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PARISH OF SAINT THOMAS MORE, MANALAPAN
ST. THOMAS MORE CHURCH
OUR LADY OF MERCY CHURCH
BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS: The next Baptism Prepara-
tion class will be held on January 4, 2017 7:45pm, in the Adult Educa-
tion Room. It is required that both parents attend a preparation class be-
fore your child is baptized. Godparents are invited. Please call the Parish
Office, 732-446-6661, to register.
MORNING PRAYER Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours
is prayed each weekday (M-F) at 8am and on Sunday morning at 8am,
before the 8:30am Mass. Morning Prayer is an important part of the Lit-
urgy of the Hours which ranks second only to Holy Mass in importance.
It is the universal prayer of the Church. Everyone is encouraged to at-
tend, especially those who are already coming to daily mass. Booklets
and instructions will be provided each morning. Morning Prayer takes
less than 15 minutes to pray and is an excellent way to properly prepare
oneself for Holy Mass.
Sun 12/11 8:30am
10:00am
11:30am
People of the Parish
Laureen Finn
Ernie Liberati
Dorothy Silvia
Anne Petroski
Michael Confessore
Enrico Suppa
Salvatore Peloro
Anthony Cangialosi
Mon 12/12 8:30am Joseph Ranieri
Anthony Crimeni
Wed 12/14 8:30am Filippo & Domenica Figliolini
Giuseppe & Antonia Secondino
Fri 12/16 8:30am Rosa Trivigno
Eugene Mirabella
Sat 12/17 5:00pm Ray & Tom Ciullo
Christina Castellano
Tubman & McDermott families
Sun 12/18 8:30am
10:00am
11:30am
People of the Parish
Ernie Liberati
Anthony & Isabella Imbornone
Brian Scarpa
Helen Imbriale
Vincent Bonica
Joseph Chiarantano
Richard Porretto
Anthony & Antoinette
Fasanella
Sun 12/11 8:00am
9:30am
11:00am
People of the Parish
Stanley & Stephanie Kafarski
Lorraine Proscia
Vincenzo & Maryangela Lista
Marie Milatta
Rosa D’Egidio
Tues. 12/13 8:30am Charlotte Dubuss
Angelo Cardinale
Thurs 12/15 Helen Cavagnuolo
Angie Maniscalco
Sat 12/17 8:30am
7:00pm
Paul Gonzalez
Antonio & Maria Piedade
John Soboloski
John & Adriana Borelli
Sun 12/18 8:00am
9:30am
11:00am
Regina Finn
Louise Tubman
Joseph & Helen Dolac
Edward Burton
People of the Parish
Josephina Fernandes
To learn more about the Knights of Columbus, a Christian Brotherhood
devoted to the virtues of CHARITY, FRATERNITY, UNITY &
PATRIOTISM, contact Guy Girgenti, Council Membership Chairman,
at 732-614-6050 or email Guy at [email protected]. You can see
the K of C website at www.kofc5903.org.
The John F. Carroll Columbian Club Banquet Hall Rental
If you are looking for a beautiful, full service banquet hall for your
special event, please call Mr. John Peragine, Past Grand Knight, at 732-
446-8805 for rental information or to schedule a tour of the facility
located at 3 LaSatta Avenue in Englishtown.
Readings for the Week of December 11, 2016 Sunday: Is 35:1-6a, 10/Ps 146/Jas 5:7-10/Mt 11:2-11
Monday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Jdt 13/Lk 1:26-38
Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13/Ps 34/Mt 21:28-32
Wednesday: Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25/Ps 85/Lk 7:18b-23
Thursday: Is 54:1-10/Ps 30/Lk 7:24-30
Friday: Is 56:1-3a, 6-8/Ps 67/Jn 5:33-36
Saturday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72/Mt 1:1-17
Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the
deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news pro-
claimed to them." - Mt 11:4-5
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12
7:00pm Novena (Our Lady of Mercy Church)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13 7:30pm Bible Study (Adult Education room)
8:00pm AA
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14
7:45pm Baptism Preparation (Adult Education room)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15
4:30pm Children’s Choir
6:30pm Handbells
7:30pm Choir
7:30pm Boy Scouts (Petri Hall)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16
9:30am Legion of Mary (Adult Education room )
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17
3:30pm Confessions
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
1:00pm Baptisms
The St. Thomas More Children’s Choir will
rehearse only THREE TIMES and then sing
at the 5:00pm Mass on Christmas Eve! The
choir year is for children in grades 1-6. Rehearsals
are on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30pm in St. Tho-
mas More Church. If there’s ever a great time to
join the Children’s Choir…..IT’S NOW!! For more information,
contact Steven Russell at [email protected] or call 732-446-
6661, ext. 211. Rehearsal dates are Thursdays December 15th, and
22nd.
