Welcome to Good Shepherd Parish Hopelawn, New Jersey 08861

Transcription

1 Welcome to Good Shepherd Parish Hopelawn, New Jersey MISSION STATEMENT We are called by Jesus as a community of faith to love God and love one another by our acts of worship, fellowship and stewardship. December 20, 2015 The Fourth Sunday of Advent Rev. Michael G. Krull, K.C.H.S. Rev. John Morley Deacon Sam Costantino Deacon Edward Rodes Deacon Albert Coppola Maria C. Arcelay Wayne Behr Pastor, In Residence/Chaplain, Raritan Bay Medical Center R.C.I.A. Parish Secretary/PCL/Cemetery Coordinator Director of Liturgical Music MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil Mass 4:30 PM Sunday Masses: Daily Mass Holy Days Confessions: Novenas: 8:00 AM 10:00 AM 12:00 Noon Monday-Saturday at 8:00 AM As Announced Saturday Afternoon 3:30-4:00 PM Miraculous Medal and St. Jude Novena Saturday morning following 8:00 AM Mass St. Anthony Novena Wednesday morning after 8:00 AM Mass THE PARISH CENTER Parish and Cemetery Offices 625 Florida Grove Rd., Hopelawn Phone: Fax: Website: Goodshepherd20@verizon.net Office Open Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Evenings by Appointment Only Closed Weekends and Federal Holidays PERTH AMBOY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Holy Spirit Primary School Sr. Beverly Policastro S.C. (732) St. Stephen Upper School Sr. Rebecca Piatek CSSF (732) BLESSED SACRAMENT ORATORY Located in the Parish Center Open for Private Prayer during office hours

2 Sacramental Preparation Baptism: All Baptisms are celebrated on the first Sunday of the month at 1:15 PM. The preparation process should begin at least three months before the planned date of the Baptism. A Baptism Preparation Class is required for parents (godparents may attend if they wish). This class is offered on the fourth Sunday of each month at 9:00 AM. Please call the parish office to register. The date of the baptism is scheduled after attending the class. Parish membership and active worship is required for two months prior to preparation. Haven t Received Your Sacrament on Schedule? Families of children in grades three and up who have been baptized but have not yet received any formal religious education, as well as those who have not been baptized, should contact the Parish Office for information on how to proceed. Initiation of Adults and Older Children: This is an extended formation process for unbaptized or uncatechized adults or baptized Christians of other faith traditions who wish to become members of the Catholic Church, as well as for unbaptized or uncatechized school-aged children. Please contact the parish office for more information. Initiation is celebrated at the Easter Vigil after a formation period of one or two years. Adult Confirmation: This is a program for persons over the age of 18 who have received the Sacraments of Baptism and First Eucharist, but who never completed their initiation with the Sacrament of Confirmation. The program is a week program, with Confirmation being celebrated on the Solemnity of Pentecost. Please call the parish office for more details. Matrimony: Couples wishing to marry in Good Shepherd Parish are required to make initial arrangements at least one year in advance. Four sessions with the priest or deacon, as well as Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter take place during this year. Parish registration and active worship for at least two months are required before a date may be scheduled. Anointing of the Sick: Anyone who is seriously ill or unable to come to church for a length of time should contact the parish office to arrange for the Anointing of the Sick. Eucharistic Ministers bring Holy Communion to homebound parishioners every Sunday, and one of the priests will visit on the First Friday of each month. Please call the parish office to make arrangements. The Diocese of Metuchen provides Catholic priests to serve at all local hospitals. Holy Orders: If you are interested in learning more about the priesthood or religious life, contact the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Metuchen at , ext or by at vocations@diometuchen.org or visit Parish Registration: We welcome you to the Good Shepherd Parish Community! Please register at the Parish Office as soon as you are able to do so, and the staff will be more than happy to inform you about our parish and the opportunities we offer. Parish registration is required for religious education, celebration of all Sacraments and certification as a sponsor for Baptism and Confirmation. Regular Sunday worship with us indicates a practicing Catholic, not just parish registration. An assurance of family practice and raising children in the faith they seek