STRAIGHT LINES
“God writes straight with crooked lines,” the saying goes. The power of Paul's testimony that everything is junk but knowledge of Jesus and the power of his resurrection is a straight enough message. And, God knows, Paul had a crooked journey before his blinding insight straight from God.
Through Isaiah, God reminds us all that the past great works were as nothing compared to the new creation. “Can't you see it?” we are asked, as if we are still wandering along our crooked lines.
And there is no straighter line than that between the woman whose misery is intense and the God whose mercy in Jesus is deeper and more acute. You just can't beat this kind of good news. © Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday: Fifth Sunday of Lent; Third Scrutiny
Monday: The Annunciation of the Lord
Friday: Abstinence
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38
Tuesday: Nm 21:4-9; Jn 8:21-30
Wednesday: Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Jn 8:31-42
Thursday: Gn 17:3-9; Jn 8:51-59
Friday: Jer 20:10-13; Jn 10:31-42
Saturday: Ez 37:21-28; Jn 11:45-56
Sunday: Lk 19:28-40 (procession);
Is 50:4-7; Ps 22; Phil 2:6-11;
Lk 22:14 — 23:56 [23:1-49]
I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
— Philippians 3:8
TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading —Remember not the events of the past; see, I am doing something new! (Isaiah 43:16-21) or Ezekiel 37:12-14
.
Psalm — The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy (Psalm 126) or Psalm 130.
Second Reading — I have been taken possession of by Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:8-14) or Romans 8:8-11.
Gospel — Go, and from now on do not sin any more (John 8:1-11) or John 11:1-45 [3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45].
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forgiving Lord, turn our eyes forward so that we can fully participate in the future you have prepared for us.
May the special graces of baptism, through water and the Holy Spirit lead you to everlasting life.
Our community at Immaculate Conception Church rejoices with you and gives praise and thanks to God for this new gift of life.
God bless...
Noah Brian De Renzo
son of Brian & Barbara De Renzo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baby Shower for Birth Haven
Our Confirmation students are sponsoring the Annual Baby Shower for Birth Haven each Sunday during Lent, at which time they will collect items needed for babies as well as the new moms.
Birth Haven has been in existence for over 20 years and has provided support and hope for teens and women who have chosen to carry their pregnancies to full term. It is an independent, non-profit organization that welcomes women from all over New Jersey, regardless of age, race, creed, nationality, financial ability or marital status. Birth Haven is the only transitional home that accepts and welcomes minors.
All donations may be brought to Church and placed near the bassinet any Sunday during Lent, ending on Palm Sunday.
Wish List
Phone Cards, Ladies' Watches, Boppy Pillows, Batteries (AA,C,D), Laundry Baskets, C-Fold Towels, 1"-3" Ring Binders, Journals, Week-a-glance Planners, Towels, Slippers, Spring and Summer PJ's, Gift Certificates to Block Buster, Old Navy, and Wal-Mart.
Thank you for your support!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ministry to the Homebound
If you are unable to come to Church or know of someone who is homebound and would like to receive Communion, please call Janice at the Rectory at 973-827-9575 and arrangements will be made to visit your home. Janice is in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Immaculate Conception's Grief Support Group
On the first Wednesday of each month Immaculate Conception Parish offers an ongoing Grief Support Group. If you or someone you know has suffered a loss, please join us. The next meeting is on April 4th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Ministry House (former Convent).
“I would say to those who mourn...look upon each day that comes as a challenge, as a test of courage. The pain will come in waves, some days worse than others, for no apparent reason. Accept the pain. Do not suppress it. Never attempt to hide grief.” Daphne du Maurier
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Easter Schedule
Monday April 2nd Mass & Novena - 7 PM
Tuesday April 3rd Communal Penance Service - 7:30 PM
Holy Thursday, April 5th 8 PM Mass of the Lord's Supper, Washing of Feet, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until midnight.
Good Friday, April 6th, 12:30 PM Stations of the Cross in the Cemetery (weather permitting - otherwise in Church)
3PM Christ's Passion and Death in Church.
Holy Saturday, April 7th, 12:00 Noon Blessing of Easter Food
8PM Easter Vigil Celebration of Sacrament of Initiation.
