The Roman Catholic Parish of St. Vincent de Paul 250 Bebout Avenue Stirling, New Jersey 07980 Phone: (908) 647-0118 Fax: (908) 647-5992 Parish Office—908-647-0118 In an emergency call 973-222-0720 Parish website: stvincentschurch.org Parish email: [email protected]PASTORAL STAFF Fr. A. Richard Carton, Pastor [email protected]Fr. William (Bill) Mooney Weekend Assistant Elena Bird Zolnick Director of Sacred Music 907-953-0128 [email protected]Vincent G. Clarke, Organist 908-647-4926 Sr. Krystyna Dziadkowiec Pastoral Associate [email protected]Sr. Elsa Jeronimo, C.S.JB. Director of Social Outreach [email protected]Deirdre Nemeth Director of Religious Formation 908-647-0421 [email protected]Amilee Beer Youth Minister 908-295-8104 [email protected]Peter O’Neill, Deacon 908-647-7258 [email protected]Parish Trustees Alan Tangreti and Timothy Wallisch PARISH OFFICE STAFF Vera Castagna Parish Secretary Maria DeLuca Religious Formation Secretary Teri Kesselmeyer Technology and Communications Mary Woods Parish Finance Coordinator We are a Catholic community rooted in the Eucharist and committed to the poor. Sunday Mass Schedule (Vigil Mass) Saturday —5:00PM Sunday 8:30AM, 10:30AM and 6:00PM Confession: Saturday at 4PM or other days by appointment. Weekday Mass Schedule 8:30AM and 7:00PM* Monday-Friday *weekdays in Lent 8:30AM-Saturday “It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do so without the Holy Mass.” St. Padre Pio
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The Roman Catholic Parish of St. Vincent de Paul 250 Bebout Avenue
Stirling, New Jersey 07980 Phone: (908) 647-0118 Fax: (908) 647-5992
Daily Mass Readings Monday Is 65:17-21; Jn 4:43-54
Tuesday Ez 47:1-9, 12; Jn 5:1-16
Wednesday Is 49:8-15; Jn 5:17-30
Thursday Ex 32:7-14; Jn 5:31-47
Friday Wis 2:1a, 12-22; Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Saturday Jer 11:18-20; Jn 7:40-53
ENDOWMENT FUND FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION
The St. Vincent de Paul Endowment Fund for Catholic Education is available to registered, contributing and active parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul Parish who have or who intend to enroll their child or children in a local Catholic Grade School. The Fund provides for the out of parish differential for each student and also provides Tuition Assistance to those with demonstrated need. Application Forms for the Fund may be obtained by contacting Vera at the Parish House. The completed forms should be returned to the Parish House by Thursday, March 15th. No applications will be accepted after March 15th. Thank you to all who have contributed to this Fund in the past to assist in providing a Catholic education to children in our parish.
EASTER FLOWERS A beautiful way to remember your deceased family members is by memorializing them with the Easter flowers placed at the altar throughout the Easter Season. An envelope for Easter Flower donations is included in your packet.
ALTAR SERVER TRAINING/REFRESHER On Saturday March 17th all servers are requested to attend a refresher session at 9AM in Church. Those in 3rd grade and above who would like to become servers are invited also to be trained. New servers should contact the parish office to let us know that you will be attending.
