Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church 120 Sussex Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 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 2013 Very Rev. Thomas J. Ciba, V.F. Pastor Rev. Michael Braden, SJ Weekend Assistant Rev. Anthony Azzarto, SJ Weekend Assistant Mrs. Anna Mae Stefanelli Principal Mr. Jonathan Blevis Pastoral Associate Mr. Ben Rauch Director of Music Ms. Kathleen Church, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Parish Office 201-434-0798 Fax 201-985-0918 Email pastor@olcjc.org bulletin@olcjc.org Websites www.olcjc.org www.olcschool.org Counseling 917-312-3303 www.kathleenchurch.com 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, offers a Polish Language Mass at OLC, Sundays at 8 am. Faith Formation during 10 am Mass We provide a Faith Formation program called Children s Liturgy of the Word for children 2 years of age on up during the Sunday Mass. We dismiss the children from Mass after the Opening Prayer to the church hall, returning before the Offertory. Parents are welcome to accompany their child if they wish. 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 olds; 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 an informal appointment with the pastor. Saints Peter and Paul Church, Hoboken and 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. Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time September 1, 2013
Dear Parishioners, We were very pleased to celebrate the baptism of five infants last Sunday. As we celebrate Baptism at OLC, we always strive to make this Sacrament a community celebration. As a community of faith, we welcome these infants into the life of Christ, the Church and into the parish. BAPTISM AT OLC Ian James Behrman the son of Nora & Seth Stella Rose Garofalo the daughter of Robyn and Anthony Myles Cameron Hollar-Gregory the son of Hemilyn & Ryan with older brother Sean Madison Grace Romanczuk the daughter of Jennifer and Mark Emmeline Ava Tsang The daughter of Melissa & Barry BAPTISM PROGRAM & SCHEDULE AT OLC GATHERING TO REJOICE is the first component of our Baptism Program. Our next session is Sunday, September 8, 2013, 11 a.m., in the rectory. This component is intended for those preparing for the birth of their child. Please, see our website for more details about this program: www.olcjc.org. It is required that you preregister for this program, or notify the rectory that you will attend. Up-coming dates are listed below: September 8, 2013, November 3, 2013, January 5, 2014 GATHERING TO UNDERSTAND is the second part of our Baptism program. If you are preparing for the baptism of your child, this program is required. It addresses theology, the responsibilities and requirements of parents and Godparents, etc. You can register for this program by going to the parish website or calling the rectory, or you can just walk in (however, preregistration is extremely helpful). Please refer below for a list of up-coming dates and plan to attend accordingly: October 6, 2013, December 1, 2013, Please register to be parishioners before attending the baptism classes. You can register in the rectory Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. till 5 p.m. Once Gathering to Understand has been completed baptisms can be scheduled with Fr. Tom. THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION We are continuing our Confirmation program for those young parishioners who are ready to receive the Sacrament. If you are entering the eighth grade, please leave your contact information with our office, or email Ministry@olcjc.org expressing your interest. Candidates will meet for one hour every other Sunday. After class the Candidates will attend Mass together as a group. Interested families must be officially registered in the parish.
MASS INTENTIONS The Mass book for 2014 is now available. There are still many days open in the 2013 book. The practice of having a Mass offered for an individual, deceased or living, or for a particular intention, is a long standing tradition in the church. It is also a devotional practice whereby we keep alive the memory of our loved ones. Through this practice we can maintain that loving bond between ourselves and those whom we have loved in this life. A Mass can be offered on the anniversary of death or on a person s birthday, or at any time. You may also have a Mass celebrated for someone who is ill, in thanksgiving and for special intentions for family and/or friends. If you wish to have a Mass celebrated, simply stop by the rectory, call us at 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. 2013 EVENTS AT OLC Labor Day, September 2, Daily Mass is scheduled for 9:00 am. OLC Seniors: Tuesday, September 3, $25 deposit due for trip to Wheeling Festival of Lights, Dec. 2-4. Trip is 3 days/2 nights $350 per person double occupancy/ $450 per person single occupancy. First Friday Devotions, Friday, September 6, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Church. OLC Seniors End of Summer Meeting: Wednesday September 11, at 1 pm in the church hall at 120 Sussex street. If location changes, members will be notified. Hot dog lunch provided and dues to be collected. Coffee and Donuts, every Sunday after the 10 a.m. Mass, held outside. SUNDAY SCRIPTURE READINGS Reflect on today s readings. Prepare for next Sunday Sunday, September 1, 2013 Sir 3:17-18,20,28-29; Heb 12:18-19,22-24; Lk 14:1,7-14 Sunday, September 8, 2013 Wis 9:13-18; Phlm 9-10, 12-17; Lk 14:25-33 SCHOOL IN SESSION As school resumes, here are some tips to make sure your students are ready for the new year. 1. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. No matter whether they are in kindergarten or finishing senior year, students work best when they are rested. 2. Fuel their interests. If your child enjoys a particular lesson, try to find ways of learning about their favorite topics together with reading or fun projects. 