Knights of Columbus Museum Event

For the better part of the past year the Knights of Columbus museum has had an exhibit on Russian icons, “Windows into Heaven.” 

There is a forthcoming lecture to open up the windows into heaven even more, “Orthodox Christianity in Early Russia: the Formation of a Tradition”  The lecture is presented by Paul Bushkovitch Ph.D.


Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014
2 p.m.
Free admission and parking

Knights of Columbus Museum
1 State Street, New Haven CT 06511
kofcmuseum.org | 203-865-0400

Orthodox Christianity has been Russia’s pre-eminent religion for more than a millennium and is integral to the nation’s history and culture. Yale University history professor Dr. Paul Bushkovitch will discuss the origin and foundation of Russian Orthodoxy, which has endured attacks and repression throughout the past, most notably during the preceding century. Dr. Bushkovitch earned degrees from Harvard and Columbia Universities and has studied in Russia. He has been a member of the Yale faculty since 1975 and has published and lectured extensively on Russian history.

The Knights of Columbus Museum's exhibition of Russian icons, Windows into Heaven, runs through April 27, 2014. The museum is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

***On a personal note, I LOVE visiting the Knights of Columbus Museum year round - it is never disappointing.  I highly recommend it, makes for a great FREE day trip for families (admission and parking are free!).

Pope John Paul II collection I saw a few years ago.

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Catholic Events in Connecticut

A forum on Assisted Suicide, “Expect Care, Expect Hope, Expect Peace” will be hosted at St Mary’s Church Hall (731 Main Street, Branford), Monday, January 20, @ 7pm.

Parking behind the church; hall is handicap accessible.

Speakers:

Peter Wolgang of the Family Institute of CT
Cathy Ludlum of Second Thoughts CT

Questions:

Does assisted suicide increase suicide?
Does the way we live affect the way we die?
Can assisted deaths be done without consent?

Learn more: NoAssistedSuicideConnecticut.org

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Monday evenings, 6-7pm, there is a Eucharistic Holy Hour, St Mary's Church, 5 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven.
There is a reading from holy Scripture, praying of the rosary, time in silence, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and prayers for the canonization of the Venerable Servant of God Fr Michael J. McGivney.

This prayer opportunity is open to all, especially the Knights of Columbus. McGivney was a great model secular priest, Connecticut native, champion of those who live on the margins of church and society.

As you know, St Mary's Church in New Haven is the birthplace of the Knights of Columbus in the late 19th century. The international headquarters of the KofC is centered also in New Haven.

Please come and join in prayer.

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The Scriptures tell us to be presence to those on the margins; Pope Francis is teaching us this now by his good example, and our friends in The Malta Prison Volunteers of Connecticut, Inc. have given us an opportunity to be educated in virtue of Justice as a way to life our Catholicity.

In collaboration with the Institute for Regional and Municipal Planning Central CT State Univ, the Malta Prison Volunteers of Connecticut will host the Building Bridges Conference on January 14, 2014.

The conference speakers will feature professionals from the Pew-MacArthur Results First as well as CT's own Justice Re-investment program.

Details:

Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Time: 9am to 4pm

Location: Student Center, Alumni Hall, CCSU, New Britain, CT

For more info and to register: http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=18906

The Malta Prison Volunteers of Connecticut, Inc. (Malta Criminal Justice Initiative) is a corporal work mercy by members of the Order of Malta, an international lay Catholic order; the organization is a 501-c-3 non profit corp.

Remember, Christ told us to be a friend to those imprisoned. And so, Catholics follow what Christ asked.

Catholic Events in Connecticut

Music at Saint Thomas More Chapel | Upcoming Concerts:

Sunday, November 10th, 6:30pm, for special concert by the cantors of STM featuring a special performance of Gloria by Antonia Vivaldi.

Richard Gard, St Thomas More music director, will give brief insights as the work is performed in its original form – female voices only. 

Saturday, December 7th, 8pm for the Requiem by W.A Mozart, with a 60-voice choir, Yale instrumentalists, and soloists from the STM choir.

St Thomas More Chapel, 285 Park Street, New Haven, CT

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This coming Sunday, Nov. 3, the Knights of Columbus-produced documentary on Pope Francis will again be aired on national television. CNBC will broadcast the documentary at 6-7 p.m. Eastern (3-4 p.m. Pacific).

The film, Francis: The Pope from the New World, features interviews with Pope Francis' friends and associates in Argentina, as well as with American commentators such as Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and members of the hierarchy, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Archbishop Charles Chaput and Archbishop Jose Gomez. 

The world has been fascinated by our new Holy Father, but many people still do not fully know the man who is now our pope. This film introduces viewers to Jorge Mario Bergoglio - the man who became Pope Francis - and his life story, from his childhood and patronage of his local soccer team to his vocation and time as a priest, bishop and then cardinal archbishop of Buenos Aires.

