Random Thoughts By Father Kennedy – Page 3 – Saint Francis of Assisi Church

We will Baptisms and Confirmations

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Francis parish,

Rain is coming. Thank you, god. You could also send a bunch to California. You know things are bad when the grape vineyards are burning.

A busy weekend. Two baptisms, two Masses, confirmation retreat with confessions for all. We have confirmation here this coming Friday at 7:00 pm. 13 in all, 11 teenagers and two adults. I will do the honors. Mass will be bilingual. Limited seating, naturally. But such is life with C 19.

Saturday is our St. Francis Grinder night with raffle drawing at 7;00 pm. Please get your tickets back ASAP.

We will begin our Saturday Vigil Mass this Saturday, at 4:00 pm. Another sign of returning to “normal,” but not really.

This weekend we will again be collecting cereal for Amazing Grace and bringing it there on Tuesday morning, not Monday like in the past. They are very happy about us getting back on track with cereal because they always need it. We also continue to support Hinka’s Pantry.

Last Thursday Nettie and her great crew were busy as beavers from 11 am to 1 pm. I’m not sure how many cars they serviced, but it was a lot and they also did home deliveries.

The center is almost recognizable. So much stuff was sold and now the floor is coming back into view. I don’t know the final number, but it is at least $8,600. Lots of work and it paid off. Thank you to everyone, especially Sue W.

Thank you for the quarters and other donations you give me to help the poor. The need is endless and without more government help, many are going to lose their apartments. Not a pretty picture.

The work of putting in new gas lines around the church has about one more week to go, according to the guys doing the work. Big job. We will get our parking lot back.

Nobody likes vultures, yet they are magnificent fliers.

Random Thoughts

Hurray, Mass again at 4: oo on Saturdays

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,

I was watching some golf this afternoon when the BIG announcement came, that was long anticipated, Amy Coney Barrett is now the nominee to fill Justice Ginsberg’s place on the Supreme Court. Judging from the media on all sides, it is either the end of civilization as we know it, or the beginning of a bright new era. Don’t be surprised if it isn’t either. I will keep her in my prayers as I do all the Supreme Court Justices.

I had two funerals on Friday and a baptism in Spanish this afternoon at 1:00 pm, picture included. Little 4-year-old Alexander Israel, not a happy camper about getting baptized. I also have a baptism tomorrow at 10, right after Mass. This will be a busy week, starting tomorrow. Mass at 9:00, Baptism at 10:00, Spanish Mass at 11:00 and Confirmation Retreat with Confession at noon.

Confirmation will be on Friday, Oct 2, at 7:00 pm. I will be doing the honors in place of Bishop Cote. I did many Confirmations when I was working at the York Prison in Niantic. I also did many when I was in Ecuador, many years ago in the farmlands, i.e. the campo.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, we have our St. Francis Dinner, although it will be much different than years previous. Grinders. I like grinders. We still need everyone to return the raffle tickets. Someone has to win. It looks like we will make over $8,000 with the raffle and over $8,500 with the tag sale. We will spend it quickly, unfortunately.

The Gianelli sisters tell me that my Italian is getting better. I think that’s true. It is very satisfying saying Mass in Italian with them. I really look forward to it Monday -Saturday, even though it is at 6:30 am.

Hinks’s Kitchen was a big hit this past Thursday. So many people coming for food. I thank those of you who give me money for donations to the people I help on a semi regular basis. With winter coming, many of them will not be able to pay the electric bills or the rent. Many, who don’t work high paying jobs, have had their hours cut. They really appreciate the quarters so they can do the laundry. The coin shortage is certainly not helping their situation.

I would also urge those of you who do most, if not all, of your banking online, to seriously consider our online giving program. Down the road our weekly envelopes will be relics of a time past. Personally, I like the envelopes, but times do change.

Next Saturday, we will have a 4:00 pm mass which will continue. We must keep vigilant and wear masks, use hand sanitizer, and keep our distance. I am very concerned about the regular flu combining with C 19. Not a good combination by any means.