3. Help give them structure. In the busy lives we lead, kids need help learning to manage their schedule and time to just be kids. Find the balance. WEEKLY OFFERING Thank you so much for your financial support and for living your financial commitment to your parish. We are grateful for those who are especially generous and who wish to remain anonymous. We need your support for us to achieve our weekly collection goal of $6,000 per Sunday. Reaching this goal, and exceeding it, is essential to the financial health of your parish. For the weekend of August 24/25, 435 people attended Mass. The collection amounted to $5,944, of which $2,199 was contributed by those using ParishPay. This is only $56 less than our weekly goal. Can you donate just a little more so we can make our weekly goal? We thank you for being so generous. PARISH MINISTRIES Please consider joining one of our parish ministries, which are always in need of new members. Schedules for Masses are flexible and take your preferences and availability into account. For information, call the rectory, speak to Fr. Tom after Mass, or contact one of the following persons: Altar Servers Eucharistic Ministers Sarah at the rectory, 201-434-0798 Choir Ben Rauch, email: Directorofmusic@olcjc.org Lectors Pat Duemig; 201-955-1495 ARCHBISHOP S ANNUAL APPEAL Please, donate to the Archbishop's Annual Appeal. Your contribution is used to conduct charitable, spiritual and ministerial programs that benefit many throughout the Archdiocese. Your contributions are not used to pay bills or any other expenses associated with the operation of the Archdiocese. Please, step up to the plate and make a gift. You can place your gift in the collection or mail it to the rectory. The Archdiocese has given us a goal, but we have only achieved less than 40% of that goal. If you have not contributed, please do so. If you have given previously, and have not given again, please make a pledge or give a gift. Thank you. OUR LADY OF FATIMA ANNIVERSARY MASS All are welcome to the Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Washington, NJ, to celebrate the 96th Anniversary of the Apparition to the three shepherd children at Fatima. Confessions available at 10:30 a.m. Rosary Procession begins at 12 noon. Holy Mass at 1:00 p.m. The celebration ends with our traditional Fatima Farewell. For more info, visit our website: www.wafusa.org, or call 908-689-1700.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Saturday August 31, 2013 5:00 pm Charles & Mary Czysz & Family From Laura Czysz, Cathy, Fred, & Allie Savage Sunday September 1, 2013 10:00 am Helen & Frank Dwulet From Dorothy Dowling 12:30 pm Paolo Santiago & Mr. Bellido From Marilou Villanueva 7:00 pm People of the Parish Monday September 2, 2013 9:00 am For Health of Jose Monte From Sophie Tuesday September 3, 2013 12:30 pm Pauline V. Andreasen From Mike Burke & Family Wednesday September 4, 2013 12:30 pm Communion Service Thursday September 5, 2013 12:30 pm Communion Service Friday September 6, 2013 12:30 pm For Frank & Loretta Brajczewski From Rose Rokosz Saturday September 7, 2013 5:00 pm Kyc Family From Family Sunday September 8, 2013 10:00 am Patrick Mangosing From Valerie & Mark Bartolome 12:30 pm William Waters From The Burke Family 7:00 pm People of the Parish Attend daily Mass. It will make a difference in your life! STEWARDSHIP Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you." LUKE 14:14 We have a difficult time with the concept of giving without expecting something in return. Even when we give to charity we often want something in return a raffle ticket, a dinner, or a chance to play golf. Yet, as Christian stewards we need to remember that the true reward for our giving awaits us in heaven.
FAITH WORKS Next weekend is the first full weekend of the month, and we have our non-perishable food appeal. We are collecting donations of non-perishable food and toiletries for those in need at all four weekend masses. If you are able to donate anything, you can leave it on the table in the rear of the church. Let us be stewards of the faith and show thanks to God for the blessings He gives by sharing with others. SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR THE CHURCH IN CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE In the winter we have very cold in our convent and in our church. We need to do a new central heating, because the sisters become very often sick. Sr. Teresa Bandurska, Order of St. Clare, Przanysz, Poland. Next weekend, September 7/8, the Archdiocese conducts its annual collection for the Church in Central & Eastern Europe. While no longer under Communism, the Church still struggles. This collection helps with the material needs of the Church and also the spiritual and educational needs of the people. Please, be generous. Special envelops for this collection are found in the church. CCAN IMMIGRATION LEGAL ASSISTANCE We are a non-profit, social service organization affiliated with the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Newark, providing immigration legal assistance, at reduced rates, to those in need. We employ licensed attorneys and our main legal office is located a 976 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey. We have now opened an intake office in Jersey City at 591 Summit Avenue, 7 th floor (5 Corners) for one day a week. If you have an immigration case, please call Joseph Volcy at 973-733-3516 for an appointment at our Jersey City office,. We will consider evening hours based on needs. We speak Spanish/Hablamos Español. We handle Green Cards, Deferred Action, Deportation, Work Permits, and other areas of the immigration process. OPERA AT OLC Join us for an hour of opera next Sunday, September 8, 3:00 p.m. in the church. OLC welcomes Giselle Bellas for a benefit concert to support the church and her entry into Montserrat Caballe's International Vocal Competition. Giselle will be Giselle Bellas joined by tenor, Angelo Mazzone, and they will sing arias and duets by Mozart, Puccini, Mascagni, Lecuona, Donizetti, and Handel. A suggested donation of $10 is greatly appreciated and a portion will help to support OLC. More information can also be found at www.gisellebellas.com.