Rev. Nicholas Bozza, Pastor 375 Main Street, P.O. Box 730, Chester, New Jersey 07930

Coordinators of Religious Education: Carla Fuscaldo, Dorothy Kudron, Terry Leing

Cynthia Vittitow— Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Brian Flanagan — Confirmation

Kathleen Galdi — DRE Music Minister: Joseph P. Tamburro Youth Minister: Brian Flanagan Mercy Minister: Cindy Zeis

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN: Gr. K-4 & CGS 2: Sun. 9:45-11:15 am Gr. 1-8 & CGS 1: Thurs. 4:30-5:45 pm

Gr. 5-8: Sun. 4:30-5:45 pm OR Mon 7:00-8:15 pm Gr. 9-10: Sunday evening

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: RCIA: Sundays (September-Easter)

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday: 4:00-4:45 pm, Monday: 6:30-7:00 pm & on request.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Please call the Parish Office anytime for communion calls or visitation of the sick and elderly. Keep us informed so that we can be attentive to those who are ill at home or in the hospital.

Parish Email: parish@stlchester.org

Parish Web Site: www.stlchester.org

Web Master: Joanne Franklin (908-879-6222)

Welcome Janet Villafane (908) 879-3032 Haiti Twinning Program Christine Colannino (201) 314-9824

Bereavement Don Martone (908) 879-7957 Lectors John Kennington (908) 872-0575

Good Samaritans Patsy Soden (908) 879-3374 Eucharistic Ministers Loretta Stewart (973) 222-7492

Grocery Cards Jean Ward (908) 334-3442 Ushers Bob Holl (908) 876-3488

Moms & Tots Melissa Altieri (908) 797-0676 Music Minister Joe Tamburro (908) 453-3302

Arimathaea Arlene McDonald (973) 584-7319 Spanish Ministry Louis Villafane (908) 879-3032

Liturgical Environment Joanne Carr (908) 879-5543 Youth Minister Brian Flanagan (973) 946-8770

Women’s Cornerstone Judy Irwin (201) 400-7847 Altar Servers Chuck Feller (908) 768-2838

Men’s Cornerstone Marc McFeely (973) 222-9739 Evangelization Bob Holl (908) 876-3488

Pastoral Adv. Board Jerry Frech (908) 377-2900 RCIA Jan Richards (908) 975-3555

Rosary Society Marie Holl (908) 876-3488 Respect Life Connie Wieczorek (908) 879-6453

Media Ministry Jeanne McCormick (908) 879-6884 Barn Ministry Ed Wieczorek (908) 300-0098

Rev. Rolands Uribe, Parochial Vicar

Deacon William DeVizio, Permanent Deacon

Rev. Mr. Sylwester Pierzak, Transitional Deacon

Trustees: Phil Guidone, Jeanne McCormick

Parish Secretary: Karen Jaworski

Accountant: Sharon McCann Business Manager: Bill McCormick

MASSES: Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm (Spanish), 6:00 pm Daily Mass: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am & 9:00 am, Sat. 9:00 am Holy Day Vigil: 7:00 pm

Holy Day: 8:00 am, 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm (bi-lingual)

BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

SPANISH BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

MARRIAGES: Please contact the Priest/Deacon whom you wish to officiate at your wedding one year in advance to arrange for Marriage Preparation Sessions.

PARISH MEMBERSHIP: Every family moving into the parish is requested to register. If you move to another parish or change your address, please notify the Parish Office.

St. Lawrence the Martyr Church SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

MISSION STATEMENT St. Lawrence the Martyr Church is a community of Catholic Christians who gather

together to celebrate the Eucharist, their love of Jesus Christ and their love of one another

as children of Christ. We are a diverse community focused on creating an enthusiasm for our faith and enriching the lives for all who come to worship in our parish. Inviting and

welcoming liturgies, multiple youth and young adult activities and adult enrichment

programs all help make the Word of Christ a living reality at St. Lawrence.

Parish Office: 908-879-5371 Priests’ Home: 908-879-1901 Religious Ed.: 908-879-6714 Youth Minister: 973-946-8770 Fax: 908-879-7701

Parish Ministries and Ministry Facilitators

Page Two JUNE 25, 2017 - TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THE HOLY HOUR WITH DEACON SYLWESTER

This coming Saturday, God willing, Deacon Sylwester will be ordained a priest of Jesus Christ at St.

