MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday: 7:00 & 8:00 AM 6:00 PM (Vigil Mass)

Sunday: 7:30 & 9:30 AM English 11:00 AM Italian 12:30 PM English (Family Mass) 7:00 PM Portuguese Weekdays: 7:00 & 8:00 AM Holy Days: 6:30, 8:00, 10:00 AM & 7:30 PM Other Services & Activities: Monday to Saturday: 7:40 AM Morning Prayer

Tuesday: 9:00 AM—Legion of Mary 7:30 PM—St. Padre Pio Group (Jan 17) 7:30 PM—Holy Rosary Society 8:00 PM—Holy Rosary in Portuguese Wednesday: 7:00 PM—Holy Rosary in Italian 7:30 PM—R.C.I.A. classes Thursday: 2:00 PM—Bible Study Italian 6:15 to 7:15 PM—Holy Hour Adoration for Vocations (Jan 12, 19, 26 ) 7:30 PM—Bible Study in English 8:30 PM—Rosary Brazilian Men (Jan 12) Friday: 8:00 PM—Brazilian Prayer Group 1st Friday: 5:30 to 8:30 PM—Blessed Sacrament Adoration (January 6)

Served by the Vocationist Fathers Fr. Stephen Ehiahuruike, S.D.V., Pastor Fr. Christogonus (Chris) Iwunze, S.D.V., Parochial Vicar Fr. Albino Santos de Jesus, S.D.V., Parochial Vicar Fr. Louis Caputo, S.D.V.,Weekend Assistant Church & Rectory 442 E Brinkerhoff Ave Palisades Park, NJ 07650 Tel. 201-944-1154 Fax. 201-944-9510 Email. stnicholas07650@live.com Website. www.stnicholasrcchurch.org Office Hours Mon, Wed, Thu & Fri 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Mornings by appointment only)

ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS Baptisms: On any available Sunday during the 11:00 AM (Italian), 12:30 PM (English) & 7:00 PM (Portuguese) Masses. Please, contact the rectory at least one month prior to desired date. Confessions: Saturdays 5:00 to 5:45 PM, or during the week by appointment. Marriages: Please contact the rectory at least six months prior to desired wedding date. Sacrament of the Sick: If you are hospitalized or un-able to come to Church for health reasons and would like to be visited by a priest for Confession, Commun-ion, or Anointing of the Sick, please call the rectory. Religious Education Program (CCD): For children 1st to 8th grades who are not attending Catholic School. Classes are held on Sundays from September to May at 11:30 AM, with attendance to the 12:30 PM Family Mass. Confirmation: Teens will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on 8th grade. They will attend classes at 11:30 AM from September to December; and from January to April classes will start at 11:00 AM in the church hall, with attendance to the 12:30 PM Family Mass.

ST. NICHOLAS RC CHURCH

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

January, 1st, 2017

The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! (Numbers 6:22-27).

Best wishes of joyful & peaceful 2017!

May the grace of the Lord guide and protect you always

Fr. Stephen and St. Nicholas staff

BLESSED SACRAMENT ADORATION—Come adore Our Lord Jesus Christ, present in the Eucharist this first Friday, January 6th, 2017, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.

THERE WILL BE NO CCD classes this Sunday, January 1. Classes will resume next Sunday. The Confirmation classes will start at 11:00 AM.

PARISH COUNCIL will meet on Monday, January 9, 2017 at 7:30 PM in the church hall. All coordinators and leaders of group should attend.

VOCATIONIST’S DAY OF SPIRITUALITY will be held on Monday, January 16 from 10:00 AM to 3 :00 PM. Al l parishioners, families and friends are welcomed to attend — Free admission.

MASS IN HONOR OF BLESSED FR. JUSTIN—We will celebrate Blessed Fr. Justin’s 126th Birthday with a Mass in his honor on Wednesday, January 18 at 7:30 PM.

STS. VALENTINE & PADRE PIO DINNER DANCE will be held on Sunday, February 12 from 1:30 to 5:30 PM at the Graycliff Restaurant in Moonachie. Tickets are $75.00 per person, on sale at the rectory’s office or through Frank Modafferi or Angela Cundari — Event sponsored by the Italian Community.

