“Why are you testing me, you hypocrites ?”

--Matthew 22: 18

These Pharisees and Herodians thought they had come up with a foolproof plan to

ensnare Jesus. If He said that it was lawful to pay the census tax, the people would turn

against Him since they hated the tax. If He said that it was not lawful, He would be in

trouble with the Roman authorities. In order to look sincere, they prefaced their

question by flattering Jesus. But Jesus saw right through their plan and called them

on it.

Clearly, hypocrisy was something that angered Jesus. In a series of “woes,” He

called the religious leaders who opposed Him hypocrites for not following the very

precepts they were teaching (Matthew 23: 13—29). And in His Sermon on the Mount,

Jesus warns people not to pray or fast like “the hypocrites” who do it just to look good

in front of others ( Mt. 6:5, 16).

The word “hypocrisy” comes from the Greek word hypokrisis, which means acting

on a stage. When we are hypocritical, we are putting on an act, saying one thing and

then doing the opposite. But when our actions betray our words, we have to ask

ourselves if we really believe what we say we believe.

We are all susceptible to hypocrisy—it’s one of those unfortunate consequences of

our fallen human nature. For example, we might lecture our children about not

spending too much time on their screens, and then spend hours watching T.V. Or we

may claim that we are a team player at work, but then create division by criticizing a co-

worker.

It can be a painful process to search our consciences and discover ways in which

our actions aren’t lining up with our beliefs. But the Lord understands our struggles

and will forgive us and help us to change. Best of all, the more we are able to

authentically live out our Christian beliefs, the more we can become living witnesses to

Jesus—and the Kingdom He has ushered in.

Jesus, help me to act on what I say I believe.

--from: The Word Among Us

October 2020

TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

October 18, 2020

St. James the Greater

The Sanctuary Lamp this week burns in Memory of Orvil D. Jackson at the

Request of his Family

SATURDAY, October 24

8:00AM – Hannah Babey req. by Steve & Rose Babey THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME October 25 8:00AM – Pearle Kohol req. by Mike & Linda Spinapolice -Ann Silcox req. by Suzanne Laggy 11:30AM – Ann & Robert Lamb req. by their daughter, Peggy

ST. JAMES THE GREATER $ 490.00 – Regular Collection – October 11, 2020 $ 296.00 – Online Giving $ 98.00 – Diocesan Assessment $1,091.00 – Regular Collection – October 13, 2019 $ 195.00 – Diocesan Assessment $2,477.00 – Weekly Budget Need

Consider a gift to St. James Parish in your will. *******************************

For On-Line Giving: log onto our website: saintjamesthomas.org Then go to On-Line Giving link.

The 8:00am St. James Coffee Hour takes place the first Sunday of the month except for July, August and September. Postponed until further notice.

St. James Altar & Floral Society If any ladies in the parish are interested in joining, please call Joan Henn at 973-293-3690 or Linda Spinapolice at

973-293-7031.

We ask your continued prayers for the following men and women of our parish who are serving our country in the Armed Forces: Brandon Heimall, Mikey Heimall, Nicholas and Karissa Kealy, Joseph Mannion, Hunter Olenick, Christopher & Ana Sarao, Nicole Sarao, Peter Spinks and James Orr.

Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima Statue/Legion of Mary This beautifully adorned statue is a visible reminder of the love

God has shown in the Blessed Mother. Placing such a beautiful image in your home turns hearts to prayer and brings grace to

those who open their hearts to any image of God’s love. If you would like

to have the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in your home, or need any further information about the Legion of Mary in our parishes, please contact Diana, Legion of Mary, at 973-948-7601. Pray the Family Rosary

St. Thomas the Apostle

The Sanctuary Lamp this week burns in Memory of Kazimiera Szwajkiewicz at the

Request of John & Maria Babon

MONDAY, October 19 9:00AM – Ann Dunn req. by Jen Wycalek TUESDAY, October 20 9:00AM – Barbara & Charles Kientzler req. by their son, Charles WEDNESDAY, October 21 9:00AM – Richard Gray req. by his wife, Peggy THURSDAY, October 22 No Mass FRIDAY, October 23 9:00AM – Carol A. Pierson req. by her Family

SATURDAY, Vigil, October 24 4:30PM – Kenny Burkhardt req. by Linda Cole -Alice Heimall req. by the Heimall Family THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME October 25 9:30AM – Joseph Lorenzo req. by Geraldine Mahon & Family

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE $1,188.00 – Regular Collection – October 11, 2020 $1,287.00 – Online Giving $ 272.00 – Diocesan Assessment $2,287.00 – Regular Collection – October 13, 2019 $ 584.00 – Diocesan Assessment $4,410.00 – Weekly Budget Need

Consider a gift to St. Thomas Parish in your will. *******************************

For On-Line Giving: log onto our website: saintjamesthomas.org Then go to On-Line Giving link.

