- Immaculate Conception Church celebrates 100th Anniversary

Celebrating a 100th Anniversary

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the founding of Immaculate Conception Church.  To honor this landmark moment in the history of the church, a Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at the church on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 10:30 am.  The Most Rev. Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of the Hartford will concelebrate the Mass with Rev. Adam Subocz, Pastor of  Immaculate Conception Church and other priests.

Fr. Adam Subocz said, “Our parish has been looking forward to this moment with special joy and excitement.  It is a time for us to rejoice in the rich history and memories of the past and the generations of people who built and made this church what it is today. We will pray and work together to carry that heritage into the future for generations to come. ” 

 All are cordially invited to join us at the Mass and likewise at a celebration at a dinner to be held at Testa’s Banquet Facility at 26 South Center St. at 12:00 Noon. 

For dinner tickets and information please contact the Rectory at 860-628-2181, Monday through Thursdays.

Immaculate Conception Church

130 Summer Street, Southington, CT 06489
860-628-2181

Native Southington Artist Presents Work at St Dominic Church Thursday Sep. 17, 2015

World renowned artist, Dale Zarrella, will present to St. Dominic Church a bronze replica of a sculpture he created of St. Marianne Cope. The original was made for the Vatican in Rome. 

St. Marianne Cope
by Dale Zarrella

The presentation will be made at 7:00 pm at St. Dominic Church on Thursday, September 17, 2015 following a film entitled “An American Saint”, which tells the story of Mother Marianne. Zarrella said that the work is a gift in loving memory of his grandmother, Philomena Sepko. 

Zarrella grew up in Southington. As a boy, he was always twiddling. His pastor at St. Dominic, the late Rev. Walter F. Geraghty, took interest in young Dale and encouraged the boy. Geraghty asked the 17-year old Zarrella if he would like to sculpt a wooden crucifix for the church then under construction some 30 years ago.  

Zarrella was pleased to accept the challenge, soon after completing his first major work of art. Today, the crucifix hangs above and just behind the church altar. 

In his twenties, Zarrella moved to Maui where he has resided since, developing a professionally brilliant career as an internationally respected artist. Through the years, Zarrella has presented other religious sculptures to St. Dominic Church, each having a special place in the church today. 

Upon the occasion of the retirement of Fr. Henry C. Frascadore, second pastor of St. Dominic Church, in June 2008, the Ladies of St. Dominic presented a wooden sculpture of the "Risen Christ" which they had commissioned Zarrella to create. 

Later, in 2014, Zarrella presented to current pastor of St. Dominic, Fr. Ronald P. May, and to the parish, a replica of a sculpture of St. Damien. The original had been commissioned to Zarrella by the Vatican in Rome where it now stands.  

Artist Zarrella at work sculpting.

Zarrella continues to work at his adopted home on the Island of Maui in Hawaii. but he has never forgotten his roots, his extended family, his many friends or his native parish in Southington.  

Young Southington author publishes first book

Fordham University Undergrad
published author, Samantha D'Angelo

Southington High graduate, Class of 2014, Samantha D’Angelo is a rising sophomore star at Fordham University in the Bronx.  Majoring in English and minoring in Marketing and Creative Writing, Miss D’Angelo recently published a book which she completed in her freshman year, entitled, The Teen Girl's Guide to Becoming Her Best Self: 3 steps to achieving happiness in high school. The author’s motivation was to help teenage girls understand how to become their best, happy in who they are, through actions true to their own desires and persona. “To those who had the privilege of teaching Samantha D'Angelo, this publication is no surprise.” says Jennifer Paul, Literacy Specialist at Southington High School. 

Sam excelled at Strong Elementary School. She won the Young Authors Competition at John F. Kennedy Middle School each of her three years there  with brilliant submissions.  Her ‘how to’ guide for teenage girls, is filled with insight, wisdom, and empathy.  

D’Angelo recalled her earliest writing as a third grader when she was assigned to write a poem on Norman Rockwell’s famous Girl in the Mirror. “I remember writing my impressions of the painting in less than ten minutes. My teacher, Mrs. Cheryl Sasek looked at it. I don’t remember now whether I understood it at that time, that she welled up emotionally. She became my mentor at Strong School.” At Kennedy School her mentor was Ms. Patty Pettit. The author’s mother, Karen Carollo, recalled times when Sam might be watching scenery through their car window and write her reflections on it in her mind.

D’Angelo says she starts with a situation of conflict and begins to write her impressions, building characters, at times based on her observations of others. Her favorite college course so far has been ‘Texts and Contexts: Telepathy in Texts’. She is looking forward to advanced English courses.     

Born in Waterbury, Sam’s family moved to Southington when she was about to start school. “My passion has always been writing. I love Fordham and enjoy exploring NYC and spending time in beautiful places.”, she said.

The Teen Girl's Guide to Becoming Her Best Self is available for purchase at Amazon where several reviews with interesting insights are available.

K of C's Youth Soccer Challenge at Southington Rec' Park - Sun. Sep. 13th

Youth Soccer Challenge

Hey kids, parents. grandparents and soccer lovers:  Get ready for the annual Southington Knights of Columbus Youth Soccer Challenge.

It all happens on Sunday morning, September 13, 2015 at Rec' Park, Field # 1, located at 493 South End Rd., Plantsville. 

This ealthy, invigorating athletic activity is provided by the Knights for boys and girls ages 9 to 14, (born between Sep 1, 2001 and Aug 31, 2006), residing in Southington, Plantsville, Milldale or Marion. 

How the competition is organized: 

• Competition begins promptly at 9 am and continues until 11:30 am. 
• Participating youth will be competing within divisions based on age and gender. 
• Each participant will have 15 shots at the goal using the ‘penalty’ kick method of scoring. 
• The high scorer in each division will advance to district competition. 
• Free registration will take place from 9 to 11 am. 

For further details, contact: Phil Mazzati:  mazzophi@att.net  or 203-395-4381.  

G O A L !