The Parish of Saint Mary
The parish of saint Mary
AACatholic theGreatness GreatnessofofGod GodininourOur Time CatholicCommunity Community Proclaiming Proclaiming the Time One One Phalanx Road, 07722 Phalanx Road •Colts Colts Neck, Neck, NJNJ 07722 Phone:732-780-2666 (732) 780-2666 • Fax: Fax: (732) 780-0394 Phone: 732-780-0394 Email: ParishOffice@StMarysColtsNeck.org • Website: StMarysColtsNeck.org
Bishopofofthe theDiocese Diocese of of Trenton: Trenton: Most Most Reverend Reverend David Bishop David M. M. O’Connell, O’Connell,C.M. C. M. Pastor: Reverend Reverend Fr. Jeffrey Pastor: JeffreyE. E.Lee Lee PastorEmeritus: Emeritus:Reverend Reverend Fr. William J.J.Bausch Pastor Bausch Parish Trustees: Annette Raynor &&Roger Zurro Parish Trustees: Linda Dickinson-Pancila Tom Nathanson
AUGUST 16, 2026
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Solemnity: Assumption of the
Abbreviated Mass Schedule
Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday, August 14th 4 P.M. -St. Mary (Chapel) Saturday, August 15th 9 A.M. -St. Catharine - Holmdel 12 P.M.-St. Mary (Chapel)
Saturday - 4 P.M. Sunday -10 A.M. 22/23 August 29/30 August 4/5 September
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MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS Saturday, August 15, 2026 - Sunday, August 23, 2026 Saturday August 15 9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel 12 PM Intentions of Marian Lombardi *Richard Lombardi Susan Ort *Matthew Marciano 4 PM Marija Turkovic *Turkovic Family Loving Family Members *Janet Munger Logan Dayton *Ann Marie Dayton
Sunday August 16 8 AM Living and Deceased Parishioners & Parish Benefactors Helen and John Sionas *Eileen and Michael Stivala Eileen and Robert Walsh *Gioacchini Family 10 AM Phyllis Ann Lobasso *Drs. Elvira and Gener Dapul Gaetano Bucciero *Michael Connolly Peter Vickers *Rose Ann Bertscha 12 PM Modestino Lucarelli *Una McLeod Andrew Burian *Gabbard Family Dorothea Tarloski *Bruce, Lee, Bree and Daniel Parker Monday, August 17 9 AM Peter Vickers *Diane Carnevale Jose Latorre *Diane Carnevale
Sanctuary Lamps Chapel Lamp Margaret Cook Church Lamp Marie Ksenic Deacon Anthony Nicholas DiCesare Father of parishioner Sandra Montefusco
Tuesday, August 18 9 AM Constance Gerbino *Martha-Jean Rosiello Ronald Baudanza *Rima & Peter Goranites Wednesday August 19 9 AM Anne Barth *Kevin & Kathleen Hobbs James Barron *Mary & Bill Klein
Thursday, August 20 9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel Friday, August 21 9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel Saturday August 22 9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel 4 PM Anna Merck *Barbara Saake Loving Family Members *Janet Munger Grace Sellari *Capardi Family Living and Deceased Parishioners & Parish Benefactors Sunday August 23 10 AM Anthony Garito *Arlene and Family Patrick Anthony Connolly *Michael Connolly Greg Kavtz *Bruce and Lee Parker
Please pray for the following members of our parish community who are ill: Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Walsh Kathy Weber Jack Coppola Fr. William Bausch Lori Lettieri Edward Habrack Mario Geneve Jason Caronna Paul Bilodeau Richard Aquila
To add or remove a family member from the sick list, please e-mail parishbulletin@stmaryscoltsneck.org. Names will be removed from the list after 3 months. Thank for keeping us updated on your loved one’s health.
MASS INTENTIONS & SANCTUARY LAMPS
Request a Mass Intention ($10 stipend)
Request a Sanctuary Lamp ($25 stipend)
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LIFELONG CATECHESIS: Week of August 16 to August 22 READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Sunday, August 16—20th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a/Rom 9:1-5/Mt 14:22-33
Monday, August 17 2 Cor 9:6-10/Jn 12:24-26
Tuesday, August 18 Ez 2:8—3:4/Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
Wednesday, August 19 Ez 9:1-7; 10:18-22/Mt 18:15-20
Thursday, August 20
FOR DEEPER REFLECTION
Trust in God and never be afraid to ask God for anything .
