Worship & Music

May Crowning

Andrew J. Macirowski - Pastoral Coordinator for Worship & Music / Principal Organist

Worship@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Music@stmaryscoltsneck.org

The month of May is traditional associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Paul VI identified the month of May as a time to incorporate specific prayers for peace. And Mary, being Queen of Peace, brings these special prayers to her son, Jesus Christ.

The crowning of an image of Blessed Virgin Mary is a tradition in the Catholic Church, wherein a crown woven out of flowers is placed upon a statue of Mary to signify her role as Queen of Heaven and Mother of God. In small towns where church and home life are heavily intertwined, this practice always takes place on the 1st day of May. Other customs include the Sunday closest to this day, following the “high Mass” of the day, or even as part of Mother’s Day festivities.

There is a prescribed rite for the Crowning of an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary which we follow. On the first Saturday of May, following the 4pms Mass, the faithful will depart the church while singing the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (wherein we pray for the intercession of the Blessed Mother, and call her by her many titles - Queen of Peace, Mother of Mercy, Seat of Wisdom, etc)

The priest or deacon proclaims a prescribed prayer and the image is crowned, while appropriate hymns are sung. The rite concludes with a prayer of blessing and the Regina Caeli.

Individual devotions often take place following the rite, but are not prescribed. Traditionally, the rosary is not prayed during this event, but it is encouraged that those who pray the rosary at home or at church do so in the presence of an image of the Blessed Mother during the month of May.

Saint of the Week:

Bernardine of Siena, Priest, 1380-1444

Bernardine degli Albizzeschi was the son of the governor of Massa Marittima, Italy. Orphaned at the age of seven, Bernardine was raised by an aunt. He chose to join the confraternity of Our Lady at seventeen and, by the age of twenty, was running a hospital in his home town of Siena for victims of the plague. After several months of this work, however, he was overcome by a lingering fever. After his recovery, Bernardine spent another year caring for the aunt who had raised him. At her death, he began to fast and pray that God’s will would be made known to him. At the age of twenty-two, he entered the Franciscan Order.

Read more HERE.

“Easter Duty”

The Catholic Church requires of us as baptized Catholics to observe the following: The obligation, the privilege really, of receiving the Eucharist at least once a year often called “Easter duty” for those in the state of grace should still be fulfilled during the period from the First Sunday of Lent, February 26, 2023 to Trinity Sunday, June 4, 2023. However, the Church’s law does permit this precept to be fulfilled at another time during the year when there is a just cause.

Ministry Schedule: Fifth Sunday of Easter May 6 & 7

Altar Server Cantor Reader 1 Reader 2 EMHC

Saturday 4PM 2 Servers Needed

Carly York with Choir

Paul Tonacci Charles Young

Sunday 8AM Jack Main Carly York Joseph Ventura Anthony Bongiorno

Sunday 10AM

Tesya Yaninas Larissa Yaninas

Sunday 12PM

Jonathan Stubbs Gonzalo Sevillano

Carly York Matt Yaninas Steve Rumsby

OH-Irene Weller

TH-Susan Murphy

TH-Minister Needed

ALT-Louise Habrack

OH-Mike LaCava

TH-Cindy Ventura

TH-Justine Buzzetta

ALT-Roseanne LaCava

OH-Steve Stanley

TH-Heidi Lohn

TH-Dawn Reinhardt

ALT-Sue Fitzpatrick

OH-Elvira Dapul

Carly York Richard Gerbino Jennifer Stubbs

Speak with a Priest

 Struggling with a life event and in need of spiritual assistance?

 Want to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance outside the normal Confession times?

 Trying to find your way back to engagement with the Church?

 Discerning vocation?

 Looking to complete your Sacraments of Initiation and wish to chat about the journey?

St Mary is offering the opportunity for parishioners to chat with a priest who is only indirectly engaged with the parish.

If interested please contact Fr Mike Walsh by phone 732-780-2666 x205 or email frmike.walsh@stmaryscoltsneck.org

TH-Patricia Gesner

TH-Less Gesner

ALT-Minister Needed

Welcome to the newest members of our Saint Mary Parish family

ShaneBrianCassidy

DanielJosephSackstein

RubyLuciaLucas

ZoeAthenaSalcedo

Sacrament Of Baptism

Parents wishing to baptize their children must be registered parishioners of St Mary Parish.

Please contact the Parish Office at 732-780-2666 x329 at least 3 months in advance of the desired date for baptism. More information can be read HERE.

ReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Faith

YouthRE@stmaryscoltsneck.org more details on page 7

This weekend our 8th graders will have their Confirmation Prep Interviews as another step toward their Sacrament of Confirmation.

Our 1-6 graders have another intergenerational opportunity with the Spring Movie day that begins at the 12pm mass and continues in Madonna Hall.

All intergenerational recording sheets for grades 1-6 are due on 1 June 2023. Please email to RE or drop off at he parish office. For your convenience, there is a link on page 6 to print another recording sheet.