is necessary for the sacraments of initiation and certification of sponsorship. Please notify the parish office of any changes in phone number, address, address or 2 GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH FINANCIAL CORNER Collection Report Week of 12/13/15 Weekly $4, Monthly $3, Immaculate Conception $1, Good Shepherd Parish BIG MONEY RAFFLE Drawing at our International Night Pot Luck Dinner Saturday, February 6, 2016 Let s make our BIG MONEY RAFFLE BIGGER this year! If you buy or sell your raffle book we will pay each of our three winners Big Money! Remember you have to be in it to be one of our three lucky winners! Our Goal $20, Ticket Sales as of 12/13/15 $ 2, Sales needed to reach our goal $ 17, If you have not received your book or would like additional books, please call the Parish Office. Please make your returns in the self addressed envelope provided to you. You can mail them, place in the collection basket or drop it off at our Parish Office. Returns (sold or unsold) are due back by January 24, 2016 If you are interested in purchasing: Bread & Wine, Sanctuary Candle Altar Flowers or Blessed Mother Flowers In Honor of/memory of a loved one for next year. Please contact the Parish Office (732) ORGANIZATIONS NAME DAY TIME Family Prayer Group 1st Friday 6:30PM Girl Scouts 1st & 3rd Thursday 5:00 PM Holy Name Society 2nd Thursday 7:00PM Ladies Guild 2nd Tuesday 7:00 PM Rosary Altar Society 3rd Sunday 9:00 AM Tuesday Seniors 2nd & 4th Tues. 12:30 PM Wednesday Seniors 1st & 3rd Wed. 12:30 PM Youth Ministries 3rd Sunday 5:00PM If you are interested in any of our above organizations/ministries, please contact the Parish Office for more information. MINISTRIES NAME CONTACT PHONE Chairperson-Finance Council Marty Joyce Music Ministry Parish Office Pro Life Lala Vadala Religious Education Maria C. Arcelay Ushers Bill Mauro

3 A NOTE FROM OUR PASTOR: Over the past twenty nine years of priesthood, I ve sat through at least that number of Christmas Pageants, if not more. And there s one character I ve always felt sorry for, the kid who had to play the innkeeper in Bethlehem. Having to tell Joseph and Mary to go away, there s no room for them. The kid who got grief from his friends for having to play that role, his parents probably embarrassed to tell the grandparents what role their grandchild got in the Christmas Show. While we don t hear the lines in St. Luke s Gospel (other than there being no room for them in the inn), we nevertheless hear about this climate of inhospitality in the magnificent Prologue of St. John s Gospel, which we will read this Friday morning at Mass: He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. Sadly, we know we live in a world where that innkeeper is all too present: a world that doesn t want to know about Jesus, a world that wants Jesus to go away, that treats Him like a myth or, that sadly romanticizes the Christmas Story into another feel good idyll. As people of faith, we know what Christmas is all about. It s about Jesus: God entering the world decisively, in time, in a special place, to bring salvation to the whole world coming, not as a spiritual superman but in the most vulnerable of forms, as a tiny baby. Christmas is about letting Christ make a difference in our lives, not just this one day, but every day of the year. Perhaps the best gift we can give to others is the witness of our own faith: people who know, love and serve Jesus and aren t embarrassed by the fact. It is a gift that has changed the world and that can continue to do so. This Christmas and everyday make room for Christ in the inns of your heart! Some Liturgical Notes for This Week: Our Novena in Preparation for Christmas continues after daily Masses throughout this week up until Christmas Eve. Church Decorating: We will meet on Monday morning to assemble the crèche, put up the trees and put out all the flowers. See elsewhere in today s bulletin for more details. Incense Alert: Incense will be used at the 10:00 PM Solemn Mass on Christmas Eve and the 10:30 Mass on Christmas Day. Attention Altar Servers: If you are not already scheduled for Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and can serve, just come to whatever Mass you will be attending. Servers are asked to be in church and vested AT LEAST 20 minutes before these Masses, so we can go over some extra details. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the church will open one hour before Mass begins. A Word of Thanks: The response to the Giving Tree this year was incredible! Not just one gift, but multiple gifts were purchased. There were a ton of extra gifts donated without tags. I even had people telling me last Sunday that they would volunteer if we were hosting a party for the recipients of the gifts (now there s a thought for the future we actually did that one year at one parish I was in, and it s still one of my favorite Christmas memories!) So thank you all for your generous response, as well as to all those who helped sort the gifts last weekend. As for the Cookies. We went through them fast! Most of the cookies were sold by the end of the 4:30 Mass last Saturday, with only a few boxes remaining which went quickly on Sunday morning For the month of December pray for those who at 8:00 Mass. Thank You to all those who baked, and who bought! need the support of this community of faith: One Final Note After Easter, the Christmas Collection is the most important one of the year. It is in a real way our bread and butter that gets us through the winter months. Happily this year with the milder weather, we have not yet put out any money for snow removal (thank you, Jesus!) However, that can change quickly. We have a number of projects that we d like to address around the church this coming year, and the more we can save, the better off we will be to do these projects (more on them later.) So again an advanced Thank You for your generosity! We re now in the countdown mode: the excitement is building. Christ is near. As I said above, in the midst of this week s busyness, make room in your heart for Christ this Christmas. Let Him change You. Mass attendance on December 12/13 was 659. Have a great week ahead, Fr. Mike Richard Hajzer, Mary Murray, Andrea Costantino, Greg Rohrbacher, Filbert Maez, Sueann Tarantino, Janet Anne Dwyer, Shirley Barbieri, David Utter, Catherine Suhay, Carmen Collura, Baby Seraphina, Chuck F., Lillian Estok, Valerie Breyta, Tom Bromirski, Lynn Munoz, Carol Magyar, JoAnn Magyar, Dorothy Maez, Maryann Petrick, Mike & Kate Adda, Chris Hankerson, William Narvaez, Christopher Paone, Judy Smegelski, William Sienko, Baby Christopher Hernandez, Dan Alvarez, Telofski Family, Elsie Vega, Arnold Jasper, Connie & Vince Montuoro, Drew Horvat, Chris Johnson, Nicole Honkisz, Esidore Maey, Nancy Weber, John Zur, Mary Martini, Robert Durso, Barbara White, Ria Orsini, Baby Zachary, Natalie Ulrich, Christian Nunez, Carolyn Tarantino, Gene Jacob, Danny Parker, Bill Karvalis, Sr. Hortensia Diaz, Joey Nemeth, Baby Jael Maldonado, Jerry Disilverstro, Dee Ziemba, Robert (Bob) Pincelli, Nicholas Folfa, Diane Petro Duncan, Tom Kenjon, Heather Gondek, Rosemary Kelesi, Stephen Pry, Carol George, Paul Halek, Nancy Milochik, Rose Celecki, Braden Cruz, Baby M, Ashelyn Polonia, Carmen Titolo, Megan Ortega, Rigoberto Diffoot, Dan & Kathy Balinski, Michael Estok Jr., Arleen Kopin, Carolyn Duane, Joe Maez, Toby Cohen, Caroline Pry, John Montecalvo, Alison Marie Edwards English, Dr. Anthony Santoro & Carmina Gianfrancesco If you would like to add or remove a name to this list, please call or the Parish office at : Goodshepherd20@verizon.net. Please keep in mind that we pray for all the sick every day in the general intercessions of the Mass. 3 Please note that our Sick list has unfortunately been growing. Names may be placed on our list for a four-week period and will be removed unless a call is received to request a continuation.

4 10:00AM 12:00PM 10:00AM 12:00PM 10:00AM 12:00PM Minister Schedule LECTOR Saturday, December 26th Linda Cruz Sunday, December 27th Rose Lund Ben Salerno, Sr. Maria C. Arcelay Thursday, December 31st Mary Silverio EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Saturday, December 26th W. Mauro. Deacon Ed Rodes, Ron & Michele Schendorf, N. Soltren Sunday, December 27th Deacon Sam Costantino, Claudia & Jose De Jesus, Mildred & Rudy Morales M. Acciani, P. Edwards, P. Hardish, P. Sottilaro J. Blockus, G. Conrady, Deacon Mickey Coppola, Deila & Ricardo Rivera Thursday, December 31st T. Bobrowski, M. Joyce, S. Petrick, B. Rinaldi & R. Yergeau ALTAR SERVERS Saturday, December 26th R. Schendorf, M. Walker, K. Whalen & Z. Ysaac Sunday, December 27th L. Duane, I. Marrero, M. Yactayo J. Jurado, Rebecca & Ben Salerno & L. Santamaria J. Arcelay, Jonathon, Matthew & Christian Rivera Thursday, December 31st Jordon & Abigail Gulyas, Rose & Katherine Petrick PRAY FOR THEM Please pray that our deceased loved ones, James P. Mc Queeney & Mary Paver may know the joy and peace of eternal life. Pray that their families may be comforted. For the Week of December 19-25th SANCTUARY CANDLE In Memory of (Oratory) Helen Baumlin Req Mary C. Stankewicz (Church) Rose Critelli Req Linda & Manny BREAD AND WINE In Memory of Helen Baumlin Req Mary C. Stankewicz Kenneth Mc Auliffe Req his loving parents Tom & Kay 4 MASS INTENTIONS MONDAY, December 21 : Advent Weekday Anna Hayko Req Gloria Hayko TUESDAY, December 22 : Late Advent