Question for Children: What is your favorite way to talk with Jesus? What words do you use? Question for Youth: Do you trust that God hears your prayers? Do you believe that your prayer makes a difference? Question for Adults: When you pray, how do you know that Jesus will really respond?
Ez 12:1-12/Mt 18:21—19:1
Friday, August 21 Ez 16:1-15, 60, 63 or 16:59-63/Mt 19:3-12
Saturday, August 22
Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/1 Cor 15:20-27/Lk 1:39-56
SAINT OF THE WEEK
Please pray for our Military & First Responders 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
AMT2 Colton Boag, USCG Col. John Anthony Coppola, US Army TSgt Stephen Witherow, USAF LCpl Edward Zarzecki, USMC 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
-Stephen of Hungary, King, 975 1038 Stephen, called Vaik at birth, was the son of Geza, the leader of the Magyars, a fierce tribe which had settled into the land that is now Hungary. Geza deemed it politically expedient to become Christian, therefore, he, his family, and his nobles were baptized in 985. Vaik, a boy of ten who had not yet learned pagan ways, took the name Stephen. While Geza and the nobles were Christian largely in name only, Stephen became a practicing Christian. In 997, Stephen succeeded his father as leader of the Magyars. One of his first undertakings was to put down rebellions among rival tribal leaders so that he could assume the leadership of all Hungary. Having overcome the warring tribes of the region, Stephen then sent Saint Astrik, whom he had designated Hungary’s first archbishop, to Rome to request an ecclesiastic organization for Hungary. Stephen also asked the pope to give him the title of king in order to solidify his position among the tribes of Hungary. The pope granted both requests and sent back a crown which Stephen officially received on Christmas day, 1001. READ MORE HERE
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Andrew J. Macirowski - Pastoral Coordinator for Worship & Music / Principal Organist Worship@StMarysColtsNeck.org • Music@StMarysColtsNeck.org
WORSHIP & MUSIC The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Solemnity and Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church, celebrated every year on August 15. (In years where this solemnity falls on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is lifted. However, attendance at Mass is highly encouraged, especially in those parishes or dioceses which bear the name of the Blessed Mother. Our parish of Saint Mary, of course, but our lady of the Assumption is the patroness of our diocese as well). The celebration has been observed from the early days of the Church, likely beginning in the 5th century. While there is no account of Mary’s assumption in the New Testament, apocryphal texts give varying accounts of the end of life details of the Mother of Jesus. The most widely told account is that the apostles of Jesus heard of the passing of Mary and went to pay their respects. It is said that Saint Thomas (yes, the doubting one, although this may very well be a story-telling device to connect the narratives) was not with the others, arriving 3 days afterwards. His late arrival led the others to decide to re-open the tomb, to allow Thomas to see the body, only to find that the body was not present, leading to the belief that she had risen from the dead as had Christ, and had ascended into Heaven. While this is a touching story with many parallels to that of Christ’s resurrection and ascension, the veracity of the account is often called into question. Nevertheless, it was enough to convince authorities several centuries later to begin celebrating Mary’s ascension. This was later changed to a belief in the assumption of Mary. As there were no accounts of her physical body remaining on earth, it was surmised that rather than dying and rising again, the Virgin Mother of God was assumed, body and soul, into Heaven. This belief, as well as scriptural passages from the Psalms and Book of Revelation, led Pope Pius to declare with papal infallibility on November 1, 1950: “By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” and thus we honor Mary, Queen of Heaven on this Holy Day.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
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MINISTRY SCHEDULE Saturday, August 22 & Sunday August 23
Saturday August 22 4 PM Sunday, August 23 8 AM Sunday, August 23 10 AM Sunday, August 23 12 Noon
Altar Server
Cantor
Reader 1
Alex Gruenling Anthony Gruenling
Carly York
Michele Gruenling
Reader 2 Jennifer Stubbs (Sub Requested)
EMHC OH-Jane Slattery TH– Monica Barr TH– Michal Kalisz ALT– Elvira Dapul MD
NO 8 A.M. MASS ON SUNDAY August 23 Grace Collins Julianna Dukes
Carly York
Julia Cullen
Steve Rumsby
OH-Sue Fitzpatrick TH– Maureen Geiger TH– Joseph Burtone ALT-Dawn Burtone
NO 12 P.M. MASS ON SUNDAY August 23 Children’s Liturgy of the Word Dismissal
Interested in becoming a CLOW facilitator? Children, ages 4-12, are dismissed during the Readings and gather in the chapel to engage in the Liturgy of the Word at a level more appropriate to their understanding. Please join us at the CLOW Informational Meeting August 30, 2026 In the Spiritual Center following mass Coffee and donuts will be served, and all are welcome!
