December 11, 2022 - Third Sunday of Advent

Mass Intentions for:

Saturday, December 10th Sunday December 18th

For * Requested by

Saturday,December10 Church

4PM ProPopulo

SharonSturchio*DianeCarnevale

BillO’Doherty*FredaO’Doherty

Sunday,December11 Church

8AM DeceasedMembersDeStefano/AlbrunoFamilies

*Mr.andMrs.M.Franceschetti

RobertArcoleo*EdBrock NeilSlattery*JayandJoyceFlynn

10AM AngelisaCunniff*FugaroFamily

SpecialIntention*RobertAmling

MargaretDedalis*MarthaMaryGuild

12PM CeciliaFriedman*Children,Grandchildren&GreatGrandchildren

CeliaMartinezdeMaranonDiazdeCerio*Garcia&HeroldFamilies

AlfredDeTulio*RorieandJackCoppola

Monday,December12–9AMChapel

DavidHamlin*GinnyHamlin SuzanneSchlesinger*FarrowFamily

Tuesday,December13 9AMChapel

MaryJoTowne*AnneBaker PeterGriffin*SharonBurlewandFamily

Wednesday,December14–9AMChapel

NancyandChasDiLorenzo*SessaandBuddaFamily

Thursday,December15–9AMChapel F.SkipKontura*LorraineLee

Friday,December16–9AMChapel

WilfredaPoscablo*Drs.GenerandElviraDapul NerioDapul* Drs.GenerandElviraDapul

Saturday,December17–4PMChurch

IntentionsofLeonidasMavrookas*SuzanneSchlesinger

JosephLentineJr.*RorieandJackCoppola

JamesSpiniello*GinnyandBillLaMorte

Sunday,December18–Church

10AM ProPopulo

FlorenceandWilliamO’Sullivan*FredaO’Doherty RayReddington*SusanandKenDavis

Please pray for the following members of our parish family who are ill:

KathleenAmatel

MichaelBarker

JaniceBasilice

FrBillBausch

EileenBeckley

BrendaCaronnaChristen

Chellis

LynetteColaco Desouza

BlakeConley

JackCoppola

KaitlinDonahueNagle

SharonEvangellista

JoannFeliciti

CynthiaFiedler JamesFiedler EmilyGioacchini

TomHudak

ElizabethLindHuseby

BridgetKorn

BobLind

LoriLettieri

DonnaLodi

LudwigMendola

KevinO’Shea

OwenShoemaker

VictoriaSlater

GerardP.Thompson

LaurenVinci

LeonJankowski

ElizabethDeStefano LouSchmitt

Toaddafamilymembertothesicklistfor8weeks, pleasecallor emailtheParishOffice.Thank you! 732 780 2666 or parishbulletin@stmaryscoltsneck.org

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

Lt. Col. John Anthony Coppola, US Army 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

Ensign 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 TSgt Stephen Witherow, USAF LCpl Edward Zarzecki, USMC

Lifelong Catechesis Week of December 11th December 17th

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

11 Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent Is 35:1-6a, 10 / Jas 5:7-10 / Mt 11:2-11 12 Monday: ZEC 2:14 17 / LK 1:26 38 13 Tuesday: ZEP 3:1-2, 9-13 / MT 21:28-32 14 Wednesday: IS 45:6C-8, 18, 21C-25 / LK 7:18B-23 15 Thursday: Is 54:1 10 / Lk 7:24 30 16 Friday: Is 56:1-3a, 6-8 / Jn 5:33-36 17 Saturday: Gn 49:2, 8-10 / Mt 1:1-17

FOR DEEPER REFLECTION:

Question for Children: Why is Christmas such a time of happiness for people?

Question for Youth: God speaks to you every day: Isaiah tells us our ears and eyes will be opened in Christ to hear God’s voice. What do you hear God saying to you?

Question for Adults: What is there in this promise from the Prophet Isaiah that gives you hope? How have you seen this promise fulfilled in Christ?

SANCTUARY LAMPS 2023

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.

Our Promise to Protect

The Diocese of Trenton is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and to its own policies and guidelines in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors. If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan ABUSE HOTLINE: 1 888 296 2965 or via e mail at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org. The Diocese of Trenton reports any allegations of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Anyone with an allegation is also encouraged to provide that information to local law enforcement authorities.