Weekday Good Health & Well Being of Rafael Rodriguez Req his family WEDNESDAY, December 23 : Late Advent Weekday Marion Bailey Req Gloria Hayko THURSDAY, December 24 : Late Advent Weekday 4:00PM Intentions of the Good Shepherd Parishioners 10:00PM Intentions of the Good Shepherd Parishioners 8:30AM 10:30AM FRIDAY, December 25 : The Nativity of the Lord Intentions of the Good Shepherd Parishioners Intentions of the Good Shepherd Parishioners SATURDAY, December 26 : The Vigil of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Most Rev. Edward T. Hughes Req his Estate SUNDAY, December 27 : The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Michael McCrone Req Mom, Dad & Jess 10:00AM Frances & John Vadala Req their children Lala & Phil 12:00PM Good Shepherd Parishioners The Advent Wreath was donated in Memory of Major & Mary Spear Requested by Gloria Spear Christmas Mass Schedule 8:00am Christmas Novena (Monday - Wednesday) Christmas Eve, December 24th 4:00pm Vigil Mass 10:30pm Mass Christmas Day, December 25th 8:30am & 10:30am Mass The Parish Family of the Good Shepherd Welcomes: Mr. Nicholas Montanez, Ms. Stephanie Aracena, Mr. Junior Ramirez, Ms. Kilmarys Pacheco, Mr. & Mrs. Eriberto Nunez, Mr. Julian Ayllon, Ms. Andrea Fernandez, Mr. & Mrs. Kelvin Abreu, Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Collado, Ms. Yrcanis Collado, & their families.

5 Salvation Army Monday, January 11th The Confirmation Candidates deliver and serve food to the homeless. We could use your help with monetary donations or a simple meal. Please call Mildred at (732) Wednesday, January 13th Food or monetary donations are appreciated. Please call Connie Hudanish at (732) Thank you in advance. TRIPS Please join us!! Golden Nugget - Atlantic City Bus leaves 10am on Tuesday, February 9th Cost $ 30.00, you get $25.00 in play, $5.00 in food. Please contact Connie or Ronnie ORGANIZATIONS Everyone is invited! New members are welcome! All meetings are held in Msgr. Gambino Hall Deaf Ministries: Sunday, January 31st 12:30-6:30pm Meetings are held monthly. Girl Scouts: Thursday, January 7th, 5pm. Meetings are held twice a month. Holy Name: Thursday, January 14th, 7pm. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month Ladies Guild: Tuesday, January 12th, 7pm. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month. Rosary Altar Society: Sunday, January 17th following 8am Mass. Tuesday Seniors: Tuesday, January 12th at 12:30pm. Meetings are held twice a month. Wednesday Seniors: Wednesday, January 6th at 12:30pm. Meetings are held twice a month. Youth Group: Sunday, January 17th at 5pm, Meetings are held every third Sunday of the month. Don t be alone this Christmas Come meet your neighbors!!! All are welcome (families, couples, singles) to share dinner with all the trimmings and a large portion of friendship. St. Anthony of Padua Church Father Milos Parish Hall 436 Port Reading Ave., Port Reading CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS Decorating Committee Monday, December 21st, at 10AM (to decorate church for Christmas) If you re interested in helping, please call Linda for more information BULLETIN DEADLINES Due to Christmas and New Year Holidays, the bulletins for the following weekends will be submitted early December 27th - Due December 17th January 1st - Due December 22nd If you would like something added/changed or updated, please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible to insure print for those weeks. Thank you! DEACONS' TABLE will not be serving the following dates: 12/23, 12/30 & 1/6/2016 The Giving Tree Committee would like to thank all of our generous parishioners & friends who participated in any way in the Giving Tree. Well over 150 tags were taken off the trees almost immediately, we had many extra gifts on top if that. No child went without! The outpouring of enthusiasm and friendship in our Parish was a pleasure to witness. Thanks again for your generosity! Maria Gianfrancesco All women of the Good Shepherd Parish are invited to Juggle the Struggle Women's Retreat on Friday, January 15, 2016 at 6pm With Colleen Kelly Rayner Includes a light dinner - Free admission - Registration is required. Please call the Parish Office to register. Save the Date Saturday, February 6, 2016 following 4:30pm Mass. We will host our annual Ethnic Pot Luck Mardi Gras Dinner Date: Friday, December 25, 2015 Time 1:30pm 3:30pm There is no charge for dinner. However, please call by Friday, December 18, to properly plan meals. Local transportation is available. Please call St. Anthony s Church at Bringing Up Gifts at Mass If you are interested in bringing up the gifts, please be sure to let one of our ushers know before the beginning of Mass.

