Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy:
Greetings from the other side of the world!
As I write this, I am still in the Philippines. Part of my coming home is to give out a scholarship grant at my nephew’s graduation ceremony at Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion (my High School and College Alma Mater) from our beloved and faithful parishioner, the late Nora S. Villanueva. Many of you may remember Nora Villanueva when she was still alive. Nora Villanueva was a life-long parishioner of our parish, Our Lady of Mercy Church in Jersey City, NJ. She faithfully worshiped with our faith community throughout the liturgical seasons, year after year, in spite of her degenerative disease. She could no longer walk towards the end of her life, and yet she bravely battled the elements on a wheelchair, assisted by her caregiver. She was finally set free from her earthly afflictions on March 3, 2016. Her dying wish was to help at least one deserving student to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. After a thorough search for the deserving student via financial background check and tests or exams, the recipient of this scholarship is Ms. Angelie B. Genoves! Angelie was so surprised and in tears of joy when it was announced. Angelie is one of the five hundred thirty one pioneer graduates in Senior High. This is the first group of graduates since they changed the school system in the Philippines. To Nora Villanueva and her family, a big thank you!
Reflecting on the readings of this weekend, Nora Villanueva did what the author of our Second Reading wrote: “…whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.” And this is my prayer for every one of us, that we may try and do our best to put into action what we hear from God in the best we can.
I send my very warm regards to all of you folks. I will see you in a few days. God bless you all!
Love,
+Father Marty
Please pray for the sick:
Paul Calefati, Elaine Staltari, Othelia G. Laurena, Jean Karycinski, Dorothy Darcy, Erlinda Jacinto, Leonora Loyola, Eric Bautista, Lilian Kryczkowski, Ellen Iorio, Jessica Pavone, Ian Malesiewski, Ruben Catipon, Angela Salvador, Clarita Salvador, Teresita Cordon , Vincent Mastria, Maria Svaligma, Craig Rutkowski, James Seaman, Makenzie Cadmus, Manuel J.Juson, MD, Gina Marquez, Daniel Tamayo Santos, Marie Ronzitti, Lucia Vanderburg, Betty Scerbo, Philip Scerbo, Alejandra Ancheta, Cindy Popolo, Mario Banaag, Oscar Alladin, Antonio Roldan, Esperanza Galarza, Carmen Tuazon, Susan Ranola Rivera, John Broderick, Joanne Diaz, Ligaya Tan, Leonarda DeCarlo, Dolores Steinhauser, Eugenio Cacananta, Austin Macalintal, Carolyn Taliaferro, Nonong Dava, John Gaito, Elsa Concepcion, Ricardo Vales, Virginia T. Mercurio, James Leung, Tran Phouc, Sophia Gonzalez, Jocelyn Tuazon, Florentino Chanco, Edgardo Cruz, Luchie Vivas, Deacon Nick Fargo, Mark Dudek, Eugene Manlongat, Sandra M. Escoto, Marcelita S. Fusco, Clement Rodriguez, Genedina B. Mohan, Walter Wasinewski, Luke Dee, Rosario Bernabe, Renato Caguioa, Raquel Yapp, Roberto Yapp, Armando Gloria, Terry Neurbauer, Grace Arceo, Ivan Jesus Romero, Joycelyn Basa-Gill, Nanette Limpo
Mother & (Adult) Daughter Retreat
May 11-13, 2018 (Mother’s Day Weekend)
Marianist Family Retreat Center
Cape May Point, NJ 08212
Cost: $135 per person
Knowing that your relationship is special, and need to nurture it throughout the years, this is a wonderful opportunity to walk upon common ground while celebrating your differences. Eucharist, small group sharing, prayer experiences, socials and fun are included – beach walks, too! Sign up online at www.capemaymarianists.org or call 609-884-3829 for more information.
Scholarship fund for Inner-City Children Gala
The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Annual Gala will be held on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Venetian in Garfield. This year’s honorees Hugh Weber, President of the Prudential Center and NJ Devils will receive the Vitae Discimus Award, and Polly and Terry O’Toole will receive the Archbishop Gerety Award. Proceeds from the dinner will provide partial-tuition scholarships to low-income students, in Grades K-12, attending Catholic Schools in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union Counties. For more information about SFIC Gala, to order tickets or place a journal ad, please visit www.sficnj.org or call SFIC at 973-497-4278.
Try Something New This Summer at Seton Hall
Looking to enrich your summer? It’s a great time to earn extra credits, pursue a special interest, or study abroad. Seton Hall University offers summer classes for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professionals interested in learning new skills. You can study on campus, online or in several overseas locations. Students can explore everything from Interactive Marketing to Digital Art and Design, and from Christian Ethics to Real Estate Finance. Rising high school juniors and seniors may engage in university-level coursework while earning college credit at a discounted tuition rate. Among the pre-college courses Seton Hall offers are: Oral Communication, Economics and Introduction to Psychology. To learn more about Seton Hall’s exciting summer programs, visit our website www.shu.edu/summer
Sign up to Clean Up! Join The Third Annual Great Jersey City Clean Up
Saturday, April 28, is the date of the Third Annual Great Jersey City Clean-Up. This year the OLM Chapter of Jersey City Together will once again take part in this effort to make our city a cleaner, more beautiful place. Last year, people from our parish made up the largest group of volunteers in the City!
The OLM Chapter will be coordinating the clean-up effort in Country Village and other areas near our parish property. We encourage you to join us in this service project. We will meet in the Maria Room on Saturday, April 28, at 9:30 am. Volunteers will be divided into teams and assigned certain areas in our neighborhood to collect trash and other debris. Volunteers will be provided gloves, garbage bags, and instructions.
Our clean-up effort will end at 12 Noon and be followed by light lunch in the Maria Room. Volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
To sign up to be part of our efforts to make our neighborhood a cleaner please sign up after our Masses the weekend of April 14 & 15, or send an email to OLM.CHAPTER.JCT@GMAIL.COM with your name, phone number, and preferred email address. You can also sign up by stopping by the parish office or by calling the office at 201-434-7500.
Please join us in showing that the people of OLM care about the neighborhood where we live and worship!