Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church 120 Sussex Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 Celebrating Our 100 th Anniversary Our Mission The mission of our Parish is to reach out to all people and encourage them to join us in joyfully giving praise and glory to God; to build a Christian community that, with trust in God, embraces the future, and in doing so, is a beacon of faith, hope and love on the Jersey City waterfront. Our History Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, or OLC, was founded in 1911 to serve Polish immigrants to Jersey City. Today, OLC is growing and changing as it seeks to serve all those who now live in our neighborhood. The Church takes its name from a city in Poland that houses a cherished icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A copy of that icon is centrally located in our historic Church. 1911 2011 Rev. Thomas J. Ciba Pastor Rev. James J. Reilly Priest In Residence Rev. Vincent Sullivan Weekend Assistant Ms. Carmen Lorenzo Director of Operations Mr. James Harrold Director of Music Ms. Kathleen Church, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Mrs. Ana Mae Stefanelli Principal Parish Office 201-434-0798 Fax 201-985-0918 Email pastor@olcjc.org lorenzoc@olcjc.org bulletin@olcjc.org Websites www.olcjc.org www.olcschool.org Counseling 201-434-2405 The OLC School 201-434-2405 Little Harbor Academy 201-434-6708 Mass Schedule Monday - Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Note: 12:30 pm (Church open from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm) 5:00 pm, Sunday Vigil Mass 10:00 am, 12:30 pm and 7:00 pm St. Anthony of Padua, 330 Sixth Street, Jersey City, the Center for Polish Ministry in Jersey City, holds a Polish Language Mass at OLC, Sundays at 8 am. Child Care During Mass We provide professionally staffed child care for children 12 months to 4 years of age during the 10 am Sunday Mass. Our Child Care Center is located in the church hall. Enter through the gate located to the left of the steps leading into the church. Confessions/Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm in the church & at other times by appointment with the pastor. Weddings Those interested in celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage should contact the parish office one year in advance of their proposed date of marriage. Infant Baptisms Preparation for Baptism should ideally begin before the birth of the child. Expectant parents should visit the parish website for more information. The OLC School - Quality Education on the Waterfront 248 Luis Marin Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07302 Grades 1-8 Accredited by The Middle States Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. The Little Harbor Academy - The Early Childhood Division of The OLC School 186 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 Programs: Kindergarten; Pre-Kindergarten Program for 3 & 4 year oldest; Montessori Toddler Program for 2 year olds The OLC Counseling Center - Well Being on the Waterfront 120 Sussex Street, Jersey City NJ 07302 Individual, Marriage, and Family Counseling To Register and Be Part of OLC We welcome you to register and to be part of our parish family. Please contact the parish office to arrange for an informal appointment with the pastor. Saints Peter and Paul Church, Hoboken & OLC Church, Jersey City We work together to proclaim and live the Gospel on the Hudson River Waterfront by sharing our time, energy, and resources and in doing so, we more powerfully witness the presence of Christ. Fourth Sunday of Advent December 19, 2010
A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR Dear Parishioners, Spiritual surrender is the act of turning your life and your will over to the Lord. When the angel of the Lord told Mary that God wanted her to be the mother of His Son, she consented willingly saying, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word. Luke 1:38) On the fourth Sunday of Advent, the Sunday Gospel brings us to a significant moment when Joseph needs to make a decision about taking Mary into his home as his wife. Joseph has discovered that his espoused is with child before they have come to live together. The child is not his, so what does he do? Divorce her quietly or take her into his home? As we see, the Angel of the Lord will re-assure him in a dream to take her in. There is something much greater than following orders taking place here. Joseph will surrender himself to the will of God. In his own way, Joseph will also be an instrument of the Lord. In this Gospel we see the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and they shall call him Emmanuel. In both cases, Mary and Joseph, are called to accept God s will, thus becoming instruments of God s love. This requires great love and in such love, one truly discovers joy and inner peace. Like Mary and Joseph, all of us are called to lift up our hearts and have renewed confidence to give ourselves in surrender to the Lord; and in this we can truly discover inner peace and true joy. With love, MARRIAGE AT OLC Congratulations to Patricia Spota and Joseph Dwyer who celebrated their Wedding Ceremony at OLC Friday, November 5, 2010 POLISH CHRISTMAS WAFER The Polish Christmas Tradition of sharing Christmas Wafers, Oplatki, will be available both at the Parish office and in the Church after mass. Sharing Oplatki among family members and friends entails breaking off a small piece of the wafer and giving it to one another along with a blessing. The exchange and blessing is symbol of forgiveness between family members and is meant to remind participants of the importance of Christmas, God, and family. We invite you to celebrate this tradition with your loved ones this Holiday Season. Packages of Oplatki are on sale for $4.00. OLC TOUR OF POLAND Join us for a wonderful All Inclusive Tour of Poland in celebration of the 100 th Anniversary of our Parish. The 8 days 7 nights tour itinerary visits the cities of Warsaw, Czestochowa, Zakopane, Krakow, and Wieliczka and includes the following: Round trip airfare between Newark and Warsaw Transfers upon arrival and departure Baggage handling Accommodations in First Class Hotels Two meals daily Transportation Sightseeing excursions with English speaking tour guide throughout the trip All entrance fees and taxes The anticipated cost for the May 27 to June 3, 2011 trip is $2,380 (supplement $440 for single rooms). Reservation forms are located on the fliers in the back of the church. A deposit of $200 per person is required for seat reservations.
