Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy,
Greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
First of all, I would like to welcome our children back to our School of Religion! I know that many of them are very eager to be back after a long break. May God bless them, as guided by their catechists, they move on in their faith journey and learn more about God and the Christian way of living.
I am amazed when I talk to these children either in the classroom or in church. From the questions that the students ask me and the things they ask me to further explain, I can tell that their teachers are doing a fine job and the students are learning well. I applaud their catechists and continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out His gifts of wisdom and love upon them.
Secondly, in the name of our parish, I welcome Gabriel Xavier Lopez and Aydia Paz Nardo to the Christian community. Congratulations to their respective parents and godparents! As a community of faith, we commit ourselves in praying for their spiritual growth.
This weekend, we are celebrating the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. In the Gospel passage, Jesus is being presented in the Temple as prescribed in the law of the Lord. Lo and behold, there were people like Simeon and Anna in the temple area who had a gift of prophecy and they recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God.
I wonder if we have come to really believe in God through Jesus Christ the same way Simeon and Anna believed? If we do, is that reflected in the way we live our daily lives? And at the end of the day, can we also say or pray like Simeon: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel?”
Last but not least, please pay attention to the other important announcements and items of interest in this bulletin. Kindly check out also the bulletin board located outside the parish office. There are some posters with important announcements on that board, including posters announcing the Archdiocese of Newark’s Men and Women’s Conferences. I encourage you to participate and cooperate actively for the salvation of your soul.
Thank you and God bless us all!
Love,
Father Marty