THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF SAINT MARY GLOUCESTER CITY, NEW JERSEY 1848-2016 - ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE YEARS TOGETHER IN CHRIST THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD DECEMBER 25, 2016 MASS SCHEDULE SATURDAY: 4:00 P.M. (Vigil Mass) SUNDAY: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 A.M. WEEKDAYS: 8:00 A.M. SATURDAY MORNING: 9:00 A.M. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION SATURDAY: 9:30 A.M., 3:30-4:00 P.M. & By Appointment. REV. MSGR. WILLIAM A. HODGE, PASTOR REV. KEVIN J. MOHAN In Residence DEACON FRANK CROSSON DEACON DAVE MURNANE DEACON JOSEPH RAFFERTY SACRISTAN: CHARLES REED ST. MARY S RECTORY 426 MONMOUTH STREET GLOUCESTER CITY, N.J. 08030 856-456 - 0052 Fax: 856-456-1837 E-Mail: stmaryrectory@comcast.net Website: stmarysgloucestercity.org TRUSTEES: Michael McSweeney, Charlotte Brown CHOIR DIRECTOR: Joseph A. Gorman RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (CCD) COORDINATOR: Mary Kelly, 609-605-2765 Email: mkelly4reled@gmail.com VISITATION OF THE SICK Please call the Rectory if a parishioner is seriously ill and would like to receive the Sacrament of the Sick, Confession, and Holy Communion Knights of Columbus Council #674 Grand Knight: Phil Curran Meet 2nd & 4th Monday 8:00 PM Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Giese #439 Regent: Elaine McNutt Meet 1st Tuesday 7:00 PM Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians President: Mary Alice Conway Meet 2nd Thursday of the Month 7:00 pm. BAPTISM Baptisms are held on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month immediately following 11:30 A.M. Mass. Class for Baptism is held the 1 st Wednesday of every month at 7 PM in the Rectory. Parents, and Godparents if available, must attend. Any questions please call the Rectory at 456-0052. Please refer to our policy. POLICY FOR CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY In order to receive a Certificate of Eligibility to be a Godparent/Sponsor for Baptism or Confirmation, you must be a practicing Catholic registered in the parish. If married, you must be married in the church. You must attend Mass regularly. The use of your envelope each week will tell us that you are attending regularly. This will avoid problems or embarrassments in the future. MARRIAGES Arrangements must be made one year prior to the marriage date. Please call the Rectory. SOLEMN EUCHARISTIC ADORATION is held every Thursday at 12 noon. The Holy Eucharist is exposed followed by the Miraculous Medal Novena, Rosary, and Benediction. Intention is for an increase in Church Vocations. PARISH COUNCIL/FINANCE COUNCIL Meets every other Month at 7:00 P.M. in the Rectory Conference Room. All Parishioners are welcome. PARISH REGISTRATION We urge all worshipers to register at the Rectory. If you are moving or changing address, kindly notify the Rectory. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY Call the Rectory. Monday Friday, 9 A.M. 3 P.M.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24TH, 2016-CHRISTMAS EVE 9:00 A. M. PRIESTS & SISTERS OF ST. MARY S req. by Rae Whelan 4:00 P. M. JENNIE PENNINO & RAYMOND BOBIAK req. by Bea & Family RALPH J. SAUNDERS, JR. (Christmas Rem.) req. by Thomas & Melonie Kain & Family TRICIA KAIN SAUTER req. by Family MARC & KELLY LACAVARA (Christmas Rem.) req. by Mom & Dad SAMUEL CORCORAN (Christmas Rem.) req. by Wife & Family IRV BROWN (Christmas Rem.) req. by Wife Charlotte & Family 7:00 P. M. IRMA TINA WELSH (ANN. REM.) req. by Husband Kenneth AGNES & ANGELO BONANATO req. by Melissa & Angelina ROSE COSTANZA req. by Husband Sam JIM & RITA KAIN (Christmas Rem.) req. by Children & Grandchildren 10:00 P. M. TOMSHAW/COYLE FAMILIES (Christmas Rem.) req. by Family IVAR JERGENSEN & FRANCIS SHERRER (BIR. REM.) req. by Lynne & Chil dren SUNDAY DECEMBER 25TH, 2016-CHRISTMAS DAY-FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 9:00 A. M. DAMIAN GALLAGHER (Christmas Rem.) req. by Mom & Dad EMANUEL & MARIE SHODDER (Christmas Rem.) req. by Family LEWIS DICAMILLO (BIR. REM.) req. by Daughter Kathy JEAN HAGAN (Christmas Rem.) req. by Husband Bill & Family 11:00 A. M. SAUNDERS, PINE, & MORAN FAMILIES req. by Family GOHEEN & RICHARDS FAMILY req. by Family RICHARD & GRACE DEVINE req. by Family GENE FLORICH (20TH ANN. REM.) req. by Mike & Donna Florich PRIESTS & SISTERS OF ST. MARY S req. by The late Irv & Charlotte Brown JERRY