About Us Blogs!
New Website for men
[Pastor]
08/31/2010
By Couturier, George
I just discovered a wonderful new spirituality for men website. It really is for everyone. Father Richard Rohr, OFM is the author and offers amazing insights and advice for the spiritual journey.
Check out the website: www.menonthejourney.loyolapress.com
New Translation of Mass
[Pastor]
08/31/2010
By Couturier, George
Cardinal Francis George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has announced that the full text of the English-language translation of the Roman Missal, Third Ed., has been issued for the dioceses of the USA.
Cardinal George announced receipt of the documents in an August 2nd letter to the US Bishops and issued a decree of proclamation that states that "The use of the third edition of the Roman Missal enters into use in the dioceses of the USA as of the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. From that date forward, no other edition of the Roman Missal may be used in the dioceses of the USA.
There will be no major structural change to the Mass as we know it today. However, there will be many translation changes that will impact the prayers and rituals we are presently accustomed to using at each Mass. Over the next year we will be offering homilies, bulletin announcements, bulletin inserts, etc as tools for the preparation for these changes to our Mass. This will be an opportunity to rediscover the beauty and mystery of this central action, prayer and sacrament of our Church.
For more information check: www.usccb.org/romanmissal
In Memory of Steven
[Pastor]
08/24/2010
By Couturier, George
Dear Parishioners,
It is so very sad that I announce the untimely death of one of our very young parishioners while serving in the military in Afghanistan. This past weekend, Steven DeLuzio, 25, was tragically killed along with two other soldiers. None of us can fully comprehend the grief and loss his parents, Diane and Mark, are encountering at this time. May our prayers and support lift them, and the entire family, up to a place of godly embrace, hope and peace. Words can not express enough the sorrow we feel and know at this time.
At this time all funeral plans are pending. In the meantime, pray for the DeLuzios and for peace.
Father William Traxl
[Pastor]
06/18/2010
By Couturier, George
Well everyone, we had a marvelous celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Father Traxl as a priest. It was a smashing success due to the generosity of so many. The volunteers and planners were truly outstanding a real testament to the love they have for Father Traxl and their respect for priesthood. Father Traxl was deeply touched and appreciative.
Thank God the celebration was last Sunday...for this week, Father Traxl suffered a heart attack. Fortunately, he listened to the symptoms and was quickly rushed to the hospital. On Friday of this week he underwent surgery to correct the problem. Your prayers and support will be greatly appreciated.
One lesson from all this is to savor the moment and enter into life fully. To enter into living with faith and trust in our God who calls us to life in its fullest sense. Say thanks for the blessings and embrace the ones you love.
Springtime
[Pastor]
05/28/2010
By Couturier, George
Yes, it is a wonderful Spring filled with the beauty of nature and the hope we needed after a long winter. Beyond the weather and mother nature; our parish has been alive with Springtime activities. Recently, we celebrated the conferal of two sacraments of initiation: First Eucharist and Confirmation. The kids and young adults were obviously excited and prepared for these two powerful sacramental encounters with the Lord. We are grateful to all who prepared the students: parents, catechists and staff. A special word of thanks to Debbie Brinckman and Gina Raymond for their outstanding leadership in these programs of religious and spiritual formation. It was a sincere pleasure to welcome Bishop Christie Macaluso to our parish for the two confirmation ceremonies.
As you know, I was placed under arrest for the Muscular Dystrophy Association on May 25th. My bail was set at $2400. Due to your wonderful generosity and timely response I was able to present them with a bail of $3436. To say the least, they were pleased. I am grateful for your generosity and your allowing me to go free..however, the jail at Carbone's was nothing to sneeze at.
Over the past few months there have been questions and concerns about pending state and federal legistation that the leadership of our local and country-wide bishops have been addressing through formal statements. To learn more about the intricate statement of Archbishop Mansell concerning the proposed legislation about the "statutes of limitations" I draw your attention to his article in the Catholic Transcript www.catholictranscript.org/archbishops-desk/1386-statute-of-limitations. For teaching on the issue of immigration, which has become an important issue for our nation, I draw your attention to the USCCB (United States Catholic Conference of Bishops) website: www.justiceforimmigrants.org There you will find a wealth of information and teaching.
