Worship & Music

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

Worship@stmaryscoltsneck.org Music@stmaryscoltsneck.org

Saint Valentine, officially known as Saint Valentine of Rome, is a third-century Roman saint widely celebrated on February 14 and commonly associated with "courtly love.”

Although not much of St. Valentine's life is reliably known, (and whether or not the stories involve two different persons by the same name), it is highly agreed upon by scholars that St. Valentine was martyred and then buried on the Via Flaminia to the north of Rome.

One common story is that in one point of his life, as the former Bishop of Terni, Narnia and Amelia, he was on house arrest, accompanied by Judge Asterius. While discussing religion and faith with the Judge, Valentine pledged as to the validity of Jesus. The judge immediately put Valentine and his faith to the test.

St. Valentine was presented with the judge's blind daughter and told to restore her sight. Placing his hands onto her eyes, Valentine restored the child's vision.

Judge Asterius was humbled and destroyed all of the pagan idols around his house, fasted for three days and became baptized, along with his family and entire 44 member household.

The other story has slightly more historical merit. Around 270 AD, when Emperor Claudius II ruled in Rome, he believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families.

To get rid of this perceived problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When this was discovered, Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death.

The romantic nature of Valentine's Day may have also been derived during the Middle Ages, when it was believed that pairs of birds coupled in mid-February, and the date possibly created to overpower the pagan holiday, Lupercalia.

Whoever he was or may have been, there is evidence that Valentine did really exist, as in the late 5th century archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.

Saint of the Week:

Cyril, Monk, 825-869 & Methodius, Bishop, 826-884

Cyril and Methodius were brothers born at Thessalonika, Greece, of a senatorial family. Cyril was sent to study at the imperial university in Constantinople at an early age. In time, he was ordained and assumed the chair of his teacher, Photius. In this position, he became known as "The Philosopher." 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

Saturday 4PM

Worship Schedule: Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Saturday, February 18th - Sunday, February 19th

Altar Server Cantor Reader 1 Reader 2 EMHC

Alexander Lennon Sophia Lennon

Sunday 8AM

Marybeth Jacobson

Mary Ellen GriffinSwap Requested

Kathy Maher

Server Needed Server Needed Carly York Kevin Swan Anthony Bongiorno

Sunday 10AM

Server Needed Server Needed

Sunday 12PM

Carly York Steve Rumsby Barbara Schaflin

Organ Host - Emily Santangelo

Tabernacle Host - Martha Cowles

Tabernacle Host - Irene Weller

Alternate - Susan Murphy

Organ Host - Jane Slattery

Tabernacle Host - Gina Shute

Tabernacle Host - Marsha Grigoli

Alternate - Mary Aiello

Organ Host - Linda Dickinson-Pancilla

Tabernacle Host - Steve Stanley

Tabernacle Host - Winifred O’Doherty

Alternate - Sue Fitzpatrick

Jack Schatzle Jimmy Schatzle Choir T Mullin Richard Gerbino

Ash Wednesday

Organ Host - Monica Barr

Tabernacle Host - Minister Needed

Tabernacle Host - Minister Needed

Alternate - Minister Needed

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Imposition of Ashes will take place in the church at the following times:

Parish of Saint Mary, Colts Neck

9am Mass

12:15pm Prayer Service 4pm Prayer Service 5:30pm Prayer Service

Saint Catharine, Holmdel

9am Mass

12pm Prayer Service

5pm Prayer Service

7:30pm Mass

Ministers will be in church distributing ashes at the times above and will continue while there is a line of people. Stations of the Cross and Holy Hours will begin the following week.

Faith Formation

Summer Intensive early

Julia CullenPastoral Coordinator of Faith Formation / Religion Education

ReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org

732-780-2666 X 309

Rose FarrowCoordinator of Faith Formation / Youth & Adult Catechesis

YouthRE@stmaryscoltsneck.org

732-780-2666 X 310

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LINKS :

 Intergenerational List for the 2022-2023

 Intergenerational Participation Record

 Yearly Faith Formation Calendar - LINK HERE

 RE Fall classes 2022-2023 Grades 1-6- LINK HERE

Faith Formation Calendar

22 February 2023

Ash Wednesday

Fishers of Men

INTERGENERATIONAL

See Page 8 for more details

26 March 2023

Lenten Penance and Reconciliation 3pm MANDATORY FOR ALL 7th & 8th grade

Religious Education Parent Volunteer Sign-ups:

Lenten Penance & Reconciliation (day of volunteers) LINK

Easter Egg Hunt (set up crew, volunteer at event, clean up crew) LINK

7th and 8th Grade Service Hour Sign-ups: Easter Egg Hunt LINK

Summer Intensive (July Virtual or August on Campus) LINK

Summer Intensive Religious Education Early Registration/ Re-Registration OPENS for

incoming Grades 1-6

February 1, 2023

July 17-28 Virtual program 9am to 12pm

August 7-18 On Campus program

8:30am to 12:30pm

This is the early discounted price and will end on February 28, 2023 Classes are first come, first serve. Classes will be closed when capacity is met.

