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Page 1: Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church - Clover Sites

Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church

The Nativity of Our Lord, December 25, 2012 Oradell / New Milford, NJ

Office Location Phone Email Website

Parish Office 105 Harrison St., New Milford 201-261-0148 [email protected] sjcnj.org

Religious Education 300 Elm St., Oradell 201-261-1144 [email protected] sjcreligioused.blogspot.com

Saint Joseph School 305 Elm St., Oradell 201-261-2388 [email protected] sjsusa.org

the greenhouse-PreK 305 Elm St., Oradell 201-477-8114 [email protected] greenhouseusa.org

Parish Office Hours: Weekdays 9 am - 5 pm or by appointment Religious Ed. Hours: Mon. thru Thurs. 10 am - 6 pm / Fri. closed

R e v . T h o m a s B . I w a n o w s k i , pastor

Rev. George M. Reilly, pastor emeritus Rev. Andrew Park, parochial vicar Rev. Roy Regaspi, parochial vicar

Dr. Marianne Conway Interim Director of Religious Education

Mrs. Arlene Kennedy Sacrament Coordinator

Mr. Heath Winborn Director of Operations

Mr. Monroe Quinn Mr. Anthony Armando Director of Music Youth Minister

Mrs. Colette Vail Principal of Saint Joseph School

Mrs. Angela Gussoni Vice Principal of Saint Joseph School

Mass Schedule

Sunday Mass

Saturday 5:00 pm

Sunday 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:30 am ,

12:30 pm

Daily Mass Weekdays 7:00 am

and 8:30 am

Saturday 8:30 am

Holy Days as announced

Miraculous Medal

Novena Monday, 7:00 pm in

Mary’s Chapel

Parish Registration Become part of our

parish family by contacting the Parish

Office.

Sacraments

Reconciliation /

Confessions Saturday,

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Baptism Contact the Parish Office before the

fifth month of pregnancy.

Marriage Arrangements should

be made with a priest at least one year in advance.

Sick / Homebound / Hospital Ministry

Call the Parish Office.

Christian Initiation of Adults—RCIA

Contact the Religious Education Office.

“For today in the city of David, a Savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

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CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25, 2012

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE,

OUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS STORY

What is your favorite Christmas movie? I recently asked that question at a parish meeting. Everyone there had a favorite. There were far more Christmas movies mentioned than I could initially remember. The movies named included: It's a Wonderful Life, The Bells of Saint Mary's, A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, Scrooged, The Santa Clause, The Bishop's Wife, Elf, and The Polar Express.

Perhaps your favorite film is among them. Mine happens to be A Christmas Carol. I especially like the version that stars Michael Caine and the Muppets. The songs are touching and well written and Michael Caine does a terrific job interacting with the Muppets as they present Charles Dicken's classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge. During the movie, the cold, greedy heart of Scrooge is transformed by scenes of Christmas past, present and future. He comes to realize what is truly important in life and is given a chance to reform and change for the better. A Christmas Carol is about the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge and also about a young boy, Tiny Tim, who embodies the goodness that Scrooge lacks.

If you think about it, every Christmas movie is about redemption in one way or another. Individuals become better people. Dysfunctional families are brought together. Sorrow is exchanged for joy. Cold hearts are melted by love. Hope triumphs over despair. Friendship replaces loneliness. Greed gives way to generosity. Light conquers the darkness. Cynicism and doubt are overcome by faith.

It is not surprising that Christmas movies have such a positive, uplifting, and redemptive message, for such films, even those without an overly religious element, have their basis in the original story of Christmas. And that story is all about redemption.

The original Christmas story is about the Son of God, who takes on flesh and blood and comes to his people. He comes to lift us up beyond the darkness of sin, hopelessness, and despair that are so much a part of our human condition. Jesus comes to bring joy to human hearts and to restore the relationship between God and his people broken by sin. He also reveals that forgiveness, mercy, and love are the way to true peace on earth and harmony among all people.

The original Christmas story unfolded for the first time in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. Its beginning was told by angels proclaiming, "Glory to God in the highest" and announcing, "Today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord."

That story has not lost its power. It brings us together this Christmas as it has done in the past. It even attracts those whose faith has weakened over the years and whose hearts have become somewhat jaded by the cynicism and materialism that permeate our society.

There is something in each of us that yearns for love, acceptance, and understanding, that seeks redemption from those things that lessen the human spirit, that hopes for a better tomorrow for ourselves and our children, that longs for the day prophesied by Isaiah when people "shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again." (Isaiah 2:4)

We are happy that you are with us as we hear the story of Christmas once more and as we remember that the story continues today. For Jesus Christ continues to come into our world, into our church, and into our life.

We all have our favorite Christmas movie, but the one "movie" that tops them all is the original Christmas story that still moves human hearts and proclaims a message of hope and redemption.

Merry Christmas!

Love, Father Tom Iwanowski

OUTDOOR LIGHTS! The first colored electric Christmas lights on outdoor evergreen trees appeared in Denver in 1914. The tradition began thanks to a sick boy bedridden in the top floor of his home. Ten-year-old David Sturgeon couldn’t see his family’s Christmas tree downstairs, so his grandfather, a pioneering electrician, painted some light bulbs red and green and strung them on a tree outside David’s window. Not only did the lights brighten what would be David’s last holiday, but residents throughout the city came by to admire the display. Just as David’s innovative grandfather brought light into the boy’s dark times and joy to the whole community, God revealed the true light by sending Jesus into our dark world. For “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5).

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SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH ORADELL/NEW MILFORD, NJ

AN AFTERNOON OF CHRISTMAS JOY The Christmas season doesn’t officially end until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 13. Come join us for “An Afternoon of Christmas Joy” on that very day! The members of our parish music ministry will be showcasing their talents when they perform selections from a variety of styles of Christmas music, including traditional, religious, contemporary and popular.

Be sure to keep Sunday, January 13 at 3:00pm open (and invite your family and friends too!) so that you can come and enjoy some wonderful music in our church. We’ll help you bring the bright spirit of Christmas right into the dark days of winter!

YOU GAVE FROM THE HEART A heartfelt thank you to all the many parishioners who contributed to our annual Christmas “Giving Tree” this year. Because of your generosity, Saint Joseph Parish has been able to help a number of organizations make Christmas a little happier for local families in need. Your gifts have gone to families assisted by Catholic Charities, through Our Lady of Fatima Parish to families from the North Bergen area, and to Covenant House and Several Sources Foundation. Thank you for making a difference.

Visit us on our websites. Parish: sjcnj.org School: sjsusa.org and greenhouseusa.org

Religious Ed.: religioused.blogspot.com

SJS 8TH ANNUAL TRICKY TRAY The highly anticipated Saint Joseph School 8th Annual Tricky Tray, “Continuing the Excellence,” will be held on Friday, March 1 at the Rockleigh Country Club. Doors will open at 5:30 pm; dinner will be served at 7:00 pm. There will be a preview of the hundreds of wonderful prizes/baskets on the day of the event from 12 noon to 2:00 pm. Proceeds will benefit our parish school.

The reservation price of $65 per person includes a four-course dinner, beer/wine/soda, and a $25 ticket sheet for the prize drawings.

This very popular event is open to all. To reserve your tickets, contact Geraldine at 201-390-6456 or at [email protected]

FELLOWSHIP, COFFEE & MORE Have you been to one of our monthly “Coffee Talks” after Sunday Mass sponsored by our Parish Pastoral Council? The response has been terrific to our first

two Coffee Talks. The one in October featured some fascinating facts about the origin of All Hallow’s Eve , while the second in December offered wonderful tips on finding the peace of the Advent season. Please plan on attending our next Coffee Talk on Sunday, January 13 immediately after our 7 am Mass. It will take place in the lower school gym. Everyone is welcome to attend!

YOU’RE INVITED TO AN OPEN HOUSE

You and your child are cordially invited to an Open House on Thursday, January 10, at Saint Joseph School, our nationally

recognized elementary school for kindergarten through Grade 8, and our exciting PreK program the greenhouse. Stop by anytime between 7:00 and 9:00 pm (no appointment required) and tour our facilities, meet our teachers and talk to our students. Come see firsthand what makes SJS (Saint Joseph School) so special!

JOINING OUR PARISH FAMILY! If you aren’t already and would like to become an official part of our parish (and we hope you do), please contact the parish office at 201-261-0148. Registration involves an informal get to know you meeting with the pastor or one of the other priests.

IS SAINT JOSEPH PARISH ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST?

As you check your list to make sure that all your friends and relatives have received their Christmas Gift, be sure that Saint Joseph Parish has received a special Christmas Gift from you. Our parish greatly depends upon your financial generosity during this Christmas Season to meet its larger expenses. Your special Christmas offering can be placed in any collection between now and January 13, or may be mailed to the Parish Office, 105 Harrison Street, New Milford, NJ 07646. Thank you!

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SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH ORADELL/NEW MILFORD, NJ

Compiled by the Liturgy of the Word With Children Committee

The Gospel is the Good News about Jesus. The Gospel Reading for today is from

John 1:1-18.

A long time ago, God promised to send a Savior to his people. Today is Christmas Day, the birthday of that Savior —Jesus Christ. When Jesus was born, God sent the Angels to tell the Great News to the shepherds. The shepherds immediately went out to find Jesus. They found him lying in a manger on a bed of hay with Mary and Jesus kneeling beside him. And a bright Star was above the manger and shone brightly on the baby Jesus. Jesus is the Light of the World. He is the light that shines in the darkness. He is God’s only son, full of grace and truth. For anyone who believes in Jesus, he will light their way and help them come to know God. If we follow Jesus Christ, he will teach us how to live and how to love God with all our heart.

_____________________________________________________

Bring the Christmas Story to life by adding color to the picture of Mary and Joseph with the Baby Jesus.


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