The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 1, 2018 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday July 2 Frank Giubileo by Elaine Vreeland July 3 St. Thomas, Apostle Frances Garofalo by Nella & Joe Farinola July 4 The Caccavo Family by Joseph Caccavo July 5 St. Anthony, Zaccaria, Priest St. Elizabeth of Portugal Gerard Reisert by Anne Reisert July 6 St. Maria Goretti Purgatorial Society Saturday July 7 4:00 p.m. Albert & Grace Orsini by Tony & Michelle Orsini Sunday July 8 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30 a.m. For the Intentions of Fr. Ed by Veronica & Vincent Vignuolo 9:00 a.m. Tom Quinn by wife Lucy 11:00 a.m. Thomas Hannon by Aunt Betty & Uncle Phil Candle & Flower Offerings The Sanctuary candle is offered for the People of the Parish. The candle before the Blessed Virgin Mary is offered in loving memory of Veronica Bird by daughter Marilyn Castronuovo. The Sanctuary flowers are offered for the People of the Parish. PARISH CALENDAR July 2 K of C Meeting 6:30 pm Hall July 6 Office Closed July 7 Fair Trade/Food Pantry July 8 Fair Trade/Food Pantry July 9 Vacation Bible School 9 12 noon Green Thumb 7:00 pm July 10 Vacation Bible School 9 12 noon July 11 Vacation Bible School 9 1pm July 13 Office Closed July 16 K of C Social 6:30 pm July 18 Baptism Prep 7:30 pm July 20 Office Closed July 27 Office Closed Aug. 3 Office Closed Aug. 4 Backpack Tags Fair Trade/Food Pantry Aug. 5 Backpack Tags Fair Trade/Food Pantry Daily Readings Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday Wis 1:13-15, 2:23-24; 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mk 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43 Monday Am 2:6-10, 13-16; Mt 8:18-22 Tuesday Eph 2:19-22; Jn 20:24-29 Wednesday Am 5:14-15, 21-24; Mt 8:28-34 Thursday Am 7:10-17; Mt 9:1-8 First Friday Am 8:4-6, 9-12; Mt 9:9-13 First Saturday Am 9:11-15; Mt 9:14-17 The Collection amount for the weekend of June 24 th was $13,762. Thank you for your continued support of our parish! Summer Hours Summer hours have begun! The Parish Office will be closed on Fridays now through Labor Day Weekend. In July, office hours will be from 9:00 am 12:00 noon.
HIS WORD TODAY by Rev. William J. Reilly Thirteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time But God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it He took the child by the hand and said to her Little girl, I say to you arise! The girl a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At this they were utterly amazed. We have been told from the first book of the bible that we are made in the image and likeness of God. We have been offered the gift of life and we strive to preserve life in all its forms. The late Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago called us to have a consistent ethic of life. He teaches us as Catholics that we are opposed to abortion, capital punishment, nuclear war and euthanasia. Were he alive today, I am sure he would include immigration. Why? These are signs today of the envy of the devil who introduced death into our world. Respect for life is respect for rights. The denial of these rights is the work of the devil. As we admire the compassion of Jesus for the little girl of twelve, so we are called to defend the rights of the unborn, victims of injustice and the elderly. Only when we respond to the evils around us will we return to live in the image of his own nature. Now is the time. The winning numbers for the Knights of Columbus Calendar Raffle are: June 24: 164 June 25: 223 June 26: 031 June 27: 395 June 28: 343 June 29: 142 June 30: 170 Thank you and Congratulations to the winners! The winning numbers are posted on our website www.nativitykofc.com RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OUR NEW RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WEBSITE AND REGISTRATION WENT OUT ON MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018. Please register your child/children for our NEW and exciting Program. Deadline for all forms is August 15, 2018. To register, go to www.nativitymonroe.org and click on the Religious Education tab. Any questions, please contact the Religious Education Office at 609-371-2518 or email questions to pcl@nativitymonroe.org. Thank you! This is a third in a series of articles on the Ministries at Nativity of Our Lord Parish. A Parish Ministry Fair will be held the weekend of September 15-16, where you can speak to parishioners who are involved in our ministries and possibly find a ministry where you might serve. Caring Meals Each month ladies of the parish prepare homemade soup and deliver this nutritious meal to our parishioners who are homebound due to illness or other issues. In addition to the nourishment to the body, the visit of the volunteer nourishes the soul of the homebound. The Caring Meals volunteers also prepare full meals for parishioners recently home from a hospital stay as well as new mothers. If you enjoy cooking and are interested in learning more about the Caring Meals ministry, please contact Mary Ann Sheerin, at 609-937-4963 or momezas123@aol.com. Parking in the fire lanes or where prohibited by signage puts everyone at risk in case of an emergency and puts you at risk if your illegally parked car is involved in an accident. In accordance with the Monroe Township Ordinance No: O-2-2017-002, vehicles that are illegally parked will be towed at the owner s expense and the owner may be subject to a fine. Please be courteous to your fellow parishioners by parking only in designated spaces
