December 24 2017 bulletin

Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton: Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C. M. Pastor: Reverend Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee

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

Pastor Emeritus: Reverend Fr. William J. Bausch Trustees: Bill LaMorte Irene Weller

Deacon: Vincent Rinaldi

Parish Office hours Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 am - 7:30 pm Open Sunday 9 am - 12 noon.

Parish Membership:

New Parishioners are welcome to register at the of ice at any time.

Next New Parishioner Orientation - Sunday, 11 February at 11 am Contact Parish Of ice at parishoffice@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Registration is required.

Sacraments: Eucharist

Detailed Mass times listed on page 2

Penance & Reconciliation Saturday 3 pm or by appointment.

Marriage

Contact the Parish Of ice one year in advance for information & guidelines.

Baptism

Contact the Parish Of ice for information & required paperwork three months in advance.

There are no Baptisms during Advent or Lent, please plan accordingly.

Masses for 4th Sunday of Advent: Saturday, 23 December 4 pm Mass &Sunday, 24 December 10 am Mass

Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve: Sunday, December 24th 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:00 pm & 10:00 pm 9:30 pm Choral prelude & Adult Handbell Choir

Christmas Day: Monday, December 25th 9:00 am & 11:00 am Mass

(No 5:00pm Mass)

(All Masses will be celebrated in the Church through the Octave of Christmas)

Visit our Website: www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

Parish Ofϐice: 732-780-2666 parishof ice@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Bulletin Deadline: Electronic format by 12 noon Thursday of the prior week ( 10 days before).

parishbulletin@stmaryscoltsneck.org Adult Faith Formation FaithFormation@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Liturgical & Worship Ministries Contact: Andrew J. Macirowski Worship@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Music Ministry Contact: David Maliakel Music@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Religious Education Grades 1 - 8 RCIA & Pastoral Care ReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Temporal Administration, Stewardship & Outreach Contact: Edwin A. Sevillano TemporalAdmin@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Parish Office will be closed the following dates during Christmas Season  Sunday, 24 December 2017  Monday, 25 December 2017  Sunday, 31 December 2017  Monday, 1 January 2018

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Parking head-in on the grass: It is so wonderful that we are blessed with many parishioner families & visitors to our parish during the Christmas Season as well as big turnouts for many parish events. 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 at: • •

Christmas Eve for the 3 pm, 4:30 pm &10 pm Masses Christmas Day for the 11:00 am Mass

Winter Weekend Mass Schedule thru Sun., March 4 Sat. 4 pm Mass Sat. Penance/Reconciliation 3 pm Sun. 8 am, 10 am, 12 pm & 5 pm Masses No Sunday 5pm Mass on the following days: Dec. 24, Jan. 14 & Feb. 18

Safe travels to all who venture forth during this Christmas Season.

www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

24 December 2017

Mass Intentions for the Week 25 December - 31 December For * Requested by Monday, 25 December – Church The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) All Masses offered for the People of the Parish 9:00AM, 11:00AM

Tuesday, 26 December 9AM – Church St. Stephen; Kwanzaa begins Sergio Dos Santos * Dos Santos Family

Wednesday, 27 December 9AM – Church St. John John Spera * Rose Amodio

Thursday, 28 December 9AM – Church The Holy Innocents Florence and William O’Sullivan * Freda O’Doherty and Family

Friday, 29 December 9AM – Church Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; St. Thomas Becket Rev. Fr. Michael J. Waites * Rev. Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee, Staff and Parishioners

Saturday, 30 December 4PM – Church Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord Grace Abbagnaro * Jack and Rorie Coppola Dorothy Deckert * Gladys McTighe

Sunday, 31 December – Church The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

8AM Carolyn Gabriel * Diane Carnevale

10AM Catherine Gorman * Philip and Cathy Limeri Anthony J. Garito * Wife Arlene and Family

12PM Eleanor and Patrick Walsh * Maureen Beyer Rose Lunz * Maureen Beyer Thomas Walsh * Maureen Beyer

Solemnity: Mary, Mother of God 5PM Anticipatory Mass Pro Populo Richard Alloway * Rose Amodio Dorothy Deckert * Suzanne Schlesinger

Feast: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Saturday, December 30th - 4 pm Mass Sunday, December 31st - 8 am, 10 am & 12:00 noon Mass Solemnity: Mary, Mother of God (Octave Day of Christmas) Sunday, December 31st - 5:00 pm Anticipatory Mass Monday, January 1st - 10:00 am Mass

“Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is enough room for Jesus.”

