Our Lady of the Lakes Church
752 Norwich-Salem Turnpike
Oakdale, CT
Phone: 860-848-1257
Email: [email protected]
Mass Schedule
Weekend Masses Daily Masses Reconciliation
Saturday 5:00p.m. Monday 7:00p.m Monday 6:00p.m.
Sunday 8:00a.m. 10:15a.m. Wednesday and Friday 8:00a.m. Saturday 4:15p.m.
Saturday 5:00p.m. Monday 7:00p.m Monday 6:00p.m.
Sunday 8:00a.m. 10:15a.m. Wednesday and Friday 8:00a.m. Saturday 4:15p.m.
Our Lady of the Lakes Church Parish Ministries and Organizations
Altar Server Coordinator
First Coordinator Dawn Kelley Contact: [email protected]
Second Coordinator Deacon William Herrmann Contact: 860-848-7144
Cub and Boy Scout Troop 60 Charter Representative
Joseph DiLuzio Contact: 860-887-0593
Divine Mercy Parish Music Director
Laura Cochran Contact: [email protected]
Divine Mercy Parish Webmaster
Barbara Johnson Contact: [email protected]
Eucharistic Adoration Coordinator
Maureen O'Hara Contact: 860-859-2065
Eucharistic Ministers
First Coordinator Maritza O'Connell Contact: [email protected]
Second Coordinator Deacon William Herrmann Contact: 860-848-7144
Food Bank Coordinator
Ed Farr Contact: 859-1189; [email protected]
Gardening Angels - Committee Chair
Ann Daniewicz Contact: 860-889-8668
Knights of Columbus - Grand Knight
George Horan
Ladies Guild - Co-Presidents
Ann Marie Rios Contact: 860-705-1975; [email protected]
Janet Bucko Contact: 860-537-1752
Lectors - Coordinator
First Coordinator Maritza O'Connell Contact: [email protected]
Second Coordinator Deacon William Herrmann Contact: 860-848-7144
Legion of Mary - President
Carolyn Besade - Contact: [email protected]
Parish Council Chairperson
Eileen Baukus - Contact: 860-859-1331; [email protected]
Parish Folk Group Director
Susan Hollo Contact: 860-537-9750; [email protected]
Parish Prayer Line Contact
Jean Farr Contact: 860-859-1189, [email protected]
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Michelle Cavarnos Contact: 860-859-1228; [email protected]
RCIA Coordinator
Reverend Francis J. Gilbert Contact: 860-848-1257; [email protected]
Religious Education Director
Joyce Sinay - Contact: 860-859-9733; [email protected]
Safe Environments - Coordinator
Joyce Sinay - Contact: 860-859-9733; [email protected]
Sick/Homebound Visits Coordinator
Deacon William Herrmann Contact: 860-848-7144;
Usher Society Contact Usher
Greg Kolashuk Contact: 860-848-3526; [email protected]
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Feast Day: November 27
The Story of the Miraculous Medal
The Medal of the Immaculate Conception, commonly called the Miraculous Medal,
was manifested to Saint Catherine Laboure’, a spiritual daughter of Saint Louise de Marillac
and Saint Vincent de Paul. This took place in the Chapel of the Motherhouse
of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, France.
Sister Catherine, during her novitiate, received extraordinary favors from God, such as visions
of the heart of Saint Vincent and manifestations of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
In 1830, she was blessed with apparitions of Mary Immaculate
to which we owe the Miraculous Medal. Sister Catherine’s description
of the apparition of Our Lady, on November 27, 1830,
makes it clear that the Medal originated with the Mother of God herself.
“Her feet rested on a white glove…I saw rings on her fingers…each ring was set with gems…
the larger gems emitted greater rays and the smaller gems, smaller rays…I could not express…
what I saw, the beauty and the brilliance of the dazzling rays.” Catherine heard an interior voice:
“These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The gems from which rays do
not fall are the graces for which souls forget to ask.” An oval frame formed around the Blessed Virgin,
and within it in letters of gold Catherine read the words; “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us
who have recourse to you.” The voice spoke again: “Have a Medal struck after this model.
