Parish Community of Our Lady of Lourdes

Transcription

1 Parish Community of Our Lady of Lourdes J a n u a ry Mission Statement: The Catholic Community of OLL celebrates the presence of Christ, welcoming all with love and compassion. We encourage all to learn and live the Gospel through worship, prayer and service, with respect for human dignity, as we continue on our spiritual journey. 390 County Road 523, P.O. Box 248, Whitehouse Station, NJ Phone: Fax: Web: ollwhs.org

2 Gathering Song ~ Sing of Mary ~ RitualSong #528 Readings: RitualSong #979 Responsorial Psalm Text: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6-8; 1963, 1993, The Grail, GIA Publications, Inc., agent; refrain trans. 1969, ICEL Music: Michel Guimont, 1994, GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net A All rights reserved. Song at Preparation ~ Once in Royal David s City ~ RitualSong #526 Communion Song ~ The First Nowell Text: English carol, 17th C. Tune: THE FIRST NOWELL, Irregular; English melody Closing Song ~ Good Christian Friends, Rejoice ~ RitualSong #518 Resolve to Have Perfect Faith Imagine having complete confidence that God is with you in all things. Think how differently you would respond to troubles, temptations, or hardships. Worry would be obsolete. That s perfect faith and it is possible. Here s how. Believe in God s love. Perfect faith comes from believing that God loves you without limit or condition. God is love, so to believe in God is to believe in his love. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely (Proverbs 3:5). The key is to remember that God loves you and only wills your good. Banish fear. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love (1 John 4:18). We were not created to be afraid. It is Satan who wishes to drive a wedge between us and God and tempts us to fear. When we remember that God has consistently proven himself to be faithful and dependable, only faith is left. Practice makes perfect. Perfect faith results when we live God s word, not just hear it. Adhering to the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the two Great Commandments (love God, love your neighbor), we notice God s hand in our lives and trust in him grows. Page 2

3 CLERGY PARISH STAFF PASTOR Very Rev. Leonard F. A. Rusay x 11, pastor@ollwhs.org PASTORAL SUPPORT Rev. Greg Uhrig DEACONS Mr. Charles Paolino and Mr. Al Adolfo LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS WEEKEND LITURGIES Saturday 5:30 pm; Sunday 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 am WEEKDAY LITURGIES 8:30 am except Thursday at 12:00 pm HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION Please refer to the Bulletin. OFFICE HOURS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY - 9 am to 4 pm; FRIDAY - 9 am to 1 pm VISITATION HOURS CHURCH Daily 9 am to 5 pm SACRED HEART CHAPEL Monday to Thursday - 8 am to 4:00 pm; Friday 8 am to 1 pm PENANCE Saturday 4:30 to 5 pm and by appointment FAITH FORMATION PASTORAL ASSOCIATE Joline Frank x 12, pastoralassociate@ollwhs.org PARISH CATECHETICAL LEADER Nina Forestiere x 20, sacraments@ollwhs.org LITURGICAL MUSIC DIRECTOR James Cole x 19, music@ollwhs.org PASTORAL EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Doreen Budris-Kovacs x 13, parishadmin@ollwhs.org PASTORAL FINANCE ASSISTANT Christine DeLessio x 15, finance@ollwhs.org COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR & ASSISTANT PCL Bridget Hackman x 14, bulletin@ollwhs.org PASTORAL SECRETARY Madeline Fisher x 21, receptionist@ollwhs.org YOUTH CATECHESIS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Margaret Sanguiliano x 18 MAINTENANCE Colman Connolly Spiritual Direction - Individual directed prayer life is offered by our Priests and Pastoral Associate. Charismatic Prayer Group - This prayer community meets Tuesdays at 7 pm in the Sacred Heart Chapel. YOUTH FAITH FORMATION Religious education classes are held from September through May, for students in the First through Fourth grades on Monday and Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:45 pm and for students in the Fifth through Seventh grades on Monday and Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:45 pm. Twelve Confirmation Prep sessions are required for Eighth graders who wish to receive the Sacrament. CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS The process where those inquiring about becoming a Roman Catholic are invited to journey with Church members in sharing their faith, while discerning God s call to conversion. Please contact the Parish Office for further information. PARISH MEMBERSHIP New members need to contact the Parish Office to register for an Evening of Welcome at which time the process of formally becoming a parishioner will be initiated. We receive many requests for certificates of sponsorship for Baptism and Confirmation. Certificates can only be given to registered members of the parish who actively practice their faith. Members are those who regularly attend Mass and participate in and support the life of the Church. SACRAMENTS PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES BAPTISM The Rite of Baptism is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month following the 11:00 am Mass and the third Sunday of the month at the 11:00 am liturgy, except during Lent. Parents must attend an obligatory preparation session prior to the child s birth. Arrangements for a Baptismal date are made at that session. MATRIMONY In accordance with Diocesan policy, couples wishing to be married at OLL must participate in a one-year preparation program, which includes FOCCUS, Pre-Cana, God s Plan for a Faith-Filled Marriage, and required paperwork. Please confirm the date with the Church prior to making other plans. Marriages take place on Fridays and Saturdays no Sunday weddings. Page 3

