Welcome to St. John Church, located on Route 372 East in Cromwell, Connecticut.  We are a Roman Catholic faith community whose focus is on being a family.  Through Baptism, our members are all daughters and sons of one Father.
 
St. John’s is in the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut, with the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D. as its Bishop.
 
Since 1995, the Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Angels Province of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual have staffed the Parish.  
 
If you are new to Cromwell or are looking for a church in the area, we invite you to come and join us for a weekend liturgy.
 
If you are already a member of St. John Parish family, we encourage you to continue to live your faith and to build a Parish family in the spirit of the Gospel.   We are grateful that you generously share your faith, love, time, talent, and treasure - all for the glory of God and in service to others.

Fr. Mark L. Curesky, OFM Conv.
Pastor

The number of Covid-19 cases in Connecticut is rising.  This must be taken into consideration and will impact how we will celebrate Advent and Christmas here at St. John’s.

We will continue to collect personal care and home care items, as well as non-perishable protein, for Cromwell’s Food Pantry.  Please continue to drop in the bins at the doors of the Church: bars of soap, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, antibacterial cleaning supplies, etc, as well as non-perishable protein: tuna fish, canned beef stew, canned chicken, corned beef hash, peanut butter, jelly, pasta sauce (pasta is not needed at this time) .
In addition, the Knights of Columbus of DeSoto Council #6, will be conducting a collection of personal care and home care items, as well as non-perishable food for Cromwell’s Food Pantry at their Hall on 573 Main Street starting on Saturday, November 21 through Friday, December 11 .  See the promo for the Knights’ collection inserted  in this weekend’s bulletin, as well as on our Parish’s website..

Our annual Giving Tree is also impacted by Covid-19.  Gathering around the tree to select an ornament with a gift request is not able to be done with social distancing.   Having to shop for the requested gift and the multiple handling of the gifts are a concern when you are trying to reduce the spread of the virus.  Therefore, in consultation with the social workers of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), we are asking you to donate $25 gift cards for Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and Marshalls which will be given to the children and youth under the care of DCF.
On the Giving Tree were also requests for gift cards to Stop & Shop and/or one pound boxes of chocolates for those who seek help from Amazing Grace Food Pantry and DePaul Place in Middletown.  We will not be collecting one pound boxes of chocolates, but we will be collecting $25 gift cards for Stop and Shop.
There will be a Christmas box in the sanctuary to collect all gift cards.  The deadline for donating these gift cards is Sunday, December 13^th .                     

For the past several years, our Parish has supported the Christmas Day Dinner offered by Christ Church in Middletown.  Christmas is the only day that the St. Vincent DePaul Society does not serve a meal at DePaul Place in Middletown. Our Parish has been providing bags of homemade Christmas cookies and little boxes of chocolates.  This year, however, homemade cookies cannot be part of the Christmas Day Dinner.  Christ Church has asked for store-bought packaged cookies.  I will provide the money to purchase the cookies from our Church’s charity fund.  Therefore, we will not be asking for homemade Christmas cookies or store bought packaged cookies this year.

Advent

I am very conscious of the impact of Covid-19 on our Parish’s finances.  I have cutback and will continue to cutback expenses in order to live within our reduced income.   I am sure you are doing the same.  Therefore, Advent Blue Books are be one of the cutbacks.  There will be no Advent Blue Books this year.

Social distancing will also impact families/individuals lighting the candles of the Advent wreath.  While we will have an Advent wreath in the sanctuary, I will be the one lighting the candles this year.  
 
Christmas Masses

Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year.  So Christmas Masses will bleed into the weekend Masses.  The schedule will be: on December 24, Christmas eve, 3 Masses (1 pm, 4 pm, and 8 pm); on December 25, Christmas day, 3 Masses (7:30 am, 9:30 am and 11:30 am); on Saturday December 26, 1 Mass (4 pm); and on Sunday December 27, 2 Masses (7:30 am and 9:30 am).  These Masses will also be streamed.
Given limited available seating in the Church and in order to come to Church knowing that you will have a seat, you must obtain tickets for the Christmas eve and day Masses.   If you do not have a ticket, you will not be permitted to enter the Church.
Tickets will be color-coded and will be issued for a specific Mass.  For example, you will not be able to use the 7:30 am Mass ticket for the 9:30 am Mass.   
A ticket request form is part of this overview which is available at all the doors of the Church.  This overview with the ticket request form will also be available on the Parish’s website. 
All ticket request forms must be returned to the Church by Sunday, December 13^th. 
Tickets will be issued on a first come basis.

Click here for the Ticket Request form for Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  The form mail be mailed, dropped for or put in the collection basket.

The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation remains suspended.  Therefore, if you choose to come to Church for Mass, you can come on any day. Or, you can attend a streamed or televised Mass.   You can also choose to read and reflect on the Scriptures, especially the Sunday readings, or recite the rosary. 