Altar Server Ministry seeking additional members Altar Servers make up the largest ministry in our parish and we are
actively seeking new members to serve at Our Lady of Mercy and St.
Thomas More Churches.
This opportunity is open to boys and girls 9 years of age or older. De-
tailed information about our Altar Server Ministry is available on the
parish web site at: http://www.moremercy.org/
altarserver.html. Anyone interested in joining should contact Deacon
Matt Nicosia at (732) 490-1592 or by
email [email protected]. Training sessions will be sched-
uled as individuals sign up.
Today is the last day that the St. Thomas More Giving Tree will
be in Section 1 of Petri Hall. All gifts must be returned to the tree
today in order to be distributed. Thank you for all you’ve done to
make Christmas brighter!!! Your gift may be the only gift received.
God Bless you all!
Fran Petrone and Jean Baker.
The Christmas Holiday season is not a happy time for everyone.
If you are in the midst of grief, you may feel overwhelmed not
only by your loss, but also by the expectations of others. There
is an inherent need to remember those you have loved in a spe-
cial way and, hopefully, we can provide you with such an oppor-
tunity.
Please join us on
Sunday, December 11th, 2016
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm St. Rose of Lima Church
For
“Celebrating Angels”
The gathering will consist of a prayer service conducted by Dea-
con Mike McKenna followed by refreshments and hospitality.
We will honor those we have lost by placing personalized orna-
ments, which will be provided, on our Christmas tree in memory
of our loved ones. The ornaments will be part of the decorations
in the Church throughout the Christmas season. Everyone is
welcomed!
ALOHA! Teen BLAST is celebrating
Christmas in Hawaii! Wear your
tropical best and get ready for music,
games, FOOD FOOD FOOD and lots
of fun in the sun! All teens of the
parish (7th – 12th grade) are welcome
of join us on Sunday Dec 18th and of course you can invite a buddy to
share the warmth of the season. For additional information visit the
“Youth Group” page of the parish website or contact Deacon Matt
DECEMBER 11, 2016
Please pray for the ill of the parish, especially, Deanna
Abadir, Laila Abadir, Wasfy Abadir, Juliana Andruzzi,
Sheila Annunziata, Cristina Aparicio, Anthony Argiro,
Felicia Arnold, Melissa Augeri, Tara Plaima Baselici,
Wendel Becker, Pat & John Benderoth, Gino Bombardieri, William
Buchinsky, Marc Bukofsky, Ed Butler, Debra Ann Cacace, Donna
Carchesio, Alessandra Castrata, Anthony Colantoni, Frank Corbett,
Vincent Coppola, Joni Curculio, Maryann Cass, John Castellany,
Maureen Castellani, David Cohen, Michael Competello, Matthew
Connolly, John Corsaro, Dimitri Costa, Nancy Csurbak, Daniel
Cummings, Mary Agnes Cummings, Dr. Joseph Curatolo, Anne
DeCrescenzo, Jeanette DePietro, Alain DePoerck, Mady Depoerk, David
DiRocco, Edward Donovan, Tim Dorsey, Darlene Durham, John
Esposito, Rosemary Esposito, Jennifer Felicetti, Jack Feliciano, Gino
Felicitato, Keith Finger, Danny Fowler, Nancy Freeman, Dolores Galli,
Eda Garuccio, Debby Gialanella, Steve Gilbert, Yanathan Glattman, Ann
Marie Gonzalez, John Graziano, Frank Grezlak, Miriam Guzman,
Roxanne Guzman, Brian Hack, Dominick Hammel, Callie Herschfield,
Nicholas Incorvaia, Lorraine Jarrard, Michael Jesu, Melissa Jurkieicz, Ira
Karten, Charles Kerry, Nancy Kiel, Jessica Knapp, Richard Kohler, Jack
Lamb, Madalyn Lea Langlais, Sebastian Lattugga, Nick Lazar, Patricia
Ross Leary, Judy Lonseth, Peter Lukowicz, Myraqel Lustre, Susan
McCarthy, Kelly McGovern, Michael McGovern, Brendan McGuire, A.