4 Eucharistic Adoration Eucharistic Adoration is scheduled from 9:00 am to Noon in the Sacred Heart Chapel Friday, January 6. In (our) visits and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, we experience the closeness of the good Shepherd, the tenderness of His love, the presence of (a) faithful friend. We all experience (this) large support (in our lives) provided by faith (and our) personal and intimate dialogue with the (Lord in the Eucharist). Pope Francis. For information or any questions, please contact Sue Mobley at Becoming Who You Were Meant to Be Happy New Year! These words represent an opportunity for us to transform ourselves into the people God knows we can be. This year we can bring true joy to our lives by transforming ourselves to God. Start by seeking God everywhere. Whether it is by acknowledging the constant generosity he shows toward His children or by accepting opportunities to receive Him in the Sacraments, God is waiting for us to seek his presence in our lives. All we have to do is look and listen. Nurture a healthy faith. To strengthen our faith we must separate ourselves from the habits that distract us form our spiritual needs. That can mean turning off your cell phone or computer, reevaluating friendships or just accepting our struggles as opportunities for grace. Transformation by God can only come if we give ourselves to him completely. Maintain a clean slate. After we are cleansed through Confession, it is important to quickly surround ourselves with graces, such as receiving the sacraments more frequently, or studying religious materials. These vitamins for the soul will keep us spiritually sound. Aspire to the greats. Throughout history, saints have experienced every situation we can imagine. When we look for inspiration, we can look to them and let them guide us by their examples. Inspiration for the Week We seek the same faith and courage that Mary possessed as she accepted the tremendous responsibility of being the Mother of God. Life often requires great and heroic things of us and we often wonder how and if we are able to meet those challenges. Mary did not doubt that God was with her, giving her everything needed to complete the task before her. Because of her Son's special relationship with his Father, we too can cry out "Abba, Father" and draw strength from the infinite and generous love God bestows upon us. A Note from Fr. Len Another opening, another show! These immortal words from KISS ME KATE are proclaimed with joy by a company of artists beginning a new adventure. Their spirit is contagious as it brings them into a new and bright future. This day, as we start a new year, I invite you to bring that same excitement to With all that is happening around the world at this time, we can easily find ourselves falling into a deep spiral of pessimism. But didn t we celebrate a joyous occasion a week ago when we welcomed our Lord into our lives? Retaining that wonder, peace, joy, and hope of our Savior, let us begin the new year with an optimistic vision for a new and bright future. The company of the aforementioned musical encountered many challenges as they put together their presentation, but hope always glimmered somewhere within them. Over the next year we will also encounter our share of challenges. I invite you to keep the glimmer of hope given to us by our Lord alive within you. The curtain has fallen on 2016 and now it is time to create a new and exciting production, Let the hope, faith, mercy, and joy of our Lord be with you this year. Monday 2 Tuesday 3 Wednesday 4 Saint Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen 1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98/Jn 1:19-28 Michael Panzarino r/b Jerry & Carolann George 4:30 pm NO Youth Faith Formation 6:30 pm NO Youth Faith Formation The Parish Office will be closed in observance of New Year s Day. Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 2:29--3:6/Ps 98/Jn 1:29-34 Ida Marie Kocur r/b Family 4:30 pm NO Youth Faith Formation 6:30 pm NO Youth Faith Formation 7:00 pm Prayer Group, Chapel Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton 1 Jn 3:7-10/Ps 98/Jn 1:35-42 William & Mary L. Wisniewski r/b Joe & Barbara Chango 7:00 pm Knights of Columbus, Community Hall Page 4