John’s Cathedral. On the evening before, the vigil, we will join him in a holy hour of prayer starting

at 7 pm here at St. Lawrence Church. I hope that all of the parish will come to the Holy Hour to sup-

port him with our prayers and with our presence. Joining in prayer will be a great blessing for him

and for all of us. Please do try to join us!

GOD’S JUSTICE IN REWARDNG US

The sixth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel offers us a teaching from Jesus. Here Jesus reminds us that

God will reward our good works. God is aware of all that we do and all that

we deserve. Jesus mentions specifically prayer, fasting and works of mercy.

He explains that we need to be aware of our motives when we do good works.

The ideal that we need to seek is to do good works for God’s glory, for love of

Him and love of our neighbor. He tells us to guard ourselves from doing good

works for people to see!

He also tells us that God is just and our good works deserve only so much of a reward from our heav-

enly Father. Our Father is aware of what we deserve and what we receive by way of rewards. We

can choose to be rewarded on earth or later in heaven. If we are sufficiently rewarded on earth, God

does not have to reward us in heaven. The wisest people are those who try to avoid rewards on earth

so that they may enjoy eternal rewards in the Kingdom of Heaven. There is a value and a wisdom in

avoiding rewards from God now. God’s rewards in heaven are eternal!

Father Nick

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION

The Eucharistic Prayers at the heart of our liturgy have a long history, beginning with the extempora-

neous prayers of the early Christians. The presiders gave thanks from their hearts, not from any prear-

ranged text, over the gifts of bread and wine. When the assembly had the sense that enough was said,

someone would call out “Amen!” and that was that. For the most part, the plan flowed directly from

Jewish meal prayers which always recalled God’s mighty deeds. Some other markers and signposts

were added almost everywhere fairly early, like the presider’s call to attention: “Lift up your hearts!”

Scholars have provided us with translations of many early texts. These have actually helped us craft

new liturgical prayers, because until the liturgical reforms of forty years ago, no one could recall any

prayer but the Roman Canon, now called Eucharistic Prayer I. For hundreds of years in the West, it

was our only Eucharistic Prayer, and it was only in Latin. But the history of our Eucharistic Prayers is

amazingly fruitful and models have come down to us that have yielded new insights and expressions.

The old custom of improvising texts according to a master plan has not endured, but we have now re-

discovered a plan of standardizing the text while allowing for a great variety.

Page Three JUNE 25, 2017 - TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE SICK . . .

Kirsten Mumma, William Ware, Julio Carrera, Sebastian

Quinn, Ralph Bozza, Sister Eucharia, Father Eugene Roma-

no, Father Paul Knauer, Father Rafael Perez, Msgr. Martin

Rauscher, Msgr. Richard Rusconi, Patrick John Moran, Ann Kelly, Bill Basso, Lloyd Matsamoto, Helen Crowe, Jane Alt,

Patrick Pronio, Allison Spina, Lesley Pawar, Tom Walsh,

Steve Briggs, Brian Graham, Colleen Saito, William Kelly,

Mary Norwood, Mary Lanzara, Rocco Colantuono, Diane

Verge, Cade Feitel, Christine Ambrosino, Carole Stessl,

Kathy Bollwork, Dick Goodwin, Nicholas Brown, Jane Rufi-

no, Kevin Callahan, Camille McQueen, Mary Ross, Judith

Stampone, Jeanette Mahoney, Paul Fitzgerald, Charlotte

Poth, Colleen Looby, Claire Kingsley, George Serafin, Char-

lie Romano, Salman Javed, Don Martone, Arnold Family,

Margaret Compton, Joe Cillo, Jerry Green, Kristen

McLaughlin, Mary Constantinople, Dan McGuigan, Karoli-na Wojnicz, Jozef Galka, Patricia Gilvey, Daisy Hallock,

Robert Kingsley, John Boyle, Robert Snow, Cathy Donahue,

Ryan Menzel, Vincent & Giuliana Petane, Betty Macaluso,

Dorothy Powers, Ellie Cowie, Louis Villafane, Mary Forkell,

Gary Sekulski, Wesley Snawder

Please help us keep this list current. Call Karen in the Parish

Office at 908-879-5371 if a name should be added or removed.

