Ministries
Liturgical Ministries
Lectors/Eucharistic Ministers
Cornelia Hurwitz 203.938.0269
These important ministries at Sacred Heart are integral to our Masses. We welcome all parishioners to consider becoming a Eucharistic Minister and/or Lector. Both ministries are a wonderful way to enhance your worship experience. We will train you and accommodate your schedule to serve. If you would like more information please contact Cornelia Hurwitz at 203.938.0269.
Altar Servers
Fr. McKenna 203.544.8345
All parish boys and girls, fourth grade and older, are welcome and encouraged to become altar servers. Recruitment is normally done through the office of Religious Education. Fr. McKenna, usually at the beginning of the school year, conducts a brief period of training.
Altar Linens
Gen Fagan 203.438.5455
A small group of parishioners wash and iron the altar linens used during Mass approximately six times a year. If you are interested in joining this group please call Gen Fagan.
Music: Traditional Choir
Director - Nina DeMasi 203.394.3657
Choir Organist - Anita Porzio 203.254.6590
Organist, Saturday Vigil and Sunday 8 a.m. Mass - Christine Lomuscio 203.454.4774
The traditional adult choir of Sacred Heart Church invites anyone who might be interested in singing with us to call Nina DeMasi. We sing every Sunday at the 11:15 a.m. Mass and on various special occasions during the Liturgical year including Confirmation, Christmas, Holy Week, etc. Remember that he who sings, prays twice. We look forward to hearing from anyone who would like to join the choir. Young adults, are also encouraged to join.
Music: Folk Choir
Director – Jim Ryan 203.798.6127
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing." Psalm 100:1-2. The music ministry of the Sacred Heart Folk Group is not to perform, but to lead the congregation at the 9:30 a.m. Mass in songs of praise and worship using contemporary liturgical music. We're a small but prayerful group, always open to new members (high school and older) who would like to use their voices or instrumental talents to enrich the worship of others. We rehearse at 8:45 a.m. Sunday mornings in the rectory basement meeting room. If you feel closest to God when you're singing or playing an instrument, pray about joining us in the choir loft and contact Jim Ryan.
Spiritual Ministries
Eucharistic Adoration – First Friday of each month. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, concluding with Benediction at 12:00 Noon. This is a grace-filled opportunity to pray quietly in the presence of the Eucharistic Lord.
Miraculous Medal Novena is after the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Mondays.
Padre Pio Devotion takes place on the first Monday of each month immediately following Miraculous Medal Novena. (See above.)
Rosary is prayed after each weekday Mass.
Sacred Heart Men's Ministry - Jim Ryan 203-798-6127. Sometimes it's hard being a Christian man in today's world. You don't have to do it alone. Gain strength and insights from discussing relevant topics, guided by scripture, with other men of our parish. Join us on Saturday mornings in the Rectory Meeting Room from 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. (a time that won't interfere with your other family activities). We know it's early, but it's a unique opportunity to grow spiritually with other men facing similar challenges.
Emergency Prayer Chain - Susan Barnett 203.834.7663 Marie Hawes 203.938.2639. This ministry is for emergency situations which will best benefit from our immediate joining in prayer. Anyone with a prayer request may call Susan or Marie who will then activate the chain. Every year, we ask parishioners who feel called to this ministry to sign up.
Bible Study - The spring program will begin on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the Catechetical Center meeting room. We are currently studying the Gospel of Luke.
Outreach Ministries
Soup Kitchen – Paula Hand 203.762.5856, Lauren Mirabile 203.761.8621. The Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen Cooks Ministry began nearly thirty years ago in response to a need to supply food for the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen. Faithfully, every month, a nutritious meal consisting of main dish, salad, fruit, and dessert is prepared in your home and delivered to the Sacred Heart Rectory meeting room on the fourth Monday of every month. It is delivered to Danbury, where it is given to the less fortunate. This ministry nurtures Christ's call to tend to all people of every ethnic background.
