Our Lady Queen of Peace

Rev. Edward G. Rama Pastor FatherEd@OLQPBranchville.org

Rev. Brian Ditullio In Residence FatherBrian@OLQPBranchville.org

Mrs. Jennifer Durso Office Manager Office@OLQPBranchville.org

Mrs. Diana Rimshnick Coordinator of Religious Education RelEd@OLQPBranchville.org

Mrs. Margaret Moeckel Music Minister MargaretWM@OLQPBranchville.org

Mass Schedule Saturday: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM Daily: 8:00 AM (Monday-Saturday) Holydays: 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM

Reconciliation: Saturday: 3:45 PM-4:45PM After All Masses During Eucharistic Adoration (Mon & Fri) Anytime by Appointment

Devotions: Miraculous Medal Novena Monday morning before the 8:00 AM Mass Eucharistic Adoration: Mondays: 7:30 PM-8:30 PM, Fridays: 8:30-9:30 AM Rosary: After every morning Mass (Mon-Sat) First Saturday Devotion to Our Blessed Mother: First Saturday of every month after the 8:00 AM Mass

We have been a Roman Catholic parish family since 1951, with a call to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in both word and deed, and in all our relationships and responsibilities. We encourage our members to embrace a lifestyle marked by Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure, engaging in active support of our ministries of the Word, Worship, and Service. We welcome visitors and all who wish to join us as new members; please call the parish office for more information on becoming a member of our parish family.

209 US Highway 206 Branchville, NJ 07826

Sunday, February 26, 2017 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-2:00 PM

Parish Office: (973) 948-3185 Fax: (973) 948-4799

Website: OLQPBranchville.org

24 Hour Eucharistic Adoration For the Season of Lent

Friday March 3rd 8:30 am to Saturday 8:00 am.

We are offering a 24-hour day of Eucharistic Adoration beginning the

season of Lent. Starting on Friday, March 3rd after the 8:00 am Mass & ending Saturday morning before the 8:00 am Mass. See the sign-up sheet at the rear entrance of the church. Come & spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Ash Wednesday Schedule Wednesday, March 1, 2017 8:00 am Mass with Ashes 3:30 pm Service with Ashes

7:00 pm Mass with Ashes

Stations Of The Cross Every Friday in Lent

7:30 pm –8:30 pm

Come join us for Stations of the Cross

and Eucharistic Adoration. Let us enter

into the Season of Lent by walking with

Jesus, the way of the Cross

Welcome Home To Healing

Monday during Lent, March 6th to April 3rd 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

“Welcome Home” is a diocesan initiative to invite all Catholics to experience the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confession is a wonderful opportunity to set aside our sinful ways and to draw closer to our Lord. Confessions will be held every Monday during Lent, from March 6th to April 3rd, from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in every Catholic Church in the Diocese of Paterson. Don’t be afraid! Information will be provided. Ask the priest to help you. Experience the gracious mercy of God! www.WelcomeHomeToHealing.org

Mass Intentions

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25TH 8:00 AM INTENTIONS OF GREG & KATHY SHAW (GREG SHAW) 5:00 PM NICHOLAS A. MARINO (THE FAMILY) SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26TH 8:00 AM RICHARD CLAYTON (THE OPITZ FAMILY) 9:30 AM PEARL M. FISCHER (LINDA & ERIC SPACE) 11:00 AM PEOPLE OF THE PARISH

MONDAY 8:00 AM ART ROSARIO (THE MCNAMARA FAMILY) TUESDAY 8:00 AM INTENTIONS OF PATRICIA KEELEY WEDNESDAY ASH WEDNESDAY 8:00 AM ALL SOULS IN PURGATORY 7:00 PM INTENTIONS OF GREG & KATHY SHAW (GREG SHAW) THURSDAY 8:00 AM JEAN EVKO (THE FAMILY) FRIDAY 8:00 AM GLORIA FEDUS (DENICE LUSCIK)

