All items below are also published monthly as the Bits & Pieces Calendar in the Fairfield County Catholic.
The deadline for calendar submissions for each month is the 1st of that month.
Fax calendar info to 203-374-2044 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Note: publication is not guaranteed. Priority is given to Catholic activities and events within Fairfield County.
Ongoing Events & Public Services
LENTEN SERIES using the video documentary “Catholicism” will be offered at Christ the King Parish, Trumbull, on Thurs. evenings during Lent, from 7:30-9 pm, starting Thurs., Feb. 23. All are welcome. For more information, call 203.268.869
DINNER/DANCE WITH ELVIS, the King of Rock, will be hosted by the Knights of Columbus at St. Lawrence Parish, Shelton, on Sat., Feb. 26, from 7-11 p.m. The acclaimed Brian Martin returns as Elvis. Proceeds benefit Homes for the Brave, transitional housing for veterans. Dinner includes antipasto, salad, pasta, chicken, sausage or salmon, wine, beer, soda, coffee, tea and dessert. Raffle prizes. Cost: $30/person. For more information, tickets or group sales, call Carlos Perez: 203.395.8086
LENTEN MISSION hosted by St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Trumbull, will feature Fr. Dennis Corrado speaking on “Forgiveness Leads to Wellness & Joy,” Feb. 27-29 at 7 pm. Fr. Corrado has been named one of the best preachers in New York City by NY Magazine. For more information, call the parish office: 203.377.3133.
A NEW AWAKENING: St. Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown, Lenten Retreat will take place Mon.-Thurs., Feb. 27-Mar. 1. Msgr.Robert Weiss, Fr. Ignacio Ortigas, Fr. Luke Suarez and the deacons of St. Rose will help attendees establish, restore or deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. Morning and evening sessions; morning sessions will include daily Mass. Mornings: 9 am; evenings, 7 pm. For more information and a complete list of topics, call the religious education office: 203-426-2333 or visit .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
CURSILLO ULTREYAS are held at locations around the diocese: Wed., Feb. 29, at St. Mary Parish, Ridgefield, at 7:30 pm; Tues., Mar. 6, at the Catholic Center, Bridgeport, at 7 pm; and Thurs., Mar. 15, at St. Mary Parish, Bethel, at 7:30 pm. For more information, contact Jim: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
MASSES OF HEALING AND HOPE sponsored by the Charismatic Renewal Office will be offered Thurs., Mar. 1, at 7:30 pm at St. Rose of Lima Parish with Fr. Larry Carew; Mon., Mar. 19, at 7:30 pm at St. Lawrence Parish, Shelton, with Fr. Bill Eagan; and Wed., Mar. 14, at 7 pm at St. Marguerite Parish, Brookfield, with Fr. George Sankoorikal. For more information, call 203.268.8253.
PIEROGY AND POTATO PANCAKE DINNER sponsored by the Holy Name Society of Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Stratford, will be held Fri., Mar. 2, in the church hall. Serving will be from 4:30-7 pm. Children welcome. Dinner includes pierogies, potato pancakes, applesauce, cake and beverages. Cost: $7 per person. Cooked take-out dinners, and uncooked pierogies are available with advance orders at $4/dozen. Uncooked pierogies to be picked up after 2 pm on the day of the dinner. For more information or to order uncooked pierogies, call Mike Stifil: 203.378.3076.
DISCERNMENT RETREAT for single Catholic women ages 18-30, sponsored by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, will be held the weekend of Mar. 2-4 at Mount Sacred Heart, 295 Benham St., Hamden. For more information or to register, call Sr. Colleen Smith: 203.988.4742 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CONCERT and celebration sponsored by the Knights of Columbus will take place Sat. Mar. 5, at St. Jude Parish, Monroe, starting at 7 p.m. The cabaret style event will feature the songs and humor of the Keltic Kick Band. Food and soft drinks are available for purchase; BYOB. Tickets: $15/person. Seating by reservation only. For more information and tickets, call Bill Davoreen: 203.445.8857, or Dave Feola: 203.268.4072.
