Dear Friends in Christ:
As we announced last weekend, at this time we are suspending the distribution of the Precious Blood at all Masses. The Connecticut Department of Public Health recently established that the Influenza Activity is NOW widespread in the State of Connecticut. Therefore, at this time, I have decided that it would be prudent to suspend the distribution of the Precious Blood until such time that it appears the flu outbreak is over.
Other precautions for you to consider during this time include:
1. If you are ill or suspect you are ill with a contagious illness, to stay home and watch the Mass on television. You can get the local Mass from the Office of Radio and Television on WTXX(Channel 10 or 11 on most providers) and also on EWTN.
2. Perhaps not hold hands with those around you during the Lord’s Prayer.
3. At the Sign of Peace consider a verbal greeting to those around you, or exchange peace with a bow instead of a handshake.
This decision to suspend the distribution of the Precious Blood brings to my mind the teaching on the Eucharist. From the first days of the Church's celebration of the Eucharist, Holy Communion consisted of the reception of both species in fulfillment of the Lord's command to "take and eat . . . take and drink." The distribution of Holy Communion to the faithful under both kinds was thus the norm for more than a millennium of Catholic liturgical practice. It appears that until about the late eleventh century this was the common practice. It is clear in the writings of theologians from the twelfth century, such as Peter Cantor, that the practice of Communion under one kind (referring to the Body of Christ) was the custom of the Church at that time.
In 1415 the Council of Constance took place and it was decreed that Holy Communion under the form of bread alone would be distributed to the faithful. At the Second Vatican Council in 1963, the Fathers of the Council authorized the extension of the faculty of Holy Communion to be distributed to the faithful under both kinds at the bishop’s discretion. We read in the Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion that “Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it takes place under both kinds. For in this form the sign of the Eucharistic banquet is more clearly evident and clearer expression is given to the divine will by which the new and eternal Covenant is ratified in the Blood of the Lord, as also the connection between the Eucharistic banquet and the eschatological banquet in the Kingdom of the Father.”
That being said, it should also be noted that the whole and entire Christ and the true Sacrament are received under either species as the Council of Trent points out in its document Doctrine on Communion Under Both Species and on Communion of Little Children. If one, therefore, receives either the Precious Blood or the Sacred Host, he or she receives the fullness of the grace of the Sacrament. That said, when we approach the altar of the Lord and receive the Body of Christ, the Sacred Host, we receive the full grace of the Eucharist just as if we had shared in the Cup of His Blood as well. So, receiving only one species, either His Most Sacred Body or His Most Precious Blood, we receive the whole Christ, body and blood, soul and divinity.
The Annual School Auction…The Saint Bridget School Home and School Association is gearing up for the annual Auction with this year’s theme Mardi Gras! This is the major fundraiser of the year for our school. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We all need to come together and support our parish school and the Annual Auction.
Ways you can help:
1. You can mark your calendars and plan to join us at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville on Friday, March 1st, 2019, for a great night of food and fellowship as well as the chance to win a raffle item or an auction item.
2. You can place an ad in the evening’s program book or become a sponsor. Ads run anywhere between $50-550 and the sponsorships costs between $500-5,000.
3. You can donate an item for the silent or live auction, such as: sporting event tickets, theatre tickets, bikes, grills, jewelry, televisions or electronics of all kinds, golf foursomes to local golf courses or Country Clubs, overnight stays to a nice place, or any item you think will solicit support for our school.
For more information about the auction or to sponsor us, please visit the school’s website at:
The 2018 Annual Family Commitment was a huge success thanks to the generosity of so many of our parish families. I am beyond grateful to the 819 families who contributed $275,003.52 to the 2018 Annual Family Commitment. These 819 families represent 26.55% of the over 3,000 registered families in our parish. It is an amazing testament to the love you have for our parish family. This generosity will certainly help us: to replace the well-worn carpeting in both churches, make necessary repairs to the wood exterior of Saint Thomas Becket Church building, face the gutter issues at Saint Bridget Church building, and begin to address the roof issues at Saint Bridget Church building as well. On behalf of our Finance Council, our Pastoral Council, our Trustees, and myself, THANK YOU for your generosity!
As always, remember to pray for our parish family and ask God’s blessings as we build His kingdom here. Please know that I am praying for you, and I ask for your prayers for me, that together through the intercession of Saint Bridget of Sweden, our Patroness, and united in the Eucharist, we will reflect the presence of Jesus to the world.
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