St. Joseph Roman Catholic Parish OVER A CENTURY OF CATHOLIC PRESENCE Rev. James W. McGuffey - Pastor Rev. Msgr. Pafonuti Wassef - Parochial Vicar Rev. Sean G. Winters - In Residence Deacon Ramon Torres - Hispanic Ministry Deacon George Kimball - Permanent Deacon Mrs. Roseann Johnson - Principal Mrs. Marcelle Doherty - Coordinator of Religious Education/Pastoral Assistant Dr. Thomas Juneau - Director of Music
9:30 AM TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 7:30 PM FRIDAY 8:00 PM 1:00 PM FIFTH OF LENT April 7, 2019 April 7 Choir, Church April 8 Spanish Charismatic Group, Church April 9 PREP, School Legion of Mary, Church Hall Room April 10 PREP, School April 11 2nd Grade Banner Night, Gym Adult Confirmation Class, Parish Center Conference Room April 12 A/A, Alanon, Alateen, Church Hall April 13 Baptism OPEN HOUSE Mother Seton Regional HS One Valley Rd., Clark, NJ 07066, 732-382-1952 Tuesday, April 9 at Come and see what Mother Seton has to offer your daughter! Register at www.motherseton.org today. HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Palm Sunday ~ April 14 Masses: 5:00 PM Vigil; Saturday, 10:30 AM, 12:00 Noon and 1:30 PM (Spanish Mass) Monday ~ April 15 - Daily Mass: 4:00 PM - Mass of Chrism, (Blessing of Holy Oils) at St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen Tuesday ~ April 16 - Daily Mass: - Penance Service at St. Joseph Church (with several Priests available for individual confessions) Wednesday ~ April 17 - Daily Mass: Holy Thursday ~ April 18 7:30 PM - Solemn Mass of the Lord s Supper Followed by Adoration Good Friday ~ April 19 12:30 PM - Hispanic Way of the Cross 3:00 PM - Mary s Way of the Cross Church will be open for private recitation of the Stations of the Cross from 12 Noon until 7:30 PM 7:30 PM - Celebration of the Lord s Passion Holy Saturday ~ April 20 12 Noon - Blessing of Food, Church Hall 8:00 PM - Solemn Easter Vigil Ceremonies and Mass (Reception to follow in the Church Hall) EASTER ~ April 21 Masses:, 10:30 AM, 12:00 Noon, and 1:30 PM (Spanish Mass) SACRAMENTS Baptism: The Rite of Baptism is celebrated on the second weekend of the month: Saturday at 1:00 PM. Please arrange for the obligatory preparation session by calling the parish office. Pastoral Care of the Sick: The Holy Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick are available to the sick and shut-ins upon request. First Penance, First Eucharist, Confirmation: Children are expected to receive a Catholic upbringing in their family life, to worship regularly at Sunday Mass, and to receive ongoing religious education in the years preceding the reception of these sacraments. Matrimony: Specific times are set for the celebration of marriage during the year. To allow ample time for preparation, please contact the parish office at least one year before the intended wedding date. Holy Orders or Religious Life: If you are considering serving God as a priest, deacon or religious, you may contact your parish priest, deacon or religious: or phone the Office of Vocations at 732-562-1990 Ext. 1700 for additional information. CONFESSIONS Saturday: 11:00 AM MASS SCHEDULE 5:00 (Saturday evening) Sunday: 8:00, 10:30, 12:00 and 1:30 PM (Spanish) Weekday: Monday to Friday: Saturday: 8:30 AM St. Peregrine Mass for the Sick Second Thursday of the month- MAILING ADDRESS: Parish School 55 High Street 865 Roosevelt Avenue Carteret, NJ 07008 Carteret, NJ 07008 PARISH OFFICE HOURS (Temporary): Weekdays: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Parish Office Parish Office Fax Religious Education/Pastoral Office School St. Vincent de Paul Society 732-541-8946 732-541-0500 732-969-8767 732-541-7111 732-541-6003 Parish Website: www.stjosephparishfamily.com PREP Website: www.stjosephprep.net School Website: www.sjps.net PARISH SERVICES Parish Registration: New parishioners are welcome. Please call the parish office to register. Please inform us if you move. R.C.I.A. Adults inquiring about the Catholic Church with a desire to become Catholic are invited to call the parish office for information about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Parish Organizations: Servants of Mary (Woman s Group), Adult Choir, Children s Choir, Ministry to the Poor, Ministry to the Sick & Elderly, RCIA Team, Food Pantry, Hispanic Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Home School Association, Athletic Association, and Catechetical Instruction. Sponsorship: To act as a Godparent for Baptism or sponsor for Confirmation, the sponsor must be a baptized Catholic, confirmed, had communion, and live a morally good life; if married, done so within church law. Ordinarily the sponsor must be at least 14 years old. A Christian who is a non-catholic may be a witness for Baptism together with a Catholic sponsor.