Neal A Maxwell

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To add a family member to the sick list, please call or e-mail the Parish Office.

A person is put on the list for 8 weeks unless a renewal call is received. Thank you!

732-780-2666 or parishbulletin@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Please pray for the following members of our parish family who are ill: Kay Amatel Frank Baker Eileen Beckley John Beckley Raymond Binaco Deborah Blasucci Daniel Brown Harry Brown Sal Castro Jo Clement Logan Dayton John DeStefano Joseph Di Fedele Kaitlin Donahue Nagle Sarina Dormelus Glenn Duenas Jose Espinoza Jake F. Gary Federico Ruth Fiedler James Fiedler

Inez Fieramosca Emily Gioacchini Thomas Giuffrida Edward Habrack Tom Hudak Theresia Kopp Lori Lettieri Donna Lodi Henry Lohn Pauline Madzin Joseph Mascaro Leonidas Mavrookas John McInerney Mary Joan McNamara Marjorie Messler Tere Nolan Anna May Schellenberger Owen Shoemaker Remmington T. Jay Vida Tommy Zita IV

Pray for Our Military Chief Blake Conley, USN Lt. Col. John Anthony Coppola, US Army Sergeant Scott MacConnell Pvt Michael John Mento, US Army 1st Lt. Adam Sjoholm, US Army 2nd Lt. Ryan Tanguay, US Army Staff Sergeant Stephen Witherow, USAF Lance Corporal Edward Zarzecki

If there is a family member you wish to be placed on the list, please call the Parish Office at 732-780-2666.

Please include rank and branch of service.

www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

Prepare for the coming of the Lord!

Advent and Christmas literature, prayer cards, reflections for all ages are available for you on the kiosk in the gathering space.

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A GIFT from the parish: Christmas book give away Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything (and Still Does)

By Scott Hahn Be sure to pick up your copy from the gathering space of parish office.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lifelong Catechesis Week 25 December - 31 December READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] During the Night: Is 9:1-6; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5 -- 2:2; Mt 2:13-18 Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35 31 December - The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Col 3:12-21 [12-17]; Lk 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]

Questions for Deeper Reflections: Question for Children: Why is it important for you to obey your parents or guardians?

Question for Youth: God chose to be among us in the person of Jesus. How does having a God who knows what it means to be human affect the way you pray or think about God? Question for Adults: Whether single, married, or divorced, how does Paul’s advice ring true in your own life? Choose one of his suggestions and share how it touches your life.

- Lifelong Catechesis

CHAPEL SSGT Stephen J. Coleman (12/25/1917 - 6/12/1944) Carol & Frank Donahue

Sanctuary Lamps Consider donating the sanctuary lamp that burns in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church or Christ Chapel in memory of a loved one who has died or to honor a living person.

These intentions are on a weekly basis starting with the Sunday, therefore a new request is published each week in the bulletin.

The suggested donation for Sanctuary Lamp is $25.

Cards available to present Upcoming availability Church & Christ Chapel: 1/28 - 2/3 Christ Chapel: 1/7 - 1/13,1/14-1/20 & 1/21-1/27

CHURCH Ed Eastman & Rachel and Joe Verga Marge Eastman

Remember that visitors will be with us and hospitality can be a wonderful hallmark of our community.

Please welcome those who might be joining us even if they are in “your seat.”

