope Next weekend is HOPE Appeal Weekend for St. Bartholomew’s Church and the Diocese of Syracuse. It is a time when we join with members of our Catholic family to strengthen our Church and serve others in our community. You will receive a letter from Bishop Lucia asking for your support of the 2024 HOPE Appeal. Please review the infor- mation and prayerfully consider making a gift that is meaning- ful to you. You may bring your completed pledge card to Mass, drop it by the parish office or use the return envelope with your letter. You can also make a gift online at www.syrdio.org. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of support.

HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL is enrolling students for the 2024-25 school year. Holy Family offers a challeng- ing academic program based on strong Catholic princi- ples and traditions and has been awarded Middle States Accreditation for a school of Excellence by De- sign. Holy family is affordable and may be the best investment you ever make for your children. Contact the school at (607) 337-2207 or go to www.hfsnorwich.com for more information.

The Hannaford’s Store Leadership Team has again select- ed Norwich Community Kitchen as a Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag Program Nonprofit Partner! This time, your organization will receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sold during the month of August 2024 at: 705 State Highway 28, Oneonta NY! If you shop at Hannaford’s in Oneonta, please consid- er purchasing a shopping bag to help the Community Kitchen! Thank you!

The Knights of Columbus will be selling raffle tickets throughout the summer as they are giving away $2500. There will be 3 winners this year, (2) $1000 winners and (1) $500 winner with all proceeds going to the local K of C Council 211 in Norwich. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from Knights after selected Masses. The drawing will be held after the 9am Mass at St Bart's on Sunday Sept 1st!

HELP WANTED: St. Paul’s Cemetery/Church is looking for a maintenance person. Candidate must hold a valid driver’s license. Position includes landscaping, mowing, trimming and janitorial duties. Applications can be found on line at our website www.stpaulsnorwich.com or can be picked up at the church office. Send application and re- sume to St. Paul’s Church, 30 Pleasant St., Norwich, NY 13815. Call 607-337-2216 for more information.



SCHOLARSHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW 2024 applications for the Rev. Msgr. Guy A. Festa Memorial Scholarship are available for REGISTERED and ACTIVE members of St. Bartholomew Church. The award will be made on character, service, scholarship and financial consideration. Applications need to be completed and returned to Father Ralph for his signature as soon as possible. Call the office at 337-2215 for more information.



St Bartholomew’s Facebook Be sure to like and follow St. Bartholomew’s Face- book Page: https://www.facebook.com/stbartholomewsnorwich/



The Norwich Community Kitchen is open every Tuesday. We are located at St. Bartholomew Parish Center, 81 East Main St., Norwich. Doors open at 4pm. We will start serving dinners at 5:15pm. If anyone would like to volunteer, please call St. Bartholomew's Office at 607-337-2215. Thank you!

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA, is the process through which adults explore and, if they choose, eventually become Catholic, whether through Baptism or being received into full communion with the Church. Through RCIA you will have an opportunity to ask questions in a non-pressured environment along side others who are on the same journey, learning the fundamental beliefs and practices of the Catholic faith and what it means to live as a Catholic. If you are interested in learning more about this pro- gram, call Fr. Ralph at 607-337-2204 to find out more.

Please update your email address with the office if you haven’t done so. We want to be sure to have current contact information on file. Thank you!

 

Immaculate Conception in Greene live streams Sunday Mass at 10 AM on the ICC YouTube Channel: Immaculate Conception Greene for Sunday Mass Livestream

 

REMINDER: If you are visiting from (or attending) another parish for Mass and would like your donation to go to your own parish, please use your own Church envelope (or any envelope) and label it for the parish you want it to go to. Your envelope will be sent to the parish written on your envelope.

Contact the office if your mailing address, telephone number or email address has changed. You can also put a note in the collection basket. We want to keep this information up to date in our records. Thank you!

Regular Offerings to the Church of St. Bartholomew: Thank you to everyone who is continuing their Church offerings to help our Church meet everyday expenses. If you choose to do so, please mail to St. Bartholomew Church, 30 Pleasant St., Norwich, NY 13815. Father receives all mail and distributes it to the Churches. If you would like to consider an automatic bank payment plan for the regular support to our Church (either through your checking or savings account), please contact the office by phone or email (stbartsnorwichny@frontier.com) to get more information. Your may select deductions from your account on a weekly, biweekly, monthly or quarterly basis. An authorization form needs to be completed and can be changed any time. This option saves time and is a convenient way to give regularly.

 

Dispensation from Sunday Mass is discontinued. The Catholic faithful are asked to resume their full and active participation in the Eucharistic Liturgy through physical attendance at the Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass. Anyone who is frail or at risk due to advanced age or medical conditions is ALWAYS excused from this obligation. Caregivers, too, may have to use prudential judgment about attendance at Mass, carefully considering the risk factors involved.