TO CHRIST THE DIVINE HEALER WE PRAY FOR: Vincent Chirico, Agnes Ciesielski, Mary Diaz, Michael Eiring, Bill Fulton,

Abigail Hirsch, Erin Hockenberry, Bill &Teresa Mantini, Joshua Murch, Richard Nowicki, Andy Puccio, Ginny Sabia, Shirley Strong, Jen Vaughn, Tarra Wagner, Casandra Westbrook and Ricky Wunder

As we begin the 2020/2021 Catechetical Year Two weeks ago we began/resumed our Religious Education sessions – on what will be a very different experience for all

of us – we do so in faith and prayer! It goes without saying, that the safety and health of our children, teens and catechists of our parishes is paramount. We will be taking every safety precaution we can to that end. Our on-site classes for this month are as follows: Grades 7 & 8 (Confirmation Prep) – Sun., Oct.18 – 9:30AM Mass until 12:30PM. Grades 2 & 5 – Tues., Oct. 20 – 4:00PM until 5:30PM Grades 4 & 6 – Wed. Oct. 21 - 4:00PM until 5:30PM Grades 1 & 3 – Thurs., Oct. 22 – 4:00PM until 5:30PM *For children in Grades 1 through 6 – every other week the lesson will be taught at home. Parents of first children entering first grade (younger first-grade siblings can be registered with older siblings), new children to the parish, or children enrolled in Catholic school or home school who will be preparing to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Eucharist or Confirmation must call the Religious Education Office at 973-948-7004 to register. To enroll your child(ren) in the parish program, you must be a registered and participating member of the parish. For all those who are not already registered, please return your registration ASAP so your children may begin to attend. All families who are already registered have received important information in the mail. We look forward to the start of a new catechetical year and sharing this wonderful ministry with you as we spread the Gospel message to the children and young teens of our parishes entrusted to us.

Praying the Rosary Together In this month of the Holy Rosary, set aside time to pray the Rosary together as a family. This traditional, meditative prayer is a wonderful way to find calm before bedtime or to start your day. The Rosary is, at its heart, a biblical prayer, which is why Scripture verses are used for meditation with each mystery. Your children and teens have received a rosary and pamphlet inside their folder on the “Take Home” side to assist you in this holy and spiritual endeavor! Saying the Rosary includes the following prayers, in the presented order:

Make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles’ Creed. Pray an Our Father. Pray three Hail Marys and one Glory Be. Announce the mystery and pray the Our Father. Pray ten Hail Marys and one Glory Be. Pray the hail, Holy Queen.

77th Celebrate October October 22 – Pope St. John Paul II ~ Pope John Paul II was born 100 years ago and was one of the great recent popes. Parents and Grandparents – share some of your memories of this modern day saint with your family!

Catholic Zoomers 7th Grade through High School Teens are welcome to attend our next get together at Our Lady Queen of Peace on Sunday, October 25th from 6pm- 8pm. It’s Movie Night…featuring BREAKTHROUGH. Please come down to the Youth Group for an evening of fun and friendship! Social distancing will be observed and masks are required! For more information, please call Mary Flexer at 862-268-1876. From the R.C.I.A. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process: The R.C.I.A. sessions are for adults and are for faith sharing and instruction. The sessions are approximately sixty to ninety minutes to be held at the convenience of all participants. There is no cost for the R.C.I.A. Don’t wait any longer to invite others to be Baptized Catholic! Don’t wait any longer to become a fully initiated member (Sacraments of: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation) of the Catholic Church! Don’t wait any longer to have your questions answered! Call the Religious Education Office at 973-948-7004 and your call will be returned as soon as possible. The St. Thomas Food Pantry is in need of the following: Boxed only of rice, stuffing and potatoes, mac & cheese and cereal. No pasta sauce or pasta, please. Thank you.