CENTISSIMUS ANUS PRO PONTIFICE (CAPP) will co-sponsor the Educator’s Communion Breakfast on Sun., Mar. 6, starting with 9 a.m. Mass. Breakfast follows with guest speaker Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C. Seating is limited; cost: $35/person, $300 table of 10. For more information and for reservations, call 203.396.8097.
LENTEN PRAYER SERVICE sponsored by the Holy Spirit Secular Franciscan Fraternity will be held Sat., Mar. 10, at 9:30 am in St. Emery Church, Fairfield, presented by Fran Karpiej, OFS, from Sharing Christ Ministry. All are welcome. For more information, call 203.255.8801.
GOSPEL OF LIFE SOCIETY will meet at St. Mary Parish, Norwalk, on Sat., Mar. 10, at 10 a.m. after the 9 a.m. Pro-Life Mass. Peter Wolfgang will provide an update on the Family Institute of CT, its challenges and upcoming directions. On Apr. 14, Fr. Markey will speak about population control and the organizations that have promoted it. For more information, contact Eileen Bianchini: 203.847.5727 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER and author John Pridmore will conduct mission workshops at St. Ann Parish, Bridgeport. Pridmore will speak at all Masses the weekend of Mar. 10-11 and will hold workshops on Sun., Mar. 11 at 3 pm; Mon., Mar. 12, at 10 am and 7 pm; and Tues., Mar. 13, at 10 am and 7 pm. A free will offering will be taken. For more information, call the parish office: 203.368.1607.
GIRL SCOUTS OF NORWALK will celebrate Girl Scout Sabbath at St. Thomas the Apostle, Norwalk, on Sat., Mar. 12, during the 5:15 p.m. Mass. All Scouts and their families welcome. Potluck dinner and ice cream social will take place after Mass. St Patrick’s Day theme: wear green! Cost: $3/Scout; $5/scout family. RSVP by Mon., Mar. 6. For more information or for reservations, visit .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
RENEWAL OF MIND AND HEART will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Fairfield, with day and evening sessions, Mar. 12-15. Morning sessions from 9:30-11:30 am include “coffee and;” evening sessions begin at 7:30 pm with refreshments following. Included in the mission are a Communal Penance Service on Tues., Mar. 13 and a Mass for Anointing of the Sick on Thurs., Mar. 15, both at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact the parish office: 203.333.9065 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
TOUR OF EWTN and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, home to Mother Angelica will be sponsored by My Father’s Vineyard on Mar. 14-17 or Apr. 11-14, 2011. Cost: $599 plus air fare. Reservations needed by Friday, February 25th. For more information, call Gail: 203.375.9715.
FEAST OF ST. CASIMIR will be honored by a luncheon hosted by the Knights of Lithuania at St. George Parish, Bridgeport, on Sun., Mar. 18. The Feast Day will begin with Mass at 12 noon followed by the luncheon in the parish hall. For more information and for reservations, call 203.878.0519.
PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN are invited to a Parent Workshop Series with Dr. Evelyn Bilias Lolis and Dr. Christine Siegel at St. Catherine Academy, Fairfield. “Stress in Parenting Children and Adolescents with Exceptional Needs” will be held on Mon., Mar. 19, at 6:30 pm and “Positive Behavioral Support Practices in the Home” will be held on Mon., Apr. 30, at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public; seating limited. For more information or reservations call 203.540.5381, ext. 2010, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
WOMEN'S LENTEN RETREAT at St. Edmund’s Retreat Center, Enders Island, Mystic, CT: "Becoming Women of Courage, Conviction and Compassion," a semi-silent retreat, will be directed by Fran Karpiej, OFS, the weekend of Mar. 23-25. For more information and to register, contact Janet Virmalo: 860.536.0565, ext. 110, or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
HEADING TO CHURCHILL DOWNS, a lively evening held Sat., Mar. 24, at Sacred Heart Academy, Hamden, will feature a live and silent auction. In addition to the “Run for the Roses—Celebrating the Kentucky Derby” auction, bidding will go for condos in Cabo, Siesta Key and Aruba, Yankees, Giants and Red Sox tickets, fine art, jewelry, catered dinners, antiques, electronics and much, much more. A 2012 Nissan Versa will be raffled during in the evening as well. Forreservations, raffle tickets or more information, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 203.287.8181, ext. 366.
THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING: Reflections on the book of Job with Fr. Ed Colohan, will be held at St. Stephen Parish, Trumbull, Sat., Mar. 24, 9am-12 noon. Mass, presentation and discussion on the mystery of suffering and our response to it. To register, call the rectory: 203.268.6217.
TAIZE: PRAYER AROUND THE CROSS, an ecumenical prayer service presented by the St. Aloysius Parish, New Canaan, music ministry will be held Sun., Mar. 25, at 7 p.m. All are invited to the service of scripture, prayer and song. For more information contact Music Minister Thom Marino: 203.652.1180 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
MAGNIFICAT WOMEN'S BREAKFAST sponsored by the Triumphant Heart of Mary Immaculate Chapter will be held at Roberto’s Restaurant, Monroe, on Sat., Mar. 24, from 9:30 am-12:30 pm with guest speaker Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle. Reservations required by Fri., Mar. 16. For more information and reservations, call Fran Hood, coordinator: 203.744.1856. To join a Magnificat Prayer Cennacle, contact Roxane Angotta, Danbury: 203.778.3950 or Fran Karpeij, Trumbull: 203.452.7040.
MARYANN CUSIMANO LOVE, PH.D., TO SPEAK AT COMMUNION BREAKFAST FOR EDUCATORS AT SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY The Fourth Annual Communion Breakfast for Fairfield County Educators will take place at Sacred Heart University on Sunday, Mar., 25, 2012. The event will feature a presentation entitled “From Classroom to Community: How Educators Can Build a Better World” by Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love, an associate professor of International Relations in the Politics Department of the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. The breakfast, designed for educators from pre-K through grade 12 and in higher education, will offer practical information and networking opportunities for those who attend. The Communion Breakfast is open to all. Tickets $35 per person/$300 for a table of 10. Seating is limited. To register, visit www.sacredheart.edu/capp.cfm. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with tour of the art installations in the University’s Chapel, followed by the celebration of mass by The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop of Bridgeport, at 9 a.m. Breakfast will immediately follow in University Commons.
THE SOUND TIGERS - BENEFIT IN HONOR OF GARY HAMMILL
Come see the Sound Tigers on Sat., Mar 31st at 7pm at Webster Bank Arena (formerly Harbor Yard). $20 per person ($10 goes to Kolbe Cathedral High School Scholarship). For info contact Alayne Murphy 203-345-4819 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY TO HOST SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL CONFERENCE: To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the golden anniversary of the foundation of Sacred Heart University, Sacred Heart will sponsor a two-day conference April 23 & 24, 2012. The conference will attract Catholics from various walks of life including individuals working at the pastoral and parish level, priests and laity who work in hospitals and as social workers; people from the academic community and young adults. “We particularly think it’s important to have young people at the conference because they will be living with these issues and they are the future,” said Rev. Anthony Ciorra. “Everyone is welcome because this is such a ground-breaking time for the church.”
INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS: All are welcome to attend these information sessions about the upcoming Vatican II 50th Anniversary Conference, "Universal Call to Holiness." Sessions to be held:
· Feb. 27, 7pm at St. John Fisher Seminary in Stamford
· Mar. 7, 7pm at St. Joseph in Danbury
· Mar. 14, 7pm at St. Anthony of Padua in Fairfield
For info click HERE
PHOTO BOX (Prep raffle): Fairfield Prep’s $25,000 Tuition Raffle is back for 2012! Tickets available now. The prize can be used for any K-12 schools, colleges or universities, located and accredited in the U.S. Only 1,000 tickets are sold at $100 per ticket. Proceeds will benefit the scholarship and student enrichment programs at Fairfield Prep. The drawing will be held May 5. For information or to purchase tickets, contact the Development Office: 203.254.4237 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)