FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT February 18, 2018

Saturday February 17

The Seven Holy Founders of the

Servite Order

5:00pm John Loveatz, Sr.

r/o The Gulick Family

Sunday February 18

First Sunday of Lent

7:30am Henry Trybun

r/o Joseph & Stella Dzienis

9:30am People of the Parish

11:00am Kenneth Ryan r/o The Suraci Family Monday February 19 9:00am Joan Rafferty r/o Bob & Maureen Ball Tuesday February 20

9:00am Mary Theresa Davignon r/o Pat Breheny & Family

Wednesday February 21 Saint Peter Damian 9:00am Holy Souls in Purgatory on Lowest Level r/o Bob & Debbie Smolar Thursday February 22 The Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle 9:00am Robert Milletich r/o Maureen Milletich Friday February 23 Saint Polycarp 9:00am Claire Mc Elwain r/o Michael & Susan Fleming 7:30pm Lula Reilly r/o Jeanne Selvester Please pray for the sick: Benjamin Boschen, Jill Dubay, Paul Schroeder, Julie Galloway, Frances Wadnik, Theresa Dziura, Ann Krouse, Robert Meleo, Charles Roseberry, Bill Wargin, Ron Pultz, Alissa Zajac, Albert Schaare, Anthony Francisco,Leo Kim, Francine Gore, Noriebeth Alava, Arsenia Del Rosario, Marilyn Russo, Richard Polhemus, Ann McComb

MEN’S SPIRITUALITY GROUP The next meeting will be held Saturday, March 3 at 7:00am in the Community Room. The book being discussed at this time is “Praying the Rosary Like Never Before” If you have any questions please contact Joe Leggio 908-689-1205

WEEKLY OFFERING WEEKLY COSTS;

Church Expenses (Including Mortgage) $8,396.06

Diocesan Assessment / Insurance 2,300.00

Total $10,696.06

Weekend of February 3 / 4 $6,451.00

Other Income 100.00

Total $6,551.00

Weekly Surplus / (Deficit) ($4,145.06)

Weekend of February 10 / 11 $4,898.00

Bingo Income 1,349.00

Other Income 297.00

Total $6,544.00

Weekly Surplus / (Deficit) ($4,152.00)

This Week in Our Parish…………… Sunday, February 18 9:45-10:45am Choir Practice / Choir Room 7:00pm Bingo / Parish Center Monday, February 19 Parish Office will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day Tuesday, February 20 Religious Education 5:30-6:30pm Grades 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a 7:00-8:15pm Grades, 6a, 7a, 8a Wednesday, February 21 Religious Education 5:30-6:30pm Grades 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b 7:00-8:15pm Grades 6b, 7b, 8b Thursday, February 22 6:00-7:00pm Children’s Choir / Church Friday, February 23 9:30am Stations of the Cross 9:30am Prayer Shawl Ministry / Rectory Meeting Room 5:00pm Lenten Fish Fest / Comm Rm 6:30-7:30pm Confessions 7:00pm Stations of the Cross 7:00pm Spanish Ministry / Choir Room 7:30pm Mass

GERTRUDE HAWK CANDY SALE All candy orders must be returned by Wednesday, February 21. Thank you for your support in this annual parish fundraiser.

The Parish Office will be closed Monday, February 19 in observance of Presidents’ Day. The church will be closed following the 9:00AM daily Mass.

GUIDELINES FOR LENT, 2018 Ash Wednesday (February 14) and Good Friday (March 30) are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the "paschal fast" to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LENTEN FISH FEST Friday evenings February 23, March 9 & March 23 5:00PM- 7:00PM in the Community Room Adults $12 Seniors $10 Kids ages 5-12 $5, under 5 Free Baked or fried fish, shrimp, combos, fries, soup, cole slaw, beverage & desserts. Take out also available.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #5170 Will conduct an initiation ceremony on Monday, February 26 at 7:00PM in the Parish Center. If you are a Catholic man age 18 or older who wants to deepen his faith, strengthen his family, community, and country, then the Knights of Columbus is for you. Please contact John Renner 908-689-6545 for more information.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Monday, March 19, 2018 ST. JOSEPH’S DAY, Patron saint of our parish and of the Universal Church Monday, March 19, 2018 Fr. Guy’s “Q&A” at 7:00PM in the Community Room Sunday, April 1, 2018 EASTER SUNDAY

SAVE THE DATE…..IRISH NIGHT Saturday, March 17 beginning at 6:00PM in the Parish Center. Details to follow.

FROM THE PASTOR Lent has begun. With this first Sunday of Lent we now enter into 40 days of fasting, prayer and preparation. For those of you who are wondering Ash Wednesday and the Thursday, Friday and Saturday after it are preparatory days prior to Lent during which we already engage in penance (a remnant of the now defunct short season of

Septuagesima) but they aren’t part of the 40 days of Lent. So what are you going to do to try and make this Lent spiritually fruitful? Are you praying more? Are you giving alms to the poor? Are you sacrificing something for 40 days that you really enjoy? Those are all good and laudable practices. You should do them and I strongly encourage you. But, what are you doing to go a bit deeper? How are you going to spend these next 40 days stripping away all that might be holding you back from a full and deep relationship with God? Are you going to use these days to seek to grow in holiness? You can! It’s possible to advance in the way of holiness and have a strong sense of God’s presence in your life. Use the weeks ahead to pray more deeply. Please notice I did not suggest you pray more. Rather, I suggest you pray more deeply. This isn’t about a multiplication of words or even spending more time devoted to the act of prayer. Instead, I mean that you should try really to open your heart to the Lord. One of the best, albeit most difficult, prayers ever to make is simply this, “Lord, please help me to know Your will for my life and then give me the grace to do it…whatever it is.” But, now here’s the trick: you have to mean it. My brothers and sisters it’s not enough merely to say the words. It’s not enough merely to repeat that prayer every day. What is required is that you open your heart and mind, letting go of any pretension of controlling things or even of requesting anything specific, and ask God simply to lead and guide you. It is so difficult to pray this way but I guarantee you that it is most liberating. Whatever may be on your mind when you enter into prayer; whatever worries, stress, difficulties, needs, etc. you may have will all be known to Him who knows everything. You don’t need to articulate them. Yet, all of it will be laid at His feet as you give up control. Let God be God. Learn all over again what it’s like completely to trust again like you could do when you were a child. I know it’s not always possible to trust other people in this world but it is always possible to trust God. So, consider that during the 40 days ahead. Use this Lent perhaps like you have never used a Lenten season before. Learn to trust the Lord in all things and you will begin to see a change. The change won’t be in the world or in others but it will be in you and how you see the world and others. Have a Blessed Week!