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1 Mission Statement March 23, 2014 W e, Church of the Nativity, are a welcoming faith family committed to living the gospel values of Jesus Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. e are called through Word and Sacrament to be strengthened in holiness. e recognize and are thankful for all that we have received from God and therefore declare ourselves a Stewardship Parish. e proclaim our mission to prayerfully serve the people of God, through our gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure and thus continue to be the hands and feet of Christ. Pastoral Staff Rev. Peter K. Funesti, Pastor Rev. Raymond E. Rodrigue, Parochial Vicar Rev. Mr. Emmanuel Agu, Deacon Olivia L. Harrington, Religious Education Coordinator Denis J. Mullins, Director of Music Ministry Janet Nemec, Director of Lay Ministries Lorraine DeLuca, Religious Education Assistant Mary Lou Balog, Pastoral Associate for Stewardship Kaye Zbonack, Parish Secretary Jack Polito, Business Manager/ CTC School Liaison Jim Kenny, Pastoral Associate Rev. Msgr. James A. Burke, In Residence/Weekend Assist. Jim Chiappini, Organist Ciarán Sheehan, Cantor Roberto Hurtado, Maintenance Supervisor Pedro Herrera, Maintenance Staff Russell Kamp & Tia Patterson, Parish Trustees Ronaldo Bustamante, Seminarian Saturday: Sunday: Holy Days: Daily: Masses 5:00 pm 8:00, 10:15 am, 12 Noon Consult Bulletin Monday - Friday 12:10 pm (chapel) Parish Membership Every family participating regularly in the spiritual life of our parish is encouraged to register. Forms are available in the church or at the rectory. If you move or change your home address or address, kindly notify the rectory. If you want to add your cell phone to your family information contact the rectory. If you move or no longer worship with us, kindly contact the rectory. Anointing The communal celebration of anointing will be celebrated on May 3, At any time during the year, if anyone is ill, homebound, or in the hospital, please notify the Rectory. Marriage The Common Policy for Marriage for all Dioceses of the State of New Jersey require notification of marriage at least ONE YEAR in advance. Please contact one of the parish priests to set a date. Religious Education Office Hours: Mon-Thurs - 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Classes Grades K-6 Sun - 9:00 am -10:00 am Thurs - 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Grades 7-8 Sun - 9:00 am - 10:15 am Mon - 3:30-4:30, 7:30-8:30 pm Tues - 7:30-8:30 pm Home Classes (special scheduling) Good News for Little Ones (ages 2 ½ - 5) During the 10:15 am Mass October - June Rite of Christian Initiation (R.C.I.A.) Anyone interested in becoming a Roman Catholic, or any adult Catholic who has not received all the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist and would like to receive these Sacraments, please contact the Rectory. Penance/Reconciliation Saturdays 4:15 pm in the vesting sacristy in the lobby of the church, or by appointment in the Rectory. Baptisms The Sacrament of Baptism is scheduled for the following dates in 2014: April 27th, May 18th, June 15th, July 20th. Arrangements are made by contacting the Rectory before the birth of the baby. Baptismal catechesis is required of all parents. Please call the Rectory for details. A member of the Baptism Preparation Ministry will contact the parents prior to the Baptism. Rectory FAX Nativityrcc@aol.com Parish Website Prospect Street Midland Park, NJ Catechetical Center NativityRelEd@gmail.com

2 Mass Please Remember Mass Requested By Saturday Mar. 22nd 5:00 Mass Sunday Kathleen Tauber March 23rd Her sweetie Ernie 8:00 Mass Vincent DeLuca Terry & Mike DeSimone 10:15 Mass Alice Avella Thomas & Terrence Avella 12:00 Mass James M. Kozielski 1st Anniversary Monday Mar. 24th Tuesday Mar. 25th Wednesday Mar. 26th Thursday Mar. 27th Friday Mar. 28th Saturday Mar. 29th 5:00 Mass Sunday For all the souls in Purgatory especially deceased members of FOSS Jim Callahan Nicholas Rongo Victor Birrer Anne & August Torre Helen McGoldrick Miguelina Caquias Martinez Helen & Leo Coyle March 30th Warren & Ginger Stella & Family Victor & Judy Bastis Family JoAnn & Joe Radigan Wife Family Faith & Doug Hoek Kelly Jensen Donna & Rich Andrychewicz 8:00 Mass Vincent DeLuca Nativity Staff 10:15 Mass Brendan Cole Krawczyk Family 12:00 Mass Dolores Desloges Robin Hardy The Church of the Nativity Prayer Chain is accepting prayer requests. Please call the rectory with your request. Please remember in your prayers the sick Ruth Major, Baby Gavin Please remember in your prayers the recently