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1 45 Anderson Street; Raritan, NJ Telephone: Fax: Website: Facebook: The Catholic Church of St. Ann- Raritan, NJ School: 29 Second Avenue; Raritan, NJ Telephone: Fax: Facebook: St. Ann School Convent: 29 Second Avenue; Raritan, NJ Telephone: Parish Mission Statement Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we, the Catholic Church of St. Ann, embrace all as family and continue Christ's mission by exemplifying the love of God and neighbor as stewards of God's gifts to us. Church The Catholic Church of St. Ann is open daily from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. for prayer and meditation. Daily Mass Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:00 a.m. Tuesday & Thursday: 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. First Friday: 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. (only when school is in session) & 7:00 p.m. Weekend Mass Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. Holy Day Mass Vigil: 7:00 p.m. Holy Day: 7:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. (weekdays) Penance/Reconciliation Saturday: 9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m. St. Ann School Pre-K - 8th Grade Our dedicated and experienced faculty are committed to providing a quality education focused on Faith, Family and Community. Call Sr. Margaret Mary Hanlon in the School Office or her at mhanlon@stannparish.com to register your child(ren). Contact our school at to make an appointment to tour the school. Church Calendar Can be found on our website under NEW! Parish Calendar of Events St. Ann PREP 1-8th Grade Monday: 6:15 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday: 6:15 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Call Sr. Phyllis Vella in the Parish Office or her at pvella@stannparish.com to register your child(ren). Special Needs PREP 1-8th Grade Thursday: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Call Sr. Phyllis Vella in the Parish Office or her at pvella@stannparish.com to register your child(ren). Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and Adult Confirmation Are you or someone you know interested in becoming members of the Catholic Church? Are you a Catholic who was baptized but never received the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion or Confirmation? If so, please contact Deacon John Pacifico in the Parish Office or Deacon Rick Stevens at or him at rstevens@stannparish.com. Donations by Electronic Giving The Catholic Church of St. Ann offers parishioners the opportunity to make Online church and school contributions! Log onto scroll down, click on give Online with WeShare. You will be connected to a secure site to enter your information. Thank you for your continued support! Registration Any new family or adult 18 and over, who has moved into the parish, are invited to stop by the Parish Office to complete a new parishioner form. Please notify us of any change of address. Parish Office Hours Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

2 Permanent Deacons Deacon John Pacifico Deacon Roy Rabinowitz Deacon Rob Sause Deacon Rick Stevens Sacramental Information Baptism Sundays at 1:30 p.m. (must be scheduled with the Parish Office) Instructions for new parents take place on the first Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. Please call Mrs. Christine Esposito at the Parish Office or her at to make arrangements. Baptism Godparents Must be 18 years old, registered as an adult and be confirmed in the Catholic Church. If you are married, your marriage must be recognized by the church. This is especially important if you wish to be a Godparent for Baptism. It takes six months of attending Mass to be eligible for this privilege. Penance/Reconciliation We invite you to participate in the Penance & Reconciliation at the times specified in the front of this bulletin. Holy Eucharist We invite you to participate in the Holy Eucharist daily at the times specified on the front of this bulletin. If you have not had the opportunity to make your Holy Communion, please contact the Parish Office. Confirmation Sponsors Must be 18 years old, registered as an adult and be confirmed in the Catholic Church. If you are married, your marriage must be recognized by the church. This is especially important if you wish to be a Sponsor for Confirmation. It takes six months of attending Mass to be eligible for this privilege. Marriage The common policy of marriage requires that arrangements with the church be made at least one year before the date of marriage and before any social plans are made. Either the Bride or Groom must be a registered parishioner. If you would like to get more information about getting married, please contact the Parish Office. Under the Pastoral Care of the