News - April 2017 RSS Feed

The OLM Ladies Guild would like to thank the following families for hosting hospitality after the 9:00 Mass: Scully Family, Giue Family, Ramsden Family, Portman Family, Bournuef Family, Shadek Family, The Portman CCD Class Families and The Ford Family. Please consider hosting an upcoming date. We cannot offer this ministry without your participation. Contact Carla Gear for details at 973-283-8146. One last thing...Anyone interested in becoming the hospitality coordinator? I will be stepping down as my child will graduate from the Jr. Choir in June. Thank you for consideration.

The Easter Collection for this year was $62,629 which is right on our budget budget. To tie last year’s collection we would need to raise $3000. I am optimistic. There is time.

During Holy Week, the roof of St. Anthony’s Church in Passaic collapsed making the Church unusable. In an effort to pay for repairs, the parish is holding a 50/50 raffle on June 4th. Tickets are $5.00 a piece or a book of 5 chances for $20.00. They are on sale after Masses. Thank you for your help. Msgr.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to serve at Eva’s Kitchen on Saturday, April, 15th, 2017; Ellen and Bill Sharkey, Stefania Masi, Kenny Mertz, Melissa and Mariline Tavares, Cyndi and Andy Boniface, Eileen Donnelly, and Pat Brinks. A special thank you for the donation of chips and cookies from Cyndi and Andy Boniface and Mariline and Melissa Tavares. Also, thank you to all the volunteers who cooked the chicken casseroles which fed approximately 180 homeless guests at Eva’s.

Please join us next Friday, April 28 at 9:30am in the Ryan Room to experience “The Imitation of Christ”, which is a small book used by many saints including St. Theresa, the Little Flower for spiritual growth. We will read a spiritual lesson and discuss its teaching over the next several weeks. Come and be lifted up by our Lord! For information call Carol Mangani at 973-283-2218.

Please consider teaching in our program come the next school year. We need help for most grades on either Sunday or Monday. This is a joyous ministry where you can see from the get-go you are making a difference in the lives of our children. What a tremendous impact our catechists have on shaping the children of our church. Call Mary Ramsden for more information, 973-838-0567 [email protected].

1. Is there anyone in the parish who is a seamstress who would be able to take our Living Stations costumes and improve them for us? (Add hems and Velcro, etc). 2. The spotlight we have been using is on it's last legs. If any parishioner knows of an organization who has a spare spotlight that could be donated to our Youth Ministry group - it would be very much appreciated!

A heartfelt THANKS to all who brought a goody for the Easter Vigil reception. The OLM community contributions each year make this celebration a success! We continue our holy walk through the Easter season during these fifty days to Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. Believe in the Risen Christ and receive anew the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Peace of Christ. It is YOU that Christ calls to the mission of evangelization. Christ does not call the equipped but equips those he calls. Say ‘Yes’ to His Call and be filled with His Holy Joy of Easter!

Please visit the OLM Adult Choir page and click on "2017 Easter Celebrations" to videos videos recorded by Tom McCloskey during the Easter celebrations.

Next week, April 23, is 4Get-Me-Not Sunday.  Our generous donations of non-perishable food have been very much appreciated. They help to keep food on the shelves for our poor at the Fr. English Food Pantry.  Pastas, rice, canned and breakfast foods are always needed. Thank you!

The entire staff of OLM extends to the parish their best wishes for a holy and Happy Easter. As a part of our Easter celebration we are giving out free copies of a small book entitled “Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody” by Allen R. Hunt. Msgr. Carroll read it on the plane from Florida. It is only 108 pages long and consists of 12 stories. PLEASE TAKE ONE. Happy Easter!

Walter J. Huber was an active parishioner of OLM for over 30 years. He was a Eucharistic Minister, a member of the K of C, a man of faith who literally clothed the naked and fed the hungry of Paterson. Twice a month his employer allowed him to fill up his school bus with clothing from the parish House of Hope and drive it to St. Martin de Porres Village with Conor Spillane as his co-pilot. He loved his wife Nancy of 29 years and looked after her in such a loving way. He loved the children and grandchildren who called him their Opa. Unless someone else has a better idea, Msgr. Carroll would like to rename the House of Hope in his memory and call it the Walter J. Huber House of Hope! May he rest in peace.

We do not have a gated parish cemetery and therefore security is difficult to enforce. We have received reports that flowers and decorations do go missing from time to time. A parishioner recently positioned a camera near his wife’s crypt and he has a good picture of another parishioner stealing his plants. If this doesn’t stop he will turn over the pictures to the police.

GIFTS NEEDED We are looking for items to be auctioned at the golf outing. Do you have baseballs, basketballs, footballs, hockey sticks, helmets, art work, jewelry, etc. collecting dust? Msgr. Carroll would gladly take off your hands. Call at the rectory 973-838-6838 ext. 100 or cell 973-713-3746. We will authenticate it. BOOSTER BOARD AND RAFFLE Purchase a booster for $20 and be a part of this great event! All Boosters will be entered into a raffle and have a chance to win a brand new Apple iPad. Winner will be selected at the outing and need not be present. Sign up after Mass or stop by the Rectory before June 5th.

Our previous youth minister Branden Kasper became a Dad on April 10th. He and his wife Ally are proud parents of a little girl Camryn Lora. God Bless your family!

Jesus said; “Follow Me, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. The fullness of life was won when the tomb was empty and the Lord rose from the dead out of love for you and me. Have you decided to die to your former self in order to be risen with Christ? Have you gone to Reconciliation, been repentant and has your tongue confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord? St. Paul tells us, “Since you were raised with Christ, seek what is from above and since you have died with Christ, you too, will appear with Christ in glory.” This is Christ’s Easter promise to all who believe. It is Christ’s Resurrection that opens the “Way of Salvation” for you. ALLELUIA! When Jesus meets His disciples He tells them, “Do Not Be Afraid.” Why not? During the Consecration and the breaking of the bread at every Mass, and out of love for you, JESUS IS ALIVE AND TRULY PRESENT IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST, reminding you of His words, “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS.” Like the Apostles, do you recognize Him? Is your heart rejoicing and burning with anticipation at receiving His body and blood? It should be for Christ longs to be alive in you. Will you let Him? He has assigned you the job of witnessing for Him as a modern day Disciple. Will you accept? Easter is more than a day of celebration; it is a day of re-commitment to the Lord and His mission, which now belongs to all believers. Out of love for you, Christ’s mercy is deeper and greater than you can ever imagine. Out of love for you, the Lord casts out all fear, for this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Next Sunday is Mercy Sunday so please join us and experience His Divine Love and Forgiveness.

Rice Bowls If you haven’t returned your Rice Bowl box please place them on a table in the narthex of the Church or Chapel. Thank you!

We wish all our parishioners a Good Palm Sunday. A Special THANK YOU to Edna Cucciniello who handmade the beautiful palm frond for our Palm Sunday Masses. Edna is 97 years young and the mother of Bob Cucciniello. We greatly appreciate this special gift for our Palm Sunday celebrations.

This Sacrament will be available on Good Friday, 12noon to 2:30pm. Please take advantage of this great Sacrament of Forgiveness

To our candidates John Yago, Jennifer Tweer, Jamie Conroy and Bob Richardson, who have completed the Rite of Election, Rite of Continuing Conversion, the Scrutinies, Creed Ceremony, Stations of the Cross and Reconciliation. Please continue to pray for them.