Church Bulletin Week of March 30, 2008
Divine Mercy Sunday
A SEASON OF JOY
"They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers" (Acts 2:42). This first line of today's first reading sets the tone as this fifty-day celebration of Easter opens before us. Today we listen to the teachings of three apostles--Luke, Peter, and John--who remind us that even though we have not seen Christ, we nonetheless are filled with joy as we place our belief in his saving death and resurrection. Each week during the Easter season we will gather as a community of faith to find strength and support from our God and from one another. Each week we will gather to break bread and offer the great prayer of thanksgiving, actions that will manifest the very presence of the risen Christ in our midst. Let us be open to the wonders of this season of joy.
(c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
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READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday:Is 7:10-14; 8-10; Ps. 40; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38
Tuesday:Acts 4:32-37; Jn 3:7b-15
Wednesday:Acts 5:17-26; Jn 3:16-21
Thursday:Acts 5:27-33; Jn 3:31-36
Friday:Acts 5:34-42; Jn 6:1-15
Saturday:Acts 6:1-7; Jn 6:16-21
Sunday:Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16; 1 Pt 1:17-21; Lk 24:13-35
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SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday:Divine Mercy Sunday
Monday:The Annunciation of the Lord
Tuesday:April Fool's Day
Wednesday:St. Francis of Paola
Friday:St. Isidore; First Friday
Saturday:St. Vincent Ferrer; First Saturday
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TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading -- All who believed were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, the communal life, the breaking of the bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42-47).
Psalm -- Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting (Psalm 118).
Second Reading -- God has given us an undiminished inheritance, safeguarded for us in heaven (1Peter 1:3-9).
Gospel -- The risen Christ comes to his disciples with peace and the Spirit. The absent Thomas doubts
(John 20:19-31).
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. John 20:29b
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Easter Flower Offerings
In Loving Memory of:
Alexander Radics
John P. Salmon
Alba Tidu
Daniel Tido
Easter Flower Donations:
The Danko Family
Cynthia Rose
Andrew and Barbara Rodriguez
The Rose/Cerracchio Family
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Grief Support Group Meeting
The next meeting of the Immaculate Conception Grief Support Group will be Wednesday, April 2nd at 7:30 in the Ministry House.
I cry to you, O God, for my grief is like a flood that sweeps me away
In your mercy, hear my prayer...In your abundant love hasten to help me...Draw near to me, O Lord, and rescue me.
(Prayers of Comfort and Consolation in Time of Grieving)
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CASA Volunteers Needed
The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs are recruiting volunteers to serve as advocates for abused/neglected children. To become a CASA volunteer, call 973-579-0723. CASA is an exceptional organization helping children in desperate circumstances.
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Celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy at Immaculate Conception Church
Sunday, March 30, 2008
1:45: Exposition
2:15 Rosary for Life
3:00 Chaplet of Divine Mercy & Benediction
The Feast of Divine Mercy celebrated on the Octave of Easter (the Sunday after Easter Sunday), is a relatively new addition to the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Celebrating the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ, as revealed by Christ Himself to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, this feast was extended to the entire Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000, the day that he canonized Saint Faustina.
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United in Marriage
Our Parish community rejoices with the families of
Meghan Marie McEvoy & John James Hornyak,Jr.
And
Colleen Jackson & Christopher Bruscino
Who were united in marriage on Saturday March 15, 2008
Congratulations. May the Lord continue to guide you and bless you with a lifetime of love and happiness.
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Baptism
The faith community of Immaculate Conception Church shares in the joy in the Baptism celebration of
Riley Mark Correal
Son of Paula and Keith
Congratulations.
May our lord continue to bless you, guide you, and keep you in His loving care.
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Flower Memorial:
The beautiful flowers in the sanctuary this weekend are in loving memory of
Andrew J. Massey
Requested by his Wife, Daughters, and Son-in-Law.
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An Adolescent Fertility Appreciation Program
will be offered to all 10 - 12 year old girls and their mothers on Saturday, April 12, 2008 from 1:00 - 4:00pm at St. Clare's Hospital. The charge is $20 per daughter; mothers attend free, with a $30 maximum per family. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call the Rectory Office for an application or call 973-777-8818, ext. 264. This program is presented by the Paterson Diocese Office of Family Life.
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Sunday Social
Please stop into the Lyceum for our Sunday Social... each week after the 10:30 Mass.
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The Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord
March 31, celebrates the actual Incarnation of Our Savior the Word made flesh in the womb of His mother, Mary. The biblical account of the Annunciation can be found in Luke, 26-56. Saint Luke describes the annunciation given by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she was to become the mother of the Incarnation of God.
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Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" (Lk 1:28), and Mary's response to God's will, "Let it be done to me according to thy word" (v. 38)
This "angelic salutation" is the origin of the "Hail Mary"
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Easter Donations:
Sacrificial giving nurtures the spirit of the giver and helps to build a better world.
Thank you for your support and generosity.
Easter Collection: $13,189.00
Good Friday Donations: $938.00
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Diocesan Bus Pilgrimage
49th International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Quebec City on June 18-23, 2008.
Bishop Serratelli has called for a bus pilgrimage and is looking for people who will represent our Diocese at this great gathering honoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Call 973-779-0427.
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St Jude the Apostle Church Blood Drive
Sunday, March 30th
8:00a.m.1:00 p.m.
New Jersey is facing a chronic blood shortage. Blood is in constant demand every day of the year. In fact, 9 out of 10 of us will need blood some time in our lives. Without adequate blood supplies the state will be unable to meet our needs.