deceased Jean Tasca, Mary Hickey, Mary Frankel, Lillian Gravel, Neil Ketterer, Vincent DeLuca, John W VanBlarcom, Raymond Toms WEEK OF March 24 Monday Mar 24 Tuesday Mar 25 Wednesday Mar 26 Thursday Mar 27 KEY Friday Mar 28 Saturday Mar 29 Sunday Mar 30 7:30PM R - Stewardship Council Meeting 1:00PM CHA - Legion of Mary 1:00PM MG - Scripture Study 7:00PM MG - The Bible, a movie presentation - CCD 7:30PM CHA - Reconciliation 7:30PM C - Choir Practice 9:30AM UR - Mom s Group 3:00PM MG - YES for 6th Graders 6:45PM MG - Discovering Christ 3:30PM S/MG - Thursday CCD Classes 7:30PM C - Stations of the Cross Women s Retreat Flowers for Food Food Drive Food Drop Off 8:30AM Discovering Christ Retreat Women s Retreat Flowers for Food Food Drive Food Drop Off 9:00AM S - Sunday CCD Classes C-Church OH-O Connell Hall MG-McGrath Room CHA-Chapel S-School KH-Kennedy Hall UR-Upper Room R-Rectory The Catholic Center for Family Spirituality at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology presents: Learning to Forgive and to Give Forgiveness Away to Others Saturday, March 29, :30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church 75 Ridgedale Ave, Cedar Knolls, NJ A light breakfast and lunch will be served. Seating is limited; preregistration is required. To register, please contact Veronica A. Haegele at veronica.haegele@shu.edu or (973) Thank you for your continued support of your Parish. Weekly Church Offering On-Line Giving Weekly Average Archdiocese Assessment Total Budgeted Revenue* Surplus/(Deficit) $ 7,264 $ 2,333 $ 3,731 $13,328 $12,420 $ 908 Mar. 15 & 16 *Amount needed each week to pay our parish expenses

3 A Word from the Pastor ell I hope everyone W celebrated St. Patrick s Day and St. Joseph s Day this past week. I certainly did! I want to Thank all who participated in our annual Dinner/Dance for St. Patrick last Saturday evening. A Good time was had by all. A big thank you to all the ministries and individuals who donated beautiful baskets and items for the evening. I especially want to THANK our committee Chairwoman Bernadette Raguseo and her fantastic team of organizers. Thank you to Colleen Keegan who prepared all the baskets so beautifully. Thank you to Kyle McKay, Nick Paladino, Sue Hartmann, Marie Donnantuono, Carmen Perez, Zak Magic, Kevin Keegan, Curt Wilkes and Denis Mullins for all their assistance. And thank you to the YES Kids who were there to lend a hand for set up. I want to also say thanks to all the parishioners who took part of the Super 50/50 raffle that you received in the mail. This money is used for our special instrumentalists that we have at Christmas/Easter Masses. It helps us tremendously. The total taken in was $7, so half of that: $3, went to the parish and the other half was split between 3 winners... 1 st place for $1, Don & Stephanie Pantale 2 nd place for $1, Ana Montoya 3 rd place for $ Rosanne Angiello CONGATS TO THE WINNERS! As we enter the third week of Lent I encourage you to take part in the Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings at 7:30pm. It is a beautiful ancient devotion of our church. It is a great opportunity to teach your children about why we have those pictures on the walls of the church. All women of the parish... please take advantage of the Women s Retreat on March 28 th & 29 th. This is a great time to regroup and put yourself in God s hands sign up on our website or call the rectory. Do this for yourself you won t be disappointed. I remind you that on the second Saturday of the month we will have Eucharistic Adoration from 9-4pm. Also the No greater Love experience is taking place on Sunday, April 6th at 4:00PM. Don t miss it; I know you will love it. Thoughts on Scripture: When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water, she completely misunderstood what Jesus was really asking: to understand the gift of God already given to her. What he was offering her was a gift of his very Self: the living water that would lead her from chance meeting to divine encounter, from being a woman who attempts to deceive Jesus to becoming one who give true testimony to the Christ, from her expectation of the Messiah to her belief that the savior of the world has come. True encounters with Jesus never leave anyone the same. How often in daily life do we simply talk at one another! Genuine conversation is harder work, but it opens up encounter with the other and brings life-giving transformation. In fact, transforming encounters with others are Peace, encounters with Jesus. [Taken from Living Liturgy] Living the Paschal Mystery The source of our own living waters is found in the baptismal