Second Sunday of Lent February 18, Pastoral Staff Pastor Father Vincent T. Euk

Transcription

1 Second Sunday of Lent February 18, 2018 Pastoral Staff Pastor Father Vincent T. Euk Parochial Vicar Fr. John Chang Weekend Assistant Fr. Bill O Brien Deacons Tom Cechulski, Sr. Charles R. Daye, Jr. John Franey Gino (Louis) Esposito School Principal Sister Cherree Power, C.R. Religious Education Sr. Ann Norton, D.R.E. Linda Clayton Business Manager Deacon Gino Esposito Director of Music Emer O Mahony Youth Ministry Coordinator Sister Ann Norton Phone Contacts Rectory Convent School Religious Education Rectory Fax Rectory Office Hours: M-F 9:00-4:30 PM Second & Fourth Saturday 9AM 12:30 PM Baptisms: Every 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month,. Weekend Masses: Saturdays: 4:00 PM Sundays: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12 noon, 5PM Daily Masses: Mon-Fri 7:20 AM & 12 Noon, Sat: 8AM Holy Days: As announced in the bulletin. Healing Mass every first Friday at 7:30PM Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:45PM and before each Sunday Mass

2 Mass Intentions for this Week February 18, 2018 MONDAY 9:00 Bonnie Yuro...Jillian Reiff & Family TUESDAY 7:20 Angela Guido... Fran McGuire 12:00 Bonnie Yuro... Ed & Mary Althaver WEDNESDAY 7:20 Bonnie Yuro...Mary & Jack Burnetsky 12:00 Ellen Krupp... Amy Fairchild & Mary Althaver THURSDAY... The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle 7:20 Anthony Albanese... Colleen Kolacki & Pat Henry 12:00 Bonnie Yuro... Ann & Jean Vandervoort FRIDAY 7:20 Frank Ciranni...Pat & Paul Winans 12:00 Frances DiOrio.Lucille & Peter Graffeo Events for this coming Week SATURDAY 8AM Bonnie Yuro... Rita Marquis 4PM Ernestine Schmidt... Toni LaBella SUNDAY 7:30 Joseph Zarzysky... Bob & Diana Morris 9:00 For the People of the Parish 10:30 Susan Termine... Pat Fosgreen 12:00 John Grad & James Bailey... Diane Grad 5:00pm Elaine Venezia... Reiff Family * Please Note that there is one 9AM Mass on Monday, Feb. 19th. The rectory office is closed on Monday, Feb. 19th. Sanctuary Candle Week of February 18, 2018 Intentions of Lt. Brian Dublon, atty.... Mom and Dad Chapel Candles Week of February 18, 2018 Intentions of Raymond Hayes... Madeline Rossi See our website Sacrificial Offering Update Last Weeks Offering : $14, Special Collection: $3, Thank you for your continued support. Readings for the Week of February 18, 2018 Sunday: Gn 9:8-15; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15 Monday: Lv 19: 1-2, 11-18; Mt 25:31-46 Tuesday: Is 55:10-11; Mt 6:7-15 Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32 Thursday: 1 Pt 5:1-4; Mt 16:13-19 Friday: Ez 18:21-28; Mt 5:20-26 Saturday: Dt 26:16-19; Mt 5:43-48 Next Sunday: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Rom 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10

