TEMPTATION'S FACES
In the movie Oh God, You Devil the roles of both God and Satan were played by George Burns. This completely baffled the humans. But as "God" pointed out, the face of evil has long tried to look like God, act like God, sound like God--or at least fulfill all our expectations of what God is like and desires. This is the aspect of Jesus' human nature that Satan attempts to prey upon in today's Gospel. It is in our human nature to seek the easy or surface answers; it was this part of Jesus' true human nature that was tested in the desert dryness that immediately followed his plunge into the Jordan's baptismal waters. Our surface expectations of God are in miracle-working, power and glory, the intervention of supernatural beings on our behalf. But all of these things can be accomplished by the might of evil as well. Jesus takes us deeper and shows us that, even when we're at our weakest (as he would have been in the desert after his forty-day ordeal), we need to be relentless in seeking the true presence of God's word, giving our worship to God alone, testing ourselves and not God. (c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
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SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday: First Sunday of Lent; Rite of Election; Rite of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion; Rite of Sending
Monday: Our Lady of Lourdes
Tuesday: Lincoln's Birthday
Thursday: Ss. Cyril and Methodius; Valentine's Day
Friday: Abstinence
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READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Mt 25:31-46
Tuesday: Is 55:10-11; Mt 6:7-15
Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32
Thursday: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Mt 7:7-12
Friday: Ez 18:21-28; Mt 5:20-26
Saturday: Dt 26:16-19; Mt 5:43-48
Sunday: Gn 12:1-4a; Ps 33; 2 Tm 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9
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TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading -- The man and the woman ate the fruit of the one tree that God had told them to avoid, and their shame overtook them (Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7).
Psalm -- Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned (Psalm 51).
Second Reading -- Death reigned from Adam to Moses, but now grace and life abound in Christ Jesus (Romans 5:12-19 [12, 17-19]).
Gospel -- Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit and there he fasted for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1-11).
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Sacrificial giving nurtures the spirit of the giver and helps to build a better world.   Thank you for your support and generosity for last week's collection.
Last Sunday's Collection: $5,608.00
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The Lovely Flowers in the Sanctuary this weekend are a Wedding Anniversary Remembrance In Loving Memory of John Salmon requested by his wife Ruth.
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The Holy Rosary is considered a perfect prayer because within it is the awesome story of our salvation. With the Rosary in fact we meditate the mysteries of joy, of sorrow and the glory of Jesus and Mary. With the Hail Mary we invite Her to pray for us. Our Lady always grants our request.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary
Saturday after 9AM Mass
Last Friday of each Month after 7AM Mass
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Lenten Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
will take place every Friday during Lent from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ending with a blessing. Sign-up sheets are located on a podium near the confessional area. Please sign up for a time you are available to assure that there is adequate coverage each hour. If you sign up for a specific hour but find that you are unable to attend, please call the rectory.
Exposition 7:30 AM - Benediction 7:30 PM
Recitation of the Rosary 7:30 AM
O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of His Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
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Bethany Spirituality Center
Highland Mills, NY, is offering the following retreats in February: “Valentine's Day Dinner Retreat for Married Couples:, with Margaret and Richard Green, February 14; “From Guilt to Grace”, with Rev. Michael Holleran and Dr. Edward J Poliandro, Feb 16. For information please visit www.bethanyspirtualitycenter.org or call 845-460-3061.
Sacred Heart Center: Newton, New Jersey
“Peace Prayer Journey for Lent”
6 Weekly Sessions beginning Feb. 7th through Mar. 13th. Contact Hugo Bader at 973-579-1430 or Sacred Heart Center at 973-383-2620. It is not necessary to attend all sessions.

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PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Franklin Boy Scouts, Troop 90
Invites you to enjoy an “All You Can Eat” Pancake Breakfast to be held in the church Lyceum, Sunday, February 10th, from 8-12:00.
Price: $4.00 p/p to benefit the Franklin Boy Scout Program.
Did you get Your
Parish Cookbook Yet?
Parish Cookbooks are available for purchase during Sunday Social or at the Rectory. Keep them in mind for a
Valentine's Day Gift for Mom!
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Inclement Weather Weekday Mass Cancellations
In case of inclement weather, please call the Rectory, 973-827-9575, to check on the possible cancellation of the 7:00 AM Weekday Mass.