Elderly and Homebound - Call the rectory when any parishioner is hospitalized, scheduled for surgery, seriously ill, or confined to home. Due to current hospital privacy laws it is necessary to inform the priests of relatives or friends whom you would like to have visited.
Family Connections - 203.544.8423. Family Connections is a family-oriented organization within the parish of Sacred Heart Church. Its goals have always been to develop closer family and community relationships, to share Christian values, and to sponsor fundraising events that benefit the parish and religious education program. After ten years, Family Connections is an integral part of our parish community.
Catholic Engaged Encounter - Catholic Engaged Encounter - Diane and Jim Ryan 203.798.6127. Engaged Encounter is a weekend for couples planning marriage who desire an in-depth opportunity to deepen and enrich their lives together. The weekend allows engaged couples to take a break from the hectic pace of wedding plans and focus on themselves, their relationship, and the building blocks needed for a successful marriage. The atmosphere of the weekend lets couples further explore their values, goals, attitudes and beliefs about love, communication, decision-making, commitment, time, sex, faith, etc. The weekend fulfills diocesan requirements for marriage preparation. Visit Catholic Engaged Encounter
Family to Family / Redirection of Christmas - Sue Dorensbosch 203.938.0283, RedirectionofChristmas@yahoo.com. Each Christmas, hundreds of families in our surrounding communities struggle to provide even the basics, much less the small “extras” that others may take for granted. The Redirection of Christmas ministry enables donor families to “adopt” low income families at Christmas and buy gifts for these families. The recipient families are affiliated with Catholic parishes and community outreach organizations in low-income areas of Bridgeport and Stamford. Many of these families have income below the poverty line, and for them, day-to-day living is a struggle.
The Sacred Heart Redirection of Christmas ministry encourages those who have more to redirect what they have to families in need. It’s a redirection of money, time, and heart to help those less fortunate. The program typically starts in the August / September timeframe, with gifts being delivered to the recipients in mid-December.
The program is not limited to Sacred Heat Parishioners, and anyone may participate by signing up to adopt a family of any size. We are always in need of Committee members and leaders as well!
Organizations
Parish Advisory Council - The Parish Advisory Council, as its name suggests, advises the pastor on matters of parish affairs. It is composed of members of the parish staff, chairpersons or representatives of various parish ministries and organizations as well as members appointed by the pastor on the basis of their particular expertise. For further information, to make suggestions, or ask questions regarding parish activities, please call the parish office 203.544.8345.
Parish Finance Board - The Parish Finance Board meets regularly throughout the year to analyze the parish’s financial status and to make recommendations for future needs and for the wise stewardship of our parish assets.
Buildings and Grounds Committee meets monthly to discuss the condition of the parish buildings and to make suggestions for repairs as needed or future projects to consider.
Parish Ministries Schedule
| Meeting | Day | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bible Study | Tuesday | 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. | Bible Study meets in the Catechetical Center beginning April 26, 2011. |
| Adult Choir Practice | Tuesday | 6:30 p.m. | Chuch choir loft. |
| First Friday | Friday | 8:30 a.m. | Prayer during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament ending with Benediction at noon. |
| Folk Choir Practice | Sunday | 8:45 a.m. | Prior to 9:30 a.m. Mass in Rectory meeting room. |
| Marriage Planning | Scheduled | Scheduled | Call rectory six months in advance to make plan. |
| Parish Advisory | Monday | 7:30 p.m. | Meets in Rectory periodically between September and June. |
| Pre-Baptism | Monday | Scheduled | Meets first Monday of the month (when scheduled). Call rectory to register for program. |
| Reconciliation | Saturday | 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. EST 4:15 - 5:00 p.m. DST or by appointment |
Church, before 4:15 p.m. Mass during EST, or 5:15 p.m. Mass during DST |
| Stations of Cross | Friday | 7:30 p.m. | Each Friday during Lenten Season. |