3 Pastor s Notes As we begin the sacred season of Lent, we need to look to Jesus on what we should do for Lent. St. Mark tells us that Jesus was driven into the desert by the Spirit right after His baptism to be tempted by the Devil. Today many people do not like to live in silence because they are not used to it and it makes them very uncomfortable. When we are alone, many temptations to sin crop up against us because we are vulnerable to our human weaknesses and even begin to recall past bad experiences that we would really like to forget. Have you noticed that when you go home either the TV, the computer or radio are turned on? In the desert there are no options to divert our attention. You just have to listen to yourself. I remember when I made my first retreat in solitude. It was a very difficult experience. I had to face isolation, recall my sinfulness and be tempted to commit sins. It was not easy but by the end of the week things started to change for the better. In fact, coming back to civilization, I had to readjust to the chaos and confusion of city life. What made being in solitude so interesting was that I started to perceive the Holy Spirit. While this did not give me any earth shattering directions, it allowed me to understand the experience of what it is to exist and not to exist. Initially it was a bit scary. Now Jesus did not have to contend with the problems we face, but He had to contend with the temptations of the Devil. Demonic temptations are very different. They not only challenge one s human weakness, they leave one with a sense of filth and hatred. There is really a person who really hates you and wishes you to be dead and with him in hell. Noah and his family did something counter cultural. Everyone thought they were a little crazy in building the ark. All of Noah s neighbors bought into this world as if there was no God and they all perished because of it. I hope that, whatever you do for Lent, it deepens your faith. I also hope that whatever you offer up will support our church so that the Word of God can at least be present here on Route 9. Pray for our children in our Religious Ed Program and our students in our school. They are our hope for the future. We can increase their hope by what we do to support them in our parish mission. The theme of today s Gospel is also the theme of our Parish Mission. Our Lady of Fatima has asked us to pray for the conversion of sinners, to pray for the intentions of the Holy Father and to make reparations for the sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I pray that Sister Marie inspires you to serve God and His people. Fr. Euk Scripture Meditation Repent and believe in the Gospel What is the significance of Jesus spending 40 days and nights of solitude, prayer and fasting in the Judean wilderness? In the Old Testament 40 days was often seen as a significant period of testing and preparation for entering into a covenant relationship with God. In the days of Noah, God judged the earth and destroyed its inhabitants in a great flood because of their idolatry and total rejection of God. Noah and his family were spared because they obeyed God and took refuge in the ark for 40 days. When the flood subsided, God made a covenant with Noah and promised that he would not destroy the human race again. Jesus came to fulfill that promise. Forty days of retreat to seek the face of God When God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, he brought them into the wilderness of Sinai. Moses went to the mountain of the Lord at Sinai and remained there in prayer and fasting for 40 days (Exodus 24:18). At the conclusion of this 40 day encounter, God made a covenant with Moses and the people. After the prophet Elijah had confronted the sin of idolatry (the worship of false gods) in the land of Israel and destroyed the 400 priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:20-40), he fled into the wilderness and journeyed for 40 days to the mountain of God at Sinai (1 Kings 19:8). There God spoke with Elijah and commissioned him to pass on the work of restoring the worship of the one true God in the land. After Jesus was anointed by the Spirit in the waters of the Jordan River, he journeyed to the wilderness of Judea for 40 days to prepare himself for the mission which the Father sent him to accomplish - to offer up his life as the perfect atoning sacrifice for our sins. Through the shedding of his blood on the cross, he won for us a new and everlasting covenant which fulfilled and surpassed all the previous covenants which God had made with his people. ST. VERONICA SCHOOL REGISTRATION Mission Statement: St. Veronica School provides academic excellence in a safe, loving Catholic community rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We foster reverence, respect, and responsibility and encourage students to become lifelong learners who are confident, knowledgeable and caring citizens. St. Veronica School will be holding a Registration on Tuesday, February 27 th for children in Pre-K 3 to Grade 7 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. School tours are available during the week. Your child in Kindergarten Grade 6 may be interested in a Buddy Day. Please call the Main Office at to make arrangements.

4 OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Please Pray for Our Sick Tom Lovito Marjorie Paulmann Margaret Flood Mark Stoughton Mia Castellan Baby Dylan Gallego Connie Camilleri Rosemary DeFalco Diane Grad Erin Haber Monica Noble Steven Hensle Paula Baiga Diane Cudhedy Jake Infanti Joe Oates Jane Oates Ann Donovan Robert Farrell Christine Clements John Rodrigues Cathy Forman Ed Kelly Dennis Hayward Kathy Hayward Marie Schmidt Christopher Hunt Greg Mador Brayden Walton Victoria Burke Robert O Malley Sr. Karen & Dylan D Souza-Casiero Barbara Sewing Joanne Oates Carmen Devone Mike Kuris Marisa D Sa Joseph Greco Milagros Martino Corinne Kerod Robert Robisky Charles Layton George Keith Kathy Aiello John Burke Retired Bishop John Smith Erasmo Ninamango Douglas Floyd Ella Floyd Judy Silagi Denise Worster Vinnie Gaglardi Mary Ann Morelli Michelle Schultz Roberta Wingren Carl Lahetta Antonio Esposito Gavin Femiano Jen Arico Jessica Przyeylski Frank Albano Helen Knueppel Rosemary Overstreet Mary Alice Carey Kelly Pierfy Dr. Renay Friedman Gary Lindquist Please Pray for Our Parishioners Serving Our Country: Sgt. Sean T. Curran Sgt. Brennan Six PV2 William Wotton GSMI Sandro Farduchi Sgt. Krystyna Cechulski Major Julio Collazos S.R. Steven Brennan Sgt. Gregory Hiller PFC Zackary Burkey LCDR Matthew W. Smith Sgt. Luke Wlodkowski 1st Lt. Robert F. Farrell 1st Lt. Ash Young Sgt. Paul Coyle Sgt. Matt Myers Lt. Brian Michael Dublon, atty. Baptism St. Veronica s Parish Family wishes to welcome those who have become members through the Sacrament of Baptism. Thank you for the gift of life! Church and Chapel Sanctuary Candles If you would like to donate a Sanctuary Candle for a loved one, please contact the rectory office ( ). Candles will be in memory of or intentions of the named individual for one week (Sunday to Saturday) and announced in our bulletin. Church Candle $15 Chapel Candles $20 (2). Banns of Marriage Michael Filosa & Alison Mitrosky (3) Apr. 14, 2018 A Lenten Journey with Jesus & Mary SUNDAY (Feb. 18, 7:30 PM) INTRO: Consider the message of Our Lady of Fatima. With her, ponder her Son in his last hours and encounter Him with your own life in your own heart. MONDAY (Feb. 19, 7:30 PM) How to Suffer and How to Trust: the Agony and Scourging of Jesus. TUESDAY (Feb. 20, 7:30 PM) The Mind, Motivation, and Merit of Jesus' Suffering: the "Crowning" of Jesus and our benefit (Confessions). WEDNESDAY (Feb. 21, 7:30 PM) What to do when we are helpless - Love's answer! Jesus carries His cross and is crucified. Bereavement Support Group Starting February 26, 2018, St. Veronica s will commence a support group for those who have lost loved ones. The meetings will be held on Monday evenings, in the rectory (basement office) at 6:30PM for a duration of 6 weeks. For more information, please call Deacon Tom at St. Joseph by the Sea You are cordially invited to join us at Liturgy as we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph on Monday, March 19th. We will pray for peace and healing for ourselves and for our world. Please call to register by March 16th. Refreshments and Blessed Bread after the program. Arrival: 10:30AM; Mass: 11 AM Departure: 1PM. (Free Will Offering) Celebrant: Fr. John Bambrick Presenters: Sr. Ramos and Sr. Bianchi Knights of Columbus Membership Drive We cordially invite men age 18 and older to come and meet us at our membership drive the weekend of March 3rd after all Masses. We are a Catholic Men s Fraternity and we serve the church as well as those in need in the community. Please come introduce yourself and meet a wonderful group of men serving the community through their Catholic Faith. Stations of the Cross are this Friday, at 7:30 PM, and will continue each Friday during Lent. Please join us.