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Marriage Encounter Weekend
Stress-Proof your Family! Take 44 hours to get away from jobs, kids, chores, computers and focus only on each other. Find yourselves again and grow in your relationship. Obtain information and registration for the March 7th weekend in East Hanover, NJ through Ralph and Eileen Perez at 1-800-499-6552.
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Prayerful Journey Through Lent
+ Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Friday during Lent from 7:30AM to 7:30PM
+ Stations of the Cross and Benediction takes place every Friday evening during Lent at 7:30PM
+ All Fridays in Lent are days of Abstinence no meat or meat products for everyone over the age of 14)
+ Good Friday is a day of Fast and Abstinence (one full meal and abstinence for ages 18-59)
Recitation of the Holy Rosary will take place every Saturday after 9AM Mass and after Friday 7AM Mass.
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Looking Forward to a Spiritual Get-Away?
+ Religious Pilgrimage in Assisi, Italy, July 5-15 This pilgrimage is sponsored by the Assisi Music Festival. Join Msgr. Paul Bochicchio, Pastor of Holy Family Church, Nutley, NJ. with special Masses at The Basilica of St. Francis and the Vatican. For more information call Gregory Scime 908-277-1145
+ Bethany Spirituality Center Pilgrimage to Italy, including Assisi, Siena, Florence and Rome, March 25-April 3, 2008 led by Sr. Pat Reid, OSF, and Rev. Bill Drobach, SA. Mass will be celebrated daily. For information call 845-460-3061.
+ Just for FUN! St. Monica's Church Present the Caribbean with Cunard Cruise Lines on the Queen Mary 2. 11/days/10 nights April 6, 2008. For more information contact Carol Besak 973-875-4521
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Attention 10th Grade Confirmation Students
You can check the CCD Website for your scheduled Interviews with Fr. Bogie. You will also find a review page of Questions & Answers in the Confirmation Section under
How Much Do You Know? The CCD Website link can be found on the Parish Webpage or you can go directly to...
www.iccreligiouseducation.com
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Easter Vigil Choir
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; worship the Lord with cries of gladness; come before Him with joyful song.”
Psalm 100:1-2
All are welcome
Please join us and be part of our very special Easter Vigil Choir. Practices begin on Sunday, February 10th from 6:00—8:00pm for the Easter Vigil Mass on March 22nd at 8:00pm.
 
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Catholic Charities Job Opportunity
Position Open: Chief Financial Officer, controller needed for Father English community Center (aka Tri-County Youth Services), a Catholic Charities Agency in the Diocese of Paterson. Individual should be an experienced Accounting/Finance professional. Degree Required; good benefits.
Contact Joe Melosh 973-881-0280 or
E-mail at admin@fatherEnglish.org
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Eucharistic Ministers Needed
Eucharistic Ministers who are interested in bringing the Eucharist to the HOMEBOUND are asked to call Janice at the Rectory. This is a beautiful Ministry and we are looking for caring Ministers to assist in our need to provide for our Homebound Parishioners.
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Lenten fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like giving up food or television. But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus' healing touch this Lent.
Fast from anger and hatred. Give your family an extra dose of love each day.
Fast from judging others. Before making judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.
Fast from discouragement. Hold on to Jesus' promise that he has a perfect plan for your life (Jer. 29:11).
Fast from complaining. When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.
Fast from resentment or bitterness. Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.
Fast from spending too much money. Try to reduce your spending by ten percent and give these savings to the poor.THE WORD AMONG US, Vol. 21, # 3
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Lenten Message from Pope Benedict XVI
“The Cross is the definitive revelation of love and divine mercy, also for us, men and women of our time too often distracted by worldly and momentary concerns and interests. God is love and His love is the secret of our happiness. To enter into this mystery of love there is no other way than that of losing ourselves, giving ourselves, the way of the Cross."
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Stations of the Cross and Benediction takes place every Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 pm.
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A Letter to the Parishioners of Immaculate Conception
January 20, 2008
Immaculate Conception Family,
Hey everyone! It's been so long since I've seen everyone. If you don't know by now, I'm in Illinois at the Naval Recruit Training command. I am going to be a United States Sailor! I have learned so much here, especially the value of friends and family, but especially how God works in funny ways. I am graduating on Friday the 25th and then I'll be on my way to sunny Pensacola, Florida for further training in aviation. I miss everyone from the Children's Choir to everyone in the congregation. I must admit I truly miss singing at Mass and watching everyone's faces light up. I hope to come home to see y'all soon!
