JOURNEY OF FAITH
We are on a long and eventful journey. Today's readings for Trinity Sunday succinctly cover the depth and breadth of our human travels.
The very beginnings of our journey are revealed in the reading from Proverbs. God's plan filled with divine wisdom was born before the earth was made. In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks of his own personal journey. He has come from the Father and will return to the Father. Only then will the Advocate—the Spirit of Truth—take us onward.
This does not diminish the fact that the journey will be hard. The very setting of the Gospel is the night before Jesus died. As Saint Paul writes to the Romans, “We even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).
Ultimately, our human journey is modeled by the Holy Trinity—a family of love among Father, Son, and Spirit that we are all called to emulate.
© Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday: The Most Holy Trinity
Monday: Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Tuesday: St. Boniface
Wednesday: St. Norbert
Saturday: St. Ephrem; Blessed Virgin Mary
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Tb 1:3; 2:1a-8; Mk 12:1-12
Tuesday: Tb 2:9-14; Mk 12:13-17
Wednesday: Tb 3:1-11a, 16-17a; Mk 12:18-27
Thursday: Tb 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a;
Mk 12:28-34
Friday: Tb 11:5-17; Mk 12:35-37
Saturday: Tb 12:1, 5-15, 20; Mk 12:38-44
Sunday: Gn 14:18-20; Ps 110; 1 Cor 11:23-26;
Lk 9:11b

The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
–Romans 5:5b
TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading — The wisdom of God played on the surface of God's earth, finding delight in the human race (Proverbs 8:22-31).
Psalm — O Lord, our God, how wonderful you name in all the earth! (Psalm 8).
Second Reading — The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us (Romans 5:1-15).
Gospel — The Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth (John 16:12-15).

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...
Riley Elizabeth Simon
daughter of Heather and James
Cooper Stephen Randall
son of Carolyn and Stephen
Gracemarie Cynthia Williams
daughter of Shannon and Robert
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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: $5,849.00
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
Why is it so difficult for us to let others express their emotions when they have experienced a loss? Loss is a part of life. The need to express our emotions is natural and healthy and a part of being human. Being able to feel pain, sadness, and anger means we are alive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To express my gratitude to you all, I extend an invitation to a special celebration today, Sunday, June 3rd at the 12:00 noon Mass with a reception in the Lyceum afterwards. I look forward to this time with you.
Many thanks,
Fr. Martin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next Prayer Shawl Meeting will be held on June 18th at 7:30 PM in the Ministry House. Faithfully, those who are involved in this ministry knit into the mystery of God's loving presence. Our knitters (and crocheters) have created many shawls, throws or scarves to be given to those who are suffering a loss or celebrating joy, to friends and to family members near or far away.
Please join us in this loving Ministry. We share prayers and stories that affirm the power of God's presence. Some of us knit quickly and others at a leisurely pace. Some of our members are experienced knitters, others are beginners. All are open to God's loving presence working through them. If you are unable to attend the meetings but would like to create a shawl you may still be part of this ministry.
If you would like to donate yarn or needles that you no longer use, or if you know of someone who would benefit from receiving a Prayer Shawl, please call Isabel or Janice at 973-827-9575.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wanted - Part-time cleaning lady one or two times per month for about 3 hours. Needed for disabled parishioner with severe allergies. Private home in Franklin. Salary to be discussed. Please call 973-209-2660- ask for Diana.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let us pray for all judges, that they may seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in decisions about the right to life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hibernian Charitable Events, Inc.
is proud to sponsor the
3rd Annual AOH Golf Outing to benefit Project Self-Sufficiency ,on June 12, 2007 at the Ballyowen Golf Club, Hardyston, NJ.
There is a 9 AM Shotgun Start. The cost is $185 per participant or $700 per foursome. The cost includes golf, deluxe BBQ buffet of hot dogs, hamburgers, garden salad, macaroni & potato salad, pies, complimentary two hour beer, wine and soda.
For information on sponsorship, donations and participation, please call 973-823-0980 or 973-810-3837.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please Note: Concert time is 5 PM
TODAY - Sunday Afternoon, June 3, 2007 AT 5 PM at:
St. Francis De Sales Church
Route 517, Vernon, NJ
The Artists:
Leslie Newman, Flute, David Niwa, Violin, Ah Ling Neu,
Viola, Wolfram Koessel, Cello, Gail Niwa, Piano
Program:
Mozart Quartet for flute and strings K. 285
Prokofiev Sonata for flute and piano Opus 94
Smetana Piano Trio in g minor Opus 15
Post-Concert Bonus!
