Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Nov. 11, 2018

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1 Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Nov. 11, 2018 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Nov. 12 St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr Carol Bednarzuk by Fr. Bob Meyers Nov. 13 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin Kathleen & Thomas Russell by Angela & Angelo Cagnina Nov. 14 Frances & Joseph Arigo by Children Nov. 15 St. Albert the Great, Bishop & Doctor of the Church Mary Kenny by Patrick Kenny Nov. 16 St. Margaret of Scotland; St. Gertrude, Virgin Eucharistic Service Saturday Nov. 17 St. Elizabeth of Hungary 4:00 p.m. Stephen Kopil by parents Ed & Dorothy Sunday Nov. 18 Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30 a.m. Frank Guibileo by Chris & Bill Flynn 9:00 a.m. Marie Hess by husband Fred & Family 11:00 a.m. Nicholas Sicat by the Sicat Family Candle & Flower Offerings The Sanctuary candle is offered in loving memory of Thomas Dardani by wife Helen. The candle before the Blessed Virgin Mary is offered in loving memory of Andrew Huston by wife Jane. The candle before St. Joseph is offered in loving memory of Joseph Policastro by The Dranchak Family. The candle before St. Jude is offered in healing of Helen Infusino by friend Rose. The Sanctuary Flowers are offered in loving memory of Mary Kenny by Patrick Kenny. The flowers before the Blessed Virgin Mary are offered in Thanksgiving by Rosary Group. The Knights of Columbus are selling, Keep Christ in Christmas Magnets. If you would like to purchase one please contact Francis Macchiaroli, Grand Knight or cell # PARISH CALENDAR Nov. 13 Prayer Shawl 1:30 pm RE 2 nd Gr. Retreat 6:00 pm Hall Nov. 14 Woman s Faith Sharing - 9:00 am RE - Monthly Obligation 6:00-7:30 pm Grades 3-7 WoN Thanksgiving Luncheon Nov. 15 Choir Practice 7:30 pm Nov. 17 Giving Tree Tags FAS Church 10:00 am Pre-Cana 8:00 am 6:00 pm Nov. 18 Giving Tree Tags Men s Spirituality Group 7:00 pm Nov. 20 RE - Monthly Obligation 6:00-7:30 pm Grades 3-7 Choir Practice 7:30 pm Nov. 21 Woman s Faith Sharing - 9:00 am Baptism Prep 7:30 pm Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day Mass 9:00am Nov. 24 Giving Tree Tags FAS 10:00 am in Church Nov. 25 Giving Tree Tags Daily Readings Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday 1 Kgs 17:10-16; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44 Monday Ti 1:1-9; Lk 17:1-6 Tuesday Ti 2:1-8, 11-14; Lk 17:7-10 Wednesday Ti 3:1-7; Lk 17:11-19 Thursday Phlm 7-20; Lk 17:20-25 Friday 2 Jn 4-9; Lk 17:26-37 Saturday 3 Jn 5-8; Lk 18:1-8 The Collection amount for the weekend of Nov. 4 th was $14,880 and the Collection amount for All Souls was $2,832. Thank you for your continued support of our parish!

