Unification Celebration - August 14
July 1st Announcement from Fr. Anthony
Good MorningToday is a new beginning for the Church in Watertown/Oakville. We are now one community of faith under the name Holy Disciples Parish. Every 4th of July we celebrate and give thanks for the gift that was left to us by our founders, while at the same time we look forward to the future. This 4th of July weekend we give thanks for the legacies of St Mary Magdalen Parish and St. John the Evangelist Parish that have served Catholics for generations. We now take those legacies, unite them, and go forward with new strength and passion to accomplish our ultimate mission - proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please join me in giving thanks for those who labored to build our Catholic communities-(a legacy that will endure) and celebrate a new future filled with exciting possibilities.Happy 4th of July weekend!!Fr Anthony J SmithPastorHoly Disciples Parish
Holy Disciples Parish Update
As we move forward transitioning to our new parish, Holy Disciples, sonme things will take a longer period of time to convert than others. One such item is our Finances.
We ask that current parishioners who worship at St. John the Evangelist continue to write checks payable to St. John the Evangelist and likewsie, those who worship at St. Mary Magdalen contiunue to write checks payable to St. Mary Magdalen. You may continue to use your existing envelopes and on-line giving until further notice.
If you have any questions on this matter, please don't hesitate to contact the parish office.
Our Mission Statement
We, the people of God gathered as St. John the Evangelist faith community share the life-giving Word, the Eucharist and the sacraments, so that all might come to believe in the Son and have eternal life. Given this abundant life, we feel called to share our gifts and our faith with others.
Altar Server Training
Young Parishioners - grade 4 and older!
Speaking before a large group of young men and women, last year, Pope Francis told them that being an altar server should be a "profession of faith" to the entire parish community.
If you have already received your first communion and would like to serve your parish community as an altar server, please call the Parish Office and leave your name and phone number, and let us know if you’d like to serve at St. John the Evangelist Church or at St. Mary Magdalen Church. We will be scheduling dates for training at each church. Those who have served on the altar before and new servers are both welcome!
Parish Merger Decree
Decree Merging the following Parishes:
Saint Mary Magdalen in Oakville, and
Saint John the Evangelist in Watertown, Connecticut.
On July 1, 2022, the parishes of Saint Mary Magdalen in Oakville and Saint John the Evangelist in Watertown, Connecticut, will merge to form a new parish to be known as Holy Disciples Parish, in accordance with canons 121 & 515 §2 of the Code of Canon. On April 26, 2022, Archbishop Leonard P. Blair issued a decree effecting the merger of the aforementioned two parishes.
During the weekend of May 14/15, 2022, the decree will be read at all Masses, and its substance will be communicated to all parishioners by means of a notice in the weekend bulletins of Saint Mary Magdalen Parish and Saint John the Evangelist Parish, including the display in appropriate places at the churches, so that parishioners can read it as they enter or exit the churches. It will also be available on the Archdiocese of Hartford website, under the News/Public Notices Section, [https://archdioceseofhartford.org/public-notices/]. Canonical recourse may be made within the peremptory time limit of ten (10) days from the legitimate notification of the decree and in accordance with the norm of law (c. 1734 §2).
To read the full decree click here
Archbishop's Annual Appeal
The 2022 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is now underway in our parish. Your support of this year’s Appeal ensures that essential charitable, educational, and pastoral ministries of the Archdiocese of Hartford are carried forward.
* For the sixth year in a row, in 2021, the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal Vicariate Outreach Program provided over $1,000,000 to over 180 local organizations in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties.
* Organizations such as Carolyn’s Place and the Watertown Food Bank, right here in our own town, received funding from the Appeal’s Vicariate Outreach Program that makes a difference in serving our neighbors
To view some of the wonderful things accomplished through your generosity, the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is launching a new web-series called, The Annual Appeal at Work. The premiere episode will be airing on Thursday, March 3rd on all Archdiocesan Social Media sites as well as the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal webpage. New episodes will air the first week of each month, for the rest of 2022. Each episode will highlight some of the wonderful ministries supported by the 2022 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, Stronger Together. If you go to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal Website, https://archdioceseofhartford.org/appeal/ you will find a link for each episode.