6 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS: Next class is January 9th at 8:45am in the Perth Amboy Catholic Primary Building (across the street from Holy Spirit Church) If you forgot your Mass attendance sheet at home, you can use this week s bulletin. If you have any questions please call us at RCIA/Adult Confirma on Our sixth session will be held on Tuesday, January 5th, at 7pm. We hope to see you then! Catholic Social Teaching : Video & Discussion All parish members are invited to attend a presentation with Fr. Mike on Protecting the Dignity of the Human Person Thursday, January 21 th, 1:30 PM OR 7:00 PM All sessions are held in the Rectory Conference room. All are welcome! PERTH AMBOY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Open Enrollment AdvancED Accredited/NCA Primary: Pre-k 3&4, K, 1,2,3 at Carlock & Brace Ave Upper: 4,5,6,7,8 at 500 State Street or Call for an appointment and a personal Tour! W.pacatholicschool.org Collect-A- Million Club The Perth Amboy Catholic Schools have teamed up with the Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick on the Pop Tab Collect-A-Million Club. The tabs provide a tremendous source of charitable revenue for the Ronald McDonald House. The aluminum from pop tab rings is taken to the local recycling station where it is weighed and cashed in by the pound. The money netted is used to assist the House with operational expenses such as household supplies and utilities as well as to waive the fee for those families in need of financial support. We hope we can count on your support!! Please place your collected tabs in the receptacles at both worship sites. Thank you for your part in helping families whose children require care at an area hospital. This is an ongoing collection. 6 Christmas Music Ministry Schedule Christmas Eve - December 24 4pm - Children's Christmas Chorus with flute, brass, & percussion. 10pm - Good Shepherd Choir with flute, brass, bells, & percussion Christmas Day - December 25 8:30am & 10:30am- Cantor & Organ with classical guitar & percussion Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Saturday, December 26 4:30pm - Good Shepherd Hand bell Choir Sunday, December 27 10am & 12pm - Christmas Guitars with flute & percussion. R.C.I.A. AN OFFER OF COMPANIONSHIP Each of us knows, in a way perhaps unique to ourselves, what it is to feel alone. Luke tells us this week that Mary "went with haste" to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Did Mary feel alone with the burden of the Annunciation? Did she have a need to confide in someone? Did she ask herself who will believe what the angel had told her and what she had consented to do? For many people, the atmosphere of Christmas preparations intensifies feelings of loneliness. That sense of Mary s loneliness makes us echo the Magnificat. God did wonderful things for her and for Elizabeth...and for us too. Do you know someone who seeks the companionship of a faith family as Mary sought the companionship of Elizabeth? Do you know someone who needs the comfort of the Magnificat... that in our need, God also cares for us? Are you uncomfortable inviting them to the Catholic Faith? Then invite them to ask questions at a RCIA session where they will learn more about the Catholic Faith. No commitments are required - just inquiries. For more information please contact our Parish Office at Intercessory Prayer Intercessory prayer is the act of praying on behalf of others. All Christians are called to be Intercessory. All Christians have the Holy Spirit in their hearts and, just as Christ intercedes for us in accordance with God s will (Romans 8:26-27), we are to intercede for one another. Nothing is too small to request from our Lord, Jesus. Nothing is insignificant to him. At the Good Shepherd Parish our Children have embarked on a mission of Intercessory Prayer by praying nightly at 9:00 pm. We have been conducting classes on Intercessory prayers so that our youth are prepared to be Intercessors. Weekly they are presented with the prayer requests from parishioners. We pray and then they go forth with their mission work. Some of the benefits of the Intercessory Prayers: It increases God s Protection. It strengthens us to do what God is calling us to do. It removes feelings of aloneness. It builds our relationship with God and increases our faith. If you wish to join or be added to the prayer list, please contact Mrs. Mildred Padilla-Morales at

