Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy and Our Lady of Sorrows:
Greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
We are back to Ordinary Time in our Liturgical Calendar after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. For those of you who didn’t know what “Ordinary Time” is or why is it called “Ordinary Time” it doesn’t mean that it is less important than other Sundays or Festivities as it means that that they are “ordered” or numbered. The Latin word ordinalis, which refers to numbers in a series, stems from the Latin word ordo, from which we get the English word order. The numbered weeks of Ordinary Time in fact represent the ordered life of the Church. So, for example now we are on the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, followed by Fifth, Sixth and so on. There will be a break with these numbered Sundays with Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lenten Season, followed be Easter Season. But Ordinary Time will continue after the Feast of Pentecost.
Saying that, this Ordinary Time is not going to last long. March 1st is Ash Wednesday and you know what that means… it means the church will be busier again in preparation for Easter. It seems like it was only yesterday we have been busy preparing for Christmas, and pretty soon we will be preparing for something else. Well, it just goes to show you that maybe we were having fun? Maybe yes, having fun in doing what needs to be done in life. That is a good thing, though, if you stop and think about it.
In the bulletin this past weekend there were a few announcements of events that are coming up for each of us. Please avail these opportunities for our spiritual growth. “LIVE CHRIST SHARE CHRIST” is there for those want to know Christ more and have deeper knowledge on how to live a good Christian life. There is also the Bible Study for those who wan to know more about the scriptures. An opportunity to know more about some of the Treasures of the Church, the teaching and exposition of the Sacred Relics of Saint Therese’ of Lisieux will be at OLM church on February 10th at 7:00pm. On the weekend of February 11th and 12th the Bethlehem artifacts will be available for those of you who look for religious articles made in woods from Bethlehem.
I also want to give you heads up of the upcoming Annual Appeal of the Archdiocese of Newark on the weekend of February 25th and 26th. This is going to be my second one since I came back as a pastor, and I am happy for your responses to those appeals. As you all know, we reached one hundred percent of both the Capital Campaign “We Are Living Stones” and the Annual Appeal “Sharing God’s Blessings!” I am truly grateful for you generosity. It is always my prayer that God bless you more. I hope and pray that you will support this year’s appeal again.
There are also meetings for altar servers and other liturgical ministers. And Koffee Klatch meeting with Music Land (choirs, cantors with children’s parents) will be on February 5th at 2:30pm in the Maria Room. I would like to ask the parents of children’s choir to be in attendance as they need you to come to the meeting. Filipino Apostolate, Baptismal Team, Bereavement Team, Liturgy Committee, Jubilee Dance Crew, Youth Group and other groups please wait for the date of our meeting.
So, there is quite a few events taking place in this short period of time. Please exert extra effort to get involved as this is your parish. My prayer is for you to really own it. The church will only continue to function with your full, conscious and active participation.
My best regards and God bless us all!
Love,
+Father Marty
Young Adult Retreat
February 10-12, 2017
Marianist Family Retreat Center
Cape May Point, NJ
Come join other young adults (ages 22-35) married or single, to take a step back from your busy lives. This will be a time to examine your personal faith and your relationship with God, your family members and yourself. Our time will be filled with prayer experiences, peer group discussions. Eucharist and lots of fun.
Cost: $130.00 per person, double occupancy. Register at: www.capemaymarianists.org. Some financial aid is available.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Every FIRST FRIDAY from 9:15am until 12 noon only in the Chapel.