41 Cross Rd, Waterford, CT06385
860-442-2211
Rev. Fr. Dennis McCarthy, Pastor
Suggested Donations for Church Services: House Blessing, $25, Churching baby: $25, Christening: $200, Wedding: $300, Funeral: $200, Memorial: $30, Commemoration @ Liturgy: $15, Certificates: $20, Hall usage: $100 for those who gave $1500 to building fund, $100 Mercy meal, $200 active parishioners, $300 all others, $25 kitchen use extra. Hall is to be left clean, including restrooms, mopped, garbage taken away. Deposit of $100 non-refundable. Special insurance of $100 check to be paid with deposit that goes to Diocese of Newton. Parents must attend preparation class with Fr Ed before baptism of first baby only. Saint’s names are preferred for the baby to have a patron. Donations to the priest are not included and are optional. We are in the red & need to give more. We owe Melkite diocese $16000, Please make up the envelopes missed when you’re away!
ArchimandriteEdward Kakaty / March 25, 2018 Palm Sunday/ Annunciation of Mother of God
Intentions This weekend: Saturday:Elias Hage(16 years) by TaklaHage and Family
Sunday: Sunday: Elise Gauthier by Kristin Harris
Speedy Recovery: AnisahGoodrich, John Jeffords, Gloria Jeffords, Kevin Burke, Mary Jane Facas
This weekend / Sat: Joumana Hajj / Sunday: Gerard Massad / Thanks to all who always make up their missed envelope, including fueland building fund!Next Weekend / Sat:John Jalonski / Sunday: Rose LaFleur
March 17 / 34 / gave / $573.00 / Additional to the total was $165 for candle donations.Included in the total was $86 for Building Fund.
March 18 / 40 / gave / $472.00
Fuel Donors: We will reestablish the practice of putting the names of fuel donors in the bulletin and amounts, unless you instruct me that you wish to remain anonymous. Although spring is close, we still have fuel demands. Thanks-Father Dennis
Flowers:AbrozeGharios (in memory of the dearly departed of the Gharios and Doro families), David and Anissa Starr, CatherineYost (in memory of Albert Yost,Sr.), John and Gloria Jeffords.
Sanctuary Lamp: Month of March: Sponsored by John and Gloria Jeffords, in loving memory of Charles Facas, Sr. May his memory be eternal! Thank you Gloria and Jeff for keeping the light of Christ illuminating the sanctuary during the month of March.
Great News:His Beatitude Patriarch Joseph Absi is visiting the United States this summer and will becoming to St Ann on Tuesday July 10, 2018 for Divine Liturgy at 6:00pm. Areception/dinner will follow. Details will be forthcoming.
Coffee Hour: Please join us after Sunday Liturgy for coffee, goodies, conversation, and fellowship. Please feel free to bring a tasty snack to share.
Upcoming Schedule of Services:
- Monday, March 26; Bridegroom Service: 6:00 pm
- Tuesday, March 27; Anointing Service: 6:00 pm
- Wednesday, March 28; Last Supper: 6:00 pm
- Thursday, March 29; Passion Gospels: 6:00pm
- Friday, March 30; Descent from The Cross: 3:00 pm
Funeral of Christ: 6:00 pm
- Saturday, March 31;Hajmet/Liturgy: 8:00 pm
- Sunday, April 1 ;Holy Pascha: 10:00am
200 Club: Winners forMarch are: $50 Hendrick & Gail Facas; $25 Sabrina Walker; $10 Mary Dib; $10 Mark Facas; $10Zaira Anderson. Congratulations to the winners! You may pick up your checks from Father Dennis.
CHURCH SCHOOL: April 7 and 21, May 5 and19. Sessions start with Arabic class at 3:00pm. Arabic classes for adults will be at 4 pm on Saturdays when religious education is not scheduled.
Fasting and Abstinence Guidelines: There are a variety of traditions regarding the forty day period of the Great Fast. A distinction needs to be made between fasting and abstinence. Fasting is the practice of not eating anything for a period of time. Abstinence is the practice of not eating specific food. The traditional practice (rule) in our Church is as follows.
- From Monday to Friday: A fast consisting of no food or drink from midnight until noon.
- Every day: No meat, no fish with spines, no dairy products until Easter Sunday. Shell fish are permitted.
- Fish and wine are permitted on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation and on Palm Sunday, which this year occur on the same day.
These traditions developed to encourage the faithful to simplify their lives, eat less expensive food, and spend less time cooking, in order to focus on more important activities—prayer, almsgiving, repentance, forgiveness, and a total dependence upon God.
Though few are able to keep the rule to its fullness, we should all do the best we can. Of course, small children the sick, pregnant and nursing mothers, and those with medical conditions that would be harmed by the practice are exempted.
On Fasting by St John Chrysostom: The value of fasting consists not in abstinence only from food, but in the renouncing of sinful practices. Do you fast? Give me proof by your works. If you see a poor person, take pity on the person. If you see a friend being honored, do not be envious. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye and the ear and the feet and the hands and all members of your bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free from greed. Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful. For it would be an instance of the highest ridiculousness to abstain from food because of the fast, but with the eyes to feed on what is forbidden. Let the ear fast, by not listening to evil talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it to abstain from birds and fish, and yet bite and devour our brothersand sisters?