21 Sunday in Ordinary Time by The Parish of Saint Mary

The parish of saint Mary

A Catholic Community Proclaiming the Greatness of God in our Time

OnePhalanxRoad,ColtsNeck,NJ07722

Phone:732-780-2666 Fax:732-780-0394

Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton: Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C. M.

Pastor: Reverend Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee

Pastor Emeritus: Reverend Fr. William J. Bausch

Parish Trustees: Annette Raynor & Roger Zurro

21stSundayinOrdinaryTime

August252024

Labor Day Weekend

Saturday August 31, 5:00 P.M. Mass

Sunday September 1, 10:00 A.M. Mass

Monday September 2, 9:00 A.M. Mass

Parish Office Summer Hours

Beginning since July through the end of August, the parish office is open 9 am to 2 pm Monday through Thursday. Tuesday evening hours will resume the Tuesday after Labor Day September 3rd. The Parish Office will also be open Sunday September 8, 9am - 1pm

Mass Intentions for:

Saturday August 24 2024 - Sunday September 1 2024

Saturday, August 24- 5PM

Anna Merck * Barbara Saake

Jon Kopko * Hamlin Family

Ruth Manger * Pete and Kathy Kenny

Sunday, August 25 –8AM

DeStefano/Albruno Families * Mr. and Mrs. Franceschetti

Pasquale Pace * Alice Ganley

10AM

Dorothy Gabbard * Gabbard family

Ted Ziemienski * Nancy and Harry Bauer

John Flynn * Jodi Heeb

12PM

Pro Populo

Rose Coppolino * Richard and Maria Gerbino

Yvonne Messina * Messina Family

Monday, August 26 - 9AM

Ginny Hamlin * Ann Marie Dayton

Tuesday, August 27 - 9AM

Helen DeCerce * Diane Carnevale

Tom Telesca * Michele Telesca

Wednesday, August 28 - 9AM

Ruben Dapul * Drs. Gener and Elvira Dapul

Rev. Daniel F. Gowen * Rev. Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee, Staff and Parishioners

Thursday, August 29 - 9AM

Rev. Fr. Walter McGovern * Tom and Angela Kinlin

Friday, August 30 - 9AM

Rose Lunz * Maureen Beyer

MaryAnn Barone * Cynthia Barone Mazzola

Saturday, August 31 - 5PM

Rose Rimmele * Barbara Saake

Josephine Diana * Fran Vaina

Sofia Stoia by Rorie and Jack Coppola

Sunday September 1 - 10AM

Pro Populo

Helene Dickinson * Dickinson-Pancila Family

Abel Bocanegra L. * Maria Yaninas

Mass Intention Requests

Requests can be made in person by stopping at the parish office, or online HERE. Suggested stipend is $10.

Pleaseprayforthefollowingmembersofourparishcommunitywhoareill:

Jack Coppola ~ Bill Donahue ~ Kaitlin Donahue Nagle

~ Lori Lettieri

Lauren vinci

TOM JACOBSON

Dawn Reinhardt

Jeff McBride

Owen Shoemaker

Gerard Thompson

Fran Raleigh ~ Rose walch ~ Joyce daniele

~ Peter Vickers

~ Robert a . monaco, md

Toaddorremoveafamilymemberfromthesicklistpleasee-mailONLY parishbulletin@stmaryscoltsneck.org Please,also,keepusupdatedonyourlovedone’shealth. Nameswillberemovedfromthelistafter3months.ThankyouforkeepingourParishinformed.

Lifelong Catechesis

- Week of August 25- August 31

FOR DEEPER REFLECTION:

READINGS FOR THE WEEK:

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b/Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32/Jn 6:60-69

MONDAY August 26

2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12/Mt 23:13-22

TUESDAY August 27

2 Thes 2:1-3a, 14-17/Mt 23:23-26

WEDNESDAY August 28

2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18/Mt 23:27-32

THURSDAY AUGUST 29

1 Cor 1:1-9 (428)/Mk 6:17-29

FRIDAY AUGUST 30

1 Cor 1:17-25/Mt 25:1-13

SATURDAY AUGUST 31

1 Cor 1:26-31/Mt 25:14-30

Almighty and eternal God, those who take refuge in you will be glad and forever will shout for joy. Protect these soldiers as they discharge their duties. Protect them with the shield of your strength and keep them safe from all evil and harm. May the power of your love enable them to return home in safety, that with all who love them, they may ever praise you for your loving care. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Pray for Military & First Responders

AMT Colton Boag, USCG

LCpl Devon Francis Chrzan, USMC

Col. John Anthony Coppola, US Army

TSgt Stephen Witherow, USAF

LCpl Edward Zarzecki, USMC

Question for Children: Who and what help you believe in Jesus?