SATURDAY MARCH 4th 8:00 AM INTENTIONS OF CARMAN SANCHEZ (THE FAMILY) 5:00 PM PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY MARCH 5th 8:00 AM MADELINE SWISS (DEAN & MADELINE SANFILIPPO) 9:30 AM TIMOTHY PIZZUTE (LINDA & ERIC SPACE) 11:00 AM VINCENT RAMA (THE RAMA FAMILY)

MEMORIALS The week of February 26th the Sanctuary Lamp burns for:

Helen Centorcelli

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time February 26th

Please remember in your prayers

Geraldine Czarkowski, Monica Carrico, Hap Rowan, Patricia Poole, Carmen Sanchez, Patricia Fiss, Clarence Roberts, Joe Foster, Susanne Fernicola, Lisa Dorans, William Pagano, Molly Russo,

Ellen Nowicki, Helene Ventrudo, Joseph Mayers, John Crisman, Margaret Johnson, Sonny Mastrelli, Stacey Moore, Philip Baccari, Marilyn Vesper, Sue Bartsch, Kathy Flores, Laura Schaefer, Ben Sellitto & Family, Dottie Hilt

ALTAR FLOWERS MEMORIALS The week of February 26th the Altar Flowers are presented for:

Mary Grochowski

March 4th & March 5th

5:00 PM Debbie Carter

8:00 AM Bob Mayer

9:30 AM Rick Hahn

11:00 AM John McDermott

Altar Server Schedule

March 4th & March 5th

5:00 PM Maddie & Pat

Kelleher

8:00 AM Brian O’Connor &

Josh Pappa

9:30 AM Chris Pirrello

11:00 AM Andrew Opitz

Weekly Collection

Sunday Collection 2/18& 2/19 $3,347 Diocesan Assessment $1,149 Estimated Weekly Expense $6,500 Shortage $2,004

Envelopes Mailed: 237

Envelopes Received: 114

*If you are not already doing so, please use your envelopes each week. Only contributions in your numbered envelope are recorded for documentation required by the IRS.

Please remember our Parish in your will.

Feb. 25th & Feb. 26th

5:00 PM Elenor Reilly

8:00 AM Rick Hahn

9:30 AM Andrew Opitz

11:00 AM Tom Hudak

Feb. 25th & Feb 26th

5:00 PM Chris Pirrello

8:00 AM Maddie & Pat

Kelleher

9:30 AM Nico Albanese

11:00 AM Carly Studt

Parish Pilgrimage to Canada

Monday June26th- Friday June 30th

We will leave Monday morning from

Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish by

bus and arrive in Three Rivers,

Canada. We will be staying at The Shrine of Our Lady

of The Cape for 4 nights. The Pilgrimage will include

a day trip to Montreal & St. Joseph’s Oratory along

with a stop in Quebec City and The Basilica of St. Ann

de Beaupre.

$575 per person (double occupancy)

$690 per person (single occupancy)

Breakfast & Dinner meals in Canada, hotel room,&

transportation is included.

Brochures in the back of the Church

Pilgrimage Chaplains: Father Ed & Father Brian

Come & join us this summer for Our Parish Pilgrimage

to Canada. (You will need a passport).

Catholic School Happenings

On Tuesday, February 14th, Reverend Brown’s KTAC group (Kids Take Action Club) hosted a sale of small handmade items, made by RB students, to raise money for Mary's Meals.

Mary’s Meals is an organization that provides meals to over 1 million students every day in the most impoverished areas on earth. By providing the food in a school setting, the intent of Mary’s Meals is not only to give students food, but also give them a chance at a better future. This grass roots effort involves the whole community in the production and distribution of the meals.

For the past two years, Reverend Brown School has sponsored a school through Mary’s Meals, this is the Scanlin Evangelical School in Liberia. The goal is to raise $1,700.00 to continue our sponsorship for another year. It only costs $19.80 to feed a child for a year. In addition to the KTAC Marketplace, Reverend Brown’s students are collecting canned goods. For more information about Mary’s Meals, go to Marysmeals.org

From the Desk of Father Ed:

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we celebrate the 8th Sunday in Ordinary

Time. It is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time before we

begin the Season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 1.

