The May Crowning will take place at the 12:00 Mass
on Sunday May 13th
TRUE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Can you imagine a world such as the one put before us in today's scripture readings? Communities of believers everywhere would support and encourage one another and be identified as Christians by the way they love each other. It would be a world with no tears, no death and mourning, no crying out in pain. “Behold, I make all things new,” we hear the Son of God say in the second reading from the book of Revelation (21:5).
Is this world of John's vision only imaginary? Are these faithful followers for whom Jesus prayed only a savior's dream? Today they are put before us as a worthy goal. How much closer can we come to this vision of a true Christian community in our lives today?© Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday:Fifth Sunday of Easter
Thursday:Blessed Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka'i
Saturday:Ss. Nereus and Achilleus; St. Pancras
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday:Acts 14:5-18; Jn 14:21-26
Tuesday:Acts 14:19-28; Jn 14:27-31a
Wednesday:Acts 15:1-6; Jn 15:1-8
Thursday:Acts 15:7-21; Jn 15:9-11
Friday:Acts 15:22-31; Jn 15:12-17
Saturday:Acts 16:1-10; Jn 15:18-21
Sunday:Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Ps 67; Rv 21:10-14,
22-23; Jn 14:23-29
“Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race.”
— Revelation 21:3

TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading — Paul and Barnabas reported how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:21-27).
Psalm — I will praise your name forever, my king and my God (Psalm 145).
Second Reading — God's dwelling is with the human race (Revelation 21:1-5a).
Gospel — This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:31-33a, 34-35).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile......
Albert Einstein
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First Holy Communion
Lord Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of the Eucharist You left us the outstanding manifestation of Your limitless love for us. Thank You for giving these children the opportunity to experience this love. In receiving the Sacrament for the first time. May Your Eucharistic presence keep them ever free from sin, fortified in faith, pervaded by love for God and neighbor, and fruitful in virtue, that they may continue to receive You throughout life.
Congratulations to the following children who received the Sacrament of First Communion here this weekend:
Brittany Bokor
Kayla Bokor
Daniel Bolio
Molly Cheevers
Zoe Colpaert
Kaitlyn Coppolella
Haley Cuniff
Jake DeAnda
Luca DeMarco
Michael Dietrich
William Dietrich
Kurt Driemel
Bryce Falk
Christopher Fischer
Alysha Fluri
Brandon Fonseca
Bryan Fonseca
Sheridan Formoso
Caleigh Fortunato
Austin Goens
Ryan Gutt
Stephen Hamler
Raymond Hentz
John Hoek
Raymond Hoek
Samantha Hopper
Devin Horn
Kayla Klass
Jacob Komnath
Alaina Kurish
Danielle Line
Anthony Marsico
Bethany Martel
John McCloskey
Matthew McDonnell
Emily Millier
Gaige Moore
Benjamin Muller
Ryan Oleksy
Gabrielle Pfeil
Abigail Post
Eric Robertson
Madison Rosko
Lindsay Scriffinao
Taylor Simon
Ryan Smith
Matthew Takesh
Olivia Tarantino
Jarred Traill
Amelia VanArsdale
Kayla Vangelakos
Lindsay VanTassel
Julianna Verso
Jason Vieira
Ryan Weber
Emily Wyer
Lindsay Zugelder
Also special Congratulations to:
Andrew Amati and Samantha & Eric Hemsworth who received the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist for the first time here, last weekend. May our Lord continue to bless you and guide you as you continue on your Journey of Faith!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Healing Mass
On Sunday, May 20th at our 12:00 Mass we will be celebrating a Mass of Healing. Please join us as we come before our Lord asking his care for whatever may be our affliction in body, mind or spirit.
