St. Monica, St. Sylvester, St. Cecilia & St. Frances Cabrini

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Weekend Mass Schedule

Saturday - 4:00 PM
Sunday - 7:30 AM, 10:45 AM and 4:15 PM

Week Day Mass schedule:

Monday & Friday:  7:00 AM

Wednesday:  8:15 AM (Adoration Following 9:00AM-10:30AM)

Tuesday & Thursday:  5:00 PM 


Confessions are typically heard Saturdays from 3:00PM to 3:30PM and Sunday afternoons at 3:15PM to 3:45PM.

The Burlington Diocese will continue live-streaming daily mass at 12:05 pm and Sunday mass at 10:00 am at:
 www.vermontcatholic.org/tvmass and
www.facebook.com/DioBurlington

 Mass may also be found on Sunday morning at 5:30 am on WCAX.

 The link to the diocesean daily and weekly masses is below under "From the Diocese". 

The following is the prayer for making spiritual communion:

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

Weekly Reflections from Deacon Tran

4/8/25 - Hello everyone!

This weekend, we celebrate Palm Sunday, also known as the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This solemn feast marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred time in our liturgical year.

I invite you to take time this week to prayerfully reflect on the biblical account of Palm Sunday. This momentous event is recorded in all four Gospels—Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–40, and John 12:12–19—a clear sign of its deep significance in the life of Jesus and in our faith.

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, He fulfills the ancient prophecy of Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

By choosing to ride a donkey, Jesus reveals Himself as the long-awaited Messiah—not a warrior king, but a humble and peaceful Savior. His entry is met with joyful acclamations from the crowd, who spread their cloaks on the road and wave palm branches, crying out: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” The word Hosanna—from the Hebrew hoshana—means “Save us, we pray!”

Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus is indeed the promised King and Savior, but not through earthly power or might. He conquers through love, humility, and the Cross. This holy day invites us not only to join in the joyful procession, but to accompany Jesus all the way to Calvary, trusting in His saving grace.

 3/25/25 - Good Day Everyone!

Last Wednesday (3/19/25), the Church celebrated the Solemnity of St. Joseph. When I read the Litany of St. Joseph, one particular title caught my attention: “Mirror of Patience.” Thus, this week, I invite you to reflect on the patience of St. Joseph.

What makes St. Joseph a mirror of patience?

First, when Joseph learned that Mary was with child, he did not react with anger or rash judgment. Instead, he patiently awaited God's guidance and, upon receiving the angel’s message, humbly accepted his role as the foster father of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25).

Second, Joseph faced many challenges, including the arduous journey to Bethlehem, the difficulty of finding shelter for Mary to give birth, and the flight into Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod’s wrath (Matthew 2:13-15). Through all these trials, he remained calm and steadfast, trusting in God's plan.

Third, Joseph spent years in quiet labor, providing for the Holy Family in Nazareth. He patiently worked as a carpenter, fulfilling his duties with love and dedication, never seeking recognition or personal gain.

Fourth, the Gospels record no words spoken by Joseph. His patience was not only evident in his actions but also in his silence—embracing God's will without complaint or hesitation.

Thus, the life of St. Joseph teaches us to trust in divine providence and to endure difficulties with a peaceful heart. His patience was not passive resignation but an active trust in God, even when understanding His plan was difficult.

St. Joseph, Mirror of Patience, pray for us!
 

3/18/25 - Hello Everyone!

3/4/25 - Hello everyone,

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent—a sacred season to deepen our relationship with God. Last week, we reflected on the first pillar of Lent: prayer. This week, I invite you to reflect on the second pillar: fasting.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us grow closer to God by practicing self-denial and detachment from worldly comforts. But fasting is not just about food—it can also mean giving up distractions, luxuries, or bad habits to refocus our hearts on God. In one of his reflections, Bishop McDermott suggests various ways to fast:

· Turn off all social media for Lent

· Reduce time spent watching TV, especially sports

· Fast on every Friday of Lent

· Observe a meatless Lent or abstain from a particular food (e.g., dairy, bread)

· Avoid desserts or snacking between meals

· Take lukewarm or cold showers

· Fast from critical speech and gossip (Read more from Bishop McDermott here.)

Fasting purifies the heart and soul, creating space for God. It teaches self-discipline, strengthens the will, and unites us with Christ’s suffering. Ultimately, it expresses our sorrow for sin and our desire for conversion.

May this Lent be a time of renewal and grace for each of us.

2/25/25 - My Dear Friends,

Lent is approaching!

This sacred season is a time of spiritual renewal. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that Lent is a season of penance, recalling Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. It is a time for personal conversion, repentance, and spiritual growth (CCC 540, 1438). In short, Lent is an invitation to deepen our relationship with God.

To help us stay focused on this journey, the Church offers us three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—practices that have been preserved and emphasized throughout the Church’s history.

This week, I invite you to reflect on the first pillar: prayer.

Prayer is our conversation with God. St. Augustine reminds us, “Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for Him.” Through prayer, we sustain and deepen our relationship with God.

In Monday’s Gospel (Mk 9:14-29), St. Mark recounts how the disciples, despite having received authority from Jesus, were unable to cast out a demon. Jesus explained that their failure was due to a lack of prayer. Even with grace and authority, without prayer, their strength was insufficient. This passage reminds us that spiritual strength does not come from techniques, formulas, or self-confidence but from a deep and abiding relationship with God. It is through prayer that we draw strength, receive guidance, and grow in holiness.

As we enter this season of Lent, let us recommit to our prayer life and open our hearts to the Lord, the source of all grace!

2/18/25 - WELCOME DEACON TRAN!

Hello, Dear Friends,

This is Deacon Luan Tran. I’m thrilled to announce that starting next week, I’ll be sharing a weekly reflection every Tuesday on our parish website and parish Facebook page. These reflections will cover a variety of topics, including Liturgical seasons, notable Saints, theological and moral themes, insightful books and articles, and special events within our community.

My hope is that this initiative will offer us a chance to stay connected, deepen our understanding, and support one another as we grow in our prayer life together.

Stay tuned, and I look forward to this journey with you all!

Formed.org
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For most recent parish news and announcements, you can view the parish bulletin on this website at:  
http://stmonica.vermontcatholic.org/parish-bulletin