The parish of saint Mary
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
First Sunday of Lent March 9, 2025
Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 2:00 A.M.
On Saturday night, clocks are set forward one hour (i.e., losing one hour) to “spring forward.”
Please remember to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday March 9 before going to bed.
Parish Office Hours
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.
Mass Intentions for:
Saturday March 8 2025 - Sunday March 16 2025
Saturday, March 8 - 4PM
Gisela Jakubowski * Barbara Saake
Lynn Gioacchini * The Gioacchini Family
Sergio Dos Santos & Emilia Clemente * Dos Santos Family
Sunday, March 9- 8AM
Joseph Puzo * John & Molly Aiello
Sarah Buzzard * Family 10AM
Pro Populo
Regina Tomasetti * Lisa & Fred Claps
Celia Garcia Martinez de Maranon * Michael DeSocio 12PM
Nancy Vida * Denise Adams
Vincent C. Valentino, Sr * Family
Robert Cassano * Linda Cassano & Family
Monday, March 10 - 9AM - Chapel
Gerard Thompson * Barbara Saake
Tuesday, March 11– 9AM - Chapel
Nicholas T. Slattery * Jane Slattery
Anna & John Downer * Anne-Marie & Ed Matthews
Wednesday, March 12 - 9AM - Chapel
Robert O'Brien * Martha Mary Guild
GROTTO CANDLES
The Grotto Candles are available for your prayer intentions. Offering is $3.00 per candle.
Thursday, March 13 - 9AM - Chapel
Loving Family Members * Janet Munger
Edmondo Binaco * Theresa
Friday, March 14 – 9AM - Chapel
Gerard Thompson * Ann Marie Dayton
Steven Parkes * Parkes Family
Saturday, March 15 4PM
Gloria McGrath * Rich Luzzi
Veronica Grabowski * Janet Munger
Christopher Costello * Susan and Robert Monaco
Sunday March 16 – 8AM
Daniel P. McGarry Jr. * Farrow Family
Joseph Nogueira * Marie Nogueira
Helen & John Sionas * Eileen & Michael Stivala, Jr. 10AM
Robert Zoltowski * Til & Kathy Dallavalle
Barbara Critchley * Deirdre, Michela & Isabella O'Doherty
William ODoherty * Florence & Kevin Swan & Family 12PM
Pro Populo
Giuseppe Valenti * Tagliavia Family
Nancy Vida * Denise Adams
Jerome Emiliani, Religious, 1481-1537
Jerome was born in Venice and became a soldier for that city-state. As commander of the League of Cambrai forces at Castelnuevo, Jerome was captured and imprisoned when that outpost town fell in battle. He spent the time in prison thinking about his life and learning how to pray. Jerome escape from prison, and returned to Venice where he began his studies for the priesthood to which he was ordained in 1518 Read More HERE
MASS INTENTIONS AND SANCTUARY LAMPS (MEMORIALS)
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.
Lifelong Catechesis - Week of March 9 March 15
READINGS FOR THE WEEK:
First Sunday of Lent March 9
Dt 26:4-10/Rom 10:8-13/Lk 4:1-13
MONDAY March 10
Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Mt 25:31-46
[ TUESDAY March 11
Is 55:10-11/Mt 6:7-15
WEDNESDAY March 12
Jon 3:1-10/Lk 11:29-32
THURSDAY March 13
Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Mt 7:7-12
FRIDAY March 14
Ez 18:21-28/Mt 5:20-26
SATURDAY March 15
DT 26:16-19/MT 5:43-48
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
~
Col. John Anthony Coppola, US Army
TSgt Stephen Witherow, USAF
LCpl Edward Zarzecki, USMC
FOR DEEPER REFLECTION:
Question for Children: When you feel tempted to do wrong, how do you remain strong in your faith?
Question for Youth: What is one thing you will do during Lent to become more open to God in your life?
Question for Adults: As you come to understand the temptation of Jesus in the desert, which one of the devil’s offerings is hardest for you to resist?