5 Air Conditioner Replacement Campaign Goal- $200, To Date Donations: $39, Please continue to help reach our goal to replace the AC system. Thank you to those who have donated and for your continued support. Catholic Men for Jesus Christ Join other Catholic men from across the Diocese of Trenton at the 21 st Annual Men s Conference on Saturday, February 24, at St. Gregory the Great in Hamilton Square. The theme of this year s conference is The Age of Mercy. The day runs from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and will feature Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop David O Connell, as well as inspiring talks by Ralph Martin, an internationally renowned Catholic Radio & TV host, author and evangelist; Bob and Maureen Digan, the couple whose family experienced a miraculous healing that was used as the verified miracle for St. Faustina s beatification, and Gez Ford, Lifeteen Minister and co-founder of Tabor House. There will also be music, Catholic vendors, and the opportunity to fellowship with other men who are looking to grow in their walk with Jesus and dynamically live out their Catholic faith. A youth breakout session will also be offered for young men from 8th grade to college age. Cost is $25 per person in advance ($30 at the door); $10 for students. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information or to register online go to Annulment Sessions For many people, the process of marriage annulment is very mysterious, often accompanied by considerable misinformation. In order to dispel misconceptions, the diocese sponsors Annulment Information sessions annually in parishes within each county of the diocese. The session for Monmouth County is on Thursday, March 1st from 7:30-9:00 PM at St. Michaels, Long Branch, and there is one on Monday, March 12th from 7:30-9:00 PM at St. Mary s, Colt s Neck. SVS Gift Auction Our SVS annual gift auction is just around the corner. Please join us on March 2, at Southgate Manor for a wonderful night "Under the Sea". To purchase your seating and order advance purchase raffle tickets, please contact the school office at Seating is limited so please act fast. Another way you can help us to make this night a great success is by donating a gift card. Any denomination is greatly appreciated. There is a drop box in the narthex. As always, we the parents and students of Saint Veronica School appreciate your support. God bless you. Adoration Chapel Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 Consider trying to make a Lenten Holy Hour this year. Be still in His presence; it s a personal retreat from the world. I keep up the Holy Hour to grow more and more into His likeness. Looking at the Eucharistic Lord for an hour transforms the heart in a mysterious way as the face of Moses was transformed after his companionship with God on the mountain. Archbishop Fulton Sheen Registered adorers insure our commitment to keep the chapel open 24/7. Give Him time and He will give Himself to you. Hours Most Needed: (others available) Sunday : 7AM, 5PM Monday: 1AM Wednesday: 12 midnight Thursday: 2AM Friday: 7pm Saturday: 7PM Contact Debbie drev514@aol.com or leave message Healing Hearts Support Group Healing Hearts Support Group is a support group for adults that are affected by separation and divorce. This Spring/ Summer session will be based on Recovering from Divorce Program. This program is specifically designed to help divorced/ separated Catholics. This program offers support and addresses the most pressing challenges of divorce. The program is designed to help divorced/separated Catholics recover by more fully learning and living their faith. The program will run on Wednesdays from 7:30 PM 9:00 PM, starting April 4, 2018 and ending June 27, St. Veronica s Church Rectory Basement Office. There will be two information sessions: 1 st Session, Wednesday, February 21 st and 2 nd Session, Wednesday, March 7 th. Both sessions start at 7:30 PM. Please call or stveronicakre4u@gmail.com for additional information and/or directions. Please pre-registration for each session via or phone. OUR NEEDS Pantry Needs Spam, crackers, instant oatmeal, pork and beans,