Child Protection Efforts

Worship & Music

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

Worship@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Music@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Blessing of the Infant Jesus

The Blessing of the baby Jesus was first instituted by St. John Paul II. On the Third Sunday of Advent, the children of Rome are encouraged to bring the baby Jesus (Bambinelli) from each of their Nativity sets to St. Peter’s Square. Following the Sunday Angelus address, the Pope blesses the figurines. Now celebrated in other churches around the world, this Advent tradition is a way for children to connect their Nativity scene at home to the celebration of Christmas at their church. At our parish, we have elected to enact this custom on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

Those who elect to participate should bring their infant Jesus to Mass, preferably in a basket or other carrier for safety and ease of transportation.

Upon returning home that day, the infant may be placed in your nativity scene. Please see the link below for a prayer of blessing that can be used in the home.

Blessing of a Nativity Scene

Saint of the Week: Barbara, Virgin and Martyr, Fourth Century

There is some doubt that the virgin, Barbara, ever existed. Nevertheless, she was one of the most popular saints in the middle ages. The story of Barbara is that she was the daughter of a pagan official in the time of the Emperor Maximian. Read more HERE.

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

Worship Schedule: Fourth Sunday of Advent Saturday, December 17th - Sunday, December 18th

Organ Host Emily Santangelo

Tabernacle Host Louise Habrack

Tabernacle Host Susan Murphy

Alternate Irene Weller

Organ Host Maureen Geiger

Tabernacle Host Winifred O’Doherty

Tabernacle Host Heide Lohn

Alternate - Amy Orrico

Parking head-in on the grass

It is so wonderful that we are blessed with many parishioner families & visitors to our parish during Christmas. Please be reminded that all staff, ministry volunteers & choir members should park head in on the grass around the parish campus. Visitors are invited to do the same for additional parking especially on:

Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24th 3:00 pm Mass , 5:00 pm Mass, 10:00 pm Mass (9:30pm Choral Prelude)

Christmas Day - Sunday, December 25th 9:00 am Mass, 11:00 am Mass

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

Altar Server Cantor Reader 1 Reader 2 EMHC Saturday

Maher Minister Needed

Julia Cullen -

Pastoral Coordinator of Faith

Formation / Religion Education

ReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org 732-780-266 X 309

"No one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord."

(St. Paul VI)

Advent Penance and Reconciliation was a great success. We congratulate all the 2nd graders for making their first Penance and were pleased to see so many 7th and 8th graders attend. Please join us on the 4th Sunday of Advent, 18 December, at the 10am mass for the Blessing of the Infant Jesus. We are now collecting the MITE boxes for our Advent community service project. We are still taking RSVP’s for the Christmas party for grades 1-6, this takes the place of class for all Fall on campus and virtual students. RSVP’s & further info for all the above on pg. 7

Rose FarrowCoordinator of Faith Formation / Youth & Adult Catechesis YouthRE@stmaryscoltsneck.org 732 780 2666 X 310

10 December 2022 Christmas Tree Lighting Beginning at 4pm mass 11 & 12 December 2022 Confirmation Prep Classes 14 December 2022 Sponsor a Family Wrapping 6:30pm 18 December 2022 Blessing of Infant Jesus 10am mass 20 December 2022 Christmas Party Tuesday 5:15 6:15pm all summer & fall students, gr. 1 6 Christmas break NO RE CLASSES for 1-6 grade for two weeksClasses begin again the week of 8 January 2023 8 & 9 January 2023

Missionary Childhood Association ADVENTMiteBoxes

The purpose of the Missionary Childhood Association is to encourage all children to be aware of the needs of children living in mission dioceses through the world and support them both spiritually and sacrificially. Today it is in 110 countries and helps make Jesus known to children all over the world.

Please take a mite box home with you and have your child fill it with loose change throughout Advent. Once filled, please count the amount inside, write a check to St Mary Parish with “MCA” in the memo line and we as a parish will forward the full amount to the Mission Office. You can also make an offering online at https://bit.ly/3ETJPyT or scan the code. Please send in your offerings by January 8, 2023.

Thank you in advance for your generosity & commitment.

Blessing of Infant Jesus, during the 10AM mass Sunday, December 18th Bring the Baby Jesus from your home Nativity in a small basket for a special blessing at mass.

Christmas Tree Lighting & Christmas Carols

Light up a Memory, begins at 4pm mass, Saturday, 10 December 2022

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022

5:15-6:15pm

Open to all 1st -6th graders from both the summer and fall program. Food, crafts, carols and a reading of the Christmas story R.S.V.P.