Easter Sunday, April 8th, Masses at 7:30AM; 9:15AM; 10:30AM; 12:00 Noon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Easter Flower Memorials
Please submit your Easter Flower Memorial envelopes early. Remember to PRINT all information to ensure accuracy in posting your loved one's name in the Easter bulletin. Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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: $5,525.00
Easter Flower Collections: $2,677.00
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Our next Prayer Shawl Meeting is April 16th at 7:30 p.m. in the Ministry House.
Please join us in this loving Ministry. We share prayers and stories that affirm the power of God's presence.
If you would like to join or donate yarn or needles please call Janice or Isabel at 973-827-9575.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NET Retreat
On Friday, April, 13th the NET Team will conduct a retreat at the Msgr. Gacquin Youth and Religious Education Center located at 122 Layton-Hainesville Road, Sandyston. Rev. Richard Carton of Saint James the Greater, Montague and Saint Thomas the Apostle Church in Branchville, has graciously extended and invitation to our Confirmation students.
There is no cost. If you would like to attend please call Isabel Natoli at the Office of Religious Education, 973-827-9575 before April 2nd so that the proper arrangements can be made.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles.
Psalm 105:4-5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lent... embrace a prayerful journey by attending:
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Friday during Lent from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Stations of the Cross and Benediction takes place every Friday evening during Lent at 7:00 p.m.
Abstinence means no meat or meat products for all who have reached the age of 14. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.
Fast means one full meal or meat products for everyone between the ages of 18 and 59.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Operation Rice Bowl
In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus forgave the sin and blessed the sinner. By doing this, He challenges us to first remember our own sin before we seek to punish other people for their sins. In this Gospel, the woman is given the opportunity of making a new beginning.
People in countries such as Niger who live on the edge of the desert are working to steward their resources wisely so all members in their communities have access to basic necessities. Working with Catholic Relief Services to dig new wells and access new sources of clean water, people in Niger are given a new beginning - one that allows villages and communities to thrive. Fresh water can be used for cooking, drinking and farming, which are all necessary for healthy villages and livelihoods. Please support CRS' water management projects with your prayers, fasting, learning and giving with Operation Rice Bowl. Visit www.crs.org/orb to learn more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Sunday, April 22 at 4:00 pm, the Diocese of Paterson will gather in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, in celebration of the rich history and tradition of the generations of immigrants who have joined together as the Church of Paterson. A new stained glass window will be dedicated in honor of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the patron saint of immigrants.
The celebration will consist of a Rite of Dedication which includes songs and prayers performed in various languages followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction Following the liturgical services, a reception will follow in the Bishop Frank J. Rodimer Center which will showcase desserts from the many cultures that are present in the Diocese of Paterson.
All are invited to attend this very special celebration.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Give Blood... Today! Sunday, March 25th from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Church of Saint Jude the Apostle located on Beaver Run Road in Hamburg. No appointment is necessary.
If you are 17 years of age you can now donate blood without parental consent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Sunday Social ~
Please plan on joining us for the Sunday Social following the 10:30 a.m. Mass which returns after a long absence!.
Come, relax and enjoy time with fellow parishioners, while sampling the wonderful delights prepared by our “crew” of talented and devoted volunteers!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parish Cookbooks
The Parish Cookbooks have arrived!! If you would like to purchase a copy, they will be for sale at the Sunday Social each week or you may call the rectory at 973-827-9575. The cost is $10.00.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Irish American Cultural Institute
Applications are now being accepted for the 2007 Irish Way. The Irish Way is a four week high school summer study abroad program that has been educating students since 1976. Students are introduced to Ireland's history and traditions through structured classes and are able to witness Ireland's beauty by touring the southeastern and western regions of Ireland. Dates for this summer's program are July 2 - 26, 2007. If you would like more information on the Irish Way, please call 973-605-1991 or visit www.iaci-usa.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Choose life...In January last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government cannot keep a doctor from legally acquiring federally-regulated narcotics, on the outside chance that he might use them to end a patient's life, a legal practice in the state of Oregon. The ironic result of this ruling is that selling and abusing dangerous drugs are against the law, killing people is against the law, but using dangerous drugs to kill people is not against the law if you are a doctor in Oregon.
Alan Sears, National Catholic Register, 3/5-11/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HELP SUPPORT
Immaculate Conception Regional School!