SATURDAY, December 31 7:00AM Sr. Antonietta Cioce, SDV by Vocationist family 8:00AM Silvana Piccinich by her husband John 6:00PM Cristina Pallotta by Ron & Carmela Kida SUNDAY, January 1, 2017 7:30AM Anthony Giambona by his wife Mary 9:30AM Deceased members of the Holy Rosary Society 11:00AM John Scrivanich by John Mattessich 12:30PM Dominick DeMaio by Lina & Vincent DeMaio 7:00 PM All people of this parish MONDAY, January 2 7:00AM Frank Silva by friends 8:00AM Dolorata Busanich by M/M Martino Matesic TUESDAY, January 3 7:00AM Pete Giannantonio by friends 8:00AM John Scrivanich by Mirko & Maryann Saric WEDNESDAY, January 4 7:00AM Angelo Pioli by friends 8:00AM Adamandia Roussos by M/M Robert Hagopian THURSDAY, January 5 7:00AM Giuseppe Osso by his wife & children 8:00AM John Scrivanich by St. Nicholas Society of Sansego FRIDAY, January 6 7:00AM Angela Graziano by friends 8:00AM Maria Piccinich by Antonio & Maria Piccinich SATURDAY, January 7 7:00AM Vincenzo Parisi by friends 8:00AM John Scrivanich by M/M Zdenko Mirkovich 6:00PM Cynthia Robichaux by Loretta Casbar & family SUNDAY, January 8 7:30AM Sr. Antonietta Cioce, SDV by Vocationist family 9:30AM Cosimo Palombini by family 11:00AM Patrick Andrews by Elvira Mattera & sons 12:30PM Rocco Ianni by Guacci family 7:00 PM All people of this parish

Mass Intentions

ST NICHOLAS RC CHURCH Parish Trustee: Giovanni Simone & Michael Massaro Parish Secretary: Débora Moreira Music Ministry: Addie Luers, Giovanni & Karen Simone, and Kelly Oliveira

Vocationist Sisters Community Sr. Benedita Carvalho, S.D.V., Superior & Pre-K Director; Sr. Jancy Thomas, S.D.V. and Sr. Emilia Din, S.D.V. 223 14th Street - Palisades Park, NJ Tel. 201-947-2413 Parish Pre-K “Fr. Justin Learning Center” Tel. 201-944-1376

NOTRE DAME ACADEMY 312 First St—Palisades Park, NJ Principal: Mark Valvano Tel. 201-947-5262

News of the Parish

In Memoriam

ALTAR CANDLES donated this week in memory of John Ferraioli by his family

BREAD & WINE donated this week in memory of

John Ferraioli by his family

SANCTUARY LAMP donated this week in memory of

John Ferraioli by his family

Page 3 January 1, 2017

Holy Communion was brought this month to: Maria Piccini, Victor Columbini, John Ostuni, Frances Ceria, Gloria Pezzolla and Cynthia Cornell.

Pray for our sick: Mateus Ribeiro, Domenica Dinaro, Lorenzo Cafasso, Josephine Dolberry, Eileen Murphy, Angela Tina, Rita Vanore, Maria Piccini, John Ostuni, Dominick Ostuni, Sara Modafferi, John Hroncich (John Hroncich’s nephew) and Frank Pallotta.

Events of the Week

Ministers’ Schedule for Sunday, January 8, 2017

6:00 PM: Lector - Carmela B. E.M. - Rita, Mª Claudia and Wendy 7:30 AM: Lectors - Michael E.M. - Sr. Emilia and Sr. Jancy 9:30 AM: Lectors - Carol E.M. - Lynn and Gina 11:00 AM: Lectors - Italia and Frank E.M. - Carmela and Antonia 12:30 PM : Lectors - Confirmation Class E.M. - Suzanne 7:00 PM: Lectors - Patricia, Katia and Laine E.M. - Evaneide and Leo

Pastoral Care

SOLEMNITY OF MARY,

MOTHER OF GOD

The blessing we experience in

Christ Jesus is proclaimed in

Numbers as the special blessing

for the people of Israel. They and

we are to be blessed by the

invocation of God's loving

kindness, the shining glory of God's face turned toward us in love,

not away from us in anger. We are blessed by God's own peace!

