Worship & Music

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

Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, and fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but we are also called to practice self-discipline. We should take extra care to refrain from sin, and to do more good. Alms-giving is an important part of Lent that many often forget about. It is not only about giving to the poor (as with the Lenten rice bowls for example) but also giving of our time and talent. Look for volunteer opportunities: especially at the parish but also in the community and beyond. Consider joining a ministry.

In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics. At the Easter Vigil, those in the program will receive the sacraments of initiation, becoming full members of the Catholic Church.

Lenten Regulations - Guidelines of the Universal Church

The Catholic Church in the United States requires of us as baptized Catholics to observe the following: Thedaysoffast(onlyonefullmealperday)andabstinence(nomeat)areAshWednesday(February 22)andGoodFriday(April7).AllotherFridaysofLent(March3throughMarch31)aredaysof abstinence(nomeat).

Fast consume only one full meal. Water may be taken throughout the day

Abstinence– consume no meat; this obligation prohibits the eating of meat but not eggs, milk products or condiments of any kind, even though made from animal fat.

Baptized Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast and those from the age of 14 are also obliged to abstain

Those who are automatically dispensed from fast and abstinence regulations outside the age limits noted above include: the physically or mentally ill, especially individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also included in the dispensation are women who are pregnant or nursing. In all cases, common sense should prevail and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting

Allareencouragedtoembracethesepracticesaspartofourspiritualjourney.

Saturday 4PM

Worship Schedule: Second Sunday of Lent

Saturday, March 4th - Sunday, March 5th

Altar Server Cantor Reader 1 Reader 2 EMHC

Server Needed Server Needed Choir Carl Simone Charles Young

Sunday 8AM

Server Needed Server Needed Carly York Kevin Swan Anthony Bongiorno

Sunday 10AM

Tesya Yaninas Server Needed

Sunday 12PM

Jack Schatzle Jimmy Schatzle

Carly York Matt Yaninas Jennifer Stubbs

Organ Host - Louise Habrack

Tabernacle Host - Susan Murphy

Tabernacle Host - Irene Weller

Alternate - Emily Santangelo

Organ Host - Gina Shute

Tabernacle Host - Lisa Aldridge

Tabernacle Host - Joseph Flanagan

Alternate - Joyce Flynn

Organ Host - Steve Stanley

Tabernacle Host - Carol Donahue

Tabernacle Host - Gregory Calderaro

Alternate - Maureen Geiger

Organ Host - Monica Barr-

Swap Requested

Carly York T Mullin Richard Gerbino

Tabernacle Host - Patricia Gesner

Tabernacle Host - Minister Needed

Alternate - Lee Gesner

Lenten Holy Hours & Stations of the Cross

Lenten Holy Hours

March 1 - 7PM - St Catharine March 8 - 7PM - St Catharine

March 15 - 7PM - St Mary March 22 - 7PM - St Mary

March 29 - 7PM - St Catharine

Stations of the Cross, St. Catharine

Friday evenings at 7:30 pm - February 24th, March 3, 10, 17, 31

Baptismal Preparation Session

St Mary Parish is offering our next Baptismal Preparation Session on:

SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023 at 11:00 AM

Pre-registration is requiredaweekin advance. ContactUs

Sacrament of Baptism Couples wishing to baptize their children must be registered parishioners of St Mary Parish. Please contact the Parish Office at 732-780-2666 x329 at least 3 months in advance of the desired date for baptism. More information can be read HERE.

Faith Formation

Remember you

Julia CullenPastoral Coordinator of Faith Formation / Religion Education

ReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org

732-780-2666 X 309

8th grade Confirmation Sponsor

Certificates are being collected in the parish office. All Confirmation paperwork is due by April 30.

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

Rose FarrowCoordinator of Faith Formation / Youth & Adult Catechesis

YouthRE@stmaryscoltsneck.org

732-780-2666 X 310

Pick up your family’s CRS Rice Bowl at Church this weekend February 18 & 19.

Faith Formation Calendar

26 & 27 February 2023 Confirmation prep class

26 March 2023

Lenten Penance and Reconciliation 3pm MANDATORY

Attendance will be taken at the door FOR ALL 7th & 8th grade

2 April 2023

Palm Sunday Weaving INTERGENERATIONAL beginning at the 10am mass, continuing in Madonna Hall

Religious Education Parent & Student Volunteer Sign-ups:

Lenten Penance & Reconciliation (day of volunteers) LINK

Lenten Books Volunteer 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.

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.

CRS RICE BOWLS LENT IS COMING!

Join our faith community and nearly 13,000 Catholic communities across the United States in a transformative Lenten journey with CRS Rice Bowl.

Pick up your family’s CRS Rice Bowl at Church this weekend February 18 & 19. During the 40 days of Lent, we will reflect on the impact of global hunger and climate change on vulnerable communities around the word, and we will pray, fast and give alms to help our sisters and brothers in need.

Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more.

My Dear Parishioners:

Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent. Temptation is something we usually think of as facing alone. Yet, even Eve was not alone; Adam “was with her”. It seems as though Adam did nothing to help Eve resist the temptation. Neither of them could withstand the temptation of the serpent alone nor did either of them help each other. Neither is Lent our time to withstand temptation alone; it is also a wonderful time to get involved with others spiritually and help each other to grow in goodness and the ability to resist temptation. Most of us tend to keep our spiritual growth and struggles pretty much to ourselves. One marvelous way to help each other is to take some time with those with whom we are in significant relationships to do some in-depth faith-sharing. By sharing our own temptations with others we are encouraged that we are not alone in choosing and serving this God who gives us life—at creation and through “the one Jesus Christ” (second reading).

As we begin the Great Season of Lent, let us make room in our lives for some quiet times, prayer, reflection and discernment. It is equally as important to do some things: community service, volunteerism, liturgical celebrations. Please remember in a special way our candidates for the Easter Sacraments. Have you considered getting involved in a ministry of our parish community? We need everyone to contin- ue to make our parish a welcoming and prayerful community. Evangelization is an important part of Lent. Why not invite a friend or family member to come to church with you. Don’t forget to participate in the Way of the Cross privately in the Lenten Chapel or join with one of our Co-hort 13 Parishes.

Many thanks to all those who have already made their pledge/gift to the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal online or through the mail; I have sent my gift in already. Please do not put this off. It is important that we have lots of participation so that we can reach our parish goal. I know that you want to support our Diocesan Bishop as he provides for the needs of the Catholic Church in Monmouth, Mercer, Burlington and Ocean Counties. Please make your gift this week so that our parish can be counted among all those who achieve their goal. Together we can make great things happen.

Consider joining us for the celebration of the mass each weekday at 9am in the Chapel. It is a great practice to assist with your Lenten observance. I enjoyed my time away and return rested and renewed. Many thanks to our clergy team and staff for “carrying on” to care, for your needs. Have a great week. Let us remember one another in prayer.