Enjoy the pictures. The tree is usually very bright, but this year, with so little rain, the colors are really dull.

Random Thoughts

We share the wounds of Christ

R T 9 23 20

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,

What a beautiful day!!!! Tomorrow is supposed to be another one. But we need

RAIN!!!!!!!!

The Tag Sale has surpassed $8,500. Fantastic. Such hard work and it really paid off. Now let’s hope the Raffle does as well. We really need the money.

I have two funerals on Friday, one here at church and another at the grave at the Veteran’s Cemetery. Very nice people who made a difference. They will be missed.

On Tuesday I played the guitar at the One McDonough Place. We said some traditional prayers but no Holy Communion. Every placed has its own rules and regs and we must follow them. No complaints from me. I also got called to the seventh floor at the Hospital to anoint a gentleman from Haddam.

I had a wonderful visit with his wife. Wonderful husband and father. He, too, will be missed.

I cancelled the 5:00 pm mass this evening because I have a running nose and was sneezing. No temperature, no headache, no body aches and pains, but you can’t take any chances. Those of us who attend the daily evening mass are not spring chickens.

Today the Church celebrates the memory of Padre Pio, an Italian priest who had the stigmata, the five wounds of Jesus. If you want some interesting reading, look up the stigmata. Francis of Assisi was the first recorded Stigmata. There is a lot to read and I think it is really interesting.

Our pantry, Hinka’s Kitchen, is open tomorrow from 11 am to 1 pm. If you know someone who needs food, please let them know.

Pictures don’t always go as planned

Random Thoughts

Thank You, Sue. Wes!

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish, Fall is here. Cold last night. Supposed to get a little warmer these next few days.

The Tag Sale was a great success

Sue W. tells me we made over $8,000, which is fantastic. A lot of hard work went into making it so successful and many people are to thank, especially Sue Wesoloski.

We have Confirmation coming up on October 1st., Friday night. Eleven teenagers and two adults. Should be nice. Bilingual as usual. We are hoping to have the First Communion around the end of January, all things being equal.

St. Francis dinner is coming up on Saturday, October 2nd, Mass at 4:00 pm, which we will continue to have. Too bad we must put the heat on.

Thank you so much for sending or bringing in your offering envelopes, and those of you have now do online giving. We need all the money we can get, just like everyone else. Fortunately, we got money from the government PPP program, but that only lasts for two months. The money from the Tag Sale and the Raffle will also not last forever. We will wait until we get to that bridge before we cross it but cross it, we must. It’s going to be difficult.

I came across this today and I think you will like it also.

Pope Francis strikes again!

Sep 21, 2020 – Catholic News Service Vatican

VATICAN CITY — If the church fails to go out and proclaim the Gospel to those who are lost or forgotten, it risks falling ill to the evil that is committed by its own members, Pope Francis said. Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square during his Angelus address on Sept. 20, the pope said that just as God “calls everyone and calls always”, the church must also “offer everyone the word of salvation that Jesus came to bring.”
“The church needs to be like God: always going out; and when the church does not go out, it becomes sick with the many evils we have in the church,” the Pope said.
“And why are these illnesses in the church?” he asked. “Because she does not go out. It is true that when someone goes out there is the danger of getting into an accident. But it is better a church that gets into accidents because it goes out to proclaim the Gospel than a church that is sick because it stays in.”
In his address, the pope reflected on the Sunday Gospel reading in which Jesus recounts the parable of the landowner who goes out several times a day to hire laborers for his vineyard. The pope said that the image of the landowner going out repeatedly to look for workers was “touching” because it represents God who “acts this way.” God, he said, “continues to call anyone, at whatever hour, to invite them to work in his kingdom.

This is God’s style, which we in turn are called to receive and to imitate. He does not stay shut in within his world, but ‘goes out.’ God always goes out, in search of us. He is not closed up — God goes out. He continually seeks out people because he does not want anyone to be excluded from his loving plan.”