Patricia Gesner - Center Cup Anna May Schellenberger - Organ Host Diane Antico - Center Host Patricia Balbo - Tabernacle Host Joseph Merante - Organ Cup NOT FILLED - Tabernacle Cup Lee Gesner - Alternate NOT FILLED - Center Cup NOT FILLED - Center Cup Susan Murphy - Organ Host Suzanne Schlesinger - Center Host NOT FILLED - Tabernacle Host NOT FILLED - Organ Cup Linda Dickinson-Pancila - Tabernacle Cup NOT FILLED - Alternate

Mary Natale Tommy Zita

Patrick Dickinson

The child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.

--Luke 1:35

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Monday, 10:00 AM

Sunday, 5:00 PM Anticipatory Mass - Mary Mother of God

Sunday, 12:00 PM (Church) The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Jane Slattery - Center Cup NOT FILLED - Organ Host Barbara Schaflin - Center Host NOT FILLED - Tabernacle Host NOT FILLED - Organ Cup NOT FILLED - Tabernacle Cup NOT FILLED - Alternate

NOT FILLED - Center Cup (sub req.)

Dawn Reinhardt - Organ Host (sub req.)

Carol Donahue - Center Host Edward Moskal - Tabernacle Host Amy Orrico - Organ Cup Mathilda Said - Tabernacle Cup Dolores Addler - Alternate

Valeska Yaninas Tesya Yaninas Gabriella Penczak

NOT FILLED NOT FILLED

Mike LaCava - Center Cup Maureen Staub - Organ Host Joyce Flynn - Center Host Gina Shute - Tabernacle Host Lisa Aldridge - Organ Cup Rosanne LaCava - Tabernacle Cup Michael Staub - Alternate

Lindsey Bertone NOT FILLED

Sunday, 8:00 AM (Church) The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Sunday, 10:00 AM (Church) The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Monty Matrisciani - Center Cup Suzanne Schlesinger - Organ Host Rosemarie Estephan - Center Host Emily Santangelo - Tabernacle Host Susan Murphy - Organ Cup Irene Weller - Tabernacle Cup Helene Lind - Alternate

NOT FILLED Alexander Lennon

EMs of Holy Communion

Saturday, 4:00 PM (Church) The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Altar Server

Barbara Schaflin

Dering Sprague

Dan Mazzeo

Julia Cullen

Charles Young

Michael Zarraga

Reader 1

NOT FILLED

NOT FILLED

Carl Simone

Phil Limeri

Annette Raynor

Christopher Aquinas

Reader 2

NOT FILLED NOT FILLED

Tina Repetto Donna Murphy

Mary DeSalvatore Anne Baker

NOT FILLED NOT FILLED

Margaret Caponegro NOT FILLED

Greeter

Magnificat Choir

Kathy Woolston

Magnificat Choir

David Maliakel

Meghan Kryscnski

Cantor

Melissa Widmeier

Andrea Donner

Maria Greenstein

LWD

Usher

James Dolan Joe Mancino Joseph Rinaldo William Starce

Leigh Gavinelli John Orrico Greg Penczak Jack Zumba Charlie Gavinelli Allan Ryan Vince Cerulo

Michael Boliver George Watts James Pifer Joe Young

John Grabowski Jim Davis Bob Lind Frank Sikorskas NOT FILLED

Worship Ministry Schedule: December 30 - January 1 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph & Solemnity: Mary, Mother of God

www.stmaryscoltsneck.org 24 December 2017 5

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 24, 2017

www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

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Liturgy of the Word Dismissal Held weekly at the following Masses: • Saturday 4pm • Sunday 10am • Sunday 12noon Children are dismissed to hear the Gospel proclaimed and explained on their level of understanding.

All children ages 4 to 12 are encouraged to join us!

Confirmation Prep. Grades 7 & 8 Next few sessions No Class No Class B No Class A

12/24 12/31 1/7/2018 1/14/2018 1/21/2018

Christmas Eve New Year's Eve Mass at 5-7:30PM January 15 - MLK Birthday Mass at 5-7:30PM

Catholic Childcare Center at Saint Mary Parish Monday-Friday 6:30 am- 6:30 pm Full/Part time scheduling options Danielle Corde, Director 732-780-0135 danielle@fgkids.org Before and Aftercare - with CN school Bus stop open when CN schools are closed - help students with homework- fun and games - healthy snacks provided- small ratio's

Thank You to Jack the Clipper, landscaper and Christmas decorator, who generously decorated the Memory Tree this year.

