The parish of saint Mary
parishoffice@stmaryscoltsneck.org
Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton: Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C. M.
Pastor: Reverend Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee
Pastor Emeritus: Reverend Fr. William J. Bausch
Parish Trustees: Annette Raynor & Roger Zurro
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Mass Intentions for:
Saturday, March 18th - Sunday, March 26th, 2023
For * Requested by
Saturday, March 18 – 4 PM Church
Pro Populo
Bobby Ward * Helene and Bob Lind
Dr. James Moreland * Susan and James Gobat
Sunday, March 19 – Church
8 AM Neil Slattery * Francine and Joe Corcoran
Helen and John Sionas * Eileen and Michael Stivala
DeStefano/Albruno Families * Mr. and Mrs. M. Franceschetti
10 AM Joe Howe * Marilyn and Carl Simone
John O’Hearn * Barbara Squillare
Michael Seaman * Michele and Frank Bilotti
12 PM Antoinette Lucarelli * Richard and Maria Gerbino
Isabel Amling * Bob Amling
Louis Sliazis * Michelle and Tim Gross
Monday, March 20 – 9 AM Chapel
Joan Pinney * Drs. Gener and Elvira Dapul
James Barron * Mary and Bill Klein
Tuesday, March 21 – 9 AM Chapel
Gary Muckin * Quigley Family
Wednesday, March 22 - 9 AM Chapel
PVT Charles H. Haber, Jr. * Carol and Frank Donahue
Vincent J. Petolino * Francine and Joseph Corcoran
Thursday, March 23 - 9 AM Chapel
Rosemary Sandman * Muriel and Ken Rogers
Friday, March 24 - 9 AM Chapel
Al and Mae Malliae * Constance and Alex Malliae
Saturday, March 25 – 4 PM Church
Frank Saake * Barbara Saake
Veronica Grabowski * Grabowski Family
Charles James Gobat * Susan and James Gobat
Sunday, March 26 – Church
8 AM Pro Populo
Louis Iacovelli * Laura and Eric Tucker
10 AM Eileen D’Alessandro Lynch * Donna and Frank Sikorskas
Mimi Pellicano * Gabbard Family
Theresa Dobrowolski * Joseph Britton
12 PM Guiseppe Manobianco * Antoinette Tommolino
Barbara Redling * Joseph Brando
Intention of Mathilda Said * Richard and Maria Gerbino
Please pray for those in our RCIA who are preparing to come into full Communion with the Catholic Church this Easter:
Please pray for the following members of our parish family who are ill:
KathleenAmatel
ValerieBarcheski
MichaelBarker
JaniceBasilice
FrBillBausch
EileenBeckley
BrendaCaronna
ChristenChellis
LynetteColaco-Desouza
BlakeConley
JackCoppola
ElizabethDeStefano
KaitlinDonahueNagle
SharonEvangellista
JoannFeliciti
CynthiaFiedler
JamesFiedler
EmilyGioacchini
JasonGreenberg
EdwardHabrack
TomHudak
ElizabethLindHuseby
LeonJankowski
BridgetKorn
BobLind
LoriLettieri
DonnaLodi
LudwigMendola
KevinO’Shea
LouSchmitt
OwenShoemaker
VictoriaSlater
GerardP.Thompson
LaurenVinci
Toaddafamilymembertothesicklistfor8weeks, pleasecallor e-mailtheParishOffice.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
19
Lifelong Catechesis - Week of March 19th - March 25th
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
FOR DEEPER REFLECTION:
Question for Children: What are the things that Jesus wants you to do as his friend?
Question for Youth: Jesus helped a blind man see and he helps each of us see the world differently. How do you see differently because you believe?
Question for Adults: Share how you, as a child of the light, in the power of Christ, produce goodness, justice, and truth for the world. What specific actions do you take to do this?
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.
Baptismal Preparation Session
Please remember in your prayers those who have recently died.
Stanley Drusdow
St Mary Parish is offering our next Baptismal Preparation Session on:
SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2023 at 1 PM
Pre-registrationisrequiredaweekinadvance. ContactUs
Grotto Candles
The Grotto Candles are available for your prayer intentions.
Offering is $3.00 per candle.
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.
