We Are the BODY of Christ
Fr. Dan asks you to join him in
support of this year’s Hope Appeal.
Together we will reach our parish
goal of $17,442. All gifts we receive above our goal
will be returned directly to our parish.
The Appeal raises funds to cultivate Catholic
leadership, advance social justice and empower
parish communities. We look forward to sharing
this year’s message “We Are the BODY of Christ”.
For it is together we strengthen our church and
serve others.
Thank you to those who have returned their
pledges. If you are still prayerfully considering
your pledge, you may bring your completed pledge
card to Mass next week, drop it by the parish
office or through the collection basket or use the
return envelope provided by the Diocese. You can
also make a gift online at www.syrdio.org/
hopeappeal.
Church Ramp and Organ Repairs
Buckley’s Excavating is set to begin work on the
Church ramp during the week of October 5th,
which means the ramp may not be accessible for
October 10th and 11th weekend Masses.
The ramp should again be accessible again on the
weekend of October 17th and 18th.
If you need the ramp to enter the Church, you may
choose to attend St Paul’s masses that week.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Stef Merchant from Kerner & Merchant has begun
the Phase I organ repairs this past week.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
St. Bartholomew is sincerely grateful for grants
received for both the repairs to the ramp and
phase I repairs to the organ.
FAITH FORMATION classes for K-9 begin today at
9:45 am at St. Bartholomew’s Parish Center.
Grades 9—10 meet in St. Paul’s Church Hall
Registration letters were mailed to previously registered
students/families. Completed forms may be returned in the
collection baskets at Mass, mailed back to St. Paul’s at 30
Pleasant St., Norwich, NY 13815, Attn: Faith Formation or
dropped off at either Church’s office.
Liturgical Minister Training is required by June
30th for Sacristans, Adult Altar Servers, Liturgical
Ministry Leaders, and Lectors/Readers and by
September 30, 2026 for Commentators, Greeters,
Ushers, and those involved in Homebound Ministry.
Many opportunities around the Diocese are available
to take both the Initial and the Recertification classes.
More information is available by calling our office at
607-337-2215, the Safe Environment Office at 315-
470-1421 or visiting the Diocesan website. Thank you!
We have recently had trees removed that were either dead or in
bad shape. Risk Management at the Diocese of Syracuse visits
parishes each year, and they advised us that they should be taken
down. We received a grant in order to do this work.
There are other improvements to be completed in the coming
months which are also covered by grants or a combination of
parishioner donations and grants. They include:
• Church entrance and walkway repairs (concrete that has
deteriorated by the Church and parish center and former
rectory);
• Church ramp is in need of repairs;
• First phase of the Church organ repair project which
includes repairing the organ’s wind chests—on which the
pipes are set and which allow them to sound when played
and repair of leather puffers;
• One of the parish center classrooms will be divided for use
by the religious education program.
HELP WANTED
St. Paul’s Cemetery/Church is looking for a seasonal
worker. Candidate must hold a valid driver’s license.
Position includes landscaping, mowing, trimming and
plowing. Applications can be found on line at our website
stpaulsnorwich.com or can be picked up at the church
office. Send application and resume to St. Paul’s Church,
30 Pleasant St., Norwich, NY 13815. Call 607-337-2216
for more information.
Brett Burt from LPi, our bulletin printer, will be securing
new ads for our Church in the coming weeks.
If you are interested in placing your business’ print ad in
our parish bulletin and/or a digital ad featured on
ParishesOnline.com, Brett can be reached at (800) 477-4574
x6443 or bburt@4LPi.com.
Interested in Becoming
A Catholic?
If you, or someone you know, is interested in becoming
a Roman Catholic, this year’s RCIA/OCIA Program will
provide an opportunity to learn about the Catholic
Christian faith. Successful participants become full
members of the Church during Easter.
Here's information on the weekly, hour-long classes:
DATE: Started Thursday, October 16, 2025
TIME: 7-8PM
LOCATION: St. Paul’s Catholic Church
(30 Pleasant Street, Norwich, NY. 13815)
Further information, class schedule and participant materi-
als will be included in the first session. Fr. Dan Caughey,
Pastor; Fr. Tony Matthew, Parochial Vicar; and Deacons
Tim McNerney and Dave Kirsch look forward to meeting
you and guiding your journey in the Rite of Christian
Initiation for Adults (RCIA).
