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January 24, 2010 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time "He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." Jesus said to them, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." - Lk 4:18b-19, 21 2009 CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTSStatements will be mailed to all parishioners by January 31. Please call Pat Manfredonia @ 908-756-6524 or patm@stmaryswatchung.org if you have any questions regarding your statement. FROM THE PASTOR's DESK Last week, I made reference to the unfortunate remark by Rev. Pat Robertson that the Haitian people made a pact with the devil and the 7.0 earthquake of 1.12.10 was a deliberate act of God to punish the people of Haiti. I came across a posting from Fr. James Martin, S.J. of America Magazine. Fr. Martin posted a “tongue and cheek” letter to Pat Robertson written by Lily Coyle of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, who pretends that she is Satan’s response to Pat Robertson. Dear Pat Robertson, I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll. You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract. Best, Satan. As we continue to watch and listen to the devastation of such incalculable loss, let us continue to pray for the nations of Haiti and those who are part of the relief effort. Source: http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/blog.cfm?blog_id=2&category_id=49FF70C9-3048-741E-7EFF39D879BDBBA0 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Dismissal Monitors January 2010 Wednesday: Jan. 27 Grieco, Glynn, Gajewski Sunday: Jan. 31 Mattiassi, Martins, Malgieri MOUNT ST. ALPHONSUS UPCOMING PROGRAMS Mount St. Alphonsus, located in the Hudson Valley in New York State is offering the following programs: Taize’ Prayer: Thursday, February 4, 2010. 7:30pm. Simple chants made glorious with harmonies sung by the Mount’s choir, in candlelight only. Donations accepted. Married Couples Retreat: Theme: “Marriage is Love for the Long Haul”. Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 1pm-7pm. Cost $60 per couple, includes dinner. Day of Prayer: Tuesday, February 16, 2010. 9:30am-3:00pm. Topic: Preparing for Lent: A Christian Perspective. Cost $25, includes lunch. Overnight accommodations also available. Reservations and deposits are required for all programs. For more information, please visit www.MountSaintAlphonsus.org, or call (845) 384-8000. CHURCH OF THE LITTLE FLOWER – Berkeley Heights A “Day of Reflection on the Sacredness of Life” will be held at Little Flower Church on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 10:00am-2:30pm. Rev. Mariusz Koch CFR, will be the guest speaker. A Holy Hour including Eucharistic Adoration will conclude the day. Lunch will be provided and there is no charge for this event. To RSVP please e-mail frmarek@lfbhnj.org OPEN HOUSE –SCHOOLS · HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY We will be hosting two Open House sessions to explain the details of our new program for Pre-K and K classes. Fees have been reduced and the curriculum significantly enhanced. The sessions are being held at the school at 120 E. Second St., Bound Brook, Tuesday, January 26 from 9-10am, and on Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 6:30-7:30pm. Please call 732-356-1151 for more information. · OUR LADY OF MOUNT VIRGIN SCHOOL Our Lady of Mount Virgin School, in Middlesex is having a Science Fair and Open house on Sunday, January 31, from 11-1pm, to kick off our annual Catholic Schools Week. We serve more than 200 pupils in Pre-K through 8th grade. For more information please call 732-356-6560 or visit: olmv.net · IMMACULATE CONCEPTION - Somerville Come to our open house on Sunday, January 31 @ 10:30 am Mass. Tours will be given following Mass until 1pm. Also on Tuesday, February 2 from 9am-11am. For information, call 908-725-6516 or www.icsscholl.org · KOINONIA ACADEMY Koinonia Academy, a private Catholic School, located on its own beautiful 11 acre campus in historic Plainfield is having open house for grades k-12, on February 2, from 9-12Noon. Our emphasis: Catholic values, character formation, academic excellence and service. If you are interested, please call 908-668-9002 or visit www.koinoniaacademy.org REMINDER: PALMS FOR ASHES: Ash Wednesday is February 17th. Please bring in your Palms from Palm Sunday to be burned for use at this year’s Ash Wednesday Mass Service. Palms can be dropped off at the parish center. Thank You! MARK THIS DATE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 ST. MARY’S AND WILSON MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN UNITY SERVICE. Details to follow. HOLY LAND TRIP MARCH 4-12, 2010 IT’S NOT TOO LATE! We have approximately a dozen parishioners that have signed up for the parish pilgrimage to Israel, March 4 to March 12. If you are interested in making this trip or have any questions, please contact Ann Breslin at 201-825-3725. IN AND AROUND THE DIOCESE CATHOLIC CENTER AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony) Please join in the celebration of the new home for the Catholic Center at Rutgers University on the site of the historic Convent at St. Peter the Apostle Church on Friday, January 29 at 10:00 a.m. The gathering will begin at the Church located at 94 Somerset St., New Brunswick and will be immediately followed by a Ribbon-cutting and Open House at the newly renovated Center which is adjacent to the Church. World Day for Consecrated Life: Since 1997 the universal Church celebrates World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life close to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, February 2. This year the Diocese will observe this event on Sunday, February 7, with evening Prayer @ 4pm, at Saint Francis cathedral. 20TH ANNUAL BREAD & ROSES BALL Please save the date: Saturday, April 17 for our annual Bread & Roses Ball, at the Bridgewater Marriott in Bridgewater. The event includes dinner, dancing, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and by popular demand Monte Carlo style gaming. For more information, call 732-562-2438 or www.breadandroses10@diometuchen,.org [Welcome] [Bulletins] [Schedule] [Intentions] [Server Schedules] [Sacraments] [Ministries] [Religious Education] [Parish Cemetery] [Staff] [Organizations] [Stations of the Cross] [History] [Links] |
