Christmas Schedule
Thursday, December 19th: Extra Confessions: 7 p.m.
Fourth Week of Advent:
Saturday, December 21st: Vigil Mass at 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 22nd: Masses: 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
The Nativity of the LORD
Tuesday, December 24th: Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 25th: Christmas Day beginning at Midnight Mass (12:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.)
Thursday, December 26th: No mass at 9:00 a.m., but check out ORTV! Rev. M. David Dawson presiding.
Regarding the Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception
December 9, 2024
From Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne
November 6, 2024
A recent communication from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Legislative Texts has offered a ruling regarding whether Catholics in the United States must still attend Mass on holy days of obligation when they are transferred to Mondays or Saturdays, correcting a long-standing practice in the U.S. Church. The Dicastery stated that according to Canon Law, all the feasts in question “are always day of obligation…even when the aforementioned transfer of the feast occurs.”
This ruling is contrary to the complementary norms of the USCCB which have been in effect for a number of years, namely that when certain feast days fall on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation to attend Mass on that day is “abrogated.”
Moving forward, the Conference and the Archdiocese of Hartford will obviously adjust its norms and its liturgical calendar to follow the instruction from the Dicastery. However, since many parishes and families already have in place the schedules for Advent and Christmas and given short notice of this ruling, as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Harford, I grant a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception to all the faithful present in the Archdiocese of Hartford on December 9th of this year.
That having been said, I strongly urge all Catholics to attend Mass on that day to honor the Blessed Mother and her Immaculate Conception and to see their attendance at Mass as a privilege, a privilege to join in the liturgies of the Church on such a beautiful day of celebration. Each of us has freely taken on the discipline of the church in matters of belief and practice, one of which is the duty to celebrate Mass on Solemnities of the Church. I hope that all of us do so because we want to and not just because we are “obligated.”
********* Winter Is Coming! ********
Whether you love it or loathe it, it is a fact. This always leads to questions like: “If there is bad weather do I still need to go to Mass?” That is a fair question. Here are some things to consider when reaching a decision. Can I confidently get to Mass and back home safely? Would I be willing to go to the Superbowl or anywhere else in this weather? Christ is more important than even Superbowl tickets! With my health is it prudent to go to Mass in these conditions? A related question: Will there still be Mass when there is bad weather? I live across the street from the Church. By God’s holy grace I do not have another church to get to, so its pretty easy for me to be here. If the weather were so very bad, that I cannot get there, you probably should not be considering it.
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Attached is the kids' bulletin for the week of August 25, 2024. Please print it and share with your children and grandchildren. Enjoy!
Click on this link to open: Kids' Bulletin
*A printed copy will be available at all Masses.*
Find out how much Jesus loves us when we go to Mass and receive the Eucharist in this inspiring video!
We, the people of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Plainville, Connecticut are committed to journey together as a community of faith, hope, and love within the Catholic tradition. We are called to witness to the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives through sharing and celebration of faith and a life of Christian Service.
Dear Padre,
My neighbor is a fundamentalist Christian. He said I won't be "saved" unless I accept Jesus as my personal savior. Didn't Jesus become my savior when I was baptized?
Your neighbor is probably referring to John 3:7, when Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born anew." Jesus is talking about a spiritual rebirth; we must have a spiritual birth in order to be saved.
As you have correctly noted, Catholics believe this happens at baptism. In John 3:5, Jesus says, "No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit."
We are saved by the waters of baptism. But for Catholics, it's not merely a one-time event. We continue to accept or reject the salvation offered us by the decisions we make every day.
Your neighbor used the words "personal savior." Catholic Christians go even deeper through the sacraments. We develop and nurture a very personal relationship with Jesus by regularly receiving the Eucharist. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we admit we have sinned and ask Jesus to forgive us. And in the Sacrament of Confirmation, our relationship is "sealed" with the gifts of the Spirit.
Many Catholics also celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage. The couple's personal relationship with Jesus is deepened through the love the couple shares.
So tell your neighbor you are indeed saved by Jesus. And because you are saved, you deepen that relationship with Jesus by living a sacramental life.
Fr. Patrick Keyes, CSSR
Weekend Masses
Sunday - 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m., Liturgy of the Word for Children is celebrated at the 10:30 a.m. Mass
Monday 6: p.m. starting 10/14/24.
Tuesday- Saturday 8:00 a.m.
Wednesday: NO Mass
Friday: 8:30 a.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Adoration & Benediction
************************* CONFESSIONS
Confession are celebrated this week at 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays
For an Examination of Conscience go here.
The Office is Located at:
19 South Canal Street,
Plainville, CT 06062
Office Hours are
Monday - Thursday:
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., afternoons by appointment only
Phone: 860-747-6825
Fax: 860-747-5407
Email: Administration@olmct.org