Worship & Music
Andrew J. Macirowski - Pastoral Coordinator for Worship & Music / Principal Organist Worship@stmaryscoltsneck.org Music@stmaryscoltsneck.orgThe Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered to those who are gravely ill or are undergoing surgery, for the remission of sins and the provision of spiritual strength and health. No longer just about dying, the Church now stresses a secondary effect of the sacrament: to help a person recover their health. The sacrament may be received more than once, as appropriate.
The essential rite of the sacrament consists in the priest laying hands on the sick, anointing them with the oil of the sick, and praying with and for them.
When circumstances permit, the Church recommends that the sacrament take place during Mass. To that end, we have created opportunities for parishioners who wish to receive the sacrament to do so during Mass in the coming months. Our first Mass with communal anointing of the sick will occur at the 12noon Mass on April 16th. In order to participate, you must register in advance, so that the parish office may keep accurate records of who has received the sacrament.
You may utilize the link below in order to register. Please continue to pray for those on our sick list, and any in your familiar circles who may be ill.
COMMUNAL ANOINTING REGISTRATION
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.
Ministry Schedule: Fifth Sunday of Lent
Saturday, March 25th - Sunday, March 26th
Saturday 4PM Servers Needed Carly York
Sunday 8AM Servers Needed Carly York
Sunday 10AM Gabriella Penczak Carly York
Sunday 12PM Jonathan Stubbs Carly & Choir
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
OH Irene Weller
TH Martha Cowles
TH Louise Habrack
ALT Susan Murphy
OH– Mike LaCava
TH—Lisa Aldridge
TH Jane Slattery
Alt Rosanne LaCava
OH-Gregory Calderaro
TH Dawn Reinhardt (sub req)
TH Steve Stanley
ALT Carol Donahue
OH– Patricia Gesner
TH Ron Gabbard
TH Lee Gesner (sub req)
ALT Monica Barr
Lenten Confessions,
Holy Hours & Stations of the Cross
Lenten Holy Hours
March 22 - 7PM - St Mary
March 29 - 7PM - St Catharine
Stations of the Cross, St. Catharine
Friday evenings at 7:30 pm 17, 31
Confessions
Sunday, March 26, 3:00 PMSt Mary
Thursday, March 30, 7:00 PM St Catharine
Wednesday, April 5, 7:00 PM St Gabriel
Faith Formation
Julia CullenPastoral Coordinator of Faith Formation / Religion EducationReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org
732-780-2666 X 309
Summer RE registration remains open until the end of March. Early Fall Registration opens on 1 April 2023. Mark your calendars as it is first come, first serve.
Penance & Reconciliation-26 March
Confirmation Prep students are invited to begin arriving to P&R at 2:50pm or at the time slot corresponding to their last name. This is mandatory for all CP students and all other RE students are encouraged to participate with their families.
Palm Weaving Class
Palm Sunday
2 April 2023
beginning at the 10am mass continuing in Madonna Hall
Sign-up HERE.
Rose FarrowCoordinator of Faith Formation / Youth & Adult CatechesisYouthRE@stmaryscoltsneck.org
732-780-2666 X 310
Faith Formation Calendar
19 & 20 March 2023
Confirmation Prep Class
26 March 2023
Lenten Penance and Reconciliation 3pm
MANDATORY for ALL 7th & 8th graders
INTERGENERATIONAL
1 April 2023
Spring Clean-up 9am to 1pm
INTERGENERATIONAL (Sign-up on page 11)
2 April 2023
Palm Sunday Palm Weaving INTERGENERATIONAL
The week of 9 April 2023
Easter Break-NO RE CLASSES
16 April 2023
Easter Egg Hunt
INTERGENERATIONAL
30 April 2023
Spring Movie Day
6 May 2023
May Crowning 5pm mass
INTERGENTERATIONAL
Lottery for First Holy Communion 4pm
Religious Education Parent & Student Volunteer Sign-ups: Lenten Penance & Reconciliation-parent volunteer LINK
Easter Egg Hunt Parent Volunteer LINK
7th and 8th Grade Service Hour Sign-ups: Easter Egg Hunt LINK
Summer Intensive student volunteer (7th grade and up) LINK
Summer Intensive Religious Education Early Registration/ Re-Registration IS OPEN for incoming Grades 1-6
July 17-28 Virtual program 9am to 12pm
August 7-18 On Campus program 8:30am to 12:30pm
Classes are first come, first serve. Classes will be closed when capacity is met.