The pope also emphasized how the landowner paid all the employees the same no matter how long they had worked. Like the landowner, the pope explained, God “always pays the maximum amount. He does not pay halfway; he pays everything. In this way, it is understood that Jesus is not speaking about work and just wages — that is another problem — but about the kingdom of God and the goodness of the heavenly Father who goes out continually to invite, and he pays everyone the maximum amount.”

Francis reminded the faithful that those who use human logic and complain that God’s compensation is not based on merits would do well to remember the first saint. “Let us remember who was the first canonized saint in the church: the good thief,” the pope said. “He ‘stole’ paradise at the last minute of his life: this is grace. This is what God is like, even with us.

Instead, those who try to think of their own merits, fail; those who humbly entrust themselves to the Father’s mercy, from being last — like the good thief — find themselves first.”

Pictures on the Subway

Random Thoughts

Come Saturday, October 3, we will have mass at…

R. T. 09-18-20
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,

How great is this weather? The right answer is, “Really great, Father!” Sleeping with two blankets. Heaven.
Tomorrow is our Tag Sale and we are ready. Don’t have much of a choice …. Sue W will be there tomorrow around 6:00 am and many other volunteers will follow soon thereafter, myself included after I say mass with the Gianelli’s Sisters at 7:00 am.
Today was a historic day. While I am saying almost all the mass in Italian, today I read the Gospel in Italian. It was very short and the words were pretty easy. I am gaining more confidence each day and it keeps my brain active.
Last night I went to St. Mary here in Middletown for the monthly holy hour praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It was very nice. Bishop Cote has been under the weather all week, so Father Galvin, the pastor of Moodus and East Hampton parishes and our vocations director, did the honors. He has a really nice singing voice, yes, even better than mine.

My brother sent me some videos from of his trail camera, showing a coyote and a fox passing by some time during the night. So cool to see wild animals so close to your home.

Come Saturday, October 3, we will have mass at 4:00 pm in the church. I hope this will lighten the load at the Sunday morning 9:00 am. No, this is not “mass as usual,” it is mass during a pandemic. I have no idea when “normal” will return, but I am not holding my breath. I feel so sorry for teachers, parents and kids who are trying to get back to school, in some fashion, virtual or physically present. What a nightmare! Always something to pray for.
Today I had a singalong / communion service at the Wadsworth Glenn Rehab Center. Kind of odd. I am standing in the doorway playing my guitar and singing, while the residents are inside the room, most of whom had on blankets. Luckily it was not that cold. It worked out just fine. One of the workers passed out Holy Communion. As the weather gets colder, I don’t think that is going to work out too well. Hopefully we can come up with another solution. But we have to be super vigilant.
I think I mentioned I am reading a book about Andrew Jackson. It’s really good. Politics doesn’t change much, sometimes it’s pretty nasty, even back then.

Random Thoughts

Our Tag Sale, mother nature, and Mass Schedule Information

R. T. Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,

What great fall weather. So nice to sleep with blankets again.

What a terrible situation out west in CA, OR, and WA. Really hard to imagine, but after years of drought and rising temperatures, what do we expect? Mother Nature is doing her thing …..

We are going to issue GPS devices so you can find your way around the Tag Sale this coming weekend. I have never seen so much stuff in the parish center in my almost six years here. What a fantastic variety of stuff.
As I mentioned in an earlier RT, all our Masses will now be in the Church. (no room in the center). We may return to the Center for daily mass once the Center is cleaned out and the weather gets colder. Daily Mass is Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 5:00 pm, all things being equal.

My daily prayers include our teachers and students. Already we see schools closing due to C 19. What a nasty virus. I have nightmares about this coming flu season combined with C 19. Also, we cannot rush into a vaccine. Time and testing. No rush, please.

Some American bishops have mandated that people have an obligation to attend Sunday Mass, with a million exceptions. The bottom line is that YOU have to decide for yourself when it is safe for you to return to church. Many of us older priests should not be going to Mass, imagine that. Bishop Cote, wisely, is watching the situation with caution and I doubt if he will be making any statements about going back to church any time soon. We just have to wait and see.