Our Gospel this weekend is again from St. Matthew,

the sermon on the mountain. Jesus was teaching his

disciples to trust in the Father’s care and not to be

anxious about worldly things. The Father knows

everything and because He is a caring and loving Father

we are to rely on Him alone and place our complete

trust in his providence.

Jesus tells us in the Gospel this weekend, “...seek first

the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all

these things will be given you…” Jesus tells us not even

to worry about tomorrow. Our Lord wants us to have

his peace knowing that God cares for us and will help

us with our material needs. For our part we must work

at seeking his kingdom, that is, to be true disciples of

Jesus and children of the Father.

In a few days we begin the Season of Lent, which is a

time of grace upon grace where our Lord wants to help

us to seek and find his kingdom. He wants to assist us

in the areas of our lives where we struggle to grow in

holiness and to be faithful disciples. Enter into the

Season of Lent by going to the Sacrament of

Reconciliation, attending daily Mass, walk the Way of

the Cross on Friday evenings with Stations of the Cross,

spend quiet time with the Lord during our 24 hour

Eucharistic Adoration this Friday. Enter into the Season

of Lent guided by the Church’s wisdom of prayer,

fasting, and almsgiving.

Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us, Father Ed, Pastor

Calendar Event 2/26 Sunday Catholic Teens Meeting 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. 2/27 Monday Eucharistic Adoration /Benediction 7:30 pm 3/1 Wednesday Ash Wednesday (see schedule) Mass at the Bentley 9:30 am 3/2 Thursday Men’s Club Meeting 7:30 pm 3/3 Friday 24 Hour Adoration for the Season of Lent beginning after the 8:00 am Mass 7:30 pm Stations of the Cross

3/5 Sunday

Coffee and... (after all Masses) Catholic Teens Meeting 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Forever Yours- Faithfully: Characteristics of Real Love

According to St John Paul II’s Theology of the Body

“I’m Forever Yours, Faithfully…”

Journey’s seems to get it. Love is meant to be faithful. And not just for a time, but for forever. Another characteristic of real love in St John Paul II’s Theology of the Body is faithfulness in love. We read about this characteristic of God’s love all throughout the Scriptures -- an analogy of the love of a bridegroom for his bride.

In fact, the love of a marriage is the analogy most often used in Scripture to describe God’s unbreakable convenant of love with us.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah says, “For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.” (Isaiah 54: 5)

And later the prophet Hosea writes, “I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. “(Hosea 19-20)

Much later in the last book of the Bible we hear, “Come I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:9) Our promises to remain faithful mirror the love God has for us.

And we need not fear the demands of faithful love. For when the One and Only Faithful Lover assists us, we will not easily get distracted.

Faithful love relationships begin with Our Lord. His promises are true and everlasting to us. Once we’ve fallen in love with Him, we’ll reap the benefits of His constancy, even when we stray, because He takes us back again. And filled with such an amazing grace, His faithful love towards us pours out of our own hearts to others. Think of Mary at the foot of the cross, receiving the faithful love of her Son. She’s a model for us as Church and Bride.

Jesus, the Bridegroom was willing to die in faithful love for his Bride.

Imagine his words to his mother and to us, “You stand by me….I’m forever yours, faithfully.” Journey would agree! Cindy Costello Gifts Into Flame Ministry Www.cindyacostello.com

A Parish Mission In Lent

Sunday, March 26 through Wednesday, March 29

Schedule of Events:

Sunday, March 26 7:30pm Presentation

Monday, March 27 7:30 pm Presentation

Tuesday, March 28 7:30 pm Presentation

Wednesday, March 29 7:30 pm Presentation

Fr. David W. Gunter, MIC will be giving the mission at our Parish. He is a member of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception located at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Over the last few years, Fr. David has been researching Marian apparitions, Marian teachings by saints and popes, and has compiled an exciting program based on a book he has written called “The Triumph.”

