From the Pastor
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy,
I hope this finds you well and safe.
In today’s Gospel, we see how Jesus began His preaching ministry by which he brought God’s saving word, the Good News of salvation, to the world.
Jesus called his disciples to join him in his work of proclaiming the Gospel to the world. The Church continues that work to this very day by teaching, healing, and spreading the news that God’s kingdom is coming.
Jesus did not choose the wise and powerful to carry on his mission. He chose simple fishermen, people like you and me, working people, ordinary people.
Brothers and sisters, God has spoken His redeeming Word to us. Let us rejoice in God’s Holy Word that is with us in the Scriptures and in our hearts. May God’s Word shine even brighter in us and in our world. We make this happen by the way we live our daily lives. We have to be good stewards of what we have been given.
The weekend of February 6 & 7, the Annual Appeal 2021 called “Catholic Stewardship in Action!” is going to take place in our parish. Yes, it is the time of the year when, in the name of the Archbishop, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, we will be asking each one of you to help support the ministries of the Archdiocese of Newark. We will show the video and you will hear the Cardinal’s appeal. You will also be receiving in the mail, if you haven’t already, a letter concerning this annual appeal.
You have responded so generously to this appeal in the past, especially last year. If you have been reading our parish bulletin you have seen the report. We have gone above our goal. In the name of our parish staff, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and generosity.
This year’s Annual Appeal goal of OLM parish is $42,122. This is based on 10% of last year’s offertory income. I am praying and hoping that we will reach that goal and/or go over it once again. So, we will be knocking on the door of your hearts asking for your support and generosity.
Also, in three weeks we will be in the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, is the 17th of February. So, please check our Sunday bulletin for events and activities we will be providing you for your spiritual journey during this pandemic. We will try our best to continue what we have done in the past, limited though it may be.
I know you are all with me in praying that this pandemic will be over soon, and we can go back to our normal way of celebrating our liturgies and religious activities and events.
Thank you and God bless you all.
Love,
Father Marty
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!