J A N U A R Y 1 2 , 2 0 2 0 MARCH 22, 2020

Sacred Heart St Francis de Sales

MASS INTENTIONS Effective Friday, March 20, all regularly scheduled public celebrations of the Catholic Mass, sacraments and devotions are suspended until further notice. If you had a Mass Intention scheduled during this time please reach out to us once we begin holding Mass again and we will be happy to work with you to reschedule.

LISTING OF CATHOLIC CLOSINGS AND OPENINGS

Parish office - Staffed, but not open to the public, call if you need assistance. 802-442-3141 Diocesan offices - open with limited staffing Parish food pantries - open (take away only) Vermont Catholic Charities - open Parish Churches - open daily (8:30—4:30) Catholic schools – closed until April 15 (remote and online learning) Perpetual Adoration Chapels - closed I ask that you pray daily the Pope’s prayer to the Virgin Mary for protection from this pandemic (see www.vermontcatholic.org/covid-19/). Please continue to support your parish and the Diocese by giving online (Diocese Only) or via mail to ensure we remain financially stable during these difficult times. My motto, "Trust in the Lord", has gotten me through many difficult times. Lean on the Lord and know that He will guide you through to better days.

BISHOP COYNE SADLY ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION OF ALL PUBLIC

CELEBRATIONS OF THE MASS, SACRAMENTS, AND DEVOTIONS

Effective Friday, March 20, all regularly scheduled public celebrations of the Catholic Mass, sacraments and devotions are suspended until further notice. Priests of the Diocese of Burlington will continue to celebrate Mass privately for the intentions of their community and the Church. Baptisms, funerals and weddings may take place but will be strictly limited in attendance to immediate family members.

I have taken this course of action following the advice of local public officials and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to limit gatherings to 10 people. While this is a difficult time for the faith-ful, we must all do our part to ensure the health and well-being of the larger community by helping prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to monitor the situation and make changes as necessary.

Plans are moving forward to “live-stream” a local celebration of the Mass daily beginning with this Sunday, March 22 at 10 AM. Please check the Diocesan website at https://www.vermontcatholic.org/covid-19/ for all TV Mass options, resources to keep Sunday Holy and the latest updates.

Pope’s Prayer to Mary for a protection during the coronavirus pandemic

O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Amen. Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Bennington, VT

Faith Formation Program

“Growing In Faith Together”

For more information contact the parish office at 442-3141 or 1kathy.murphy@gmail.com

You are invited to join us on Facebook – SHSF Faith Formation

The School of Sacred Heart

St. Francis de Sales 307 School Street

Bennington, VT 05201

Mr. David Estes, Principal 442-2446, Ext. 3

Providing excellence in academics and a deepening faith in God and Gospel Values in an environment that is caring, challenging, and respectful, striving to develop in every student the habits of thinking critically and acting responsibly in daily life.

Faith Formation Class Schedule

First Eucharist upcoming events:

First Eucharist Banners are due back April 5 (we provide materials) March 8 - First Reconciliation Retreat & First Reconciliation April 5 - “Take it Home” Retreat April 26 - First Eucharist practice following the 9:30 a.m. Mass May 3 - First Eucharist

Celebration

If your child is seeking Bap-tism please get in touch with Kathy Mur-

phy our Faith Formation Director. Note: between Ash Wednesday, February 26 and Easter baptisms are not allowed during the Lenten season (the 40 days leading up to Easter).

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd:

Sunday Classes: March 15 and 29 April 19 and 26

Tuesday Classes: March 3, 10, 17, 31

Congratulations to our students who completed

the Sacrament of Reconciliation last Sunday!

Addyson Michele Brosnan

Kathryn Elizabeth Burnor

Riley Evan Favreau

Hadley Marie Weaver

James Declan Sauer

Wyatt Jackson Lozier

Steve Landon McCay

Paislee Lynn Potvin

Giovanni Lewis Rodriguez Catholic Schools Close as of Dismissal

On March 17 thru April 15

After prayerful discernment and proper consultation, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington has decided to close the Catholic schools in our Diocese as of dismissal on Tuesday, March 17. This closure is anticipated to remain in effect until April 15, however, we will continue to monitor the situation and adjust this as the situation warrants.

This time frame is being implemented to allow our faculty time to prepare the children for distance learning and to give parents time to make whatever arrangements are necessary to support their family. If any parents prefer to keep their child(ren) home from school immediately, we completely understand and the school faculty will provide the needed information to facilitate learning. For regular updates please visit: www.vermontcatholic.org/covid-19.