Life Long Catechesis
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
Robert a . monaco, md
Edward Habrack
Jeff McBride
Owen Shoemaker
Peter Vickers
Debby Tanico
Linda Codispoti
Toaddorremoveafamilymemberfromthesicklistpleasee-mailONLY parishbulletin@stmaryscoltsneck.org. Please,also,keepusupdatedonyourlovedone’shealth. Nameswillberemovedfromthelistafter3months.ThankyouforkeepingourParishinformed.
Worship & Music
Lenten Observances
Andrew J. Macirowski - Pastoral Coordinator for Worship & Music / Principal Organist
Worship@stmaryscoltsneck.org
Music@stmaryscoltsneck.org
Fasting - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days are fasting, when our daily meals should be smaller, to equal the total of one full meal throughout the course of the day.
Abstinence - To refrain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent, as well as Good Friday.
Giving up - It is common practice to make a Lenten sacrifice of something we take pleasure in - commonly people give up chocolate, alcohol, and so on, but in modern times some have taken to the idea of giving up social media for Lent.
Taking on - Sometimes in place of, but ideally in addition to, people may elect to do something they haven’t or make an increase in something positive. For example, increasing charitable contributions, or volunteering in the community. If you don’t regularly attend weekday Mass but are otherwise able, consider attending.
Stations of the Cross - Privately or communally praying the stations is a common Lenten observance, as we follow the journey of Christ through to his crucifixion.
Whatever you decide to do this Lent, make it a prayerful one, with hope for a joyful Easter.
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.
Liturgy of the Word Dismissal
This is the practice of having children, ages 4-12, leave the Sunday assembly during the Liturgy of the Word (readings) and gather in a separate environment to engage in the Liturgy of the Word at a level more appropriate to the children’s understanding.
Ministry Schedule: Second Sunday of Lent Saturday, March 15 & Sunday, Sunday 16 Altar Server Cantor Reader 1
Saturday, 15 4 PM NOT FILLED NOT FILLED
Marybeth Jacobson Paul Tonacci Jennifer Stubbs
Sunday, 16 8 AM NOT FILLED NOT FILLED
Carly York Kevin Swan Rita Duenas
OH - Louise Habrack
TH - Elvira Dapul MD
TH - Emily Santangelo
ALT - Susan Murphy
OH - Maureen Staub
TH - Michael Staub
TH - Joyce flynn
ALT– Justine Buzzetta
OH - Not Filled
Sunday, 16 10 AM NOT FILLED NOT FILLED
Choir/ Cantor Julia Cullen Steve Rumsby
Sunday, 16 12 PM Jack Schatzle NOT FILLED
First Sunday of Lent
Bridget Farrow Charles Young Mary Ellen Griffin (Sub Req)
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (LectionaryPage.net)
TH – Linda DickinsonPancila
TH - Carol Donahue
ALT–Fran Vaina
OH - Dolores Lembo
TH - Nick Turkovic
TH - Liz Turkovic
ALT– Tom Nathanson
Baptismal Preparation Session
St Mary Parish is offering our next Baptismal Preparation Session on: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 @6:30 PM Pre-registrationisrequired aweekin advance. Contact Us
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(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
As we prayerfully begin this season of Lent, we are thankful to all who participated in our Ash Wednesday INT The link to sign up for the Easter Egg Hunt is now live Sign-up flyeronpage11fordetails
INTERGENERATIONALS coming up….
· Lenten Penance & Reconciliation – 6 April 2025
· Spring clean-up – 12 April 2025
· Palm Sunday Palm Weaving – 13 April 2025
· Holy Thursday mass – 17 April 2025
· Good Friday Passion of the Lord – 18 April 2025
RE Registration/Re-Registration 25/26 Summer Intensive-July VIRTUAL & August ON CAMPUS
Early Registration is closed-Those who met requirements received class placements by email. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
CALLING ALL TEACHERS!!!
We are looking for teachers for our Summer and Fall Religious Education Program! Paid positions are available for certified teachers who are alive in their faith. Kindly, contact the RE office for more details and to sign-up
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
Religious Education Calendar
9, 11 March 2025
CP – 1 & 2 Virtual, On Campus – Class
11 March 2025
RE Class #24 - Grades 1-6, Virtual/On Campus
18 March 2025
RE Class #25 - Grades 1-6, Virtual/On Campus
23, 25 March 2025
CP – 1 & 2 Virtual, On Campus – Class
25 March 2025
RE Class #26 - Grades 1-6, Virtual/On Campus
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
Confirmation Prep – 1 & 2
- Please be reminded that the final class of the year is attending Lenten Penance & Reconciliation.