FITZPATRICK req. by Mary & Joe Elliott MONDAY, DECEMBER 26TH. 2016 8:00 A.M. DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE DANTONIO FAMILY req. by Marge & Don Dantonio TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27TH, 2016 8:00 A.M. ANNIE DELHUNTY (ANN. REM.) req. by Family WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28TH, 2016 8:00 A.M. WILLIAM C. HAMACHER (35TH ANN. REM.) req. by Marge & Don Dantonio REV. FR. ROBERT J. DUNPHY req. by Msgr. Hodge THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29TH, 2016 8:00 A.M. PATRICK AREY SR. (BIR. REM.) req. by Ray & Cathy Kozej REV. MSGR. FELIX M. O NEILL req. by Msgr. Hodge FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30TH, 2016 8:00 A.M. PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31ST, 2016-NEW YEARS EVE 9:00 A.M. DAVID BILL KALT req. by Patricia 4:00 P.M. CLAIRE MURPHY req. by Family WILLIAM DOUGHERTY req. by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Clayton RALPH J. SAUNDERS, JR. req. by Mary & Joe Elliott SUNDAY, JANUARY 1ST, 2017 NEW YEARS DAY-SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD 7:30 A. M. FRANCIS X. MCCANN req. by Mr. & Mrs. Charles Foster 9:30 A. M. MARIE CANDILORA req. by Sue Franchi ANNE L. HEIMERL req. by Marge Laarkamp CARL HEIMERL req. by Marge Laarkamp 11:30 A. M. IRV BROWN req. by Lynne & Mark Jergensen HARRY BROWN & ANDREW WEYGAND req. by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Clayton
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS) CHRISTMAS STEWARDSHIP EVERY DAY And the Word became flesh JOHN 1:14A Jesus is God s ultimate gift of love to us. The countless other blessings that God showers upon us are nothing compared to the gift of His only Son. The only appropriate way for us to respond to such generous love is with our own generous love. When we become His STEWARDS, we dedicate our lives to sharing all the gifts God has placed in our hands, the peace of Christ truly will control our hearts and we will know Christmas joy every day. STEWARDSHIP Our collection for December 18th was Debt Collection was Egiving for December 11th was TOTAL GIVING for Dec. 18th was LAST YEAR December 20th, 2015 Giving: Difference 2015 to 2016: WEEKLY EXPENSES TO RUN PARISH: THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!! Please remember St. Mary s in your Will. Your legacy will be felt for generations to come. Thank you & God Bless You! Msgr. Hodge SANCTUARY CANDLE is burning in memory of JANICE LEGGE req. by Husband Rick ST. JOSEPH LAMP is burning in memory of TOMMY STEWART (Christmas Rem.) req. by Mom, Dad, Ryan, Dani, & Nick BLESSED MOTHERS LAMP is burning in memory of JO- SEPH STORMS, JR. (Christmas Rem.) req. by Wife Nancy & Children Please remember in your prayers CATHERINE E. HAGAN & DARLENE SOOY. May they rest in peace. Readings for the Week of December 25, 2016 Sunday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Ps 89/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Night: Is 9:1-6/Ps 96/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 97/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 Monday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31/Mt 10:17-22 Tuesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Ps 97/Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:5--2:2/Ps 124/Mt 2:13-18 Thursday: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96/Lk 2:22-35 Friday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17/Ps 128/Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96/Jn 1:1-18 Next Sunday: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21 Observances for the Week of December 25, 2016 Sunday: Nativity of the Lord Monday: St. Stephen, the First Martyr Tuesday: St. John, Apostle and Evangelist Wednesday: The Holy Innocents, Martyrs Thursday: St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr Friday: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Saturday: St. Saint Sylvester I, Pope Next Sunday: Mary, the Holy Mother of God; Octave of Christmas; New Year's Day; World Day of Peace GIFTS TO THE ST. VINCENT DEPAUL SOCIETY IN MEMORY OF MARY SKOWKOWSKI from Sheila & Joseph Ward GIFTS TO THE ST. MARY S DEBT REDUCTION FUND IN MEMORY OF TERRY ESTHER GLIGAR from Albert & Judy Anne Rusin. IN MEMORY OF RALPH J. SAUN- DERS, JR. from Frank and Caroline Hannold GIFTS TO ST. MARY S YOUTH MINISTRY IN MEMORY OF DOLORES JEAN DOYLE from Larry & Mary Luplante, John & Sue Nolan, Karen