Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time September 9, 2018 Pastoral Staff Pastor Father Vincent T. Euk Parochial Vicar Fr. John Chang Weekend Assistant Fr. Bill O Brien Deacons Tom Cechulski, Sr. Charles R. Daye, Jr. John Franey Gino (Louis) Esposito School Principal Sister Cherree Power, C.R. Religious Education Sr. Ann Norton, D.R.E. Linda Clayton Business Manager Deacon Gino Esposito Director of Music Emer O Mahony Youth Ministry Coordinator Sister Ann Norton Phone Contacts Rectory 732-363-4200 Convent 732-364-2361 School 732-364-4130 Religious Education 732-364-4137 Rectory Fax 732-370-3891 Rectory Office Hours: M-F 9:00-4:30 PM Second & Fourth Saturday 9AM 12:30 PM Baptisms: Every 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month,. Weekend Masses: Saturdays: 4:00 PM Sundays: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12 noon, 5PM Daily Masses: Mon-Fri 7:20 AM & 12 Noon, Sat: 8AM Holy Days: As announced in the bulletin. Healing Mass every first Friday at 7:30PM Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:45PM and before each Sunday Mass
Mass Intentions for this Week September 9, 2018 7:20 Alice Cassidy Landriscina Family 12:00 Chickie Augustensen..Deacon Tommy & Bozena TUESDAY 7:20 World Peace 12:00 Piotr Mlynarski... Rieker Family WEDNESDAY 7:20 Int. of Bill Wegner....Cheryl Wegner 12:00 Michael Napurano....Patti Napurano THURSDAY 7:20 Kathryn Anne Mason.......Pelano Family 12:00 Sondy Burke... Rieker Family Events for this coming Week 8AM Chris Lamia... Barracato Family 4PM Joan K. Coutu......Tom & Pat Gillis SUNDAY 7:30 Protection of babies in the womb & their families...k of C 9:00 Lenny Weg....Barbara Mackanic 10:30 The 20th Ann. of St. Veronica s Chapel....Adorers 12:00 Int. of Deacon Tom.....Chickies & Richard 5:00 For the People of the Parish Sanctuary Candle Week of September 9, 2018 In memory of Clara Bortolini...Daughter & Grandsons Chapel Candles- Week of September 9, 2018 For all priests See our website www.stveronica.com Sacrificial Offering Update Readings for the Week of September 9, 2018 Sunday: Is 35:4-7; Jas 2:1-5; Mk 7:31-37 Monday: 1 Cor 5:1-8; Lk 6:6-11 Tuesday: 1 Cor 6:1-11; Lk 6:12-19 Wednesday: 1 Cor 7:25-31; Lk 6:20-26 Thursday: 1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13; Lk 6:27-38 Friday: Nm 21:4b-9; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17 Saturday: 1 Cor 10:14-22; Jn 19:25-27 Sunday: Is 50:5-9a; Jas 2:14-18; Mk 8:27-35
Pastor s Notes In the eighth century BC, the northern kingdom of Israel (10 tribes) collapsed under a brutal attack from the Assyrians (722 BC). During this time, Isaiah was called by God to be His ambassador. Isaiah began exposing the moral breakdown of Judah which included the city of Jerusalem. He called King Ahaz to have faith and courage, but Ahaz made an alliance with Assyria. Hezekiah succeeded his father, Ahaz. While Hezekiah initiated a religious reform, the old intrigues to make a pro-egyptian alliance resurfaced. Isaiah condemned this and urged the king to have faith in God as his only hope for safety, but Assyria ravaged Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem (701 BC). Eventually Jerusalem fell. Note the parallel to our times. The western world is slowly deteriorating by a voluntary killing of its progeny and adopting all kinds of legal fictions which are redefining society against God s creation. Today s reading looks to a happier time when the global society will be healed by the overwhelming mercy of God. Some scholars are seeing this present decline as the final decline before the Jews come to accept Jesus as the Messiah and then the end of the world. If this is so, it may take a few more centuries before this will happen, but who knows? This is speculation, but the Scriptures do make a case for it. The second reading is a continuation of the letter of James. Scholars believe that this is a writing of Jesus s brother (cousin) who became the first bishop of Jerusalem and was martyred in the year 62 AD. It is a moral instruction to the diaspora, the Jewish-Christian dispersion, who probably fled his diocese because of persecution. It is sometimes called the Christian Wisdom Literature because it resembles the Jewish Wisdom Literature. Unfortunately, the editing of this letter leaves out a lot of relevant observations regarding favoritism to the rich at the price of the poor. It serves as a warning to the political and religious corruption we now face. As the gap between rich and poor widens, it is the rich who will make life miserable for the poor by using the law to suppress them. Mark shows the incredible momentum of Jesus moving from the area north of Israel down and across to the Decapolis, a pagan territory, east of the Jordan River. Mark not only shows Jesus as an immediate effector, but also a rapid traveler. He waists no time and exhausts His Apostles as well as Himself. Word has spread of His healing powers even to the pagan world. Some of the early Church Fathers see this pulling