St. James Church New Home Page

Welcome To St. James Parish

See a face, learn a name, share a story, love one another

St. James Parish Center

(please click link for hours of operation)

2110 Main Street ~ Stratford ~ CT, 06615

Phone: 203.375.5887 ~ Fax: 203.378.1562

Pastor: Rev. Thomas Lynch

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Bruce Roby

Deacons: Thomas Masaryk and John Piatak

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Tuesdays: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - March 3, 10, 17, 24
Thursday: March 5 before 1st Friday (4:45 p.m.)
Saturdays: 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

A Day for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Tuesday: March 24, 2015 (9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.)

Fr. Tom and other clergy will be available for Confession and healing prayer.

Communal Penance Service for Adults, Youth & Children

Monday, March 30, 2015 - 7:00p.m.

Devotional Opportunities

Stations of the Cross:

All parishioners are invited to participate in personal stations at anytime.

Stations of the Cross: Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Church - March 6, 13, 20.
There will be reserved parking
"The Living Stations of the Cross": March 27 - with the children of St. James School (12:30 and 7:30 p.m.)

Eucharistic Adoration in the Parish Chapel:

Practice the art of solitude and silence.

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday - 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (during Lent)
Friday - 3:00 p.m. - Recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Recitation of the Rosary:

Monday - Friday 5:00 p.m. in the Parish Center Chapel
Saturday - 7:30 a.m. in the Church

Prayer Opportunities

Disciples' Way

St. James School Gym

For those who are continuing and those who would like to begin the journey, our Lenten gathering dates are: (gatherings will be at St. James school gym)

March 19 - 7:00 p.m. - Large group gathering

Walking the Sacred Path

Wednesdays- February 18-March 25

Parish Center

1:00-2:15p.m. or 7:15-8:30p.m.

A Lenten retreat based on the writings and music of Dan Shutte, one of the most beloved of our Catholic composers. At-home reading, prayer, journaling combined with once a week group gatherings.

Taize Prayer Services

Wednesdays - 6:00-7:00p.m. - Parish Center Chapel

February 25 - March 25

Spend an hour before the Eucharist in silent prayer and the contemplative chanting of the monastic community of Taize, France.

Ministry with Women

Breaking Bread - March 7 - 8:00 a.m. - Parish Center
Lenten Retreat - Saturday, March 21 - St. James Parish Center

Ministry with Men

Beloved Sons' Gatherings
- Saturday, February 21 - 6:15 a.m.
- Thursday March 5 - 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, March 31 - 6:15 a.m.
Men's Communion Breakfast - Sunday March 8 - Trumbull Marriott
- Directly following 7:30 a.m. Eucharist

Ministry with Teens

Youth/Teen Holy Hour & Fellowship Gatherings

6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Chapel and Parish Center

Last Supper Meal - March 23 - 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

"The Passion of the Christ" movie - March 16 - 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Teen's Stations of the Cross - March 30 - 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Fasting Requirements

Fasting - observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by everyone 18 - 59 years of age.
- On a fast day, one full meal is allowed.
Abstinence - observed Ash Wednesday, all the Fridays of Lent by everyone 14 years of age and older.
- On these days, no meat is allowed.

Fasting, Prayers and Alms Giving

Prayer:

Visit the shrines at St. James and pray with the prayer stones on the walls. Place your hand on the stones and pray on the phrase on the prayer stone.
Walk the Stations of the Cross, on Friday nights or on your own. Take a moment to follow Christ on this journey.
Read, Reflect, & Rest - repeat your word or phrase gently.
Make every effort to attend Eucharist during the Lent and Easter season.

Fasting:

What can you say "no" to? What can you free yourself from? What can you surrender? Circle one or two:

                       Lying                               Cheating                            Gambling
                       Smoking                              Negativism                        Procrastination
                       TV                                     Excessive Eating               Shopping
                       Cursing                               Gossip                       Being Critical
                       Wasting Water                    Video Games                    Wasting Energy
   Excessive use of iPods       Hoarding                           Being Judgemental
                       Unforgiveness         Alcohol/Drug Use    Emotional Abuse

Almsgiving:

What can you give, do or change to help your family, your town and our environment?

Place a few extra dollars in the collection basket at Mass, no matter which church you attend daily or weekly.
Participate in the weekly Loaves and Fishes collection for our Diocese.
Bring canned goods to Mass for our Food Pantry or share canned goods with our local Sterling House.
Clean out your closet and share your good clothes by placing them in the Clothes for Education Box outside the school.
Bring good coats, blankets and/or toiletries to St. James for The Bridge when they go to Bridgeport.

Send a check to, or volunteer at, any of the local Soup Kitchens (for example Thomas Merton Center or the Lord's Kitchen).

Help a friend, neighbor or fellow parishioner. Give them a ride to mass, the store, the doctor or a friendly cup of tea.
Intensify your giving of your time, energy and resources in order to make a difference in others' lives.

"For there will be peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things..." Zechariah 8:12

On Ash Wednesday we're launching a blog called MT25: Finding our Way. This is a forum to engage in what Pope Francis has called a communal formation of the heart, where parishioners can read about, discuss, and share their struggles and their successes in living the radical demands of the Gospel as stated in Matthew 25. The blog address will be posted on the

St. James website, in the newsletter and bulletin, and we'll be handing out a flyer on Ash Wednesday. I'd like to see St. James begin to model what civil discourse looks like, aimed at overcoming the culture of indifference in which we live. I'm challenging everyone here to have a voice, to listen respectfully to others, and to grow together as a community. Make it your Lenten commitment this year

~ Fr. Tom

Look for it: MT 25:Finding our Way

St. James Church

Making a difference...

Witness talks from St. James Parishioners:

Maggie Granado

Judy Keating

Dorothy Kotos

Paul Kravitz

Barbara Mariconda

Mary Perille

Suzanne Smith

Jacki Tomsheck

Maggie Walsh

† Sacrament of Reconciliation †

(St. James Church)

Saturday

12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Thursday before First Friday

4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

† Sacrament of the Sick †

Held on Monday's at the 8:00 a.m. Eucharist.

- PLEASE NOTE -

Prior notice is not necessary. All those who are dealing with a serious illness and/or will be undergoing surgery during that week are invited to receive this sacrament.

† Sacrament of Baptism †

Parents must register at the Parish Center with Patty D'Andrea in order to receive information regarding the mandatory pre-baptism class and schedule a date for the baptism.

† Eucharistic Celebrations †

» Saturday «

8:00 a.m.

Vigil Mass - 4:30 p.m.

» Sunday «

7:30 a.m. ~ 9:15 a.m. ~ 11:15 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m.

» Monday-Wednesday-Friday «

8:00 a.m.

» Tuesday - Thursday «

5:30 p.m.

Youth Ministry Bulletin

Holy Hour ~ Fun and Fellowship

Monday Evenings in the Chapel and Parish Center

6 - 8 p.m.

All Youth Are Welcomed!

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