Priests and Brothers of the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri V. Rev. Peter R. Cebulka, C.O., Provost Rev. Thomas Odorizzi, C.O., Pastor todorizzi@stannparish.com Community of Religious Teachers of St. Lucy Filippini Sister Margaret Mary Hanlon, MPF, School Principal/Superior Sister Dolores Toscano, MPF, Pastoral Associate Sister Phyllis Vella, MPF, Director of Religious Education 2 Office Staff Mr. Miguel De Jesus, Director of Sacred Music Mrs. Christine Esposito, Social Ministry Mr. Lou Falconeri, Plant Manager Ms. Barbara Russell, Administrative Assistant Ministry Information Ministry to the Poor We help those who are experiencing financial difficulties with food, clothing, shelter, rent, PSE&G, and water bills. Please call Mrs. Christine Esposito at the Parish Office or her at cesposito@stannparish.com. Ministry to the Sick/Homebound Parishioners who are homebound are visited by our Deacons, Religious & Extraordinary Ministers. If you know of someone that is seriously ill or hospitalized, please contact the Parish Office. Ministry to those that are pregnant and/or thinking of an abortion We are building a culture of Life through prayer and action serving our community, state and country. We pray and serve along with the Pregnancy Aid and Information Center, helping those in crisis pregnancies and moms in need. Please call at (24-hour hotline). Parish Ministries Santo Nino January 10 January 18, 2019: 8:00 pm Santo Nino Novena Prayers in the Church January 19, 2019: 5:30 pm Santo Nino Mass followed by celebration in the school cafeteria Knights of Columbus News and Events THE KNIGHTS WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR Please recycle your aluminum cans in our bins located behind the Rectory. Join the Knights: See a member for an Application Social Ministry January 20, 2019: Blood Drive 8:30 am-1:30 pm in the Church Meeting Room

3 The Catholic Church of St. Ann, Raritan, New Jersey Dear Brothers and Sisters, Pope Francis General Audience December 19, 2018 In a few days it will be Christmas. In this busy season, we might ask ourselves how the Lord himself would like us to keep this feast. If we look at the first Christmas, we see that it is full of God s surprises. Mary is visited by an angel; Joseph is told to take her in, to become a father to her Child and to flee with the Holy Family to Egypt. But the greatest surprise of all is that God himself becomes a little Child, born in humility and poverty. Christmas changes our world. It speaks to us of God s self-giving love that should inspire the way we live and relate to one another. It tells us that we best celebrate the Savior's birth by imitating Mary s trusting faith and Joseph s quiet openness to God s will, and by opening our hearts to the Lord, who asks us to make room for him in our busy lives. Amid the bustle of our Christmas preparations, may we not forget the very One whose birth we are celebrating! And in worshiping the Son of God, born in the poverty of our flesh, may we be mindful of the poor and those in need all around us. This Christmas, may you and your families experience the joy and peace proclaimed by the angels, and be ever more open to God s wonderful surprises! Pope Francis Prayer Intention for December 2018 In the Service of the Transmission of Faiths That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time. Pope Francis Prayer Intentions Each year, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, asks for our prayers for a specific intention each month. You are invited to answer the Holy Father's request and to join with many people worldwide in praying for this intention each month. The Holy Father plans to add a prayer intention each month related to current events or urgent needs, like disaster relief. The urgent prayer request will help mobilize prayer and action related to the urgent situation. The Holy Father has entrusted these intentions in a particular way to the Apostleship of Prayer, an organization that works to encourage Christians to respond to the Pope's appeal and to deepen their daily prayer. From the desk of Bishop James F. Checchio December 13, 2018 My Dear Brothers and Sisters, 3 To continue...when Juan Diego arrived at the bishop s residence, he repeated what the woman surrounded by stars told him. As he lifted his tilma or poncho-like cloak to give the bishop the flowers, roses fell to the ground but what caught the bishop s eye was not roses, but an image of Mary that miraculously had been woven into the very fabric of Juan Diego s tilma. It is this image of Mary which still hangs in the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Over the next 10 years, nine million converts came to the Church through Mary s intervention. On December 12, we began a year of preparation leading up to the full