Scrip gift cards are convenient to use and are available in various denominations for Shop-Rite, A&P, Weis, Sussex Meat Packing, Staples, Barnes and Noble, J.C. Penney, Sears, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Wendy's, Applebee's and many more. ICRS benefits by receiving a percentage back from the retailer(s). To purchase, see Marie McKeever or contact Kathy Trainor at the school 973-827-3777. Thank you for your support!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh Lord, I trust in Your presence, even when I feel most alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please remember to pray for our parishioners and friends who are ill:
In Nursing Homes: Anna Elekes, Beatrice Brown, Catherine Alvino, Arthur Schaffhauser, Joanna Tugoluko, Mary Devine, Richard Gulitus, Betty Swetz, Ed Knight, Frank Kalafut.
At Home: Loraine Schenker, Diane Sidoli, Robert Zeuner, Russell Covert, Jr., Evelyn Caljean, Agnes Maselli, Anthony Fehir, Zina Restivo, Danielle Dionisio, Thomas Dionisio, Jr., Christine Huntley, Steven “Itchy” Novak, Gabbi Welsch, Flo Yurchak, Ethel Segarra, Mary Carmody, Madison Dorr, Michael Soojian, Don Tilley, Jr. Lisa Stine, Kath Sciascia and Edward Padgett.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please continue to keep all those serving in the military in your thoughts and prayers especially:
Dan Greene, Jamison Micke, Stephen Saski, Jr., Christopher Faber, SFC Morgan McHose, Kevin Remus, LCPL William Mathes, LCPL Ernest Mathes, Karen Hassler and Tom Oroho.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Family Perspective
Jesus sent a strong message when he prevented the stoning of the woman. It is wrong to correct another by verbally attacking and hurling insults. A family must not be the arena of violence, but a refuge where we find love, acceptance, forgiveness and respect.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beginning Experience Weekend
May 4-6, 2007 - Villa Pauline, Mendham, NJ
For men and women who know the pain of separation, divorce or the death of a spouse, a Beginning Experience Weekend provides participants with the opportunity of taking the first step toward resolution, wholeness and a new direction. For information call Peggy O'Neil 973-887-4541, Bernice Carr 201-848-8261 or Donna Mura 973-927-2864.
Reservations must be made prior to April 15, 2007.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR PROGRAM
Do you know someone who feels lonely or isolated or a Senior Citizen who would enjoy a friendly visit from a volunteer? The NORWESCAP RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) has started a new program called NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR for friendly visiting to Sussex County seniors who are homebound. If you or someone you know would benefit from this program, call 973-940-9094.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ON BECOMING HUMAN
There is so much about each of us that yet needs to be worked out. We are all still becoming—intellectually, emotionally, spiritually—all of us still evolving into the sorts of people God envisions us to be. Even physically we humans continue to be in process.
INSIDE THE READINGS
It is not surprising that today's reading from the Gospel of John appears in the Lucan Year C. There is general agreement that this account of the woman caught in adultery does not belong in the Fourth Gospel. Many scholars believe that it is, in fact, the work of Luke. In style and vocabulary, in themes such as the mercy of Jesus and his concern for women, it is much more Lucan than Johannine. It does not appear in the best Greek manuscripts of John. It does appear in some later manuscripts of both John and Luke. It is found in some manuscripts after Luke 21:38, where it fits perfectly. The Catholic Church has, however, defined the account to be inspired and canonical despite these problems with its transmission.
The principal point of this account is the mercy of Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees attempt to trap him, using the woman for their purposes. They ask Jesus if she should be executed for her sin. If he says no, he is going against the law of Moses. If he says yes, he is going against the law of the Romans, who had taken from the Jewish people the right to execute anyone. But more importantly, it would go against the teaching and practice of Jesus concerning mercy. Jesus first writes on the ground and the nature of that writing has led to much speculation on the part of students of the Bible.
The account ends with a dialogue between Jesus and the woman. Jesus has saved her from execution. Now he offers her the possibility of a spiritual life, "Go, and from now on do not sin any more" (John 8:11). Jesus clearly does not condone the sin of the woman; but even more clearly he reaches out to her with mercy and forgiveness—important themes in the Gospel of Luke.
THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
Most of us have not yet evolved to the point of being able to forgive very well, to forgive without any need to equalize the suffering. Yet Jesus showed us most clearly what our God is creating us to be: compassionate and just, generous and merciful, loving in a wasteland of indifference. Profound forgiveness must be new on the human scene simply because for most of us we are so deeply touched whenever we come upon it.
Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis, © 2007 by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. 3/25/07
While you are visiting the Immaculate Conception web site, be sure to sign in our guest book!!