ST. NICHOLAS RC CHURCH

Transcription

1 ST. NICHOLAS RC CHURCH Served by the Vocationist Fathers Fr. Stephen Ehiahuruike, S.D.V., Administrator Fr. Louis Caputo, S.D.V., Parochial Vicar Church & Rectory 442 E Brinkerhoff Ave Palisades Park, NJ Tel Fax stnicholas07650@live.com Website. Office Hours Mon, Wed, Thu & Fri 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Mornings by appointment only) Feast of the Holy Family December 29, 2013 You are called into one body. Bear with one another; forgive one another; let Christ s peace control you (Colossians 3:12-21 [12-17]). ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS Baptisms: On any available Sunday during the 11:00 AM (Italian), 12:30 PM (English) & 7:00 PM (Portuguese) Masses. Please contact the rectory at least one month prior to desired date. Confessions: Saturdays 5:00 to 5:45 PM, or during the week by appointment. Marriages: Please contact the rectory at least six months prior to desired wedding date. Sacrament of the Sick: If you are hospitalized or unable to come to Church for health reasons and would like to be visited by a priest for Confession, Communion, or Anointing of the Sick, please call the rectory. Religious Education Program (CCD): For children 1 st to 8 th grades who are not attending Catholic School. Classes are held on Sundays from September to May at 11:30 AM, with attendance to the 12:30 PM Family Mass. Confirmation: Classes are held on Sundays, from January to April at 11:00 AM in the church hall, with attendance to the 12:30 PM Family Mass. Saturday: Sunday: MASS SCHEDULE 7:00 & 8:00 AM 6:00 PM (Vigil Mass) 7:30 & 9:30 AM English 11:00 AM Italian 12:30 PM English (Family Mass) 7:00 PM Portuguese Holy Days: 6:30, 8:00, 10:00 AM & 7:30 PM Weekdays: 7:00 & 8:00 AM Other Services & Activities: Monday to Saturday: 7:40 AM Morning Prayer Tuesdays: 9:00 AM Legion of Mary 7:30 PM Holy Rosary Society 8:00 PM Holy Rosary in Portuguese Wednesdays: 7:30 PM Holy Rosary in Italian Thursdays: 2:00 PM Bible Study in Italian 6:15 to 7:15 PM Holy Hour for Vocations (Jan 9) 8:30 PM Rosary by Brazilian Men (Jan 9) 7:30 PM V.A.U.S. (Jan 23) Fridays: 7:30 PM Bible Study in English (Jan 10) 8:30 PM Brazilian Prayer Group 1 st Fridays: 5:30 to 8:30 PM Bl. Sacrament Adoration (Jan 3)

2 ST NICHOLAS RC CHURCH Parish Trustees: Walter Luers & Giovanni Simone Parish Secretary: Débora Moreira Music Ministry: Addie Luers, Giovanni & Karen Simone, Kelly Oliveira Vocationist Sisters Community Sr. Benedita Carvalho, S.D.V., Superior & Pre-K Director; Sr. Antonietta Cioce, S.D.V., Sr. Ermelita (Amy) Gella, S.D.V. and Sr. Meltiana Ding, S.D.V th Street - Palisades Park, NJ Tel Parish Pre-K Fr. Justin Learning Center Tel Notre Dame Interparochial Academy Sponsored by St. Nicholas, St. Michael and St. Matthew Pre-K to Grade 8: 312 First Street, Palisades Park, NJ MASS INTENTIONS SATURDAY, December 28 7:00AM All souls in purgatory by M/M A. Piccinich 8:00AM Dinka Busanic by Nicolina Mirkovich 6:00PM(Vigil) Roberto Rincon Espinosa SUNDAY, December 29 7:30AM Anthony Marino by friends of St. Nicholas 9:30AM Antonio Tarabocchia by Mario & Maryann Hroncich 11:00AM Maria Galeazza by M/M Frank Cundari 12:30PM Maria Lechich by daughter & family 7:00PM People of the Parish MONDAY, December 30 7:00AM Matteo Piccini by wife Maria 8:00AM Mattea Piccinich by M/M Antonio Piccinich TUESDAY, December 31 7:00AM In honor of St. Lazarus by Eduardo Lorenzo 8:00AM Silvana Piccinich by husband & family 6:00PM All deceased members of our parish WEDNESDAY, January 1 7:00AM All deceased members of our parish 8:00AM In honor of the Holy Spirit by Antonia Picinic 10:00AM Dominick, Joan and Vincent Iaria 11:00AM Nicolina Porco by M/M Carmine Magnone 7:30PM Kelly Barone by Yolanda & Alfred THURSDAY, January 2 7:00AM Carlo Giannantonio by Pete Giannantonio 8:00AM Catherine & Samuel Lazzaro by Lazzaro family FRIDAY, January 3 7:00AM Antonietta DeCarlo by M/M Ronald Kida 8:00AM Concetta Luppino by M/M Joseph Tripodi SATURDAY, January 4 7:00AM In honor of St. Lazarus by Eduardo Lorenzo 8:00AM Caterina Mircovich by Klara Mircovich 6:00PM(Vigil) Anthony Marino by Ron & Carmela Kida SUNDAY, January 5 7:30AM Anthony Marino by M/M Arthur Mazzarella 9:30AM Deceased members of Holy Rosary Society 11:00AM Concetta Luppino by M/M Fausto Galeazza 12:30PM Anka Lustica by Linda & Kristen Dillon 7:00PM People of the Parish News of the Parish Have a Blessed 2014! NEW YEAR S MASS SCHEDULE Tuesday, December 31 st 7:00, 8:00 AM & 6:00 PM Wednesday, January 1 st, 2014 Feast of Mary, Mother of God 7:00, 8:00, 10:00 AM & & 7:30 PM 11:00 AM (Italian Mass) BLESSED SACRAMENT ADORATION will be this first Friday, January 3, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. There will be NO CCD CLASSES on this Sunday, December 29. Classes resume on January 5, FINANCIAL COMMITTEE will meet on Monday, January 6 at 7:30 PM in the rectory. PARISH COUNCIL will meet on Wednesday, January 8 at 7:30 PM in the church hall. VOCATIONIST FATHERS, SISTERS, V.A.U.S. & VOCATIONIST GROUPS will celebrate Blessed Fr. Justin s 123 rd Birthday with a mass on Saturday, January 18 at 6:00 PM, followed by coffee and cake in the Church Hall; and the VOCATIONIST S DAY OF SPIRITUALITY on Monday, January 20 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. All are invited to participate. Shoprite Cards are available after each Sunday Mass or during the week at the office. Our church will get 5% of what you spend. In Memoriam ALTAR CANDLES BREAD & WINE SANCTUARY LAMP Holy Hour for Vocations Every Thursday from 6:15 to 7:15 PM in church ~ Except on eve of first Fridays ~