“Light Up a Memory” Committee

Jack the Clipper Holiday Lighting John Williams 732-421-7704 1510 Valley Drive Wall, NJ 07719

www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

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Sharing Our Treasure 17 December 3rd Sunday of Advent Weekly Sacrificial Stewardship

$15,862

Envelope Contributions

$11,424

Electronic/Online Contributions

$ 3,014

Loose Contributions

$ 1,424

Just log in to your My Own Church Family Portal!

Log in. Be counted. Stay in touch.

Help us serve smarter.

Avg. Contribution per Household this week $31.66

Example:

# of Contributing Households

• • •

# Registered Parishioner Households

456 1,269

For end of the year charitable giving opportunities, please consult your financial advisors. Consider our parish for your end of year charitable gift.

Paper forms with postage: $500.

Data entry for 750 families: $350.

Updating your own record in My Own Church: PRICELESS! or Making sure your name is spelled correctly in the church records: PRICELESS!

THANK YOU for the Sacrificial Stewardship Offerings as we support the ministries, programs and facilities of our parish.

Dear Saint Mary Parish Thank you for all the generous help you and your parishioners have given to me through the years.

Since I have been helping those less fortunate since 1980, when my husband and I took in 5 Vietnamese “boat people” it always amazes me how generous people can be when they know others need help.

Circumstances (age and time) have forced me to pull back a bit but with your help I can continue to help many families who are less fortunate.

Your Thanksgiving gifts of food and gift cards are greatly appreciated and helped many celebrate a bit easier.

A wonderful, joyous and healthy Christmas and New Year!

Grateful Recipient

This new online tool lets you update your family’s records on the web! It’s convenient. It’s secure.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

The My Own Church Button may be found on the parish

website

www.stmaryscoltsneck.org Located under the Parish Resources Block. Select The Parish of Saint Mary, Colts Neck from the dropdown menu (fourth from the bottom), and fill in the required information. Questions?

See the help page link or call the parish office.

End Of Year Contribution Statement If you wish to receive an official statement of your 2017 contributions, please provide a self-addressed stamped envelope to the parish office by mail or drop it in the collection basket by January 25, 2018.

Requests will be processed & mailed by the end of January.

Please do not make your request by phone.

www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

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Quo vadis…

My Dear Parishioners: Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This mystery made known in Christ is none other than our own participation in divine life. We are first plunged into this life at our baptism, and through our faithful obedience (our yes to God’s will) we further the relentless action of God on our own behalf. Our lives must declare that the Christmas mystery is not limited to a day or season or even to a Person. The Christmas mystery includes our own share in the divine life and our taking up Christ’s mission to proclaim the gospel of repentance and forgiveness.

But remember: our yes is no less demanding than Mary’s. Bearing Christ has its cost: dying to self. But the fruit is unimaginable: God is with us and within us.

The Season of Advent is coming to a conclusion. Hopefully it has not been a wasted time. Preparation can be so important in every aspect of our lives.

Coming to Mass requires preparation.

Which one to attend? What to wear?

What time to leave the house? All these things help to prepare us for encountering the sacred in the Word, the Eucharist and in each other. Thanks to all those who are

preparing our church buildings for this Solemnity of Christmas and the Liturgical Ministers who are sacrificing their time and talent so that our worship might be the very best we can offer to God. The response to our Advent Gift Giving was great.

We are grateful for all the behind the scenes oversight that seamlessly provides for our communal prayer and a sense of welcome. Please review the contents of the bulletin carefully. There are special schedules for the Christmas Octave. On a more practical note…carpool with family, friends and neighbors whenever and wherever possible for Christmas Mass.

