We Shall Open Our Doors for Public Worship Soon!

05-28-2020From the PastorFr. Emmanuel Ihemedu

Dear brothers and sisters,

In accordance with Archbishop Blair's instruction, beginning Monday, June 8, 2020, Saint John Paul the Great parish along with other parishes of the Archdiocese of Hartford will reopen our doors for the public celebration of WEEKDAY MASSES only. No more than a total of 100 socially-distanced persons will be allowed to be present at a given Mass. Efforts are being made locally to ensure that our parish is in compliance with safety directives.

Beginning June 8, Baptisms, Wedding Masses and Funeral Masses will resume here at St. John Paul the Great Parish. The same procedures and precautions for weekday Mass will be applied to these special celebrations (i.e. no more than 50 socially distanced persons of at least 6 feet will be allowed to be present, masks, very limited music without congregation singing etc.).

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What do faith and religion do for us?

05-24-2020Weekly Reflection© LPi

Ultimately, they remind us of some truths we conveniently forget: we are created by a loving God, we have imperfections, we sin, we need to be forgiven, we have a mission and a purpose, it's not just about us, and we hunger for the joy of salvation. These are human truths that are not dependent upon whether we like them. Ignoring them places us on the paths of comfort and satisfaction as we blindly pursue the busyness and superficiality of our empty lives. Instead of pursuing supernatural and lasting pleasure, we choose things that are easier and quicker to obtain: sex, drugs, travel, houses, cars, fame, popularity, self-achievement and satisfaction, physical enjoyment, and the like.

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Divine Gift of Hope

05-17-2020Weekly Reflection© LPi

We hope for many things: passing an exam, finding our true love, securing sustainable work, or surviving an illness. We often seek to have God be a part of what we hope for and desire, almost trying to convince Him that our agenda is what is ultimately important. While our particular hopes may appear to be what needs to be achieved in order for us to be happy, they really are not. Our lesser, more personal hopes can distract us from true hope.

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I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

05-10-2020Weekly Reflection© LPi

When earthly lives end, especially when the person is younger, we tend to focus upon and consider what was lost. We think of lost opportunities — things they won't be able to see, babies they won't be able to cradle, and adventures that now must go undiscovered. Our minds create this chasm between earth and heaven that sees the losses of this life as permanent ones, never possible to achieve again. This perception causes many folks to remain stuck in their grief as they ponder all of the missed opportunities and regrets.

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The Lord is My Shepherd

05-03-2020Weekly Reflection© LPi

With whom do we converse and listen to the most? Believe it or not, the answer is ourselves. We are constantly having conversations with ourselves, and sometimes we even get caught! Our inner conversations reveal the truth about ourselves. We really cannot hide from ourselves, although we often pretend we can. By conversing with ourselves, we find solutions to our challenges, problem solve, work through our relationships, formulate opinions, run through dress rehearsals of possible conversations, and wrestle with and determine our system of priorities and values. What other voices affect the conversations we have with ourselves?

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Daily Prayer Versus Mass?

05-03-2020Why do we do that?

Question: I have a friend who says she doesn’t need to attend Mass because she prays to God every day. What are your thoughts on this justification?

Answer: If the only reason for going to church were to talk to God, your friend might be right. Prayer is not something limited to a physical place or even a holy place. If the sole purpose of the Church were prayer, it would be a narrow purpose indeed. The Church is a community of believers, formed by “one Lord, one faith, one Baptism.” It is an outward sign of our faith in God instituted by Christ, and the purpose of the Church is to give us grace, that is, a share in God’s life.

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