7 2015 Bishop s Annual Appeal Grace, Mercy & Peace As Christmas nears, you are asked to make a special effort to remember the 2015 Bishop s Annual Appeal. It is a gift that brings the Grace, Mercy & Peace of Christ to thousands of people throughout the Diocese of Metuchen. Please consider making a gift today. To date, the Development Department has received pledges totaling $10, and payments totaling $ 8, from 82 parishioners. This represents 43.6% of our $24, goal. Thank you for your efforts Spreading the Word For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. (LUKE 1:44) When you hear the scripture readings and Gospel reading each Sunday, do you leap for joy? If not, don t blame the lecturer or priest, rather look inside yourself. Do you prepare for Mass each week or do you just show up and expect to be entertained? VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES IMMIGRATION SERVICES Bi-lingual volunteers are needed to help coordinate the low of clients during Immigration Services Open House on Friday mornings between 9:00am 12:00pm at 319 Maple Street, Perth Amboy. Responsibilities include: escorting clients to the conference room from the main lobby to the irst available Immigration case manager; keeping a list of the order of clients who are waiting to see someone; keeping the clients from walking around the building. Volunteers will be provided with an orientation including an overview of our immigration services. If you or someone you know may be interested in volunteering, please contact John Donnelly at for more information. St. Andrew Church 244 Avenel Street Avenel, NJ Holy Year Jubilee Pilgrimage to Lourdes and Italy! October 31 November 10, 2016, $ Call St. Andrew s Church for details and reservation, or visit Please help support Catholic Charities. We need gently used Clothing, Bedding, Shoes, Small Household Items. Have a clothing donation too big to fit in the box? Just call our toll free number to arrange a free pick up at your home: Drop box is located in our Parish parking lot near the Florida Grove Rd. entrance way. (Proceeds benefit the Food Pantry) 7 Advent: Exercising Good Stewardship of our Spiritual Lives How can we keep Advent in such a way that it is a time to focus on the fundamentals of stewardship; of spiritual growth and preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ? Here are a few suggestions, not meant to be another to-do list, but rather a way to remind ourselves daily of our call to prepare a way for the Lord in our lives. Begin the season with a list to prioritize what you really want spiritually, and in relation to friends and family, from Advent. Discard all the extras and the fantasy of the perfect Hallmark Christmas. List clear goals that bring growth and peace and quality time. Take time to read the daily readings each day of Advent. The beautiful words of Isaiah are guaranteed to inspire, and the commitment will guarantee you a bit of quiet and reflective time. Do you send Christmas cards? Even if they are the standard signature only or newsletter variety, try to personalize one a day, writing a nice note to an elderly relative or a friend you haven t seen in a long time. Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This will encourage you to reflect on your life, your gifts and where you fail to utilize them for the good of others. It s a beautiful preparation for the coming of Jesus and the beginning of a new year. Pray for patience. As you drive over icy streets or navigate through a crowded store, take time to pray for those around you and for those who struggle with much less. Become aware of people around you and lift them in prayer rather than see them as obstacles to your goals. In the midst of a season of abundance, do not forget the poor in your community. Christ is calling us to be good stewards of all that we have and all that we are. CARS FOR HELP Donate your car help the needy receive tax deduction of $ It s fast, it s easy and it requires only one short phone call or website visit. Cars for Help, A 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization, is using vehicle donations to support Christian churches and parishes across the USA in an effort to help people who are suffering through difficult times. If you would like to donate a vehicle in any condition, receive a tax deduction, and help your church do its great mission work please visit or call directly to (630) Together we can make a difference. Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen CONNECTION PROGRAM is looking for volunteers, men and women, to participate in one-to-one activities and become a mentor to the youth of Middlesex County and Franklin Township. Do you: 1. Have a minimum of 3 hours a week to offer to a child? 2. Like having fun? 3. Want to make a difference in a child s life? 4. Enjoy being a positive role model? Call Jeanette Cullen at (732) or jcullen@ccdom.org for more information.