5 Happy New Year Administration and Stewardship 2016 Contribution Statement Please send an request to Christine at: Your statement will be ed back to you. No ? Not a problem! Just cut out the form and drop it in the collection basket and your statement will be mailed to you Contribution Statement Name: Formation Acquire the Fire Save the Date! Acquire the Fire, the young adult group, will be meeting on Sunday, January 22 at 7:00 pm in the Old Church Hall. To join the list serve and to stay up to date on more events, please Susan at acquirethefire@ollwhs.org. Thursday 5 Friday 6 Saturday 7 Saint John Neumann 1 Jn 3:11-21/Ps 100/Jn 1: :00 Noon Mass: Katherine Terricone r/b The Terricone Family The Parish Office will close at 12:30 pm today. Everyday Stewardship Listen. Think. Act. That is a mantra or slogan for many different groups. Some seek to battle prejudice and bias. Other groups hope to eliminate poverty or reduce crime. I have even found some companies use it as a way of increasing engagement among their employees. In a nutshell, it is about taking in what you have heard and then reflecting on it before you act. The most fruitful actions are those that take place after careful reflection. This is an important thing to remember for those trying to live a stewardship way of life. If we are honest with ourselves, too often most of us jump to conclusions too quickly or act in ways that cause friction because we didn't really think about the consequences of our actions. We are moving too fast in a world that seems to be moving ever faster. When the shepherds came to visit Jesus, the newborn King, they told Mary everything that the angels had told them. Luke tells us that after hearing all this, she "kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." No response. No panic. No action. Her reflection was the appropriate response. In this New Year, you and I would do well to remember this Gospel account of Mary, the Mother of God. Let us resolve to listen more, reflect often, and then act accordingly. We are called to use our gifts wisely, sowing them in good soil. If we just throw them out, allowing them to simply fall wherever they may, have we really used them for God's glory? We need to listen. Think. Then act. Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 5:5-13/Ps 147/Mk 1:7-11 or Lk 3:23-28 or 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38 Lucy McGuire & Stella DeVito r/b Lenore Coccio Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 5:14-21/Ps 149/Jn 2:1-11 Patricia Gray r/b Marlene Connolly 5:30 pm Mass: Fr. Len People of the Parish Page 5

6 Community Life Rosarian Gift Shop Happy New Year to each of you and your families! We carry items for new homes, Baptism, Communion, military medals, key chains for new drivers, rosaries, and so much more. Thank you for your continued support; all proceeds fund the Rosary Altar Scholarship Fund. If you have any needs between now and January 15, please contact Ruth Stieh for an appointment at or Knights of Columbus 4th Annual Comedy Night The Knights of Columbus will host their Fourth Annual Comedy Night on Saturday, January 14 at 7:00 pm in Community Hall. Steve Trevelise from radio station will be the MC for the evening. Professional comedians, Pete Michaels and Leighanne Lord, will be performing. Pete Michaels is a Celebrity Ventriloquist and has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, and on various Cruise Ships. Leighanne Lord, who performed at the Knights 1st Comedy Night in 2014, is smart and engaging with topics including current events, family, marriage, and more. She has performed around the world including The Comedy Store in London and the Comedy Factory in the Netherlands. This outstanding event will benefit local charities that the Knights of Columbus support. Tickets are $40 per person; dinner and beverages are included. For tickets and information, contact Roman Hnidj at or romanhnidj@verizon.net / Tom DiQuollo at or tomdiquollo@aol.com From the Diocese History of Our Diocese s Beginnings On November 19, the Diocese of Metuchen celebrated the 35th Anniversary of its founding by Pope St. John Paul II. Msgr. John Szymanski, who served then-bishop McCarrick as chancellor and, later, as vicar general in the early years of the Diocese, has written a history of how the Diocese came to be established and a chronicle of its first five years. Entitled, The Lighting of the Watch Fires, it is available for purchase for $25. Send your check to: Rev. Msgr. John B. Szymanski, The Maria Regina Residence, 5 Dellwood Lane, Somerset, NJ Marriage Encounter 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 13 to 15. Early registration is advisable as space is limited. Phone for registration and information. Visit us at: for more information. Discerning the Priesthood? Are you, or do you know someone, who is considering a vocation to the Priesthood? The St. John Vianney House of Discernment will begin meetings this fall and winter to assist you in your journey. Join us for: January 18 - Q & A with Seminarians Meetings are for those 16 and older and are held from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Please consider attending any or all of the meetings. For more information and to RSVP, please contact the Office of Vocations at either vocations@diometuchen.org or call (732) The Epiphany of the Lord Is 60:1-6/Ps 72/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12 Page 6 Sunday, January 8 8:00 am Mass: Fr. Len Deceased Members of the Rosary Altar Society 9:00 am Rosary Altar Society Meeting, Community Hall 9:15 am Family Ministry, Old Church Hall 9:30 am Mass: Fr. Greg Felomena Renda r/b Theresa Renda King 11:00 am Mass: Fr. Greg Drew O Donoghue r/b The Nealon Family Noah s Ark 1:00 pm Special Needs Ministry Weekly Tithe 5% of next week s collection will be donated to The Deacon s Table Many Thanks to This Week s Advertiser ~ Oldwick Animal Hospital Tabernacle Lamps Burn in Honor of: Judith Caporelli The High & Martin Families Edward Zorsky, Sr. The Sacred Heart Lamp Burns in Honor of: Mike Lavallato