Register Here for the summer intensive program. Link can also be found on the website homepage.
Join us for the Parish of Saint Mary EasterEggHunt
Sunday, April 16
Beginning at the 12pm mass & continuing in Madonna Hall and on the parish grounds
Faith-filled activities, photo booth with the Easter Bunny, snacks & the Easter Egg Hunt!!
Please visit the website or scan the QR code to register to participate or volunteer: www.stmaryscoltsneck.org
SHARING SUCCESS
Most people in Turkana, Kenya raise livestock, and a few are farmers. But the hot and dry climate makes this work difficult and climate change is making it even harder. Rebecca and Lotiang participated in a Catholic Relief Services program that installed a water well and taught them new farming techniques. They can support their family with their crops and are teaching others in their community what they learned. How can you use your skills and knowledge to help others?
Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more. Please collect your offerings during Lent in the Rice Bowl provided. At the conclusion of Lent count the total offering, write a check to St Mary Parish for the total amount indicating CRS Rice Bowl in the memo line and drop it in the offerings box by April 16. Alternatively you can make a donation online at https://goo.gl/VFak28. Thank you for supporting Catholic Relief Services.
We encourage all Confirmation prep students and their families as part of their Lenten journey, to participate in upcoming Holy Hours, Stations of the Cross, Holy week and Easter Triduum services offered here and at our cohort parish of St. Catharine. See page 5 of our bulletin for dates and times. --
8th grade Confirmation Sponsor Certificates are being collected in the parish office. All Confirmation paperwork is due by April 30.
Confirmation paperwork for Sponsor Certificates: CLICK HERE.
April Meeting of the Martha Mary Guild
All ladies of the parish (and Cohorts) are cordially invited to the next meeting of the Martha Mary Guild on Wednesday, April 12. The topic will be "Friends Grow Friends", which should be of interest to one and all! Join us in the Spiritual Center at 11:30 a.m. for the Rosary, followed by BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch), with refreshments supplied by the Guild. The speaker will begin at 12:30 p.m.
This meeting is a part of our mission statement, which is as follows:
"The Martha Mary Guild is a women's spiritual, charitable, educational and social organization of St. Mary Parish. We are dedicated to assisting women and children in need. We carry out our mission through fundraisers and outreach."
Members have been so generous with our outreach. We will be collecting new items, such as toiletries and comfortable clothing (like sweats) for men, women and children for "180 Turning Lives Around" at the April meeting.
HELP THE SPONSOR A FAMILY PROGRAM!
The Sponsor-A-Family program sponsors families in need at Christmas by providing food and presents. This wonderful program has sponsored hundreds of families in the surrounding communities for more than 20 years. We are in need of volunteers to get involved. If you are interested, please contact Kathy Maher at wamaher2@aol.com
NEWTOCOLTSNECK?JoinSaintMary Parish!
We welcome you and invite you to register as parishioners of St Mary!
Please find our registration guidelines in our website under AboutUs/NewParishioners
Special showing of the movie
“Fatima”
Our sister parish St Catharine is hosting a special showing of the movie “Fatima” in support of the young adults going to World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal. Tickets are available for the special showing of the movie “Fatima” on March 25th at the Smodcastle Cinema in the Atlantic Highlands.
Details:
Tickets are $20 and will include popcorn and soda. Doors open 12:45 PM, Movie begins 1:30 PM prompt.
Seating is limited, and tickets will be sold on a First Come First Sold basis. Public Parking available nearby.
For questions regarding the movie “Fatima”, please contact Al Rabbat at 732-216-4063.
Saint of the Week:
Isidore of Seville, Bishop and Doctor, 560-636
This saint’s family is thought to be of Roman origin, but his father was from Cartagena and Isidore was born in Seville. As a boy, Isidore was entrusted to his much older brother, Leander, for his education. Isidore received a very strict but firm grounding and later became known as the most learned man of his time and a strong supporter for good education. (Incidentally, Leander and another brother, Fulgentius, also became bishops and saints and a sister, Florentia, founder and abbess of several convents, became a saint as well.)
Isidore worked as an assistant to Leander, who had become bishop of Seville. Upon Leander’s death in about 599, Isidore succeeded him in this post. As bishop, Isidore accomplished much. Read more HERE.