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Youth Day with Bishop Serratelli
April 27th, 2008
Saint Mary's Abbey, Morristown, NJ
This would be a perfect time to reflect on your relationship with Jesus and the Church. Immaculate Conception Parish has openings for ten young parishioners to attend this conference. Registration is required. Please call the Rectory Office if you are interested.
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The Annunciation of the Lord
This feast is very important in the defense of the life of unborn children. Even with small children, this is a good day to begin teaching about the high value God places on human life. He loved us so much that he became one of us, took on our human nature and became an innocent, completely dependent infant.
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New Jersey's Fifth Annual Pro-Life Youth Rally
will be held at Seton Hall University on Friday, April 18, 2008.
Call 973-761-0201 for more information.
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Retreats
The greatest misfortune is to live and die without knowing God.
St. Claudine Thevenet
Bethany Spirituality Center, Highland Mills, NY is offering the following retreats in April:
+Working from Within-Personal Spirituality and the Healthcare Professional: 4/11-13
+No Future Without Forgiveness: 4/19
+Aging with Grace: 4/20-25
Call 845-460-3061 or visit www.bethanyspiritualitycenter.org
Carmel Retreats
...walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ
+March, 30th: Elizabeth of the Trinity Presentation
+April 13th: Sunday Sabbath Morning for Women
+April 20th: Five Day Directed Retread
+May 4th: Q&A about becoming a Spiritual Director
For more information call 201-327-7090 or visit www.carmelretreat.com
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Looking Forward to a Spiritual Get-Away?
+St. John Vianney Parish is sponsoring an 11 day trip to Lourdes and the Shrines of France, June 5-15, escorted by Fr. Matthew Twiggs. Call 973-208-1200
+Join Bishop Serratelli on a diocesan pilgrimage to the Shrines of France and Lourdes, July 9-16. Call 201-825-3725 or E-mail: greatexinc@verizon.net
+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
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Camp Auxilium is Accepting Registrations
Camp Auxilium is now accepting registrations for Pre-School, Year to Grow, and Kindergarten classes for the 2008-2009 school year.
Call 973-383-2621 or visit www.campauxilium.org.
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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, Harold & May Dickey, Debbie Yodice, JoAnn Ritz 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, Maj. Stephen McKenzie, Ryan Halkirt, Joseph Trainor and CPL Matt Lindquist.
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SAVE THE DATE
April 5, 2008, 10:00am, In the Church
ALTAR SERVER TRAINING
For ALL Old and New Altar Servers
Altar Server Schedule
3/29-30
Sat. 5:00pm NMoscalow, ASica
Sun 7:30 MKHubbard, JOroho
9:00 KMorano, EBriggs
10:30 ERadics, JMcKeever
12:00 JDragon, KCarafello
4/5-6
Sat. 5:00pm CLynch, ERadics
Sun 7:30 MKHubbard, SMorano
9:00 ECox, JHamler
10:30 JFriend, MHocking
12:00 AAllen, EBriggs
12-13
Sat. 5:00pm NCarafello, JMcKeever
Sun 7:30 MKHubbard, JOroho
9:00 KMorano,EBriggs
10:30 CMcDonald, JPayne
12:00 JDragon, NMoscalow
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Blood Pressure Screening
Our next Blood Pressure Screening is this Sunday in the Lyceum after the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Be heart smart and get checked
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SOUPer SUNDAY FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS
The last Sunday of each month is SOUPer Sunday at Immaculate Conception Parish. As always, we thank you for whatever you can offer, it is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your continued support and generosity!
It makes a difference!!
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CATCHING FAITH
A lot of folks would say that you can be a believer on your own, but I'd disagree with them. You can know about God on your own, but believing is a different thing. It gets into your heart as well as your mind, and it settles in and starts to affect the way you talk and act and get along. That kind of believing you catch from others.
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INSIDE THE READINGS
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" is the opening line of today's second reading from the First Letter of Peter (1 Peter 1:3). Here and frequently throughout the letter the author will use expressions from the Old Testament. Psalm 68:20, for example, reads, "Blessed be the Lord day by day, God, our salvation, who carries us."
More important is Peter's reason for blessing God, for praising God. He cites the two great attributes of God in the Hebrew scriptures, loving mercy and fidelity (hesed wemeth). Peter reminds the reader that the great mercy of God makes the baptismal rebirth to a living hope possible. All these graces are available to the Christian because of the resurrection of Jesus (1 Peter 1:3). The fidelity of God preserves an inheritance that will make possible salvation for all, a salvation "that is ready to be revealed in the final time" (1:5).
The Christian is strongly encouraged to rejoice because of the manifestations of God's great loving mercy, beginning with the rebirth of baptism. This joy should be a part of the life of a disciple of Jesus even though there may be suffering "through various trials" (1:6). For the recipients of Peter's letter the sufferings were mainly the attitudes of non-Christians toward the followers of Jesus, involving social and economic hardships. Again, to indicate that even suffering can be helpful, can purify the followers of Christ, there is reference to the Old Testament: "As gold in the furnace, he proved them" (Wisdom 3:6). Christians are to have hope and to rejoice even in the face of hardship, which can make them more Christ-like as they share in the sufferings of their Lord.
Peter also puts great stress on the personal relationship of his readers with Jesus. They are praised for loving Christ, for believing in him even though they have not seen him. These Christians do it all with "an indescribable and glorious joy" (1:8).
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THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
It's been said that it takes a village to raise a child. I'd rather say it takes a community of faith to raise a believer. It's how we come to faith and stay in faith.
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Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD for the Second Sunday of Easter commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis, © 2008 by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. 3/30/08
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