Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church

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1 Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church 120 Sussex Street, Jersey City, NJ Our Mission The mission of our Parish is to reach out to all people and encourage them to join us in joyfully giving praise and glory to God; to build a Christian community that, with trust in God, embraces the future, and in doing so, is a beacon of faith, hope and love on the Jersey City waterfront. Our History Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, or OLC, was founded in 1911 to serve Polish immigrants to Jersey City. Today, OLC is growing and changing as it seeks to serve all those who now live in our neighborhood. The Church takes its name from a city in Poland that houses a cherished icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A copy of that icon is centrally located in our historic Church Very Rev. Thomas J. Ciba, V.F. Pastor Rev. Michael Braden, SJ Weekend Assistant Rev. Anthony Azzarto, SJ Weekend Assistant Mrs. Anna Mae Stefanelli Principal Mr. Jonathan Blevis Pastoral Associate Mr. Ben Rauch Director of Music Ms. Kathleen Church, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Parish Office Fax pastor@olcjc.org bulletin@olcjc.org Websites Counseling The OLC School Little Harbor Academy Mass Schedule Monday - Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Note: 12:30 pm (Church open from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm) 5:00 pm, Sunday Vigil Mass 10:00 am, 12:30 pm and 7:00 pm St. Anthony of Padua, 330 Sixth Street, Jersey City, the Center for Polish Ministry in Jersey City, offers a Polish Language Mass at OLC, Sundays at 8 am. Faith Formation during 10 am Mass We provide a Faith Formation program called Children s Liturgy of the Word for children 2 years of age on up during the Sunday Mass. We dismiss the children from Mass after the Opening Prayer to the church hall, returning before the Offertory. Parents are welcome to accompany their child if they wish. Confessions/Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm in the church & at other times by appointment with the pastor. Weddings Those interested in celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage should contact the parish office one year in advance of their proposed date of marriage. Infant Baptisms Preparation for Baptism should ideally begin before the birth of the child. Expectant parents should visit the parish website for more information. The OLC School Quality Education on the Waterfront 248 Luis Marin Blvd., Jersey City, NJ Grades 1-8 Accredited by The Middle States Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools The Little Harbor Academy The Early Childhood Division of The OLC School 186 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ Programs: Kindergarten; Pre-Kindergarten Program for 3 & 4 year olds; Montessori Toddler Program for 2 year olds The OLC Counseling Center Well Being on the Waterfront 120 Sussex Street, Jersey City, NJ Individual, Marriage, and Family Counseling To Register and Be Part of OLC We welcome you to register and to be part of our parish family. Please contact the parish office to arrange an informal appointment with the pastor. Saints Peter and Paul Church, Hoboken and OLC Church, Jersey City We work together to proclaim and live the Gospel on the Hudson River Waterfront by sharing our time, energy, and resources and in doing so, we more powerfully witness the presence of Christ. Second Sunday in Ordinary Time January 19, 2014

2 A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR Dear Parishioners, This Sunday we are hosting a presentation of This is OLC in the rectory. The rectory setting is very warm and inviting. It gives us an opportunity to meet with our new parishioners and welcome them into the OLC Family in a very homey setting We believe that it is essential to welcome everyone into our parish family and strive to make everyone feel comfortable and at home. We also encourage participation in the ministerial, social and service life of the parish. Participation in the parish is often instrumental in making new friends and in feeling very much a part of the community. May you enjoy a blessed New Year, BAPTISM PROGRAM & SCHEDULE AT OLC GATHERING TO REJOICE is the first component of our Baptism Program. This component is intended for those preparing for the birth of their child. It is required that you pre-register for this program, or notify the rectory that you will attend. To register, go to our website, olcjc.org and reference Formation and Sacraments. Follow the link to Baptism of Children, or call the rectory. Upcoming dates are: March 2, 2014, May 4, 2014, July 6, 2014 GATHERING TO UNDERSTAND is the second part of our Baptism program. If you are preparing for the baptism of your child, this program is required. It addresses theology, the responsibilities and requirements of parents and Godparents, etc. You can register for this program by going to the parish website or calling the rectory, or you can just walk in (however, preregistration is extremely helpful). Please refer below for a list of up-coming dates and plan to attend accordingly: February 2, 2014, April 6, 2014, June 1, 2014 Please register to be parishioners before attending the baptism classes. You can register in the rectory Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. till 5 p.m. A CHRISTMAS TRADITION of GIVING TO OLC This Christmas Season, as we made gift-giving a part of our holiday experience, we undoubtedly remembered those important to us. During these many years, OLC has not just survived but has flourished because of the generous gifts of its Parish family members. This is the time of the year that we ask you to make a Christmas Gift to your parish. Your Christmas Gift will go a long way in making improvements to the Church such as repairing the church doors, fixing the church hall kitchen and more. Our Christmas Gift Tradition goes back many years. This Tradition has been very successful making it possible to make major repairs and improvements in the church without conducting a capital campaign. However, we need everyone s support in making this year s Christmas Gift Appeal successful again. Whether you are a new parishioner or longtime parishioner, there is still time to pledge or contribute. To help you make a gift either from yourself or in memory of a loved one, you may make two or more payments during January, and even, into February. Please use the Christmas envelope(s) or the pledge cards found in the back of Church. Gifts may also be made online through Parish Pay by selecting the Donation s tab on Presently, your Christmas Gift donations have amounted to $56,563. This is a very good first step in reaching our goal of $75,000. We have reached more than 75.5% of our goal. Thank you so very much for being so responsive and generous. If you have not made your Christmas Gift to OLC, please do not put it off. Thank you. Congratulations to Soraya Fernandez and John Misarati who celebrated their Marriage ceremony Saturday, January 4, 2014 MARRIAGE AT OLC ATTENTION: SENIORS AND DISABLED Seniors and people with disabilities, if your home still has damage from Superstorm Sandy, help is available! The Home Repair and Advocacy Program can help you: replace interior wall boards, remediate mold, restore heating and cooling systems, fix electrical, patch roofs, cut or remove trees, dispose of debris, refurbish major home appliances. One can receive up to $5,000 in assistance. Home Repairs Coordinators will be assigned to individuals who apply. This program is sponsored by the NJ Department of Human Services with $8.2 million in federal grant money. Call ext. 236.