As Catholics, we know that together, through prayer and hope in Christ, we will get through this and ensure the health and well-being of our community by doing our part. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.

Please remember the sick, including ~ Don Place, Cathy Place, Elaine Letourneau, Janet Sausville, Tina Harrington, Ray Vivaldi, A.J. Morton, Eden Jeannine Beckwith, Cindy Levitte, Francis “Pete” Roy, Christopher Rubino, Lena Reap, Dolores Pruden, Ruth Emaish, Matthew Rubino, Abigail Grace Lamar, Wilfred LaBonte, Therese Long, Gloria VanDerzee, Adrianna Dewey, Kenneth Swierad, Kathy Keenan, and this week we remember the residents of Cora B. Whitney.

March 22, 2020

Readings for the week of March 22, 2020

Sunday: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41

Monday: Is 65:17-21/Jn 4:43-54 Tuesday: Ez 47:1-9, 12/Jn 5:1-16 Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Ex 32:7-14/Jn 5:31-47 Friday: Wis 2:1a, 12-22/Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Saturday: Jer 11:18-20/Jn 7:40-53 Next Sunday: Ez 37:12-14/Rom 8:8-11/Jn 11:1-45

©LPi

Reflections

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Can we see the goodness around us?

Today we have the story of a man born blind. In Jesus' time, blindness was viewed as a punishment for sin. Lent is all about looking inward and rooting out sinful desires and actions. So this story of a blind man and Jesus restoring his sight is a story about the for-giveness of sin.

How often do we hold on to sinful ways or thoughts? Do we need Jesus to give us something in our lives to see again? Or do we need to concentrate on something we do well so that our "sight" may be im-proved?

This week, let us look through eyes of faith and attempt to see goodness around us. Also, let us help each other to remove sin so that we might see God more clearly.

Thomas LaFlamme

Carol Boutin Pineau

Sunday Summary

1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Without guidance even a prophet can't see what is obvious from the divine perspective. Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Like sheep in the hands of a caring shepherd, we enter the dark valley with confi-dence. Ephesians 5:8-14 Darkness is banished in the light of Christ which awakens us to fuller life. John 9:1-41 A blind man is given sight. That trou-bles those who still can't see.

Smile………You’re on CAT-TV

Below is the CAT-TV schedule of when Masses will be shown. They can be found on Channel 15. Sunday 12:00 p.m. Tuesday 4:30 p.m. Friday 5:30 p.m. Saturday 11:00 a.m.

Flocknote enables you to receive parish event information, Holy Day reminders, Mass time changes and inspirational resources via text and/or email. Flocknote is free and you may unsubscribe at any time. Please take advantage of this invitation to join today!

Visit our church at: www.flocknote.com/vermontcatholic OR

Text vermontcatholic to 84576 from your phone

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and

the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. – Jn 9:35-38

The Fourth Sunday of Lent

Stations of the Cross Fridays at 5:30 p.m.

during Lent Please join us for the Stations of the Cross during Lent. The 14 Stations allow us to follow Je-sus on the last day of his earthly life as he makes his way to Golgotha to be crucified. They offer us a mini-pilgrimage of prayer through which we commemorate the historical event of Jesus’ Passion and Death. As such the prayers awaken in us a deeper appreciation for the great suffering Jesus willingly endured affirming the teachings of his Fa-ther’s love for us. His life example living out love’s joyful, costly responsibility asked too much of us. We rejected and condemned that high-priced love. We put it aside for safe-ty’s sake rather than pay transformation’s sake. Jesus’ suf-ferings were gruesome and cruel that fateful day of tor-turous death. Yet in a few days’ time that love of his proved eternal not only for him but for us as well. Our journey with him to Calvary through the Via Dolo-rosa stations allows us to mingle our sufferings with his, helping us to find the love that asks our all as he gave his all. It is a holy exchange of suffering, a sacred, redemptive, life-altering union. The Sorrowful Way proves, ultimately, to be a joyful way, a paschal mystery dying to our sins, rais-ing our destiny beyond life’s limits, beyond the limits of death itself. Fr. Hugh Cleary, c.s.c.

Lenten Program On-Line

Wild Goose** **The ancient Celtic people saw the Holy Spirit not as a hovering white dove, but as a “wild goose.”

If you would like to participate in The Wild Goose Lenten Program, please visit formed.org where you can watch the weekly videos and read (or print) the study guide.

