MONDAY, April 3, 2017 7:00 AM Shirley Collins, r/o John Atcachunas 8:45 AM Arlene C. Banasiak, r/o Rosemarie Saraco TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 7:00 AM Cecelia Butwel, r/o Susan Endler 8:45 AM Helen Stanislawczyk, r/o Genevieve Buczynski WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 7:00 AM Jason Stone, r/o Patrice Johanson & Family 8:45 AM Catherine Higgins, r/o Michele Boccadoro-Higgins THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 7:00 AM Miriam & Norman Jorgensen, r/o Family 8:45 AM Kimberly Holmes, r/o Susan Facciponti FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 7:00 AM Sick, Dying & Purgatory Souls, In Honor of St. Joseph 8:45 AM Joseph Lieggi, r/o SJV HSA 7:00 PM Stations of the Cross SATURDAY, April 8, 2017 8:00 AM Brigido N. Esquejo, r/o Esquejo-Ferrer Family 5:00 PM Kathryn Westcott, r/o Talarico Family 7:00 PM Chris Lynch, r/o Hesse Family SUNDAY, April 9, 2017 7:00 AM Lina Barth, r/o SJV Prayer Group 9:00 AM Anna Terranova, r/o Altar Rosary Society 10:45 AM Living and Deceased Members of our parish 12:15 PM William Higgins, Sr., r/o Michele Boccadoro-Higgins Remember and pray for the sick of the parish, those who are hospitalized, and their caregivers: Gloree Parker, Alex Perialis, Vincent Dell Aquila, Margaret Batista, Olivia Pullen, Jane Cordi, Andrew Rodriguez, Rose Thompson, Hailey Noble, Annie Panaccione, Hugh McCague, Salvatore Aloe, Michelle Valian, Josh Estenes, James Red Dwyer, Nicholas, Jacqueline McDonough, Mary Bowkley, Baby Matteo, Ronald Kutsy, George Wittmann, Andrew Merlo, Millie Calandriello, Rosie Catalon, Terry Briante, Lisa Auerbach, Judith McCabe, Danny Sheldon, John Mihalko, Artie Palumbo, Eileen Reilly, Baby Lucas DeCarlo, Bethany Ciccarelli, and please remember our service men and women in your prayers. The Bread and Wine have been offered in loving memory of Maria Stingeni From Joanne Streck and Fred DiLorio From The Galipo Family The Sanctuary Light Has Been donated in loving memory of Catherine & William Higgins, Sr. From Michele Boccadoro-Higgins & Sons GOD S PLAN FOR GIVING Collection for the weekend of 3/26/17 was $13,913.25 May God bless you for your generosity. Let s Not Forget Annual Collection for Retired Priests The second collection next weekend, Palm Sunday April 8/9, is for the Fund for our Retired Diocesan Priests. This collection is exclusively for the benefit of our 26 retired priests, as well as for our active priests upon their retirement. May your generosity to this collection reflect your gratitude and love for our retired priests who have been dedicated and faithful to their priesthood over the years. Let s not forget. e welcome our littlest members born to new life Baptized in water and the Holy Spirit March 26, 2017 FRANCESCA ADELISE NARDONE Child of John and Tracey Taylor Nardone JACOB HENRY SOKOWSKI Child of Sean Sokowski, Sr., and Lisa Ruszkowski Next Baptismal class will be April 18th 2017. Please call the Rectory to register. CONFESSIONS DURING LENT: Sat. 11AM to 12 NOON After Sat. 7PM Mass *Also during Holy Week see schedule below Let us pray for our recently departed brothers and sisters, especially: Michelle Beck, and reward them a place in heaven and eternal rest. PARISH BREAKFAST NEXT SUNDAY AFTER 9AM MASS. HOSTS ARE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL ARE WELCOME!! SJV SENIORS Come join us for our next meeting on April 5 th at 2:30 PM. Sinatra and Friends will be entertaining us. Don t forget cereal for Ozanam Family Shelter where many homeless are cared for. PARISH MISSION AT ST. JOHN VIANNEY APRIL 3 5 AT 7:00 PM Fr. Edwin Leahy will be speaking on a Lenten theme.