Our wish and our hope are fulfilled in this blessing, which is made visible in the coming of Jesus. In Je-

sus, the image of the invisible God, God's face is shown to us and God's presence is made known to

us in faithful and loving kindness. Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION

"Octave" comes from the Latin word for "eight," and since eight is one step beyond seven, the number of days in a week, it has long been seen as a symbol of perfection, completion, and new beginnings. Early Christians called Sunday the "eighth day," since it was the day after the Sabbath and a day of resurrected life, the Lord's Day. By the seventh century, people regarded the eight days after Easter Sunday as one great day, an octave, one glorious feast when people were forbidden to fast or kneel. In the seventh century, Pentecost acquired an Octave, too. Christ-mas didn't claim the honor of a continuous feast, but it did get an Octave Day. January 1 is the oldest Marian feast, the Octave of Christmas. It was originally a feast of the motherhood of Mary, although for centuries until 1969 it was called the Feast of the Circumcision. Our reformed calendar follows the earlier tradition of celebrating Mary as Mother of God. --James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

Tuesday, January 3 9:00AM - Legion of Mary meets in Bl. Mother’s room 8:00 PM - Holy Rosary in Brazilian homes Wednesday, January 4 7:00PM - Holy Rosary in Italian in church Thursday, January 5 7:30PM - Bible study in English in Bl. Mother’s room Friday, January 6 5:30 to 8:30PM - Blessed Sacrament Adoration 8:40PM - Prayer meeting in Portuguese in church hall

STEWARDSHIP OF TIME AND TALENT

We are grateful to all dedicated members of the Brazilian Community who prepared the New Year’s Party this year.

This has been always a great fundraiser of our parish and it is a guaranteed success.

All homemade dinner, theme decoration, selling tickets and presenting a beautiful party

requires a lot of team work and commitment.

Congratulations onto a job very well done!

2018 Mass Book is open We still have Masses available in 2017

Next weekend second collection will be ASSESSMENT FREE (yellow envelopes)

CHRISTMAS GIVING TREES Our parishioners donated 132 gifts to the children of

St. Michael’s Church in Newark, 91 gifts to the children of St. Joseph of Palisades in West New York and 60

gifts to children of the Head Start Program of Cliffside Park — A total of 283 gifts!

Thanks to you all!

Vocationist Corner

O Virgin Mary, open for me the book of Jesus’ life, which began in our womb

and grew under your eyes.

Thank You for the Incarnation and Nativity, for the Circumcision and the Epiphany, for the Flight and Exile to Egypt and

for the Return of Jesus, our Love.

Blessed Fr. Justin Russolillo, SDV, Spirit of Prayer, page 266

DO YOU WANT A SON PRIEST? Support the Vocationist Fathers by adopting a seminarian of India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Colombia, Equator, Phillipines, Nigeria, Argentina or Chile. Your commitment of $35.00 a month can help a young man to become a priest. If you are ready for this commitment, please contact Fr. Stephen.

O N L I N E G I V I N G I S N O W A V A I L A B L E ! It’s convenient, easy and safe.

It will allow you to send your Sunday offers using credit card or bank transfers anytime, anywhere. Visit our website and click on the Parish Giving

link to enroll.

STNICHOLASRCCHURCH.ORG It is easy to check our mass schedule, weekly bulletins, calendar of meetings and parish groups activities and spe-cial events. You can see pictures of our many functions, send your comments and suggestions, request a prayer or ask questions about religion or personal matters.

SPRING AUCTION June 3, 2017

We are collecting items to be auctioned — NOT USED, UNOPENED gifts, toys, games, electronics, kitchen

appliances, home decoration, paintings, books, jewelry, etc.