Thank you!

SUMMER BIBLE STUDY

Ephesians: Discover Your Inheritance

Our Summer Bible Study will begin on Tuesday morn-

ing, July 11, at 8:45 am in the Parish Center with a morn-

ing session led by Bob Holl. A second session will start

on Wednesday evening, July 12, at 7:30 pm in the

Church Hall led by Jeanne McCormick. Books will be

available at the first meeting and are $20. Books are also

available in the Parish Office for anyone wanting to get a

head start. It is important that you give a working email

address when you purchase a book so that the link to the

online videos can be sent to you. Join us as we discover

that the words of St. Paul are as important today as they

were in the 1st Century. All are welcome!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME . . .

Lector: Contact John Kennington, the Lector

coordinator, by email at Jfkleader-

ship@gmail.com.

Altar Server: Contact Chuck Feller, the Altar

Server coordinator, at 908-768-2838 or email

cnfeller@att.net.

Eucharistic Minister: Contact Loretta Stewart , the Eucharistic Minister coordina-

tor, at (973) 222-7492 or email

lorettamic@comcast.net.

ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE

July 1-2

5:00 pm

CB- Josh Mulcahy S1-

S2-

8:00 am

CB- Nick Weah S1-

S2-

10:00 am

CB-Kyleigh Kennington S1-

S2-

11:30 am

CB- Daniel Kudron S1- Patrick Kudron S2- Trevor Connolly

S3- Blake Stevens

MEETINGS / EVENTS THIS WEEK

Monday-Friday

• Vacation Bible School

Wednesday

• ESL - 7:30 pm

Friday

• Holy Hour - 7:00 pm

UPCOMING BARN SALE

July 8, 9:00-3:00 pm

Come on by! We’ll have a large selection of sterling sil-

ver jewelry, charms and beads in addition to a wide vari-

ety of household goods, clothing and accessories.

MARIAN PILGRIMAGE The Diocese of Paterson will be sponsoring an overnight

trip to Washington, DC on October 20-21. The trip in-

cludes transportation, two meals including the banquet,

overnight accommodations at the Westin Hotel in Virgin-ia, and spiritual visits to America’s First Cathedral, St.

Jude Shrine in Baltimore, and the National Shrine of the

Immaculate Conception. Included will be daily Mass for Friday and Saturday, confession, devotional time, and a

lot more. Please contact the Diocesan Pilgrimage Office

at 973-728-8162 or secretary@olqpnj.org for a brochure or more information.

NEW FAMILY

Welcome!

Kevin & Brianne McBreen and their children Anne,

Thomas, James and Kaitlyn of South Road, Chester.

Page Four JUNE 25, 2017 - TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

PRIESTLY ORDINATION

OF DEACON SYLWESTER

Saturday, July 1, 10:30 am Mass

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist,

Paterson

FIRST MASS

OF FATHER SYLWESTER

Sunday, July 2, 11:30 am Mass

St. Lawrence Church, Chester

Luncheon and

individual First Blessing

afterwards in Church Hall

Mass Schedule that Day:

8 am, 10 am (bilingual), 11:30 am

(NO 1 PM & 6 PM MASS)

HOLY HOUR

NIGHT BEFORE

DEACON SYLWESTER’S

PRIESTLY ORDINATION

Friday, June 30, 7:00 pm*

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

*There is no 3:00 pm Divine Mercy ser-

vice that day. I would like to thank God

for the amazing pastoral experience I have had during my diaconate assignment at St. Lawrence Church and for

each one of you. I ask Him for His blessing on this new

chapter in my life which is just to begin. Join me in this

vigil before our Lord...

Deacon Sylwester

PARISH OFFICE SUMMER HOURS The Parish Office will be closed on Fridays beginning

July 7. Regular business hours resume September 1.

DINING WITH THE DEACONS

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND WITH GOD?

Minutes! Minutes! Minutes! How many commercials do

we hear every day advertising “free minutes” or “endless minutes?” While the cell phone companies are making us

all aware of every minute that we spend talking or tex-

ting, do we keep track of the minutes that we spend with

God?