CHRISM MASS ON St. John Vianney School News MONDAY APRIL 10, 2017 AT 7:30 PM CATHEDRAL OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, METUCHEN On Monday, April 10 th 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. Saint Ambrose (340-397) began this custom which we now call the Chrism Mass in his Cathedral in Milan. 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 infirm 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. Holy Week at SJV Parish During Holy Week our parish is offering the following spiritual opportunities: Parish Tenebrae Service, Tuesday April 11th at 7:30 pm in the church. This year we will be holding the service in the evening! The distinctive ceremony of Tenebrae is the gradual extinguishing of candles while a series of readings and psalms are recited and chanted. Our adult choir will be leading us in the sung portion of the service. Plan on joining us as on Tuesday evening Holy Week! Students in Grades 1-8 will be taking the Terra Nova tests from Monday through Thursday this week. Please be sure your child gets plenty of rest, has breakfast each day, and arrives to school on time. Report cards will be sent home with the students on Thursday, April 6. Please join us at our Open House on Saturday, April 8, from 10:00 AM to 12 noon. Meet our faculty and staff and tour our building. Openings are still available in grades K- 8 for the 2017-2018 school year. Come and see all that St. John Vianney School has to offer! Just a reminder that students may not begin wearing the summer uniform until April 15. So summer uniforms will not be worn until we return from our Easter break. Now that the weather is getting nicer, we have a few reminders for everyone. First of all, no pets are permitted on the school grounds at any time. Also, we would ask that you do not linger outside the building after dismissal. The playground area is used by aftercare. Children should not be running on the church steps or around the area in front of the church. We appreciate everyone s cooperation in these matters. Pre-School News Our next Open House will take place on Saturday, April 8, from 10:00 AM to 12 noon. Our teachers will be happy to answer your questions and give you all the information you need regarding our Pre-School curriculum. Registration forms will be available. We still have some spaces available for our Pre-School classes for the 2017-2018 school year. Morning Prayer- Holy Thursday- Good Friday-and Holy Saturday at 8:45 am in the church. Come and pray each morning the official Morning Prayer of the Church. They consist of a hymn, psalms, a reading from scripture, reflection, and intercessory prayers. Join with the universal Church in offering these Morning Prayers during the Easter Triduum. *Confessions: 11 AM to 12 Noon on these days. Good Friday at 3 PM: Solemn Celebration of the Lord s Passion Holy Saturday at 12 Noon: Blessing of Easter Food (in cafeteria) Easter Vigil at 8 PM (Note: No 5 or 7 PM Masses) All are welcome to join us!!! YOUTH GROUP MINISTRY Want to see your friends run a meeting? Come this Sunday to a youth led youth group meeting! What does that mean? Come play games selected by your peers, participate in small group questions created by your peers, answer shared prayer questions generated by who? Your peers! We are meeting in Trailer D from 7:00-8:30pm. We will have FOOD including pizza, home made brownies, and more. We will have games, small groups, and more! Still not sold? Come pick up your "Tooling Around the Township" permission slip and learn how you can be part of an Extreme Home Makeover right here in your home town! This place ROCKS! See you soon!!
MUSIC MINISTRY NEWS Adult Choir Many thanks to all those in or adult choir for doing such a beautiful concert in church last Sunday afternoon!! Your hard work and dedication have really paid off!!! We are continuing to practice for Holy Week and Easter!! We are always looking for new people to join with our very dedicated group!! We welcome all adults (And high school students) to be part of our choir! The adult choir sings weekly at the 9:00 a mass (And once a month at the 10:45 am mass). We practice each Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:00 Pm in the church. Our next rehearsal will be on Tuesday April 11th!! Children s Choir Thanks to all those children who came out to enhance the 10:45 am liturgy last Sunday! Our children s choir is now practicing for Easter!! We will sing at the 9:00 am mass Easter Sunday!! We practice on Tuesday afternoons from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in the church. We sing twice a month at either the 9:00 or 10:45 am mass! All students from grade 2 and up are welcome to join our group!! Our next rehearsal will be on Tuesday April 4th!! All children and their families are invited to join us for the parish Easter Egg Hunt which will be held after the 9:00 am mass on Easter Sunday!! Folk Group Our Parish Folk Group enhances the 12:15 liturgy each week. The Folk Group is under the direction of Ms. Jennie Esposito. Rehearsals are held weekly at 11:15 Am in the conference room adjacent to the church gathering area. Jennie is always looking for more singers as well as instrumentalists to join with the Folk Group! Teenage/College Group This group of young adults in the parish generally enhances the 12:15 Pm mass on the fourth Sunday of each month. Rehearsal is held at 11:15 am in the conference room. If you sing or play an instrument, then this group is for you!! Please speak to Jennie Esposito after 12:15 pm for more information on both groups!! You can contact me at jframeiii@yahoo.com with any questions, Jamie Frame Dir. Of Music/Organist RICE BOWL ENCOUNTER RESILIENCE We encounter Dita in Ethiopia, and see how her newfound entrepreneurial skills are providing three meals a day for her children even- during a devastating drought. What skills have you discovered this Lent that can be put to good use in building God s kingdom? Visit crsricebowl.org for more. SJV Parish Easter Plant Sale!!! All your favorite Easter flowers will be for sale after all masses the weekend of April 8 th and 9 th!! The flowers will include: Easter lilies, tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, pansies and hydrangeas!! All proceeds will benefit your church and parish! More information in next week s bulletin! PRO LIFE Maternity donations can be dropped in the crib in the foyer of the church. Both new (especially diapers size 3 to 6) and gently used items are accepted. Please continue to remember the children and families who are helped with your donations. If you have larger items, please call Carolyn at 732-381-0499 to arrange for pickup. Thank you for your continued generosity. CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES April 4 (7 PM): Bishop Ahr, Edison. For more info call 732-549-1108 x 620 April 5 (7 PM): Union Catholic, Scotch Plains For more info call 908-889-1600 X 302 Annual Parish Easter Egg Hunt!!! All families are invited to join us for our parish Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday April 16 th following the 9:00 am mass. The hunt will begin at Mary s Island (In front of SJV School) where bags will be provided!! All are welcome to join us for this fun event!!!