2 Dear Parish Family, A MESSAGE FROM FATHER ED The peace of the Lord be with you this day! This Sunday the Liturgy teaches us a basic truth concerning gifts and the act of giving. What makes a gift meaningful is the thoughtfulness and affection behind the gift. A true gift is not to be determined by its size or cost. Such is the theme of today s First Reading from the first Book of Kings. This woman who is a widow explains how she had little to offer the prophet Elijah. Imagine how embarrassed she was to have nothing to offer in hospitality to this holy man? Yet, the prophet gently assures her not to be afraid to share her last bit of food with him. Elijah promises her God will return her generosity. The response that Elijah made to the widow of Zarephath is our reassurance and promise, too. We need never be ashamed of what we are and have to give others, when the gift is made in sincerity and love. For God sees our good deeds and rewards us. While a theme of unworthiness occupies much of the Old Testament with regard to the people s relationship with the Lord their God, the New Testament records how all of this changed in the course of time and history. It reveals how we now have a fitting gift to offer God. This gift is Jesus Christ! Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ we sing a hymn of thanksgiving to our Father in heaven. Through prayer and at Mass we join Jesus in the offering of Himself as the perfect and total gift and sacrifice to the Father. The woman in today s Gospel of St. Mark offered a mere penny as a gift. Yet her gift was greater than any other large sum of money placed in the temple treasury. Her tiny gift, given in faith and trust, was a genuine act of her goodness. Our gifts to God are not determined by how much we give. What makes our gifts worthy is the goodness behind our act of giving. Pax, Fr.Ed With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, we are asking parishioners to donate food items that can be used for our Thanksgiving baskets which we give to families who are in need. Some items to consider would be: yams, corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, coffee, string beans, etc. All the trimmings! And yes, we will accept frozen turkeys the week of the 18 th. Thank you so much for your generosity. Deadline: Sunday, November 18 th. A MESSAGE FROM FATHER ED CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD Traditionally, the main focus of Christmas decorations is the nativity scene. In Italy this is called a Presepe or Presepio. Every church has a Presepe, but they can also be found in town squares, shops and other public spaces. These special exhibitions of art representing the birth of Jesus draw us into mystery of God s incarnate love. With this in mind, I would like to invite you to display your creche or manger scene on Sunday, December 2 nd after the 11:00 am Mass in Fr. Congdon hall. Enjoy carols and share your favorite Christmas cookies as you stroll through the many different artistic scenes surrounding the birth of our savior. To participate in displaying your creche or manger scene, kindly fill out the form below and drop off at the parish office. Deadline: November 30 th. CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD First & Last Name: Phone # RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REMINDERS FOR NOVEMBER November 13 th 2 nd Gr. Reconciliation Retreat 6:00 7:30 pm in Father Congdon Hall. November 14 th Grades 3-7 Monthly Obligation 6-7:30 pm in the Church. November 20 th - Grades 3-7 Monthly Obligation 6-7:30 pm in the Church. November 28 th 8 th Gr. Town Hall Meeting 7:00-9:00 pm in Father Congdon Hall. November 30 th 8 th Gr. Retreat - 6:00 9:00 pm in Father Congdon Hall Need to get in touch with our Religious Ed office? Our office is open Monday thru Thursday from 9:00 am 2:00 pm. Please stop in or give us a call at

3 Christmas Wreath Sale Orders and payment due no later than November 18 th. Orders can be picked up on December 1 st and 2 nd. It s time for our annual Christmas wreath sale designed this year by Pops Farm Market. The wreaths are 24 inch with a Christmas Red bow. Pick-up will be after Mass on December 1 st and 2 nd ONLY. Parishioners who cannot make the pick-up dates must call Linda Fernicola at to schedule special arrangements. Please clip out the form below and drop it in the JYG drop box labeled Wreaths located in the Narthex. Make checks out to Nativity of Our Lord. Thank you for your support! Questions call Linda CHRISTMAS WREATHS 2018 Qty Cost Total Classic Wreath x $30 Name: Ph: Cell: WOMAN S RETREAT: The Questions of Jesus Join other women of faith for prayer, reflection and friendship during the weekend of February 1 st -3 rd at Sacred Heart Center in Newton, NJ. This retreat center, conducted by the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, features private rooms and baths, chapel, dining room, conference room and beautiful grounds. The facility is complete with an elevator and handicap rooms. Journey with us as we explore The questions of Jesus as preached by Fr. Ed. During this retreat come to know that Jesus is the answer to all life s questions. Cost of the retreat is $ To register, kindly contact Sr. Mary Leonard at admin@nativitymonroe.org or call the parish office at (609) ext. 10. Space is limited. ADVENT CANDLES Orders are being accepted for Advent Candles and Advent Wreaths. Please complete the form below and leave it in the parish office or place it in an envelope for the collection basket at Mass. Please include your payment with your order. Orders may be picked up in the parish office. Name: Ph: Cell: Candle Sets x $5 Total: $ Evergreen Wreath x $5 Total: $ Candles & Wreath x $10 Total: $ KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Assembly #1848 NEW YEAR S EVE PARTY At NATIVITY OF OUR LORD Music; 10-piece band (3 Singers) Philly Heart and Soul Tables of up to 10 people; Doors open 7:30pm Sharp - $67.00 pp. Make check payable to: K of C #1848 and mail to: Robert Di Bella - 30 Glastonbury Drive - Monroe Township, NJ Any Question please call Robert at: / bankonus@aol.com. See Church bulletin board for menu. Name: Phone: Name: Phone: Need one address: NO REFUNDS CHURCH ACTIVITIES Our Holiday trip is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 11 th. We will be going to the Tropicana Casino. Cost of $23pp includes a Magical Holiday show ticket JINGLE at 3:30pm; $15 Slot Play; bus transportation and driver s tip. Make checks payable to Church Activities. Please park in the rear of the Church parking lot and arrive by 9:15am. Bus leaves promptly at 9:30am. For reservations or questions, call Janet Mascio

