Church Bulletin Week of April 6, 2008
Third Sunday of Easter
On the Road
One central metaphor employed to describe the Christian life is a journey. In today's second reading, Peter addresses the early Christian community: "Conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning" (1 Peter 1:17). When we think of a journey, we normally think of some kind of movement from point A to point B. The Christian journey, begun in the waters of baptism (point A) has as its ultimate destination eternal life with God in heaven (point B). Unfortunately we find ourselves on all kinds of detours along the way. Because of sin, we make foolish turns and sometimes seem unable to detect the presence of the Lord. Today's story of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus illustrates for us the fact that, even when we are dejected or on one of our many detours, the Lord is there, walking right beside us. (c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading: Peter proclaimed to the crowds: God has raised the crucified Jesus, who now pours forth the Holy Spirit upon us (Acts 2:14, 22-33).
Psalm: Lord, you will show us the path of life (Psalm 16).
Second Reading: Our faith and hope are not in the passing allure of silver or gold, but in God who raised Jesus from the dead (1 Peter 1:17-21).
Gospel: On the evening of the first day of the week, through his words and in the breaking of the bread, the risen Christ made himself known to two disciples on their way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Acts 6:8-15; Jn 6:22-29
Tuesday: Acts 7:51 -- 8:1a; Jn 6:30-35
Wednesday: Acts 8:1b-8; Jn 6:35-40
Thursday: Acts 8:26-40; Jn 6:44-51
Friday: Acts 9:1-20; Jn 6:52-59
Saturday: Acts 9:31-42; Jn 6:60-69
Sunday: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 23; 1 Pt 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday: Third Sunday of Easter
Monday: St. John Baptist de la Salle
Friday: St. Stanislaus
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How else but through a broken heart may the Lord Christ enter in? Oscar Wilde
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Liturgical Change at Immaculate Conception Parish
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place at 7:30am after 7:00 Mass on the First Friday of each month. Adoration takes place throughout the day and concludes at Benediction at 7:30pm. The time of Benediction has been extended to accommodate those who are commuting home from work. During Lent Benediction took place before The Stations of the Cross in accordance with Cannon Law. Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction are no longer considered devotions, but rather are a part of the church's official liturgy. Whereas in the past Benediction was frequently added on to the end of another service or devotion (Stations of the Cross), this is no longer permitted. Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction is a complete liturgical service in its own right and is to be celebrated as such.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Collections
Sacrificial giving nurtures the spirit of the giver and helps to build a better world. Thank you for your support and generosity.
Last Sunday's Collection: $4,587.00
Additional Easter Collection: $415.00
Good Friday's “Poor Box” Collection: $235.00 to go to Sr. Thomasina
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
30th Thomasina Golf Tournament
Wednesday, May 14, 2008. Join us for an exciting day of golf and dinner at the Rolling Greens Golf Club or for our BBQ Steak Dinner @3:00pm and the opportunity to win fabulous Door Prizes and a 50/50 Raffle. This event is sponsored by Partnership for Social Services. Call 973-827-4702 for more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark your Calendars
Clothing Drive Fundraiser
Sponsored by Senior Girl Scout Troop 752
Saturday, May 3, 2008…...9:00-2:00 at the Littell Center
Accepting: Clothing, shoes, hats, gloves, coats, blankets, drapes, curtains, stuffed animals, larger baby items all in GOOD condition.
Proceeds go to the Valerie Fund for children with cancer and blood disorders.
Call: 973-462-0356 to make arrangements for drop off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rice Bowl Collection
Many thanks to all who are participating in Operation Rice Bowl this year. If you have not already done so, please bring your Rice Bowl or Rice Bowl envelope to the Rectory or drop it into the collection basket at Mass. Your participation in Operation Rice Bowl helps Catholic Relief Services restore a feeling of hope for millions living with HIV and AIDS across the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Choose Life
The delicate buds of spring, bursting with new life, will soon appear on trees and flowers. Easter brings another, even more precious form of new life. As we value and protect these types of new life, let us act with the same reverence and awe toward the miracle in the gift of each new human being.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RETREATS
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Care Ministers Needed
The Care Ministry serves as a link between parish members who are homebound/sick and active members of the parish. Care Ministry volunteers are willing to drive those in need of transportation, accommodating visits to the doctor, hospital, pharmacy, grocery store, etc. We also try to assist those who cannot get out and need someone to do food shopping for them. Through our Baptism, we are all called to serve the Lord; this may be your way of serving the Lord by volunteering to provide transportation for someone in need in our church community.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Church Ambry
Ambry is the term used to refer to the repository for holy oils. The Ambry is given a special place in the church. The oil used at baptism is chrism, a mixture of plant oil (traditionally olive) and balsam. Chrism is considered the holiest of the oils and is also used at confirmations, ordinations, and church dedications. The other holy oils are the oil of the sick used to anoint those who are seriously ill or near death and the oil of catechumens used to anoint those who are preparing for baptism. These are olive or other plant oils also but with no added ingredients. All three types are blessed by the bishop and distributed to parishes at the diocesan chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning.
