St. Andre Bessette Parish - St. John the Apostle

About St. Andre Bessette Parish

St. Andre Bessette Parish is a Catholic community in the Diocese of Norwich, located in the Putnam Deanery of northeastern Connecticut. It is one unified parish composed of three worship sites — All Hallows in Moosup, St. Augustine in Canterbury, and St. John the Apostle in Plainfield — that together serve the Catholics of the Quiet Corner of Windham County. The parish takes its name from St. André Bessette, the beloved Canadian Holy Cross brother. From its central parish office at 10 Railroad Avenue in Plainfield, a pastor, permanent deacon, secretary, bookkeeper, Director of Religious Education, maintenance supervisor, three organists, and a cemetery director care for the spiritual and administrative life of the community.

History of the Parish

Catholic life in this corner of Connecticut began with the arrival of four Irish Catholic men in Moosup in 1833. The first Mass in the area was celebrated in a private home, but by 1859 enough Catholics had settled locally to fund the construction of All Hallows Church, which was dedicated that July by Bishop F. P. McFarland of Hartford and named after All Hallows College in Dublin where many early regional priests had trained. The original All Hallows building was later replaced by the present church in 1901; its steeple was lost in the Hurricane of 1938. St. Augustine Church in Canterbury was established in 1968, and the community at Plainfield's St. John the Apostle rounded out the trio. Over time the three were yoked together and ultimately merged into the single St. Andre Bessette Parish under the leadership of its current pastor, Rev. Grzegorz P. (Greg) Jednaki.

• 1833 — first Irish Catholics arrive in Moosup
• 1859 — All Hallows Church dedicated by Bishop F. P. McFarland
• 1901 — present All Hallows church built
• 1938 — All Hallows steeple destroyed in hurricane
• 1968 — St. Augustine Church established in Canterbury
• Parish later yoked and merged as St. Andre Bessette Parish

Sacraments

The parish prepares members for and celebrates the seven sacraments. Couples wishing to marry should contact the rectory at least one year in advance. The Anointing of the Sick is offered 20 minutes before weekday Mass, in the home of the sick upon request, or by appointment. Baptisms are arranged through the rectory. Faith Formation prepares children for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, while the RCIA/OCIA process welcomes adults and children seeking initiation into the Catholic Church.

• Baptism
• First Holy Communion & Confirmation (via Faith Formation)
• Marriage — at least 1 year advance notice
• Anointing of the Sick — before Mass, at home, or by appointment
• Reconciliation — Saturday or by appointment
• RCIA/OCIA for adults and children

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The parish Faith Formation / Religious Education program, directed by the DRE, serves children from Kindergarten through Grade 8 and prepares them for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Classes are organized by grade level and meet on a regular weekly schedule, with Confirmation preparation meeting every other Sunday evening in the parish school. The program also coordinates the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults and Children) for older students and adults seeking to enter the Church.

• Kindergarten–Grade 4 — weekly Religious Education classes
• Grade 5–Grade 8 — Confirmation preparation
• Adult and teen OCIA / RCIA process
• Confirmation classes meet every other Sunday 6:00–7:00 pm

St. John's Cemetery

St. John's Cemetery is the parish cemetery of St. Andre Bessette Parish, located at 805 Norwich Road in Plainfield, Connecticut. It is operated by the St. John Cemetery Corporation, with David Allard serving as Cemetery Director. The cemetery offers graveside services, in-church funeral Masses, and funeral home services, and publishes a price list for these ministries. All grave decorations must be removed by family members at the end of winter (March 15) and the end of summer (October 15); new winter-season flowers may be placed after October 18. Payments may be made online through the parish's 'St. John Cemetery Corporation Fund.'

• 805 Norwich Road, Plainfield, CT 06374
• Director: David Allard
• Phone: 860-564-3313
• Funeral Mass: $250 | Funeral Home Service: $150 | Graveside Service: $150 | Organist: $125
• Decorations must be removed by March 15 and October 15

Parish Staff & Clergy

The parish is led by Rev. Grzegorz P. (Greg) Jednaki, Pastor, and served by Deacon Timothy Marshall. Adele Comeau serves as Secretary and Bulletin Editor; Patricia LaBonte is the Bookkeeper; Scott LaPorte is the Properties & Maintenance Supervisor; April Gibson is the Director of Religious Education; Edward Krauss, Vincent Kluczewski, and Janice McMahon serve as Organists for the three worship sites; and David Allard directs St. John's Cemetery.

• Rev. Grzegorz P. Jednaki — Pastor
• Deacon Timothy Marshall
• Adele Comeau — Secretary & Bulletin Editor
• Patricia LaBonte — Bookkeeper
• Scott LaPorte — Properties & Maintenance Supervisor
• April Gibson — Director of Religious Education
• Edward Krauss — Organist (Moosup & Plainfield)
• Vincent Kluczewski — Organist (Canterbury)
• Janice McMahon — Organist (Canterbury & Plainfield)
• David Allard — Director, St. John's Cemetery

Our Three Worship Sites

Although administered as one parish, St. Andre Bessette Parish is served by three distinct worship sites, each with its own address and weekly schedule. Weekend Masses rotate among them: Saturday Vigil at 4:30 pm in Canterbury (St. Augustine), Sunday at 8:00 am in Moosup (All Hallows), and Sunday at 10:30 am in Plainfield (St. John the Apostle).

• All Hallows — 126 Prospect Street, Moosup, CT 06354 (Est. 1859)
• St. Augustine — 144 Westminster Road, Canterbury, CT 06331 (Est. 1968)
• St. John the Apostle — 15 Railroad Avenue, Plainfield, CT 06374

Contact, Office Hours & Registration

The parish office is located at 10 Railroad Avenue, Plainfield, CT 06374, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm (closed on Holy Days and holidays). New parishioners are warmly welcomed and may register at the rectory; registration forms are also available on the parish website.

• Parish Office: 10 Railroad Avenue, Plainfield, CT 06374
• Phone: 860-564-3313 | Fax: 860-564-3314
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
• New parishioners may register at the rectory