I want to remind you of three important events in June. The first is the celebration of 50 years of priesthood for Father William Traxl to be celebrated here on Sunday June 13th at the 11:30 Mass and a formal reception after Mass. If you are able to attend I ask that you RSVP the parish office soon so we can appropriately prepare for the event. May father enjoy many more years of ministry and health. Our second event is in gratitude for the service of four members of our staff who are moving on. Jane Thomas, Debbie Brinckman, Kathy Dahlem and Kara Nelson have given extraordinary time and talent to the life and mission of our parish. Please come Saturday evening June 5th starting with Mass at 4:00 p.m. and a reception after Mass. Finally, a celebration for our graduates with a Baccalaurieate Mass on Sunday June 6th at 11:30 a.m. followed by a reception. At Mass we will award the annual Father Joseph Bannon Scholarship to one of our graduates. Come and pray for them and wish them well as they continue their journeys.
As you can see, I have not written in awhile....it has been busy. Hopefully, I will continue this blog in a more timely fashion in the weeks ahead. Enjoy your summer and be refreshed.
Strategic Planning
[Pastor]
04/26/2010
By Couturier, George
Well, we begin the last full week of April. Where, oh where, has the month gone?!
Tonight (Monday April 26th) we start the process of strategic planning. Eight representatives of our parish community are meeting this evening to begin the necessary planning and implementing for this process. With the professional help of Sr. Mary Alice Kline, RSM we will embark on a journey of discovery and discernment about the next five years of our parish life. By the beginning of the new year, we hope to have a revised mission/vision statement and a workable set of goals and objectives. This process will involve much information gathering and listening to the wisdom of our parish community. On every step along the way, we will be sharing with you the progress of this planning process.
In the Old Testament Book of Proverbs 29:18 it states quite clearly: "without vision, the people perish" In other words, and for our context, it would be deadly for our parish not to plan for its future. A viable parish is one that is constantly listening and planning on how to better "make real" the Word of God. To just coast along with the status quo and settle for the path of least resistance will only lead us to stagnation and a dead end. The heart of the Easter message is the miraculous truth of the dying and rising of Jesus. Therefore, we are invited to enter into that mystery in very real and concrete ways...dying to the ways that do not lead to life in the Lord and rising each day to the new and powerful ways of bringing the Good News to ourselves, our families, our community, our parish and our world. The truth of Jesus' rising never changes but how we communicate and live it out changes each day. People without a vision perish. So does a parish.
So with your wholehearted support, help and prayers we can begin this process of discovering where we go next with this great Good News. We will probably discover how well we are already doing...that need not change. On the other hand, we may discover where we need to go to be ever more creative in helping the Good News flourish in our little piece of the Kingdom of God.
To say the least, I am very curious to see where this leads us. I bet it will be exciting.
New Staff
[Pastor]
04/13/2010
By Couturier, George
After a long and thorough process (with alot of help), I am very happy to announce the appointment of these new staff members:
Parish Manager: Linda DiCaprio
Religious Education Manager: Patricia Kearney
Religious Education Coordinator-PreK through Eighth: Rose Slusarczyk
They will begin their new positions on Monday May 3, 2010. As in all transitions we need to provide them with our patience, support and prayers. They are all parishioners and active members of our parish faith community and bring a variety of skills and talents necessary for each of their new positions.
I am very grateful to Jane Thomas, Debbie Brinckman, Kathy Dahlem and Kara Nelson for their extremely dedicated service to our parish. They will be missed...however, I am certain that their future will be rich with new and wholesome adventures that will bring them joy and satisfaction in new ways. I ask that we pray for each of them and express our gratitude in our own way. There will be a Mass and reception for them on Saturday evening June 5, 2010. It will begin with Mass at 4:00 p.m. and move into the Fr. Bannon Memorial Hall for a reception. Please, I invite all parishioners to come and share in this moment of tribute.