Leonard McLean, Jennifer McNamee, Pamela McNeil, Paul Maccarone,
Carmine Maglione, Louise Mallon, Emily Manuel, Joseph Manzi,
Barbara Lynne Martini, Rose Mattiace, Michael Myola, Robert
Maxwell, Vincent Milatta, Salvatore Morale, Carl Marmite, Daniel
Nubile Mrakovcic, Michael Nichols, Madeline O'Donohue, Elvira
Olivieri, Lily Olivieri, Keith O'Rourke, Christine Pagano, Lisa Parrinelo,
Aldo Patruno, Perry Peconrino, Debbie Pernal, Emily Paige Perlson,
Debra Kurc-Pierson, Ronald Platania, Mary Ann Rocco, Clemencia
Rubino, Michael Russell, Carole Scandiffico, Anthony Schiano, Jessie
Seigal, Anthony Luhrs Seitz, Hannah Sensale, Louis Shapiro, Mary Ellen
Smith, Lenore Storm, Rich Suppa, Madison Swallow, Eleanor Szalus,
Vera Termini, John Totillo, Louise Tracy, Alexis Troitskhy, Dominic
Vacca, Rosemary Vardakas, Tina Vitello, Vicki Vosk, Joan Vukelich,
Joseph & Debbie White, Justin Wilson, Walter Wojciechowski &
Dolores Zaccari
Prayer Chain In addition to the people who need prayers listed in our bulletin, this
parish has a prayer chain. You may call 732-446-2371 for any additional
requests or situations. Email contact can also be made by going to
www.moremercy.org and clicking on “Prayer Chain”. Anyone interested
in this ministry may call the above number as well. Members of the
prayer chain also attend the novenas held at Our Lady of Mercy Church
each Monday at 7:00pm. Prayer requests are written in a book and the
book is placed upon the altar. Special prayers are said for those needs
each week and offered up to Our Lady of Perpetual Help for intercession.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity.
God Bless you, Father Mark
Dec. 4, 2016 $16,156.50 Dec. 6, 2015 $18,190.00
at
St. Thomas More
Nursery School & Kindergarten
• Mommy & Me
• Ages 2 ½ - 5
• Full Day Kindergarten
• Full Day & Half Day Programs
• Smart Boards and iPads
Voted “Favorite Preschool in Manalapan”
Join the Bridges’ family!
It’s Catholic education at its best!
186 Gordons Corner Road • Manalapan
732-446-3107
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Luann Normandia, Director
"The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised." Jesus has quite a résumé. When asked
whether or not he is the long awaited Messiah, Jesus replies with this list
of his credentials as proof of his position. These signs and wonders speak
volumes, to be sure. But perhaps the most interesting line on the list is his
concluding one, "the poor have the good news proclaimed to them." Why
does he count this among his litany of miracles? What is so remarkable
about sharing good news?
Perhaps Jesus included this element of his work--the preaching
of good news--to remind his followers that the physical healings were not
the ultimate goal of his mission. Rather, the spiritual healing that comes
from hearing the good news of salvation is what Jesus was really about.
The "poor"--which in a sense means all of us sinners, trapped by the pov-
erty of the sins that enslave us--are freed by Jesus' message of a loving
God who wants to bring us into his kingdom. Our poverty is erased by his
richness. His mercy "undoes" our sin and we are invited to become the
children of God who share in the glories of his heavenly abode.
Sometimes it's tempting to just want the visible miracles. But
the invisible ones--the conversions that take place in the silence of the
human heart--are truly the more important works of God. Such interior
transformation is what leads us to eternal life; even a physical cure won't
last for eternity--death still comes at some point. But the really good news
is that this miracle of conversion is available to all of us. And this season
of Advent is the perfect time to let God work his miracles in our hearts.
Advent Silence and Solitude Day You are invited to put aside your busyness and be alone with
God for a day. The time is yours to pray and reflect in the com-
fortable, quiet atmosphere of the Upper Room. The day will
include prayer, liturgy, and a simple meal.
Presenter: Trudy Ahern, SSJ
Date: Thursday, December 15, 016
Time: 9:30am-2:30pm
Place: Upper Room Spiritual Center, Neptune NJ
Fee: $30~$45 (light lunch included)
Aging religious need your help. Senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and
religious order priests have offered their lives in service to others--
educating the young, comforting the sick, seeking justice for the op-
pressed. Today, many are frail, elderly, and in need of assistance. Your
gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps to furnish medications,
nursing care, and other necessities. Please give generously to today's
second collection.
