Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 1, 2015 Pastoral Staff Pastor Father Vincent T. Euk Parochial Vicar Fr. Vicente Magdaraog Weekend Assistant Fr. Bill O Brien Deacons Tom Gene Cechulski, F. Moir, Sr. Sr. Charles James Littlefield R. Daye, Jr. John Tomasz Franey Cechulski Gino Charles (Louis) R. Daye Esposito Jr. John Franey School Gino (Louis) Principal Esposito Sister Cherree Power, C.R. School Principal Religious Sister Cherree Education Power, C.R. Brenda Heffernan, D.R.E. Susan Religious Vella Education Parish Brenda Administrator Heffernan, D.R.E. Deacon Lauren Gino DeMaio, Esposito C.R.E. Director Parish Administrator of Music Nancy Leonard Condardo P. Weg Director of ACTS Deacon Director Tom of Music Cechulski Bozena Nancy Condardo Cechulski Coordinator of Youth Ministry Director of ACTS Deacon John Tom Franey Cechulski Bozena Cechulski Phone Contacts Rectory 732-363-4200 Coordinator of Youth Convent 732-364-2361 Ministry Deacon John Franey School 732-364-4130 Religious Phone Contacts Education 732-364-4137 Rectory 732-363-4200 Cafeteria 732-364-9455 Convent 732-364-2361 Fax 732-370-3891 School 732-364-4130 Religious Education Rectory Office Hours: 732-364-4137 M-F 9:00-4:30 PM Cafeteria 732-364-9455 Second & Fourth Saturday ACTS Office 732-364- 9AM 12:30 PM 2936 Fax 732-370-3891 Weekend Masses: Saturdays: 4:00 5:00 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 third Tuesday at at 7:30PM 8PM. Sacrament Sacrament of Reconciliation of Reconciliation Saturdays Saturdays from 4:00 from to 4:45PM 3:00 to or 3:45PM call to schedule and before an each appointment Sunday Mass with a priest.
Mass Intentions for this Week February 1, 2015 7:20 Dr. Frank Vanors... SVS Faculty & Staff 12:00 Int. of Sr. Valerie... Reiff Family TUESDAY 7:20 Armenia Rosa... Abbazia Family 12:00 Patrick Ring... Jim & Annette Keller 7:20 Armenia Rosa... Greg & Pat Bigg 12:00 Edward Buckheit... Greg & Pat Bigg THURSDAY... St. Agatha, v. & m. 7:20 Vince Zappi... Dot Ackerman 12:00 Jose Rodrigues... Family 8:00AM Jerry Jankowski... wife, Diane 4:00PM Raymond Manger... Wittstruck Family 7:30 Adelina Lingenfelter...Anthony, Tony & Danielle 9:00 Bill & Mary Wegner... Bill & Cheryl Wegner 10:30 Suzanne McGrath... Moore Family 12:00 Deolinda Fernandez... Ann Eby 5:00 PM For the People of the Parish Events for this coming Week See our website www.stveronica.com Sacrificial Offering Update Readings for the Week of February 1, 2015 Sunday:... Dt 18:15-20/1 Cor 7:32-35/Mk 1:21-28 Monday:... Mal 3:1-4/Heb 2:14-18/Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32 Tuesday:... Heb 12:1-4/Mk 5:21-43 Wednesday:... Heb 12:4-7, 11-15/Mk 6:1-6 Thursday:... Heb 12:18-19, 21-24/Mk 6:7-13 Friday:... Heb 13:1-8/Mk 6:14-29 Saturday:... Heb 13:15-17, 20-21/Mk 6:30-34 Next Sunday:... Jb 7:1-4, 6-7/1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23/Mk 1:29-39
Pastor s Notes Jesus does not want his identity revealed because he does not want to be made into a worldly Messiah. As we continue with the Gospel of Mark, the devil and pagans recognize Jesus for what He really is. The devil's activity is always for an evil purpose The devil even tried to offer Jesus the whole world to abort Jesus mission. The devil s power is far superior to human beings, but not that of God s. He does evil because of his intense hatred of God and of man, who is made in His image. The devil is intensely jealous and envious of human beings because we are made in image and likeness of God and those baptized are also temples of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing more satisfying for the devil to see us die because that Image is destroyed by a rotting corpse. The devil s hatred has been intensified by the fact that some human beings have already been redeemed by Jesus Who became incarnate and gave His life for our salvation. But the devil s greatest triumph is to see us die with unconfessed mortal sins. In this way people can join him in his own misery. There is a lot of logic in that phrase misery loves company. Although man is inferior to the devil by nature, man is is free to choose to be an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven and to live in eternal happiness. But just like the devil, who forfeited heaven by his own free choice, we too can do the same. Practices that center around the devil are now more widespread and have even become social and commercial. The more the reality of the devil is excluded from the faith, the more superstitious practices develop among the faithful. While society has a tendency for this passing things of this world because of our fallen nature, the devil has an interest in a completely different entity the enslavement of our souls. The devil is a perverting being whose effects can be seen especially in society s progressive views of marriage and the family. Sins against marriage and the family not only kill the souls of the spouses, but effect children and society detrimentally. When parents refuse to take their children to church, their children fall into the same lifestyle. Being on sports teams in place of the Sunday obligation that takes usually an hour, kills the souls of the parents who in turn kill the souls of their children. In the past, the devil was exaggerated and became the reason for extremism. Recall the witch hunts which involved the murders of so many people in cruel ways. This was an easy way to block personal responsibility for one to break the fifth commandment in the name of God. Personal responsibility is being displaced by truth twisting. More and more people are resorting to card readers and paid spiritual advisors. They boast of removing spells, bad luck, etc.. More and more people are being swallowed up in commercial fraud, credit card abuse and hoaxes. Demonic possession is still a real occurrence. The demon controls the physical body, but not the soul. God permits this to show unbelievers the power of Jesus to lend credence to the faith and to achieve a greater good. Those who are appointed by the Bishop to deal with these issues and those who experience possessions generally develop a much richer faith. While most claims of possession are really psychiatric disorders, they