aside of the deaf man by Jesus as a type of humility. Some others see it as an attempt to prevent the jealousy of the Jews who might kill Him before He accomplishes His redemptive work, the crucifixion and resurrection. I see it a little differently since my father lost most of his hearing in World War II and also, as a former student at Gauladette College, a college for deaf people in Washington, DC. Why were the people begging Jesus to cure the man? It seems that they should be asking Jesus to cure him, not begg Him. Deaf people do not always realize that they are making very load and annoying sounds. Perhaps their real motive was a hostility toward him because of the way he spoke. If this is so, Jesus may have moved him away from a ridiculing crowd so that he could be treated with human dignity. In the Baptism rite this prayer, Ephphatha! or Be Open, is optionally used to pray that the baby is able to experience the Word of God and to hear the Word of God. Perhaps Jesus motive was the same for this deaf man. Fr. Euk Scripture Meditation "He has done all things well" How do you expect the Lord Jesus to treat you when you ask for his help? Do you approach with fear and doubt, or with faith and confidence? Jesus never turned anyone aside who approached him with sincerity and trust. And whatever Jesus did, he did well. He demonstrated both the beauty and goodness of God in his actions. The Lord's touch awakens faith and brings healing When Jesus approaches a man who is both deaf and a stutterer, Jesus shows his considerateness for this man's predicament. Jesus takes him aside privately, not doubt to remove him from embarrassment with a noisy crowd of gawkers (onlookers). Jesus then puts his fingers into the deaf man's ears and he touches the man's tongue with his own spittle to physically identify with this man's infirmity and to awaken faith in him. With a word of command the poor man's ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. What is the significance of Jesus putting his fingers into the man's ears? Gregory the Great, a church father from the 6th century, comments on this miracle: "The Spirit is called the finger of God. When the Lord puts his fingers into the ears of the deaf mute, he was opening the soul of man to faith through the gifts of the Holy Spirit." The transforming power of kindness and compassion The people's response to this miracle testifies to Jesus' great care for others: He has done all things well. No problem or burden was too much for Jesus' careful consideration. The Lord treats each of us with kindness and compassion and he calls us to treat one another in like manner. The Holy Spirit who dwells within us enables us to love as Jesus loves. Do you show kindness and compassion to your neighbors and do you treat them with considerateness as Jesus did?
OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Please Pray for Our Sick Brunch Bunch Join us for St. Veronica s monthly brunch on Sunday September 16th at 1:15 PM. Come join us in the cafeteria after the noon Mass for food, friendship and fun for the kids. All are welcome! St. Veronica s Men s Group Do you want to enrich your spiritual life? Come join us, encounter Jesus and grow on your journey. Every Sunday Morning at 6:30 8:00 AM in the rectory basement. For more info contact Deacon Gino at 732-363-4200 Music Ministry News Dear Friends, Our new Choir Season is about to begin! If you like to sing and would like to be part of Music Ministry, we would love to have you. Rehearsals Schedule is as follows: Senior Choir (adults): meet on Wednesdays in church from 7:30-9pm. starting on September 19 th. This choir sings at the 10:30am High Mass on Sundays, as well as other special Liturgies (Christmas, Easter, Holy Week etc.) Gentlemen, we are in urgent need of male voices. Junior Choir(Grades 4-8): meet on Wednesdays in church from 5:45-6:45pm in the school music room, starting on September 12 th. This choir sings once a month at the 9am Children s Mass, as well as Christmas Eve and Easter, and First Communion. Cherub Choir (Grades KG-3): Meet on Fridays in Church from 3-3:30pm, starting on September 14 th. They sing at the same Masses as the junior choir. We are so grateful to all members who give of their time and talent for the honor & glory of God. Thank you and God Bless, Emer O Mahony, Music Director (emer.omahony@stveronica.com) Year of Youth Bishop David M. O Connell, C.M. had declared a Year of Youth in the Diocese of Trenton, beginning July 1, 2018 and closing on the Feast of St. Aloysius, patron saint for Catholic Youth, June 21, 2019. The Year of Youth encompasses multiple events over the next year aimed at inspiring young Catholic in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties to won their faith and act upon it. Anticipated Diocesan events for the year will include: Diocesan Youth Conference Feb 9, 2019; NJ Catholic Youth Rally May 19, 2019; Closing Event June 21, 2019. More information to follow. Please mark your calendars.
