August 7, 2022: The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The parish of saint Mary A Catholic Community Proclaiming the Greatness of God in our Time One Phalanx Road, Colts Neck, NJ 07722 Phone: 732-780-2666 Fax: 732-780-0394 parishoffice@stmaryscoltsneck.org

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 Worship schedule inside.

Refer to website for more detailed information www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 7, 2022 The Assumption Of The Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Day Monday, August 15 9 am Mass in the Church 7 pm Mass in the Church

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August 7th, 2022

Mass Intentions for: Saturday, August 6th-Sunday August 14th For * Requested by

Saturday, August 6 – 5 PM Church Jack Murphy * John and Susan Murphy Michael Turner * Jack Zumba John Coppola * Jack Zumba Sunday, August 7 – Church 8 AM Francisca Vera * Daughter - Rita Duenas Jean Brock * Ed Brock Margaret Dedalis * Linda and Chuck Fredda 10 AM Pro Populo Cecilia LaMorte * Steve and Jackie Samich Eleanor Mancini * Susan and Neal Brunner 12 PM Robert A. and Mary Joan McNamara * Mc Namara Family Eileen Ladley * James Dolan Special Intention * Robert Amling Monday, August 8 – 9 AM Chapel Antoinette Gaeta Agliata * Sessa Family JoAnne Zamorski * Mike Zamorski Tuesday, August 9 – 9 AM Chapel Edward McLeod * His Family Carlos Martins * Lorraine Martins Wednesday, August 10 – 9 AM Chapel Dina Mircovich * Mr. and Mrs. Severino Salamon Jean Monte Giliberti Family Thursday, August 11 – 9 AM Chapel Eleanore Salvo * Ginny Hamlin John Krupa * Greenstein Family Friday, August 12 – 9 AM Chapel Linda and Theodoor Damen * Cinfio Family Crisanta Dapul * Drs. Gener and Elvira Dapul Saturday, August 13 – 5 PM Church Walter Schwartz * Barbara Saake Joan Fiumefreddo * Amanda and Brian Penton Margaret (Peggy) Caponegro * Tom and Angela Kinlin Sunday, August 14 – Church 8 AM John Brenner * Eileen and Michael Stivala Robert Arcoleo * Ed Brock Edward Littler * Neil and Jane Slattery 10 AM Jose Muniz * Fredda Family Peter Griffin * Carmel and Peter Vickers Theresia and Anton Kopp * Donna and Frank Sikorskas 12 PM Pro Populo Joseph Walsh III * Martha Mary Guild Special Intention * Robert Amling

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Please pray for the following members of our parish family who are ill: Kathleen Amatel Courtney Barker Michael Barker Janice Basilice Fr Bill Bausch Eileen Beckley Brenda Caronna Christen Chellis Blake Conley Kaitlin Donahue Nagle Sr. Suellen Tennyson Sharon Evangellista Joann Feliciti Cynthia Fiedler James Fiedler Emily Gioacchini

Edward Habrack Tom Hudak Elizabeth Lind Huseby Bridget Korn Bob Lind Lori Lettieri Donna Lodi Leonidas Mavrookas Ludwig Mendola Kevin O’Shea Owen Shoemaker Victoria Slater Gerard P. Thompson Seneida Tomasetti Lauren Vinci

To add a family member to the sick list for 8 weeks, please call or e-mail the Parish Office. Thank you! 732-780-2666 or parishbulletin@stmaryscoltsneck.org

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

Parish Office Hours Monday 9 am – 2 pm Tuesday 2 pm -7:30 pm Wednesday 9 am – 2 pm Thursday 9 am – 2 pm Sunday 9 am -12 noon No office hours on Friday or Saturday

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Lifelong Catechesis Week of August 7th—August 13th 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 SN Colton Boag, USCG LCpl Devon Francis Chrzan, USMC Lt. Col. John Anthony Coppola, US Army Major Douglas Coppola, US Army Lt. Mary Herman, USN SN Christian Houlihan, USN LT. Jason Joseph Howe, USN SPC Michael John Mento, US Army Ensign Matthew Motola, USN SPC Nicholas Poskonka, US Army Captain Richard Savo, US Army 1st Lt. Adam Sjoholm, US Army Captain Ryan Tanguay, US Army TSgt Stephen Witherow, USAF LCpl Edward Zarzecki, USMC

Sacrament of Baptism Couples wishing to baptize their children must be registered parishioners of St Mary Parish.