G. Kessler, Nancy & Mark Deberadinis, Sr., Ronnie & Bob Battersby & Family, Karl & Elizabeth Sherrer, Katie & Bowie Johnson IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS A great BIG THANK YOU to DARREN GONZALES and ATLAS ROOFING for their generous donation to the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Darren and his company make this yearly donation to help feed the poor at this time of the year. Please keep Darren and his staff in your prayers and we are blessed here at St. Mary s to have such wonderful, caring parishioners to help those less fortunate. God Bless You! A generous gift was made to the Parish Debt Reduction fund from the Ladies Ancient Order of the Hibernians. A generous gift was made to St. Mary s from the Catholic Daughters of America Court Giese #439.
BINGO There will not be a BINGO Game on Sunday, December 25th and Sunday, January 1st. January 29th is Bingo Team #2 Captains are Sean & Carla Herbert 856-397-0767 February 26th Bingo Team #3 Captain is Claire Marie Devereaux 856-456-5715 HOUSE OF CHARITY 2017 DID YOU KNOW - the House of Charity is a donor choice for many employee giving campaigns? Many businesses will begin their Employee Giving Campaigns this month and continue to solicit donations through the fall months. Employee Giving/ United Way campaigns give us an opportunity to direct our donations to the charities that best represents our beliefs, interests and social concerns. Ask your employer for a pledge card and be sure to: In the Donor Choice Section, designate the HOUSE of Charity Ask to be acknowledged! This ensures our parish will receive credit toward our House of Charity goal. If the agency requests a code for your donor choice these codes may be found on the House of Charity website under Employee Giving Campaign and in the Catholic Star Herald. Your donation to our House of Charity helps to build, support and maintain many programs, ministries and services throughout our parishes and communities. These programs save lives and build futures. Thank you so much for your past, present and future support of our House of Charity fundraising campaign. If you have any questions, please contact: Sheila McGirl House of Charity 856-583-6128. SEVEN SISTERS APOSTOLATE COMMITTED TO PRAYING FOR PRIESTS Seven Sisters: one holy hour/one priest/ each week/one heart of prayer. A new apostolate has begun here at St. Mary s Church and we are looking for women to commit to pray one hour a week in front of the Blessed Sacrament, either exposed or in the Tabernacle, for Msgr. Hodge s ministry and sanctification. For more information or to make a prayer commitment please contact Joanne Howey at 856-534-8344 QUEEN OF IRELAND RELIGIOUS ARTICLE STORE Gift certificates are NOW AVAILABLE for the Religious Article Store here at St. Mary s Parish behind St. Joseph s Altar. If you can t decide what to get a loved one from the store, you can now give them a GIFT CER- TIFICATE so they can come and browse and find something special. Please stop at the store after Mass or during the week from 8:30am-10:00am. Also, all items for sale in the store are being offered at a 10% discount during the season of Advent! LUCKY CALENDAR RAFFLE Lucky Calendar Raffles. Price is $25.00 per calendar for the entire year of 2017 with lots of great prizes! They make great Christmas Gifts and Stocking Stuffers! See any seller listed on the Big Board in the Blessed Mother Vestibule. RECTORY OFFICE The Rectory Office will be closed for the Christmas Holiday from Friday-Monday, December 23-26, 2016. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, December 27th from 9:00am-3:30pm. The office will also be closed for New Years from Saturday-Monday, December 31, 2016 to January 2, 2017. The office is closed everyday from 12-1 pm for lunch. Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL FROM THE ST. MARY S RECTORY STAFF. WISHING EVERYONE A BLESSED, JOYOUS, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS On behalf of myself, Fr. Mohan, Deacons Frank, Dave, and Joe, and the Parish Staff, I wish you and your family a very Blessed, Joyous, and Merry Christmas. This beautiful season of Christmas is all about receiving the greatest gift of all; Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; God s only begotten Son who came into the world to save us all. I wish the new born Savior s Blessing upon you and your family as we move forward into a New Year of service to our Church and to Jesus Christ. Thank you for all you do for St. Mary s, and please enjoy this Christmas Season with your family and friends. God Bless You, Msgr. Hodge