Marriage Encounter Weekend A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend gives you the time and tools to revitalize romance, deepen communication, and nourish the spirituality in your marriage. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend will be held April 28-30. Early registration is advisable as space is limited. Phone 1-732-904-9636 for registration and information. Visit us at: www.aweekendforyourmarriage.org for more information. PILGRIMAGES WITH FATHER JOSEPH POLAND S BEST MAY 26 JUNE 4, 2017 & FATIMA, LOURDES WITH BARCELONA OCTOBER 15 24, 2017 Contact Fr. Joseph at 732-574-0150 or Phyllis Gomulka at 732-566-4115 Website: www.sjvianney.com CALLING ALL YOUNG ADULTS (18-39)! What is your deepest desire? Is it to live a happy and meaningful life? This retreat series is for all young adults who want to live life to the fullest in peace and joy! Consisting of 5 afternoons of prayer between October and June, the series has been revitalized from previous years and each afternoon will focus on one aspect of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. Suggested Offering for Sunday afternoons $10. Sunday, June 4, 2017 2:00 7:00pm Love & How God Loves Us June 23-25, 2017 Weekend to End the Series All retreats will be held at Loyola Jesuit Center, 161 James Street, Morristown, NJ. To register, please call 973-539-0740, email: retreathouse@loyola.org or visit www.diometuchen.org/young-adult-retreats Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God? JOHN 11:40 Many of us say that we believe in God. We go to church on Sunday. We volunteer for events at our parish. But when life gets hard, the pressure is on, things aren t going our way, do we really believe, do we really put our trust in the Lord? When we live a life of gratitude, being thankful for the gifts we have been given, we really do see that God is providing all that we need. A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUNDAY READINGS HIS WORD TODAY by Rev. William J. Reilly O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land, that you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised and I will do it says the Lord. We are drawing closer to the celebration of the Paschal Mystery, recalling the passion, the dying and resurrection of Christ. The prophet Ezekiel and the raising of Lazarus, allow us to focus more clearly on the promise made to us of Jesus giving us His spirit and foretelling our final destiny and life with Him. As I find comfort in the promise, may I also realize that I have to open my heart to receive what the Lord offers. His spirit is not forced upon me, but is given to those who earnestly ask for it. Like a gift that is given, I must reach out to accept it. A small child opens arms wide to be picked up and held. May I become like that child, reaching out for the Lord, as I continue my Lenten walk. His spirit is given that I may live, and I wish to live that life in abundance.
Lenten Obligations 1. The days of fast and abstinence are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. 2. All other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. 3. The obligation of fast applies only to Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59. Fasting in the Catholic tradition means to limit oneself to one full meal and two smaller meals which together are not equal to a full meal, so as to experience hunger. 4. The obligation of abstinence applies to all Catholics who have reached the age of 14. Abstinence in the Catholic tradition means to abstain from meat. Catholic Charities-Diocese of Metuchen Please consider supporting our local poverty relief services by donating gently used clothing, shoes, household items and small appliances to Catholic Charities-Diocese of Metuchen. Clearly marked donation boxes are available in more than 30 locations throughout our four-county diocese. For a complete list of drop-off locations, visit http://www.ccdom.org/how-you-can-help/clothing-donation-drop-boxes. If you have an item that is too big to fit in a donation box, call 877-343-3651 to arrange for a free pick up at your home. Open Your Heart and Home to a Foster Child Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen is seeking loving families to foster children of all ages, who have been abused, neglected or have had multiple out of home placements, through its Treatment Family Homes Program, contracted by New Jersey s Department of Children and Families. The goal for the children in this program is to leave foster care and achieve permanency through reunification with their families, adoption, or independent living. Catholic Charities provides these resilient children with individual and family therapy, assistance with educational and medical needs, and independent living skills to help them reach their full potential. Applicants must have adequate space for a child and complete a home study which includes background checks, references, interviews, and a home inspection. All Catholic Charities licensed families receive initial and ongoing specialized training, 24 hour emergency access to staff, respite services, monthly reimbursement for the child s expenses and support from experienced families. For more information about the program, please visit www.ccdom.org or contact Miguelina Nunez at 866-247-HOME (4663) or at mnunez@ccdom.org. ELCOME! Our warmest welcome to all who celebrate with us, whether long time residents or newly arrived in the parish. We thank God for you. If you are not registered, please fill out the form below & place in the collection basket or mail to the rectory. Name Address Phone New Address Send Envelopes