Please contact the Parish Office at 732-7802666 x329 at least 3 months in advance of the desired date for baptism. More information can be read HERE.

Grotto Candles The Grotto Candles are available for your prayer intentions.

Offering is $3.00 per candle.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK 7 Sunday: NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Wisdom 18: 6-9 / Hebrews 11: 1-2. 8-19 / Luke 12: 32-48 8 Monday: Ezekiel 1: 2-5. 24-28c / Matthew 17: 22-27 9 Tuesday: Ezekiel 2: 8 3: 4 / Matthew 18: 1-5. 10. 12-14 10 Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 9: 6-10 / John 12: 24-26 11 Thursday: Ezekiel 12: 1-12 / Matthew 18: 21 19: 1 12 Friday: Ezekiel 16: 1-15. 60. 63 / Matthew 19: 3-12 13 Saturday: Ezekiel 18: 1-10. 13b. 30-32 / Matthew 19: 1315

FOR DEEPER REFLECTION: Question for Children: Jesus tells us to always be ready to hear him. What are some ways that he speaks to us?

Question for Youth: If Jesus were to knock on your door today and give you a report card on your life as His disciple, what grade would you get? Where would be your areas for improvement?

Question for Adults: On a daily basis, what are some ways to keep yourself “ready for God to act?” How do you pay attention to God’s often-less-than-obvious actions?

Church: Special Intention

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. Available weeks listed below: Church - 8/14, 8/28, 9/25 Chapel - 8/21, 9/4, 10/2

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Andrew J. Macirowski Pastoral Coordinator for Worship & Music / Principal Organist Worship@stmaryscoltsneck.org Music@stmaryscoltsneck.org Saint Clare, Virgin (August 11) St. Clare of Assisi was born in Assisi on July 16, 1194, as Chiara Offreduccio, the eldest daughter of Favorino Sciffi, Count of Sasso-Rosso and his wife Ortolana.

As a young girl, Clare dedicated herself to prayer. At 18-years-old, she heard St. Francis of Assisi preach during a Lenten service in the church of San Giorgio and asked him to help her live according to the Gospel. On Palm Sunday in 1212, Clare left her father's home and went to the chapel of the Porziuncula to meet with Francis.

Clare joined the convent of the Benedictine nuns of San Paulo, near Bastia, under Francis' orders. When her father found her and attempted to force her back into his home, she refused and professed that she would have no other husband than Jesus Christ. In order to give her the greater solitude she desired, Francis sent Clare to Sant' Angelo in Panzo, another Benedictine nuns’ monastery.

Clare's sister Catarina, who took the name Agnes, joined her at this monastery. The two remained there until a separate dwelling was built for them next to the church of San Damiano.

Overtime, other women joined them, wanting to also be brides of Jesus and live with no money. They became known as the "Poor Ladies of San Damiano." They all lived a simple life of austerity, seclusion from the world, and poverty, and became known as the "Order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano." For a brief period of time, the order was directed by St. Francis himself and by 1216, Clare became the abbess of San Damiano. Ten years after her death, it became known as the Order of Saint Clare.

In 1224, an army of soldiers sent from Frederick II came to attack Assisi. Although very sick, Clare went out to meet them with the Blessed Sacrament on her hands. She had the Blessed Sacrament placed at the wall where the enemies could see it. Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters.

