DEPENDING ON GOD
“Getting by with a little help from our friends” is not an idea that began with the Beatles. Certainly the idea of “getting by with a little help from God” goes back at least to the first reading today from Exodus. How we get that help, however, is the key to this weekend's scriptures.
No matter how inadequate Moses felt to the task God had given him, he persevered—even though he needed help from the people around him. The Israelites especially depended on God for freedom. The woman in the Gospel, desperate and destitute, had no one to depend on, but still she would not give up. She could not afford to bribe the unscrupulous judge, but she pestered him into weariness until finally he met her demands.
We sometimes need to turn to others to help us through difficult times; but if we always turn to God, we won't be disappointed, for our help, the psalm assures us, is from the Lord. © Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
 
 
 
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. —Psalm 121:1-2
 
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday: Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time;
World Mission Sunday
Tuesday: St. John of Capistrano
Wednesday: St. Anthony Mary Claret
Saturday: Blessed Virgin Mary
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READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Rom 4:20-25; Lk 12:13-21
Tuesday: Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21;
Lk 12:35-38
Wednesday: Rom 6:12-18; Lk 12:39-48
Thursday: Rom 6:19-23; Lk 12:49-53
Friday: Rom 7:18-25a; Lk 12:54-59
Saturday: Rom 8:1-11; Lk 13:1-9
Sunday: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps 34; 2 Tm 4:6-8,
16-18; Lk 18:9-14
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TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading — As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight (Exodus 17:8-13).
Psalm — Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121).
Second Reading — Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed (2 Timothy 3:14 — 4:2).
Gospel — Will not God secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? (Luke 18:1-8).
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May the special graces of baptism, through water and the Holy Spirit lead you to everlasting life. Our parish community rejoices with you and gives praise to God for this new gift of life. God bless…
Jacob Robert Francis
son of Kim and Scott
Gavin Michael Graham
son of Jessica and Carl
Congratulations and may our Lord continue to bless you, guide you and keep you in His loving care!
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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: $5,106.00
Mission Sunday Collection: $1,394.00
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Congratulations to
Paul and Dolores Nugent
who celebrate their
50th Wedding Anniversary!
May God bless you with many more years filled with blessings, contentment and joy.
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SOUPer Sunday Food Drive
Next Weekend October 27-28
The last Sunday of every month is designated as SOUPer Sunday. Donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, cleaning products and scripts are needed.
Contributions are brought to the Partnership for Social Services Family Center's Food Pantry. Through your good will, generosity and kindness we will be helping to meet the needs of the less fortunate families in our Community. As always, we thank you for your continued support and whatever you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
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Attention Singers!
Lessons and Carols choir practice begins next Sunday, October 28 in the church from 6:00—8:00 p.m.
Adults and teens are encouraged to participate in our annual celebration of the holy season's readings and song. The only requirement for participation is the ability to consistently attend weekly practices until the performance date. Lessons and Carols will take place on Sunday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m.
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Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service
Once again, we are organizing our annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Children's Choir which will sing on Tuesday evening, November 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church on Main Street. Youth from our parish and area congregations are invited to participate in joyful song for this annual joyous community event. Children of all ages are most-welcomed!
Three important practices will be held on Tuesdays, October 30, (no practice on November 6), November 13, and on the day of our Service, November 20. We practice from 4:45 to 5:30 inside our Church. Some bright new music plans are in the works! Please MARK YOUR CALENDAR with these rehearsal dates today! Let's introduce Fr. Bogie to our community traditions with the rousing participation so indicative of all our dedicated Youth Music Ministers!
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 Help reduce poverty in the United States
“Poverty Around Us”
new information shared weekly
Fifty percent of all jobs in New Jersey pay less than $33,000 annually. A minimum wage worker would need to work 120 hours a week to afford an apartment in Morris, Passaic or Sussex Counties. To learn more about poverty visit ...
www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/poverty
www.actnow.org/docs/07/First-Things-First-New-Jersey.pdf
www.lsnj.org/PDFs/budget/FinalBenchmarksReport012507.pdf
www.njpp.org/rpt_fallingshort.html
Catholic Charities USA
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Support Immaculate Conception School
Scripts cards are available for a variety of stores including ShopRite, Weis, A&P, Staples, JC Penney, Sussex Meat Packing, Wendy's, Panera Bread, and many, many more! The cards may be used for your regular purchases or as gift cards. To purchase contact Marie McKeever or Kathy Trainor at the school, 973-827-3777.
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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
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 Sunday Social
Stop by the Lyceum after the 10:30 a.m. Mass to enjoy a light breakfast with Fr. Bogie and fellow parishioners.
The Parish community expresses deep gratitude to all of the parishioners who volunteer to help with the preparations each week.