Register Here for the summer intensive program. Link can be found on the website homepage or here on the weekly bulletin.

Ash Wednesday FishersofMen

Intergenerational

This year we will be collecting in the narthex for people in need for the “Birthrite Drive”.

More info on pg. 8

Grades 1-6 are encouraged to come to Madonna Hall for a presentation and craft after receiving their ashes.

Liturgy of the Word Dismissal Facilitator Meeting

SAVE THE DATE

Sunday, February 26, 2023 beginning at the 10am mass

11 am Madonna Hall

Coffee and Donuts will be served

We invite all parents to attend this informal information meeting to consider being trained as a facilitator for Liturgy of the Word Dismissal.

Sign up here for the event

Walking with Moms in Need is an initiative through which Catholic parishes and communities "walk in the shoes" of local pregnant and parenting women in need. Everyone should know how to help moms in difficult circumstances.

While not trying to turn Catholic parishes into pregnancy centers, we can support local pregnancy centers where they exist, and we can also find and share other resources with pregnant and parenting women.

Intergenerationals Items Needed

COLLECTIONENDSFEBRUARY22,2023

Waling with Moms in Need Collection –Donation will go to Birthright in Red Bank and Freehold

 diapers sizes 5 and 6

 women's toiletries

 baby shampoo

 baby wash

 baby lotion

 onesies - preemie through 12-mo. sizes

 bath towels

 receiving blankets

Grades7-8andHighSchoolStudents whobringadonationof4ormoreitemsfrom thelistwhenreceivingAshesonFebruary22 at4:00and5:30willreceive1hourofservice.

My Dear Parishioners:

Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We continue to be taught through the scriptures the practice of authenticity. That is, we, as Catholic Christians, are to strive for transparency and to avoid all temptations of cunning or deceit. We are to seek to find the Lord in the everydayness of daily living. We are to recognize the sacramentality of relationships and our leadership role in family life, civic community and church. When we abrogate these responsibilities we are not living the paschal mystery as we ought. These are all part of what it means for us to become more Christlike, better witnesses to our faith, stronger ambassadors for Christ.

Co-hort 13 is a configuration of parishes in our area: Saint Gabriel, Marlboro; Saint Catharine, Holmdel; Saint Leo the Great, Lincroft and Saint Mary Colts Neck. We continue to support one another by advertising formational and sacramental activities. We also help out when needed to provide clergy coverage. As we prepare for the liturgical Season of Lent you will notice opportunities sponsored by other parishes in our bulletin and vice versa. This year Ash Wednesday is 22 February 2023. We will list in our parish e-bulletin opportunities to receive ashes during and services of God’s Word both here in 07722 and in Saint Catherine, Holmdel. We will continue to coordinate and stagger opportunities in the future to provide the best services and greater opportunity for our parishioners. We will also share in providing weekly Holy Hours during the weeks of Lent. These will consist of prayer, readings from Sacred Scripture and Exposition/ Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Way of the Cross will be offered weekly at

Saint Catherine, Holmdel. We continue to share the RCIA ministry preparing seekers to become full members of the Roman Catholic Church this coming Easter. The Rites will be celebrated in each Church. We will continue to collaborate and share services in the future to better care for our parishioners. Stay tuned… more to come!

This coming week is Valentines Day. There is much energy toward outward expressions of Love. There is less focus on the interior reality of married love. Take some time to reflect on the gift of marriage, maybe write a note or card reminding yourself and your spouse of your affection. It is important to celebrate this great gift of married love. Our church continues to support married love as the cornerstone of family life and society. Let us pray for married couples, those who struggle in living their married life, and those preparing to celebrate the sacrament of marriage.

Later this month we will Kick-off the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal. Our Parish Goal remains at $75,000.00. I invite you to consider what your gift might be this year. His Excellency, The Most Reverend Bishop of Trenton will invite us all to participate in this necessary programming to continue to support the many programs and ministries provided for and overseen by our Diocese of Trenton.

I am away for some time off. I have decided to take a road trip with little advance schedule. I will visit some friends and enjoy some outdoor air. Rest and some reading will also be part of my time away. Have a great week. Let us remember one another in prayer. Happy Sunday. Peace. Father Jeff