The longing for happiness, deeply rooted in the human heart, has always been accompanied by a desire to be freed from illness and to be able to understand the meaning of sickness when it is experienced. This is a human phenomenon, which in some way concerns every person and finds particular resonance in the Church, where sickness is understood as a means of union with Christ and of spiritual purification. Moreover, for those who find themselves in the presence of a sick person, it is an occasion for the exercise of charity. Prayer for the restoration of health is therefore part of the Church's experience in every age, including our own. At times, Prayer for Healing is combined with liturgical celebrations, for the purpose of obtaining healing from God.
Please send in any special intentions for healing. These intentions will be placed upon the altar during the Mass. As we pray with those present and for their intentions, we will also pray for you and your intentions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you for your support and generosity for last week's collection.
Last Sunday's Collection: $6,120.00
Total Rice Bowl Collection: $749.48
The Rice Bowl Collection from our Religious Education students amounted to $208.66. Thank you to all who participated in the program. Your sacrifice will make a difference in the lives of those in need!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday Breakfast Social
Every Sunday following the 10:30 Mass a group of parishioners come together in the Lyceum and prepare breakfast for 100 people. I sincerely thank them for their generous commitment of their time to the parish. It is a wonderful opportunity for families to get to know each other. On behalf of the parish, thank you so very much ...
Mark and Aimee Zschack
Mark and Claudia Sihelnick
Dennis and Mary Harrington
and the people who keep them all together
the Gleasons, Jim and Cathy
Many thanks, Fr. Martin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Senior Girl Scout Troop 752 is hosting a clothing/toys/bedding/drapes/stuffed animals/baby items DRIVE (to benefit the NJ based Valerie Fund), on Saturday, May 19th. Drop from 9 am - 2 pm at the Gazebo at the Municipal Building , Wheatsworth Road, Hamburg (in case of inclement weather - Littell Center on Munsonhurst Rd). Call Dale 973-462-0356 for more information. All items must be in black garbage bags.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Adoration takes place the last Friday of each month from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ending with a blessing. Parishioners are encouraged to take time out of their busy day to spend quiet time in the presence of the Lord. Please sign up for a time slot that you are available to assure that there is adequate coverage each hour. A sign-up sheet is kept on the podium next to the candle stand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 June 6th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Ministry House.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We often fill our lives with doing for everyone else but ourselves and we put ourselves last on the list. Today will you do something for yourself? God wants us to take care of ourselves as well and we may lose sight of that in our spirit of giving. We are each a unique and beautiful creation of God and giving to yourself what you need is honoring that creation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good News International
Kick Off Concert
An Evening With Tony Melendez
Tony is an internationally known singer/songwriter and author. He was born without any arms and plays the guitar with his feet. He will entertain and inspire you.
The concert will take place on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 8:00pm at St. Veronica Church, 4215 US Hwy 9 North, Howell, N.J. The tickets are $8 per person and special youth group and family rates are available.
Come join us under the tents for an unforgettable evening of inspiring music. You will be talking about this for weeks! Call 1-800-430-0586 for tickets or more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Choose Life...
An assisted suicide bill has again been introduced into the California legislature. Opponents of the bill say that legalizing assisted suicide would turn physicians into killers rather than healers. To assist in suicide goes against the whole ethic of the medical profession.
Let us pray that all those faced with an unexpected pregnancy may be aware of God's presence especially in times of trouble.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adoption and Foster Care Programs
Catholic Charities' Adoption Agency is currently accepting applications for its Adoption and Foster Care Programs. Any interested married couples in our Diocese can contact the adoption office at 973-523-9595 ext 20 or 27 or via email at www.adoptcfcs@optonline.net.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Singles Ministry
Immaculate Conception Singles Ministry welcomes singles of all ages. The Singles Ministry focus is spiritual growth, fellowship and service to God's community. This lay ministry provides an opportunity for single to encourage, receive, and give support to each other in our Faith Journey. For more information on current activities, please call the rectory Office (973-827-9575) and ask for Janice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Lady of Fatima RC Church
Highland Lakes, N.J.
This October the Diocese will sponsor a Pilgrimage to Fatima Portugal to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of Apparitions of Our Blessed Mother to the three shepherd children. It will take place October 9-15, 2007, leaving from Newark.