font. There we are plunged into the death of Christ. There we receive a share in the divine Life. The living waters of baptism promise eternal Life for those who are faithful to baptism s commitment and live faithfully their identity as members of the Body of Christ. We thirst when we distance ourselves from Christ and choose our own wills over God s. Our thirst is satisfied when we surrender ourselves to the refreshment of living waters of God s word and live with Christ at the very center of our being. These living waters challenge us to acknowledge our sinfulness and find a new life in Christ. This is the challenge Lent brings us. This is the change required of us. Unlike the Samaritan woman at the well, we will not come face-to-face with Jesus at a well to have a chat about identity and everlasting Life. But we do meet him every time we gather for Eucharist and listen to his word and feast at his table. There, week after week, we encounter our identity and receive the gift of everlasting life. How YOU can be part of this ministry Donate new or gently-used clean Spring/summer clothing Volunteer to help that day Yourself Volunteer to help that day as a Couple Volunteer to help that day with your teens, as a Family Volunteer to help that day as a Ministry Tell your friends and family about our Ministry and Clothing Drive We are still in need of plastic Rubbermaid type storage containers. You can bring them to Mass and drop them off in the McGrath Room or bring them to the Rectory. For more information contact Tia Patterson at tiapatterson@me.com. Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. Francis of Assisi

4 K-8 PROGRAM: Looking ahead Sunday Sessions April 13 No sessions Palm Sunday April 20 No sessions Easter Sunday April 27 CCD Reopens Thursday Sessions April 17 No sessions Holy Thursday April 24 CCD reopens FIRST EUCHARIST PROGRAM: This weekend at all the Masses, children preparing to receive First Holy Communion will be distributing decorated hands to all parishioners. Since the celebration of First Communion is a Parish event, we invite you to take the name of one of the First Communicants and be his/her prayer partner. You may want to write a card or letter to your partner sharing your support, encouragement, and joy. Please place your cards or letters in the box in the church narthex from during the month of April. Thank you for caring and sharing with the children of Nativity. CONFIRMATION PROGRAM We are happy to announce that our confirmation retreat afforded our candidates the opportunity to grow in their faith and to have the sense of community among themselves. We thank all the volunteers who gave so generously of their time and help. We are also grateful to our candidates for their openness and faith. Just a few reminders Sponsor Forms and certifications are due April 11 th There are still forms that have not been returned. Please give your immediate attention to this matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Religious Education Office at SUMMER PROGRAM 2014 Children attend 10 days, Monday Friday, 9:00AM 12:30PM and must attend Advent and Lent sessions, Masses during the school year for continued Religious Education. The program will run from Monday August 4 to Friday August 15, Registration forms will be mailed shortly and also they will be available at the Narthex and Religious Education Office. Our reason for this option is to provide the best quality religious education at the most convenient time for the majority of our families. Catechesis...about Liturgy Lenten gospels and baptism: Many parishes have implemented the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This Sunday is the occasion for the first scrutiny. Form B of the Intercessions at the first scrutiny was written with this gospel in mind and would be a good choice. Both prayers of exorcism refer to the events of this gospel and so either prayer would be a good choice. Sometimes this gospel reading is proclaimed in dialogue form, a choice made because of the length of the longer form of the gospel, but this is not permitted (only the passion accounts may be proclaimed in dialogue form). The deacon or presider who proclaims this gospel must do so with care and narrate the story in such a way as to draw the hearers truly into the proclamation. Changing tones of voice can help the gospel come through to hearers as an extended dialogue. This takes skill on the part of the proclaimer; most importantly, it means that the proclaimer himself must truly have encountered Christ, acknowledged his own sinfulness and drunk deeply from the living waters offered as a