Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy,
Greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
First of all, I would like to inform you that the Archdiocese of Newark is happy to have three new auxiliary bishops who were recently appointed by Pope Francis. They are Abbot Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B., Reverend Michael A. Saporito, and Reverend Monsignor Gregory J. Studerus, E.V. The announcement was made Thursday, February 27, by Cardinal Tobin at the Archdiocesan Center in Newark.
Bishop-Elect Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B, age 59, is a Benedictine monk and the Prior and Rector of Saint Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, NJ.
Bishop- Elect Michael A. Saporito, age 57, is the Pastor of Saint Helen’s Church in Westfield, NJ. He was ordained a priest in 1992.
Bishop-Elect Gregory J. Studerus, E.V. , age 71, is the Pastor of Saint Joseph of the Palisades Church in West New York, NJ. He was ordained a priest in 1980.
Our community joyfully congratulates the three of them! Please pray for them as they take on their new responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Newark. They will be ordained bishops on May 5.
Secondly, please remember that this is the weekend when we collect your pledge to the Annual Appeal. I hope by now you have prayerfully decided how much of your blessings you might be able to share to support the mission and ministry of our Archdiocese. One of the practices associated with the season of Lent is performing acts of charity. Supporting the church’s mission through the Annual Appeal is a perfect act of charity that certainly fits this Lenten Season.
Some of you have already sent your pledge to the Archdiocese. For those who have not yet done so, kindly send your pledge by mail to the Archdiocese or drop it off at the parish office. In the name of Cardinal Tobin, I thank you.
Thirdly, last weekend we informed you of Cardinal Tobin’s directives regarding health concerns in light of the Coronavirus. They include the following:
(1) Stay home if you are sick or have symptoms of illness. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is broadcast on several television channels and you can make a “spiritual communion” until you return to good health.
(2) Avoid unnecessary physical contact such as handshaking during the exchange of peace. A simple bow or smile and saying “Peace be with you” is fine. Wash your hands frequently, including before and after Mass. We, priests, deacons and ministers of Holy Communion, wash our hands before and after Mass.
(3) Following the Cardinal’s directive, we have suspended the distribution of Holy Communion from the chalice for the time being. You may receive the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. The general message from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is that all should exercise common sense precautions, but not panic. Let us use our common sense to be safe and to safeguard others.
And last but not the least, pray, fast and do acts of charity. May this Lenten season help us to make these practices a regular part of spiritual life and discipline. May we all be transformed into the people God wants us to be.
God bless us all!
Love,
+Father Marty
STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT OLM DURING THE SEASON OF LENT
Let us journey with Jesus Christ during this Lenten season. The Stations of the Cross bring us closer to Jesus as we meditate on the great love he showed us in His most sorrowful Passion.
The members of Holy Name Society invite you to join them at 7:00pm on the following Fridays as they pray the Stations of the Cross: Match 6, 13, 20 and 27 & April 3