If possible, please encourage your council members and parishioners to watch this documentary during your homily or following Masses on the weekend of Nov. 2 and 3.

If we follow Pope Francis' charitable witness, we have the opportunity to change the world.

For more information on the film, visit  PopeFrancisDocumentary.com
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***This next list of Catholic events I share with mixed feelings -some "meditation" and "yoga" events under the title "Catholic" are anything but Catholic- so please DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK, I am not doing it for you.  I notice the "meditation" says "The World Community of Christian Meditation" and not CATHOLIC (some "Christian" practices are very much in direct opposition to the Catholic faith, so beware)- I hope these are TRUE Catholic events.***

Holy Family Retreat Center, Christian Meditation Overnight Retreat: Discovering Your True Self as a Child of God

Friday-Saturday, Nov 8-9, Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford; Christian Meditation Overnight Retreat: Discovering Your True Self as a Child of God, with Jay Stewart.  Participants will learn about Christian Meditation as taught by the World Community for Christian Meditation, relearning to be childlike, which Jesus instructed was needed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  They will develop an understanding of how Christian Meditation is a long-honored prayer practice in the Christian church and continues to be recognized today. Open to men and women; newcomers to Christian Meditation are most welcome.  Begins with dinner from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday evening and concludes at 5 p.m. on Saturday.  $175. 860-760-9705.www.holyfamilyretreat.org

Holy Family Retreat Center, Cures and Miracles in Lourdes; An Evening with Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis

Monday, Nov 18, 6:30 p.m.  Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford; Cures and Miracles in Lourdes.  Italian physician Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis, head of the Lourdes Medical Bureau that investigates reports of miraculous healings at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, will discuss his work and share his insight into the wonders of this celebrated shrine.  Program begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes a reception.  Suggested offering $50, more if you can, less if you can’t.  Space is limited.  860-760-9705. www.HolyFamilyRetreat.org/LourdesMiracles. 

Holy Family Retreat Center, Holiday Bread-Baking

Tuesday, Nov 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford; Holiday Bread-Baking Retreat Day, with Sr. Elaine Betoncourt, C.S.J.  Bake and take home a holiday Stollen, a traditional German sweet bread filled with fruit and spices and enjoyed during the Christmas season.  The day will include time to prayerfully reflect on the symbolism of the ingredients and the process of bread-baking as they relate to daily living. $65, includes lunch. 860-760-9705.www.holyfamilyretreat.org

Holy Family Retreat Center, Day or Evening of Reflection: From Co-Worker to Co-Responsible

Wednesday, Nov 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford; Day or Evening of Reflection: From Co-Worker to Co-Responsible, with Fr. John Baptist Pesce, C.P.  Drawing upon the Fathers of the Church along with the Liturgy, Sacraments, and Magisterium, celebrated preacher Fr. John Baptist will offer a transformational and challenging message about the co-responsibility of Christians in contrast to being simply co-workers in the vineyard.  $40, includes lunch or dinner.  860-760-9705. www.holyfamilyretreat.org

Holy Family Retreat Center, Matt Talbot Women’s Recovery Retreat

Friday-Sunday, Nov 22-24, Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford; Matt Talbot Women’s Recovery Retreat: Self-Acceptance and Spirituality, with Sr. Linda Fischer, A.S.C.  Women in recovery are invited into a peaceful atmosphere where they can rest, renew their spiritual life, and deepen their sobriety.  Hear an inspiring lecture, take a yoga class, get a massage, catch up on some rest, and care for yourself.  Open to all people from all backgrounds.  $150. Scholarships available first come, first served, to those experiencing financial hardship.  203-804-8406. www.holyfamilyretreat.org

Father McGivney and The Knights of Columbus

In 1852 Michael McGivney was born to immigrant parents in Connecticut. He was one of 13 children born to Mary and Patrick McGivney. After working in a factory as a young teen to earn money for the family [in the years following the Civil War], in Waterbury Connecticut, he traveled to Canada to pursue his dream of becoming a priest by first attending the College of St. Hyacinthe. He later attended Our Lady of Angels Seminary in New York and St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimare, Maryland after the death of his father. He was ordained in 1877 and returned home to Connecticut to begin his priesthood at St. Mary's Church in New Haven where he was well loved and admired for his hard work and dedication. In the early 1880's Fr. McGivney began to explore the possibility of a laymen organization to help the poor and needy. This was the birth of the "Knights of Columbus" and by the end of 1885 there were over 30 Knights of Columbus councils in Connecticut. Just five years later, in August of 1890 the 38 year old priest died after a long illness with pneumonia and poor health. The Knights of Columbus continued to thrive after his death. Currently there are more than 12,000 councils in over a dozen countries serving people as Fr. McGivney dreamed. On Saturday, March 15, 2008 Pope Benedict XVl approved a decree that allows Catholics to refer to Fr. McGivney as "Venerable Servant of God" and advances him toward sainthood.