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Prayer Shawl Ministry
Prayer Shawl Ministry Meetings are held in the Ministry House once a month. The next Prayer Shawl meeting will take place on Monday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. New members are always welcome. No knitting/crochet experience necessary. Come join us to knit and pray as we create mantles of caring for the person who will receive the shawl.
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Children's Liturgy of the Word
Ministers are needed to teach Children's Liturgy. Children's Liturgy is offered at the Saturday, 5:00 p.m. Mass, and at the Sunday 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. Masses. If you have interest in becoming a minister for Children's Liturgy please contact Cynthia at 827-9575.
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Parish Cookbooks
Parish Cookbooks are available! 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!
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Please Consider Helping Meals on Wheels!
Become a volunteer for Sussex County Meals on Wheels. By donating one hour a week of your time to help deliver meals in your community, you will enhance the wellbeing of a homebound senior citizen. For more information call 973-209-0123 and speak with the Volunteer Recruiter.
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1st Annual Healthy Living Festival
for Seniors
Saturday, October 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
at Hardyston Middle School
183 Wheatsworth Road, Hamburg
Free Health Screenings, Medication Review, bring your meds to review with pharmacist, Information and Life Enrichment Exhibits and Entertainment provided
SHIP Counselors on-site—bring your list of medications for assistance with choosing a Medicare Part D plan.
Vaccine Clinic: Flu-$15, Pneumococcal-$35, Tetanus-$15
No charge for seniors who present a Medicare card. Call for an appointment 973-579-0570.
Sussex County Division of Senior Services 973-579-0555.
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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.
Join us for the next meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 7th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Ministry House.
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LIFENET will be holding an adult training seminar for youth leaders, teachers, parents and people with a heart for youth called “True Love Waits 1” which is a program to empower young people to save sex for marriage. Come and be trained to present this 5-session program to your youth group or high school and jr. high school age students and see resources to help you communicate the message of sexual purity in an interesting and positive way. Saturday, November 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Church in Denville. Sponsored by LIFENET. For further information call 732-264-1865 or visit www.lifenetnj.org.
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Announcing Sr. Helen Prejean
“Dead Man Walking:
The Journey Continues”
St. Mary's Parish in Pompton Lakes is pleased to announce that Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, will visit on Nov. 9th to talk about the death penalty. Sr. Helen's talk “Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues” will enlighten all. This internationally know speaker and author of “Dead Man Walking“ and “The Death of Innocence: an Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions” is a sought after lecturer. Donation: Adults $10, Seniors/Students $7
Friday, Nov. 9 at 7:00 p.m.
in the Carnevale Center at St. Mary's Parish
10 Lenox Ave., Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
Join us to hear this impassioned speaker and best selling author who with restrained outrage brilliantly dismantles the legal and religious arguments that have been used to justify the death penalty.
Sr. Helen will be available after her talk to personally autograph copies of her books.
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Give God a Second Thought
Revival and Renewal through
Our Lady of the Lake Parish Mission
with Paulist Fr. John E. Collins, CSP
October 27-31, 2007
Starting at the weekend Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sunday: 7:45, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 noon and 6:30 p.m.
Mission Services: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at the 8:30 a.m. Mass and at 7:30 p.m.
Children's Mission: each night 7:35 to 9:00 p.m. in Cassidy Hall. Movie, refreshments, discussion. Costume Party on Wednesday!
OLL, 294 Sparta Avenue, Sparta. 973-729-6107
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Please remember to pray for our parishioners and friends who are ill:
In Nursing Homes: Ceil Williams, Pauline Trofimuk, Anna Elekes, Betty Swetz and Frank Kalafut.
At Home: Loraine Schenker, Maria Woppel, Diane Sidoli, Robert Zeuner, Evelyn Caljean, Danielle Dionisio, Thomas Dionisio, Jr., Steven “Itchy” Novak, Flo Yurchak, Ethel Segarra, Mary Carmody 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 and Tom Oroho.
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A Family Perspective
Even though many “neither fear God nor respect any human being…” today's gospel assures us God will see “justice done” and tells us to “pay attention” because God expects we will “secure the rights of his chosen ones.”
by Bud Ozar
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Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Project Graduation Committee
offers tickets for the
“Simon Evening of Giving”
at Rockaway Mall on Nov. 18th 6:30-10:00 Rockaway Mall closes to the public and is open exclusively to ticket holders for an evening of promotions, wine and cheese, family entertainment, and more! Tickets are $10.00 with a $7.00 return to support Project Graduation. Contact Michelle Sydoryk at 827-5491 for tickets and further information.
Throughout the year Project Graduation raises funds to provide the students with an evening of fun and entertainment at a local health spa facility on their graduation night where they are together, safe, away from substance abuse, alcohol, and off the roads. Supporting Project Graduation supports parent's hopes and may save lives and future dreams of our youth.
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Altar Server Schedule
Next Weekend's Masses
Saturday 10/27
5:00 p.m. J. Dragon, C. Brossman
 
