Reverend Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee MDiv, MA, ThM Fifth Pastor
From the Pastor
Honoring the PAST…Living the PRESENT…Preparing the FUTURE The Covid 19 Pandemic has been a challenge for us these past months. Every aspect of life has been challenged or altered. Things once taken for granted are no longer considered such. Lockdowns and being restricted from receiving the Eucharist was challenging to our spiritual lives as Roman Catholic Christians. Together we have adjusted to the challenges before us, keeping our community together and re-convening our public liturgical celebrations as soon as possible observing the protocols and safety measures necessary to be in full compliance. The use of technology helped us to continue to form and educate parishioners at every age. Outdoor community outreach opportunities helped to re-establish our special sense of community. You are to be commended for your steadfast commitment to our catholic faith and our parish community. We continue to advance priorities in each aspect of parish life. There continues to be increased cooperation among the families who entrust the religious education of their children to our team. The process of engaging certified educators who are certified catechists and are fully compliant with child safety standards now lead most of our classes. We continue to fully implement this program wide in each option that we now offer. We continue to welcome new parishioners, overwhelmingly living in our parish boundaries of 07722, listening to their stories and sharing our expectations of their participation with us as bona fide parishioners of our parish. We have embarked on a shared clergy team model of sacramental ministry availing clergy to support the parishes within our Cohort 13 cluster of parishes. Updates to our physical facilities and completing projects have continued throughout the pandemic. We were able to retain all of our parish paid staff throughout the pandemic which enabled them to support their families in a positive way. Stewardship of Time, Talent & Treasure continues to enable our parish to fulfill its mission. Your generous sharing is central. We look forward to our future with a genuine spirit of Christian Hope. This coming year provides us an opportunity to pause and give thanks to Almighty God in a special way for our parish community. Our first parish church cornerstone was dedicated 1879; a resident priest was assigned for a brief period in 1887; our parish was served by regional clergy until the building of our current campus in 1972. This coming year we will observe the 50th Anniversary of our parish as we know it today. Pentecost Sunday 2022 (5 June) at 3:00pm His Excellency, The Most Reverend Bishop of Trenton will be the celebrant and homilist of a Solemn Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving with our local clergy concelebrating. It is my hope that we will come together in prayer and song asking God’s continued blessing upon us. Put the date in your schedule now so that you can participate. We will be distributing a book to all parishioners as an Easter Gift to prepare for a parish mission scheduled 29 October through 1 November. Our facilitator will be Jon Leonetti who was with us several years ago. I encourage you to take time to read the reports contained in this publication. I know it can seem overwhelming…you may wish to read a section each day. This report is our way of being accountable to you and how your sharing enables us to advance the mission of the church. Thank you for your generosity and commitment. We pray that Mary, Seat of Wisdom, continues to intercede for us.
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Peace