Click on the button above if you would like to make an online donation. All funds contributed to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal are used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the Appeal literature, which can be found at https://archdioceseofhartford.org/appeal/ No Appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements.
Weekend Masses Schedule
At St. John the Evangelist Church our Mass Schedule is:
Saturday: 5:00 PM Vigil
Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM
Our 9:00 AM Mass will be available through “livestream” on Facebook.
What's Happening
Music Ministry Needs Your Voices!
Posted in Parish Life News on 08/01/22
Can You Sing??
The Holy Disciples Choirs at St. John are in need of ... Read More »
Baptism Preparation - August 3
Posted in Parish Life News on 07/17/22
Deacon Victor Mitchell will offer a Baptism Class on Wednesday, August 3 at 6:30PM ... Read More »
Respect Life Ministry
Posted in Parish Life News on 07/17/22
The Holy Disciples Respect Life Ministry prayer group will meet on Wednesday, July 20 ... Read More »
Parish Life News E-Mail
Online Giving Option
Thank you for your continued financial support to your parish. It is your support that helps us build a strong faith community through the programs we are able to develop and offer, our liturgies, our staff, and caring for our buildings and grounds just to name a few.
Did you ever consider the convenience of signing up for Online Giving with WeShare? The benefits for the parish include
- More consistent giving with recurring contributions
- Online donation summaries for record keeping
- Reaching a wider demographic of givers
- Accommodates all special parish collections
WeShare also makes donating simple and easy for our parishioners, while at the same time keeping the process safe and secure.
If you would like to enroll in Online Giving, please click on the image above. If you have any questions or concerns about the program or would like help setting up your account, please call our parish office at 860-274-8836.
"Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." --Luke 6:38
Welcome to Holy Disciples Parish at St. John the Evangelist Church
We welcome all who worship regularly with the Holy Disciples Parish Community, and invite you to register at the Parish Office so we may better know and respond to your needs. Membership is required for those seeking a sponsor certificate to become a Godparent or Confirmation sponsor.
We also ask those moving within the parish or leaving St. John the Evangelist Parish to inform the Parish Office in order to keep our records accurate.
If you are new to the area and would like to join our parish, please fill out a census form and bring it or mail it to the Parish Office at 21 Academy Hill, Watertown CT 06795. You may place the form into the offertory basket at Mass.
Census forms may be printed from the link below and are also available at the parking lot side entrance of the church.
Call the Parish Office at (860) 274-8836 or click here to obtain a census form.
Vocations Corner
The faithfulness of the disciples demonstrated that they continued to follow Jesus' pattern of loving service, no matter what trials and challenges they faced. If you are called to follow Jesus as a priest, brother or sister, contact Father Michael Casey, Director of Vocations, 860-761-7456, or email [email protected], or visit the web at hartfordpriest.com.
Saint John the Evangelist Campus of Holy Disciples Parish Online links
Staff
- Rev. Anthony Smith, Pastor
- Rev. Joseph Napolitano, Parochial Vicar
- Rev. David Carey, Senior Priest
- Victor C. Mitchell Jr., Deacon
- Daniel Camerota, Senior Deacon
- Robert Gordon, Senior Deacon
- Carmelina Calabrese, Director of Faith Formation
- Nora Myers, Parish Secretary
- Seth Urichek, Organist
- Mark Ryan, Choir Director
- Teresa Malaspina, Cantor
Office Hours
21 Academy Hill
Watertown CT 06795
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding holidays
Phone (860) 274-8836
Faith Formation Office:
9 Academy Hill
Watertown, CT 06795
Monday and Wednesday 10 -3
or
By Appointment
Phone (860) 274-4123
Mass Times
M,T,Th,F 12:10 PM
Saturday Vigil
5:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM
9:00 AM (livestreamed on Facebook)
11:00 AM
Events
- Aug 13 2022 3:30 pm - Sacrament of Reconciliation - Confessions
- Aug 14 2022 11:00 am - Parish Unification Celebration
- Aug 15 2022 6:00 pm - Sacrament of Reconciliation
Mass Times When Traveling
Have you ever been traveling and wanted to find out the Mass times in the area you were visiting? You can prepare before you travel or during your trip by checking out CatholicMassTime.org