I’m watching the Red Sox and they are tied, 0 – 0. So odd to watch a game with no fans in the seats.

Here are some pictures from our parish this week. Little Grace Helen and the church hall. So much stuff ….

Other pictures no uploading. Hopefully later on ….

Random Thoughts

Sept. 11th, 2020.

R T Friday, September 11, 2020
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,
What a near-perfect day. Low humidity. Sunshine and cooler. A taste of heaven.

I started the day off at Veteran’s Park off of Newfield Street with the local Fire Departments, Police and others. It was a 911 commemoration service. Very impressive. I said the opening and closing prayers.
Mayor Florsheim quoted the Catholic mystic Thomas Merton in his talk. The bagpipers are always so powerful. Firetrucks look even bigger when you stand next to them.

I then attended the funeral for Sister Consolata at St. Sebastian’s at 10 am. The service was broadcast to her family in Italy. The nun who sang had an awesome voice, professional. Such a treat just to listen to her sing. Fr. James Suholet from the New London area gave a fine sermon. He had met them here in Middletown after he was ordained and became a life long friend. Sister Consolata always made him blueberry pancakes after he said mass for them. I must tell the sisters that I love blueberry pancakes.

I took Myron Markowski to lunch at Guida’s in Middlefield (?) Usual hot dog, fries, and soda. I had to pay this time.

I can’t believe how much stuff is in the church hall. I’m sure everything will go just fine, as long as the weather cooperates.
I think we will begin having a 4:00 pm Saturday evening mass come October. It gets dark and many just don’t like to drive at night.

I’ll end with a sad story.
A priest embezzling lots of money for his own pleasure. When I read such a story I get really mad. But I know priests are human and subject to temptation and sometimes fall badly. I well remember the words of Father Fox, when I was with him for seven glorious years in St. John in Cromwell, from September of 1975 until June of 1982. “Russ, we only have one set of books here at St. John’s. We don’t have any slush funds or secret accounts. It is not our money. It belongs to the parish.”
As I reread this story about this Father Wehrle, I can’t comprehend how this could happen in this day and age …… WILLIAMSTON, MI — An auction was held Saturday at the Lansing-area mansion of a Catholic priest who was accused of embezzling millions of dollars before he died in March while awaiting trial. There were nearly 1,000 items for sale, including about 100 pieces of furniture from the six-bedroom home, the Lansing State Journal reported.
“It’s about four sales in one with the amount of stuff that’s out here,” auctioneer Mel White said. Fr. Jonathan Wehrle was pastor at St. Martha Church in Okemos. He lived in a 12,000-square-foot mansion in Wheatfield Township, near Williamston, which included an indoor pool, an elevator, baby grand pianos, a pipe organ, three sets of washers and dryers, and enough kitchen supplies to outfit a restaurant, the newspaper reported. Wehrle was charged with six counts of embezzling $100,000 or more from his church, although auditors said more than $5 million was missing. Police discovered $63,000 stashed above ceiling tiles. Wehrle’s attorney claimed he had family money and an agreement with a bishop, now deceased, to use parish money for a private home. Wehrle died in March at age 69. The Internal Revenue Service, an insurance company, and others are seeking money. “There are a lot of creditors lining up,” attorney Pat Gallagher said.

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Random Thoughts

Welcome autumn! Daily mass

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish, What a wonderful day. I love this kind of weather. Fall is on the way, Hurray.

This morning I had Mass with the Gianelli’s Sisters, Sister Consolata is on her way to the Lord. Please keep her in your prayers. The Middletown sisters were joined by their fellow sisters from Rhode Island. Of this group of ten, three of them were the first ones to come to the USA many years ago from Italy. None of them spoke a word of English. They settled in the Thompson area, the northeast section of Connecticut. They have three convents/schools and run a Catholic preschool in CT., RI., and NY. What a great group.

