Pastoral Staff Pastor Father Vincent T. Euk Parochial Vicar Fr. Vicente Magdaraog 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. Priscilla Lagdameo Business Manager Deacon Gino Esposito Director of Music Regina R. Reale Youth Ministry Coordinator Deacon John Franey 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 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 third Tuesday at 7:30PM Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:45PM and before each Sunday Mass Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2015
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St. Veronica Church 4215 Route 9, Howell, NJ 07731 732-363-4200 www.stveronica.com
Pastoral Staff Pastor Father Vincent T. Euk Parochial Vicar Fr. Vicente Magdaraog Weekend Assistant Fr. Bill O’Brien Deacons Gene F. Moir, Sr. James Littlefield Tomasz Cechulski Charles R. Daye Jr. John Franey Gino (Louis) Esposito School Principal Sister Cherree Power, C.R. Religious Education Brenda Heffernan, D.R.E. Lauren DeMaio, C.R.E. Parish Administrator Leonard P. Weg Director of Music Nancy Condardo Director of ACTS Deacon Tom Cechulski Bozena Cechulski Coordinator of Youth Ministry Deacon John Franey Phone Contacts Rectory—732-363-4200 Convent—732-364-2361 School—732-364-4130 Religious Education— 732-364-4137 Cafeteria—732-364-9455 ACTS Office—732-364-2936 Fax 732-370-3891
Holy Days: As announced in the bulletin. Healing Mass –every third Tuesday at 8PM.
Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays from 4:00 to 4:45PM or call to schedule an appointment with a priest.
Pastoral Staff Pastor Father Vincent T. Euk Parochial Vicar Fr. Vicente Magdaraog 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. Priscilla Lagdameo Business Manager Deacon Gino Esposito Director of Music Regina R. Reale Youth Ministry Coordinator Deacon John Franey 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
Holy Days: As announced in the bulletin. Healing Mass –every third Tuesday at 7:30PM
Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:45PM and before each Sunday Mass
Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2015
Mass Intentions for this Week December 6, 2015
MONDAY……………………………………………………………………...St. Ambrose, b. 7:20 Frank D’Alessio .................................................... Savner Family 12:00 Henry Dodrill.. ............................................. ..Montella Family 8PM (Holy Day Vigil) Maureen Morrison………….....Bill & Pat Fosgreen TUESDAY– HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION .......... Immaculate Conception 7:20 Michael Berry ................................... Patrick & Eileen McCarthy 12:00 Anthony Avallone .............................................. Lawton Family 8PM Bill & Mary Wegner .............................................Wegner Family WEDNESDAY 7:20 Joseph Cassidy ........................................... Bob & Diana Morris 12:00 Joseph P. Amodemo .............................. Antonett Castellaneta THURSDAY 7:20 Lucille Thornton ..................................... Bart & Arlene Mettrick 12:00 Roseann Diaso ......................................... Ed & Mary Althaver
FRIDAY 7:20 Anthony Avallone ................................................ Butkus Family 12:00 George Howlett……………………………………………………..Joan & Family SATURDAY ………………………………………...…………….Our Lady of Guadalupe 8:00AM Eugene Roche ...................................... Bill & Cheryl Wegner 4:00 PM Lillian Ficarro ................................. Kim & Autumn Cataldo SUNDAY 7:30 Madeline DeWaters………………………………….Orenstein Family 9:00 Nancy Carney ................ Washington & Calleja Families 10:30 Int. of Josephine Welter .................... Betsy Rittenbach 12:00 For the People of the Parish 5:00 Dec. Mem of Butler & Tomkoe Family ................ Family
Sanctuary Candle– Week of December 6th In memory of Mlynarski Family ............... Rieker Family Chapel Candles– Week of December 6th In memory of Linda & Glenn Balcolm ................. Sisters
Events for this coming Week– See our website www.stveronica.com
Sacrificial Offering Update
Last Weeks Offering: $17,299.00
Thanksgiving: $524.00
November Offering through mail: $2907.00
November Offering through parish pay: $5831.16
Readings for the Week of December 6, 2015
Monday: Is 35:1-10/ Ps 85:9-14/Lk 5:17-26
Tuesday: Gn 3:9-15, 20/Ps 98:1-4/Eph 1:3-6, 11-12/Lk 1:26-38
Wednesday: Is 40:25-31/Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10/Mt 11:28-30
Thursday: Is 41:13-20/Ps 145:1, 9-13/Mt 11:11-15
Friday: Is 48:17-19/Ps 1:1-4, 6/Mt 11:16-19
Saturday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Jdt 13:18-19/Lk
1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47
Next Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a/Is 12:2-6/Phil 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18
Mary plays an important part in the start of this Year of
Mercy because she has been designated by her Son, Je-
sus, to be our mother, the mother of Mercy. She is the
driving force calling us to her Son by leading us to Him in
a deep sorrow for our sins. In her tender compassion
she gives us the strength to humbly go to the Sacrament
of Reconciliation to receive God’s forgiveness.