While I have your attention, I would like to announce a change in the ministry and presence of Sr. Mary O'Neill. After much prayer and consideration, Sr. Mary has decided to reduce her time and ministry to a half-time position. I am so very grateful she is not leaving us completely. She will continue many of the projects and ministries but at a reduced amount of time. This will provide her the well-deserved time to pursue other life and ministry opportunities. What an asset she has been to our little piece of the Kingdom of God here in East Glastonbury. However, she will continue, thank God, to touch lives and inspire souls for some years to come.
So, as you can see, there has been alot going on around here.
I am so very grateful for the many folks that helped with the search process for new staff and for the prayers, support, patience and encourage of everyone during this process of discernment.
To close, I share with you this wonderful little poem that stumbled across during this Easter Season:
"The man whispered, "God, speak
to me." And the meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.
So, the man yelled, "God, speak to me." And
thunder and lightening rolled across the sky.
But the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said, "God,
let me see you." And a star shone brightly.
But the man did not see.
The man shouted, "God, show me
a miracle." And a life was born.
But the man did not notice.
So the man cried out in despair,
"Touch me God and let me know
you are here."
God reached down and touched
the man, But the man brushed the
butterfly away and walked on."
(Anonymous)
Happy Easter and God Bless!!!
Father George Couturier
Holy Week
[Pastor]
03/29/2010
By Couturier, George
I am so sorry. I have not written in awhile.
Well, we entered triumphantly with Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. This ushers in the holiest of all weeks for Christians around the world. Certainly, I would encourage wholehearted participation in the religious festivities of this week. Please see the front page of our website for all the scheduled liturgical events. It is a time for us to journey with Jesus on his road to Calvary and beyond to Easter. We do not just remember the historical events...we enter into the present reality of the Paschal Mystery of dying and rising. We are encouraged to participate by dying to the sins, fears, doubts, divisions, poor attitudes, etc and rise with the Lord, by His grace and love, into a renewed life away from all the darkness and alienation that separate us from God, neighbor and our best selves. One of the poignant moments of the Saturday Easter Vigil Mass is the lighting of the Easter fire on our side lawn...then the procession of lighted candles into the darkness of the church. Little by little the dark church glows in the new fire. More than ever we need the glow of Jesus' resurrected life in our lives and our world. Out of that glow comes new beginnings, new insights and creative solutions that best reflect the teaching of Christ and Church.
On Saturday last, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a portion of the men's retreat held at the Holy Family Retreat Center. Forty-two of our guys spent some quality time away to rest, refresh and reignite their spiritual lives. What a wonderful way to begin their Holy Week. I was impressed to say the least.
The search process for the three new parish employment positions is well underway. We have a good number of candidates which makes the process rich. However, it also slows down the process a bit. We want to take the right time and consideration in finding the best folks to take on these vital ministries. Please pray for us as we make discerning decisions.
Finally, I would ask for continued prayers for our Universal Church as we continue to confront the hard realities of scandal. Pray for victims, justice, hope, transparency and renewal. These are very sad days...a long Good Friday meditation and reality that needs a lot of Easter newness.
I wish you and your loved ones the blessed joy of Easter!!
Job Opening: Parish Manager
[Pastor]
03/12/2010
By Couturier, George
After 16 years of generous service to our parish, Jane Thomas, our business manager has decided to retire. She will be missed!
Therefore, the position of Parish Manager (new title) will be open to any qualified person. Here is the advertisement for the position:
PARISH MANAGER
Saint Dunstan Church, Glastonbury, CT is presently in search of a Parish Manager to replace our long-time (16 years) business manager. The new position of Parish Manager will be a key role in the day-to-day administration of the parish. This qualified person will serve as a staff resource in support of the pastor, fulfilling parish administrative needs in finance, buildings and grounds, office/administration, personnel and daily parish activities. A qualified candidate will be an active Roman Catholic, with excellent interpersonal, communication, computer and bookkeeping skills. Also, the candidate must have significant ability to prioritize, be self-motivated, proactive, analytical and flexible. The hours for this position will be 30 hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., for 12 months of the year with occasional evening and weekend hours.
