The Norwich Community Kitchen will continue serving dinner on Tuesday, January 7th. Doors open at 4 PM and dinner is served at 5 PM. .

2024 Hope Appeal—Thank you to everyone who prayerfully and monetarily contributed to the 2024 HOPE Appeal for St. Bartholomew’s Church! Our 2024 goal has been reached thanks to your support of these good programs and those who use them.

St. Paul’s Cemetery/Church is looking for a groundskeeper. Candidate must hold a valid driver’s license. Position includes landscaping, mowing, trim- ming and plowing. Applications can be found online at our website www.stpaulsnorwich.com or can be picked up at the church office. Send application and resume to St. Paul’s Church, 30 Pleasant St., Norwich, NY 13815. Call 607-337-2216 for more information.

The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Assembly #737, is sponsoring a $1,000 scholarship for graduating seniors who plan to attend college. Students who attend the Norwich City School District can obtain and submit the scholarship applica- tion form through the school offices. Students who do not at- tend NCSD can contact the church office for an application form and mail the form to the address noted on the applica- tion. Please act soon because the application forms must be received by March 25.

St. Barthlomew’s Parish Center (81 E Main St.) will host two separate FREE Food Safety Trainings on Thursday, February 6th as follows: The FIRST is from 10-11 am and is for any individual or group planning a temporary food event (community and fundraising food events) in Chenango County. This one- hour class fulfills the Temporary Food Permit food safety training requirement. The SECOND is from 1-3 pm and is for anyone who owns, operates, or works at a food service establishment in Chenango County. Both sessions will focus on public health hazards, food- borne illnesses and the techniques and practices to elimi- nate them from your event; and the vital role the food service worker plays in assuring safe food preparation. Seats are limited, so please RSVP asap to 607-337-1673 or staggart@chenangocountyny.gov Contact Judy at 607-337-2215 if you’d like to know about other locations and dates.

SUBSTITUTE ORGANIST NEEDED Substitute organist needed to fill in occasionally on Saturdays or Sundays. No rehearsals required during the week – only on the day of Mass. This is a paid position. See Joanie or contact the Church office at 607-337-2215 if interested.





TAX STATEMENTS
If you would like your 2024 contribution report, please call the office, send in your request, or place it in the collection basket along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Statements can also be picked up in the all-purpose room.
Name:
_______________________________________________________
______ A self-address, stamped envelope is included;
______ I will pick up my statement in the all-purpose room.
Hope Appeal donations are not included in the Church report. If you would like a Hope Appeal statement, call the office, and Judy will ask the Diocese to mail one to you.

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.




OCIA, the Order of Chistian Initiation of Adults Tuesdays at 7 PM, St. Paul’s Church hall If you have been coming to Mass but are not Catholic, we in- vite you to look deeper into the Catholic faith. Come and meet some faithful Catholics who would consider it a privilege to get to know you and help you on your journey. Sessions have started in this one-year process to share the truths of the Catholic faith and the fellowship of our church family. We invite you to learn what Catholics believe in an open and welcoming environment. You can ask any questions you have about the church. These sessions are for inquirers and are open to people who are unbaptized as well as those who are baptized Christians from Protestant or Evangelical back- grounds. Call Fr. Ralph if you are interested at 607-337-2204.

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!

HELP WANTED St. Paul’s Cemetery/Church is looking for a full time Sexton maintenance person. 35-40 hours with benefits. Candidate must hold a valid driver’s license. Position includes landscap ing, mowing, trimming and using a backhoe. Applications can be found on line at our website www.stpaulsnorwich.com or can be picked up at the church office. Send application and resume 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.