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FAITH FORMATION Julia Cullen — Pastoral Coordinator of Faith Formation / Religious Education ReligiousEd@StMarysColtsNeck.org • (732) 780-2666 x. 309
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 9 September 2026 Catechist Orientation— CP Catechists, 4:30 PM—RE Office 12 September 2026 Confirmation Prep Session #1 / Orientation parent and student mandatory—4 PM Church & Madonna Hall
What a wonderful fun and faith filled two weeks we all enjoyed with our young learners in the August on campus RE summer intensive program. Many thanks to the RE families for supporting this program, the Catechist for sharing of their faith, and all the adult and student volunteers and assistants. It is a true team effort, and we are blessed to have so many dedicated parishioners and staff! Please look for pictures of our two week session in next week’s bulletin.
15 September 2026 Catechist Orientation— FHC 1 & 2 & CF: A,B,C,D Catechists, 4:30 PM—RE Office 19 September 2026 Confirmation Retreat 9th grader confirmandi and sponsor 4 PM mass and 5 PM retreat (Pizza will be served)
20 September 2026 FALL RE Orientation/Blessing Mass— FHC: 1 &2 & CF: A,B,C,D, parent and child mandatory, 12 PM Church
Our kickoff FIELD DAY for our new Youth Mentoring Program was a success! We had a small group, and they had a
2026-2027 Religious Education Resources:
RE Calendar RE Handbook Intergenerational List/ Descriptions Intergenerational Recording Sheet
great time getting to know each other. Please look out for more opportunities for our learners in CF-C,D and CP-1&2 that foster community building and leadership! Be sure to see our photos on the next page.
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PASTORAL CARE & OUTREACH Rosemarie Farrow — Pastoral Coordinator of Pastoral Care & Outreach R.Farrow@StMarysColtsNeck.org • (732) 780-2666 x. 310
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Pick of the Week
Are you looking to grow in your faith, make new friends and get involved in your Catholic community? Listen to the Daily Readings here. Sign up at Formed to receive these daily reflections directly to your inbox. Start your day off right. Be inspired and renewed each morning with a short video from Dr. Tim Gray. Help us share the truth and beauty of the Gospel and reach Catholics worldwide. Reflect on the power and mercy of God and His Church. Make these reflections part of your daily prayer. Sign up using the link to receive each new flection directly in your inbox.
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You are invited to connect with youth ministry groups at our neighboring parishes! These vibrant communities offer great opportunities for prayer, service, and fun!
Click to learn more about a youth group at the neighboring parish of your choice:
•The Church of St. Catharine, Holmdel •St. Gabriel’s Parish, Marlboro •Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold •Church of St. Leo the Great, Lincroft
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Quo vadis... My Dear Parishioners: Today we celebrate the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Canaanite woman’s single mindedness on behalf of her daughter is rewarded with her being healed. This gospel challenges us to be just as single minded about placing our request before God, and also just as single minded about our own inclusive ministry to others. It’s interesting that the Canaanite woman’s cry to Jesus was that he “have pity on me” (not on her daughter, although that is surely implied in the request). This gives us an insight into our inclusivity and ministry: we must be so “at one” with others that their plight is our own plight. Ministry is more than doing for another; it implies an empathy with another that discloses the unity we share as members of the body of Christ. One dimension of living the paschal mystery is that we work to increase our unity with one another, which in turn draws us to reach out to others in mercy and compassion, no matter who they are. The work continues in the sanctuary of our parish church. There were a few glitches along the way. The contractors handled them well with good communication. I expect the tile floor to be installed and grouted. Credence table cabinets and reredos cabinets are to be installed as soon as possible. We will install temporary hand rails until the finished permanent rails can be fabricated. The tile on the reredos wall and tabernacle pedestal is to be installed Monday. Many thanks to all who have helped moving things in and out, cleaning and to all for your cooperation and patience. Drew Weber hand carved the fleur de lis and our maintenance lady installed them on the frieze. More to come….