March 10th and 11th Page Three
Hi Father Richard, In the year 2018, two millennia after Christ was born and 400 years after the advent of the Industrial Revolution, it is unconscionable that children on this earth are dying from a lack of clean water. It is a blot on us all. So I think it is absolutely wonderful that we are helping our twin parish meet this need. Was it in one of your sermons where you mentioned the boy throwing starfish into the sea? That sticks with me. In light of this, my family and I want to help accelerate the fundraising by donating immediately. If the parish ends up with a shortfall that it cannot cover, we will very gladly contribute more. It is really the least we can do, and it comes from our abundance, not our poverty. I received the email cited above from a parishioner (who asked for anonymity) on February 27th—two days after I asked your help to raise funds so that we could provide our sister parish with a water filtration system, so that the well there could provide water fit for human consumption. I was so edified when I read the email and so appreciate that there are people who have such an awareness of how we have the God-given responsibility to assist in providing others with the basic necessities of life. I am humbled by the response to the appeal for our sister parish. Every penny is a contribution which will make such a tremendous gift to our sister parish and the wider community in Nanpol. It is unconscionable to think that children and adults are dying due to a lack of water, food, and the other basic necessities of life. As of March 8th (the day the bulletin went to print) we have raised $24,575. The water bottles in the vestibule of the Church are a way in which every person is able to contribute something. It is my hope that this will actually happen so that each may have a sense of accomplishment when the water filtration system is installed and is in use. In all of this I have been reminded once more of the tremendous generosity to a cause that brings about such a tangible good. Like you, I am encouraged to know that whatever I donate to a charity is actually making an impact. To know that we as a faith community will have done something so essential to enhance the lives of our sisters and brothers of St. Paul in Nanpol and their neighbors is a blessing. Some have asked what will happen if, and when, we raise enough for the filtration system. Let me assure you that every penny donated during the Lenten season to this appeal will be put to good use for the needs of the mission alone. If, and I believe we shall, we raise the funds for the filtration system, monies over the goal will be used to address many other pressings issues at the mission. We could provide rice for our sisters and brothers as an Easter gift, medicines and first aid products for use, repairs to the church which is another project that needs attention. The needs are many and your generous response is making an incredible difference. Thank you. When he announced the First World Day of the Poor, which was November 19, 2017, Pope Francis, in the body of his letter, addressed the following to the Church: “We may think of the poor simply as the beneficiaries of our occasional volunteer work, or of impromptu acts of generosity that appease our conscience. However good and useful such acts may be for making us sensitive to people’s needs and the injustices that are often their cause, they ought to lead to a true encounter with the poor and a sharing that becomes a way of life. Our prayer and our journey of discipleship and conversion find the confirmation of their evangelic authenticity in precisely such charity and sharing. This way of life gives rise to joy and peace of soul, because we touch with our own hands the flesh of Christ. If we truly wish to encounter Christ, we have to touch his body in the suffering bodies of the poor, as a response to the sacramental communion bestowed in the Eucharist.” This way of life gives rise to joy and peace of soul, because we touch with our own hands the flesh of Christ—this line struck me so deeply. May you know joy and peace from your response to those who need our assistance and care. In caring for them we touch Christ. Wow! Peace, Fr. Richard
This way of life gives rise to joy and peace of soul….
March 10th and 11th Page Four PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Those who serve in the military: James Minogue, Nick Ragazzo, Stephen J. Campbell, Sean Milde, Frank Fasano, Richard Lister, Eric Leverone, Jay Donato, Frank Messina, Eileen Murphy, Peter Giovanni, John E. Siedler IV
Those who are ill: Cathy Bognar, John Daglian, Parker Watson, Annette McGrory, Lou Aroneo, Patrick Bergin, Lynne Coombs, Lucy Bustillos, Paula Matchen, May Hill, Caitlin Shea, Bill Wallisch, Larry Oster, Nanci Gamba, Elizabeth Early, Helen Munro and Eric Binner
Those who have died to this world Kenneth Pringle, Joseph Rota, Patricia Knodel,
Helena Rohal and Jane Kehoe
Requiescat in Pace May all the faithful who have departed this world rest
in your eternal peace. Amen
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 The Lord comforted his people, who were exiled to Babylon, by telling them of the new covenant he planned to make with them. The Lord declared he would write his law upon their hearts, and that he would forgive their evil and forget the sins they had committed in the past. Second Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9
Though God could have heeded his Son’s prayers and spared him suffering, Jesus accepted his Fathers will. Through his suffering, he learned obedience and became the source of eternal salvation for all people. Gospel: John 12:20-33 Jesus was afraid of the suffering he knew he must face. Yet he explained just as a grain of wheat must die to be harvested, he had to face his hour of suffering to glorify his Father’s name. Jesus explained that once he was lifted from earth, he could draw all people to himself, lifting them to eternal life.