My Dear Parishioners:
Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent also known as Laetare Sunday. Rose Vestments (not pink) are worn today to mark the progression of the Christian faithful through the Season of Lent toward Palm Sunday and the conclusion of the Lenten Season on Holy Thursday at sundown. Baptism is a ritual sign of coming to belief and admits one to full participation in worship. This statement doesn’t imply that those who have not been baptized or fully received into the Church haven’t worshiped God. They have or they probably wouldn’t be seeking to be initiated. Initiation changes the way one can worship and the sign of this is admittance to Eucharist and reception of the Body and Blood of our Lord. Worship, however, is far more than attendance and involvement in ritual acts, as important as that is. Worship includes a mission to reach out to others who are in need of spiritual insight, a deepened faith, or healing in any way. Authentic worship always requires a response of charity on behalf of others.
This coming week we observe the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. Mass will be celebrated Monday, 20 March in the Chapel. The Solemnity of the Annunciation is observed Saturday, 25 March. We begin the Spring Season this week. Our Summer Mass Schedule (Saturday Mass at 5:00pm) begins Memorial Day Weekend and concludes with Labor Day Weekend. As announced last year we continue with the Saturday 4:00pm Mass until Memorial Day Weekend 2023.
Plans are underway for the preparation of our grounds for springtime. We will be cleaning up some of the planting beds throughout the property. Please join us for the Spring Clean
Up of our 25 acre property. It is a great time to come together and help make our parish church property ready for all of the festivities this time of the year offers. Sign up using the link in the e-bulletin. Preparations are well underway for Holy Week, The Triduum, and the Easter Season. I am grateful to all of our volunteers and those who serve in the various ministries. The customs of our Church are only possible when we pull all of our resources together working toward a common goal. The Liturgical Prayer for these seasons (LentTriduum-Easter) are rich in symbol and metaphor. They serve to remind us of God’s Steadfast Love for us and the call for us to Love One Another.
If you have not made your gift to the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal please do so as soon as possible. Our parish continues to make progress toward reaching the minimum goal of $75,000.00. We need you to participate this coming week. Please consider making your gift this week. Every gift counts. We need you to participate.
Preparations for the Lenten Penance & Reconciliation Service next Sunday afternoon 26 March At 3:00pm. We have a number of priests scheduled for your convenience. This is a great opportunity for families to come together and to witness to children the importance of seeking reconciliation. The Easter Quadfold and 2023 Easter Stewardship Envelope will be mailed early next week. You should be receiving them in the coming days. Please keep the schedule in a convenient spot for easy reference. Invite your friends and relatives to join with us in prayer. Remember to car pool for Easter Sunday. Have a great week. Let us remember one another in prayer. Happy Sunday. Peace. Father Jeff
Temporal Admin., Stewardship & Outreach
Sharing Our Treasure March 12, 2023 – Third Sunday of Lent
Edwin A. SevillanoTemporalAdmin@stmaryscoltsneck.org"The second is this:Youshallloveyourneighborasyourself.There is no other commandment greater than these."
12:31
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.
ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL REBATE
We have received a check for $18,551.50 as rebate for reaching our goal in the Catholic Annual Appeal 2022. The monies have been used to pay for the LED lighting upgrade in our buildings. Please support the Annual Catholic Appeal 2023.
Sign-in for our Online Giving system to make your parish offerings from your bank account or Credit Card!
To set up an online giving account please visit https://giving.parishsoft.com/smcn
Should you require our assistance setting up your new account, please call the parish office at 732-780-2666.
You can also download the ConnectNow Giving App for Android or iOS
Thank you for your continuous support!
The 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal is well under-way. Thank you to those parishioners who have already made their gift to the 2023 Annual Appeal.
Will you join your fellow parishioners in supporting this effort that strengthens many important programs and ministries across the Diocese of Trenton? Our goal, $75,000, can only be achieved through YOUR generosity!
If you have not yet made a gift, there will be pledge forms available in the back of church, or you can visit www.dioceseoftrenton.org/catholicappeal to send your gift electronically. Make sure to select St. Mary Catholic Church, Colts Neck in the Parish Affiliation box so we can receive credit for your gift.
Your gift will truly make a difference. Thank you for your prayers and support.