In that moment, a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could without harming anyone in Assisi.

In iconography, Clare is often pictured carrying a monstrance or pyx, to commemorate the time she warded off the soldiers at the gates of her convent with the Blessed Sacrament.

Speak with a Priest  

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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

Saint of the Week: Monica, Mother and Widow, 332-387 Jesus spoke to his disciples of persistence in prayer (Lk 11:5-10).

This saint’s life demonstrated the effectiveness of following that advice.

She provides a model for parents whose children have drifted away from their family values and their Church.

Monica was born in Tagaste, North Africa and raised a Christian by her parents. A part of her upbringing by a strict family retainer was to abstain from drinking anything between meals.

When she was old enough to marry, her parents arranged a marriage with Patricius, a pagan who was also from Tagaste. Patricius was described as a man with good qualities, but having a raging temper and inclined to dissoluteness. This was only the first of the crosses which Monica had to bear however.

Read more HERE.

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Worship Schedule: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Saturday, August 13 & Sunday, August 14— please check MSP for Holy Day Schedule Altar Server

Saturday 5PM

Mark Hines William Hines

Sunday 8AM

Servers Needed

Sunday 10AM

Gabriella Penczak

Sunday 12Noon

Jonathan Stubbs Gonzalo Sevillano

Cantor

Reader 1

Reader 2

Carly York

Charles Young

Kathy Maher

Organ Host—Susan Murphy Tabernacle Host—Louise Habrack Tabernacle Host—Emily Santangelo Alternate—Minister Needed

Carly York

Paul Tonacci

Kevin Swan

Organ Host—Marsha Grigoli Tabernacle Host—Joseph Flanagan Tabernacle Host—Joyce Flynn Alternate—Mary Aiello

Carly York

Barbara Schaflin

Julia Cullen

Organ Host—Gregory Calderaro Tabernacle Host—Amy Orrico Tabernacle Host—Minister Needed Alternate—Maureen Geiger

Carly York

Jennifer Stubbs

T Mullin

EMHC

Organ Host—Emily Santangelo Tabernacle Host—Ron Gabbard Tabernacle Host—Lee Gesner Alternate—Patricia Gesner

Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (confessions) Every Saturday at 4:00pm in church or call the office for an appointment at 732-780-2666.

Create a free account: www.stmaryscoltsneck.formed.org Parish Access Code: KQ4VQ3 Elements of the Catholic Mass is designed to help the faithful better appreciate the beauty of the Mass.

Featuring Fr. Douglas Martis, former director of the Liturgical Institute, the program consists of thirty-one beautifully produced short videos. Each episode comes with a discussion guide with references, Elements of the Catholic Mass is ideal for personal faith formation or family / group discussion.

Click HERE for this week’s episode.

Liturgy of the Word Dismissal This is the practice of having the children, ages 4-12, leave the Sunday assembly during the Liturgy of the Word (readings) and gather in a separate environment to engage in the Liturgy of the Word at a level more appropriate to the children’s understanding.

Join us every Sunday at the 10am mass

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Faith Formation Julia Cullen - Pastoral Coordinator of Faith Formation / Religion Education ReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org 732-780-266 X 309 Rose Farrow - Coordinator of Faith Formation / Youth & Adult Catechesis YouthRE@stmaryscoltsneck.org 732-780-2666 X 310

Faith Formation Calendar

August Summer Intensive Orientation Reminder

25 July-15 August-Basketball Pick up games continue every Mon at 7pm on the church grounds 7 August 2022-Summer Intensive Orientation for August Session, beginning at 12pm mass, following in the church 8-19 August 2022-August Summer Intensive, Monday to Friday, On Campus Session 8:30am to 12:30pm 17 September 2022-Confirmation Prep Orientation Grades 7&8, 5pm in the church 18 September 2022-Fall RE Orientation, 12pm mass followed by orientation in church 18 September 2022-Confirmation Retreat9th grade only, beginning at 12pm mass 20 & 21 September 2022-RE Gr.1-6 begin 25 September 2022-Fall Movie Day

Next intergenerational…

7 August 2022 beginning at 12pm mass Mandatory for all August students

Links:  

Diocesan Pilgrimage - 11-12-22 FLYER Guide for Catholic families of opt-out rights for curriculum of public school students

Attention all RE Parents We are looking for parents to volunteer to help out in both the virtual and in person classrooms.

