

A Catholic Community Proclaiming the Greatness of God in our Time OnePhalanxRoad,ColtsNeck,NJ07722
Phone:732-780-2666 Fax:732-780-0394
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
Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Tuesdays 2:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
The Parish Office is closed Fridays and Saturdays. The Parish Office will also be open Sunday April 6, 9am - 1pm
Any questions, please call the office at (732)-780-2666.
Saturday March 22 2025 - Sunday March 30 2025
Saturday, March 22 - 4PM
Pro Populo
PVT Charles H. Haber, Jr. * Carol Donahue
Frank Saake * Barbara Saake
Sunday, March 23- 8AM
DeStefano/Albruno Families * Franceschetti Family
Al Miller * Susan Miller
10AM
Stanley Szczepanski * John & Dawn
George DePalma * Pat DePalma
Joseph Puzo by Susan & Robert Monaco
12PM
Veronica Grabowski * The Grabowski Family
Angelo & Antoinette Lucarelli * Richard & Maria Gerbino
Mimi Pellicano * Gabbard family
Monday, March 24 - 9AM - Chapel
Larry Duffy * Jim Schatzle & Family
Eileen Ladley * Providence Zumbo
Tuesday, March 25– 9AM - Chapel
Judith & Richard Hupka * Diana & Ed Piotrowski
Michelle Vlahos * The Vlahos family
Wednesday, March 26 - 9AM - Chapel
Intentions of Sheryl Fredda * Coppola Family
Linda Cosdispoti * Molly Aiello
Please remember in your prayers those who have recently died.
Mario Grillo
Carmel Vickers
Thursday, March 27 - 9AM - Chapel
Carl Endlicher * Bob Endlicher
George Smyth * Susan and Robert Monaco
Friday, March 28 – 9AM - Chapel
Vincent J. Petolino * Francine & Joseph Corcoran Gerard
Thompson & Patrick Smyth * Susan & Robert Monaco
Saturday, March 29 4PM
Intentions of Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee * Staff & Parishioners
Robert O'Brien * Mary & Bill Klein
Joan Brando * Angela & Tom Kinlin
Sunday March 30 – 8AM
Pro Populo
Dorothy Hagar * Anne-Marie & Ed Matthews
10AM - Communal Anointing of the Sick
Salvatore DiFazio * Burtone Family
John Palladino * Regina Castronuova
Jamie McKeogh intentions * Beth Walsh
12PM
Severino Ambrosio * The Gruenling Family
Kenneth Meyer * Paola DiNapoli Giuseppe Catalano & Gaetano Tagliavia * Tagliavia Family
Paul, Apostle and Martyr, c. 5-65
Especially during Lent, we are called to conversion. Our saint of the week had one of the more dramatic conversion experiences. He began as an oppressor of the members of the early Church and later became one of the great saints of our Church. Paul named Saul at birth was born of Jewish parents around the year 5 A.D. in Tarsus, which also made him a citizen of Rome. He studied under a renowned rabbi in Jerusalem and became a rigid Pharisee and an obsessed persecutor of the Christians. Read More HERE
Mass intentions for all occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, sickness, etc.) for the deceased or living can be requested online HERE . Please scroll down to the preferred date and time, whether daily Mass or weekend Mass. Intentions are available from the next couple of weeks until December 2025. The stipend per mass intention is $10
Consider requesting a Sanctuary Lamp in memory of a deceased person or in honor of a living individual. Sanctuary lamps burn permanently in the Church and Chapel. Requests can be made for a week, starting Sunday and ending the following Saturday. The stipend per sanctuary lamp is $25. Requests can be made online HERE.
Mass intentions and sanctuary lamps can also be requested in person at the Parish office during business hours.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK:
Third Sunday of Lent March 23
Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15/1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12/Lk 13:1-9
MONDAY March 24
2 Kgs 5:1-15b/Lk 4:24-30
TUESDAY March 25
Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38
WEDNESDAY March 26
Dt 4:1, 5-9/Mt 5:17-19
THURSDAY March 27
Jer 7:23-28/Lk 11:14-23
FRIDAY March 28
Hos 14:2-10/Mk 12:28-34
SATURDAY March 29
Hos 6:1-6/Lk 18:9-14
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.