Our Summer Religious Education Program second module has concluded. I have received many positive comments from parents and the participants as well. We are very blessed to have a dedicated teaching/ catechetical staff, many of whom continue with us each year. Our facilities are also tremendous for this kind of program. We will continue to evaluate this program and strive to offer the very best faith formation opportunities for our parishioner families. Thanks to Julia Cullen and all those who assist her. The summer months are quickly passing. Make sure to take some time and enjoy the summer sun. Make a visit to the beach. Take a walk on the sand or the boardwalk. Enjoy the beauty of creation that is all around us. We have many beautiful parks throughout Monmouth County for public enjoyment. As the days become shorter the glimpse of autumn becomes more apparent. The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of our Diocese of Trenton a nice liturgical celebration. This year a Solemnity; however, the obligation has been lifted. We have scheduled masses on Friday at 4pm and Saturday 12 noon both in the chapel. Saint Catharine, Holmdel Saturday at 9am. We will be observing an abbreviated weekend mass schedule: Saturday 5:00pm; Sunday 10:00am the following weekends: 22/23 August; 29/30 August & 5/6 September. Please make a note in your schedules now. Have a great week. Let us pray for one another. Happy Sunday. Peace. Father Jeff
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TEMPORAL ADMINISTRATION & STEWARDSHIP Edwin A. Sevillano— Pastoral Associate for Temporal Administration & Stewardship TemporalAdmin@StMarysColtsNeck.org SHARING OUR TREASURE
August 9
Weekly Sacrificial Stewardship
$22,876
Envelope Contributions
$10,777
Electronic/Online Contributions
$11,318
Loose Contributions
$781
Average Contribution per household (this week)
$70.59
Number of Contributing Households (this weekend)
313
Total Number of Registered Parishioner Households
922
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For Gods gift of creation and greater environmental stewardship. Let us pray to the Lord .
Offerings at Francis House of Prayer Trenton Diocesan Spiritual Center and Retreat House— Road • Allentown, NJ 08501 www.FHOP.org * 609-877-0509 * FHOP@verizon.net
84 Walnford
In-Person Only PERSONAL RETREAT DAY Wednesday, September 9 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM Not a series. Take a day away from the busyness of your life to rest a while in the Lord and experience God’s presence. Come to Francis House for silence, personal prayer and optional spiritual direction. The day begins and ends with a brief prayer together. Please bring your lunch. Come to as many as you can. Donation: $10; $40 with Spiritual Direction. BE KIND TO YOUR BODY 15 PRINCIPLES OF HEALTHY EATING 3 Wednesdays September 9, 16 & 23 4:00 – 5:00 PM Sometimes Labor Day invites us to a new beginning! Give this program a try and see if it helps you to be healthier in body, mind and spirit and more mindful in your eating habits. We will have a one-hour Zoom meeting for 3 consecutive weeks. We will practice 5 principles of healthy eating each week and partner with another who will accompany us on our journey toward good choices between the sessions. Are you looking for a way, as God desires, to treat your body with the reverence and kindness it deserves? Invite a friend to do it with you! It is both helpful and fun! Donation: $50 ZOOM ONLY WHAT ISAIAH OF OLD MAKES NEW 4 Wednesdays 7:00 – 8:00 PM September 9 October 7 November 4 December 2 What can Isaiah of 765 BC say to the modern world and to you who are extraordinarily busy with multiple activities and responsibilities? Come and see how his inspired words of wisdom speak to the human heart today. Donation: $60 THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS 9 Thursdays 9:30 AM – 12:00 Noon September 10 December 10 March 11 October 8 January 7 April 8 November 12 February 11 May 6 Join us for a nine-month journey through C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters – a witty yet deeply insightful exploration of how subtle temptations shape our daily lives. Each month, using the “playbook of the Devil,” we will unpack a group of the letters, reflect on its spiritual theme, and learn how to recognize the quiet influences that pull us away from God and the practices that draw us closer. Whether you are new to the book or returning with fresh eyes, this series offers a meaningful space for growth, conversation and deeper discernment. Donation: $250
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Annual Mater Dei Alumni Mass of Remembrance Saturday, September 26, 12 PM St. Mary Mother of God Church Celebrant: Rev. Stanley "Stas" Lukaszewski, former associate pastor of St. Mary’s parish Our oral necrology lovingly remembers our alumni as well as our founder, former priests, sisters, teachers, staff, coaches and boosters. A reception of lite refreshments will follow Mass. All are welcome. A special invitation is extended to family members of Seraphs who have died and classes celebrating milestone reunions. No registration is required, but if you would like to actively participate, please contact Mari Campanella Kovach ’78 (deckhill@comcast.net), Tom Dooley ’65 (tfdooley1947@gmail.com) or Cathy Daniels '79 (cathy_daniels@verizon.net).
Please spread the word!
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