The cost is $1618.00 p/p. Call 973-764-4457 or visit www.olfatima-highlandlksnj.catholicweb.com for more information and for a link to the itinerary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BRAIN ATTACK!!
LEARN MORE ABOUT STROKE
On May 18, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saint Clare's Hospital - Sr. Catherine's Health Center, 1st Floor- 400 West Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ will have on hand a number of accomplished medical experts to provide free cardiac and stroke screening for men and women.
The event will include:
Blood Pressure Body Fat Analysis,
Height and Weight,
Non-fasting Cholesterol,
Vascular Assessment,
Diabetes Assessment and Education,
Glucose Assessment,
Counseling Services,
Heart Disease and Stroke Education.
To register or for more information, call 1-866-782-5273.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parish Cookbooks
The Parish Cookbooks are here! 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 and they make great gifts!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Sunday Social ~
There will be NO Sunday Social
next Sunday, May 13th!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please remember to pray for our parishioners and friends who are ill:
In Nursing Homes: Anna Elekes, Beatrice Brown, Catherine Alvino, Mary Devine, Richard Gulitus, Betty Swetz, Ed Knight and 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, 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, Tom Oroho, and SSG Mary Lynch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Family Perspective
“As I have loved you, so you should also love one another.” Jesus calls us to be life'-givers' as He gave his life for us. Life for another begins with us. As a life-giver we show our love for one another by sacrificing our opinions, our way, and our pleasures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Camp Auxilium
Interested in a Summer Camping Experience?
Consider Camp Auxilium for girls (age 5-14) and for boys (age 5-10).
For a brochure or more information, call 973-383-2621 or go to www.campauxilium.org.
Camp Auxilium's Annual Flower Sale will take place May 7-11. Flats, hanging baskets, geraniums and more! Beautiful flowers - great prices! Cash, checks and credit cards accepted. For more information please call 973-383-2621.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thomasina Golf Tournament
Mark your calendar for
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
We promise you an exciting day of golf and dinner at the Rolling Greens Golf Club. If you are unable to golf, you are more than welcome to join us for our BBQ Steak Dinner @ 3 PM and the opportunity to win fabulous Door Prizes and our 50/50 Raffle.
Call 973-827-4702 for more information or visit www.partnershpforsocialservices.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER
There seems to be a longing deep inside each of us, a yearning of sorts that we be made new. Though it grows and ebbs, it never really ever goes away. It seems simply to wait for another time to show its face.

INSIDE THE READINGS
Today's Gospel is very short, but extremely meaningful for the development of Christianity. In the preceding verse the reader is told that Judas “took the morsel and left at once. And it was night” (John 13:30). This begins the process of death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. The glory of the Father is seen in the love and power involved with the events of the Son's paschal mystery (13:31).
With tender words, “My children,” Jesus reminds his disciples that he will be leaving, but also assures them, "I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be" (14:3). In the meantime they are to accept and practice his new commandment: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (13:34). The greatness of Christ's love for his disciples and for everyone will be clear as he lays down his life on Good Friday for the salvation of the entire human race. This love demanded by Jesus' new commandment will be a cornerstone of the New Covenant. In fact, this love will identify the Christian disciple (13:35).
In chapter 15 Jesus makes the amazing statement, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you” (15:9). This incredible love of the Savior for us makes it essential that we in turn love all people. Jesus says very clearly during his public life that we cannot truly follow his example of love if we do not reach out to each and every person. “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:43-45). Jesus is making the point that the Father and he love everyone. The goal of each Christian must be to follow that wonderful example.
THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
It is love that makes us new. It is the ultimate makeover, simply because God is love. All of our efforts to remake life can only be meager strivings. In the end it is God who makes all things new, and we are but sparks of God's creation who seek to live in harmony with the Spirit set free by Jesus who is Lord.

Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD for the Fifth Sunday of Easter
commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis,
© 2007 by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.5/6/07