AMT Colton Boag, USCG
Col. John Anthony Coppola, US Army
TSgt Stephen Witherow, USAF
LCpl Edward Zarzecki, USMC
Question for Children: God wants your faith to result in good living. What steps can you take during Lent to make sure that happens?
Question for Youth: What needs changing in your life right now? How will you invite God into that change?
Question for Adults: What steps are you taking this Lent to make sure that your faith bears fruit in good works?
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
LTJG 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
Pleaseprayforthefollowingmembersofourparishcommunitywhoareill:
Jack Coppola
Kaitlin Donahue Nagle
Nancy Niven
David Niven
Lori Lettieri
Lauren vinci
Dawn Reinhardt
Helen Prill
Rose walch
Joyce daniel
Edward Habrack
Owen Shoemaker
Peter Vickers
Debby Tanico
Linda Codispoti
Jeff McBride
Toaddorremoveafamilymemberfromthesicklistpleasee-mailONLY parishbulletin@stmaryscoltsneck.org. Please,also,keepusupdatedonyourlovedone’shealth. Nameswillberemovedfromthelistafter3months.ThankyouforkeepingourParishinformed.
Andrew J. Macirowski - Pastoral Coordinator for Worship & Music / Principal Organist Worship@stmaryscoltsneck.org Music@stmaryscoltsneck.org Worship & Music
March 25 is the Solemnity of theAnnunciation of the Lord - a day which commemorates the announcement made by theArchangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive and bear a son, and that he would be the savior of the world. Along with the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the abstention from the Gloria is lifted on this day, as the joy of the Holy Day should be celebrated in full. In the modern Roman Rite, if this date falls on a Sunday or during Holy Week, it is transferred to the next Monday, as the Sundays of Lent and Holy Week cannot be superseded.
The annunciation is also recounted on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception duringAdvent (another day on which the Gloria is permitted during a penitential season). Although in the course of the gospel narratives the annunciation is inexplicably linked to Christmas, it is important that we also take note of the length of time between the announcement to Mary and the birth of the Lord, in a similar way that we mark the passage of time between Christmas and the Presentation of the Lord,Ash Wednesday and Holy Week, or between Easter and Pentecost.
Mass with communal anointing of the sick March 30th at 10am.
Those who wish to receive the sacrament must register by March 26th. Call the office to schedule.
This is the practice of having children, ages 4-12, leave the Sunday assembly during the Liturgy of the Word (readings) and gather in the chapel to engage in the Liturgy of the Word at a level more appropriate to the children’s understanding.
Saturday, 29 4 PM
Ministry Schedule: Fourh Sunday of Lent Saturday, March 29 & Sunday, Sunday 30
George Barasky Joseph Barasky
Sunday, 30 8 AM NOT FILLED NOT FILLED
Sunday, 30 10 AM
Suzanne Duarte Sophia Duarte
Sunday, 30 12 PM Jack Schatzle NOT FILLED
Budget Farrow Paul Tonacci
Carly York
Jennifer stubbs
Annette Raynor Joe Ventura
Choir/ Cantor MaryEllen Griffin Barbara Schaflin
Carly York
Charles Young Richard Gerbino
OH - Elvira Dapul MD
TH - Monica Barr
TH - Martha Cowles
ALT - Emily Santangelo
OH - Cindy Ventura
TH - Joyce Flynn
TH - Joseph Flanagan
ALT– Jane Slattery
OH - Sue Fitzpatrick
TH – NOT FILLED
TH - Carol Donahue
ALT–Linda DickinsonPancila
OH - Dawn Reinhardt
TH - Irene Weller
TH - Richard Gerbino
ALT– Ron Gabbard
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (LectionaryPage.net)
St Mary Parish is offering our next Baptismal Preparation Session on: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 @6:30 PM Pre-registrationisrequired aweekin advance. Contact Us
The Catholic Church in the United States requires of us as baptized Catholics to observe the following: Thedaysoffast (onlyonefullmealperday)andabstinence(nomeat)areAshWednesday(March5)andGoodFriday(April18). AllotherFridaysofLent(March7throughApril11)aredaysofabstinence(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.