READINGS First Reading - Isaiah 43:16-21 Second Reading - Philippians 3:8-14 Gospel - John 8:1-11 GOD S ACTIONS NOW When Jews celebrate the Passover, they always tell the story of the Exodus in present terms, as if they themselves experienced those events: when we were prisoners in Egypt; when God brought us out of slavery and through the waters of the sea. We would do well to follow their example and see the works of Jesus and his sacrifice as being in the present, as happening to us now. We believe that Christ s work, his teachings, and his sacrifice on the cross were not just for his followers in the past, but for all people at all times. When we think of this in our prayers, we become one in faith with that great cloud of witnesses, the saints. We have been striving through Lent to repent of our sins and failings, and to follow Jesus more closely. Today in the story of the woman caught in adultery, we see Jesus forgiving the woman, saving her from a horrible death, and urging her not to sin any more. This is new, and brings out something for which the law had not allowed forgiveness. Of course one can sin no more if one is dead, caught in one s sins forever. But Jesus introduces the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62; Jn 8:12-20 TUESDAY Nm 21:4-9; Jn 8:21-30 WEDNESDAY Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Jn 8:31-42 THURSDAY Gn 17:3-9; Jn 8:51-59 FRIDAY Jer 20:10-13; Jn 10:31-42 Ez 37:21-28; Jn 11:45-56 Lk 19:28-40; Is 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:56 or 23:1-49 March 31, 2019 - $6,363 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. -Hebrews 13:16 I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:8 PERPETUAL MASS GUILD Patricia Ann Brickley Mateo Q. Celestial Arturo Balida Jr. Mary Dally George DeVanney Ladovino Rodriguez Nelly Ramos CHRISM MASS Monday, April 15, 2019 4:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen Bishop James F. Checchio will celebrate the Chrism Mass with the priests of the Diocese. At this Mass, the Bishop will bless the Holy Oils which each parish receives for the rites of anointing. These Holy Oils, which are used to sanctify the Faithful, have been channels of holiness for centuries! The Oil of Catechumens is used to anoint infants and adults before their Baptism; the Oil of the Sick is used on the forehead and hands of the infirmed in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick; and Sacred Chrism is used to anoint the head of the newly baptized, the foreheads of confirmandi, the hands of a priest at his ordination, the head of a bishop at his ordination, and the altar and walls of new churches. At the Mass, all priests make a Renewal of Commitment to Priestly Service, recommitting themselves to their Bishop and to their ministry to God and His People; the Bishop and all Priests then ask the people for a pledge of their prayerful support. All are strongly encouraged to join in the ancient, grace-filled Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen at 7:30 p.m. PREPARE FOR JESUS RESURRECTION Confession is an act of honesty and courage an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God. - Saint John Paul II CONFESSIONS Saturday mornings in the Church 11:00 AM. to 12:00 PM LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE Tuesday, April 16 in the Church (We will have several Priests available for individual Confession.) ENROLLED IN MARCH Josefina G. Celestial Benjamen Q. Celestial Frank Calonna Thomas Milinkovich Joseph Cucciaello Esperanza Exposito
CELEBRATE HOLY WEEK & EASTER WITH EWTN! Learn more about your Faith during the holiest time of the year with EWTN s movies, documentaries, concerts, children s programs, and much more! Join in the celebration of Mass from Rome and Washington D.C. Get program details at ewtn.com. Find your local EWTN TV channel by going to ewtn.com and click on the Channel Finder icon. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Servants of Mary is requesting the following Baby items: Blankets; Sweaters; Hats; Booties; Lap Blankets; and Scarves Please bring these items to the Servants of Mary meetings held the first Thursday of each month at 7:30PM in the Church Hall or drop them off in plastic bags at 80 Heald Street. SHRINE OF THE DIVINE MERCY Pilgrimage (Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA) APRIL 28, 2019 is Mercy Sunday, or the Feast of the Divine Mercy The Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Fatima Prayer Group invites you to experience a spiritual journey. There will be a bus to take us there, so reserve your seats now. Reservations will be provided on a first-come first -serve basis. Cost: $43.00 per person (babies and infants are free) Boarding time: 6:00 AM (at the VFW Hall Parking Lot, 289 Pershing Ave, Carteret) Bus departing time: 6:30 AM For more information, or for reservations, call: Ester Maulit 732-322-1593 23 rd ANNUAL EASTER CELEBRATION MEAL St. Anthony of Padua Church Port Reading Saturday, April 20, 2019 A meal of ham, kielbasa, and all the trimmings will be available for your enjoyment, to be picked up by you or delivered to your home (deliveries to Woodbridge Twp., Carteret, and Perth Amboy only. All other areas - you are welcome to pick the meal up at the Church). There is no charge for the meal. All are welcome. However, a call is needed by Palm Sunday, April 14, by 3:00 p.m., in order to plan properly. Please call 732-634-1419, leave your name and a phone number, and someone will contact you. FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, I know you will agree that among our greatest assets in this diocese is our faithful priests. The Diocese of Metuchen currently has 29 retired diocesan priests. Just imagine how many masses, baptisms, and confessions we have celebrated with them. They have blessed us, mourned with us, and ministered to us throughout our lives. Because they devoted their lives to the services of God and the Diocese of Metuchen we have been the recipients of their sacramental and pastoral care. Wherever I go on parish visits, I hear about and can sense your great love for our priests. As I think back on my own life, I see my own faith has been remarkably shaped by the priests who ministered to me and my family while growing up. Good and faithful priests bring joy to the Church. For the majority of diocesan priests, retirement at the age of 75 may end administrative responsibilities, but not their priestly ministry. In a number of parishes, our retired priests continue to celebrate Mass and assist with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They bring Christ s love to the sick and serve as spiritual leaders, counselors, and teachers, giving freely of their time to assist our active priests. The retired priests, who for health reasons cannot minister in the parishes, also continue to support the people of God through their prayers and example. Next weekend, April 13 and 14, the faithful of our diocese will have the opportunity to gratefully acknowledge those priests who have faithfully served our diocese by responding to the Annual Collection for our Retired Diocesan Priests. This collection assists our elderly priests by helping to provide them with a monthly pension. It also subsidizes the operation of the Maria Regina Residence where 10 of our retired priests are currently living. Your generous response to next week s special collection is a practical way to convey your personal appreciation to our retired priests for their many years of service as well as make it possible for us to continue to properly care for them. Please keep all of our priests in your daily prayers. We depend on your prayerful support in order to accomplish the work of the Gospel in our challenging times. With renewed best wishes, I remain Yours in Christ, Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA Bishop of Metuchen WOMEN S RETREAT Footsteps in the Garden 1651 US Hwy. 22, Watchung, NJ 07069 Do you ever wonder what God is doing and has done in your life, even without your help? In scripture, God says, You will be like a watered garden. (Is 58:11-12). The blooms in the garden take root in the silence. Although the garden needs tending and harvesting, often in our busyness, we miss the beauty that comes on its own and the footsteps of the One who scatters seeds of hope. Friday, April 12th - 6:45 PM 9:30 PM and Saturday, April 13th - 10:00 AM.- 5 PM ($100 for overnight guests; $75 for commuters) Facilitators: Paulette Cicero and Ellen Murphy MSMHOP - Tel: 908-753-2091
