ST. DUNSTAN
GLASTONBURY
Saturday, December 26 4:00 PM Helen Ramey, 10th anniversary, requested by the family Sunday, December 27 8:00 AM Thomas Shettle requested by the family 9:30 AM Katie Brown requested by Ed & Eileen O’Connor 11:30 AM Francis & Irene Sullivan requested by the family Monday, December 28 8:00 AM People of St. Dunstan Parish Tuesday, December 29 8:00 AM No Mass Wednesday, December 30 8:00 AM No Mass Thursday, December 31 – Solemnity of Mary 8:00 AM No Mass 6:00 PM Rory O’Sullivan requested by the O’Sullivan family Friday, January 1 – Solemnity of Mary 9:00 AM Leo Ouellette 22nd anniversary, requested by Gerry Ouellette Saturday, January 2 4:00 PM Donald Cody requested by Jerry & Jane Sullivan Sunday, January 3 8:00 AM Carl & Della Lutgen requested by Lois & Brad Churchill 9:30 AM Irene & George McElroy requested by the Skoglund family 11:30 AM Lee Devin requested by the Boccia family If you are attending the Mass scheduled for your deceased loved one, please let the ushers know before Mass if you would like to bring the gifts to the altar.
Grace Abraham, Patricia Audet, Columba Bae, Wes Chang, Deacon Ron Daigle, Dennis DeCosta, Cynthia Fiorini, Joan and Paul Galeazzi, Lynn Hammel, Ernie Harriman, John Jacobson, Jean Jacques, Ellen Elko Kubel, Meredith Lankarge, George Mackas, Jane Marin, Susan Maudsley, Toni Merrigan, Jim Murphy, Nancy Murphy, Joan Nardi, Diane Newton, Jim O’Reilly, David Poulin, Patricia Raymond, Frank Romano, Anima Slangen, Chet Stasiowski, Katie Sullivan, Roseanne Talbot, Felix Tamesis, Patty Traverse, Barbara Tsipouras, Gloria Vespoli
Please note: There will be No Morning Mass Tuesday, December 29 through Thursday, December 31, 2015. For your convenience, Mass is celebrated at Saint Augustine Church on Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 7:30 AM and at St. Paul Church on Tuesday & Thursday at 7:30 AM. Friday, January 1 is the Solemnity of Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses will be celebrated on Dec. 31 at 6:00pm and Jan. 1 at 9:00 am. There will be no First Friday Adoration January 1st. The Parish Office will be closed Friday, January 1st. Happy New Year!
Please note that we will follow the Glastonbury School System’s decisions on winter weather. If the school system has a delayed opening or a snow day cancellation, then there will NOT be a morning Mass at Saint Dunstan.
FINANCIAL BLESSINGS December 12 & 13 Offertory Retirement Fund for Religious Immaculate Conception Offertory
$9,015.00 $3,931.35 $753.00
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! Religious give thanks. “We cannot begin to repay all who contribute, “writes a Catholic sister. “So we pray to God, who is never outdone in generosity to reward you.” Heartfelt thanks for your donation to the Retirement Fund for Religious. May God bless you for your kindness!
Prayer Shawl Ministry The next prayerful meeting of the Shawl Ministry will be January 9 in the church hall from 9:30 until 11:30 AM. New members are always welcome. If you have questions call Jean Nolan 860-646-4955.
The Sacrament of confirmation will be celebrated on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 7 pm at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. The Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell, D. D., Archbishop Emeritus, will preside.
HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH Seniors, please join us for our monthly luncheon on Jan 12th at noon in the church hall. We‘ll return to our regular potluck then so bring a dish to share: salad, vegetable, casserole or dessert. If you would like a ride, please call the office by Monday the 11th (860-633-3317) so it can be arranged. Can’t prepare a dish? Come anyway and consider making a small donation to our luncheon “kitty.” There’s always plenty of good food available.
Important Message to Parishioners regarding Charitable Donations and Tax Deductions
Cookie Festival Thank You!
In order to comply with the IRS requirement, by January 31, 2016, St. Dunstan Church Office will mail acknowledgement statements to all parishioners who have made contributions equaling $250 or more to the Church for the calendar year ending December 31, 2015.
Our St. Dunstan Annual Cookie Festival was a huge success! Thank you everyone who baked or bought or helped to sell cookies. We raised $1550 for our summer 2016 Mission Trip and our fundraising is complete. Special thank you to Laurie Boyd, Cindy Harasyko and Christina Wiedemer for chairing.