4 PARISH MINISTRIES St. Vincent De Paul Society: If you are experiencing financial hardship due to a temporary loss of employment, illness, or disability, the St. Vincent de Paul Society is available to provide assistance for your everyday needs such as food, utility assistance, or agency referrals. Please dial the parish number , then press 8, and leave a message with your name and phone number. Someone will return your call. All calls are handled in strict confidence. Giving Tree - The tags are coming! Giving Tree tags will be out next weekend. Yes, it is early. Yes, it seems we are rushing Christmas. But, we have an earlier due date for some of our agencies this year. The gifts with yellow tags will have to be returned by Dec. 1st - 2nd. We thank you for your continued support of this ministry! Prayer Shawl: Join us as we create shawls for the sick and homebound members of the parish (and beyond!) New members are always welcome. Our next get together is Tuesday November 13 th at 1:30pm in the church hall. This is the last meeting until the new year (Jan. 8, 2019). Questions? Call Dorothy Kopil at or Liz Coulston at Caring Meals: The Caring Meals group delivers soup year-round to our homebound parishioners and provides short-term help to parishioners who are recuperating from an illness or hospital stay with deliveries of home-cooked meals. If you like to cook or know of someone who could benefit from either of these two services, please call Maryanne Sheerin at Elder Care: Do you need assistance with shopping periodically? Are you seeking a responsible person to sit with someone in need of supervision for a brief time? Do you require help with minor household chores? Please call Marge Nadolny for further information. Helping Hands: Do you need a helping hand with minor tasks around the house? There are parishioners who are willing to help in these situations. Please contact Esther Wolff by phone at Rosary Group: Please join us every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:50 a.m. to recite the Holy Rosary. We will be seated at the right side of the church near the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. STEWARDSHIP BULLETIN REFLECTIONS 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living. (MARK 12:43-44) Jesus gets right to the point we are all called to give money to support the mission of the Church, regardless of our circumstance. No gift is too small or insignificant! Giving money to support the mission of our local parish is a matter of our faith, just like praying and participating in parish ministries. When you make a financial offering, is it from your first fruits or from what is left over? THANKSGIVING In this season of Thanksgiving, why not celebrate your marriage and its many blessings by attending a Marriage Encounter Weekend? A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend gives you the time and tools to revitalize romance, deepen communication, and nourish the spirituality in your marriage. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend will be held January Early registration is advisable as space is limited. Phone for registration and information. Visit us at: for more information. CHRISTMAS BAZAAR December 1, :00 am 3:00 pm Crafts, Basket Raffles, Great Food and MUCH MORE! Also: Bring your camera to take pictures with Santa, games and more! Don t miss it! Great day for the entire family! St. Andrew Church Hall 244 Avenel St. - Avenel, NJ Sponsored by the Altar-Rosary Society

5 POPE S MONTHLY INTENTIONS In the Service of Peace We live in a world of much violence wars around the world, in our communities, and even in our homes. Seeing and experiencing this violence provokes fear and anger within us, often tempting us to respond with more violence. But this isn t God s answer to violence. We find God s answer on the cross. Jesus didn t allow Peter to defend him from an arrest by use of the sword. Nor did he call down legions of angels to save him from the Romans who tortured and executed him. Instead he submitted to death on the cross. In some mysterious way, the Father used the death and resurrection of his Son for far greater purposes than any of his followers could have imagined. In the silence of the cross, the uproar of weapons ceases and the language of reconciliation, forgiveness, dialogue, and peace is spoken. The words we use matter, and can move us towards greater peace, or towards more conflict. Our words are an expression of who we are, just as Jesus Himself, the Word made flesh, is the incarnate expression of who the Father is. When our words are hostile and aim to put others down, we aren t imitating Jesus, and reconciliation becomes impossible. When instead we use the language of love and peace, this enables us to enter into dialogue with others, even with those who are very different from us. Through that dialogue we begin to better understand one another, enabling us to follow Jesus in building a more peaceful world. FALL FESTIVAL/CRAFT SHOW VENDORS WANTED Saturday, November 24 Fall Festival/Craft Show (formally Granny Cellar) at Immaculate Conception Church, Manalapan Road, Spotswood hosted by the Rosary-Altar Society. To reserve a space/table, please contact Jay at Office of Cemeteries Open House Holy Cross Cemetery 840 Cranbury South River Rd. Jamesburg, NJ Saturday, Nov. 17 th - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 18 th - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Premium glass niche banks for the cremated remains of your loved ones are available in the Mary Sorrowful Mother Mausoleum. Open house incentives will be offered. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call (800) or visit Calling All Actors, Actresses, Stagehands, Dancers, Set and Costume Designers WE NEED YOU! The Diocese of Metuchen is seeking people ages 18 and older to participate in a 2019 production about Our Lady of Guadalupe. Join us on Wednesday, November 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center 146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway, to see a sample play and to learn about the details of the 2019 production. English and Spanish speaking participants are needed. To RSVP or for details, evangelization@diometuchen.org