The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network 

Each year, the Holy Father asks for our prayers for a specific intention each month.  Let’s join our prayer with many people worldwide in praying for this intention. The month of April is for the use of new technologies:  Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crisis of our times. 

Prayer for Compassion (during Lent) 

“Dear God, during this Lenten season, open my heart to the needs of others.  May I reflect Your Love and compassion in my actions, serving those who are suffering or in need.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.”

Introduction to Bible Study with Deacon Bill

Introduction to Bible Study with Deacon Bill – Please join this wonderful adult faith formation offering as Deacon Bill partners with us in exploring the Bible and guiding us in the process of discovery, reflection and understanding. Feel free to bring your own Bible or use one from our Lending Library. Text or email Deacon Bill if you plan to attend at 860-805-5826 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Trust In The Lord ~ Archbishops Annual Appeal

This Weekend marks the start of the 2025 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal in our parish.  If you haven’t already, you will soon receive a letter from Archbishop Coyne seeking your support.  As Catholics in the Archdiocese of Hartford we can have a profound impact on our local communities not only spiritually, but intimately connected to it, the realm of social services and many charities and outreach services performed by, or with help from, our Church. We hope you can help us meet our parish goal of $55,000. If you would like to make a gift, please mail in your pledge card.  You may also visit the Archdiocesan website at www.archdioceseofhartford.org/appeal. 

No appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements. 

DONATE ONLINE

The Pontifical Good Friday Collection

Church of the Nativity in BethlehemPope Francis has asked our parish to support this collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land, where they are now less than 2% of the population.  Your support is essential to help the church minister in parishes, provide Catholic schools, and offer religious education.  The Pontifical Good Friday Collection also helps preserve the sacred shrines of Christianity, including in Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem, to name only a few. 

When you contribute to this collection you join with Catholics around the world in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land. Please be generous.  There will be envelops at both entrances to the church.   

Saint Joseph Archdiocesan Medal of Appreciation

The Saint Joseph Archdiocesan Medal of Appreciation is a means of recognizing the dedicated laity of our parishes in the Archdiocese.  This past Sunday, Barbara and Doug Meyer received this special award!  We thank them for all that they do for our parish and so happy they received this special award.        

CRS Rice Bowl Celebrates 50 Years

It all began with a simple but powerful belief: "Everyone deserves plenty to eat".

In 1975, Catholics in Allentown, Pennsylvania, prayed, fasted, and gave alms to help those suffering from famine in Africa’s Sahel region. Their compassion sparked what would become "CRS Rice Bowl", a movement dedicated to ending global hunger.

Since then, generations of Catholics across the United States have united each Lent with one shared purpose—to ensure that no one goes without food. CRS Rice Bowl has carried the stories of our sisters and brothers striving to break the cycle of hunger and build healthier, stronger communities. But more importantly, we have witnessed the unwavering commitment of parishioners like us, who believe that no one should ever have to wonder where their next meal will come from.

Today, as our world faces a severe food crisis, our prayers, fasting, and almsgiving matter more than ever. Whether you are joining our parish family for the first time or have been part of this mission from the beginning, we must stand together—because everyone deserves plenty to eat.

In My Love, Abide ~ Men's Retreat ~ April 4-6

Men's Retreat
April 4-6, 2025
Holy Family Retreat Team

Jesus calls us to remain in love as the branches remain with the vine for life and sustenance. We know that Jesus prayed often and taught his disciples to do the same. Pope Francis has named this year a "Year of Prayer." He described it as “a year dedicated to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer in one’s personal life, in the life of the Church, and in the world.” Since prayer is a means of holding that connection between humanity and God, we invite you to come and explore the depths of a life of prayer and learn ways to maintain the sacred connection to God through Christ, the true vine. Conferences and workshops will be offered along with the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Celebration of the Eucharist.  

The retreat begins with a buffet dinner from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday evening and concludes Sunday with the celebration of Mass at 10:45 a.m., followed by a hot brunch at noon. Families of retreatants are most welcome to attend the Sunday Mass and brunch at no extra charge. 

Offering: $350; more if you can, less if you can’t.

Read more: In My Love, Abide ~ Men's Retreat ~ April 4-6

🚘 Thank You From The Drive Thru Café

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Drive Thru Café for January, especially the cooks, bakers, and servers. Due to our amazing generosity all the recipients were provided with a delicious meal. The extra food was brought to Florence Lord Senior Housing, as well as, Marlborough residents who have been battling illness. Further, our bakers provided enough cookies that extra cookies were frozen to be used at a benefit event at the Congregational Church with whom we partner on this Outreach initiative.

Sunday, March 30 is our next meal which will consist of meatloaf.

Knights of Columbus Scholarship for Catholic High School Seniors

The Knights of Columbus is a world-wide Catholic fraternal organization founded on the principles of charity, unity fraternity and patriotism. This year St. John Fisher Knights of Columbus Council 15734 of Marlborough, CT will honor two worthy graduating seniors with a scholarship in recognition of their exemplary commitment of service to our community and exemplary practice of their Catholic faith in daily life.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY:

Therefore, Council 15734 has stipulated that the eligibility criteria for a qualified applicant are the following;

Read more: Knights of Columbus Scholarship for Catholic High School Seniors

Thank You From Archbishop Coyne

I am writing to congratulate you and your parishioners of St. John Fisher Parish for your generous support of the 2024 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. The parish has responded to the call to be part of Do This In Memory of Me in a very gratifying way and has exceeded the parish goal. Please communicate my heartfelt gratitude to your parishioners for their generous response, and be assured of my prayers and best wishes for you and for everyone at St. John Fisher Parish. God grant you a blessed 2025.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne
Archbishop of Hartford

Prayer Line

If you have a loved one for whom you would like to have the St. John Fisher Community raise up in prayer, please consider contacting our prayer line by calling one of the prayer line members mentioned each week in the bulletin. You may also email the office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write your intention and place it in the prayer bowl. While these prayers are kept private, Father includes the prayer intentions each week in the Prayers of the Faithful during weekend Masses. Allow the power of communal prayer to include your prayer intention: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20

Special Thanks From the 9th Grade Confirmation Class

Special thanks from the 9th grade Confirmation class for all the breakfast item donations to benefit the neighborhood children of the Catholic Worker House in Hartford. The teens were able to assemble almost 400 snack bags! Due to the large quantity, we were able to donate a portion of these snack bags to the Kids’ Café of the House of Bread. Thank you all so much for making this service event such a huge success!