Lenten Regulations on Fast & Abstinence

The days of both Fast and Abstinence during Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

The other Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence. On a day of fast, only one (1) full meal is permitted. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast. On a day of abstinence, no meat may be eaten. Those who have reached the age of 14 are obliged by the law of abstinence. The obligation to observe the laws of fast and abstinence “substantially,” or as a whole, is a serious obligation. The time for fulfilling the Paschal Precept (Easter Duty) – All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year) extends from the First Sunday of Lent to the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity.

Dates To Remember 3/3 Friday-3/4 Saturday Lenten 24 Hour Adoration 3/26 Sunday-3/29 Wednesday Parish Mission: “The Triumph”; Father David W. Gunter 4/20 Thursday- Confirmation 7:30 p.m. 5/6 Saturday First Holy Eucharist 11:00 a.m. 5/14 Sunday Diocesan May Crowning 3:00 p.m.

SHOP-RITE, WEIS & OTHER GIFT CARDS

Please support our Parish by purchasing Gift Cards. Cards in $25, $50 & $100

denominations are available after all Masses in the Parish Hall or by calling the office.

Catholic Teens

Sunday 6:00 pm-8:00 pm Parish Hall

Come join us on Sunday nights for lots of fun and food. All High School Teens are welcome.

We have joined up with a company “Flocknote” to help us better communicate with text and emails. You can sign up with Flocknote by visiting our website www.olqpbranchville.org (Catholic Teens webpage). For more information please call the office(973)948-3185.

Sacraments of the Church: Baptism:

Infant Baptisms (Private & Communal) are celebrated on Saturdays at 11:30 AM & Sundays at 12:30 PM. An

instruction class on Baptism will be provided in advance. Please call in advance to make an appointment and to ensure

that the Church’s requirements especially for Godparents are satisfied.

Eucharist:

If you are seriously ill or homebound and would like to receive Holy Communion please contact Father Ed.

Adult Confirmation:

Please call the office and ask about our religious education program for adults.

Reconciliation:

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available Saturday 3:45pm-4:45pm, after weekday Masses 8:30am, during

Adoration Monday evening 7:30pm-8:30pm and Friday morning 8:30am-9:30am, and anytime by appointment.

Anointing of the Sick:

Anyone who wishes to receive this healing sacrament, the Anointing of the Sick, should contact Father Ed.

Marriage:

Couples contemplating marriage are asked to call the office for an appointment to discuss the Marriage Preparation

Program. Arrangements should normally be made one year in advance and before any wedding dates are finalized.

Five First Saturdays Devotion

Come and join us for daily Mass on Saturday morning at 8:00 am in the Church, and the Rosary after Mass.

Mary, the Mother of God, has asked us to keep this Five First Saturdays Devotion in honor of her and for reparation of the offenses committed against her. She asks us for five consecutive Saturdays to go to Mass, Reconciliation, pray the Rosary, & meditate on one of the mysteries for 15 minutes. She makes us the promise to help us at the hour of our death and to bring us home safely. Come and join us on Saturday morning; pray the Rosary with us & help bring peace in our world and in our families.

Don Bosco Columbiettes #7784 Flap Jack Fundraiser

Applebees Saturday, March 04, 2017

8:00-10:00am

Breakfast is $10.00 per person, and includes scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage and a drink. Tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the event, or they can be pre-purchased by contacting Kathy Schaffren at973-713-5979 or by email at kathys1953@gmail.com.

Religious Education Inclement Weather

Program closures will be posted on our website at www.olqpbranchville.org by 7:00 am the day of class.

Rice Bowls Encounter Lent

Join our faith community—and nearly 14,000 Catholic communities across the United States—in a life-

changing Lenten journey of encounter with CRS Rice Bowl. CRS Rice Bowls will available from the weekend of February 18th & 19th at all entrances of the Church and don’t forget to download the CRS Rice Bowl app! May these 40 days better prepare us to encounter ourselves, our neighbors and our God.