For further information, a detailed job description and application are available by contacting: Father George Couturier (Pastor) at 860-633-3317 or e-mail at gmcsts@aol.com.
Per policy of the Archdiocese of Hartford, this position requires a criminal background check prior to hiring and Virtus training. Inteviews will begin as soon as possible.
New Jobs Available
[Pastor]
03/04/2010
By Couturier, George
Recently, three of our religious education coordinators informed me of their plans for the future. Due to life changes and new opportunities Debbie Brinckman, Kathy Dahlem and Kara Nelson have decided not to continue their ministries at the end of this RE season. I am sad to hear of their decision but totally understand and support them in their future plans. I am deeply appreciative of their dedication and diligent ministry. They will be missed!
With these vacancies it has given us a healthy opportunity to look at the possibility of reorganizing the the RE staff structure. After much prayer and careful consideration we have decided to restructure the RE office with the following three positions: 1) Coordinator of Confirmation and Youth Ministry 2) Coordinator of PreK - Eighth Grades 3) Religious Education Manager.
The Coordinator of Confirmation/ Youth Ministry will be filled by the very faith-filled and competent Gina Raymond.
The two other new positions have been profiled (see below) and applications will be taken immediately.
Religious Education Manager
This position will entail the day-to-day operation and administrative oversight of the religious education office in close relationship and support of the two Religious Education Coordinators. It will require the skills of a very computer literate, highly organized, detailed oriented, flexible, people nurturing, proactive, team playing and practicing Roman Catholic. This is a ten month position requiring a five hour work day totaling 25 hours per week.
Religious Education Coordinator: PreK - Eighth Grades
This position requires a person of faith, who is a practicing Catholic desiring to participate in the mission and ministry of education and faith formation of our parish children. This person will coordinate the implementation and ongoing review of our PreK through Eighth Grades programs. The qualified person will have excellent organizational, interpersonal and public speaking skills, the ability to teach and facilitate groups of students, be conversant with Church Teaching and policies Archdiocese and parish, proactive in building relationships with volunteers and parents, work as a team with other staff (especially the RE Manager and Youth Ministry/Confirmation Coordinator), a creative spirit, and a general ease and joy with children. This is a salaried position with 20 flexible hours per week for ten months of the year. It requires evening and weekend hours. Hours and salary may be adjusted after the 6-8 grade program is evaluated.
For further information, a detailed job description for each position and application, please contact: Mrs. Jane Thomas (Business Manager) or Father George Couturier (Pastor) at 860-633-3317.
Per policy of the Archdiocese of Hartford, both positions require a criminal background check prior to hiring and Virtus Training. Interviews will begin as soon as possible.
Open Hands
[Pastor]
02/23/2010
By Couturier, George
Think about it...our hands are powerful when used in human relationships. Hands can protect, comfort and nurture. Also they can destroy, abuse and wound. The image of the hand can be used in a powerful reflection about our relationship with God and prayer. It seems that Jesus is frequently teaching about our potential relationship with God the Father in prayer. He not only teaches the means and practices of prayer...he teaches the appropriate attitude or disposition we need in prayer. Jesus is always modelling and teaching vulnerability, openness and hospitality in our stance of prayer before the Lord. In my mind there is no better way to describe this than with the "open hand". We come before the Lord with hands lifted up in thanks to the God who gives all good things to us, hands extended in welcome to all God's children, hands opened to give and receive forgiveness, mercy and justice.
Conversely, the fist, especially when raised in a threat or anger, is a sign of violence and intimidation. Think about it, with closed hands we are unwilling to let go of stuff; with clenched fists we express that we are willing to assault and hurt or beat down. The fist clearly represents the closed heart, mind and spirit of the person not willing to approach God in openness.
Let us approach the Lenten season with open hands and resist the temptation to clench the fist. Take time to reflect on this "handy" image and see what you discover.