Goal- 200,000.00 Donations (Current) 91,578.00 Balance: 108,422.00 As of May 5, 2018, there will be a second collection on each Sunday that there is no Diocesan collection. This special second collection will be earmarked for our needed air conditioning system in the Church. We will continue this campaign until we reach our goal and we will keep you advised of our project status. Meanwhile, we thank all those who have made donations and for your continued support of our parish. RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Are you unbaptized? Or baptized & desiring completion of the Sacraments? RCIA is a process through which an adult becomes a member of the Catholic Church. It is a journey for a baptized Catholic who wants to receive the rest of their Sacraments or for anyone who is unbaptized or baptized in another faith and would like to enter the Catholic Church. RCIA classes meet this year on Thursdays starting September 27th at 6:30PM. RCIC Faith formation for children and teens who have not received all of their Sacraments will meet on Mondays at 4:30PM. If you are interested in finding out more information, please call Sister Ann at 732-364-4137. St. Veronica s Parish Dinner Dance Come join us for a night of fun, dancing and good food Nov. 10 at 6 PM Tickets are ONLY 20.00 per adult and ONLY 10.00 per child Mega 50/50 Cash Raffle drawing at the dinner. Baskets and Other Prizes Buy 5 Mega 50/50 tickets and receive 2 free dinner tickets. Don t miss it! Come join us! All are invited! Bulletin Advertising Commencing September 30, 2018, our parish will be switching to a new company to provide our weekly bulletin. Many other parishes are moving to this new format and hopefully you will like it as well. Part of being able to provide our bulletins, the printing company will now be soliciting area businesses for advertisements. If you own a company and wish to support our parish and your business, please contact Tom Zukofski at John Patrick Publishing Company, Inc. at 800-333-3166 ext. 157 or tomzuke@gmail.com as soon as possible. The bulletin company will then contact you regarding your advertisement and the size you wish to purchase. Thank you for your support of our parish bulletin and God bless you for your generosity. Deacon Gino " There are many ways of gaining heaven but the safest, easiest and shortest way is through the Holy Eucharist. St Pius X. Registered adorers insure our commitment to keep the chapel open 24/7. Give Him time and He will give Himself to you. Hours Most Needed, but you can name your hour also: Sunday : 1AM, 5PM Monday: 4AM, 1PM (most urgent), 7PM Tuesday: 4AM Thursday: 2AM, 3AM Friday: 11AM Saturday: 5AM, 10AM, 1PM, 3PM, 7PM URGENT: HELP NEEDED SATURDAYS. 5 UNCOVERED HOURS WHERE CHAPEL MAY HAVE TO BE LOCKED. Contact Die drev514@aol.com or leave. Mega 50/50 Raffle Tickets are now on sale at the rectory. Drawing will be held on November 10, 2018, at 6:00PM during dinner/dance gathering in St. Veronica Gym, 4215 Hwy 9, Howell, NJ 07731. Cost: $40 per ticket. Bingo Volunteers Needed-You Can Make a Difference Each of us had the power to inspire, change and improve the areas needing help. Whether you have just a few hours or seek a long-term opportunity, every volunteer s efforts truly enriches our community and the lives of the individuals we serve and help. If you would like to have some fun while helping the St. Veronica community, consider becoming a bingo volunteer on Friday nights. To volunteer contact Mike Hubner at hubollett@optonline.net OUR NEEDS Adoration Chapel Pantry Needs Peanut butter, jelly, cereal, coffee, canned fruit, canned green vegetables, crackers