From the Pastor s Desk

Transcription

1 March 4, 2018 Mass Intentions for the Week Saturday - March 3 5:00 PM + Francis Fahey r/o Eleanor and Tom Fahey Sunday - March 4 7:30 AM + Anna Mancuso r/o Joseph & Virginia Lakatos 9:00 AM + Helen and Murphy Anderson r/o Doris Carneglia 10:30 AM + Salvatore Puccio r/o Joanne Noviello 12:00 PM - The People of Blessed Sacrament Monday - March 5 9:00 AM + Elizabeth Maxwell r/o Bill & Ketrin Maxwell 12:30 PM + Joan Kellett r/o the McGovern Family Tuesday - March 6 9:00 AM + Catherine Mae Lorah r/o Rosary Altar Society 12:30 PM + John James Torello r/o The Charles Family Wednesday - March 7 9:00 AM + John and Nancy King r/o Son - Michael 12:30 PM + Madeline Saulino r/o Jean Mans Thursday - March 8 9:00 AM + Frank (Bill) Bogan r/o Jack and Maryanne Bogan 12:30 PM + Jane Romasz - 1st. Anniversary r/o Lou and Charlene Terraglia Friday - March 9 9:00 AM + Susanna Langone (Birthday) r/o Susan and Richard Brooks 12:30 PM + Mary Jo (Marcucci) De Carlo r/o Bob and Rose Marie Barko and Family Saturday - March 10 9:00 AM + Mary Ann Esposito r/o Armetta Family 5:00 PM - The People of Blessed Sacrament Sunday - March 11 7:30 AM + Frank and Josephine Esposito r/o The Petrucci Family 9:00 AM + Joseph Melusky r/o Jean and Neil Alexander 10:30 AM + Antonino Armetta r/o Giuseppa Armetta, Wife 12:00 PM + Robert Mulligan r/o Andrew & Diane Beck From the Pastor s Desk 2018 Bishop s Annual Appeal Lighting a Fire in the Heart of Our World Thank you to all who have given so generously to the 2018 Bishop s Annual Appeal. If you have not made a pledge, there is still time to participate. Mail your gift to: Diocese of Metuchen, Bishop s Annual Appeal, PO Box 4000, Metuchen, NJ or give online at God Bless, Father Rick Please Pray for the Repose of the Soul of Joseph Sole The Altar Bread and Wine is Offered for: Msgr. Eugene Prus - Health and Blessings The Sanctuary Candle burns before the Blessed Sacrament: Isabelle Cavalluzzi, 10th Anniversary 1

2 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION UPDATES For Pre-K to 2nd Grade 10:30 AM Mass on: March 18, 2018 Father Rick Prepares a Special Homily For the Kids! They join him on the altar for the homily and then go to Classroom 1 for a craft. First Holy Communion will be celebrated on: Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 10:30am and 1:30pm 10:30am Mass Classes: Mrs. Machusky, Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Moskal 1:30pm Mass Classes: Mrs. Alifano, Mrs. Graef and Mrs. Richmond Prac ce Dates for First Holy Communion: Mrs. Machusky, Mrs. Perry and Mrs. Moskal: Monday, April 16 th and Monday, April 23 rd. Mrs. Alifano, Mrs. Graef and Mrs. Richmond: Tuesday, April 17 th and Tuesday, April 24 th Regardless of the day your child a ends classes they must a end the above days and me prac ces. They will only go to prac ces for the two weeks. No regular classes. 7th Grade Exam All 7th graders must complete an exam as preparation for confirmation. This exam will be given during class time on Tuesday, April 10. Study Guides have been given to the students for home study. BLESSED SACRAMENT YOUTH GROUP Friday, March 16, 4PM Departure Waiver and Permission Forms Required Parish Office Sunday 9 AM 12 PM Monday 9 AM 6 PM Tuesday 9 AM 9 PM Wednesday 9 AM 2 PM Thursday 9 AM 6:15 PM Closed Friday and Saturday 8th GRADE CONFIRMATION PAPERWORK DUE TO THE PARISH OFFICE ASAP: Information Sheet and Contract of Eligibility ALL SERVICE HOURS DUE: MARCH 6 If your child did not attend the 8th grade retreat Friday, February 9, they must attend a retreat at another parish. Retreats are mandatory for making the sacrament of Confirma on. REGISTRATION HAS BEGUN FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOOL YEAR Forms have been sent home for existing students, or parents can pick them up in the Parish Office. Parents of new students should pick up forms in the Parish Office. Baptismal Certificates are required for new students. SOCIAL OUTREACH PROGRAM Just a gentle reminder: If you are interested in making meals for our Parish Families in need, please contact the Religious Education Office. Meals are distributed on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Your generosity and kindness are appreciated! 2