- All homily reflections are due by the end of March. And must be complete to register for the following year/ make the sacrament of Confirmation.
- CP-1 (7th grade): Bible projects are due by 4 May 2025.
- CP-2 (8th grade): Confirmation Paperwork should be handed in along with Saint Report, Magazine articles to be completed with approved sponsor and final service hour log. Confirmation Interviews will take place on 4 May 2025. Time slots will be posted here when available.
SERVICE HOUR opportunities…..
• Tuesday Elementary RE class assistant or helper: Contact Religious Ed office for details
• Summer RE assistant/volunteer: July Virtual or August on-campus– SIGN UP HERE
• Spring Clean-Up: 12 April 2025
Pastoral Care
OCIA
Rosemarie Farrow - Pastoral Coordinator of Pastoral Care & Outreach
R.Farrow@stmaryscoltsneck.org
732-780-2666 x 310
Order of Christian Initiation for Adults - is the process youth and adults go through to become fully initiated into the Catholic church. Every year, tens of thousands of people come into the Catholic Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
OCIA is a formation process for the Catechumenate (the unbaptized) and candidate (those with Christian baptism) alike. It requires discernment, prayer, and an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ.
The catechumenate is the responsibility of every member of the parish. The parish exists to make disciples. Formation is handed down to each of us by the faithful who have come before us. We are all members of the Body of Christ. We are called to accompany one another on the journey. T he parish receives, inquirers accept, the Church welcomes.
“There’s the whole idea that it’s not just ‘me and Jesus’; it’s ‘we and Jesus,’” he said. “And I think that ‘we’ part is crucial to staying committed to the faith and to growing.” Kasey Devine, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Edina, Minnesota.
Interested in becoming Catholic? Or interested to join the OCIA team? Online form available here
Why doesn’t Lent begin on the same day every year?
Did you know that Easter is known as a “movable feast” in the Catholic Church? That means it is not a fixed date on the liturgical calendar and changes year to year.
The liturgical calendar is designed to help us prepare us for the Christ’s Resurrection.
Easter is tied to the timing of Jesus’ Last Supper on the feast of Passover. Because the Jews used a Lunar calendar and Jesus’ Resurrection took place on a Sunday, the Council of Nicea (325 A.D) decreed that Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon (the Paschal Moon) following the vernal/ spring equinox. In the west, using the Gregorian calendar, Easter can fall between March 22 and April 25. Once the date of Easter is determined, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which starts six weeks before Easter.
Jubilee of Hope Diocesan Pilgrimage Churches
Didyouknowthat,BishopDavid.O’Connellhas designatedPilgrimageChurcheswithinthedioceseto obtaintheindulgencesoftheJubileeyear? ConsidermakingavisittooneoftheDiocesan PilgrimageChurchesduringtheJubileeofHope.
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption
Trenton
Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine
Freehold
Our Lady of the Sea Church (Christ the King Parish)
Long Branch
St. Anthony Church
Hamilton
St. Joan of Arc Church
Marlton
St. Mary Church
Barnegat
For more on gaining the Jubilee indulgence click HERE https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/vaticannorms-jubilee-indulgence-include-pilgrimagepenance-service
Parish of Saint Catharine
Lenten Holy Hours & Stations of the Cross
Lenten Holy Hours
March 12 - 7:00 PM
April 3 - RE Families Focused - 6:30 PM
Stations of the Cross
March 7 - 7:30 PM
March 14 - led by Re, 6:30 PM
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
CRS RICE BOWLS
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
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
Quo vadis...
My Dear Parishioners:
Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent. The ritual act of professing our faith is no substitution for livingit in our daily lives. When we are tested our faith is put to the test, too, and we are faced with a choice of how we live. Lent is a time to examine our choices. Just as God led Israel to a “land flowing with milk and honey” (first reading), so will God lead us to salvation if we “call on the name of the Lord” (second reading). For us, though, our desert is the demands of everyday living and our salvation is found on the cross. Each day we take up our cross and lay down our life for the sake of others, we are building strength to resist temptation and come to greater faith. Our simple acts of kindness are helping us resist temptation. Our complimenting another, offering a word of encouragement help us resist temptation. We don’t have to go out into a desert to find temptation! But we do need God’s nearness to resist it. And that God has promised us.