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUNDAY READINGS HIS WORD TODAY by Rev. William J. Reilly Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 18, 2020 “I have called you by your name, given you a title, though you knew me not. I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me... We give thanks to God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love, and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ... Knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen.” Piecing together these words of Isaiah and Paul, may we reflect upon them. Perhaps we can create an image, as we picture someone – a family member or friend, a religious sister, brother or priest, a fellow parishioner – to whom we wish to direct these words, for they seem to describe them well. We move now to ourselves, and wonder, how well do they apply to me? I know I have been chosen and called. My baptism tells me this. The follow up is so important as we live our faith and produce our labor of love. Think of Paul’s word that you are ‘loved by God’ and the response He wishes and expects from us.

This Week in Our Parishes STC – St. Thomas Church or Fr. Lewis Center

SJC – St. James Church or Church Hall

REC – Fr. Gacquin Religious Ed Center

Sunday, October 18

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

9:30 a.m. STC Confirmation: Mass & Class

Monday, Oct. 19

11:00a.m. REC Prayer Shawl & Ros. Makers’ Mtg.

Tuesday, Oct. 20

4:00 p.m. REC Relig. Ed. Gr. 2 & 5

Wednesday, Oct. 21

4:00 p.m. REC Relig. Ed. Gr. 4 & 6

Thursday, Oct. 22

4:00 p.m. REC Relig. Ed. Gr. 1 & 3

Friday, Oct. 23

Saturday, Oct. 24

Sunday, October 25

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

* * * * * * * * * * Next Sunday’s Readings: 30th Ord

1st Reading: Exodus 22: 20--26

Resp. Psalm: Psalm 18

2nd Reading: 1 Thes. 1: 5c—10

Gospel: Matthew 22: 34—40

* * * * * * * * * *

FORMED.org: an excellent way to grow in our faith. It can help you learn more about: the lives of the saints,

doctrines, history, current issues of our faith. Free to

you as a parishioner, and available through all devices.

Simply go to our parish website:

saintjamesthomas.org. At the home page, scroll

down to the FORMED banner to register or login.

Suggestions from FORMED:

Oct. 22: Saint Pope John Paul II

Movie: John Paul II: I Kept Looking for You

Movie: Pope John Paul II

Movie: The Jeweller’s Shop

Movie: John Paul II in America

Italian Dinner Extravaganza. Our Knights of

Columbus are cooking up a first event for one lucky

family of our parish. They are holding a raffle

where the winner invites the whole family to a specially

cooked and served 4-course Italian Dinner in our Father

Lewis Center. Meal includes salad, sausage & meatballs,

spaghetti, wine & soda, dessert, coffee & tea. The date

is Sunday, November 15, from 2 p.m. till 5 p.m. in the

Fr. Lewis Center. Raffle tickets are $ 5.00 and are sold

after Masses or from the Parish Office. (The more tickets

you take, the more chances to win.) Winner gets to

invite up to 20 family members for the dinner. Let’s

bring back Sunday Family Dinner.

Hospice Care. Our local Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice

is presenting a free Zoom workshop. It is open to all

parishioners who would like to know more about the

services they offer to those facing serious illness.

Entitled: “What is Hospice ?,” it will be an overview

about: what to do when you or a loved one is facing a

serious illness, and what are the varying elements of

hospice services and end of life care. The Zoom meeting

takes place, through your computer, on Wed. Oct. 21 at

1:00 p.m. The Zoom Meeting ID is: 883 8790 6221.

Passcode is: 559599.

For more info call 973-383-015 ext. 123.

March for Life. This is early notice that Our Lady

Queen of Peace Church in Branchville invites us to join

them in a local March for Life. It will be a procession

through the main streets of Branchville, demonstrating

our belief in the sacredness of all human life. The day,

Friday, January 29, begins with Mass at O L Q P at 10 a.m.

Then, with police escort, we will proceed across Route

206 and through the town. After the march there will

be a viewing of the film: Unplanned back at the church.

Family and friends are welcome to be witnesses and

voices for life.

Diocesan Ministries Appeal. This Appeal is the

major source of funding for all the agencies of Catholic

Charities of our Diocese, as well as covering the costs of

seminarian education, and assisting the finances of

Nazareth Village, the retirement home of priests of the

Paterson Diocese. The goals we must reach are: St.

Thomas: $ 6,480. and St. James: $3,506. Please help

our Diocese in its work of spreading the love of Jesus.