Christmas Mass Schedules:

Solemnity: The Nativity of the Lord (All Masses will be celebrated in the Church)

Christmas Eve - Saturday, December 24th 3:00 pm Mass , 5:00 pm Mass, 10:00 pm Mass (9:30pm Choral Prelude)

Christmas Day - Sunday, December 25th 9:00 am Mass, 11:00 am Mass

9:00AM Daily Mass will be held in the Church for the Octave of Christmas December 26th - December 30th

Feast Holy Family of Jesus

Mary and Joseph Friday, December 30th

9:00 am Mass

Solemnity: Epiphany of the Lord

Saturday, January 7th 4:00pm Mass Sunday, January 8th 8:00 am Mass 10:00 am Mass 12:00 pm Mass

Solemnity: Mary, Mother of God Saturday, December 31st 4:00 pm Mass Sunday, January 1st 10:00am Mass No 8am or 12 Noon Masses

Feast: Baptism of the Lord

Monday, January 9th 9:00 am Mass (Chapel)

Quo vadis . . .

My Dear Parishioners:

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent. This particular Sunday is also known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word that can be translated as we rejoice. It’s easy and comfortable to recognize Christ in the expected places and ways. When we enter the peace of a church, for example, we expect to find God. When we sit and pray in our homes, we expect to find God and have our prayers answered. All this is good. However, living the paschal mystery means that we take up the mission of Christ ourselves, that we ourselves are to be Christ for others. Especially during these final days before Christmas when everyone is so busy we can forget that our mission is like John’s: to testify to the light. We do this by how we respond to those around us: take time to listen to the one hurting, visit those who might be forgotten, do with a little less ourselves so others might have more, take time to pray, remember to give thanks, offer a helping hand, reorganize our priorities, praise the God in others.

Thanks again for your participation in the Advent Gift Giving Programs. Our Advent Penance & Reconciliation Service was very prayerful and this was noticed by our visiting Priest Confessors. There continues to be a great need for food items each and every week. Please bring food with you whenever it is convenient for you. We will deliver the food items to those who carefully distribute it to the poor and needy in our midst. Your generous stewardship makes a difference in their lives. Let us never waver in our support for the poor and marginalized in our midst.

This weekend we welcome those who join us for Mass as we light the memory tree in honor of our loved ones who have gone before us. Let us honor them by faithfully living our Catholic Faith as they lived it as an example for us. Now

it is our turn to live it wisely and courageously as witnesses to children and one another. Thanks to all those who have volunteered their time and talent to offer the LUAM, especially Freda, Molly and their team. Next weekend, the Fourth Sunday of Advent there will be an abbreviated Sunday Schedule. Please refer to the bulletin and/or the quadfold mailed to all of our registered parishioner families.

Next weekend, during the Sunday 10:00am mass we invite you to bring the image of the infant Jesus (in a basket) from the nativity scene that is erected in your home. Place it in the specified place in the nave of our church building and a blessing will be offered during the mass. May the image of the infant Jesus encourage us in our preparation for the Solemnity of the Incarnation of Christ this Christmas Season.

You should have received in the mail a copy of our 2022 Christmas Schedule of services. Please review it carefully and plan your schedule accordingly. Make this an opportunity for you to invite members of your family to join with you in celebrating mass for Christmas. As you continue to make your Christmas list for this year, please remember to put our parish toward the top of that list so that we might continue to progress into the future providing for the needs and challenges that await us. As always, thank you for all that you do in order to make our parish a vibrant community of faith and service. Plan to arrive earlier than usual for Christmas Masses (esp. the 3:00pm & 5:00pm). Please carpool whenever and wherever possible. Remember that we have “colts neck parking” on the grass…perpendicular to the outer road of the parking lot. Let us remember one another in prayer. Have a great week. Happy Sunday. Peace. Father Jeff

Temporal Admin., Stewardship & Outreach

Sharing Our Treasure

December 4, 2022 Second Sunday of Advent

Edwin A. Sevillano

TemporalAdmin@stmaryscoltsneck.org

THANK YOU for your generosity. We were able to raise $4,061 towards our Building & Mortgage Collection.

Ourmonthlymortgagepaymentis $7,966.26

"Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance."

Matthew 3: 8

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.

Consider AYear-End Gift to St Mary Parish

As you begin year end tax planning, take advantage of the charitable tax deduction for gifts made before December 31 and consider making a gift to St Mary Parish. Your gift to our parish can make a great difference to us and help you as well.

Online Giving is a convenient way to make your gift to St Mary Parish. To create or update your St Mary Parish Online Giving account, visit https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/smcn

If you choose to make a cash donation, please prepare your check and mail it so that your envelope is postmarked or received by the Parish Office by December 31 to qualify as a gift in the year 2021. Contributions received on January 1st or after will be treated as 2022 gifts. Thank you! Your generosity has been a blessing to St Mary Parish throughout this past year. Your continued support allows us to continue our ministries and mission to proclaim the Gospel in our time.