What odd weather. Record heat in the California area and record cold to the east of there. Denver will go from 92 today to 29 tomorrow. I think I’ll stay in CT.

I took my blind friend to do a little shopping in the Meriden Mall. He bought a CD of the rock group Abba. “Dancing Queen.” Great music.

I spent over an hour studying Italian and an hour reading my latest book, American Lion, Andrew Jackson. What a tough customer. Don’t mess with him!

This weekend we had both masses in the church. The parish center is now Tag Sale Central. Next week we will need lots of help. Call Sue W. and she will be glad to put you to work.

Worldwide the Corona Virus shows no signs of going away anytime soon. I hope and pray everyone takes it very seriously.

Someone asked me what I thought about this coming Christmas. Great question. Let’s just wait and see. I personally am not very optimistic. I understand Santa laid off all his Elfs. Not a good sign.

The only consolation I can take in the Red Sox downfall is that the Yankees are have having a tough time as well. Misery loves company.

Our daily 5:00 pm mass Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the church. Absolutely no room in the parish center.

Some yard signs

Random Thoughts

Obedience to Christ

Internet has been in and out over the last few days. Today Paola fixed it. For now.

This Sunday we will have both Masses in the Church.

The weather is now cooler and room is needed in the Center for the tag sale, which has been extended to two days. So much stuff and some really good stuff.

Raffle tickets are coming in nicely. Keep them coming. I got my car emissioned and filled up with gas. That doesn’t happen too often these days.

Had dinner with the Diccio family. Little four month old Grace Helen is going to be baptized in a few weeks. Such a beautiful baby.

I began doing a few masses / singalongs at One McDonough Place and Wadsworth Glen. Not like it used to be, but a giant step in the right direction.

We have to be sooooo careful. I have also stopped in to see some “communion call” people. We make sure we are Covid 19 negative and wear masks and keep our distance. Can’t be too careful.

I began reading American Lion, Andrew Jackson, by Jon Meacham. In his day they had duels. And we think our political time is tough!

My poor Red Sox. As I have already stated, this is a “fake” season. Maybe next year ….

I am saying almost all the Mass with the Gianelli Sisters on Round Hill Rd in Italian. They are so patient with me.

The other day I downloaded my Covid 19 test results (negative) from the CHC (Community Health Center on Main Street) so I could go to Wadsworth Glen.

I think you will enjoy this page about making passwords. The last four are the best, especially number 2. How do they expect me to remember the password?

Guidelines for creating secure passwords

The first step in protecting your online privacy is creating a strong password. To help you choose a secure password, we have added password strength meter that lets you know visually how safe your password is as soon as you create it. Tips for creating a secure password:

Password should be minimum 7 characters.

Do not use words that can be found in the dictionary.

Mix capital and lowercase letters.

Include symbols like @ , _ , # , * and/or numbers.

Don’t use a password that contains personal information (name, birth date, etc.)

Don’t use keyboard patterns (qwerty) or sequential numbers (1234).

Don’t make your password all numbers, uppercase letters or lowercase letters.

Don’t use repeating characters (aaaazzzz).

Tips for keeping your password secure:

Never tell your password to anyone.

Never write your password down.

Never send your password by email.

Periodically change your password.

Church officials evaluating priest who told Catholics to ‘disobey’ bishop on mask wearing Denver, Colo., Sep 2, 2020 / 03:50 pm MT (CNA). –

Both the Archdiocese of Denver and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter are reviewing the situation of a priest who told Catholics to disobey the orders of Church and civic officials regarding masks at Mass and other religious services.

In a video posted on YouTube Tuesday, Fr. Daniel Nolan told Catholics “do not obey the bishop, do not obey the governor. They cannot tell you to wear a mask. This is a lie. They are lying to all of us.” “If your bishop tells you, don’t do it. And I encourage everybody not to wear a mask. And I am telling you: disobey your bishop, disobey your governor. That’s what I’m telling you,” Nolan added.