Faith Formation
Julia
Cullen - Pastoral Coordinator of Faith Formation / Religion Ed
ReligiousEd@stmaryscoltsneck.org 732-780-2666 X 309
Religious Education Program- Fall 2025/2026
Registration/Reregistration opens on 1 April 2025 at 12 noon
Program runs September 2025-May 2026
Our course progression is as follows:
First Holy Communion Prep (FHC) 1 & 2
Continuing Faith (CF) A, B, C & D Confirmation Prep (CP) 1 & 2
Fall 2025 Program options:
FHC 1 & 2: Tuesday’s 4:50 PM to 6:00 PM weekly, in person on campus
CF A, B, C & D: Tuesday’s 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM weekly, live google classroom
CP 1 & 2: bi-monthly either Sunday’s 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, live google classroom or Tuesday’s 4:15 PM to 5:45 PM, in person on campus
CP-1 (7th grade): Bible projects are due by 4 May 2025
CP-2 (8th grade): Confirmation Paperwork is due by 5/4 which includes: Saint Report, Magazine articles to be completed with approved sponsor and final service hour log. Confirmation Interviews will take place on 4 May 2025. seemoreinfoonthebottomofthispg.
Summer RE assistant/volunteer: July Virtual or August on-campus– SIGN UP HERE
Fill Easter Eggs for Easter Egg Hunt SIGN UP HERE
Blessing Bag Pack Day: 3 May 2025, 9AM
Spring Clean-Up:12 April 2025 See page 9
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LINKS
2024 - 2025
• 2024 - 2025 RE Calendar grades 1-8
• 24/25 Fall RE Calendar grades 1-6
• Parent - Student 24/25 Handbook
• Intergenerational List
• Intergenerational Recording link
23, 25 March 2025
CP – 1 & 2 Virtual, On Campus – Class
25 March 2025
RE Class #26 - Grades 1-6, Virtual/On Campus
31 March 2025
Summer RE registration/reregistration closes at midnight CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
1 April 2025
RE Class #27 - Grades 1-6, Virtual/On Campus
6 April 2025
Lenten Penance & Reconciliation, 3pm Chapel CP-1&2, Mandatory, attendance will be taken
8 April 2025
RE Last Class #27 - Grades 1-6, Virtual/On Campus
12 April 2025
Spring Clean-Up INT sign-up on page 8
13 April 2025
Palm Sunday Palm Weaving -11am, SIGN-UP HERE
27 April 2025
Easter Egg Hunt-beginning at the 12pm mass, RSVP SIGN-UP-HERE
Students & Parent Volunteer LINK for the Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday, 4 May 2025
Please, report to the Spiritual Center at your assigned time based on last name. ALL Confirmation paperwork is due at this time. 3:00 pm A-C 3:20 pm D-K 3:40 pm L-N 4:00 pm O-S 4:15 pm T-
Tuesday, 1 April 2025 at 12 PM and closes on 30 April 2025
For your convenience, the link to register can be found on our website homepage and on the RE page in the digital bulletin. Early Registration/Re-Registration is reserved for fully registered parishioners who have completed new parishioner orientation. Stewardship of time, talent and treasure, which includes regular mass attendance, participation in parish life and being signed up for regular on-line giving, all encompass a bona fide parishioner. Once these requirements are met, class placement begins until capacity is reached. You will receive an email confirmation of your child’s class placement once registration and processing is complete.
Fall 2025 program options are as follows: Runs September 2025-May 2026
First Holy Communion Prep- 1 (FHC- 1) Tuesday’s 4:50 PM-6:00 PM - on campus (OC)
First Holy Communion Prep- 2 (FHC- 2) Tuesday’s 4:50 PM-6:00 PM - on campus (OC)
Continuing Faith-A (CF- A) Tuesday’s 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM weekly, virtual
Continuing Faith-B (CF- B) Tuesday’s 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM weekly, virtual
Continuing Faith-C (CF- C) Tuesday’s 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM weekly, virtual
Continuing Faith-D (CF- D) Tuesday’s 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM weekly, virtual
Confirmation Prep -1 (CP-1) Bi-monthly Sun. 5PM - 6:30 PM, virtual or Tues. 4:15 PM - 5:45 PM OC
Confirmation Prep -2 (CP-2) Bi-monthly Sun. 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, virtual or Tues. 4:15 PM - 5:45 PM OC
Please support the Confirmation Prep Spring Service Project
Gathering Items now until – May 3, 2025
Blessing Bag Outreach is dedicated to showing compassion and humanitarianism towards those in need. Committed to aiding the homeless and educating the public. Help us exceed last year’s 300+ completed Blessing Bags.
