News

Monthly Merton Center Collection—Next weekend, February 27/28. St. Anthony’s will be collecting the ultimate of comfort foods—peanut butter and jelly—for the clients served by the Merton Center. Crunchy or smooth, jam, spread, or jelly—all donations are welcome! Thanks in advance for your always-reliable generosity!

Religious Education classes and the Adult Discussion Group—will not meet this Sunday (2/21) because of school vacation. Both will resume on Sunday, February 28.

Palm Sunday Breakfast/Men’s Meeting—The annual Palm Sunday Breakfast will be held on March 28 after the 10am Mass. This breakfast is traditionally hosted by the gentlemen of the parish. A planning meeting will be held on Monday, March 8, at 7pm in the Community Room on the second floor of the school building. There are many ways to be involved and we welcome your help. At 7:30pm on the same evening, the men’s monthly Scripture discussion meeting will begin. All are welcome to attend one or both!

Enter into the holy season of Lent….The season of Lent encourages us to spend some time in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to prepare for the celebration of Easter. Traditionally these actions have helped Christians throughout the ages gain clearer insights into faithfully living the Gospel message. Our parish offers many ways and avenues of participation, from Friday evening Stations of the Cross to days and evenings of reflection, all described in the brochure available at the entrances to the church. This Lent, put yourself in the way of God’s grace and join us for all or any of the events that are listed! Here are just a few:

Lenten Soup Suppers —immediately follow the 6pm Mass, and will be held every Saturday in Lent. This simple Lenten meal consists of a variety of soups, offered with bread and water. Donate at the door whatever you might have spend on dinner that evening. All proceeds are given to the Merton House Food Pantry. Each week, different parish groups make and serve the soup:

FEB 27: Pastoral Council and Sunday Morning, Adult Discussion Group

MAR 6: Choir and Religious Education Families

MAR 13: Men of the Parish

MAR 20: Women of the Parish

If you would like to help, please contact Karen Kraus who has graciously agreed to coordinate the suppers (254-2369, Karenalbrokraus@gmail.com)

Reconciliation—the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available in every church throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport, including our own, every Tuesday evening in Lent from 7pm until 9pm.

Rev. Charlie Allen S.J. —will be returning to St. Anthony’s Parish to offer three evenings of reflection, “Three Virtues, Three Lives: Faith, as lived by St. Thomas Aquinas, Hope, as lived by St. Theresa of Avila, and Charity, as lived by St. Anthony of Padua”. Please join us on March 1, 2, and 3, at 7pm in the church.

Lenten Prayer Corner—has been established in the prayer chapel off the main entrance to the church. Please stop by and browse through a variety of materials that may be of help and inspiration during this season of Lent. Besides the materials that are free for the taking, there is a lending library of spiritual and educational books.

Women’s retreat —Women of the parish are invited to a Lenten retreat at St. Birgitta’s Retreat House in Darien, on the weekend of March 12-14.  Invitations may be found at the entrances to the church. Please call Eleanor at the parish office with any questions.

St. Anthony Adult Choir —Our seasonal adult choir has just begun rehearsals for the Lenten/Easter Season on Thursday evenings at 7:30 in the choir loft. Our choir has added a great deal of beauty and joy to our liturgical celebrations. If you have been thinking about joining them, here is your opportunity!

Save the Date —Our parish is extremely fortunate to host a Lenten concert and day of reflection with Dan Schutte. Dan was one of the original members of the St. Louis Jesuits and has composed and performed some of the best known and loved songs in contemporary Christian music. Here I Am, Lord, City of God, Only This I Want, Table of Plenty, Sing A New Song, You Are Near; are just a few that Dan has written. Leaf through the hymnal and you’ll find many more. Dan will be at St. Anthony’s for an evening concert on Friday, February 26 and will offer a day of reflection on February 27. Details will soon follow.