His remarks came at the conclusion of a catechetical session offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Littleton, Colorado, which posted the video on YouTube Tuesday, and took it down on Wednesday.

Asked about the importance of obedience, Nolan told parishioners that “we ought to obey God rather than man. And if the bishop tells you to do something that is contrary to your health, contrary to reason, and contrary to the common good, disobey it.”

FYI Any priest who openly defies his Bishop can get in some hot water big time. Father Nolan is on pretty thin ice here and The AD of Denver is not going to let this by without some response.

As I reflected on this article, I wonder what Fr. Nolan means by “obeying God rather than man?” I don’t see anything in the Bible about God forbidding people to wear masks during pandemics.

For those of us old enough to remember 1974, enjoy this picture.

Random Thoughts

Who can say who is in heaven or hell?

RANDOM THOUGHTS Tuesday, September 01, 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,

I was going to write this RT last night but I went into the church basement to get some cat food, I love cats, and I missed the last step. Not a petty sight, but I didn’t break anything and this morning I feel AOK. I guess St. Francis was watching out for me.

I have been very busy, espeically with funerals. None of them have been from C 19. Just the regular stuff.

I got tested the other day before I can go into a nursing home and do mass and singalong. Came out NEGATIVE. Good news.

My diet is going very well. Down 8 pounds. Long way to go. Keep the prayers coming.

We moved the Spanish mass back into the church. As you know the Spanish have more kids than the English community. So the numbers are up. I would like to move the English mass back there also and think we can do so when the weather is cooler, like yesterday. We are getting a booster or something so the Wi-Fi will work from the church.

More stuff keeps coming in for the tag sale. Raffle tickets keep coming back. All good news.

The other day I was talking with a woman about my age and she told me when the church changed from Latin to our present church, a priest came into her class to answer some quesitons, I assume about the changes. She asked him what happened to the people who ate meat on Friday and went to hell. Where they still there? He told her, “Sit down. Shut up. Don’t be a troublemaker.” or words to that effect.

What a stupid answer! How about somehting like, “That’s a really good question. I don’t know the answer. What do you think?”

First of all, we don’t know what happens to anyone after they die. But we do know that the “good thief”on the cross with Jesus, who deserved to die because of his crimes/sins, got forgiven and made it into heaven.

No one, including the Pope, can say who is in heaven or hell. Thre is no secret list in the Vatican that has that info. God decides who gets in and who doesn’t.

All sins are not the same. Eating meat on Friday is not the same as killing someone for no good reason. If you have some secret divine info on who gets into heaven and who doesn’t, please let me know. We will write a book and makes all sort of money.

Let’s see what the Catechsim teaches.

“The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, ‘eternal fire.’ The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs” (CCC 1035).

In his 1994 book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, Pope John Paul II wrote that too often “preachers, catechists, teachers . . . no longer have the courage to preach the threat of hell” (p. 183).

Concerning the reality of hell, the pope says, “In point of fact, the ancient councils rejected the theory . . . according to which the world would be regenerated after destruction, and every creature would be saved; a theory which abolished hell. . . . [T]he words of Christ are unequivocal. In Matthew’s Gospel he speaks clearly of those who will go to eternal punishment (cf. Matt. 25:46). [But] who will these be? The Church has never made any pronouncement in this regard” (pp. 185–6).

Thus, the issue that some will go to hell is decided, but the issue of who in particular will go to hell is undecided.

Below is a picture of my brother’s new cat. Luckily he/she stays outside all the time and is self sufficient. Ironically, this creature is call a Bob Cat.

My brother’s first name is Bob. .. Here kitti kitti.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,

Enjoy the pictures. The tree is usually very bright, but this year, with so little rain, the colors are really dull.

R T 9 23 20

Pope Francis strikes again!

Sep 21, 2020 – Catholic News Service Vatican

Pictures on the Subway

R. T. 09-18-20Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,

Let’s see what the Catechsim teaches.

R. T. 09-18-20
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,