Pastoral Announcement on Upcoming Mass Changes

My Dear Parishioners, 

After much prayer, consultation, and careful discernment with our priests, pastoral team, Parish Pastoral Council and the leadership of the diocese, we will be making several adjustments to our Family of Parishes weekend and weekday Mass schedule. 

These changes are intended to strengthen our shared worship, support sustainable ministry, and better serve the faithful of South Windsor. 

Weekend Masses

At Corpus Christi:
• The 5:00 PM Saturday Vigil Mass will be discontinued. 
• A new 6:00 PM Sunday evening Mass will be introduced. 
• The 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Sunday morning Masses will remain unchanged.

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel:
• The 5:00 PM Saturday Vigil Mass at Mount Carmel will continue and will now serve as the primary vigil Mass for our Family of Parishes. 
• To better stagger our parish Mass times and support a fuller, more vibrant Saturday vigil, the Sunday morning Masses will shift from 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM to 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. 

Weekday Masses:
We are also adding two weekday Masses: 
• Monday morning Mass at Corpus Christi at 7:30 AM. 
• Saturday morning Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel at 8:30 AM.

Why These Changes Are Being Made
 
These adjustments come from a desire to: 
• Strengthen the vibrancy and attendance of our shared Vigil Mass. 
• Avoid duplicate Mass times across our parishes. 
• Provide sustainable scheduling for clergy and volunteers. 
• Offer meaningful worship opportunities that serve the needs of our growing community. 
• These changes arise from our local discernment and from the diocesan process of parish Mass assessments, which guide us toward sustainable and vibrant worship. 

After prayerful reflection, I believe this is the best path forward for the near future and a thoughtful way to continue to serve the South Windsor area with care and stability. I am deeply grateful for your understanding, your faith, and your commitment to our parish family. 

Please join me in praying that these changes bear fruit in our worship and in our life together. 

In Christ, 

Fr. Matthew 





Trial Period for Weekday Masses (Mondays at 7:30 AM and Saturdays at 8:30 AM) 

To ensure that our weekday Masses truly serve the needs of our parishioners, we will introduce a six-month trial period for the revised weekday Mass schedule. This includes the 7:30 AM Monday Mass timeslot, which will be evaluated for attendance, sustainability, and pastoral effectiveness. 

This trial period will begin on the First Sunday of Advent (November 28/29, 2026). A three-month assessment will take place midway through this period to help us discern whether the schedule should continue as is, be adjusted, or be concluded. 

Mass Intentions During the Trial Period

Because weekday Mass times are being offered on a provisional basis, Mass intentions will only be accepted up to June 30, 2027. This allows us to complete the March assessment of attendance and sustainability before committing to intentions beyond that date. Once the March review is completed, we will communicate whether the weekday schedule will continue and when Mass intentions can again be booked further into the future. 

Parish Financial Contributions
Please be assured that your financial contributions will continue to support the parish you designate, regardless of which Mass you attend on any given weekend within our Family of Parishes. Your stewardship remains directed exactly as you intend. 

We also encourage parishioners to consider planned giving options, including direct deposit / pre-authorized giving, which provide stable and reliable support for parish ministry and operations.