free gift from God. The readings for Year A on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent are all chosen because they have baptismal motifs. It is best to interpret them in the homily and introductions in a baptismal light. It is also best to see them as suggesting how we might live the paschal mystery, since that is what our baptism is really all about. ST. ELIZABETH SCHOOL S ANNUAL BLUE RIBBON DINNER St. Elizabeth School will host its Annual Blue Ribbon Dinner on Saturday, April 5th, at the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne. Proceeds from the dinner support the operating budget to keep tuition affordable, as well as fund initiatives in areas such as math, science and technology. There is a 50/50 Raffle where your gift of $100 would be greatly appreciated and you will have the chance to win up to $28,750.00! Only 575 tickets will be sold. For tickets, please contact Susan James (Nativity Parishioner) at or smcintoshjames@hotmail.com Eucharistic Adoration will be in the Nativity Chapel on the second Saturday of every month. It will start with 9:00AM Mass and end with Benediction at 4:00PM. We invite you to spend some time with our Lord. Next Adoration is Saturday, April 12th If you wish to become part of the team of Guardian Angels, taking charge of a time slot, please May 10th June 14th July 12th contact Fred Young August 9th September 13th October 11th at Here is the planned November 8th December 13th schedule for the rest of the year.

5 Ladies Mark Your Calendars Saturday, April 26, 2014 Flowers for Food Food Drive Please be sure to Pick a Flower from our Food Drive Garden. Our Spring food drive will benefit the families at the York Street Project. Please return your food donations to the table at the back of the church next weekend, March 29th & 30th. Thank you for your continued generosity. Paschal Candle Memorial Would you like to memorialize the Paschal Candle in memory of a loved one, in thanksgiving, to honor a special birthday or anniversary or occasion in your family? Donations are now being accepted towards this year s Paschal Candle which will be blessed and lit at the Easter Vigil and lit all year long for funerals and baptisms. What a special way to remember someone you love! To donate an offering for the Paschal Candle in memory of a loved one, please complete the form and return it to the Rectory with your contribution of $100 by Wednesday, April 16th. Your Name Phone Our offering is in memory/honor of: Easter Gift & Easter Flower Envelopes are available in the back of the church Tuesdays in Lent 7:00-8:00 PM in the Chapel March 25, April 1, 8, 15 AN EVENING OF LENTEN LECTIO DIVINA Guardian Angel Church April 9, 8:00 p.m. Join us for a special Lenten evening of prayer with the Sacred Scriptures. We will gather for an hour to listen to the Scriptures and meditate on them silently. There s no pressure to share, but simply an invitation to reflect in silence together on God s holy word. We will meet in Church of the Guardian Angel (320 Franklin Tpke., Allendale) on Wednesday April 9 th at 8 p.m. This ancient way of praying is spiritually uplifting and can easily be adapted as a solitary prayer method in your own busy life. We will listen to a Lenten Gospel and reflect on it in silence. It sounds so simple and yet Ask yourself: how much peaceful silence do you have in your day or in your life? Couldn t you use an hour in these days before Holy Week to refocus on what this time of year is really all about? The evening will be led by Rev. Charles Pinyan. Lenten Series Meeting Jesus in the Gospel St Catharine - Tuesdays, March 11 through April 7:30 9:00pm To be held at the Msgr. Holmes Recreation Bldg. No Fee. Presenter: Rev. Tom Wisniewski, Pastor, St. Catharine Parish, Glen Rock. Community Meals Partners With The Feinstein Foundation to End Senior Hunger! Please consider donating to Community Meals in March & April. Your donation could help us qualify for additional funding from The Feinstein Foundation s $1 Million Giveaway and continue to provide home-delivered meals to the elderly, ill or disabled in our communities. More than one third of our meals are delivered to clients whose financial need qualifies them to receive free meals. Our dedicated volunteers have been delivering meals to those in need for more than 40 years. We depend on donations to provide subsidized meals for our clients. To make a donation or for more information contact: Community Meals, Inc. c/o Christ Church 105 Cottage Pl. Ridgewood, NJ communitymealsonwheels.com, communitymealsonwheels@verizon.net. See the flyers in the back of the church.