3 Page 3 December 29, 2013 Events of the Week Ministers Schedule for January 5 6:00 PM: Lectors - Frances and Carmela B. E.M. - Claudia 7:30 AM: Lectors - Michael and Linda 9:30 AM: Lectors - Gina E.M. - Suzanne, Carol and Sr. Meltiana 11:00 AM: Lectors - Carmela R. and Lucia E.M. - Antonia, Vincent and Francesca 12:30 PM : Lector - Youth E.M. - Rita, Wendy and Roberto 7:00 PM Lectors - Viviane, Leny and Laine E.M. - Cida, Leo and Ieda Pastoral Care Holy Communion was brought last week to: Valentine Miele, Alexander Mauro, Augustine Morin, Mary Ostuni, and Sheila Hutchinson. Pray for our sick: Mateus Ribeiro, Domenica Dinaro, Maria Hughes, Pete Giannantonio, Carmen Vernillo, Carmela Cundari and Anne Ring. STEWARDSHIP OF TIME & TALENT We are thankful to our parishioners who participate in the many religious and social activities of our church during the year Also those who supported our church financially through generous offerings and donations. Your commitment to our parish is a true example of STEWARDSHIP. This year our parish welcomed a large number of new families, some who have moved to this area recently, others are couples starting to raise their families on a solid religious foundation. And there are few good old parishioners who are no longer with us, some relocated to stay close to their families, others who had ended their journey in this earth and are now in peace with the Lord. Those who arrive now and those saying goodbye, they are all very dear to us. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless all our parish members with good health, peace and love, and keep in your hearts the desire to serve Him and His church even more every day of the New Year FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY LOVE For generations, various cultures regarded family life merely as a utilitarian necessity. Sirach introduces honor and respect. For Jews and Christians alike, the value of family goes even further. The family is seen as the indispensable school where love is learned. Paul addresses the Colossians and offers a list of virtues that make for a solid and happy church. These values also make for a happy family at ease with itself and its members: mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness. As a capstone, Paul urges love, which brings all of these domestic virtues to perfection. Paul seems to be on a roll as he lauds the virtues of the church at Colossae. With such heartfelt virtues, it is no wonder Paul bursts into song. Who wouldn t? It s clear that the center of the church is love. It is clear that no matter how far from home the members travel, the heart remains and all the members are connected by the gravitational pull of mutual love, a love first learned in family life. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION We are in the season of the Incarnation, the mystery of God s love poured out in Christ s birth. The word derives from the Latin carnis meaning flesh. Throughout history, some Christians have distrusted the flesh, and stressed a hatred of this world and its pleasures. Perhaps they have not paid enough attention to how embodied the sacraments are. One thirdcentury author put it plainly in an image that may alarm diet conscious Americans, explaining that we wash the body so the soul can be cleansed, that we anoint the body so the soul can be strengthened, and that we eat the body and blood of Christ so that the soul can fatten on God. Catholics get that God is revealed in this world. The sacraments use the stuff of creation: water and oil; the senses of the body, touch and taste and smell. We use the things of this world rightly. After all, God s love poured out into human flesh means the world has eternal value. Why else would Jesus describe the kingdom to come as a teeming city or a marriage banquet? Catholics are realists, and nowhere is that more evident than when we gather for a sacrament. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co.

