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 op- portunity 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: 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 materials 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).

Faith Formation for grades K-10 begins today, Sunday, October 5th at St. Bartholomew’s parish center. Families of new students or anyone interested in teaching or helping with classes call Sr. Bart at 607-244-2692.

The Knights of Columbus will be selling raffle tickets at select masses in September, October, and November. The Fall Raffle winning tickets, totaling $2500, will be drawn on Sunday Nov 23rd after the 11am mass at St. Paul’s Church. There will be (2) $1000 winners and (1) $500 winner. Tickets are $10 each and all proceeds are to benefit the Knights of Columbus Council 211 here in Norwich. Thank you for your support.

The 2025 HOPE Appeal for St. Bartholomew’s Church and the Diocese of Syracuse is underway. Fr. Dan asks you to join him in support of this year’s HOPE Appeal. It is a time when we join with members of our Catholic family to strengthen our Church and serve others in our community. This year’s goal is $16,771. To date, $6,260 (37%) has been raised from 19 families towards this goal! Thank you! Pledges or gifts to the good works of the Hope Appeal can be sent to the Diocese directly, brought into the office, placed in the collection basket or made online at www.syracusediocese.org/hopeappeal. Thank you for your thoughtful and prayerful con- sideration of support!

If you’d like to send cards to Fr. Ralph, his new address is: Fr. Ralph A. Bove 1301 Nottingham Rd., Apt. 122 Jamesville, NY 13078

Brett Burt from LPi, our bulletin printer, will be securing new ads for our church in the coming weeks. As a valuable member of the business community, we invite you to expand your reach and grow your business with a print ad in our parish bulletin and/or a digital ad featured on ParishesOnline.com. If you are interested in getting more information, please contact Brett at (800) 477-4574 ext. 6443, (585) 208-0678 or bburt@4lpi.com

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Disciple Maker Survey! There are a total of 79 responses: 54 online and 25 were mailed in and received by the Catholic Leadership Institute this week! Your participa- tion is truly appreciated!

If you are new to our parish, welcome! Please contact the office at 607-337-2215 to complete a census for registration. Thank you!

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.



SCHOLARSHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW 2025 applications for the Rev. Msgr. Guy A. Festa Memorial Scholarship are available for REGISTERED and ACTIVE members of St. Bartholomew Church. The award will be made on character, service, scholarship and financial consideration. Applications need to be completed and returned to Father Ralph for his signature as soon as possible. Call the office at 337-2215 for more information.

St. Paul’s Cemetery/Church is looking for a groundskeeper. Candidate must hold a valid driver’s license. Position includes landscaping, mowing, trim- ming and plowing. Applications can be found online at our website www.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.

2024 Contribution Statements Please call the office at 607-337-2215 if you’d like to receive your 2024 contribution statement. The statements can be mailed, emailed or left in the all-purpose room for pick up. Hope Appeal giving statements come from the Foundation office. Judy will request one if you need it. Thank you for your generosity throughout the year!

The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Assembly #737, is sponsoring a $1,000 scholarship for graduating seniors who plan to attend college. Students who attend the Norwich City School District can obtain and submit the scholarship applica- tion form through the school offices. Students who do not at- tend NCSD can contact the church office for an application form and mail the form to the address noted on the applica- tion. Please act soon because the application forms must be received by March 25.




CHOIR PRACTICE BEGINS on Wednesday, 9/11 at 4 PM at St. Bartholomew’s Church. It continues each Wednesday and rotates each month between churches. October’s practices will be at St. Paul, November’s at St. Bartholomew, etc.




Faith Formation for grades K-10 begins on Sunday, October 5th at St. Bartholomew’s parish center. Families of new students or anyone in- terested in teaching or helping with classes call Sr. Bart at 607-244-2692.

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.

The Hannaford’s Store Leadership Team has again select- ed Norwich Community Kitchen as a Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag Program Nonprofit Partner! This time, your organization will receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sold during the month of August 2024 at: 705 State Highway 28, Oneonta NY! If you shop at Hannaford’s in Oneonta, please consid- er purchasing a shopping bag to help the Community Kitchen! Thank you!

HELP WANTED St. Paul’s Cemetery/Church is looking for a full time Sexton maintenance person. 35-40 hours with benefits. Candidate must hold a valid driver’s license. Position includes landscap ing, mowing, trimming and using a backhoe. Applications can be found on line at our website www.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



SCHOLARSHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW 2024 applications for the Rev. Msgr. Guy A. Festa Memorial Scholarship are available for REGISTERED and ACTIVE members of St. Bartholomew Church. The award will be made on character, service, scholarship and financial consideration. Applications need to be completed and returned to Father Ralph for his signature as soon as possible. Call the office at 337-2215 for more information.



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.