Resisting Happiness! Life is a pilgrimage. A sacred journey! We are only here on earth for the blink of an eye. This is not our home. That s why the happiness that God wants and created us for is very different from the fleeting happiness and momentary pleasures of this world. -Matthew Kelly, Resisting Happiness A Pilgrim s Prayer by Thomas Merton My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end Nor do I really know myself, And the fact that I think I am following Your will, Does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You, does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust You always though I may seem lost And in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, And you will never leave me to face my perils alone. My Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Season of Lent is soon upon us! Are you a pilgrim or a tourist? Lent is a wonderful time for spiritual reflection and renewal. Here are questions to ponder. Are you resisting happiness? Are you open to God s Grace to become the best version of yourself? Do the travails of daily life block you from the immense joy that sits at our doorstep each and every day? To help guide us on our pilgrimage this Lenten and Easter Season we have the book Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly available at the doors of the Church. One copy for each adult! May it lead to some thought provoking discussions around the dinner table in your home or with a neighbor or friend. May God Bless you always! Fr. Rich. Be gentle with yourself. When we are gentle with ourselves, when we are patient with ourselves, we develop awareness, and awareness breeds compassion. And every person who ever crosses your path needs a little compassion. Matthew Kelly, Resisting Happiness
Weekly Mass Schedule Weekday Masses are held in the Parish Center Chapel Saturday, February 25 5:30 PM Members of the Oese and Grasso Families Sunday, February 26 7:30 AM John Nevins 9:00 AM Paul F. Harrison 10:30 AM O. Allen and Kathie Beyer (50 th Wedding Anniversary) 12:00 PM Theresa Tansey Monday, February 27 7:30 AM Joan A. DeNotaris 12:10 PM Mary L. Bartell Tuesday, February 28 7:30 AM Josefina Rosas 12:10 PM Fr. Michael Patete Wednesday, March 1 (Ash Wednesday) 7:30 AM Thomas Mahon 12:10 PM Bill Donohue 3:30 PM People of the Parish Service with Ashes 7:00 PM Priests of the Parish Thursday, March 2 7:30 AM Maryann Bogle 12:10 PM Joseph Jasontek Friday, March 3 7:30 AM Patricia Bravoco 12:10 PM Joseph Bevacqua Saturday, March 4 5:30 PM Filomena Trum Sunday, March 5 7:30 AM Dorothy Duffe 9:00 AM Members of the Rosary Society 10:30 AM Mary Mauro (2 nd Anniversary) 12:00 PM Ann Marie Sullivan Hosts for each Mass have been donated by the Rosary Society Sanctuary Lamp donated in Memory of Rose Adams Chapel Lamp donated in Memory of The Robba and Pfister Families Wine donated in Honor of The People of the Parish by the Knights of Columbus Holy Father's Prayer Intention We pray that all those who are afflicted, especially the poor, refugees, and marginalized, may find welcome and comfort in our communities. Fish and Chips Tickets Available Ash Wednesday March 1, 2017 Tickets will be available after all Masses and at Parish Center during the week Adults: $16 Children: $8 Attention: Parishioners Celebrating a 5 th, 25 th or 50 th Wedding Anniversary Please come to or call the Parish Center to register for a special Mass to be celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Tobin in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. The Mass for those celebrating a 5 th or 25 th Anniversary will be at 3 PM on April 30 th, 2017. Registration is due April 14 th. The Mass for those celebrating a 50 th Anniversary will be at 3 PM on May 7 th, 2017. Registration is due April 21. Catholic Men s Conference On Saturday, March 4 from 8-4:30 at Seton Hall University (Cost: $25) The Archdiocese will host the annual conference. This year s theme is Be Not Afraid: Becoming Missionary Disciples! Speakers will be Cardinal Sean Patrick O Malley, Archbishop of Boston and Joe Lombardi, Jr., quarterback coach for the New Orleans Saints. Mass will be celebrated by His Eminence Joseph W. Cardinal Tobin. Register at www.njcatholicmen.org Catholic Women s Commission On Saturday, March 11 from 8-3:30 at Seton Hall University (Cost: $25) The Archdiocese will host the annual conference. This year s theme is Alive in Christ as Missionary Disciples! Speakers will be Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, founder and mother servant of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth, Archdiocese of Boston and Lisa Hendey, founder and editor of CatholicMom.com. Register at www.rcan.org/womenscommision 656 Page 2