4 BIBLE STUDY IN ENGLISH The group will meet every Friday evening at 7:30 PM, starting on January 10, 2014, in the Blessed Mother s room. If you are interested in attending this group, please fill out the form bellow and mail it the rectory office. You can also drop this form in the collection baskets or us at stnicholas07650@live.com NAME: ADDRESS: TEL: For more information please call the rectory office at PILGRIMAGE TO ROME / ASSISI AND THE HOLY LAND Fr. Stephen is gathering a group of parishioners, family and friends to travel in pilgrimage to Rome - Italy, to attend the canonization of Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII, leaving on April 24, The trip will extend to the city of Assisi and the Holy Land. If you would like to be part of this group in this incredible journey, please talk to Fr. Stephen after mass, come to the office or call us at or send us an to stnicholas07650@live.com. CHRISTMAS SEASON Poinsettias for the Altar Donated by: In memory of: Please return this slip with your donation to our Church New Year s Party! Tuesday, December 31 st from 9pm to 2am Sponsored by the Brazilian Community Tickets: $ adults & $15.00 child 7 to 12 y/o Children up to 6 years old free Delicious homemade dinner (Brazilian style) Great music to dance and lots of fun! This year our party decoration theme will be the 2014 WORLD CUP OF SOCCER IN BRAZIL For tickets and more information please call the rectory office NEW WEBSITE Our parish has a new website! Now it is easier for you to check our mass schedule, weekly bulletins, calendar of meetings and parish groups activities. You can also see pictures of our many events, send your comments and suggestions, request a prayer or ask questions about religion or personal matters. Visit us at ST NICHOLAS R C CHURCH.ORG ATTENTION: Please be aware that in case of heavy snow and ice on the ground, the 7:00 AM weekday Mass will be canceled. You may attend the 8:00 AM Mass. If in doubt, call the rectory before leaving your house or check our website Vocationist Corner JUSTINIAN YEAR September 20, 2013 to September 20, 2014 HOPE Because of Your own goodness, You want to grant me Eternal Life as a reward for my mortal life! This Divine Good is a recompense for my cooperation with Your grace and my conformity to Your Love. I do hope! O my God and my All! You infuse Hope in me. Graciously increase it constantly in me and in everyone. Your Hope brings consolation for every pain and the revival of all my strength, through the merits of Jesus Christ. I do hope! O my God and my All Fr. Justin Russolillo, SDV, Spirit of Prayer, page 53 Learn more about Blessed Fr. Justin visiting the Vocationist Fathers website at

5 HOLY FAMILY JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH The Holy Family is the name given to the family unit of Jesus: The Divine Son of God Jesus, his mother Mary, and his fosterfather Joseph. We know very little about the life of the Holy Family through the Canonical Scriptures. They speak of the early years of the Holy Family, including the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the flight into Egypt, and the finding of Jesus in the temple. Devotion to the Holy Family is a recent development, but one that naturally grows out of a love for Jesus and his family. The cult of the Holy Family grew in popularity in the 17th century, and several religious congregations have been founded under this title. On October 26, 1921 the Congregation of Rites (under Pope Benedict XV) inserted the Feast of the Holy Family into the Latin Rite general calendar. Until then it had been celebrated regionally. Today the Church celebrates the Feast on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's Day (Known as the Feast of Mary Mother of God in the Catholic Church). If the feast falls on the 30th, attendance is not obligatory. Up until 1969, the Holy Family feast was kept on the first Sunday after The Epiphany. It was transferred to its current date in The Feast of the Holy Family is not just about the Holy Family, but about our own families too. The main purpose of the Feast is to present the Holy Family as the model for all Christian families, and for domestic life in general. Our family life becomes sanctified when we live the life of the Church within our homes. This is called the "domestic church" or the "church in miniature." St. John Chrysostom urged all Christians to make each home a "family church," and in doing so, we sanctify the family unit. Just how does one live out the Church in the family? The best way is by making Christ and his Church the center of family and individual life. Ways to do this include: reading scripture regularly, praying daily, attending Mass at least on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, imitating the actions of the Holy Family, and so forth, all done together as a family unit. In addition to cultivating positive actions, the Church understands that various actions and behaviors are contrary to God's Divine plan for the family, and these should be avoided. These include abortion, contraception, same-sex marriage, polygamy, embryonic stem-cell research, divorce, spousal abuse, child abuse, and co-habitation. Catholic Teaching is that a marriage must be open to children. Anything artificial that prevents this is contrary to divine law, although spacing births for a just reason is permitted (and may be licitly accomplished through "natural family planning"). Also, poverty, lack of health care, and other social justice concerns must be addressed by faithful Christians because of the negative effect these conditions have on the family unit. St. Paul gives us some advice on family life in Colossians 3:12-21: Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meek- ness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect har- mony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one an- other in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged (RSV). The Holy Family feast is a good time to remember the family unit and pray for our human and spiritual families. We also may take this feast to reflect on the value and sanctity of the family unit, and to evaluate our own family life.