Thank you for another successful year of the Giving Tree program. Your contribution of gifts of winter clothing, educational toys and gift cards has truly made a difference for many families this year. Your kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated! We are so very grateful to the Wenner Family for their generous coordination of our very successful Christmas Giving Tree program for Saint Michael's Church in Hartford.
“NEW DAY” PROGRAM Our parish will be offering “New Day,” a nine-week program for those who have lost a loved one in death. It will be a time to come together to pray, to understand the grieving process, and to experience the support of a caring community. If you are interested or know someone who might be interested, please contact Dotty Twachtman at 860-633-6939. Dates and times will be forthcoming in future bulletins.
Marriage Enrichment Celebration Hartford Catholic Engaged Encounter and the Office of Family Life will hold its 9th annual Marriage Enrichment Evening on Sat., Feb. 6, 2016, from 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Mary Our Queen Church and Parish Center, 248 Savage St., Plantsville, CT. This year's program will begin with Mass, include dinner, prayer, reflection, and fun centered on the theme: "A Sign for Our Times: The Witnessing Power of Sacramental Marriage." Our keynote address will be given by Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Peter A. Rosazza. The cost is $25.00 per couple and includes dinner. To register or obtain more information, contact Tom and Donna Finn at 860-302-1110, or email to
[email protected]. Please R.S.V.P. by Feb. 2, 2016.
The Internal Revenue Service no longer allows a taxpayer to take as a charitable deduction on his or her tax return contributions of cash, checks, or other monetary gifts, regardless of the amount, unless the donor maintains either: (1) bank record or (2) Receipt, letter, or other written communication from donee indicating the donor’s name, address, and contribution date and amount.
The statement will include all contributions received through the parish weekly envelope system. Contributions to the 2015 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal will be acknowledged directly from that Hartford Office and are not included in the parish tabulation. Contact the secretary at the office if you have any questions. As always, consult with your tax professional before taking any charitable deductions on your 2015 and future tax returns.
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph "He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them." We might be tempted to think that Jesus more or less raised himself. As the Son of God, it might appear on first glance that earthly parents would be a mere formality for this particular child. But it wasn't so. Mary and Joseph had real influence, and real authority, over their son. Although Jesus apparently understood from a tender age how he related to God ("Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"), he also knew that he owed appropriate respect to his parents. This is why he stayed in their home in Nazareth and was obedient to them. And because of this obedience, clearly Mary and Joseph must have been deeply influential in his life. Their direction, their teachings, their example, and their rules would all have shaped Jesus in his humanity. It was thanks in no small part to the matriarch and patriarch of the Holy Family that Jesus "advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man." We should be advancing in these ways too! And those of us who are parents are likewise called to direct and guide our children to develop as Jesus did, not only forming our sons and daughters to succeed in the eyes of men, but also leading them on the path of "favor before God." The Holy Family serves as a beautiful model for us in this regard. They help us learn how to submit our lives to the loving leadership of our heavenly Father. But more than this, Mary and Joseph also serve as intercessors, who, like any faithful family member or friend, want to pray with us and for us. Let us turn, then, to the intercession of the Holy Family asking that our families may be holy too.
DECEMBER 27, 2015
Grades K through 8: Upcoming Classes
Thursdays for K-5: Jan 7, 14, 21, 28 Thursdays for 6-8: Jan 7, 14 Sundays 1-8: Jan 10, 31 Confirmation Year 1 – Your next class is Sunday January 10 at 6:30. Confirmation Year 2 – Your next event is your Rite of Election on Sunday January 10 at the 11:30 Mass. Shelter/pantry meeting after in the hall until 1 pm for all parents/students. Confirmation Year 1 and 2 - Please note a new combined class has been added on Jan 31 from 6:30-7:30. J-Team – Our next meeting is Sunday January 24 from 3:00-4:45. We will be making sleeping bags for the homeless of Hartford. Creeds – Our next meeting is Sunday January 24 from 6-7 pm. Next Teen Mass is Sunday January 24 at 5 pm. Save the date - Creeds outing to Flight is Jan 29.
Readings for the Week of December 27, 2015 Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Next Sunday:
1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28 or Sir 3:2-6, 12-14/Ps 84:23, 5-6, 9-10/1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24 or Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17/Lk 2:41-52 1 Jn 1:5--2:2/Ps 124:2-5, 7-8/Mt 2:13-18 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-3, 5-6/Lk 2:22-35 1 Jn 2:12-17/Ps 96:7-10/Lk 2:36-40 1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96:1-2, 11-13/Jn 1:1-18 Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:1621 1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1-4/Jn 1:19-28 Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13/Eph 3:2-3a, 56/Mt 2:1-12 ©Liturgical Publications Inc.