Question for Youth: Who do you know who really struggles with believing? What can you do to help them struggle through doubt?

Question for Adults: To whom do you go when you are looking for meaning or answers to life’s questions?

Life Long Catechesis

Lt. Col. Douglas Coppola, US Army

~ Lt. Mary Herman, USN

SN Christian Houlihan, USN

LT. Jason Joseph Howe, USN

SPC Michael John Mento, US Army

LTJG Matthew Motola, USN

LCpl Bradley O’Ree, USMC

SPC Nicholas Poskonka, US Army

Captain Richard Savo, US Army

1st Lt. Adam Sjoholm, US Army

Captain Ryan Tanguay, US Army

Sanctuary Lamp

Consider donating the sanctuary lamp that burns in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church or Chapel in honor of a living or deceased loved one. One intention is accepted per week (Sunday - Saturday) for the Lamp. The suggested donation is $25. Request online HERE.

Andrew J. Macirowski

- Pastoral Coordinator for Worship & Music / Principal Organist

Worship@stmaryscoltsneck.org Music@stmaryscoltsneck.org Worship & Music

Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

A rabble-rouser in his youth. A baptized Christian at 33. An ordained priest at 36. A bishop at 41: Many people are familiar with the biographical sketch of Augustine of Hippo, sinner turned saint. But to get to really know the man is a rewarding experience.

There quickly surfaces the intensity with which he lived his life, whether his path led away from or toward God. His mother, Saint Monica, prayed constantly for his conversion, shedding tears over her sons sinful ways. Eventually, through her prayer, the instructions of Saint Ambrose and, most of all, the word of God in the Scriptures, eventually redirected Augustine’s “love of life” to a “life of love”, a complete turnaround from one who once wanted nothing to do with God or Jesus.

His early life of decadence, filled with drinking, loose living, parties and abandonment followed by his subsequent conversion have led him to the patron saint of those struggling with or recovering from addiction.

In his day, Augustine providentially fulfilled the office of prophet. Like Jeremiah and other greats, he was hard-pressed but could not keep quiet. “I say to myself, I will not mention him/I will speak in his name no more/But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart/ imprisoned in my bones/I grow weary holding it in/I cannot endure it” (Jeremiah 20:9).

His memorial is celebrated on August 28th.

Reprinted in part from Franciscan Media

Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor, 1090-1153

Bernard, the third son of seven children of a noble family, was born at the family castle near Dijon. Upon the death of his mother and after a misspent youth, Bernard decided to lead a religious life.

In 1112, he persuaded thirty-one of his friends and relatives (including his brothers) to go with him to the first Cistercian monastery at Cîteaux. This community, which followed a very strict Benedictine rule, had been on the verge of dying out when Bernard arrived. With his help, the group recovered its vitality and, in 1115, Bernard was sent to open a new monastery at what was later to be called Clairvaux. This monastery was to become the mother house of sixtyeight Cistercian monasteries.

Bernard was noted for his wisdom and the eloquence of his preaching. He was often consulted by rulers and popes and soon became one of the most powerful influences in Europe. He led the successful struggle to support the legitimacy of Pope Innocent II’s election against the claims of an antipope and was the leader in gaining Lothaire II’s acceptance as Emperor.

NO 8AM MASS ON SEPTEMBER 1

Sunday, 1 10 AM RJ Vaina NOT FILLED NOT FILLED Mary Ellen Griffin Julia Cullen

Sunday, 1 12 PM

TWENTYFIRSTSUNDAYIN ORDINARYTIME

Grant,OmercifulGod,thatyourChurch,being gatheredtogetherinunitybyyourHolySpirit, mayshowforthyourpoweramongallpeoples, tothegloryofyourName;throughJesusChrist ourLord,wholivesandreignswithyouandthe HolySpirit,oneGod,foreverandever.Amen. (LectionaryPage.net)

OH - Nick Turkovic

TH - Tom Nathanson

TH - Liz Turkovic

ALT - Amy Orrico

NO 12PM MASS ON SEPTEMBER 1 Cohort 13 St. Catharine of Genoa 108 Middletown Rd. Holmdel Saint Mary Parish One Phalanx Rd. Colts Neck St. Gabriel 100 N. Main St. Marlboro

St Mary Parish is offering our next Baptismal Preparation Session on: SUNDAY, September 8, 2024 at 1:00 PM Pre-registrationisrequiredaweek inavance. Contact

St. Leo The Great 50 Hurleys Lane, Lincroft Baptismal Preparation Session

Please remember in your prayers those who have recently died.