Ash Wednesday Music Prelude Softly and Tenderly 656 Gathering In These Days of Lenten Journey 127 Psalm Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned Ashes With These Ashes 113 Offertory O God, You Search Me 436 Eucharistic Prayer Christ the Savior 916 / 917 / 920 / 921 Communion Loving and Forgiving 663 Recessional Again We Keep This Solemn Fast 131 If anyone is interested in taking out an Ad in the St. Joseph s Ad Journal please do so before the end of February using the contract above or see Fr. Tom. 656 Page 3
2017 Lenten Regulations The days of both Fast and Abstinence during the season of Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If possible the fast on Good Friday should be continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the paschal fast fast to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus. On a day of Fast, only one full meal and two smaller meals (if added together the smaller meals may not exceed the main meal in quantity) are permitted. On a day of Abstinence, no meat may be eaten. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast. Those who have reached the age of 14 are obliged by the law of abstinence. All other Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence. The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence 'substantially or as a whole is a serious obligation. The Fridays outside of Lent are designated as days of penance, but each individual may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial as penance. The Paschal Precept (or Easter duty, the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year) is to be completed between the 1st Sunday of Lent, March 5 th and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, June 11 th. Pantry Notice The Pantry is in need of 12 ounce jars of jelly and tuna fish. We appreciate it if you are able to donate it to our Parish Pantry. Thank you, Pantry Coordinator Hearts for Hope At our last Family Gathering, our Religious Ed children and their families helped to decorate ceramic hearts that will be distributed to people who are need of hope. The hope that comes from God offers us the assurance that even when things are difficult, we have a loving God who is there for us, who gave us his Son to walk with us and sends us his Spirit to guide us. These Hearts for Hope will be given to people battling cancer, those struggling with the loss of a loved one, and those who may feel alone or abandoned. Thank you to everyone who helped to make this event. Even though we don't know who will receive each heart, we can continue to pray for them with a simple prayer: Loving God, allow your hope, peace, love and joy fill the hearts of those who will receive our Hearts for Hope. May they be a reminder to them and their families that you are there with them and that anything is possible when we trust in you. Amen. St. Mary's 140th Anniversary Gala Thursday, May 4, 2017 Valley Regency, Clifton NJ $85 per person Invitations to follow 656 Page 4
LE The two letters at the top of this page will take on a different meaning based on when you are reading this article. If you re reading it on the weekend they will be the 3rd and 4th letter of AlLEluia. If you re reading it on Wednesday or later, they will be the first two letters of the season: Lent. On Sunday (the 8th Sunday of ordinary time) we will hear another portion of Matthew s gospel. Jesus continues to preach to the people (and to us) about putting aside the worries of life and trusting in God s providence. Our liturgy will begin and end with AlLEluias. The prelude, Seek Ye First (#434) is based on today's portion of Matthew s gospel. It was written in 1972, the early days of what might be referred to as folk music. In addition to the three verses there is a refrain, which consists simply of the word of the day: AlLEluia! The recessional hymn; Tell the Good News (#386) is a succinct recap of the gospel of the past 7 weeks. Jesus came to heal and affirm that all people are God s children. ************************* If you re reading this on Wednesday or later it is the season of LEnt. During this season we will no longer use the word to which I referred in the first part of this article. Ironically, we will hear the part of Matthew s gospel just prior to the one heard on Sunday. In it Jesus instructs the disciples on the spirit in which they should pray and to make sacrifices in his name. I ve always found it interesting that the church presents us with this reading on the day where Christians walk around marked with such an obvious sign. One of the songs we will sing both today and throughout Lent is In These Days of Lenten Journey (#127). Notice the call to Christian service throughout the lyrics. This past week members of our social concerns ministry brought Hearts of Hope to our homebound. These hand painted ceramics were made by the children of the parish and included a card with a message of love from the children. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail I received from a member of our team: I called... She lives one block from me and was the sweetest thing ever (on the phone.) She told me she's going to be 97 years old in April!!! I'm looking forward to seeing her tomorrow. If you d like to be part of our social concerns ministry you can contact me via e-mail b.mauro1@yahoo.com or by calling the parish center. BLEssed to be serving at St. Mary s, Knights of Columbus Membership The St. Mary s Knights of Columbus Council #2346 always welcomes new members to join. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic Men s fraternal organization dedicated to upholding its four key principles: charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. Those who are interested in more information should call the Council at (973) 667-0104 or email stmaryscouncil2346@gmail.com. Meetings are held the 2 nd and 4 th Mondays at 7:30 PM. The Knights of Columbus Hall is also available for rental; please call with any inquires. The Hall is a great space for repasts, anniversaries and baby/bridal showers! 656 Page 5
St. Mary s Church is served by: Rev. Richard Berbary, Pastor Rev. Thomas Nicastro, Parochial Vicar Anthony G. Armando, DRE/Youth Minister, 973-667- 8239 armandoa@stmarysnutley.org Bruce Mauro, Music Director, b.mauro1@yahoo.com Patrick Perrone, Trustee Anne Scheidel, Trustee Mass Schedule Sundays 5:30 (Sat. evening) 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 Weekdays Masses in Parish Center Chapel 7:30, 12:10 (Monday - Friday), Holy Days 7:30 AM, 12:10 AM, 7:00 PM National Holidays 9:00 AM Parish Business Hours Parish Center: M-F, 9-4 Church Vestibule: Sat. 3-7 PM Sun. 9 AM-1 PM Phone Number: 973-235-1100 Confessions Saturdays, 4:30 to 5:15 or by appointment Novenas Miraculous Medal: Mon., 12:00 PM before Mass Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Weds., 7:00 PM in chapel Devotion to the Divine Mercy: Fri., 7:00 PM in chapel First Friday Novena: 1 st Friday of Month, 7:00 PM in the Chapel RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Adults who wish to receive Baptism, First Communion or Confirmation should contact Kristen Gawlik at the Parish Center or email kristen@stmarysnutley.org. Baptisms Baptisms are the third Sunday of each month, at 1:30 PM. Please call at least a month in advance to make arrangements. Baptismal prep classes will now be held on Saturday, the week before Baptisms (the second Saturday of the month), at 1:00 PM in the Parish Center Parish Membership Parishioners should register and should inform the Parish Center when moving from the parish. A Time of War and Peace We pray that our troops serving our country may be protected by the Holy Spirit, especially for Patrick Connors, Evan Keating, Collin Keating, Mark Nostro, Greg O Connell, David Nostro, Douglas Reiman, John Thompson and James Zaremba. A Time to Heal For all those who are sick or suffering, especially Joseph Lampariello and all those listed on our webpage at http://stmarysnutley.org/prayerpage.shtml A Time to Die For all those who have entered into eternal life, especially Vivian Toni Schrader A Time to Be Born For all those who have joined our Community through the Sacrament of Baptism, especially Luciana Isle Droz, Aria Alma Russomanno and Jada Katherine Lozada Readings for the Week of February 26, 2017 Monday: Sir 17:20-24; Ps 32:1-2, 5-7; Mk 10:17-27 Tuesday: Sir 35:1-12; Ps 50:5-8, 14, 23; Mk 10:28-31 Wednesday: Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-6ab, 12-14, 17; 2 Cor 5:20 6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Thursday: Dt 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 9:22-25 Friday: Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-6ab, 18-19; Mt 9:14-15 Saturday: Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32 Sunday: Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Ps 51:3-6, 12-13, 17; Rom 5:12-19 [12, 17-19]; Mt 4:1-11 This Week s Music 5:30, 9:00 and 12:00 NOON Prelude Seek Ye First 434 Gathering Holy, Holy, Holy 204 Gloria Mass of Renewal 864 Psalm, Alleluia and Gospel pg. 71-72 Offertory Love Has Come 483 Eucharistic Prayer Mass of Renewal 867 / 869 / 871 /872 Communion You Are Mine 455 Recessional Tell The Good News 386 Parish Collections - The February 19 th Collection was $8,678.00. We thank you for your generosity! BINGO Tuesday Evenings with the Early Bird Game starting at 7:15 PM in Msgr. Walsh Hall Good Shepherd Academy (973-667-2049; www.gsanutley.org) Our Catholic grade school sponsored by the Archdiocese of Newark Religious Vocations If you think you may have a vocation, speak to one of our priests, or call the Archdiocesan Vocations Office (973-497-4366). Care of the Sick Communion will be brought to any parishioner confined to home, upon request; those who are seriously ill, or weak from the burden of years, should request the Anointing of the Sick. Urgent calls will be attended immediately. Marriage Contact a priest to make arrangements. The Bishops have directed that the normal preparation time is a year or more. JPPC 656 Page 6