The following is a list of requested donations and the Religious Education breakdown:
Men’s socks & travel size lotion (8th grade)
Travel size deodorant and disposable razors (7th grade)
Small (8oz.) water bottles (6th grade)
Travel size shampoo (5th grade)
Travel size toothpaste(4th grade)
Toothbrushes (3rd grade)
Snack bars/breakfast bars (2nd grade)
Soap/travel size body wash (1st grade)
All donations can be dropped off in the rear of MADONNA HALL. Please do not leave any donations in the Narthex of the church prior to Easter celebrations. There is an Amazon Wish List for your convenience. If you choose to purchase from the Amazon wish list the items will be delivered directly to the parish by choosing Blessing Bags Gift Registry Address. If you are bringing your donations to the parish there will be an area set up in the rear of Madonna Hall for Blessing Bags. The dollar store, bulk stores (Costco, Sam’s, BJ’s) and Walmart are great places to find many of the items off the list in bulk or travel sized. Deadline is 8:00 am, May 3,2025.
Pastoral Care
Rosemarie Farrow - Pastoral Coordinator of Pastoral Care & Outreach
R.Farrow@stmaryscoltsneck.org 732-780-2666 x 310
YouareinvitedtoSt.CatharineChurchforaspecialonenightmissiontalk. Join for an empowering talk by Dan Palmieri of JMJ Missions, as he sharesessentialtipsonhowwecanreigniteourfaithinourera.
When:
Thursday,March20,7:00pm
Where:
St.Catharine 108MiddletownRoad,Holmdel
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 are 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
On behalf of the families served by Child Care Resources of Monmouth County, we offer our sincere gratitude to The Parish of Saint Mary for conducting your recent diaper drive.
The 3,020 diapers and 4,230 wipes that were collected will go a long way to help us combat diaper insecurity in Monmouth County. In 2024, our agency served 6,830 children by distributing 237,537 diapers and 459,988 wipes. In addition, we sent 5,000 diapers to hurricane victims in North Carolina.
Please be sure to express our sincere thanks to your Pastor and the members of your parish for their generous support.
Peace, Deacon Matt Parish of St. Thomas More
Parish of Saint Catharine
Lenten Holy Hours & Stations of the Cross
Lenten Holy Hours
April 3 - RE Families Focused - 6:30 PM
Stations of the Cross
March 21 - 7:30 PM
March 28 - 7:30 PM
April 4 - 7:30 PM
April 11 - Living Stations by St. Catharine’s Youth
Ministry - 7:30 PM
Mission Talk
March 20 - 7:00 PM
Spring Clean Up
CRS Rice Bowl is celebrating 50 years of helping Catholic faith communities bring Lent to life and encounter God through our global family. During the 40 days of Lent, let us journey together through CRS Rice Bowl to meet people in Nigeria, Guatemala and Bangladesh who are rising above the challenges of hunger and malnutrition DONATE HERE Visit
Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Lent. Suffering for suffering’s sake is not what transforms us so that we can bear fruit—the dying that leads to new life is how we bear fruit. The dying that repentance requires forestalls meaningless dying; the dying we do in order to bear fruit is the result of cultivating an attitude of openness to constant transformation; the “fertilizer” is the charity, fasting, and prayer of our Christian penance. Repentance is cultivating the soil so it can bear fruit. Repentance is taking what is dying and coaxing it to life. Repentance is changing one’s mind, letting go of the narrowness of our own perception of how life should be and embracing the expansiveness of God’s plan for salvation. Repentance, in terms of changing one’s mind, is really conversion. Although repentance and conversion are major Lenten themes (and surely capture the work of preparation for our renewal of baptismal commitment), this isn’t something we do only these six weeks out of the year. Lent (dying) and Easter (rising) characterize our Christian living, concretize our baptismal commitment, spell out the paschal mystery. If we wish to bear fruit we must die to ourselves. Interesting paradox: if we don’t bear fruit, we die, but we must die to bear fruit. The choice before us is about dying: meaningless dying (selfishness) or fruitful dying (to self for the sake of others). The gospel parable says for “three years” the owner of the fig tree had been waiting for good fruit. God waits more than three years for us to bear fruit—God waits each and every day of our lives for us to bear fruit. The good news is that God never gives up. God continually cultivates and
fertilizes—especially by the ongoing proclamation of God’s word and the invitation to God’s table. All we need do is respond by dying to self. Then God brings forth new life in us.