3 ROSARY ALTAR SOCIETY The mission of the Society is to honor the Blessed Mother by proclaiming the Good News of Christ, her Son, in our members' lives and in rela onships with others; to promote the praying of the Rosary; to encourage a spirit of friendship and coopera on among its members and to par cipate in parish ac vi es. The March mee ng of the Rosary Altar Society will be held on Wednesday, March 21st at 1 PM, downstairs in Classroom 15. A er recita on of the Rosary and a short business mee ng, we will sort the toiletries collected from our Parish Toiletries Drive for SHIP's Street Outreach Service. NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Parish Organizations and Info OUR LADY ROSARY MAKERS Please join us as we make rosaries sent to missions around the world. It is fun, easy, inexpensive and very rewarding! We meet in the Conference Room on the second Tuesday of each month following the 9am Mass and Rosary. For more informa on, please call Theresa Carson at we do not meet in January but will resume our mee ngs in February on the second Tuesday, March 13, The Blessed Sacrament Council of Catholic Women s mission is to respond with Christian values to the needs of women and their families. We are here to unite women of our Parish, to develop their spiritual growth and leadership potential and to encourage women to share their gifts from God with others in our Church and community. If you want to grow spiritually, while meeting and making new friends in a cordial, fun and very ful illing way, join us at our monthly meetings.. Activities/Meetings: March 17/18 and 24/25 Palm Cross Sale March 19 7 PM Mee ng Christ s Passion and Resurrec on March 23 7 PM Mary s Way of the Cross PRAYER LINE Council of Catholic Women sponsors a Prayer Line. If you would like to request prayers or join the Prayer Line to offer prayers for the particular intentions of other Parishioners, call Gloria at or Barbara at Knights of Columbus Council #5959 Upcoming Activities & Meetings Sunday Mar 4 th Blood Drive 8:00 am 12:00pm Monday Mar 5 th Council mee ng 7:30 pm 9:30 pm Sunday Mar 11 th Coffee & Donuts 9 am 11:30 am Sat Mar 17 th St Patrick s Dinner Dance 6:30 pm 9:30 We are the world s largest Catholic fraternal benefit society, with ore than 1.9 million members. Founded by Fr. Michael J. McGivney to help provide financial aid to Catholic families, the Knights of Columbus is now one of the largest life insurers in North America. One of the primary principals of the Knights of Columbus is charity; in the last decade the Order has given more than $1.55 billion to charity. Consider joining or transferring to our council. Contact john@jdassoc.com Thank you, Manny Cirne, Grand Knight A social group of widowed persons of the Catholic Faith dedicated to providing emotional support, and opportunities for Social Activities. The Circle of Friends holds monthly meetings on the third Sunday of the month, September thru June at 1:30 pm in Classroom 15. Our next mee ng will be on March 18, at l:30 pm in classroom 15. VOCATIONS TRAVELING CHALICE PROGRAM The Voca on Seekers give special thanks to Elizabeth Cauchi, who took the voca ons traveling chalice home and prayed for Voca ons, par cularly for seminarians in the Diocese of Metuchen. Please consider taking the chalice home to pray for voca- ons. Your prayers are truly being answered! We especially need volunteers for March. Please sign up in the foyer and pick up and return the Voca on Traveling Chalice to the foyer. REMINDER - please remember to take the chalice on your selected date and return it by noon on Saturday. Thanks! VOCATIONS PRAY-A-DAY CLUB March 03 - Edna Battaglia, Al & Pat Beronio, Connie Cirne, George Humphrey, Frank Schifano 04 - Liz Schambach 05 - Barbara Hoff, Diana Malone, Tim Yessman 06 - Tom Battaglia 07 - Michael Begley, Arlene Blasiak, Brian & Kathy Jepsen 08 - Cheryl Colline 09 - Laura Addison, Diana Malone, Frances Slahta 10 - Fred & Kathy Ciociola, Harley Juth, Debbie Mouridy