Present your ticket stub to receive a free desert with the purchase of an entree on 6/3/07 at the Crystal Tavern, Crystal Springs CC, Route 94, Hardyston. Reservations strongly recommended, call 973.827.1587.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TENTH ANNUAL SUMMER INSTITUTE
at the COLLEGE OF SAINT ELIZABETH
July 8-19, 2007
July 9th - Opening Event with Dr. Phyllis Zagano
Week 1 Classes July 9-12 featuring Patricia Ann Garrido, D. Min., Dr. Joseph Martos, Dr. Lucinda Nolan
Week 2 Classes July 16-19 featuring Dr. William Cavanaugh, Dr. Doris Donnelly, Rev. Jerome Murphy-O'Connor
July 14th Spirituality Festival with Carol Dempsey, OP, PH.D and Dr. Paul Lakeland
For more information call the Center for Theological Development at 973-290-4300 or visit our website at www.ces.edu/center.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on;
“Twas not given for thee alone, Pass it on;
Let it travel down the years, let it wipe another's tears,
“Til in Heaven the deed appears - Pass it on.
Henry Burton, Pass It On
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Immaculate Conception Regional School
Come ... visit us!
Do you have a 3, 4, or 5 year old child?
Are you interested in a Catholic education for your child/children?
Immaculate Conception Regional School offers full and part-day Pre-K and full day Kindergarten, as well as before and after care.
Call the office at 973-827-3777 for more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 $1,618.00 p/p. Call 973-764-4457 or visit www.olfatima-highlandlksnj.catholicweb.com for more information and for a link to the itinerary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kinship Navigator Program
New Jersey's Kinship Navigator Program is a program to help relatives who take on the responsibility of caring for their relatives' children. These children might be the caregiver's siblings, nieces, nephews or, most often, grandchildren. Taking on the challenge of raising a relatives' child is a big one and New Jersey recognizes that the special “kinship caregivers” need help to find the resources they need. A variety of support services and financial aid is available. Kinship caregivers may be eligible for monthly payments through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and the children they are caring for may be eligible for Medicaid health insurance.
The Navigator Program can help the caregivers “navigate” their way through the government systems to locate local support and help they need like child care, child support information, housing assistance, educational information and legal services just to name a few. Call toll free: 1-877-816-3211 for information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MORRIS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL is searching for Host Families for international students beginning school in the fall. Please contact the MC Advancement Office at 973-627-6674, ext. 136 for information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STEPHEN MINISTRY - If you or someone you know has recently experienced the loss of a loved one, divorce or separation, a terminal illness, or another difficult life change, you may benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister. Stephen ministers provide confidential, one-to-one care for people facing a variety of personal crises. If you have questions, please contact Eileen Theys, Coordinator, at 973-579-6145 or by email at etheys@nac.net. You may also contact Sacred Heart Spirituality Center at 973-383-2620.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
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, Sue Martin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family Perspective
Jesus sounds like a parent when he said “I have much to tell you but you can't hear it now.” Parents thoughtfully balance how much to say and when to say it. Because our children “will speak what they hear”, our “telling” and timing are critical.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saint Thomas of Aquin Parish
in Ogdensburg, NJ is having a trip to Italy from November 4-13, 2007, which includes Rome, Assisi, Florence, Padua & Venice. Brochures and additional information can be obtained by calling Ann Breslin at 201-261-8484. Reservation deadline is July 1, 2007.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.
THE POETRY OF GOD
It sometimes seems that God may be a bit unsure whether our hearts can bear all that God wants to tell us in one sitting. So God says we'll hear it in bits and pieces, over the course of a lifetime. And God tells us not in words but in the happenings of our lives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INSIDE THE READINGS
For some two thousand years belief in one God had been an essential teaching for the descendants of Abraham. Then when Jesus appeared on the scene it was revealed that while there is in fact one God, there are three persons in that God. Not surprisingly, it took the church some time to clarify its teachings concerning the Trinity.
Today's Gospel indicates how the early church and Christians would come to accept the mystery of the Holy Trinity. "But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth" (John 16:13). The Spirit will not produce new revelation, but will clarify and continually apply the words and deeds of Jesus, including his teachings about the Trinity.
There are Trinitarian texts in the New Testament. A familiar text from its use in the liturgy is found in Second Corinthians, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you" (2 Corinthians 13:13).
Today's second reading (Romans 5:1-5) begins the second major part of this letter of Paul. He is outlining the wonderful results of justification: "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:1), and "hope of the glory of God" (5:2). Saint Paul makes clear that all these benefits for the believer are possible because "the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us" (5:5). It is noteworthy that Paul mentions all three persons of the Trinity as he describes their connection with our justification.
Clearly no texts can make possible a human understanding of the Trinitarian mystery. But the church used the interpretation of these texts with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Triune God. Today's readings promise that the Spirit of truth sent by Christ will continue to enable Christians to develop a spiritual life based on the actions and teachings of Jesus.
THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
Because life is so awesome, God tells it in poetry, in glimpses of spirit as in Holy Spirit. And knowing the Holy Trinity is one of the most poetic things to know about God. Life is better understood as a poem than as a news report.
Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD for the Most Holy Trinity commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis, © 2007 by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. 6/3/07