Remember to scoot in the pew and welcome all those who wish to join with us in worship. A smile is so much more welcoming and inviting than a miserable frown. Take the initiative to be an ambassador for our community to a visitor. Bring a friend with you or someone who feels alienated from the church. You can be an ambassador for Christ…just give it a try. See you in Church! Have a great week. Let us remember one another in prayer. Happy Sunday. Peace. Father Jeff

www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

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The Saint Mary Parish Advent Pancake Breakfast was held on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017.

No Little event… It surely was a wonderful fun filled community building event for all ages!! 715 tickets were sold for the event of which 612 were purchased in advance and 103 were purchased at the door (393 on line via the parish website and 322 tickets were purchased in the parish office or at agape). Close to 900 breakfasts (including volunteers) were prepared and served. Even Bishop O’Connell stopped by for a visit! The remaining cooked food (approx. 50 meals) and additional perishable supplies were donated to The Center in Asbury Park.

Due to the removal of the stage in Madonna Hall we were able to add more tables bringing us to the seating capacity of 228 people without feeling crowded.

THANK YOU to Christine McGrory, Jennifer Gioacchini and Alicia Mendez for chair ing this year ’s Advent Pancake Breakfast and coordinating all the details and volunteer participation which made the event so successful. A special shout out to Mike Stivala and Scott McGrory for running/supervising the kitchen. I wish I could list every volunteer (133 to be exact) by name because without each and every one of you this event is not possible!!

Thank you to the Breakfast committee and to the youth (87) and adult volunteers (46) who helped with: planning, coordination and event details, preparing the kitchen, setting up the event, decorating, greeting at reception and check-in, food preparation, serving, table leaders, garbage duty, crafts, the costume characters (elves, Frosty, Christmas tree, Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse and St. Nicholas), the clean-up crew, washing tablecloths and all the other jobs involved with such big event. Again this years, the youth participation was met with rave reviews!

Thank you to the community business owners who contributed products and/or discounts to the event: Ronstan Paper Company, Perkins, Eli’s Hot Bagels, Dunkin Donuts, Mueller’s Bakery, Holiday Meats and Maureen and Michael Staub for providing us with the inflatables, costumes and crumb cake.

Your generosity of product and discounts was greatly appreciated and helps us to provide breakfast at a reduced price!!

Peace and Blessings to all, Linda Dickinson-Pancila

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www.stmaryscoltsneck.org

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400 Route 35 North South Mantoloking, NJ 08738 www.sjbsea.org

Thursday, January 18 - Friday, January 26, 2018 9 Days for Life is an annual period of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person's life.

Surrounding the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, the overarching intention of the centerpiece novena is the end to abortion. However, the novena also highlights many other facets of respecting each other's God-given dignity, especially by respecting human life at every stage and in every circumstance.

9 Days for Life is an opportunity to: ♦PRAY for the respect and protection of

each person's life; ♦GATHER together in prayer, action, and fellowship with others; ♦SHARE your stories online!

February 2-4, 2018-COME TO THE QUIET–A SILENT RETREAT - Come and experience the shore in all its winter beauty! This weekend has been set aside for those desiring time alone with God. This retreat offers time for reflection; Eucharistic Liturgy and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be included. Arrival: 6:007:00p.m./ Departure: 1:00 p.m. (Presenters: Staff and Visiting Directors) Cost: $215 February 5, 2018-IDOLS IN OUR LIVES - We are confronted with many idols in our life…idols which take us away from God. The talks enhanced

by PowerPoint presentations will explore the idols of plans, ideas and media in our daily living. Lunch and Mass included. Arrival:9:00am/Departure:2:30pm (Presenter: Sr. Lucy Battistuz, MPF, BS, MS) Cost: $50 Please call St. Joseph By the Sea at 732-892-8494 to register or for additional information.

CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties The next (12-week) training class for telephone volunteers for CONTACT (24-hour crisis intervention hotline) will begin on Thursday, January 11, 2018, fr om 6:30 -9:30 P.M. in the Brick Township ar ea once a week for 12 weeks.

CONTACT, a fr ee and confidential ser vice, 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 referral are provided when requested.

National Mall – 12th St., Washington, DC

For additional training information, please call the CONTACT office – 732-240-6104.