I.  Making the decision to come to Church for Mass
 a.)  If you are ill, please do not come to Church for Mass or for adoration.
b.)  If you are in the high risk category due to current illness, age or a chronic health condition, please be aware of the risk to yourself.
 c.)  If you are uncomfortable or do not feel safe, remain at home.         
d.)  If you have traveled to a “hotspot” state, please do not come to Church until you have quarantined for 14 days.
e.)  If you wish to receive the Eucharist and are not ill, you can receive Communion in the front parking lot of the Church.

II.  Mass, Distribution of Communion in Parking Lot & Confession Schedule
 Saturdays
*4 pm Mass with limited social distance seating (overflow in the Church hall where Mass is streamed with distribution of Communion at the end of the streamed Mass by a Eucharistic Minister)
* 5:30-5:45 pm distribution of Communion in the front parking lot (or at the front portico of the Church if it is raining)

 Sundays
 *7:30 am and 9:30 am Masses with limited social distance seating (overflow in the Church hall where Mass is streamed with distribution of Communion at the end of the streamed Mass by a Eucharistic Minister)
* 11-11:30 am distribution of Communion in the front parking lot (or at the front portico of the Church if it is raining)
 
 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday  Mass
*  9 am Mass

 Thursday Mass
*   5:30pm

Confessions
 Saturday, 3 -3:30 pm

III.  Requirements
a.)  Wearing a mask and social distancing are required upon entering the Church, while in Church and departing from the Church.
b.)  On Saturday and Sunday for Confession and Mass, entrance to the Church is restricted to the doors by the elevator and the elevator (front parking lot of the Church).  All other times, you may enter the Church by any of the doors of the Church.

IV.  Reception of Communion
 a.)   Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass in order for social distancing to be observed.
 b.)   To receive Communion in the Church proper, use the center aisle and form a social  stance single file.  As you approach the priest or Eucharistic Minister, lower your mask.  The consecrated host will be placed in your hand (Communion will not be given on the tongue.)  Consume the consecrated host, replace your mask, and then return to your seat forp rayer or depart from the Church

V.  Divine Mercy Chapel
 a.)  In accord with social distancing, only 5 persons are to be in the Chapel at one time.
 b.)  Given the small space of the Chapel, in addition to social distance seating, wearing a mask is to be observed.
 c.)  From 9 pm to 6:30 am, you must be a committed adorer with a code to enter the Chapel.
 

Office (860) 635-5590
Fax (860) 635-5591
Faith Formation Office (860)635-5156

Monday - Thursday
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Friday
Parish Office Closed
 

Pastor’s Musings

* This weekend, we begin an Advent that is like no other.   We are in the throes of Covid-19.   I do not believe that it is an exaggeration to say that we want what we are experiencing to come to an end.   It is truly an experience of being held captive.
   What we have been doing through the washing of our hands, the wearing of masks and social distancing does not bring an end to the pandemic.  It is a way to curtail the spread of the virus and to keep ourselves and others safe.  We are waiting for the promised vaccine.
   Advent is a time that is focuses our attention on what it means to wait and to watch for the Lord.   What we are experiencing during the pandemic certainly provides us with a tangible experience of what it means to wait.  We need patience and to maintain hope.   We desire to experience joy and love which have been impacted by what we experiencing. 
   As we light the candles of the Advent wreath, may we be strengthened in patience and hope, as we long for the joy and love of the Lord whose birth we celebrate this Christmas.

* Through our observance of Advent, we are choosing not to turn in ourselves.   Our reaching out to help our brothers and sisters draws us into the spirit of God who reaches out of himself to express his love for us through the gift of his Son, Jesus.

* As a Parish family, we seek to help our Cromwell families in need with personal care items, home care items and protein through Cromwell’s Food Pantry: bars of soap, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, antibacterial cleaning supplies, etc., as well as tuna fish, canned beef stew, canned chicken, corned beef hash, peanut butter, jelly, pasta sauce (pasta is not needed at this time).  We do this by dropping these items in the bins at the doors of the Church or by supporting the Knights of Columbus collection at the Knights Hall on 573 Main Street for Cromwell’s Food Pantry.

* Our Giving Tree this year has us giving but without a tree.   You are asked to donate $25 Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and Marshall’s gift cards for the children and youth under the care of the Department of Children and Families and $25 Stop & Shop gift cards for those who use the services of Amazing Grace & DePaul Place in Middletown.   The gift cards may be placed in the Christmas boxes on the sanctuary with a deadline of Sunday, December 13^th.

* Christmas eve and day Masses:   You will need a ticket to attend the Masses on Christmas eve and day.   The ticket request form is available at the doors of the Church, on the Parish’s website and has been mailed to our registered parishioners for whom we do not have an email address.  Tickets will be allotted on a first come basis.  No request forms will be accepted after Sunday, December 13^th.

God bless,
fr. Mark                   

As of October 29, the Cromwell Food Pantry is in need of:

• pasta sauce (not pasta)
• peanut butter
• canned vegetables
• canned tuna and chicken
• chili
• hash
• beef stew
• peanut butter
• any kind of non-perishable protein