As much as some companies might advertise “free minutes,” the fact is that the minutes of our day are actu-

ally a free gift from God alone. Every day God gives

each of us 1,440 minutes -– no strings attached -– no contract to sign. What do we do with those minutes? Do

we give any of them back to God? Consider these op-

tions:

Can you spend 1 minute every morning thanking God for

His blessings and asking Him how He wants you to use your gifts? Can you spend 10 minutes at the beginning or

end of each day in quiet prayer, spiritual reading and re-

flection? Can you spend 30 minutes one day a week at-tending a weekday Mass? Can you commit to giving God

60 minutes every week for Sunday Mass?

Try this test for one week. Keep track of the time you

spend with God and the time you spend talking, texting,

surfing the Internet, and watching TV. Considering that God gives you 1,440 free minutes every day, is He get-

ting His fair share back from you?

Page Five JUNE 25, 2017 - TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017 8:00 am - Doris Porter

9:00 am - Maureen Makris

TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

8:00 am - Daniel Ghizzone

9:00 am - Judy Tully

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 8:00 am - Judy Tully 9:00 am - Peggy Martone

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 8:00 am - Brooke Mulford

9:00 am - Herb & Lucille Kaemmer

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017 8:00 am - Jim Sommer

9:00 am - Joe Stockage

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

9:00 am - Stephen F. Smith III

5:00 pm - Tim Parks

SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2017 8:00 am - For the People of the Parish

10:00 am - Caroline Bozza

- Paul Payne

11:30 am - Spec. Int. of Fr. Sylwester Pierzak

1:00 pm - NO MASS TODAY

6:00 pm - NO MASS TODAY

FEAR NOT How do people find hope in the face of suffering and

death? That is the question addressed by today’s scrip-

tures. We hear of the suffering of Jeremiah and the

psalmist. We hear of the death that “reigned from Adam to Moses” (Romans 5:14). We hear of the fears of the

Twelve as Jesus sends them out into the world to preach

and heal.

Through all this tribulation one message rings out loud

and clear —“Do not be afraid!” The God who saved Jere-miah and the psalmist and Jesus is fully present to save us

through the gracious gift of Jesus Christ. We have noth-

ing and no one to fear.

SUMMER It will not always be summer; build barns.

~Hesiod

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — The LORD has rescued the poor from

the clutches of the wicked (Jeremiah 20:10-13).

Psalm — Lord, in Your great love, answer me

(Psalm 69). Second Reading — The grace of God overflows for all

(Romans 5:12-15).

Gospel — All who acknowledge Jesus before others will likewise be acknowledged by Jesus before the Father

(Matthew 10:26-33).

WALKING TOWARD GOD

If we walk one step toward God,

God will run ten steps toward us.

~Anonymous

MASS READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Gn 12:1-9; Ps 33:12-13, 18-20, 22; Mt 7:1-5

Tuesday: Gn 13:2, 5-18; Ps 15:2-4ab, 5; Mt 7:6, 12-14

Wednesday: Gn 15:1-12, 17-18; Ps 105:1-4, 6-9;

Mt 7:15-20 Thursday: Vigil: Acts 3:1-10; Ps 19:2-5; Gal 1:11-20;

Jn 21:15-19

Day: Acts 12:1-11; Ps 34:2-9; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt 16:13-19

Friday: Gn 17:1, 9-10, 15-22; Ps 128:1-5; Mt 8:1-4

Saturday: Gn 18:1-15; Lk 1:46-50, 53-55; Mt 8:5-17 Sunday: 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a; Ps 89:2-3, 16-19;

Rom 6:3-4, 8-11; Mt 10:37-42

NEXT

HEALING MASS

Tuesday, July 18

Rosary at 6:30 pm

Mass at 7:00 pm

Come join us!

Tithing: God’s Plan for Giving.

Tithing Income June 18, 2017 $11,865.50

Tithing Income June 19, 2016 $ 9,950.50

Thanks from Fr. Nick : “You inspire me with your

commitment to making a return to the Lord for His good-

ness to us.”

A testimony from sacred Heart of Jesus Church in

Manville, NJ: “This is a real act of faith for me! One

thing I have discovered about myself is that I never

brought God into my finances. This is a very important

area for me and I am glad that now God is a part of it.”