Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy,
I hope this finds you safe and well.
First and foremost, in the name of our parish, I congratulate all the children who received their First Holy Communion this past month of August! May they all grow in their appreciation of the Eucharist as they come to receive it Sunday after Sunday. We will keep them and their parents in our prayers. I thank Jeng Villa (Faith Formation Director), the catechists, Father Nol and Deacon Meynard for their hard work, love and dedication in preparing these children.
Secondly, in the past few weeks, our readings have been telling us to strengthen our faith in God. That reminder never ends. In the responsorial psalm this weekend, we are told that “if today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” It is clear that God sees what is in our hearts, and maybe some of us need to hear these words: “harden not your hearts.”
Brothers and sisters, there is no escape from God. He knows everything we do and feel and think. Whether we like it or not, we have to be honest with God. If we really pay close attention to His words, He truly helps and guides our way towards righteousness.
This weekend, we hear Jesus in our gospel reading telling his disciples, and us as well, how to deal with our brothers and sisters who have wronged us. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” Let us follow that advice of Jesus.
Tomorrow, Monday is Labor Day. We do well if we give thanks to God for the jobs we have. We need them to survive and thrive in this world. And we pray for those who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and are struggling to find new jobs. May they be provided with the employment they need.
Happy Labor Day!
Thank you and God bless us all!
Take care of yourselves by staying safe and well.
Love,
Father Marty
Register Now for Faith Formation 2020-2021
Our registration for Grades 1-8 Faith Formation is now open! The program this year will be VIRTUAL. We will abide by the guidelines and make adjustments in the future should in-person gatherings be allowed. For now, your family’s safety is our priority. We will utilize Google Classroom and other online platforms to journey with you to grow in faith. We will need the utmost cooperation and support of parents in order to navigate this “new normal”. Kindly fill out the form from our website-– olmnj.org/olmfaithformation
More First Communions at Our Parish Last Weekend
Because of the closure of our church, the children who were to scheduled to receive First Communion in May were unable to do so. MATT, JOSHUA, MIKAELA, TYLER and ELIZAH BLAIRE received their First Holy Communion at our 5 pm and Noon Masses this past weekend, August 29 & 30.
Confession Schedule
We have resumed our usual schedule for the Sacrament of Penance / Reconciliation. One of the priests is available for confessions Monday through Saturday, following the 8:30 am Mass. Confessions are heard from 9 am to 9:30 am in the daily Mass chapel. Use the door located in the church vestibule.
The Sacrament of Baptism
We have resumed the celebration of Baptisms. They are now being celebrated on designated Sunday afternoons. To inquire about a baptism, contact the parish office (201-434-7500). Deacon Meynardo Espeleta, who coordinates our baptism program, will then be in touch with more information.