Fr. Euk
"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his
paths." Today's Gospel reading references an ancient
text from the Old Testament Book of Isaiah. There, a
prophecy was made that John the Baptist would fulfill
many years later; John is the "voice of one crying out in
the desert." And the message that John's voice pro-
claimed, in preparation for the coming of the Messiah,
was a message of repentance.
The passage from Isaiah gives us some clues
into what this repentance is supposed to do. It is meant
to change us into people who can properly welcome the
Lord when he comes. Using the poetic image of a path,
the text describes the kind of path that is suitable for the
Lord. He shouldn't have to navigate valleys, scale moun-
tains, wind around twists and turns on the road, or trav-
erse rough, difficult terrain. Instead, he should be able to
move easily on smooth ground. Residents preparing to
welcome an honored guest ought to do what they can to
make the journey pleasant. The analogy relates to our
souls.
As we prepare to welcome the Lord this Advent
season, we should make the "path" of our souls level,
straight, and smooth. We should "fill" the valleys of lazi-
ness or despair with diligence and joy. The mountains of
pride and greed should be made low with humility and
generosity. The winding roads of dishonesty and manipu-
lation "shall be made straight" with commitment to the
truth. And the rough ways of our selfishness and stub-
bornness should be made smooth through charity and
docility to the Holy Spirit. When we live our faith with sin-
cerity and devotion, our souls are transformed. This Ad-
vent, may our souls become a pleasant path for Christ.
Please Note: The Rectory will be closed on Tuesday, De-
cember 8th in observance of the Holy Day, Immaculate
Conception.
Pastor’s Notes
I am deeply grateful to those who professionally cleaned
up the leaves on all our property. I have never seen the
campus so clean, after the fall, in my three years
here! Thank you very much!!! Please offer your prayers,
in gratitude, for those responsible for the clean up.
It is very fitting that the Year of Mercy begins this
Monday evening at the vigil of the Immaculate
Conception. Mary is born without original sin. She is so
wonderfully different that she becomes the source of
hope for us sinners.
Genesis tells us we are afflicted as a result of the
Original Sin. We have developed instincts that make our
life potentially miserable with passions that challenge
our freedom. We easily view our bodies as exploitable
because we are prone to give into lustful
thoughts. Others become a threat to our integrity
making us prone to jealousy and hatred.
Mary is just the opposite. She views her body as a way
of expressing the love within the Trinity in a human way
and as a self-giving gift that shares that love with
others. She sees in people the potential to also be that
channel of love to others. Her love, however, is a
spiritually maternal love which was especially given to
her at the foot of the Cross.
Mary has made many apparitions to very humble people
with a central theme of her Immaculate Conception and
her perpetual virginity. Beginning in 1531, during the
Octave of the Immaculate Conception, she appeared to
Juan Diego. In 1830 Mary appeared to St. Catherine
Labouré in Paris standing on a globe, crushing a serpent
beneath her feet recalling Genesis 3:15 (“I will put
enmity between you and the woman, and between your
offspring and hers.”) Around her was the prayer, “O
Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have
recourse (rely for protection) to thee.” She instructed St.
Catherine to, "Have a medal struck after this model. All
who wear it will receive great graces." This prayer
reflects the ancient prayer of the Church which
developed into the Memorare. In 1846, the 6th
Provincial Council of Baltimore declared the Immaculate
Conception to be the patroness of United States. Finally
in 1854 Pius IX decreed, "The most Blessed Virgin Mary
in the first instant of her Conception, by a singular grace
and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the
merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was
mayonnaise, canned fruit , pancake mix, syrup, peanut
butter (we are all out of peanut butter and pancake mix)
Guide for Christian Prayer
The 2016 Guide for Christian Prayer booklets are available in the rectory. Cost: $3.50
Synoptic Gospel Series 7-part Series presented by Fr. Euk. We will meet on Sun-
days from 7-8:00PM on the following dates:
January 10, 17, 24, 31, February 21, 28, March 6.
March 13 is reserved as a rain date..
March for Life
Washington, DC January 22, 2016
This year, we are joining St. Robert Bellarmine’s bus to go down to the March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan-uary 22, 2016. Cost is $10.00 per person. We will arrange car pools from St. Veronica’s to St. Robert’s for the morning of Jan 22, or provide directions to the church. It is more important than ever to show our sup-port for the sanctity of all human life. Please call us at 732-367-2565 for more info or to reserve a seat on the bus. Joan and Hu Mador
HEALING HEARTS SUPPORT GROUP Healing Hearts Support Group is a seminar/support
group for adults that are affected by separation and/or
divorce. The group is held every Thursday from 7:00 PM
- 9:00 PM, at St. Veronica's ACTS office, Howell, NJ
07731. Our new six week session will start on Thursday,
January 7, 2016. Our focus will be on the following top-
ics: Grief Process; Acceptance; Stages of the divorce;
New Beginnings; Achievement and balance; Closing Ses-
sion ritual. Come and join us as we experience healing
and develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ as we
focus on the teaching of the Catholic Church. Please feel
free to contact Maria Rodrigues at 732-363-5698 or