consecration of the Diocese of Metuchen to Jesus through Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, 2019.Described by Pope St. John-Paul II as the Star of the New Evangelization, the spiritual awakening under the auspices of Our Lady which has begunin earnest should lead us to return to the Scriptures, the Word of God, to Tradition which is the teaching, preaching and life of the Church. It should also prepare us to become committed missionary disciples who will bring others into an encounter with Christ or back to the Church. Today, I ll be home for Christmas has become a Christmas standard, yet, the significance of the song has spread. It still includes sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, moms and dads in the military who are stateside or fortunate enough to be home for Christmas and, in keeping with the original focus of the anthem, those troops stationed abroad who cannot be with us except in their dreams. This song, perhaps more than any other, congers up images of our sons and daughters in college, who are home for Christmas during their winter recess. It makes us appreciate how grandparents who may not live close to us go out of their way to be in town to celebrate Christmas with us. It drives home the importance of family as our adult children, whose jobs have taken them thousands of miles away, pack up their children, their strollers, playpens and gifts to be with us at home for the celebration of the Nativity. There is no doubt that the scope of I ll be home for Christmas has grown much wider than it was in 1943, but the sentiment is perennial and true during the year we can roam, but we want to be home for Christmas because we want to stay tethered to our roots: religious, social and cultural. After Masses and spending time kneeling in front of the nativity scene at our Cathedral on Christmas day, I will head home to be with my family. A blessing! 3

4 During the Christmas season, as a natural progression of contemplating the Incarnation of the Son of God, the liturgy of the Church presents us with other related topics: the Holy Family and the Motherhood of Mary. Joseph embraces the mystery of the Holy Spirit s power to conceive Jesus within the womb of his betrothed virgin. He responds generously to God s invitation to trust deeply and accept Mary as his wife and to accept, protect and care for her son. He and Mary had a privileged role of cooperation with God s plan. Way back in 431, there was a bitter controversy in the Church among theologians over the role of Mary. While seeking to articulate orthodox faith about the nature of Jesus and his relationship to God the Father, they also debated the question: Who is Mary in God s plan? In the end, the bishops declared that Mary is really the mother of Jesus and Jesus is really God. Therefore, it must be said that Mary is the Mother of God, Theotokos. The oldest Christian greeting of Mary was proclaimed when Mary s relative Elizabeth called her Mother of my Lord. When Elizabeth welcomed Mary, she recognized both the great privilege God had given Mary and Mary s great faith in accepting it. For centuries, Mary has been praised because she believed. She is Mother of God, because of her faith in God. The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, celebrates Mary s faith and trust in God alone. The Church wants us to imitate her faith. As so many in the world prepare to celebrate the beginning of a new year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (this Tuesday, January 1, a Holy Day of Obligation). It is the oldest of all Marian feasts in our liturgy. It is also a feast uniquely appropriate to those of us concerned with new beginnings, with new resolutions, fostering peace and renewed hopes. I ask for the intercession of Mary and Joseph for myself and for us as a parish family. We begin a new year together, having to adjust to change, to build trusting relationships and to learn how to collaborate on behalf of the ongoing mission of Jesus. Let us prayerfully anticipate the future, but always with an openness to whatever and however God wants to work in our lives. As your new pastor, I share with you a few matters that I think we will face during 2019: The yearlong preparation process for our consecration to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The development of a needed financial and stewardship plan. The gradual unfolding of an Oratorian pastoral plan that serves the people of St. Ann s and the larger local Catholic community. The vitality of St. Ann School. Regarding our school, the last week of January 2019 is Catholic Schools Week; St. Ann s School Open House is on the evening of January 30. I am asking everyone to give some thought about how you can help promote and support St. Ann School. Enrollment is a key issue. When