The liturgical Season of Lent has begun and concludes Holy Thursday at which time the Solemn Triduum (Three Days) begins. Lent is a time for us to give up or do without some things in our lives…to search for simpler living. It is also a time for us to do some things extra like daily Mass, the Way of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, Scripture Reading, taking more quality time when praying. Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving are the important Lenten practices for the individual Christian and the Christian Community. I encourage you, regardless of age, to seriously make an effort to abstain from something and also to commit yourself to doing something extra especially during this great season of grace. The daily mass is celebrated in our parish as announced in the Parish Bulletin (9:00am Monday – Friday) in the Chapel. This is a time that seems to be convenient for many…
it is during the morning when it is bright out. Come and draw near to the Lord who is present to us in the Eucharist.
Lenten liturgy is characterized by a bit more sobriety in our communal worship The music is less grand…we exit in reverential silence. The vestment colors are violet (not purple) with more red tones than blue tones which is more appropriate for Advent, Rose for Laetare Sunday, Red for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. White is prescribed for Solemnities and Feasts during Lent. The Glory to God in the highest is omitted for Sundays (this makes Introductory Rites very brief so plan to arrive 5 minutes before the beginning of Mass). The Gospel Acclamation and in fact all spoken and sung words avoid the Alleluia. We refrain from the Celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism & and Weddings since our numbers do not warrant a genuine pastoral need.
We have placed worship aids for the private devotion of the Way of the Cross in our chapel. We keep the heat a bit higher and the lights come on automatically. Also, we have published in this e bulletin the Way of the Cross communal celebration at Saint Catharine Holmdel on Fridays throughout the Season of Lent.
To those who have already participated in the 2025 Annual Catholic Appeal…Thank you. To those who have not, please do so this coming week. We will have a report in the coming weeks and will share it with you. Many thanks to all those who assisted us for the Ash Wednesday Services as we welcomed many to our parish church for this ancient custom. Don’t forget to adjust your clocks forward this Saturday evening. Have a great week. Let us pray for one another. Happy Sunday. Peace. Father Jeff
Temporal Admin., Stewardship & Outreach Edwin
Sharing Our Treasure Sunday, March 2 Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
# Registered Parishioner Households 930
Monthly Building Collection March 2025 $2,658 Our Monthly Payment is $ 7,966.26
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, 'You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me'." Mk 10:21
Annual Catholic Appeal 2025 St Mary’s goal is $79,000
ExtendingChrist’sLove
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
Our faith calls us to serve those most vulnerable. Through the Annual Catholic Appeal, our Catholic Social Services extend compassionate care to individuals and families facing profound challenges. Your gift provides hope and healing, enabling our community to walk alongside those navigating difficult journeys. By contributing, you become a beacon of Christ’s love, offering comfort, guidance, and renewed hope to those in need.
Respond today. Help us strengthen our community through compassionate service.
Give Online Here, giveaca.org.
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
Martha Mary Guild March Meeting
All women of the parish and our Cohorts are cordially invited to join us on Wed., March 12, for an interesting look into the neighboring Coptic Orthodox Church. Most likely many of us have driven by the beautiful St. Mina's Church on Rte. 34 in Holmdel. It is the native Christian Church in Egypt. We will be treated to a virtual tour of this magnificent structure and a presentation will be given by: Barbara Schaflin & Meredith Geneve.
Find out some answers to the following: What does coptic mean? Who founded it?
What was St. Mark's role in the Coptic Church? Who was St. Mina?
We will close with a short sermon by Fr. Mina Gerges (On YouTube). Join us at 11:30 for the rosary in the former chapel. (BYOL) Bring your own lunch is at noon in Madonna Hall. Refreshments will be provided by the Guild. The program will start at 12:30.
Once again, our generous members are called upon to help the poor by bringing donations of canned goods and other nonperishable items.
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.
April 11th- We need your help!
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