CHRISTMAS CHOIR PERFORMANCE Come and hear the sounds of Christmas before Midnight Mass. Jim Harrold and the OLC Choir will usher in Christmas with songs of the Season on Friday, December 24 at 11:30 pm, prior to the Midnight Mass. We invite you to come with your family and listen as you prepare to celebrate the Birth of Our Lord during Mass. A NEW WRITING WORKSHOP A Six-week Winter 2011 Writing Workshop led by accomplished local writer will be held every Wednesday from January 12 February 16. Classes will be held between 6:30 8:30 pm and costs $200 to be paid in full by Wednesday, January 7, 2011. Contact the instructor before or by Monday, December 20 to register. For location and more information on the workshop email Nancy Mendez-Booth at nmenbooth@hotmail.com or visit http://nancymendezbooth.com. FINANCE COUNCIL The Finance Council along with the Pastoral and Building & Grounds Councils comprise the three advisory bodies to the pastor. The Finance Council normally meets once a month to discuss various matters relating to the parish s financial health. Our parish has many talented professionals with unique and diverse skills. As such, you may be able to make a significant contribution to your parish. Many skills may appear to be exclusively business related, but such skills can go far in our society as we strive to make the parish strong in promoting the Good News of Jesus Christ. If you think you have to time to give, contact Fr. Tom. MASS INTENTIONS If you wish to have a Mass celebrated for someone or for a personal intention, please stop by the rectory, call 201-434-0798 or send an e-mail to: secretary@olcjc.org. We maintain a living bond with our loved ones as we remember them in prayer. SUNDAY SCRIPTURE READINGS Reflect on today s readings. Prepare for next Sunday. This Sunday, December 19, Fourth Sunday of Advent Is. 7:10-14; Rom. 1:1-7; Mt. 1:18-24 Next Sunday, December 26, Feast of the Holy Family Sir. 3:2-7, 12-14; Col. 3:12-21; Mt. 2:13-15, 19-23 WEEKLY COLLECTION Thank you so very much for your financial support. Many of our Parishioners believe that it is important to financially support their Parish. Thank you for living your financial commitment. Your support helps us to achieve our weekly collection goal of $6,000 per Sunday. Due to the printer s Holiday schedule for early publishing, the attendance numbers and weekly collection figures from the weekend of December 11 and 12 were not available by the time of printing. These figures will be listed in next week s bulletin. We appreciate all those who act as good stewards of their time and treasure by joining us for Mass and in their faithful giving for the collections. If you would like to automate your donations, please visit www.olcjc.org and click on JOINING & SUPPORTING OLC to learn how to make your contribution electronically through Parish Pay. CHRISTMAS FLOWER COLLECTION We would like to Thank You for your generosity in making personal or memorial donations toward this year s Christmas Flower Collection. Your gifts will serve as a reminder of the Spirit of Christmas as well as the tradition of giving that is alive within our Parish. OLC COUNSELING SERVICE Kathleen E. Church is a Roman Catholic licensed Psychotherapist in private practice in Manhattan and Jersey City. She provides adult therapy services for individuals and couples at the OLC Counseling Center located in the lower level of the Parish Office. Professional fees are based on a sliding scale. For more information or to arrange an appointment, call 917-312-3303 or visit www.kathleenchurch.com THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP The Religious Women and Men throughout the country offer heartfelt gratitude for your donation to the Retirement Fund for Religious. Your gift makes a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. STEWARDSHIP When he discovered that Mary was with child, Joseph resolved to end their engagement with as little disgrace as possible. But obedient to the voice of God, he changed those plans and became instead the protector of the child Jesus and His mother, Mary. God grant that I may be as open to the leading of the Holy Spirit!