still do occur. Jesus was constantly plagued by devils and strong demonic temptations, but they could never usurp His power of Love. This power to exorcize demons has been entrusted to the Apostles as a continuing sign of man's redemption. The signs of possession are similar to what Jesus experienced. Usually there is a strong and sometimes violent aversion to the sacred: "Have you come to destroy us?" Also, the most tell tail sign is a knowledge of secret things: "I know who you are -- the Holy One of God" The devil possesses a superior knowledge of languages never learned by the possessed individual. Finally there are extraordinary and unusual preternatural activities such as convulsions and shrieking. The Gospels reveal a herd of pigs running into the sea. The Church exercises great caution in authenticating possession and in authorizing priests to perform them. The Church also cautions the laity from trying to exorcize demons because of our susceptibility to pride, what entrapped Adam and Eve. While the devil's power is finite and superior to our own powers, and can shake the faith of the weak, we really have nothing to fear because with Christ on our side the power of the devil is meaningless. When we feel that we might be under the influence of the devil, all we have to do is say, O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner. God will never put us in a situation that will cause our eternal ruin -- unless we choose it. I am grateful to all those who volunteered with clearing the ice and snow. If anyone would like to donate a salt spreader for our truck, please let us know. It will help us to make walking from our cars to the church much safer. I think it will cost about two to five thousand dollars. Thanks, also, to those who donated the car for the convent. They now can make their rounds in safety. Fr. Euk
OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE O Come Let Us Adore Him "Could you not watch one hour with me?" Put Jesus first in your week by becoming a registered adorer and committing to one hour weekly. We have a continual need for new adorers for any hours that work for you. You may also join with a spouse or a friend and share an hour. Two people per hour means you have a built in sub. Many adorers can witness to prayers answered and miracles granted. Prayer can change the world. NEW ADORERS URGENTLY NEEDED: Sunday: 1AM, All hours available Email/message Debbie drev514@aol.com, 732 367 7750 Inner Healing Available Scripture Meditation Please Pray for Our Sick Please Pray for our Parishioners Serving our Country: Baptism "The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes." Jesus was doing something different. His teaching was new, fresh, surprising. The Jewish people were used to the teaching style of their scribes, the scholars who interpreted the Scriptures and taught the corresponding laws. The scribes were legalists by trade, who focused on what was required of the Jews based on the holy writings. For them, the law was dominant. But when Jesus showed up in the synagogue and began to teach, he was dominant. As the incarnate Son of God, he spoke with an authority that was greater even than the religious laws. And just in case those who heard him doubted his legitimacy, Jesus proved his authority by more than words; he cast out evil spirits. When the people witnessed Jesus commanding "even the unclean spirits" and saw that these spirits obeyed him, they were "amazed" at this "new teaching with authority." What our Jewish ancestors experienced is recorded for us to bolster our own faith. Although we were not there to see these events unfold, if we meditate on the reality of today's Gospel story we will also be astonished and amazed. Jesus is more than a teacher. He is more than a kind man with an attractive philosophy. Jesus has power over the spiritual world! His authority over us is real. And he exercises this authentic authority for our own good. He has the power to do away with evil and to set us free, both through his teachings--passed on to us in the Bible and in the Church--and through his action in our lives. We only need to follow his lead.
Divine Mercy Devotions Please join us in the church, this Sunday February 1st at 1:30 PM, to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. All are welcome! Healing Mass Catholic Women of Zion Celebrating our 26th Anniversary at Church of St. William the Abbot. YOU ARE INVITED TO CWOZ Chapter I Retreat Day. The day consists of Mass, prayer, music, speaker, sharing, networking and prayers for healing. This month s speaker is : Ana Maria Garcia is a Catholic lay evangelist representing Good News International. Good News International is a ministry made up of Catholic lay men and women, who seek to spread the Good News that Jesus Christ is Lord throughout the world. They have carried that message to parishes all over this country, as well as South America and Europe. Ana Maria has spoken throughout NJ at Retreats, Communion Breakfasts, Women s Groups, Workshops, Seminars, and Parish Missions conducted in Spanish and English. She has given witness at the Catholic Tent Revival of NJ, the NJ Catholic Charismatic Conference, and ecumenical organizations, and writes annually for the Good News International website. Her topic is "Do Not Forget the Works of the Lord!" Date: Saturday, February 21, 2015, 9AM to 1PM Mass- 8:30am. Fr. Thomas Maher Place: St. William the Abbot Church 2740 Lakewood-Allenwood Road Howell NJ 07731 Admission: $20.00 includes lunch (Pay at the door) OUR NEEDS Food Pantry Needs- Our pantry services the needy in our area. Items needed most: Tuna, baked beans, jelly, juice, dry milk Needed Working dishwasher. If you have one to donate please call Ana 732-370-0548 Donated Dining room table and 6 chairs. Please call Maria at 732-977-2690. PARISH INFORMATION Come and bring a friend! Reservations: are necessary. Please call and leave your phone number, spell your last name at 732-363-0139 ext. 777 no later than Tuesday, Feb. 17th. You can also register on line: www.cwoz.org Save the Date!! Lenten Parish Mission Call to Holiness Speaker: Msgr. John Farley February 22nd February 25th Each night at 7:30, in our church