Faith Formation

Julia Cullen - Pastoral Coordinator of Faith Formation / Religion Ed

ReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org 732-780-2666 X 309

Religious Education Calendar

14 September 2024

Confirmation Prep Orientation

Grades 7&8, 4 PM

Mandatory for Students &Parents

15 September 2024

Fall RE Orientation & Blessing mass

Grades 1-6 beginning at 12PM mass and following in the church

17 September 2024 Fall RE begins, Grades 1-6

22, 24 September 2024

Confirmation Prep Class

Confirmation Prep Reminder

CP students use the same books for two years: The Catholic Youth Bible and Chosen: Your journey to Confirmation.

8th graders, now is a good time to Locate your books before the first day of classes on September 14.

IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS ED LINKS

2024 - 2025

• 2024 - 2025 RE Calendar

• Parent - Student 24/25 Handbook

• Intergenerational List

• Intergeneneration Recording Attenanceance Link

Many thanks to all the RE parents, students, catechists and parent and student volunteers for helping to make this years summer intensive a success. Both July VIRTUAL and August ON CAMPUS were met with excitement and lots of faith formation! Please check out pictures below and click HERE to be directed to St. Mary's Facebook page to view video’s from our August program:

With Fall RE right around the corner, please check out the yearly RE calendar in the link box for all important RE dates. Both 7 & 8 grade Confirmation Prep mandatory orientation and classes as well as the Fall RE, grades 1 through 6 grade orientation and classes are all listed.

Looking for Fall Class Assistants! 7th grade and up - Service Hours Awarded! SIGN UP HERE

“Coffee and Donuts” was held on Sunday, 11 August, 2024 following the 10 AM mass. The Faith Formation/Religious Education Advisory Board, along with the Parish of Saint Mary Hospitality team, hosted this event and it was a great success! We look forward to the next “Coffee and Donuts” Sunday! Please reach out to the parish office if you are interested in joining the Hospitality team.

WE NEED YOU !

Men, women, teens and preteens - the Martha Mary Guild would appreciate your help in sorting clothes for the Big September Sale. (Yes, men help too and are especially needed for setting up and breaking down the racks.)

At 1 p.m. on Fri. August 16, we will be setting up in Madonna Hall (in the Spiritual Center). For two weeks starting on August 20, we will be in Madonna Hall every week day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sort clothing. No skills are needed and no "sign-up" is necessary for Set-up - JUST COME!!

We will be accepting donations of clean, gently used clothing from Aug. 17 through Sept. 1 - and just a reminder - the Sale will be Sept. 5,6,7 & 8. Your help is so very much needed and you can sign up HERE

These are the organizations that benefited from the 2023 Clothing Sale:

Sisters of Mercy Convent Maintenance

Yamba Uganda

Collier Youth Services

Sisters of St. Joseph Retirement Fund

Mercy Center

Mary's Place

No Limits Cafe

Soul Kitchen

Special Olympics, NJ

Pathfinder

Quo vadis...

My Dear Parishioners:

Today we celebrate the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. Believe or leave—a pretty clear choice. What shocks us into making the right choice? The problem is, many of us make the choice to stay with Jesus but live this new, self-giving life only halfheartedly. Couched in our belief-choice is really unbelief (in this gospel also portrayed as betrayal). Liturgy invites us to constantly assess the depth of our belief-commitment. We judge our belief not on what we say or think but on what we do. “It is the spirit that gives life.” The Holy Spirit dwells within us and is the source of our life in Christ and of our commitment to believe wholeheartedly. Without the Spirit we would be unbelievers, returning to our “former way of life.” The Spirit enables us to enter into the rhythm of paschal mystery living of dying and rising, of self-giving and celebrating the indwelling of God. Constant vigilance and openness to the Spirit within nudges our halfhearted response to a wholehearted one.

Many of our parishioners are preparing their children to begin or return to school. It is an exciting time and yet it can be a stressful time. Let us remember these students, especially those who are going away from home for the first time, that they might continue to grow in wisdom, holiness and service.

We have concluded our Summer Intensive Sessions. I am grateful to our staff, the teacher/catechists, scores of volunteer/ helpers for helping to make these meaningful opportunities for our young people and their

families. We continue to grow these programs as we strive to serve the needs of our parishioners.