2022 Christmas Collection:

Our Christmas mailer has been sent out to our parishioners a few weeks ago. When making your list of Christmas gifts this year, please remember your parish. Kindly use the Christmas offering envelope or make your gift through our online giving system at http://bit.ly/2Ec6vu5.

We will provide you with a report of this collection at the conclusion of the Christmas Season.

Thankyouforyourgenerosity!

We continue to alert you about reports of email and text scams that use the name of the pastor to solicit funds in the form of gift cards or cash donations. Such requests are fraudulent. Do not reply and report them immediately as spam. Please note: Official electronic communications from the parish will always come from the @stmaryscoltsneck.org domain.

Martha Mary Guild's Christmas Party

Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 will be a special day of fun and entertainment for the Martha Mary Guild. Christmas will be celebrated early, not only with special treats, but also in keeping with the true spirit of Christmas, Birthright will benefit from the many baby gifts that generous members supply every year.

Meredith Geneve, a member with a beautiful voice, will lead the group in the singing of Christmas carols and other holiday songs. All women of the parish and

Christmas Sponsor-AFamily

Purchase gifts for a family. You select the size of the family you wish to sponsor (2 6 people). Several families or a group of people can sponsor a larger family. Gifts per person are usually a value of $50 and based on a list of needed items prepared by the family.

This program adopts families from Aslan Youth Ministries. The goal is to sponsor families in need at Christmas. If you, your family, your neighbors, coworkers, or friends would like to sponsor a family in need this year, please contact: Kathy Maher wamaher2@aol.com

A Sensory Friendly Mass is designed for all families with children or adults on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities, or other disabilities. This is a regular Sunday Mass, with a flexible environment. After the Mass we will join for a small Christmas Party. We invite all who are interested as a participating family or volunteer to attend our Advent Mass!

December18, 2022 - 3:00pm

Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine 61 Georgia Road , Freehold, NJ 07728 Please RSVP to: NorMonHIS@gmail.com

The annual Advent Letter with Christmas Giving envelope & quad fold was mailed to all recently. Please contact us via email HERE if you did not receive one.

Volunteer Crisis Hotline Training January 2023

The next (12-week) training class for telephone volunteers for CONTACT (24-hour crisis intervention hotline) will begin on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, once a week for 12 weeks, every Wednesday from 6:30 -9:30 P.M. In person training will be held at St. Luke’s Church, 1674 Old Freehold Rd., Toms River CONTACT, a free and confidential service, has been assisting with the needs of individuals throughout the community since 1975, by providing a safe place for callers to talk about their problems with anonymity. Information and referrals are provided when requested. For additional training information, please call the CONTACT office 732-240-6104.

“Light Up a Memory”

Please join us for this very special event. The joyous tree lighting ceremony, with music by our Children’s Choir at the 4:00 pm Mass on Saturday, December 10, 2022

Are you

Flexible schedule for children 2 and up. Small class sizes. Research based curriculum. Call 732-780-0135 today for more information

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

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

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.

DIVINE GENEROSITY

THE NEVER-ENDING STORY

Tuesday, December 6 9:30 AM 1:00 PM

Today’s feast of St. Nicholas is the perfect moment to contemplate our human response to divine generosity. Since time immemorial, ordinary women and men have mirrored the love of our Creator through the manner of their lives. Join us as we become acquainted with some everyday people whose stories will be both encouraging and challenging to us. Donation: $25, includes lunch. Zoom $20

FULL OF GRACE

Thursday, December 8 9:30 AM Noon

Celebrate the gift of our Blessed Mother today! Let’s walk in her footsteps as we deepen our relationship to Jesus through Mary. We will pray in a contemplative way with Scriptures related to Mary and the Joyful Mysteries. Scenes from the movie, Mary of Nazareth will be used for individual and group reflection. Then, we will conclude by praying “The Angelus.” Donation: $20

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

Tuesday, December 13 9:30 AM 1:00 PM

This Advent Day of reflection will focus on Jesus, Emmanuel, the name which means “God with us.” We will explore what it means for us personally that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us, as well as how we can be God with us (Emmanuel) for others. Join us in delving into a meaningful way to be God’s loving presence through seven active listening skills. Let Emmanuel touch your heart in a special way that will help you to prepare for His coming during this Advent season. Donation: $30, includes lunch; Zoom $20