Saint Mary: 626 Willard Ave, Newington, CT 06111
(860) 666-1591

Holy Spirit: 183 Church St, Newington, CT 06111
(860) 666-5671

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    Questions? We've got answers!

    Submit your questions or topics on our faith that you'd like to see addressed, and one of our priests will post the answers in a column here on the website.
      All submissions are anonymous, 
    *For Mass intentions or personal matters please contact the Rectory Office directly*

Fr. Josh Answers Your Questions!

Thank you to all parishioners who submitted questions - and to Fr. Josh for providing insightful answers!

Can someone get confirmed who is an adult that was not married in the Church? (baptism & communion received)

Absolutely! The best route to confirmation as an adult is through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Deacon Jim Tanguay is the director of our program at Annunciation Parish and he would be glad to help you get the process started. He can be reached by calling the rectory at (860) 666-1591 or via email at deaconjimt@annunciationnewington.com. We can also explore the possibility of having your marriage blessed by the Church (otherwise called Convalidation).

What is the correct version of the Bible to buy from a store or online?

Finding a good Bible translation can be a daunting task. For Catholics, the two most popular versions are the New American Bible (NAB) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). The New American Bible matches most closely with what you hear at Mass, but the NAB and NRSV are great versions, especially the study Bibles. For reference, here are two links to some great study Bibles on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Study-Bible-2011-09-30-Paperback-dp-B01FW69U3O/dp/B01FW69U3O/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1580663988

https://www.amazon.com/HarperCollins-Study-Bible-Revised-Updated/dp/0061228400/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1580664035&sr=1-1


Why are Protestants so negative about Mary?

Many people have many different views about Mary, but yes, there can be a misconception that as Catholics we "worship" Mary in the same way we worship Jesus. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Mary always points us in the way of Jesus Christ, our one and only redeemer. The hiccup that some have is the fact that we pray to Mary, which is true. Yes, we pray to Mary, but much in the same way that we ask other people to pray for us. Because we know that Mary is in Heaven with our Lord, we ask her to pray for us, knowing that her only desire is for us to know and experience the love of her son, Jesus Christ. What a beautiful gift it is to have such a loving person praying for us in Heaven!


Please explain what Paul was saying in Romans 3:23-27 and how it applies to us:
Firstly, here is the scripture passage being referenced:
23 all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as an expiation,[a] through faith, by his blood, to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed, 26 through the forbearance of God—to prove his righteousness in the present time, that he might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 What occasion is there then for boasting?[b] It is ruled out. On what principle, that of works? No, rather on the principle of faith.[c] (taken from the Bible Gateway at www.biblegateway.com)
Because of original sin, we are all inclined to sin... we have to work at our holiness. Just like anything else that is good and worth obtaining, it takes practice and intentional effort to cultivate holiness in our lives. St. Paul was always very careful to remind people of his time that it was of vital importance to worship in community, or in communion, so that we might be a support to each other in our efforts to align ourselves more with Christ than with the sinful inclinations of our human nature. This still very much applies to us today. Even though our Church isn't perfect, we are still called to worship together so that we can be an inspiration to each other and not have to "go it alone". Verse 27 brings up the age-old argument of faith vs. works as a means of our salvation. While St. Paul is not trying to say one or the other is necessary for our salvation here, it is worth pointing out that works are a result of our faith. What good is our faith if we are practicing it only for our own salvation? We are called to share our faith via works in the great hope that God will work through our efforts to bring the light of the Gospel to all we encounter.

What is the proper way to dispose of last year's palms?
Since the palms were blessed at Palm Sunday, the appropriate way to dispose of palms (along with almost any other blessed object) is either to burn or bury them. If neither option is feasible for you, bring them to the parish and we'll be able to dispose of them in the proper manner.

Did Jesus baptize John after John baptized him?
God certainly places a high emphasis on baptism, as Jesus himself was baptized according to the Gospels. We can't know for sure whether John the Baptist was baptized himself as the Gospels aren't clear on this, but what we do know for sure is that baptism is the Sacrament by which we are claimed by Christ through his own baptism. The purity of the baptismal water is a symbol of our cleansing, but the Sacrament itself is an actual cleansing of original sin.

Are there confession times posted anywhere?
Yes! Confession times are posted on our website as well as our bulletin. 3:00-3:45 on Saturdays at Holy Spirit Church and 3:15-3:45 on Saturdays at St. Mary Church. Of course, you can always call the parish office to schedule a time for confession outside of our regularly-scheduled confessions.

Was there supposed to be a One Minute Reflection in the month of November?
Yes, there was... and December! Unfortunately, Fr. Josh's voice was kidnapped by a cold and we were waiting for its return. Even more unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet... but we posted one for January voice or no voice! We hope you enjoy our reflections, which we hope to be posting much more regularly going forward.