CHURCH ACTIVITIES Our July Trip to AC Monday July 16 th, we have a trip planned to Atlantic City s Tropicana Casino. Cost is $23 pp with $25 slot play bonus per person. A photo ID is required to obtain a Tropicana s Advantage Card to receive the bonus. Make check payable to Church Activities. Park car in the rear of church parking lot. Arrive at 9:15 a.m. Bus leaves promptly 9:30 a.m., returning approximately 7:30 p.m. For reservations, call Rose Ferrari at 609-395-7185. Stress in Your Marriage! Do you feel lost, alone or bored in your marriage? Are you frustrated, hurt or angry with your spouse? Are you constantly fighting? Or, do you simply shut down? Have you thought about separation or divorce? Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille is a Lifeline to Help Couples Heal and Renew their Marriages. The program consists of a weekend experience for married couples (no group discussions) with six follow-up sessions. UPCOMING WEEKEND: August 24-26, 2018 More information calling the Family Life Office at 732-243-4573 TO REGISTER: Call Rich & Annette Colasuonno 732-236-0671 or email 3024@retrouvaille.org Stewardship Reflections 13 th Sunday in Ordinary Time as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality. 2 CORINTHIANS 8:14 We are responsible not only for our own lives, but for the lives of those around us. It is important that we not only grow, nurture and share our gifts; but that we also teach our children and encourage others to do the same. This is the communal aspect of our Catholic faith. We are the Body of Christ. We are called to be dependent on each other and not live in isolation. 1 st Annual Knights of Columbus Council # 14658 Golf Outing Monday, August 13 th 2018 At: Cranbury Golf Course, 49 Southfield Rd West Windsor, NJ 08850 Phone # 609-799-0341 Cost: $140 per Golfer, This includes Cocktail hour and Dinner Dinner Guests only: $40. Prizes: Closet to the Pin and Longest Drive, etc. You do not need a foursome to play Gift Certificates for Restaurants and Services, door prizes etc. Please fill out the form below and return with your check payable to: Nativity K of C #14658 in an envelope marked K of C Golf Outing. Place in the K of C mail slot in the Narthex by the elevator For additional information, please contact: Francis Macchiaroli: 917-622-6815 or Tony Cardello: 917-282-6818 Deadline: July 30, 2018 Benefits Charities such as: God s Special Children, Life Choices Research Center, Warrior Project, Special Strides, St. Vincent de Paul, American Lung Assoc., Make a Wish Foundation, etc. ------------------------------------------------------ Golf Registration #1 First #2 First #3 First #4 First
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 609-371-0499, 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. Food Pantry: Our collection will be next week, July 7 th -8 th. Please remember the children we serve over the summer. During the school year, many qualify for free or reduced hot lunches. For the next 10 weeks, that will not be available to them. Not sure what to bring? Whatever you would buy for your kids or grandkids would be appreciated! You are their greatest donors! Fair Trade: Get your caffeine or chocolate "fix" July 7th-8th... or any time, using our drop box. Enjoy! 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 609-937-4963. 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 609-409-6164 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 732-521-6019. 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. St. Thomas the Apostle St. Thomas was born a Jew and was called to be one of the twelve Apostles. His birth and death dates are unknown, but his feast day is celebrated July 3. He lived before the formal establishment of the Catholic Church but is recognized as the patron saint of architects. He was a dedicated but impetuous follower of Christ. When Jesus said He was returning to Judea to visit His sick friend Lazarus, Thomas immediately exhorted the other Apostles to accompany Him on the trip which involved certain danger and possible death because of the mounting hostility of the authorities. At the Last Supper, when Christ told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them to which they also might come because they knew both the place and the way, Thomas pleaded that they did not understand and received the beautiful assurance that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. St. Thomas is best known for his role in verifying the Resurrection of his Master. Thomas' unwillingness to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the first Easter Sunday earned him the title of "doubting Thomas." Eight days later, on Christ's second apparition, Thomas was gently rebuked for his skepticism and furnished with the evidence he had demanded - seeing in Christ's hands the point of the nails. Thomas even put his fingers in the nail holes and his hand into Christ's side. After verifying the wounds were true, St. Thomas became convinced of the reality of the Resurrection and exclaimed, "My Lord and My God," thus making a public Profession of Faith in the Divinity of Jesus.
The Immaculate Conception Farmer's Market returns for it's 3rd Summer with Fresh Local Produce and beautiful Handmade Goods from Local Farmers and Artisans! 23 Manalapan Road, Spotswood, NJ Sundays from June 24 - Sept. 9 10:00am - 1:30pm A variety of vendors each weekend will be bringing an array of fresh produce and goods including vegetables, fruit, eggs and baked goods. We will also have pickled salsa and relishes, gourmet chocolate treats and honey. SILVER & GOLD WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Sunday, October 21, 2018 You are cordially invited to celebrate your 25th or 50th Wedding Anniversary with the Church of Metuchen. Renew your marriage vows with Bishop James F. Checchio at a special Evening Prayer Service in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen. Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 4:00pm. Please register online by logging on to the diocesan website (https://diometuchen.org/officesandministries/ family-and-pastoral-life/familylife/silver-and-gold/). The system will automatically generate a confirmation message with some facts about the event. More specifics will be sent closer to the event. If you are unable to access, please contact your parish secretary or the Family Life Office at 732-243-4582, amatos@diometuchen.org. Even though no fee is required, in the past many Jubilarian couples have given a donation of gratitude to the Church in memory of this special occasion. Donations of Gratitude can be made online or calling 732.243.4582, Monday thru Friday, during business hours. Registration will close on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018. The Diocese of Metuchen has begun a major effort to make people in Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties aware of the outstanding PreK and Kindergarten programs offered by our schools. They feature certified teachers, a foundation in faith, and pricing competitive with independent preschools. We invite you to learn about a Catholic school near you! Visit metuchencatholicschools.org/schools or call 732.562.2446 to learn how Catholic schools in the Diocese of Metuchen offer students a SMARTER START in school and in life!