Lent
[Pastor]
02/16/2010
By Couturier, George
Grettings on a snowy tuesday!! When will winter end? Oh well, can't change that...but for certain Lent begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday. I learned of a Catholic tradition, for the first time, called "burying the alleluia". There are churches that literally take a piece of music containing the words alleluia, pack it in a box, seal the box and bury the box for the entire season of Lent. A symbolic way of stripping the Lenten season of Easter responses and entering us into the starkness of the season of reflection and penance.
Today is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, a day to feast and celebrate before we enter into the season of fasting and abstinence. Today I will feast at a local Chinese eatery not only to celebrate Mardi Gras but to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Two feastings for the price of one...I am so frugal. Here is a wonderful reflection on Lenten fasting:
Lent is a time that calls us:
to fast from discontent and to feast on gratitude;
to fast from anger and to feast on patience;
to fast from bitterness and to feast on forgiveness;
to fast from self-concern and to feast on compassion;
to fast from discouragement and to feast on hope;
to fast from laziness and to feast on commitment;
to fast from complaining and to feast on acceptance;
to fast from lust and to feast on respect;
to fast from prejudice and to feast on understanding;
to fast from resentment and to feast on reconciliation;
to fast from lies and to feast on the truth;
to fast from wasted time and to feast on honest work;
to fast from grimness and to feast on joy;
to fast from suspicion and to feast on trust;
to fast from idle talk and to feast on prayer and silence;
to fast from guilt and to feast on the mercy of God.
(based on a version attributed to William Arthur Ward)
Here are some great website for your own personal Lenten journey and retreat..great stuff here:
www.sacredspace.ie Jesuits of Ireland
www.loyolapress.com go to the section titled Lenten Retreat
www.grainofwheat.net
www.cilent.ie another fascinating Irish resource
As you enter this holy season of Lent keep your eye, your hope, your dream on the Easter to come!!!
Permanent Deacon
[Pastor]
02/09/2010
By Couturier, George
Dear Saint Dunstan parishioners I am happy to announce that Archbishop Mansell has appointed another Permanent Deacon to our parish beginning immediately. Deacon Ronald Daigle presently resides with his family in South Windsor. He was ordained a Deacon in 1991 and is presently employed by the Windham Public Schools as a certified school psychologist. His family, work and ministry experience will benefit our parish in many ways. We will give him some time to get his feet wet and come to know us before we ask him to consider some specific duties and responsibilities.
Deacon Peter Klein will continue to be assigned to our parish as well. Peter's ministry has focused primarily (and will continue to focus) on Marriage preparations for our engaged couples, baptisms and assistance at liturgical celebrations. I am deeply grateful for Peter's assistance and support in ministry.
Let me take a few moments now to review the role of Deacon in the Roman Catholic tradition.
A Deacon is a clergyperson who receives the sacrament of Holy Orders. Having received the same sacrament of Holy Orders that a priest or bishop receives, the deacon works in harmony with the priests and the bishop to build up the Kingdom of God. He assists the bishop and priests in their ministry. He is ordained, not to priesthood but to service. This service is three-fold:
- Charity, in which he is of service to the community.
- Word, in which he proclaims the Gospel and preaches.
- Liturgy, in which he assists at Mass, is an ordinary minister of the Eucharist and baptism, witnesses marriages, and leads the community in prayer.
Because of his family and work life, a deacon is someone who is a sacramental sign of Christ within the wider community beyond the walls of a given parish church. Therefore, the deacon also serves as a prophetic reminder to all the baptized of their responsibility to care for others.
Finally, the title "Deacon" comes from the Greek word "diakonos" which means servant or waiter. What an awesome role and ministry to have....filled with adventure and responsibility.
Please prayer for both Deacon Peter and Deacon Ron as they continue their ministry to and with us.
Annual Report
[Pastor]
02/01/2010
By Couturier, George
Most pastors fret about having to do the annual report. Pastors' are required to to take on this task once a year. It is painful because none of us like to talk about money. However, and more importantly, the report is not just about finances. It is about the life and accomplishments of the parish over a given year. Also, it is an opportunity to present goals and objectives for the coming year.