Ideally one parent from each class will be the “class Mom or Dad” to help assist the Catechist in ensuring a great faith filled experience. If you are interested in fulfilling this role, please email the Faith Formation office. It is important that each parent volunteer is compliant with all safe environment protocols, which we will assist you in completing. Thank you!

Movie Day

Sunday, 25 September, 2022 beginning at the 12pm mass Followed by movie in Madonna Hall-RSVP to come soon!

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SOAP DRIVE We are pleased to announce the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation: Date: Friday, 14 October 2022 Time: 4:00pm sharp Vicar General, Diocese of Trenton Please keep the Confirmandi in your prayers Other Mandatory Dates: Confirmation retreat (9th graders) Sunday, September 18, 2022 Begins with 10:00 am mass, ends at approximately 2:00 pm Candidate MUST be accompanied by their parent and/or sponsor Confirmation Practice (9th Graders) Saturday, October 8, 2022 Begins with 4:00pm mass Candidate MUST be accompanied by their parent and/or sponsor

We are looking to hire Certified Teachers for our Fall Religious Education Program 

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Paid positions available for the fall weekly program starting the end of September 2022 and continuing to the beginning of May 2023 In person and live online classes available to teach Looking for Certified teachers in our community whose faith is alive and active who are also certified in catechesis (we will get you certified) All positions afternoon and evenings, Sunday thru Wednesday

In partnership with Soap S.A.C.K the Parish of St. Mary will be running a soap drive beginning on July 10 through August 10.  Look for the box on the Narthex for these donations  Full sized bars of soap in their original packaging only please.  Instructions to crochet a sack. https:// www.soapsacks.com/services/

S.A.C.K. (Supporting A Community with Kindness) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization where people from all over the world knit/crochet sacks and then donate them (with a bar of soap in each one) to homeless shelters, food pantries, veteran clinics, social service agencies and relief efforts. Since S.A.C.K. was founded in 2017, over 140,000 soap sacks have been donated globally!

The response to these soap sacks are overwhelmingly positive especially since people cannot purchase toiletry items such as soap with government subsidies such as food stamps. The mission of S.A.C.K. is to spread kindness, one sack at a time. Our soap sack donations help to send a message of dignity, hope, love, compassion and health…..emotions that can restore a person, both physically and emotionally. Small actions make a huge difference! For more information about S.A.C.K., please check out our website (www.soapsacks.com), Facebook (SoapSACK) and Instagram (soapsacks) pages.

For more details, please contact Julia Cullen ReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org 732-780-2666 X 309

Shop now and AmazonSmile donates to St. Mary!

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August 7th, 2022

More information and registrations coming up. Stay tuned!

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Quo vadis…

My Dear Parishioners: Today we celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The final line of this gospel is most demanding and directly applicable to our daily paschal mystery living: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” We’ve been entrusted with much: furthering Jesus’ mission of bringing the good news of salvation to all his disciples. We have been entrusted with even more: we are not simply servants, but because of our baptism and being plunged into the paschal mystery we become members of the body of Christ. Our faithfulness is measured by even more than doing God’s will; it is measured by our being the presence of the risen Christ for all those we meet. The parallel the gospel offers is between possessions or Person. The real surprise of the gospel is that we ourselves, in our daily paschal mystery living of dying to ourselves for the sake of others, become more perfectly that presence of the very Master for whom we are vigilant. We ourselves are treasure, too, when we are faithful disciples.

prepare for a new academic year. Education is such a great opportunity to grow in our perspective and vision. The world is a very different place today. Globalization challenges us to think in terms that are much broader and far-reaching. The challenge remains that we not become unsteady in our own selfidentity and the core foundation that supports our self -identity. The Catholic Community is one of those places where foundational or core values are lived in harmony with those that are fostered in the home.