4 Our Parish Prayers Parish Prayer Book of Intentions: In our Parish Prayer Book, we pray for the sick, needy, struggling, suffering, etc. Every inten on in our hearts! No inten on is too big or too small for prayer! St. Paul reminds us: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 MAKE YOUR CHILD S FIRST SCHOOL EXPERIENCE A POSITIVE ONE! Sis- The Voca onist Sisters cordially invite parents of prospec ve students to visit the Nursery School and meet the staff. ENROLLING ALL CHILDREN FROM 2 ½ - 5 YEARS OF AGE For more informa on or ques ons, please call ter Romilda at Fax: li lefriendsnursery@gmail.com TOILETRIES DRIVE The Rosary Altar Society will be collec ng new and unused personal size toiletries for SHIP'S Street Outreach Service. These items will go directly to the poor and are distributed from the Street Outreach Service vehicle at their Mobile Soup Kitchen feeding sites. A collec on box will be in the foyer from March 4th to March 18th. Thank you for helping the needy during this Lenten season,. Info and Needs We are always in need of Eucharis c Ministers for pa ents at the Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Hospital Somerset - every day of the week - for one hour - between 9am & 4pm. If you can help us serve in this ministry, please contact: Mike Zurat at michael.zurat@rwjbh.org Please note, the hospital does require and provides a TB test, yearly free Flu shots, and a Photo ID. We also need Eucharis c Ministers to visit the elderly and ill at their homes. To help with this ministry, please contact: Peg Harmon at harmonp99@aol.com. O Lord, be present with all those who serve our country. Comfort their spirits with your divine presence. Keep them close to You and grant them strength, wisdom and grace. Pfc Jim Donovan, Army Pfc Sean Pieper EM3 Nicholas D. Hogan, Navy Major Antonio Mar nez Lt Michael Marano, Army SSGT Kirk F. Smith Sr. Chief Rich Symington, Navy Pfc Ryan Sternberg, Army Lt Douglas Stahl, Navy CPT John Nastus, Army CPT Ma hew McCarthy, Army CPT Robert Emmons SPC Alexander Meditz, Army CPT Michael Lyness, Army Pfc AJ Anderle, Army Col. Patrick Hsieh, Air Force If you have a family member, rela ve, or friend in the military, especially overseas, or in a dangerous assignment, please let us know so we can request the prayers of our parish family. Simply furnish their name, rank and Branch of Service. r Knights of Columbus, Council #5959, regularly sends SHOEBOX packages to troops serving overseas when a current military address is provided. For more information, please call Al Beronio at St. Patrick s Day Buffet Dinner Saturday, March 17 th 6:30 PM 9:30 PM Tickets $35 Available After Masses March 10&11 and at Sal s Barbershop or the Parish Office During the Week Music, Basket Raffle, 50/50, BYOB, FUN!!! THE MARTINSVILLE RESCUE SQUAD IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN AND WOMEN! Want to help your friends and neighbors and gain knowledge to help manage your own healthcare? We provide all training, equipment, friendship and support at no charge. We need DRIVERS, EMTs and SUPPORT MEMBERS. Are you re- red and s ll ac ve? Come and talk to us. Please call our office at or us at mrsquad@verizon.net. This might be the invita on you have been wai ng for! 18th Annual Chili Dinner Sunday March 11, 3-7 PM Adults $10 Seniors & Kids 3-10 $8 Under 3 Free Tickets Available After Masses March 4 Takeout Available! 4

5 EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND HOLY HOUR 7 PM 8 PM When I Was Hungry, You Gave Me to Eat Matthew 25:35-40 During the Lenten Season, we would like once again to solicit your financial support for a Parish wide effort to assist our own parishioners who are in need of assistance. The number of families in need con nues to grow. We respec ully request that you consider purchasing a gi card from any supermarket in the geographical area ($20.00 or more in value) and place it in the regular collec on basket at Mass on Saturday evenings or Sundays throughout the Season of Lent. You may also drop the gi cards off at the Religious Educa- on Office during the week. The gi cards will be then distributed to the parishioners in the Parish who need them. We thank you CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS Charitable Contribution Statements for 2017 are now available. Please contact the Parish Office at or send an to msmith@blessedsacramentnj.org to get your statement. is quickest. If you prefer, we will send you a copy via US mail, or you can pick it up at the Parish Office. If your records do not agree with the parish records, please call the office and we will work with you to resolve the discrepancy. Spring Plant Sale May 5 & 6 CCW PALM CROSSES Available in Lobby March 17/18 & 24/25 $10 LENTEN REGULATIONS 2018 Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are Days of Fast and Abstinence: Limit 1 Full Meal For Catholics between 18 and 59, inclusive. All Fridays in Lent are Days of Abstinence: For All Catholics who have reached their 14th year. Easter Duty Obligation: After they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, Catholics are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. This precept should be fulfilled in the Easter Season. Catholics are also bound to confess serious (mortal) sins at least once a year, but this s not limited to the Lenten/ Easter Season Palm Sunday March 25 Holy Thursday March 29 Good Friday March 30 Easter Vigil March 31 Easter Sunday April 1 5