6 Church of the Nativity 2014 Lenten Schedule 3 rd Sunday of Lent: The Hope His Forgiveness Provides The long gospel of the woman at the well, the fourth chapter of John, is a wonderful drama of sin and forgiveness. On Monday of last week we had a reading from the Book of Deuteronomy which spoke about how the people who sinned were shamefaced. That must have been how the woman looked. At least she certainly must have felt ashamed of herself. All Jesus had to do was mention her current living arrangements, that she was living with someone who was not her husband and then the five husbands she already had, and she was aware of her sinful life. She felt dead inside. That is what sin does to us. It makes us feel like we are dead. But Jesus had promised her living water. She received it. She received forgiveness. And she went into town exuberant, full of life, full of love and full of hope. This hope exists for us too. We have the hope that despite our sins, God s compassion and mercy has restored us to life. That woman at the well ran into town, glowing with love, knowing that God was with her. When the others saw the one who had been shamefaced, now full of joy, they ran out to meet Jesus. They wanted some of this, this love, this forgiveness, this presence. Could He be the One who is the hope of the ages? they asked. Then they came into his presence, and let him into their lives and ultimately we let him into ours where His forgiveness is infinitely more powerful than our guilt. Could He be the One who is the hope of the ages? they asked. Then they came into his presence, and let him into their lives. Yes, he is, they exclaimed. Yes, He is, we agree. He is our hope. And hope does not disappoint. Academy of the Holy Angels Mini Open House Tuesday April 8, :30PM - 8:30PM Formal presentation will begin at 6:30. Last tours begin at 8:00. For more information or to register, please visit St. Joseph Regional OPEN HOUSE: On Tuesday, May 6 th, from 6:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., Saint Joseph Regional H.S., Montvale, NJ will be hosting an Open House for prospective students (6 th and 7 th grade boys) and their families to gain more information concerning St. Joseph Regional, its programs & the people who make up the SJR community. SJR students will provide tours (starting promptly at 6:30 p.m.) and guests will have the opportunity to speak with SJR faculty, administrators & parents. For more information & directions please call the school at or pre-register at Sacrament of Reconciliation Tuesdays in Chapel 7-8pm March 25, April 1, 8, 15 Stations of the Cross Fridays at 7:30 March 28, April 4, 11 Communal Penance Service - with Individual Confessions Saturday, April 5, :00 noon at St Paul s in Ramsey, NJ NO GREATER LOVE Production Sunday, April 6, pm Palm Sunday Saturday, April 12, 2014 Procession will gather at chapel at 4:50 (depending upon weather) followed by Mass at 5:00 Sunday, April 13, :00 am 10:15 am & 12:00 Noon Holy Thursday Thursday, April 17, 2014 Morning Prayer 8:30am-chapel Mass of our Lord s Supper 7:30pm Good Friday Friday, April 18, 2014 Morning Prayer 8:30am-chapel Family Stations of the Cross 10:30am Passion of the Lord 3:00pm Holy Saturday Saturday, April 19, 2014 Morning Prayer 8:30am-chapel Easter Egg Hunt 11:00am Easter Vigil 8:15pm Easter Sunday Sunday, April 20, :00 am 10:15 am & 12:00 Noon Immediately following the Friday in the chapel through the Lenten period, the attendees will be saying the Stations of the Cross. All are invited to participate in the Lenten devotion. We are once again preparing the annual tradition of honoring those couples in our Archdiocese who will be celebrating five, twenty-five and fifty years of Christian marriage in the year These anniversary liturgies for Bergen County will be celebrated by Archbishop John J. Myers in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark as follows: April 6, :00 PM 50 years married (due March 28th) May 4, :00PM...25 & 5 years married (due April 25th) Call the Rectory to register