The Easter Vigil (Saturday of Easter Sunday) is scheduled for 7:30pm. This year Easter falls late into April and the Church’s Liturgical Law indicates that the vigil is to begin after sundown. The following Saturday we will resume the Saturday Evening 4:00pm anticipatory mass and will continue throughout the month of May.
Next weekend we observe Laetare Sunday. The following weekend is our Lenten Penance & Reconciliation (confessions)/ There will be 12 or so priest confessors for your convenience. We have listed in the bulletin opportunities for confession in the surrounding parishes as well. Mark your schedules and plan to participate.
This Easter Sunday, His Excellency, The Most Reverend David M. O’Connell will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the 12:00 noon mass for the solemnity. I invited the bishop to be with us since his 70th birthday is observed on Monday, 21 April. Come and welcome the Bishop to our parish community and pray for him as he continues to lead our Diocese of Trenton. Have a great week. Let us remember one another in prayer. Happy Sunday. Peace. Father Jeff
Sharing Our Treasure Sunday, March 16 Second Sunday of
Included in next weekends offertory will be the collection of Catholic Relief Services please be generous
Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." Lk 6:37-38
The Catholic Church requires of us as baptized Catholics to observe the following:
The obligation, the privilege really, of receiving the Eucharist at least once a year often called “Easter duty” for those in the state of grace should still be fulfilled during the period from the First Sunday of Lent, March 9, 2025 to Trinity Sunday, June 15, 2025. However, the Church’s law does permit this precept to be fulfilled at another time during the year when there is a just cause.
2025 Annual Catholic Appeal Progress:
Edwin A. SevillanoTemporalAdmin@stmaryscoltsneck.org
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
Alternatively, just Text SUNDAY to (732)-889-7800 and follow the instructions to complete your offering. Should you require our assistance setting up your new account, please call the parish office at (732)780-2666.
You can also download the Connect Now Giving App for Android or iOS.Thank you for your continuous support!
Please remember the Parish of Saint Mary in your will..
By naming St. Mary in your will or trust, you will provide a lasting gift that will greatly help St. Mary and our parishioners. Thank you for your consideration
Thank you to the 98 parishioners who have made their gift to the ACA! If you have not sent in your gift already, please do so today. Our parish will receive an extra 5% rebate if we make goal by July 31. Remember pledges can be paid until December. To donate, visit giveaca.org. Make sure to select St. Mary Church, Colts Neck in the Parish Affiliation box so our parish can receive credit for your gift. Thank you for your generosity! Give Online Here, giveaca.org.
Goal: $79,000.00
Pledged: $38,229.13 (48%)
Paid: $34,292.13 (43%)
Total Donors: 98
Average Gift: $390
On March 19, 20 & 21 we will be hosting our Annual Spring Radiothon! We hope you will prayerfully consider supporting the work of Domestic Church Media. Your donation helps us to spread the light of Christ to a wide listening area! Our Radiothons fund the majority of our annual operating costs. We need you this year - please help us. We are placing this year's Radiothon under the Patronage of Saint Joseph
Did you know that our parish has a Prayer Shawl Ministry?
A group of women meet every third Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. in room 11 to knit or crochet for the sick of the parish, nursing home residents, Birthright, the homeless and Veterans groups. We welcome new members and also accept donations of yarn. To join the ministry, or for more information, please call:
Kathy Adleman at 732-946-8631
St Ann's Keansburg St Patrick's Day 50/50 is on sale now $20 a ticket! The winner will be picked at the end of the Keansburg's St. Pat's parade on Saturday, March 29th @ 3pm. No need to be present to win. Please call Eileen St. Ann's Rectory @ 732-787-0315 for your tickets.
St Ann’s will be running our Annual Gift Auction to benefit the Senior Center. We can't keep the center open without your help. For many this is the only place they can go to socialize, enjoy time out of their homes and enjoy some activities. The Senior Center is solely supported by St Ann's Church. Can you help? We need donations. Gift cards, new unused items to raffle off. The best are prizes ranging in $25 to $50. All donations are tax deductible. The other way you can help is by grabbing some friends and attending the event.
A package for the event is $65 and includes small, medium and large prizes tickets. To reserve a table, you need 8 people. Please help us in the only fundraiser to support our seniors.
Call Denise for tickets. 732 801 4190 or Eileen @ 732-787-0315