We will be observing an abbreviated Mass Schedule for Labor Day Weekend: Saturday 5:00pm. Sunday 10:00am. Please note this in your calendars. The Fall/Winter Schedule will commence the weekend following: 7/8 September: Saturday 4:00pm; Sunday 8am, 10am, 12 noon. Thank you for your cooperation.

We are receiving inquiries from persons interested in learning more about becoming Roman Catholic as well as from those who were Baptized and are interested in First Eucharist and/or Confirmation. Contact Rose Farrow for more information. Let us pray for all those discerning.

We are working on our Annual Stewardship Report. It should be emailed to all of our registered parishioners and posted to our parish website. This is an important way to pronate transparency and be accountable.

As always, thanks for all that you do and your faithfulness to the church and our parish. This weekend I will be hosting some members of my family. It is good for us to be together and keep strong our family ties. Also, my classmate will be visiting for a few days. We have been friends for 41 years! Have a great week. Let us remember one another in prayer. Happy Sunday.

Peace. Father Jeff

Registered Parishioner Households 934

"If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come,

follow me."

Mt 19:21

Corporate Matching

Several firms and corporations offer matching gift programs to benefit religious organizations, charities and other nonprofits to promote philanthropy amongst their employees. St Mary Parish is a registered charitable organization with the IRS and is also listed in GuideStar which is required by some of the corporate matching gift programs. Please consult with your employer to sign up for their matching gift program. If you have any question or need help signing St Mary Parish for corporate matched contributions, please contact Edwin at the Parish Office, 732-780-2666 x312. Thank you for your support!

Please remember the Parish of Saint Mary in your will.. By naming St. Mary in your will or trust, you will provide a lasting gift that will greatly help St. Mary and our parishioners. Thank you for your consideration.

A. SevillanoTemporalAdmin@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Sign-in for our Online Giving system to make your parish offerings from your bank account or Credit Card!

To set up an online giving account please visit https://giving.parishsoft.com/smcn Alternatively, just Text SUNDAY to (732)-889-7800 and follow the instructions to complete your offering.

Should you require our assistance setting up your new account, please call the parish office at (732)780-2666.

You can also download the Connect Now Giving App for Android or iOS.Thank you for your continuous support!

As of August 19 2024

THANK YOU ! For all your efforts in supporting the Annual Catholic Appeal! Please continue to make your pledge payments so that our parish can receive the maximum rebate. If you haven't made a pledge yet please go to www.dioceseoftrenton.org/catholicappeal to send your gift electronically. Make sure to select St. Mary Catholic Church, Colts Neck in the Parish Affiliation box so we can receive credit for your gift.

Thank you for your prayers and support

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are a core offering at Francis House which deepen your capacity for prayer and intimacy with God, free you from attachments, clarify your purpose and teach discernment of spirits, the art of finding God in all things. Below are our 3 ways:

IN-PERSON OR ZOOM MONTHLY SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

10 Wednesdays 3:00 – 4:30 PM

September 11 February 5

October 9 March 5

November 6 April 2

December 4 April 16

January 8 May 7

Please give yourself the gift of this retreat that invites you to pray with Scriptures each day using the format of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. We will use The Jesus Way: Practicing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, by Karen Keen and The Gift of Spiritual Intimacy by Monty Williams, SJ. Donation: $200

34 WEEKLY ZOOM MEETINGS SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS

34 Tuesdays 3:00 – 4:30 PM

September 17 – May 27

On Zoom to alleviate travel each week. In this full version, we will experience the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius which corresponds to a 30-day retreat at a retreat house. You are committing to one hour of prayer every day and a weekly meeting. We will use The Jesus Way: Practicing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, by Karen Keen and The Gift of Spiritual Intimacy by Monty Williams, SJ. Donation: $450

EVENING ZOOM SERIES THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES MADE EASY

10 Wednesdays 7:00 – 8:30 PM

September 11 February 5

October 9 March 5

November 6 April 2

December 4 April 16

January 8 May 7

We will use To Walk with Christ by Laurence Gooley, SJ as our guide through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and read Jesuit James Martin’s The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything, between sessions. Donation: $200

MOTHER MARY & SAINTS PILGRIMAGE to ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND. Sept 16-27, 2024. 12 Days $4990. Includes RT Airfare from Newark, Daily Breakfasts & Dinners, Hotel accommodations, professionally guided tours, deluxe motor coach & more.

Fr Abraham Orapangkal, pastor St Mathias parish, Somerset Tour Chaplain. Daily Mass & Prayers, For more information kindly call or Email: JULIET HOBSON 732-439-2835 Email: yetjcb@icloud.com