Our Catholic Church has, since the Second Vatican Council, stressed the importance of the Domestic Church of the Home. It is my hope that our parish community will continue to support parents and their children as they grow in faith. It is in this way that young people leave their home with the needed tools to live as responsible young adults in university life and as they move into their own residences. Globalization also challenges how we transmit our faith from generation to generation. Learning models for children, adolescents and young people continue to evolve. Some have found the FORMED website to be a helpful tool in learning more about their faith.

This weekend we welcome those parishioner families who are participating in the August Module of the RE Summer Program. The students will be on campus for the coming two weeks. Let us pray for the students, their families as well as the catechists and volunteers. They will participate in classroom instructions as well as various activities and presentations.

Two classes will participate in the daily mass celebrated in the chapel and the Solemnity of the Assumption in the church will be all together.

Brother Gregory Sambi, OSB will conclude his Summer Deacon Internship here in our parish following the 9:00am Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I encourage you to take time and thank Br. Gregory for sharing his ministry with us this summer. I will be preparing a written summary of the summer internship with comments encouraging his strengths. Equally I will be offering some comments of “fraternal correction” as he continues his formation for the ordained priesthood. Life This weekend Father Patrick McPartland, Pastor of long learning is an important part of our Catholic the Parish of Saint Catherine of Genoa, Holmdel will Christian Discipleship. I am grateful to many of you be celebrating the 8am and 10am masses here in our for your assistance this summer. parish. I will be celebrating the 8am and 10am mass- Next week we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Ases in Saint Catherine Parish. We have been doing this sumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of for the past months during weekday masses. We our Diocese of Trenton and our Cathedral Church. have agreed to switch for 2 weekend masses one time We have scheduled masses on 15 August at 9am daily every three months. This is a way in which we con- mass and 7:00pm for your convenience. It is a wontinue to live the Faith in Our Future vision for Co- derful time for us to pray that Mary, Assumed into Hort 13. Please greet Father Pat warmly and wel- Heaven will continue to intercede for us to her Son, come him to our parish community.

Jesus Christ. Please join us for this Solemnity as we This weekend we offer our prayer for all those stu- pray for our Parish especially during this time of trandents preparing to begin their first year in college, sition. Have a great week. Let us remember one anthose returning to college and all students as they other in prayer. Happy Sunday. Peace. Father Jeff

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Temporal Administration, Stewardship & Outreach Edwin A. Sevillano TemporalAdmin@stmaryscoltsneck.org Sharing Our Treasure

July 31 2022 -18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Weekly Sacrificial Stewardship

$12,451

Envelope Contributions

$6,706

Electronic/Online Contributions

$5,188

Loose Contributions

$557 271 $43.89

# Registered Parishioner Households

988

This weekend August 6-7 is our monthly collection for the Building and Mortgage Reduction Fund.

Our monthly mortgage payment is $7,966.26.

Please be generous. " "Then he said to the crowd, 'Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions'."

Lk. 12:15 THANK YOU for the Sacrificial Stewardship.

Offerings as we support the ministries, programs and facilities of our parish. May God Bless you for the sacrifices that you make.

Support The Parish of Saint Mary through Online Giving! https://giving.parishsoft.com/smcn Sign-in for our Online Giving system to make your parish offerings from your bank account or Credit Card! You can also download the ConnectNow Giving App for Android or iOS

Thank you for your continuous support!

As of August 1, 2022 Goal: Pledged: % of goal: # donors: Average gift: Paid to date:

$75,000 $87,140 116% 201 $434 $66,370.83

If you have not yet made a gift, there are pledge forms available in the back of church, or you can visit 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.