A special thank you to the Hasaj Family of Clifton, NJ who generously crafted and donated our Ambry as a gift to Immaculate Conception Parish.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BAPTISM
The faith community of Immaculate Conception Church shares in the joy in the Baptism celebration of
Jack Joseph Boffa
Son of Diane and Joseph
Congratulations. May our lord continue to bless you, guide you, and keep you in His loving care.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bus Trip to Quebec
49th International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City ... 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poverty Around Us
Over the past 30 years, the rate of growth of income among New Jersey's top 5 percent income earners grew 131.9% while it only grew 24.4% among New Jersey's lowers income range earners. To learn more about poverty visit:
www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/poverty .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Family Perspective by Bud Ozar
In today's gospel the disciples were returning home so “downcast” they did not recognize Jesus walking with them. In our homes we can also be so overwhelmed we don't see God with us. Today's gospel tells us to stop each day and open our eyes to the blessings we are to one another in our families.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Honoring Those Who Protect Us - Blue Mass
On Tuesday, April 29th the Diocese will celebrate the Blue Mass at the Cathedral at 10:30am.
This service will honor and recognize the sacrifice of our police, and to remember those who have given their lives in service to their communities. For more information contact Msgr. Giordani at 973-345-4070.
Our police serve selflessly to foster peace and justice in our communities.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bishop's Annual Appeal
Thank you for your generous contributions to the Bishop's Annual Appeal. Parishes that exceed their Appeal goal receive 50% of the cash received over the goal. We did exceed our goal, thanks to your generosity, and will receive a Rebate from the Diocese.
2007 Goal: $12,800.00
2007 Amount Pledged: $18, 203.00
Cash Received to date: $16, 821.35
Rebate as of March 5, 2008: $2,000.67
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vendors wanted for Outdoor Flea Market
Sponsored by Don Bosco Columbiettes #7784
Saturday, April 26, 2008 (rain or shine)
St. Paul's Abbey, Rt. 206N,
Rental Space is $20 per space
Call 973-579-2582 to rent your space.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WANTED Crafters and Venders
Craft Show—Flea Market—White Elephant Sale
Sponsored by St. Jude's Rosary Society Saturday, April 19, 2008, 9:30—3:30pm St. Jude the Apostle Church Hall
Only $15 rent per table. For information call 973-827-2045.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ministry to the Homebound
If you are interested in visiting the Homebound and being part of this wonderful and rewarding Ministry, please call the Rectory Office. Keep all those who care for the elderly and disabled in your prayers, that they may know the reality of Jesus' presence in their daily life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests:
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the Military:
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Altar Server Schedule for 4/5-6 - 4/19-20
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.
4/12-13
Sat. 5:00pm NCarafello, JMcKeever
Sun 7:30 MKHubbard, JOroho
9:00 KMorano,EBriggs
10:30 CMcDonald, JPayne
12:00 JDragon, NMoscalow
4/19-20
Sat. 5:00pm ASica, CBrossman
Sun 7:30 SMorano, JOroho
9:00 AHamler, NMoscalow
10:30 JFriend, DPeck
12:00 ECox, KAllen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BETWEEN THE LINES
Some folks are good at gathering data and from that data making decisions. They deal well with facts and seem to know what the facts reveal. Others work better off hunches. They trust their instincts even when the facts suggest otherwise. For them reality is read between the lines. Sometimes faith is like that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INSIDE THE READINGS
In today's second reading Christians are being urged to be holy. They have been ransomed from their "futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors" (1 Peter 1:18). Becoming one with the Risen Savior demands an essential change in their lives. In 1:16 the author cited the words of Yahweh, "Be holy because I [am] holy" (see Leviticus 19:2). Jesus demands love of enemies and adds, "So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
Peter gives two special reasons for his call to holiness. First, the Father will judge each person's actions impartially. Jesus' description of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31—46) holds everyone responsible for his or her actions. Reverence for the Father is manifested by a life of virtue.
Secondly, the Father ransomed them at an incredible price, "the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb" (1 Peter 1:19). The book of Exodus commands, "The lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. . . it shall be slaughtered during the evening twilight. . . they shall take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb" (12:5, 6, 7). That blood of the lamb ransomed the firstborn of the Hebrews by sparing them from the tenth plague. The blood of Christ, our paschal Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), ransoms all women and men, opening the door to eternal salvation.
Jesus also described his work of salvation as ransoming. "For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). The Son of God, the paschal lamb, sheds his precious blood for the salvation of all.
Peter encourages the recipients of this letter by reminding them that God who is their Father raised and glorified Jesus Christ. Their pursuit of holiness, therefore, will continue successfully because "your faith and hope are in God" (1:21).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
As many have said, life is a journey. Faith, too. And journeys take us to all sorts of unexpected places, or else they're not really journeys. Faith can be one of those unexpected turns in the road that make the journey new.
Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD
for the Third Sunday of Easter
commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis, © 2008 by. J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.4/6/08
While you are visiting the Immaculate Conception web site, be sure to sign in our guest book!!