The votive candle before the statue of the Blessed Mother is
in memory of Mary Richlan.
Our church is open daily from 7:30am to 9:00pm, closing on Saturday and Sunday after the evening Mass. On the third Friday of each month we have Adoration and the praying of the Rosary particularly focused on families – come, bring your children and grandchildren and teach them to speak to Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. On First Fridays we have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8:30am Mass through the night until 8:00am on Saturday. If you are awake because you have many concerns, come talk to Him. Jesus is absolutely and truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament – many, many Saints became Saints because they knew and responded to this truth. “Do you realize that Jesus is there…especially for you- for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart.” St. Therese of Lisieux
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IN OUR PARISH
Daily Mass—Monday through Friday 8:30am and 7:00pm. Confession—Every Monday during Lent after 7:00pm Mass until 8:30pm. Mondays—Sr. Elsa has begun a new book for reading and discussion in the Library. The book is entitled From the Cross To The Empty Tomb written by Bishop Arthur Serratelli. New members are welcome to join. Wednesdays—Saints Alive is a dramatic presentation on the life of St. Patrick, St. Francis and St. Cecilia. Listen to a dramatic and fascinating reading of the life of a saint by some amazing and known actors and actresses. Then join in a discussion about what you have heard. Sessions take place in the JPII Center from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. Thursdays—Bible Study focusing on the readings for Mass each Sunday and takes place in two sessions: 1:00pm to 2:30pm and repeated from 7:30pm to 9:00pm in the Library. (No previous experience needed) Fridays—Stations of the Cross after the 7:00pm Mass during Lent.
LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES Boy Scout Troop 59 will be selling Palm Crosses after Masses this weekend and next. The cost is $10. Proceeds will be used to offset the cost of transportation for the troop to Sabattis Adventure Camp located in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. For more information about Troop 59 visit their
website at www.troop59.com.
SAVE THE DATE Our Seder Meal will take place on Wednesday, March 28th at 7:30pm in the gym. The Seder Meal was celebrated by Jesus at the Last Supper and helps us to reflect on the roots of the Eucharist. See
the enclosed flyer with information to reserve a place for you, your family and friends to participate in this prayerful experience.
LENTEN REGULATIONS Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. The norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding from age 14 onwards. Christian tradition can name at least seven reasons for fasting: 1. From the beginning, God commanded some
fasting, and sin entered into the world because Adam and Eve broke the fast.
2. For the Christian, fasting is ultimately about fasting from sin.
3. Fasting reveals our dependence on God and not the resources of this world.
4. Fasting is an ancient way of preparing for the Eucharist—the truest of foods.
5. Fasting is preparation for all the sacraments —for the reception of grace.
6. Fasting is a means of saving resources to give to the poor.
7. Fasting is a means of self-discipline, chastity, and the restraining of the appetites.
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SCHEDULE *Monday of Holy Week, March 26th:
Chrism Mass at the Cathedral, Paterson 7PM
*Tuesday of Holy Week, March 27th: Confessions 7PM—9PM *Wednesday of Holy Week, March 28th: Seder Supper 7:30PM Holy Thursday, March 29th:
Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:30PM with Adoration until Midnight. (No other Masses are offered on this day).
Good Friday, March 30th:
Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion—3PM Stations of the Cross—7:30PM Holy Saturday, March 31st: Blessing of Easter Food—Noon (gym)
Holy Saturday, March 31st: The Great Vigil of Easter 8PM (there is no 5PM Mass on this day)
Easter Sunday, April 1st: 8:30 and 10:30AM Mass (there is no 6PM Mass on Easter Sunday)
*Mass will be offered at 8:30AM and 7PM Monday through Wednesday of Holy Week.
MEMORIAL BRICKS
Bricks are still available for purchase for the patio in the Our Lady of Fatima Garden. Please consider buying a brick that will be engraved with your name or the name of a friend, family member or loved one to ensure a remembrance of them. Bricks
are placed in the patio. Each brick is $100. Checks should be made out to St. Vincent de Paul Church. Details for engraving of the brick and order forms are available at the Parish Office. Please call the office to purchase a brick.
Welcome Home To Healing Reconciliation Throughout Lent
Throughout Lent each Catholic parish in the Diocese of Paterson offers Confession every Monday evening until March 19th from 7pm to 8:30pm (7:30pm in our parish). If you have been reluctant to come to the Sacrament, have been away for some time or just found it difficult to get to a Saturday afternoon Confession time, this is a wonderful opportunity to re-connect with Christ and His Church. Ask the priest to help you. Experience the gracious mercy of God. “It is the blind hope which I have in His mercy...there is my only treasure. Why should this treasure not be yours?” St. Therese of Lisieux
Easter Bake Sale/St. Agnes Food Drive The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a bake sale that will include a large selection of pies, hot cross buns and other goodies. Order forms are available on our website and will be available in the bulletin next weekend. Pre-paid orders only will be accepted through Sunday, March 25th and orders can be picked up on Saturday, March 31st in the gym. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Easter Sunday Dinner Food Donations for St. Agnes Parish will be collected on Palm Sunday. Donations of frozen turkeys or hams with items such as beans, rice, canned veggies and gravies should be placed in a cardboard box and delivered by 12 noon on March 25th to the Pastoral Center clock tower.
March 10th and 11th Page Six
COFFEE AND FELLOWSHIP
FISH AND CHIPS DINNER Our annual Fish and Chips Dinner is Saturday, March 24th in the gym. Doors open at 5:30pm. Plan on a very enjoyable evening and bring your friends! The proceeds from the dinner will benefit our sister parish in Haiti.
Volunteers are needed to sell tickets after Masses. To purchase tickets visit our website or call the parish. office.
Please join us next Sunday, March 18th following the 8:30am Mass for coffee and a light breakfast hosted by the Food Pantry Ministry in the Church Meeting Room. Spend some time in fellowship with other parishioners over a cup of coffee and take advantage of the opportunity to meet and get to know others in our faith community.
2018 CALENDAR RAFFLE
Calendar Raffle Congratulations to Luis Santos
the winner of our second drawing.
The next drawing takes place on Wednesday, March 14th
with the winning prize amount of $1,000. Return your tickets as soon as possible to be eligible for all the drawings. We encourage you to get your
family and friends in on the fun. Parishioners are needed to sell tickets after all Masses. Please visit the parish website to sign up.
The Parish Play Group will meet on Wednesday, March 14th from 9:15am to 10:30am and the following 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. We will meet in Room 5 in the Faith Formation Center. All Moms and young children are welcome! Email Josephine Costanzo for questions at [email protected].
Our next Bridges Run is St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th. Please consider donating the needed supplies by visiting
www.perfectpotluck.com Coordinator: Bridges
Password: 2323 Thank you to all who have supported the Bridges Outreach Ministry over the years. Many hungry
people have had a nutritious meal because of your service and love for Christ. Let us continue to
share resources with those most in need. Monetary donations are also accepted.
Our Parish Food Pantry is in need of the following: canned corn, green beans, white rice, tuna, marinara sauce, tomato sauce, pancake mix, coffee, dry black beans and small red beans only, Honey Nut Cheerios and regular Cheerios only. Please bring all items to the basket in the church set aside for food pantry items.
Girl Scout Troop 4581 members Erin Aroneo and Dena Mistichelli are sponsoring a Sock Drive to help the homeless and earn their Silver Award. A basket is available in the vestibule of the church for donations of new packages of socks. All sizes are needed. The socks will be delivered to the homeless on the Bridges Run scheduled for April 13th. For questions contact Gloria Aroneo [email protected] or Nicole Mistichelli at [email protected]. The girls thank you in advance for your support!
“SOCK DRIVE” TO SUPPORT GIRL SCOUT TROOP 4581 AND BRIDGES