3 MASS INTENTIONS Remembering someone in our prayers (whether alive or deceased) is always important. Because the celebration of the Mass is the highest form of worship the Church celebrates, the practice of having a Mass offered for an individual, deceased or living, or for a particular intention, is an excellent way of bringing our intentions to God. This is a long standing tradition in the church. It is also a devotional practice whereby we keep alive the memory of our loved ones. Through this practice we can maintain that loving bond between ourselves and those whom we love. A Mass can be offered on the anniversary of death or on a person s birthday, or at any time. You may also have a Mass celebrated for someone who is ill, in thanksgiving and for special intentions for family and/or friends. If you wish to have a Mass celebrated, simply stop by the rectory, call us at or send an e- mail to: secretary@olcjc.org EVENTS AT OLC 2 nd Grade Reconciliation Class: Group B will meet January 26, Group A February 2, 8:45 AM. 8 th Grade Confirmation Class: Next class, February 2 at 11:00 AM. Mass beforehand at 10 AM Senior s Trip Deposit Due: Deposit is due Tuesday, February 4 for the trip to Niagara Falls, Canada, May Read the article in bulletin for more information. Senior s Meeting: Valentine s Day/Mardi Gras meeting will be held in the church hall at 1 PM, Wednesday, February 12. Lunch will be served. Cost to be determined. Senior s Luncheon: At Ginger Restaurant, 227 Franklin Avenue, Nutley. Cost is $10. Bus will pick up at 11 AM from 221 Warren St., then to 72 Montgomery, 100 Montgomery, lastly 500 Manila Ave. Children s Liturgy: Every Sunday during 10 AM Mass for 20 minutes. Ages 2 and older. Parents are welcome. No registration required join in! SUNDAY SCRIPTURE READINGS Reflect on today s readings. Prepare for next Sunday Sunday, Jan 19, 2014 Is 49: 3, 5-6; 1 Cor 1:1-3; Jn 1:29-34 Sunday, Jan 26, 2014 Is 8:23 9:3; 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17; Mt 4:12-23 REGISTER WITH YOUR PARISH! All Catholics should be registered with a parish. If you have been attending OLC it is fairly simple to make it official. Come to the OLC Rectory any time between the hours of 9:30 AM 5 PM, Monday Friday, and fill out a registration card. If you have any questions do not hesitate to call WEEKLY OFFERING Thank you so much for your financial support and for living your financial commitment to your parish. We are grateful for those who are especially generous and who wish to remain anonymous. We need your support for us to achieve our weekly collection goal of $6,000 per Sunday. Reaching this goal, and exceeding it, is essential to the financial health of your parish. For the weekend of January 11/12, 354 people attended Mass. The collection amounted to $5,950 of which $2,303 was contributed by those using ParishPay. This is $50 below our weekly goal. Contributions for the Christmas Gift Appeal have risen to $56,563. This is a very good first step in reaching our goal of $75,000. We have reached 75.5% of our goal. We thank you for being so generous. If you are moving out of the parish please inform the rectory CATHOLIC MEN S CONFERENCE Be not afraid! This is the theme of the annual Catholic Men s Conference, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Newark this year. It will be Saturday, March 15, 2014, at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. This can be a prayerful, spirit-filled, life changing experience! The day begins at 8:00 AM and ends around 4:00 PM. Mass will be celebrated by Most Reverend Archbishop John J. Myers along with our local Bishops and Priests concelebrating. A dynamic line-up of speakers is scheduled for this day! They include His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Fr. Larry Richards and Gregory Floyd. There is a ticket price of $25 for adults, $20 for students and senior citizens. This includes a free breakfast and lunch. For early bird registration please visit our website at for a $5.00 discount before February 1. Tel CatholicMen@rcan.org SENIOR S TRIP TO NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA Attention Seniors! Tuesday, February 4 is the final day to turn in your $25 deposit if you plan to attend the trip to Niagara Falls, which includes a side trip to Toronto, Canada. The Cost is $625 or $755. The package includes 4 nights lodging in Niagara Falls, 4 breakfasts, 4 full course dinners, tours of Niagara, Niagara-on-the-lake and Toronto, visit to a casino, transportation, taxes, meal gratuities and much more. For more information