Faith Formation-RE Sign-ups:

Summer Intensive student volunteer LINK

Spring Movie Day sign-up HERE

May Day Crowning of Mary sign-up HERE

30 April 2023

Spring Movie Day

INTERGENERATIONAL

Beginning at the 12pm mass, Following in the Spiritual Center Theater

RSVP below

30 April 2023

8the Grade Confirmation Interviews

3pm Spiritual Center

See page 7 for more info

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6 May 2023

May Day Crowning & Fist Communion Lottery

3pm Madonna Hall

Followed by 4pm mass in the church

RSVP below for May Day

INTERGENERATIONAL

732-780-2666 X 310 IMPORTANT

CLICK

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CLICK

LINK

Early Fall Religious Education

Registration/Re-Registration is opened for Grades 1-8 And closes on April 30, 2023

Registration continues through the month of May at the regular price

Classes are first come, first serve and will be closed when capacity is met.

Gr. 1 & 2 on campus-Tuesdays 4:50-6pm Gr. 3-5 live virtual-Tue 4:30-5:30pm

Gr. 6 live virtual -Wed 4:30pm-5:30pm Gr. 7 & 8 Sun 5pm virtual or Mon 4:15pm on campus

Register Here

Confirmation Prep

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8th Grade Confirmation Interviews

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Please, report to the Spiritual Center at your assigned time based on last name. ALL Confirmation paperwork is due at this time.

Email YouthRE@stmaryscoltsneck.org with any questions or concerns.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-Any 7th or 8th grader who was unable to attend the April 15 Service Project must attend the Blessing Bag event at the Co-cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine on Saturday, May 20 at 10:00 am. Attendance will be taken.

-Confirmation Sponsors must obtain a letter of eligibility from the Parish they are registered in.

-All 7th and 8th grade students, Homily reflections for the year are due in the Google classroom by April 30, 2023.

Walking with Purpose News

Calling all women of the parish- please join us for our May/ June Bible study: ‘Reclaiming Friendship.’ Our sessions will be held on Thursdays, May 11 through June 15 from 10:00 am to 11-11:30 am. It is a great way to explore the Bible in a small group setting, and to meet new people too. This six week study is a very good way to ‘ test the waters’ to see if a WWP study is the right fit for you. We welcome all of our returning participants as well as anyone who is new to WWP.

We look forward to seeing you on May 11! Bring a friend! Online registrations will be available in the next couple of weeks. For further information, please contact Anne Baker at anne.t.baker@gmail.com

MARTHA MARY GUILD CLOTHING SALE WE NEED YOU!

The Martha Mary Guild is hoping to bring back the popular Clothing Sale in September. However, much help is needed! Ladies of the parish, please consider giving an hour or two of your time to help sort (Aug.21-25 & 28-31) and sell (Sept. 7,8,9). Our youth (12 & older) are a tremendous help and can gain community service hours. Kindly contact the parish office before May 15. We can't do it without you!! Thank you.

P.S. One more caller is needed to notify ladies about upcoming meetings. Call Kathy at 732946-8631 or Ellen at 732-946-2671. Won't you please consider doing this!?!

My Dear Parishioners:

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Even at Easter when we celebrate the new, resurrection life of Jesus and share in joy and singing unending alleluias, we cannot stray too far from reflecting on the cost of this new life: selfemptying for the sake of another. During times when we seem to be overwhelmed by the demands of dying, God assures us of new life. During this Easter time when we are overjoyed at the new life, God assures us of Jesus’ faithful modeling that leads us through death to this life. Yes, Jesus is the gate—that must lead through death on our way to a share in his new life.

Spring is a time for new beginnings. As the trees bud and the flowers bloom we must carefully reflect on God’s Gift of Life all around us. As stewards, how are we caring for the gift of life in our midst? Do we strive to live healthy, balanced lives? Do we make time for daily prayer? Are our eating habits getting the best of us? Do we take the opportunity for an afternoon or evening stroll while the weather remains mild before the summer heat? All these things can be part of our spiritual life. Contemplative or “mantra style” prayers are important, however, our spiritual lives can be well served by choices to exercise regularly, eat foods that are healthier or better portions as well taking some down time for reading or personal reflection. May this glorious

Season of Easter be a time of true rejoicing in the triumph of Jesus Christ over sin and all that can hold us spiritually hostage.

Reverend Msgr. Michael J. Walsh has been part of our Clergy Team for Saint Catherine, Holmdel and Saint Mary, Colts Neck for the past two years. We are grateful to him for his generous service to us. This year Father Mike observes the 50th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination. We will honor him during mass in a special way Saturday, 10 June 2023 at 5:00pm. What a fitting occasion since it is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. I think some of Father Mike’s Family will be in NJ at this time and will join us for mass. There will be a simple reception in the narthex following the mass as we greet Father Mike for this milestone in his life.

We continue to receive gifts for the 2023 Easter Collection. We will present an accounting to you in the coming weeks. As always, thank you for your generous sharing. I have been away for some time of rest and recreation. I am grateful to all those who have provided oversight and service during my absence. The Summer Mass Schedule begins Memorial Day Weekend which is also and abbreviated Mass Schedule. You’re your schedules. Have a great week. Let us remember one another in prayer. Peace.

Father Jeff