From the Pastor
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy,
I hope this finds you well and safe.
This Sunday is different from the rest of the Lenten season because it falls at the mid-point of our Lenten journey. We can look back on all the penitential sacrifices and all the good works of charity we have been doing for the last several weeks with a sense of accomplishment. So, we might ask ourselves: how have we been doing thus far? Are we seeing progress, or have we gone in the wrong direction?
Brothers and sisters, we have good news! “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18). Take heed of this and believe that God loves us so much no matter who and what we are. Let us come back to him and be worthy children of God.
In the name of OLM staff, I thank the members of our Holy Name Society for their donation of new temperature self-check machines mounted on the wall and on one of our hand sanitizer dispensers, for the “sit here” stickers on our pews, and for the new tables for the vestibule.
Many of you are asking about our Holy Week liturgies and celebrations. I ask you to consult the information in this bulletin. We will have all the celebrations in a shortened version, following the directives from the Archdiocese of Newark. However, we will not have the outdoor Stations of the Cross nor the “Salubong” on Easter Sunday. That is only for this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. We hope and pray that next year we will be back in full swing with our liturgies and traditions.
Last but not the least, please continue to pray for our children who are preparing for First Communion, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation. Pray also for their parents, guardians and sponsors.
Thank you and God bless us all.
Love,
Father Marty
The OLM Holy Name Society Spring Food Drive
The OLM Holy Name Society is sponsoring a Spring Food Drive to benefit the Food Pantry sponsored by Our Lady of Sorrows Parish here in Jersey City. The food drive will take place this Saturday, March 20, the first day of spring.
Members of the OLM Holy Name Society will collect your donated items in the OLM parking area by the entrance to the Maria Room from 9 am to 11 am. They will then deliver your donations to the OLS Food Pantry. Please bring your food items only during the designated hours, namely, Saturday, March 20, from 9 am to 11 am.
Non-perishable food items are needed such as breakfast cereal, canned goods (vegetables/fruits), pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, jelly, powdered milk, rice, soup, etc.
Monetary contributions are also accepted (please make checks payable to Our Lady of Sorrows and write Food Pantry on the memo line).
Despite all the challenges these times may bring, let us remember that there will always be someone less fortunate. It is during these times when we must especially come together to assist our neighbors in need.
Online Stations of the Cross During the Season of Lent
The Holy Name Society of our parish will sponsor Stations of the Cross on the Fridays of Lent at 7 pm. Because of the current pandemic these services will be online. To participate, go to our parish website (olmnj.org) and click on FACEBOOK|LIVESTREAM. The Stations will take place on the following Fridays of Lent at 7 pm
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March 19, 2021 – 7:00pm EST
March 26, 2021 – 7:00pm EST
Let us journey with Jesus Christ this Lenten season. Praying the Stations of the Cross brings us closer to Jesus as we meditate on the great love he showed us in his suffering and death!
2021 Lenten Regulations
Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, and charity as we prepare to renew our baptismal promises at Easter. The practice of penance forms a necessary part of this preparation. The Church gives us the following regulations to help us make good use of the season of Lent.
All the Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence. On a Day of Abstinence, no meat may be eaten. Those 14 years of age and older are obliged to abstain from meat. For a serious reason, Church Law allows the pastor to dispense an individual from refraining from meat on a Friday during the Lenten Season.
Good Friday (April 2) is a day of Fast and Abstinence. A Day of Fast means that only one full meal is permitted. Two smaller meals may be eaten. There is no food taken between meals. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast, though others are encouraged to fast. The days of fast are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence “substantially” or as a whole, is a serious obligation.
Catholics should go to Holy Communion at least once between the First Sunday of Lent (February 21) and Trinity Sunday (May 30). If necessary, they should celebrate the Sacrament of Penance. Individual confessions are heard here at OLM Monday through Friday from 9 am to 9:30 am and Saturday from 4 pm to 4:30 pm in the former daily Mass chapel.