Third Sunday of Easter April 15, 2018 Pastoral Staff Pastor Father Vincent T. Euk Parochial Vicar Fr. John Chang Weekend Assistant Fr. Bill O Brien Deacons Tom Cechulski, Sr. Charles R. Daye, Jr. John Franey Gino (Louis) Esposito School Principal Sister Cherree Power, C.R. Religious Education Sr. Ann Norton, D.R.E. Linda Clayton Business Manager Deacon Gino Esposito Director of Music Emer O Mahony Youth Ministry Coordinator Sister Ann Norton Phone Contacts Rectory 732-363-4200 Convent 732-364-2361 School 732-364-4130 Religious Education 732-364-4137 Rectory Fax 732-370-3891 Rectory Office Hours: M-F 9:00-4:30 PM Second & Fourth Saturday 9AM 12:30 PM Baptisms: Every 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month,. Weekend Masses: Saturdays: 4:00 PM Sundays: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12 noon, 5PM Daily Masses: Mon-Fri 7:20 AM & 12 Noon, Sat: 8AM Holy Days: As announced in the bulletin. Healing Mass every first Friday at 7:30PM Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:45PM and before each Sunday Mass
Mass Intentions for this Week April 15, 2018 7:20 John Perez...Diane & Robert 12:00 Jean Graga.....Family TUESDAY 7:20 Ronald Roemer... Ron Cyndia & Kim 12:00 Anna Norton... Sodano Family WEDNESDAY 7:20 Peter Kamper... Mr. & Mrs. William Hackett 12:00 Lenny Weg... Gloria Galambos THURSDAY 7:20 Jovino Morte Sr.... Beatrice Morte & Sons 12:00 Robert Joseph Irwin... Joan & Michael Jordon Events for this coming Week 8AM Arlene Margaret Slinski... Antaki Family 4PM Int. of Paul & Jeff Lang... Mom SUNDAY 7:30 Robert Paris... Renee & Ryan 9:00 Mary Bernot... Chickie & Richard Augustenson 10:30 For the People of the Parish 12:00 Harry Megill... Kathy Tremper & Family 5:00 James Frank... Mossa Family Sanctuary Candle Week of April 15, 2018 Dec. members of DeMaio Family...Lauren & Ralph Chapel Candles-Week of April 15, 2018 Intentions of Joyful Praise Ministry See our website www.stveronica.com Sacrificial Offering Update Readings for the Week of April 15, 2018 Sunday: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 Jn 2:1-5a; Lk 24:35-48 Monday: Acts 6:8-15; Jn 6:22-29 Tuesday: Acts 7:51-8:1a; Jn 6:30-35 Wednesday: Acts 8:1b-8; Jn 6:35-40 Thursday: Acts 8:26-40; Jn 6:44-51 Friday: Acts 9:1-20; Jn 6:52-59 Saturday: Acts 9:31-42; Jn 6:60-69 Sunday: Acts 4:8-12; 1 Jn 3:1-2; Jn 10:11-18
Deacon s Thoughts Romans 12:4-5 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Today the demands upon the parish administration (pastors/priests) exceed how it really should be. There is the spiritual part and the administrative part and with the shortage of priests, the administrative part can become overwhelming with office work, budgeting, fundraising, maintenance, meetings, school, cooking and repairs and yet still celebrating Mass, bringing us the Eucharist, hearing confessions, visiting the sick, officiating at funerals, preaching, teaching, counseling and spiritual directing. Like any vocation this is a calling from God and an honor to serve. Today our pastors do far more than they were ever called to do or even trained to do. With attendance down and collection decreasing the administration has to take on more and more responsibility. In order to understand and appreciate this position you have to be a fellow shepherd. Other shepherds understand and know what a shepherd does, but the sheep may not. People frequently may be disappointed, largely due to a lack of understanding of what pastors and administration do and what is involved in running a parish. So many have a different opinion of what they think the pastor should do or how the parish should run, without realizing the hundreds of details involved and required. And then there is my favorite, the financial part which many do not want to hear about- you know the money talks! But finance is a major part of keeping our parish functioning so we have a place to gather, pray and receive the Eucharist together. I felt that way too whenever I heard the money talks from the pulpit. But now that I am involved on the business side of the parish, I understand the need for these talks. Ask yourself this question, Can I maintain my house or apartment without the proper funding, with expenses increasing and maintenance and repairs needed? The Church is not exempt. We don t receive discounts and we have to pay our bills too. If you take into consideration all that is involved in running a parish, it can be very stressful and hence why some pastors/priests step down. The bottom line is that we are in this together and not one person or persons are to be blamed when we experience a lack of growth and support. We hear about churches closing down or merging across the nation. We are in this together and through Unity within the Community, we can grow and prosper! The way a family runs a household together, working together, helping and making sacrifices, is the same for our Parish Family and Home. Yes, this is your home too, your parish home. If we don t work together and support the needs of our parish, whether it be spiritual, financial, volunteering, supporting and helping out when needed, we have no one to blame but ourselves when things are not going as they should. We are very grateful and thankful for all those who volunteer and support our parish in so many ways. We are thankful for our electricians, plumbers, landscapers, cleaners, environmental committee, carpenters, snow removers, music ministers, and various other ministries. Many are very humble and are never acknowledged. Without all of you it would be so much more difficult to be able to manage our parish. But the vineyard is big and the laborers are few. Sometimes our answer to a particular request may be no or not now, because it should be part of the bigger picture and a benefit to the entire community as a whole and not on an individual basis. When this happens, are we understanding rather than being upset? If we did not like the response, do we abandon our parish family, walking away from the vocation that we have been called to? We may never realize the price our pastors/priests have to pay to be our shepherds and the heartaches they endure to try to maintain our parishes while ministering to our souls. They are persons of great faith and prayer in order to overcome the challenges and criticisms. Jesus, the Great Shepherd, was a man acquainted with grief and sorrow, despised and rejected. How necessary it is that we pray for our pastors and priests, encouraging them, showing them love and support and not adding to their list of wounds. Today s Gospel (Luke 24:35-48) tells us how Christ opened the minds of the disciples to understand scripture. As we continue our Easter journey, let our prayer be an invitation for Jesus to come into our lives so that our minds and hearts will be opened, not only to God s word, but to the needs of our Church. Deacon Gino Let us pray for all our priests: O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear my humble prayers on behalf of our priests. Father, give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of their priestly lives. In their loneliness, comfort them, in their sorrows, strengthen them, in their frustrations, point out to them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified, and show them that they are needed by the Church, they are needed by souls, they are needed for the work of redemption. O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take into your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordination, and because of the power which they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them so much. Be their comfort, be their joy, and their strength. Amen.
OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Please Pray for Our Sick Theology of the Body Please join Fr. Euk on Sunday nights for a lecture series on the Theology of the Body. Meetings held in the Narthex at 6:30PM. Topics: 4/15 Purity of the Heart is the Discovery of Human Dignity. 4/29 Creating a Climate Favorable to Purity Life in the Spirit Seminar St Veronica's is hosting a 7 week Life in the Spirit Seminar, started Tuesday, April 10th. The talks and discussions will transform your life and fuel the fire for the Holy Spirit. Come experience renewal through God's Grace, Mercy and Love and ignite the Power of the Holy Spirit. For more information regarding this year s seminar, or to register email LISS@stveronica.com or call Mary Jean at 732-364-2815. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God Romans 8:14 It s Not Too Late to Join Us! Our Lady Undoer of Knots Please join us for the next rosary and novena to Our Lady Undoer of Knots on Friday, April 20, 2018 at 6:30 PM in the narthex of St. Veronica s Church. All are welcome. If interested, please call Sheila Maloney at 732-364-5566 so enough materials will be available. Thanks and we hope to see you then! Baptism Free Citizenship Preparation Attention qualified immigrants: Free citizenship preparation classes will be offered this summer at Donovan Catholic High School, St. Joseph s Parish, Toms River. Must have a green card, 5 yr. residency, and be able to speak, read and write English. Call Sr. Peggy Nulty at 732-998-3153 to pre-register. Testing and registration Mon., June 11th 6-8PM. Classes Tuesday & Thursday evenings June 19 July 26, 2018. Banns of Marriage Terrence O Rourke & Cecilia Liccione Bongartz June 9, 2018 Meagan O Malley & Daniel Kane (2) June 16, 2018
Goal- $200,000.00 To Date Donations: $41,764.00 NJ Right to Life Annual Banquet Dinner Nj Right to Life, the state s largest pro-life organization, will hold its annual Banquet Dinner on Friday, April 20, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick. The evening s event begins at 6:30PM and will feature 2008 Republican Vice Presidential Candidate and Governor of Alaska (2006-2009) Sarah Palin. Registration for the banquet must be made in advance and seats are on a first come, first served basis. Registration forms can be printed from the NJRTL website www.njrtl.org Or by phone at 732-562-0562 (during regular business hours). Please register now to reserve a seat. Adoration Chapel A Holy Hour helps the one in the world in most need of God s Mercy. A Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament repairs for the evils of the world. St. John Paul II Registered adorers insure our commitment to keep the chapel open 24/7. Give Him time and He will give Himself to you. Hours Most Needed: (others available) Sunday : 4AM, 7AM, 5PM Monday: 1AM, 8AM, 2PM Wednesday: 12 midnight Thursday: 2AM Saturday: 3AM, 10AM, 3PM, 7PM Contact Debbie drev514@aol.com or leave message 732-367- 7750. Sunday Brunch Please join us for our monthly brunch and friendship gathering. Sunday, April 15th directly following the noon Mass. All are welcome!! Annual Parish Plant Sale Fundraiser Thank you to all who supported our fundraiser last year and purchased all those beautiful plants. This year our plant sale will be held on May 5 from 1 PM to 5 PM. All types of plants and vegetables will be available for purchase. In order to ensure that everyone receives the plants and vegetables they want, this year we are also pre-ordering flats (13.00 per flat, no mixing of flats) which will be reserved and available for pickup on May 5 between 1 and 5 PM. Order forms are available in the narthex or at the rectory office, Orders must be received in the rectory by April 16th. No Greater Love No Greater Love, is a vibrant musical drama celebrating the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It will be performed at St. Justin the Martyr Church, 975 Fischer Blvd. Toms River, on Sunday, April 22, 2018, at 4:00PM. The Xavier Company is a unique group of Christian performing artists in residence at NYC s Saint Francis Xavier Church. Don t miss this captivating performance of No Greater Love that brings to life the timeless and sacred story of the Passion of Jesus Christ. There is NO admission fee, but there will be a freewill offering after the performance followed by refreshments in the Parish Hall. For further info contact the parish office at 732-270-3980. OUR NEEDS Volunteer Needed Brandywine Living of Howell is looking for a card player who can play poker with our seniors on Tuesday and Thursday from 3PM to 4PM. No money needed, we use chips. Please call Amy at 732-719-0100 ext. 2003 Needed Wheelchair accessible van. If you have one to donate, please call Deacon Gino at 732-363-4200.