Go to formed.org (If you are new to formed.org, please sign up using our parish code: JHGX4D.)

Go to the Programs tab at the top of the page

Select Faith Formation

Scroll down until you see The Wild Goose

· The Study Guide is at the bottom of the page

This year for Lent,

don’t just change your habits.

DO SOMETHING THAT WILL

CHANGE

YOUR LIFE

Save the date: Light of the World Retreat

March 20-23. 2020 Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales Church

The retreat is sponsored by SHSF and SJB (no cost to you!)

Registration forms are available at the entrances of the Church or at the Parish Center.

Family Stations of the Cross Calling all Families

Looking for a way to get the kids involved in Lent?

How about partici- pating in Fam-ily Stations of the Cross?

Friday, March 27th at 5:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart, St Francis de Sales.

If interested please contact Mary Drew at the Parish Center

Reprinted from “The Inland See” for the Diocese of Burlington March 7—13, 2020

Annual Diocesan Men’s Conference 3rd Annual Catholic Men’s Conference

Saturday, March 28th, 2020 9:00 AM— 3:15 PM

St. Anthony’s Church, White River Junction

The Keynote speaker is retired Air Force Captain, Guy Gruters. Guy is a decorated Vietnam War veteran who spent 5 1/2 years as a POW in Vietman, and a lifetime Catholic. Other speakers will include Msgr. John McDermott and Paul Kendall. There will also be opportunities for confession, Eucharistic Adoration, lunch, fellowship, and Mass with Bishop Coyne. Registration and more information at: www.vermontcatholic.org/men

The Fourth Sunday of Lent

Parish Resources Baptism - Contact Kathy Murphy at the Par ish Office.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the communal process through which non-baptized men and women become members of the Catholic Church. It is also suitable for those baptized in different faith traditions who are interested in becoming Catholic, or, for those who were baptized Catholic, but have yet to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation.

Faith Formation for Children To register your child for our Faith Formation Program, please contact Kathy Murphy in the Parish Office.

Marriage Couples who wish to prepare for marriage should contact the pastor a minimum of 6 months prior to the requested date of marriage.

Care of the Sick To arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion to be brought to those unable to attend the Sunday celebration, or for Viaticum for the Dying (Holy Communion for those in danger of death), please contact the Parish Office. It is always possible to anoint the sick during regularly scheduled liturgies.

The Second Collection this weekend is for Catholic Relief Services.

Please continue to support our parish by making offertory contributions to insure we remain financially stable during these difficult times. You may mail contributions directly to the parish at 238 Main Street.

We thank you for your generosity!

HIS Pantry “Seeing Christ in the hungry”

Phone Number: 442-1720 hispantryshsf@gmail.com

HIS Pantry at SHSF (Facebook link) Wednesdays 1:00 – 3:30 pm Fridays 10:00 am – 11:30

HIS Pantry is a volunteer-run parish ministry which assists those in need of food in our local community. We are very grateful for the continued donations and assistance from all who are able to lend a hand! Here are some ways you can help: Groceries: r ice, spaghetti, pasta sauce, healthy

cereals, canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned beans, shelf stable juices, tuna, canned chicken

Financial support: Cash donations, VISA or store gift cards (can bring to the parish office or place in the collection basket in an envelope marked for HIS Pantry). Note that these gift cards are used solely by pantry volunteers to purchase the above groceries as we run low. Thank you for your generosity!

Personal hygiene items: deodorant, shampoo, bars of soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products, hand sanitizer

Miscellaneous: laundry detergent, clean plastic or reusable bags, diapers (all sizes)

Volunteering: If you would like to become a volunteer at HIS Pantry, please call 802-442-1720 or email hispantryshsf@gmail.com. All new hands and hearts are welcome!

PANCAKE BREAKFAST March 29

7:00 a.m. to Noon Catamount Ro-tary will

be hosting their an-

nual Pancake Breakfast Sunday, March 29th from 7:00 a.m.

to noon in the Parish Hall at Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales. All proceeds will support scholarships for

REALLY BIG (HUGE) SPRING BASKET RAFFLE!

A chance to win $500, $250 (2 chances)

A Keurig Coffee Maker An Instant Pot or

Outdoor Family Fun!

Tickets for the 6 baskets will be on sale sometime in the not too distant future.

Thank you to all who donated items for these wonderful baskets.

“As we walk the road of our spiritual journey, let us not miss the opportunity to offer a smile and a word of kindness to every person we encounter,

for we are welcoming the presence of Christ among us.”