What do you think about people wanting Mary to have the title of "Co-Redemptrix"?
The short answer is there is only one savior and redeemer, and that is Jesus Christ. Not to belittle the role that the Blessed Mother played in bringing Christ into the world, but she in no way ever desired a share in her son's redeeming nature. In fact, Mary only ever points us in the way of her son, Jesus Christ, as our redeemer. Pope Francis recently spoke on this subject, bluntly calling any notion that Mary is a Co-Redemptress as "foolishness." What we do have in Mary, among many other things, is one that prays for us constantly that we might know the true redeeming nature of her son.

What is the history of the St. Michael Prayer?
As many of us are aware, Archbishop Leonard Blair mandated that the St. Michael Prayer be prayed at the end of every Mass in the Archdiocese of Hartford, especially in light of the resurfacing of allegations of abuse within the Church. This is a very powerful prayer to combat the forces of evil. For a brief history of the prayer, we suggest the following link: https://aleteia.org/2017/09/25/the-demonic-vision-that-inspired-the-st-michael-prayer/

What is being done regarding the safety of parishioners in our churches?
In a society where it seems every other day we hear about a mass shooting, the Church has taken a proactive approach to ensure that we respond to unanticipated threats in an appropriate manner. Priests of the Archdiocese of Hartford have been briefed and trained by the Connecticut State Police on ways to recognize and respond to crisis situations. In our own parish we have several retired law enforcement officers that have also been trained in this area that are able to respond should the need ever arise.

Annunciation Parish News

January 2020 One Minute Reflection

Confirmation 2020 Date Announced

Monsignor Joseph T. Donnelly will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for Annunciation Parish at Holy Spirit Church 
on ​Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 11:00AM.

Important Dates for Confirmation Students
Monday, March 9, 2020 - 7PM Reconciliation at Holy Spirit Church 
Sunday, March 15, 2020 - 5PM rehearsal for students only
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - 7PM student/sponsor rehearsal (if sponsor cannot be there a parent should attend)
Saturday, March 21, 2020 - 11AM Confirmation at Holy Spirit Church. Arrival by 10:15AM.
Call Sue Skipp or Terri Hermann at 860.666.3562 with any questions.

Introducing: One Minute Monthly Reflections

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Religious Education

Week of Sunday, January 5

Classes resume this Sunday at JWMS for Kindergarten through Grade 6 from 8:30AM – 9:15AM.
Grades 7 through 9 meet this week as scheduled.
​Grade 10 will meet on Sunday, January12th for 12pm Mass and then immediately to church hall for seminar.
Questions or concerns can be directed to Sue Skipp, Director of Religious Education at 860-666-3562 or dresue@annunciationnewington.com.
Religious Education Registration 
Religious Education Calendar 
Confirmation Application
Confirmation Schedule 
Confirmation Students:
Monsignor Joseph T. Donnelly will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for Annunciation Parish at Holy Spirit Church 
on ​Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 11:00AM.

Important Dates for Confirmation Students
Monday, March 9, 2020 - 7PM Reconciliation at Holy Spirit Church 
Sunday, March 15, 2020 - 5PM rehearsal for students only
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - 7PM student/sponsor rehearsal (if sponsor cannot be there a parent should attend)
Saturday, March 21, 2020 - 11AM Confirmation at Holy Spirit Church. Arrival by 10:15AM.
Call Sue Skipp or Terri Hermann at 860.666.3562 with any questions.

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Contact Us
Church of the Holy Spirit
183 Church Street
Newington, CT 06111
​Phone: 860-666-5671
​Fax: 860-666-9784
Saint Mary Church
626 Willard Avenue
Newington, CT 06111
Phone: 860-666-1591
​Fax: 860-666-5720

Mass Schedule

Saturday Evening  Vigil
4:00pm  (Saint Mary, Holy Spirit)
Sunday
7:30am (Holy Spirit)
8:00am (Saint Mary)
9:30am (Holy Spirit)
10:00am (Saint Mary)
 11:30am (Saint Mary)
12:00pm (Holy Spirit)

Daily Mass
Holy Spirit
9:00am (Monday - Saturday)
​
Holy Days
8:30am (Saint Mary)
9:00am (Holy Spirit)
12:10pm (Saint Mary)
5:30pm (Holy Spirit)
 

Eucharistic Adoration
Tuesday 6:00pm-7:00pm (Holy Spirit)

Parish Office

Monday-Friday: 9:00am-2:00pm (Holy Spirit)
​Monday-Thursday: 9:00am–4:00pm (St. Mary)

Religious Education Office

​Monday - Thursday: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Phone: ​860-666-3562