UPDATE: The RCIA/OCIA Program continues on Thursdays
from 6—7 PM (please note the change in time) at
St. Paul’s Church, 30 Pleasant St. for those interested
in becoming a Roman Catholic. Successful partici-
pants become full members of the Church at Easter.
BRANCH OUT AND GROW
Support group meetings for those affected by separation
and divorce. Online Zoom meetings every 1st and 3rd
Wednesday of each month from 7—8 PM. If you are inter
ested in joining the meetings, learning more, or talking
one-on-one, contact the Family/Respect Life Office at
familyrespectlife@syrdio.org or (315) 472-6754 Option 9.
OCIA, the Order of Chistian Initiation of Adults
Tuesdays at 7 PM, St. Paul’s Church hall
If you have been coming to Mass but are not Catholic, we in-
vite you to look deeper into the Catholic faith. Come and
meet some faithful Catholics who would consider it a privilege
to get to know you and help you on your journey. Sessions
have started in this one-year process to share the truths of the
Catholic faith and the fellowship of our church family.
We invite you to learn what Catholics believe in an open and
welcoming environment. You can ask any questions you have
about the church. These sessions are for inquirers and are
open to people who are unbaptized as well as those who are
baptized Christians from Protestant or Evangelical back-
grounds. Call Fr. Ralph if you are interested at 607-337-2204.
St Bartholomew’s Facebook Be sure to like and follow St. Bartholomew’s Face- book Page: https://www.facebook.com/stbartholomewsnorwich/
The Norwich Community Kitchen is open every Tuesday. We are located at St. Bartholomew Parish Center, 81 East Main St., Norwich. Doors open at 4pm. We will start serving dinners at 5:15pm. If anyone would like to volunteer, please call St. Bartholomew's Office at 607-337-2215. Thank you!
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA, is the process through which adults explore and, if they choose, eventually become Catholic, whether through Baptism or being received into full communion with the Church. Through RCIA you will have an opportunity to ask questions in a non-pressured environment along side others who are on the same journey, learning the fundamental beliefs and practices of the Catholic faith and what it means to live as a Catholic. If you are interested in learning more about this pro- gram, call Fr. Ralph at 607-337-2204 to find out more.
Please update your email address with the office if you haven’t done so. We want to be sure to have current contact information on file. Thank you!
Immaculate Conception in Greene live streams Sunday
Mass at 10 AM on the ICC YouTube Channel: Immaculate
Conception Greene for Sunday Mass Livestream
REMINDER: If you are visiting from (or attending) another parish for Mass and would like your donation to go to your own parish, please use your own Church envelope (or any envelope) and label it for the parish you want it to go to. Your envelope will be sent to the parish written on your envelope.
Contact the office if your mailing address, telephone number or email address has changed. You can also put a note in the collection basket. We want to keep this information up to date in our records. Thank you!
Regular Offerings to the Church of St. Bartholomew: Thank you to everyone who is continuing their Church offerings to help our Church meet everyday expenses. If you choose to do so, please mail to St. Bartholomew Church, 30 Pleasant St., Norwich, NY 13815. Father receives all mail and distributes it to the Churches. If you would like to consider an automatic bank payment plan for the regular support to our Church (either through your checking or savings account), please contact the office by phone or email (stbartsnorwichny@frontier.com) to get more information. Your may select deductions from your account on a weekly, biweekly, monthly or quarterly basis. An authorization form needs to be completed and can be changed any time. This option saves time and is a convenient way to give regularly.
Dispensation from Sunday Mass is discontinued. The Catholic faithful are asked to resume their full and active participation in the Eucharistic Liturgy through physical attendance at the Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass. Anyone who is frail or at risk due to advanced age or medical conditions is ALWAYS excused from this obligation. Caregivers, too, may have to use prudential judgment about attendance at Mass, carefully considering the risk factors involved.