Your gift will truly make a difference. Thank you for your prayers and support.

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 Mar y 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.

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The Department of Evangelization and Family Life is pleased to announce the 2022 Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing for all couples celebrating a milestone anniversary of their Catholic Marriage.

Are you looking for a safe, loving, educational and nurturing environment where your child will get the attention and care that they deserve?

All couples celebrating their 1st, 25th or 50th (or more) anniversary in the 2022 calendar year are invited to attend. Anniversary couples must be

Join our family today!

validly married in the Catholic Church and regis-

Flexible schedule for children 2 and up.

Small class sizes.

Research based curriculum.

Call 732-780-0135 today for more information

tered members of a parish in the Diocese of Trenton.

The Anniversary Mass for Ocean and Monmouth County Parishes will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 3 pm at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold. Registration opens July 1, 2022; deadline for registrations is September 15, 2022.

RETROUVAILLE: REDISCOVER THE LOVE IN YOUR MARRIAGE Tens of thousands of couples have healed their marriages through Retrouvaille (pronounced Retro-vy). If you know anyone who could benefit from this program, please pass this on. Couples learn to build communication skills and to increase intimacy. It provides help for marriage problems, difficulties or crises. The next program begins the weekend of August 19 - 21 and October 14 - 16 at the Family Life Center in Malvern, PA. For more information, or to register, visit www.HelpOurMarriage.org or call 215-766 -3944 or 800-470-2230. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

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Offerings at Francis House of Prayer Trenton Diocesan Spiritual Center and Retreat House 84 Walnford Road • Allentown, NJ 08501 609-877-0509 or FHOP@verizon.net

Support Life-Play Bocce!

Support the Madonna House while playing bocce!

On October 1st the Saint Aloysius (Jackson, NJ) Men’s group will be hosting a bocce tournament to raise funds for the Madonna House as they minister to poor, destitute and underprivileged children and women who live in our local communities (themadonnahouse.com). Join us at Memorial Park in Neptune City and take part in a two player team single elimination tournament in support of life. $25 per player ($50 per team) - includes a shirt for each player. All profits from the day will be donated to the Madonna House. Contact David (dfurb@aol.com) for

Please check www.FHOP.org for registration, directions and for our other offerings!

All programs will be offered online and in-person unless otherwise indicated.

MONTHLY SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS 10 Wednesdays 3:00 – 4:30 PM OR 9 Thursdays 6:30 – 8:00 PM (Zoom only) If you need or desire a retreat but simply cannot get away, 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 meet monthly for sharing and input on the next month’s prayer. Donation: $175

MONDAYS WITH MERTON 4 Mondays 1:00 – 2:30 PM

St Padre Pio Prayer Group of St Ambrose Parish Come join us in prayer as we celebrate mass together in honor of St Padre Pio by Celebrant Fr. Jack C. Grimes. Mass will be celebrated on Saturday August 20 , 2022 at 9:00 AM followed by veneration of a first class relic of St Padre Pio. St Ambrose Parish 83 Throckmorton Lane , Old Bridge NJ 08857 (732) 679-5666

Thomas Merton will be our guide to the contemplative way of life. In this series, we will use When the Trees Say Nothing, which is a compilation of his writings on nature. Also, portions of S. Kathleen Deignan’s video, Prophet and Mystic of Creation: On Retreat with Thomas Merton will be viewed and time will be given to experience contemplative prayer. Donation: $60

7 – DAY SILENT DIRECTED RETREATS Begins 7:00 PM Ends 10:00 AM September 18 – 25 OR October 16 – 23 Receive the healing and transforming grace of seven days with God, savoring the silence and prayer that open your whole being to God’s Word and Presence. Daily liturgy, spiritual direction and optional Centering Prayer periods are included.

Donation: $575/$75 non-refundable deposit.