All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck.
Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence.”
Catherine continued: “…the tableau seemed to turn and I beheld the reverse of the Medal:
a large “M” surmounted by a bar and a cross; beneath the “M” were the Hearts of
Jesus and Mary, the one crowned with thorns, the other pierced with a sword.”
The Medal
The front of the medal represents Mary standing on the earth, her foot crushing the head of a serpent,
and her hands outstretched to all who ask her assistance. The prayer encircling her contains one of
her most precious titles: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.”
The rays of light from her hands symbolize the graces which she is only
to eager to bestow upon those who wear the Medal and pray to her.
When Saint Catherine related the vision to her confessor, he asked her whether she had seen any
writing on the back of the Medal. She answered that she had seen none at all.
“Ah!” he said, “ask the Blessed Virgin what to put there.”
The Sister obeyed and prayed to Mary a long time for this information.
One day during meditation she seemed hear a voice saying:
“the “M” and the two hearts express enough.”
Page 1 of 2
Our Lady of the Lakes Church Patron: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Feast Day: November 27, 2014
The Medal was made according to Our Lady’s design. It was freely circulated and in a
short time was worn by millions. In its wake followed innumerable wonders. Health was
restored, sickness banished, conversions made, bad habits broken, special graces given;
dangers averted, blessings bestowed – until the little Medal of the Immaculate Conception
became known by the name it bears today, the Miraculous Medal.
A Conversion Miracle
One of the most famous stories about the Miraculous Medal is the conversion of
Alphonse Ratisbonne in 1842. Ratisbonne was the heir of a wealthy Jewish family.
He had no faith and in fact hated the Catholic Religion.
As a dare from a friend, Baron Theodore de Bussieres, Ratisbonne took to wearing the
Miraculous Medal and saying the Memorare prayer for nine days to prove that it would do nothing.
While wearing the Medal, a mutual friend died. De Bussieres was tending to funeral
arrangements and asked Ratisbonne to wait for him in the Basilica of
Saint Andros delle Fratte in Rome. When de Bussieres returned to meet Ratisbonne,
he found him on his knees transfixed in the front of the Chapel with tears in his eyes.
As he was led out of the church, Ratisbonne took out the Medal,
kissed it and exclaimed, “How Good is the Lord." And, asked to see a priest.
After his Baptism and Confirmation, he helped his brother Theodore, also a convert and a priest,
to found the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion in 1843. He entered the seminary and was ordained in 1847.
With the permission of the Pope he moved the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion to Jerusalem
in 1855 where he was devoted to converting Jews and Muslims to Catholicism. He died in 1884.
His conversion was a well publicized event, but just a sample of the many thousands
of lesser known wonders by the wearing of Our Lady’s great sacramental.
Prayer
The Memorare
Remember, O most compassionate Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your assistance, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins,
our Mother; to you we come; before you we kneel sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions,
but in your clemency hear and answer them.
Amen.
For additional information about Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal please visit:
The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal at www.MiraculousMedal.org.
Published in Our Lady of the Lakes Parish Bulletin
November 23, 2013
The Knights of Columbus, Council 8903, Our Lady of the Lakes
The history of The Miraculous Medal is printed with the permission of
The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal
Feast Day: November 27
The Story of the Miraculous Medal
The Medal of the Immaculate Conception, commonly called the Miraculous Medal,
was manifested to Saint Catherine Laboure’, a spiritual daughter of Saint Louise de Marillac
and Saint Vincent de Paul. This took place in the Chapel of the Motherhouse
of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, France.