talking to coworkers, neighbors or other family members who have young children, invite them to consider Catholic education for their children. Ask them to call the school to arrange a visit and learn more about what St. Ann s School can offer. Our positive school environment, high level of attention, quality of education and Catholic values are some of the reasons to consider making a sacrifice for the good of your children. Public school education can be effected by secular and political agendas that are not necessarily good, and can even be damaging, for your child s understanding of themselves and the world in which they live. Consider St. Ann s School as an alternative option. We will also be investigating new possibilities for distinguishing St. Ann School in its approach to Catholic education. Please keep that effort and discernment in your prayers, as well. I am grateful to all of you and feel blessed to be with you. With Mary and Joseph, seeking to trust and being open to God s movement in your life, may you have a blessed New Year filled with hope, good health, spiritual growth and fellowship! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Peace, Fr. Tom 4

5 The Catholic Church of St. Ann, Raritan, New Jersey Mass Intentions Monday, December 31 7:00 a.m. Agnes and Bernard Blaney by family 7:00 p.m. People of the Parish Tuesday, January 1 9:00 a.m. Sean Lussier by Shirley Mazzarella 7:00 p.m. Anthony Giramma by Sr. Dolores Toscano Wednesday, January 2 7:00 a.m. Joseph Diaz by Rumain Family Thursday, January 3 7:00 p.m. Frank Sacino by James DeMuro Friday, January 4 7:00 a.m. Henry Condo, Jr. by Jim and Rosemarie 9:00 a.m. Doris C. Berger by Seventh Grade Students of St. Ann s 7:00 p.m. Alberto Falco by Maria and Frank Incontrera Saturday, January 5 9:00 a.m. Alfonso Sferlazza by Gregorio and Maria Natale and family 4:00 p.m. Robert Sause by the Sause family Sunday, January 6 7:30 a.m. William Shultz by Steve Mongiello and family 10:00 a.m. Living and Deceased Members of the Rosary Altar Society 12:00 p.m. Frank L. Carlone by Carlone Family 5:00 p.m. People of the Parish Altar Candles & Sanctuary Lamps are burning this week for: Altar Candle #1 for Margaret O Donnell Requested by Jane DeSantis Altar Candle #2 for Charles A. DePrimo Requested by family St. Joseph Lamp for Brett Hughes Requested by family Blessed Mother Lamp for Santo and Mary Carnevale Requested by family St. Ann Parish Music Corner Why is there chanting at the beginning of the Sunday Masses? (From General Instruction of the Roman Missal 47-48) When the people are gathered, and as the Priest enters with the Deacon and ministers, the Entrance Chant begins... In the Diocese of the United States of America, there are four options for the Entrance Chant: (1) the antiphon from the Missal or the antiphon with its Psalm from the Graduale Romanum, as set to music there or in another setting; (2) the antiphon and Psalm of the Graduale Simplex for the liturgical time; (3) a chant from another collection of Psalms and antiphons, approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including Psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) another liturgical chant that is suited to the sacred action, the day, or the time of year, similarly approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop. If there is no singing at the Entrance, the antiphon given in the Missal is recited either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a reader; otherwise, it is recited by the Priest himself. This Week s Daily Bible Readings Sunday Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17; Lk 2:41-52 or, for Year C, 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28; 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52 Monday 1 Jn 2:18-21; Jn 1:1-18 Tuesday Nm 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21 Pray for those in the Military May God protect the men & women serving in our Nation s Armed Forces. LtCol Michael A. De Cicco; U.S. Army Victor Dulay, Jr; U.S. Marine Corps PFC Gavin John; U.S. Marine Corps LCpl Matthew John; U.S. Marine Corps CW4 Michael Lopez, Jr. PFC Vincenzo Mattei; U.S. Army Maj Michael Morella; U.S. Army Sgt Dan Neville; U.S. Marine Corps Zack Orecchio; U.S. Navy Wednesday 1 Jn 2:22-28; Jn 1:19-28 Thursday 1 Jn 2:29-3:6; Jn 1:29-34 First Friday 1 Jn 3:7-10; Jn 1:35-42 First Saturday 1 Jn 3:11-21; Jn 1:43-51 Pvt Tayla Rasmusson; U.S. Marine Corps PFC Daniel J. Salvo; U.S. Marine Corps Cpl Jonathan Schultes; U.S. Marine Corps LtCol Louis P. Simon; U.S. Marine Corps PFC Jerome C. Sunga; U.S. Army Jack Vara; U.S. Marine Corps PFC Daniel Viscariello; U.S. Marine Corps Sgt Janet Wyka; U.S. Army Capt Kaitlyn Zimmitti; U.S. Air Force Pray for the souls of those who have given their lives in service to our country. Pray for those who