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Saturday December 18, 2010 5:00 pm Bruno and Frances Ruskowski from Bruno Ruskowski Sunday December 19, 2010 10:00 am In Loving Memory of Henry Dwulet, Sr. from His wife Mary and Children 12:30 pm Estelle and Leon Dygulski, Anthony, Frances, Stephania, John and Anna, Adele Pietkowski, Dolores and Eugene Brajczewski from Frances Colantonio and family 7:00 pm People of the Parish Monday December 20, 2010 12:30 am Noble Gouge from Stella Hajnacki Tuesday December 21, 2010 12:30 pm William R. Goletz, 1 st Ann. from Craig and Maureen Goletz Penance Service 7:30 pm Wednesday December 22, 2010 12:30 pm Grace Wojciechowski from Vera Wondolowski Thursday December 23, 2010 12:30 pm Billy Hogan from Eileen and Tom Murphy Friday December 24, 2010 5:00 pm Frank and Dolores Fish from Michael Fish Saturday December 25, 2010 12:00 am People of the Parish 10:00 am Frank Brajczewski from Rose Rokosz 12:30 pm John Plewan from Bruno Ruskowski Sunday December 26, 2010 10:00 am Nora and Felix Feehan from Noreen Feehan 12:30 pm Olan Gallagher, 20 th Ann. from Caroline Kornutik 7:00 pm People of the Parish This week the Sanctuary Candle burns in Memory of Estelle and Leon Dygulski, Anthony, Frances, Stephania, John and Anna, Adele Pietkowski, Dolores and Eugene Brajczewski at the request of Frances Colantonio and Family. This week the Bread and Wine are offered in Memory of Edward W. and Wanda Bromirski and John and Theresa Zazula at the request of Melanie and Bill.
2010 / 2011 BAPTISMS AT OLC Gather to Prepare, Saturday December 18, 2010 10:30 am Gather to Celebrate, Sunday December 19, 2010 12:30 pm Gather to Understand, Sunday January 9, 2011 11:15 am Gather to Prepare, Saturday, January 22, 2011 10:30 am Gather to Celebrate, Sunday, January 23, 2011 10:00 am If you are preparing for a new member of your family, please make arrangements to participate in our Baptism program. Call the rectory or contact us by email. CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Tuesday, December 21, 7:30 pm Communal Penance Service Friday, December 24, 5:00 pm Christmas Mass Saturday, December 25, 12:00 am Christmas Midnight Mass Saturday, December 25, 10:00 am and 12:30 pm Christmas Mass Saturday, December 25, 12:30 pm Christmas Mass EVENTS AT OLC Friday, December 24, 11:30 pm Pre-Mass Music Program by OLC Choir Wednesday, January 12, 7:30 pm Pastoral Council FOOD PANTRY If you were not able to donate to the OLS Food Pantry Program during the Thanksgiving Holiday and would like to donate non-perishable food for the Christmas Season you may still do so. Please leave your donations on the table at the back of the Church. During this Holiday Season, your donations will add to the OLS Food Pantry program. Let us always remember those in need. We appreciate your ongoing donations. THE GIVING TREE PROJECT Thank You for participating in the annual Advent Giving Tree Program. All gifts were delivered on December 13 to the recipients listed below: Your generosity has helped make a deserving person s Christmas brighter. Home of Peace Orphan girls residence Hope House Mothers and Children of Jersey City Kenmare High School A York Street Project Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry Project Home- Program for Jersey City Homeless St. Ann s Home For The Aged and local Seniors Several Sources Foundation A Pro-life shelter
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