Sister Catherine, during her novitiate, received extraordinary favors from God, such as visions
of the heart of Saint Vincent and manifestations of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
In 1830, she was blessed with apparitions of Mary Immaculate
to which we owe the Miraculous Medal. Sister Catherine’s description
of the apparition of Our Lady, on November 27, 1830,
makes it clear that the Medal originated with the Mother of God herself.
“Her feet rested on a white glove…I saw rings on her fingers…each ring was set with gems…
the larger gems emitted greater rays and the smaller gems, smaller rays…I could not express…
what I saw, the beauty and the brilliance of the dazzling rays.” Catherine heard an interior voice:
“These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The gems from which rays do
not fall are the graces for which souls forget to ask.” An oval frame formed around the Blessed Virgin,
and within it in letters of gold Catherine read the words; “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us
who have recourse to you.” The voice spoke again: “Have a Medal struck after this model.
All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck.
Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence.”
Catherine continued: “…the tableau seemed to turn and I beheld the reverse of the Medal:
a large “M” surmounted by a bar and a cross; beneath the “M” were the Hearts of
Jesus and Mary, the one crowned with thorns, the other pierced with a sword.”
The Medal
The front of the medal represents Mary standing on the earth, her foot crushing the head of a serpent,
and her hands outstretched to all who ask her assistance. The prayer encircling her contains one of
her most precious titles: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.”
The rays of light from her hands symbolize the graces which she is only
to eager to bestow upon those who wear the Medal and pray to her.
When Saint Catherine related the vision to her confessor, he asked her whether she had seen any
writing on the back of the Medal. She answered that she had seen none at all.
“Ah!” he said, “ask the Blessed Virgin what to put there.”
The Sister obeyed and prayed to Mary a long time for this information.
One day during meditation she seemed hear a voice saying:
“the “M” and the two hearts express enough.”
Page 1 of 2
Our Lady of the Lakes Church Patron: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Feast Day: November 27, 2014
The Medal was made according to Our Lady’s design. It was freely circulated and in a
short time was worn by millions. In its wake followed innumerable wonders. Health was
restored, sickness banished, conversions made, bad habits broken, special graces given;
dangers averted, blessings bestowed – until the little Medal of the Immaculate Conception
became known by the name it bears today, the Miraculous Medal.
A Conversion Miracle
One of the most famous stories about the Miraculous Medal is the conversion of
Alphonse Ratisbonne in 1842. Ratisbonne was the heir of a wealthy Jewish family.
He had no faith and in fact hated the Catholic Religion.
As a dare from a friend, Baron Theodore de Bussieres, Ratisbonne took to wearing the
Miraculous Medal and saying the Memorare prayer for nine days to prove that it would do nothing.
While wearing the Medal, a mutual friend died. De Bussieres was tending to funeral
arrangements and asked Ratisbonne to wait for him in the Basilica of
Saint Andros delle Fratte in Rome. When de Bussieres returned to meet Ratisbonne,
he found him on his knees transfixed in the front of the Chapel with tears in his eyes.
As he was led out of the church, Ratisbonne took out the Medal,
kissed it and exclaimed, “How Good is the Lord." And, asked to see a priest.
After his Baptism and Confirmation, he helped his brother Theodore, also a convert and a priest,
to found the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion in 1843. He entered the seminary and was ordained in 1847.
With the permission of the Pope he moved the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion to Jerusalem
in 1855 where he was devoted to converting Jews and Muslims to Catholicism. He died in 1884.
His conversion was a well publicized event, but just a sample of the many thousands
of lesser known wonders by the wearing of Our Lady’s great sacramental.
Prayer
The Memorare
Remember, O most compassionate Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your assistance, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins,
our Mother; to you we come; before you we kneel sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions,
but in your clemency hear and answer them.
Amen.
For additional information about Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal please visit:
The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal at www.MiraculousMedal.org.
Published in Our Lady of the Lakes Parish Bulletin
November 23, 2013
The Knights of Columbus, Council 8903, Our Lady of the Lakes
The history of The Miraculous Medal is printed with the permission of
The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal
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