Sunday 10/28
7:30 a.m. J. Oroho, J. Williams
9:15 a.m. K. Morano, S. Morano
10:30 a.m. J. Friend, J. Friend
12:00 noon N. Carafello, K. Carafello
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LIFE'S KNOCKING
Though we may at times miss the life around us, we find hope in the promise that it's not God who is inattentive and indifferent—it's us. Still, life keeps knocking on our door. People tend to hear this week's Gospel parable about the widow who keeps knocking on the judge's door as a story about God who eventually gives in to the widow. Maybe it's more a story about us eventually giving in to God.
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INSIDE THE READINGS
Saint Paul met Timothy at Lystra on his second missionary journey. Paul writes to Timothy, "I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you" (2 Timothy 1:4—5). Timothy became a very important part of the life and ministry of Paul. He often traveled with the apostle and was given important missions. "I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be heartened by hearing news of you" (Philippians 2:19).
Today's second reading from 2 Timothy is an exhortation to Timothy to be faithful to his ministry at Ephesus. He was given charge of the Christian community in that important city. Paul encourages Timothy to remain faithful to his Christian instruction and also to the "sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15).
The subsequent verse is extremely important for the Church's teaching on biblical inspiration, the fact that God is the principal author of every book of the Bible, working with human co-authors. This text (3:16) is quoted in the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, n.11, Vatican Council II.
"Since all that the inspired authors or sacred writers assert must be considered as asserted by the Holy Spirit, one should affirm that the books of Scripture teach firmly, faithfully and without error the truth that God decided to put down in the sacred writings for our salvation's sake. Thus, 'all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness.' "
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THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
Perhaps today's Gospel parable is really saying, "Don't lose heart; God will not give up knocking on your door." The good news is that God refuses to lose heart with us, like the widowed woman who refuses to quit knocking. Neither will turn away and go home, not from the judge's barred and silent door or from ours.
 
Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis, © 2007 by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. 10/21/07
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