are Sick in our Community We ask God s blessing for the strengthening and healing of our sick and homebound: Anna Carra, Frank Cirianni, Mary Contino, Maria Anastasia D Amore, Elyse, Frank DiBetta, Mary Felice, Frank Forte, Cindy Galvacky, Anthony Gambino, Arlene Gambino, Paul Gambino, Sara Gendlek, Victor Laggini, Gloria A. Lamaestra, Brianna Rose Larson, MaryAnn Mangiaracina, Mark Marshall, Austin McNamara, Lori Monaghan, Ann Navatto, Don Palumbo, Joe Patore, Marie Richardson, Joseph Sgro, Cathy Stinziano, Danny Tibaldi, Joseph Tomaio, Rose Tozzi, Ron Wyka, Alex Zachok, Betty Zimmitti All names will remain on the list for 4 weeks, unless otherwise requested. Adoration on First Fridays Every First Friday at the Catholic Church of St. Ann we observe Adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Come and join us in prayer for one hour or just a half hour, once a month. You decide what time during Adoration you can attend. A sign up sheet will be posted in the back of the Church or contact Lou Troisi at (908)

6 Sunday, December 30 Monday, December 31 No PREP No School Parish Office Closed Parish Events Tuesday, January 1 - Solemnity of Mary No School Parish Office Closed No Bingo Wednesday, January 2 School Resumes 2:30 p.m. School Choir Practice (C) 6:45 p.m. Choir Practice (C) Thursday, January 3 No PREP Friday, January 4 First Friday 9:30 a.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following the 9:00 a.m. Mass (C) Saturday, January 5 4:00 p.m. Food drive (C) Sunday, January 6 Food drive (C) 1:00 p.m. Santo Nino meeting (SC) [C = Church, CMR = Church Meeting Room, CL = Church Loft, PMR = Parish Meeting Room, S = School, SC = School Cafeteria, SL=School Library] Tricky Tray Save the Date & Donations Needed Save the Date: St. Ann s School 19th Tricky Tray will be on Saturday, April 6, 2019, doors open at 5:00 pm. Lots of baskets and a 50/50. Admission ticket will be $25.00 and includes 1 sheet of regular basket tickets. Donations Needed: If you are interested in donating please contact St. Ann School at (908) or stanntrickytray@gmail.com Celebrate World Youth Day 2019 in New Jersey On January 26, 2019, 3pm-9pm, all in 8th through 12th grades are invited to attend. Spend the day with youth from our diocese celebrating locally as youth across the world observe World Youth Day in Panama. Fun-filled day with food, music, prayer and reflection and Mass with Bishop Checchio. Location: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 105 Summer Road, Three Bridges, NJ. Deadline to register: January 18, 2019 To register go to: diometuchen.org/wyd-in-metuchen Questions: (732) or contact: youth.ministry@diometuchen.org Marriage Encounter Weekend The next Marriage Encounter Weekend, January 25-27, gives you the time and tools to revitalize romance and nourish spirituality in your marriage. Space is limited so register soon at: (732) For more info visit: Catholic Schools Week Open House Dates Monday, January 27, 2019: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. following 10:00 a.m. Mass Tuesday, January 29, 2019: 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 30, 2019: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Request a tour by calling: (908) Our Smarter Start Program provides competitive high-quality academic programs, certified teachers, faith-based caring environment, full-day program and after care. Vatican II and the Church of the Third Millennium Three consecutive Wednesdays, January 23, January 30 and February 6, 2019, 10am-11:30am at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway. This course will offer an opportunity to reflect on and discuss the challenges facing the Catholic Church today. Presented by Fr. Greg Uhrig. Open to all ages. No charge, no registration needed. Any questions please call: (732) or guhrig@diometuchen.org Retrouvaille - A Lifeline for Married Couples Do you feel frustrated or angry with your spouse? Have you thought about separation or divorce? This program helps couples heal and renew their marriages as a weekend experience with six follow-up sessions. Upcoming weekend: February 8-10, For more information call the Family Life Office at (732) To register call: Rich & Annette Colasuonno (732) or @retrouvaille.org. Mass Schedule for Solemnity of Mary [Holy Day of Obligation] December 31 (Vigil): 7:00 pm January 1: 9:00 am, 7:00 pm Weekly Offering...December 23, 2018 Not available at time of publication. Stewardship Reflection See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (1 JOHN 3:1) During this season of giving, let us remember the most important gift we have received being children of God. As God s children, it s important that we express our love for others as well. Tell your spouse, children and other family members and friends that you love them, frequently. 6