4 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Saturday January 18, :00 pm Special Intention Sunday January 19, :00 am Josephine Kunkiewicz From Loretta Kwiatkowski 12:30 pm John Hutt From Jeffrey, son 7:00 pm People of the Parish Monday January 20, :30 pm Special Intentions for Ramon Kalloe Tuesday January 21, :30 pm Joseph Wehrhahn Wednesday January 22, :30 pm Communion Service Thursday January 23, :30 pm Joseph Wehrhahn Friday January 24, :30 pm Cecelia Wendolowski From Teresa Romanski Saturday January 25, :00 pm Special Intention Sunday January 26, :00 am Joseph Wehrhahn 12:30 pm Veronica Malta From Mr. & Mrs. John Kirpan 7:00 pm People of the Parish Attend daily Mass. It will make a difference in your life! STEWARDSHIP Now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb... ISAIAH 49:5 God has formed each of us as His servants from the womb. He blessed us with unique gifts and He provided us with the talents and skills we would need to do His work. If we do not fulfill the unique vision that God had for us alone, who will do it? LECTOR WORKBOOKS Lector workbooks for the 2014 liturgical year are available in the sacristy. All lectors should take a moment after mass to take their copy. Thank you.

5 PRAYING FOR THE DECEASED The devotional practice of praying for the deceased is a tradition that finds its origin in biblical times. This tradition recognized our continued union with our faithfully departed and it acknowledges our need to support them. It also recognizes that we are sinners and it is only fitting that we offer expiatory sacrifices for the deceased. One of the earliest accounts of this is found in 2 Maccabeus 12: After a series of victories by his army against local rulers who would not allow the Jews to live in peace, Judas Maccabeus walks among his fallen soldiers. It is here that he then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to 2,000 silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice to atone for the sins of the fallen. In doing so he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view,. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from sin. In the Catholic tradition we continue this practice as we offer a Mass in memory of a loved one. In the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass we recognize that this is the most excellent way of offering prayers for those whom we love. The Sacrifice of the Mass recalls Jesus redemptive sacrifice and in it we are united in the Mystical Body of Christ. By remembering your loved ones through a Mass offering, you continue to give them the gift of your love and devotion. MODERN DAY SLAVERY HUMAN TRAFFICKING The young woman who does your nails, the nanny for your neighbor, the young man clearing your table at a restaurant, the people who pick the fruit you enjoy - each of these could be a victim of human trafficking modern day slaves living within our midst. Recently, Pope Francis called human trafficking a crime against humanity that threatens not only individuals but the fabric of the family and the basic values of society. In a December 12, 2013 address to the new Ambassadors to the Holy See from seventeen nations, the Holy Father called upon governments and all people of good will to unite in a global effort to free victims of trafficking. According to Catholic Relief Services: Human trafficking is a $32 billion industry worldwide. At least 12.3 million people are trafficked worldwide. More than 1 million children are victims of trafficking. On average, only 1 person is convicted for every 800 trafficking cases worldwide. The Catholic Bishops of New Jersey, accept Pope Francis challenge and we urge all Catholics to join with their neighbors in fighting this grave violation of fundamental human rights, especially the sexual exploitation of women and children. For information on how to identify human trafficking victims; how to locate law enforcement resources; and how to join others in combating the evil of human trafficking, please visit: