Spiritual & Financial Report:

July 1, 2006 - June 30th, 2007

A Brief Report for 2005

We often speak of St. Mary’s as our parish family. It is an appropriate description. A family celebrates joyous rites of passage together – births, Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, graduations, marriages – and shares the burdens of life’s difficult transitions – illnesses, deaths, separation and divorce, life disappointments, job loss, financial difficulties, anxiety for our children and concern for aging parents. A family works toward common goals, with the members contributing as their gifts and abilities allow.  Differences of opinion and conflict that arise along the way are resolved through prayer and in a spirit of love and compromise. These are life experiences that occur at one time or another in most families, and it is the nurture and nourishment we find within a family that is often the sustaining constant that allows them to embrace the moment and find the courage to face the challenge.  A family is the place we love and learn, laugh and cry, disagree and forgive. A family is a safe haven amidst life’s storms … the place we can always come home to. And that’s just what St. Mary’s is.

Growth in Spirituality, Faith and Scripture

Throughout this past year, programs have been offered that nourish our faith. My Father’s Plan, a 12-session Bible study, was facilitated by Scott Hahn and An Introduction to the Bible, a four-week program, was presented by Fr. Louis Manzo. In observance of The Year of the Eucharist, I presented The Mass: Gathering, Story Telling, Meal twice, Fr. Bill McCarthy offered a program on The Real Presence and Its Application, and, in a return engagement, Fr. Louis Manzo presented Mass, Memorial and Sacrifice. An average of 80 parishioners attended these programs, and untold numbers were touched in a ripple effect as those attending shared with their families and friends. Our Lenten Program was 40 Days of Purpose, which was inspired by the bestselling book by Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life Approximately 200 attended the first week, and remaining sessions were also well received and attended. Separate retreat opportunities for men and women were offered at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, and an Advent Retreat was offered here earlier this month.

Family, Food and Fellowship

Just as families spend time together, we at St. Mary’s had many opportunities to gather and enjoy one another’s company. Our traditional and popular Mardi Gras, held the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, brought approximately 400 parishioner families together for a time of celebration. There was an abundance of good food provided and carried in, activities for children and a band for everyone’s enjoyment. In May, organist and choir director Barbara Soderberg directed Cabaret, a variety show featuring talented members of our parish, and, in December, produced an excellent Christmas concert featuring our choirs and guest musicians and vocalists. Our family picnic in September was well attended and was a time to enjoy traditional picnic fare, entertainment and games. The Monster Macaroni Bash in October brought children – in costume – and their families together just before Halloween for fun, activities, and “kid-friendly” food. In November the Knights of Columbus hosted their annual pancake breakfast after the 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. Masses. Rounding off the year, a carry-in supper was held in conjunction with the December Advent Retreat. And every Sunday, from 25 to 150 parishioners gather in the parish hall for coffee+ after the weekend Masses.

Youth Ministry

The youth of St. Mary’s are so important to the life and future of our church. Recognizing that, I hired Andrea Tuthill as our Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministry in June.

Andrea has brought energy and enthusiasm to our growing Youth Group. This past year the Youth Mass has continued, members of the Youth Group participated in Steubenville East at Our Lady of LaSalette Retreat Center in Attleboro, MA, and have held lock-ins and car washes. Next year they are planning a skiing weekend in Vermont, a Passion Play on Palm Sunday, and, in July, a trip to Steubenville Rockies in Denver and a return to Steubenville East.

Religious Formation of Children and Adults

Our religious education program serves approximately 500 children and 400 families. In 2005 we celebrated 52 First Communions and 45 young people were confirmed

The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program prepares adults for initiation into the Roman Catholic Church through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation celebrated each year at the Easter Vigil. This past year two adults were baptized during the Easter Vigil Mass.

Collaborative Ministries

With the effort and generosity of several parishioners, our pictorial directory – the family album –  was completed. Digital photos of parish families were taken, and the directory was reproduced and distributed.

Many committees contribute to the continuing mission and ministry that is the essence of our parish.

In 2005 Building and Grounds oversaw the repaving and re-striping of our parking lot and the mandated replacement of underground oil tanks, both of which were expensive projects.

The Justice and Peace Committee is diligent and creative in its efforts to make a difference locally, nationally and globally. This past year they initiated a petition to present to Rep. Robert Simmons calling on our country and the United Nations to bring pressure to bear on the government of the Sudan seeking an end to the ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region of that country. The committee distributed copies of this petition and supporting documents to local churches for consideration. The committee also sponsored a winter clothing drive, food collection for Thanksgiving baskets, and the Christmas Giving Tree, as well as maintaining the parish garden which provides fresh produce to the Shore Line Soup Kitchen and local residents.

The Liturgy Committee meets regularly to offer input and to plan meaningful liturgical celebrations that encourage spiritual growth within our parish, including our well attended Lenten and Advent Reconciliation Services. Our choirs and cantors, directed by Barbara Soderberg, are faithful in their ministry and enhance all of our celebrations.

Our Bereavement Team provides follow-up to families who have experienced the death of a loved one.

Our Finance Committee assures that our fiscal responsibilities are met, and our Stewardship Committee invites us to reflect on the wise use of our gifts of time, talent and treasure throughout the year.

Our Ways and Means Committee organizes and runs our Craft Fair in June and the Heart of Christmas Fair in November, which are not only significant fund raisers for our parish but are also a welcoming event for the community at large.

Our Parish Council works with me to oversee the management of the parish.

Reaching Out in Faith

St. Mary’s is enriched by its identity as a tri-lingual parish, ministering to English, Hispanic and Brazilian communities. The Hispanic ministry, which was undertaken eight years ago at the instigation of the Diocese, is flourishing.  The Brazilian ministry begun three years ago continues to grow. In the spirit of integrating the three communities, members of each are always invited and welcome to attend celebrations and activities of the others. In 2005 there were several celebrations that are unique to the Hispanic and Brazilian cultures. Columbus Day weekend, the Hispanics held a special Mass, followed by a meal and cultural program. On All Souls Day they observed the “Day of the Dead”, and in December celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On October 10^th, the Brazilians celebrated the Nossa Senhor Aparecida  (Our Lady Who Appeared), the patronal feast of Brazil.  As was our original vision for the parish center, our Brazilian and Hispanic communities frequently use our parish center for wedding receptions – eight in 2005.

Within the past year, 14 couples from our church have been married, seven from the Hispanic community, many babies have been baptized, and 45 funeral liturgies celebrated.

Throughout the year we have reached out to those in need in our parish family and in our community.

As your pastor I am heartened by all the good things that are happening at St. Mary’s. It is a team effort including myself, the parish staff, and volunteers and committees, not all of whom are named here. I am thankful for them all. At a time when the media continues to focus on real evil that exists within the Church, it is important to remember that it is the evil actions of men, not the evil of the Roman Catholic faith. Be assured that I am now and always committed to using the financial and material resources of St. Mary’s for the good of her people and for the larger communities to which we belong.  I can and do look back on the past year and rejoice in all that we have provided and accomplished and I look forward to another year of ministry and invite you to be a part of it.

Fr. Michael Sequeira