VITALITY CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE SERVICES Do you or someone you love need care at home? Contact the Diocese of Camden Home & Parish Healthcare Services Resource and Referral Help Line: 1-888-268-4825. A free and simple gateway to help at home for seniors and persons with disabilities seeking to remain healthy, safe and secure in their homes. ENGAGED ENCOUNTER Engaged Encounter is a weekend away with other engaged couples which allows plenty of time alone as a couple to dialogue honestly and intensively about your prospective life together. Ideas presented by a team of married couples and a priest or deacon stimulate personal reflection and private couple dialogue. Topics for discussions include: strengths and weaknesses, desires, ambitions, goals, attitudes about money, sexuality, children, family, your role in the church and society. The Sunday Mass celebration is an important part of the program. Weekends are held at Pope John Paul II Retreat Center in Vineland, NJ. All weekends begin promptly at 8 pm Friday evening and close by 3 pm Sunday afternoon. All meals and accommodations are included in the reservation fee of $395. Upcoming weekends: March 10-12, 2017 & June 9-11, 2017. For more information please contact the office by phone at 856-583-2903 or email: MarriagePrep@camdendiocese.org. MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER MARRIED COUPLES-WANT TO GIVE A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING? Register for a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend-it s the best gift you ll ever give to each other and your marriage! The next weekend is February 10-12, 2017. Questions? Need more information? Call our application couple at 609-741- 8012 or email applications@wwme-southjersey.org Visit our website at wwme-southjersey.org VOCATIONS Could God Be Calling You To The Priesthood? Fr. Michael Romano, Director of Vocations, is hosting a Young Adult Priesthood Discernment Group at Our Lady of Peace Parish Offices, 32 Carroll Ave., Williamstown. If you are currently a junior or senior in high school, college student or in the professional world (up to 39 years old), and feel the possible call to the priesthood, this group can help you discern and pray with others who are also considering the priesthood. All meetings are on Sundays from 2:00 3:30 pm. The schedule is as follows: January 8, 2017, February 5, 2017, March 12, 2017 and April 2, 2017. For more information, please call the Office of Vocations at 856-583-2858 or email: michael.romano@camdendiocese.org. SUPERMARKET GIFT CARDS Gift Cards for Shop Rite and Acme are always On-Sale in the church vestibule after Masses, and at the Rectory Office and at Sunshine Flowers and Gifts. This is a great fundraiser for St. Mary s Parish as we receive 5% of every purchase of the gift cards. Now is a great time of year to purchase them as you prepare to entertain for the NEW YEAR Holidays! COMING SOON-SAVE THE DATES St. Mary s Irish Week Activities Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Decorate your house & business Irish (contest) Sunday, March 5, 2017 St. Patrick s Irish Mass and Parade Friday, March 10, 2017 IRISH GOT TALENT Show Sunday, March 12, 2017 St. Mary s Irish 5K Run & Walk Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Ecumenical Service and Awarding of prizes for Irish House & Business Decorating Contest Friday, March 17, 2017 Knights of Columbus St. Patrick s Day Breakfast ; Traditional Full Irish Breakfast!! ****STAY TUNED TO FUTURE BULLETINS FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON EACH EVENT!
MASS SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTMAS & NEW YEARS CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES NEW YEARS EVE MASSES Saturday, December 24, 2016 Saturday, December 31, 2016 9:00 AM, 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, & 10:00 PM 9:00 AM & 4:00 PM Please note: There is no Midnight Mass. CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES NEW YEARS DAY MASSES Sunday, December 25, 2016 Sunday, January 1, 2017 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, & 11:30 AM SUPERMARKET GIFT CARDS Gifts cards for ShopRite and Acme are being sold as a fundraiser for the Church. The Church receives 5%