The past year, at Saint Dunstan, was filled with exciting and fulfilling programs and activities that represent a parish alive and well...continuing to grow. Over the past two years we have seen an average increase of 20% at Masses on the weekends. This past year we have observed an approximate 20% increase in giving at our weekend collections. The 20% increase in giving has helped us come close to our weekly budgetary needs of $9200.
Over the past year, there have been a wide variety of events and programs that reflect the vitality of St. Dunstan. The one program that really sticks in my memory was the Parish Mission with Mr. Steven Angrisano. Through his music and talks he led our parish community through a powerful experience of shared faith and encouragement. In many ways the fruits of this program proved to be a very good use of our resources.
There are many goals for our new year. Two goals that I need to call your attention to. 1. It is our hope to plan and implement some new efforts for our youth ministry. Based on the positive trends in financial support and the enthusiasm of some adult and youth volunteers we are able to move in this direction. 2. Hopefully, the parish council will begin in September a process of strategic planning for the future direction of our parish. This process will require the commitment of the parish council...of the entire parish so we can discover and articulate the assets and goals of our parish for the next five to ten years. It will also require the help of a professional to lead us objectively through this planning process. Presently, I am pursuing the help of such a person.
I am deeply indebted to the Susan Petrogallo-Haggett (our CPA and Finance Council Chair), Jane Thomas (our business manager) and Parish Finance Council for their wisdom, direction and hard work. Without them I would be overwhelmed and lost.
A word of gratitude to the entire staff: They have participated wholeheartedly in the direction which our parish is taking. In fact they are directly responsible for the growth and vitality of our community of faith. At great sacrifice, they have stepped up to the plate to bring enthusiasm, faith and love to our little corner of the Universal Church.
Finally, I am profoundly grateful for the moral support, prayers, cooperation and generosity (in time, talent and treasure) of the entire parish community. This is very affirming of my attempts to be a good and decent pastoral leader. My prayers and blessing for each of you.
Marriage
[Pastor]
01/27/2010
By Couturier, George
Dear friends, this weekends scripture readings for Mass includes the very popular and famous passage from Saint Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 12:31-13:13 that is most often read at weddings (Love is patient, love is kind....). I can't help but think of the many discussions and debates going on around the meaning and purposes of marriage these days. Throughout the country marriages in Catholic churches is significantly down and divorce is still a huge phenomenon. In light of these trends and debates, the American Catholic Bishops have written a pastoral letter about the issues at hand. Also, they have produced a wonderful website that is filled with resources for couples who plan to marry, for those who have been married awhile, for marriages struggling and the core teachings on the meaning and purpose of marriage. Check out their new website: www.foryourmarriage.org and you will find a wealth of information and inspiration.
This past week I was a participant in a "focus group" to discuss options for new programs to prepare couples for marriage. It was exciting to share ideas and hopes for new ways to engage the couples in meaningful conversations prior to their sacramental commitment. Often times couples see this preparation process as a nuisance and a burden...however, I believe we owe it to couples to help unpack the meaning of what they are taking on.
In early February, we will be presenting at all Sunday Masses the opportunity to make a Marriage Encounter. It is a weekend experience for a married couple to step back, look and celebrate their commitment in a retreat setting. What a wonderful Valentine gift a couple could give to each other.
On another topic, if you are a church news junky, I just stumbled upon a neat website called www.romereports.com an international news agency providing video news, features and documentaries services to TV stations, run by the non-profit Italian organization, Fondazione Perseus.
We will be hearing for a long time about the sad effects of the earthquake in Haiti. In the midst of the horrific images and soundbites, there are multiple stories of hope, compassion and victories from heroic people. There is one story of a local priest and his efforts, over the years, with his ministry in Haiti. Father Rick Frechette who grew up in the Hartford area and is a Passionist Priest and physician and involved in significant work helping the young and running a clinic. If you would like to learn more about his work and ministry, I would direct you to his website: www.compassionweavers.com and discover a wealth of information and inspiration.