God Bless,
Shannon Barr
Congratulations Shannon our prayers are with you.
Lord, hold our Military in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.
May God Bless and Protect You
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Please remember to pray for our parishioners and friends who are ill:
In Nursing Homes: Ceil Williams, Pauline Trofimuk, and Anna Elekes
At Home: Loraine Schenker, Maria Woppel, Diane Sidoli, Robert Zeuner, Evelyn Caljean, Danielle Dionisio, Thomas Dionisio, Jr., Steven “Itchy” Novak, Flo Yurchak, Mary Carmody, JoAnn Ritz, Debbie Yodice, Harold & May Dickey and Lisa Stine.
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Please continue to keep all those serving in the military in your thoughts and prayers especially:
Jamison Micke, Stephen Saski, Jr., Christopher Faber, SFC Morgan McHose, LCPL William Mathes, LCPL Ernest Mathes, Karen Hassler, Tom Oroho and CPL Matt Lindquist.
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Altar Server Schedule for
February 9-10 and 16-17
***Reminder*** If you are unable to serve at your assigned time, please call someone to arrange coverage. If you cannot, call Mrs. Morano as soon as possible. Please call Mrs. Morano to schedule your Easter Sunday Service.
Feb 9-10
5pm C. Lynch and C. Brossman
7:00 M.K. Hubbard and J. Oroho
9:00 E. Cox and C. McDonald
10:30 D. Peck and Jen Friend
12:00 J. McKeever and J.McKeever
Feb 16-17
5pm A. Sica and E.Radics
7:00 Williams and Oroho
9:00 K. Morano and J. Dragon
10:30 G. Knapick and R. Holowienka
12:00 N. Carafello and K. Carafello
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Christian Stewardship is not just an ideal, but a way of life that strengthens our relationship with the Lord...a call to discipleship through the contribution of our time, talents, and treasure. Immaculate Conception Church encourages its parishioners to share God's gifts, not only with the Church, but also with each other and with the community at large.
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WHO'S IN CHARGE?
The temptations of Jesus are the temptations of our own lives as well. Should he feed himself with bread of his own making? Should he tempt God and so overshadow the very presence of God? Should he robe himself in a power it seems he can depend upon? They are his questions and our questions, for Lent and for life. Ultimately, they are questions about whether we think we control our lives or acknowledge that God is in charge.
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INSIDE THE READINGS
Every year the Church begins Lent with an account of the temptations of Jesus. In today's Gospel account the devil is taking up the words of the Father at Jesus' baptism. "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (see Matthew 3:17). He is testing to determine what kind of Son Jesus is.
"Thus says the Lord: 'Israel is my son, my first-born' " (Exodus 4:22). The evangelist makes the point in today's Gospel that Jesus is also the Son of God, the true Israel. While Israel was unfaithful during the forty years in the desert, Christ remained faithful.
The first temptation recalls the reaction of the Israelites in the desert. They cried out, "Give us meat for our food" (Numbers 11:13). But Jesus, faithful to the scriptures, quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
The second temptation tests Jesus by suggesting that he seek God's protection in the face of rash endangerment of his life. The devil even quotes Psalm 91:11-12. But the psalmist is speaking of ordinary trust in God, not of a presumptive challenge. The full verse that Jesus uses in response says, "You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test, as you did at Massah" (Deut.:16).
The final temptation deals with idolatry. Israel had failed
this temptation many times, notably by their worship of the golden calf. Incredibly, Jesus is now asked to worship the devil. Satan is trying to use the lure of power to divert him from the work assigned him by the Father. Jesus' response is that of an obedient Son, "The Lord, your God, shall you worship / and him alone shall you serve" (Matthew 4:10).
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THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
The issue of Lent is not whether or not we will fast, or what we will give up, or what extra we will place upon the table. The bigger issue is whether or not by any such penance we will allow God to take control of our lives.
Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD
for the First Sunday of Lent
commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis,
©2008 by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. 2/10/08

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