From the Pastor
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy,
I hope this finds you well and safe.
As we announced in last Sunday’s bulletin, this weekend, February 6 & 7, is the 2021 Annual Appeal. Yes, it is the
time of the year when, in the name of Cardinal Tobin and the whole Archdiocese of Newark, we are asked for our prayerful and financial support.
Many of you may have received mail from the Archdiocese regarding this Appeal. You may also have noticed a poster at the vestibule or entrance area of the church announcing the Annual Appeal.
Today you will hear, or have heard, the video appeal from Cardinal Tobin asking us to support the ministries and mission of the Archdiocese. The video from the Archdiocese also includes OLM church. On a personal note, it is really a good feeling when every now and then our parish is acknowledged.
This recognition is because of you, my dear parishioners. Your support in prayer and your stewardship of treasure allows us to do well in the Appeal here at Our Lady of Mercy. Your generosity in last year’s Annual Appeal allowed us to reach our goal of $42,809. We even went beyond that goal and so were eligible for a rebate. I am very happy to announce that this past week I received a rebate check from Cardinal Tobin for $8,552. This rebate will be a big help to us. In the name of my staff, I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart!
Our goal for this year’s Annual Appeal called “Catholic Stewardship in Action” is $42,122. It is a little lower than last year’s goal. This year’s goal represents ten percent of our last year’s offertory income. We are required to reach our goal. I hope that once again we may even go over that goal and receive a rebate for our parish. Otherwise, we will be asked to include the shortfall in the Appeal as an expense in our 2022 budget. So, I encourage you to consider, pray, and make a pledge as soon as you can. You do not have to send in any money just yet, just make a pledge before you forget.
Our parish has been successful in this Appeal for the past few years. I hope and pray that we will do the same this year. Your support is very important for the life of the Archdiocese of Newark, for the support of her various missions, and for our community here at Our Lady of Mercy.
We are all aware of the current challenging situation caused by the pandemic. We are coping the best we can in this trying time. But at the same time, the good Lord is with us. We are blessed to be able to continue to live and be with our loved ones. That is a blessing to count and a grace from God that no money can buy.
We want to give back to God because of his goodness to us. One of the ways to give back something of what God has given to us is to support the missions and ministries of the Church, especially those of the Archdiocese of Newark. Cardinal Tobin reminds us that we are part of that mission.
Always remember, as Saint Paul tells us, “God loves a cheerful giver. God can multiply his favors among you so that you may always have enough of everything and even a surplus for good works…”(2Corinthians 9:7-8).
And as always, please read our Sunday bulletin so that you can be aware of what is going on and coming up in our parish.
Thank you and God bless you all.
Love,
Father Marty
Appreciate the Word, Live the Word
Good things are worth repeating, and that certainly is the case with Appreciate the Word, Live the Word. This small group program, which has taken place at OLM during the past three years, has helped participants to grow in their understanding of God’s word. It has helped them to see how that word might be applied to their daily lives. In the process they have made new friends and have grown in their faith.
This coming Lenten season, we are going to have a four session program focused on the Gospel Readings for the four Sundays of March. (March 7, 14, 21, 28) Because of the ongoing pandemic, these sessions of Appreciate the Word, Live the Word will take place online, using ZOOM. No previous knowledge of the Bible is required, only a desire to listen to what the Lord may be saying to us in the scripture readings. More details, including sign up information will appear in future bulletins.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 7, 2021
Job 7:1-4, 6-7; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23;
Mark 1:29-39
World Marriage Day
World Marriage Day is an outgrowth of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, an apostolate aimed at helping couples make good marriages even better.
World Marriage Day began in 1983 and is celebrated every second Sunday of February in Catholic dioceses across the country. In 1993, Pope Saint John Paul II, imparted his Apostolic Blessings on World Marriage Day.
This year World Marriage Day falls on February 14, coinciding with Valentine’s Day. The purpose of World Marriage Day is to highlight the beauty of marriage and to honor husbands and wives for their faithfulness and sacrifices.
In recognition of World Marriage there will be a special blessing of all married couples at our Masses next weekend, February 13 & 14. We encourage all married persons to attend Mass with their husband or wife so they might be blessed as a couple.
Latest on Shining the Light of Christ
“Shining the Light of Christ” was the name of the 2020 Annual Appeal that supports the programs and ministries of the Archdiocese. The 2020 goal for Our Lady of Mercy Parish was $42,809. The total amount that was pledged was $52,790. Of that amount, $51,961 has already been collected. There is a 100% rebate of every dollar collected above our goal.
Current Status of We Are Living Stones
Our total pledged amount in the Archdiocesan Capital Campaign, called WE ARE LIVING STONES is now $501,572. We are at 100.69% of our goal of $498,144, of that $434,968 has been collected and $194,259 disbursed to the our parish for various projects.
We remind those who have not fully paid their pledge to continue sending your payment to the We Are Living Stones Office. (171 Clifton Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104-0500) God bless your generosity!