All donations are tax deductible! Please call the rectory’s office for more information

201-944-1154 (For safety reasons we cannot accept used clothes, shoes, opened toys

or objects of decoration)

ATTENTION: Please be aware that in case of INCLEMENT WEATHER, the 7:00 AM weekday Mass will be canceled. You may attend the 8:00 AM Mass if the weather permits. In doubt, please call the rectory before leaving your house or check our website stnicho-lasrcchurch.org

Holy Hour for Vocations

Holy hours are the Roman Catholic devotional tradition of spending an hour in Eucharistic Adoration in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. We focus our prayer to Jesus Christ on peace, life, vocations, and other topics that are at the heart of the life of the Church and the world.

Every week on Thursday from 6:15 to 7:15 PM in church (Except on eve of first Fridays)

Perpetual Candles To renew or to assign a perpetual candle for

2017, please come to the rectory office.

We will open the first line of candles at the St. Anthony’s candle stand for those parishioners who are interested on lighting a PERPETUAL CANDLE for the beloved ones.

The candle units are limited. The offering is $180.00 per candle per year

($15.00 per month) Please contact the rectory’s office to

request your candle.

If you wish to receive the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima

into your home for the year 2017, please fill in your name and phone number

for the week of your choice on the calendar

at the entrance of the church.

The ITALIAN COMMUNITY is sponsoring the

STS. VALENTINE’ & PADRE PIO DINNER DANCE

at the Graycliff Restaurant

in Moonachie on Sunday, February 12

from 1:30 to 5:30PM

Tickets are $75.00 available at the rectory office

We extend a warm welcome to our new

parishioners who have joined us in the past weeks. Our

hope is that you will always feel welcome here at

St. Nicholas. We ask all of our new parishioners to

please come to the rectory and register in the parish.

If you wish to receive envelopes, please contact the rectory office. Envelope offerings are registered and for those who so desire, we will issue a certificate of your offerings at the end of the year for your tax deduction.

From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear parishioners and friends,

As we say goodbye to the year 2016, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all Saint Nicholas’ parishioners and friends who helped us with the many projects and unexpected repairs and improvements made in our church throughout this past year.

As you remember, we had 3 major projects that happened last summer: 1) - Repairing the front and church hall steps; 2) - Repairing water damage in the church entrance and choir loft wall; and 3) - Replacing our old air conditioner unit that had a major breakdown.

The repairs on the stairs of the front of the church and church hall were completed. We have now beautiful steps that are easier to walk up and down (They are not as high as the former ones). We also acquired 6 beautiful and safe new railings for the three stairs. This project cost us: $ 15,500.00

The entire front wall of the church was sealed inside and out. New sheetrock was applied and painted in the front entrance, choir loft, stairs, usher’s room and vestibule. We replaced the carpets upstairs and the floors of the usher’s room and vesti-bule. This project cost us: $16,303.00

The outdated organ speakers, mounted on the walls at the choir loft, needed to be replaced. It cost us $5,550.00

And finally, we were able to acquire a new air conditioner unit. The old system was removed and replaced by a new, more modern and efficient machine. I thank you again for the patience and resilience during those hot summer days in church. The new system will cost us: $27,300.00

As of today, we have received donations to support these repairs as follows:

COST OF 2016 MAIN REPAIRS . . . . . . . . . - $64,653.00 DONATIONS FROM PARISHIONERS . . . . . + $18,790.00 DONATION FROM KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS (Received) + $ 7,500.00

DONATION FROM KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS (Pledged) + $ 7,500.00 - $30,863.00

Our church is getting older. As time goes by maintenance repairs will become more and more necessary. Repairs are costly and we will need your support to pay for them. We understand these are difficult times when everybody is struggling finan-cially. I also understand you have been already faithful to your weekly offering and donations. But, as I said before, we will need you to stick together to keep our St. Nicholas Church solid, strong, functioning well, prepared to survive many more years to come, embracing our families and welcoming new members to our parish. That is God’s house and we are all called to be stewards of it. Please consider making your Sunday offering more consistent. A good way to do it is to use online giv-ing. It’s very simple and easy. May the Lord bless your families with much love, health, peace and prosperity this 2017 and always. Sincerely yours, Fr. Stephen Ehiahuruike, S.D.V.

Your pastor

“Give and it will be given to you, a good measure pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” — Luke 6:38