8:30 AM 5:00 PM 10:30 AM 12:00 PM 1:30 PM TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 10:00 AM THURSDAY 11:30 AM FRIDAY 6:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 AM 1:00 PM 5:00 PM 10:30 AM 12:00 PM 1:30 PM April 6 Lena Marinelli April 7 Audrey Phillips Deceased of Aliszewski Family Theresa Policastro April 8 Frank Calonna April 9 James F. Checchio Jr. April 10 Veronica McGreevey Kindergarten Mass, School Chapel April 11 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tomchak Eucharistic Adoration Those whose names have been placed before the Shrine of St. Peregrine April 12 Msgr. Donald Endebrock Stations of the Cross Elisabeth R. Antoine Hispanic Stations of the Cross April 13 Patricia O Donnell Baptism Students, Faculty, Staff and Families of St. Joseph School and PREP April 14 Hugh and Pearl Devlin Jennie Nonnemacher Edward Mihalko CANDLE INTENTIONS ~ April 7-April 13 The St. Joseph Church Sanctuary Lamp burns for the souls in purgatory. The Pieta Lamp burns for the protection of all human life, from conception until natural death. The St. Joseph Lamp burns for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven a time to heal for the sick of our Parish and especially for Fr. John Morley, Mary Wagner, Anthony LaMotta, and Susan Hernandez. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Thursdays in the Church Chapel 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Restoration, sanctification, transformation, reparation, and salvation are the graces being poured out graciously upon us with each Holy Hour we make. -Excerpt from Letter To A Brother Priest Join us for Eucharistic Adoration. Prayer and meditation before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament are great ways to spend some special time with Him. You can ask Him for graces for yourself or for loved ones, reflect on His Word, or just keep Him company! A PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS We beseech you, O God to shield and protect our Armed Forces, in the air, on sea, and on land. Guard our servicemen and servicewomen on their mission to protect the well-being of our Country. Grant to our President, his counselors and advisors, and all who are entrusted with the guardianship of our rights and liberties such wisdom and understanding that they lead our Nation in the path of justice and righteousness in advancing the cause of freedom throughout the world. Blessed are You, O God, Gracious Giver of Peace. Amen. Remember in your prayers the members of our Armed Services, especially: Taylor Setar, daughter of Greg and Terry Setar; Thomas Rapp, grandson of Jeanette Miller; Justin Lurker, grandson of Helen Lurker; Robert Michnowiez, nephew of Helen Lurker; Justin Molarz, grandson of Susan Molarz; Andrew Weaver, grandson of Joanne Halkovich; Darren T. Dreboty, son-in-law of Jacqueline Eak. ST. PEREGRINE HEALING MASS A St. Peregrine Healing Mass is celebrated in our Church on the second Thursday of each month, at 7:00 p.m. Following the Mass, there is an opportunity for individuals to receive a blessing and healing prayers. We invite you, your family and friends, or anyone you know that is suffering from a serious illness, to join us for this special Mass. The next St. Peregrine Healing Mass will be on Thursday, April 11. If you would like the name of a loved one placed before the Shrine of St. Peregrine prior to this Mass, you may obtain a Spiritual Bouquet Card in the Gift Shop or at the Parish Office PRAY AND FAST FOR VOCATIONS Creator God, through Baptism You invite me to share the gift of my life in service to others. Be with me as I choose each day to show Your presence in our world. Give me the courage and generosity to respond to Your love, to Your call. I pray especially for those who serve You as priests, brothers, sisters, deacons, and lay ministers. Open the minds and hearts of many other men and women that they may accept Your challenge to build the Kingdom. Loving God, You have made me in Your image and likeness, and for this I shall praise You forever. Through Baptism You invite me to serve as Your Son Jesus served. I offer You this day all that I have and all that I am in union with His saving cross. Amen.