Our Lady of Mt. Virgin Church 600 Harris Avenue, Middlesex, New Jersey, 08846

Parish Office: 732-356-2149 Rectory Emergency: 732-667-8034

Fax: 732-356-1302 www.olmv.net

SERVED BY Rev. Patrick J. Kuffner, Pastor Rev. David V. Skoblow, Ch.M., KGCHS, Administrator, dskoblow@olmv.net Rev. Louis A. Mattina, Parochial Vicar x 1008, lmattina@olmv.net Rev. Peter G. Suhaka, Weekend Assistant Deacon John R. Tietjen—jtietjen@olmv.net Deacon John Czekaj—jczekaj@olmv.net Deacon Tom Sommero—tsommero@olmv.net Deacon Edgar Chaves—echaves@olmv.net Dorothy Zmigrodski, Parish Catechetical Leader x 2011 dzmigrodski@olmv.net Alexandria Jones, Catechetical Assistant x 2010 ajones@olmv.net Rives Cassel, Director of Sacred Music x 1105 rcassel@olmv.net Theresa Orth, Youth Ministry—torth@olmv.net Ellen Fleming, Parish Office Manager x 1002 efleming@olmv.net Carol Valente, Financial Manager x 1003 cvalente@olmv.net Gabriella Rosales, Parish Secretary x 1001 grosales@olmv.net Ed Kura, Facilities Manager x 2009 ekura@olmv.net Donald Kornmeyer, Custodian x 2009 MARRIAGES: Couples are encouraged to contact the parish office to begin the Marriage Preparation Program. It is recommended that engaged couples begin this process a year in advance of the wedding. Please contact the parish office for additional information. INFANT BAPTISMS: The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month after the 11:30 am Mass (except during Lent). Families must be registered in the Parish and attend a Baptism Preparation Class. Please contact the parish office for additional information. VISITS TO THE SICK & HOMEBOUND: Priests, Deacons and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring the Blessed Sacrament to members of the parish who are homebound. Please contact the parish office to have Holy Communion brought to those who can not attend Mass or to request the Sacraments of the Anointing of the Sick and Confession.

MASS SCHEDULE: Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. &

5:00 p.m. (Sunday Vigil Mass)

Sundays: 8:00, 10:00 & 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. (Misa en Español)

3:30 p.m. (Chinese Mass - 2nd Sunday of the month)

Weekdays: 7:00 a.m. (M, W, F);

12:00 noon (Tues, Th) Holy Days: 7:00 p.m. Vigil Mass, 7:00 a.m.

and 12:00 noon

ADORATION: 1st, 3rd & 5th Fridays of the month 7:30 a.m.—12:00 noon

and the 2nd & 4th Thursdays from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.

Sunday from 1:00 to 1:25 p.m. (in Spanish)

Parish Office hours: Monday-Friday (8:30 am-4:00 pm)

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 10, 2019

All are encouraged to visit and spend time in prayer and meditation in the church

and in our Meditation Garden.

MASS INTENTIONS

MON. Feb. 11th Weekday 7:00 A.M. +Dr. Lawrence Gross r/o Ann Butera & Family TUES. Feb. 12th Weekday 12:00 P.M. +Link Family r/o Family WED. Feb. 13th Weekday 7:00 A.M. +John Sermonish r/o Anthony Bennett THURS. Feb. 14th Sts. Cyril, Monk and Methodius, Bishop 12:00 P.M. +William J. Henry III r/o Wife Carol FRI. Feb. 15th Weekday 7:00 A.M. +Michelle Colontove Special Intention r/o Capizzo Family SAT. Feb. 16th Weekday 8:00 A.M. +Kimberly Hill r/o Barbara Matay & Moskal Family 5:00 P.M. +Deceased members of the Peterson Family r/o George & Carolyn SUN. Feb. 17th Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 A.M. +Robert S. Johnson r/o Ryan Family 10:00 A.M. +Lorenzo Troia r/o Wife, Gayle & Family 11:30 A.M. +Ginepra Family r/o Rosalinda Scheim 1:30 P.M. +Divino Niño Jesus r/o Iris Rodriguez

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“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘ Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’

‘Here I am,’ I said, ‘send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8) Every day, in little ways and in big ways, God asks, “Whom shall I send?” Whether it is someone to take

on a new ministry, to give a friendly smile to a stranger or say a word of encouragement to a friend,

God constantly provides opportunities to help someone in need. The next time you hear God calling,

have the courage to walk through the door and say “Here I am, Lord.”

GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING February 2-3………………………………………….…$9,203.00 Major Renova ons…………………………...………$1,781.00 Catholic Spirit…………………………………..…………..$256.00 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!! Opportunities to support your Parish

Did you know that in addi on to Mass inten ons for your loved ones you may remember them through the following memorial opportuni es? · Sanctuary Flowers · Altar, Sanctuary or Tabernacle Candles · Medita on Garden Remembrance Bricks · A gi of cash, securi es, or other assets to OLMV.

Please remember Our Lady of Mount Virgin in your estate planning.

There are often tax advantages to charitable donations that

are made as part of estate planning. I invite you to consider Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish as a recipient of your

generosity. Please feel free to contact Father David if you have questions concerning a possible gift to our

church. As always, thank you for your support of Our Lady of Mount Virgin.

FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10-16 Tabernacle Candles Assante & Coppola Families r/o Assante Family Sanctuary Candle Edward L. Clarke r/o Betty Roy

In your charity, you are asked to pray for the repose of the soul of Joseph Mastrull and James Checchio, the father of Bishop Checchio.

A letter from Father David Dear Friends, During the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mt 5:13-16). Jesus uses salt and light as metaphors for truth. Salt and light share this in common: neither is truly appreciated in its own right. Salt is appreciated for enhancing the flavor of the food on which it is sprinkled. Similarly, light is not ad-mired in its own right, but for alighting the objects on which it shines. Salt allows us to better appreciate the taste of the food, and light allows us to better appreciate the objects on which it shines. Salt and light reveal the beauty we find in nature. Simi-larly, truth allows us to appreciate and to correctly respond to the beauty of God’s plan. A world without salt and light is in-sipid and dark. So, too, is a world without God’s truth and God’s grace – it is insipid and dark. But we have God’s truth and His grace. That truth and grace, is a person; and that person, is Jesus Christ. Pope Francis, preaching on this Gospel passage, contrasted the Christian life of salt and light, with what he called “the carnival of human curiosity,” a “pseudo-festive superficiality,” and a “culture of the ephemeral.” Such is a world without grace. Such is a world of mercy, without repentance. For mercy without contrition and repentance lacks substance. Referring to the Beatitudes which precede this Gospel passage, and which ends with a blessing on those who are persecuted for doing the right thing, Pope Francis said that to be Christian is to be persecuted. We are the salt and the light of the world because we are persecuted. Because in our very discipleship, we strive to conform ourselves, not to this world, but to Christ. Conforming ourselves, not to this world that is “running after rehashed lies” and “aching for the balm of unstinting approval.” But con-forming ourselves to Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. Christ, Who is the light Who has come into the world. The temptation is strong to water down Christ’s truth and “to offer the world that savorless darkness with which it has become comfortable – repackaged to look ‘shiny and tasty’ – but still recycling the same old errors.” For Christ’s truth is often an in-convenient truth by today’s worldly standards. Pope Francis decries what he calls “the seduction of subjectivist relativism” and its tendency to seek novelty and appearances over truth.

In his Gospel St. John quotes Jesus as saying “The light has come into the world, but men preferred darkness to Light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the Light and does not come towards the Light, so that his works may not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be clearly seen as done in God.” (John 3:19-21)

The further we get from the Church, which is the sacramental presence of Christ, and the further we get from the sac-

raments, which are the outward signs instituted by Christ by which His grace is dispensed, then the further we get from Christ, Himself, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

One of the worst examples of truth avoidance in vogue today is political correctness. To be politically correct means

to avoid the use of any language that might appear offensive to a particular group in society, regardless of the objective truth of that language. And so in the oft touted “marketplace of ideas” in which we are presumably all invited to participate so that the truth might win out in the end, one side or another is now often prevented, in the name of political correctness, from put-ting forth ideas for consideration lest it offend the sensibilities of the other side, regardless of the truth of those ideas.

And so we find ourselves fearful of being the salt of the earth or the light of the world. Fearful to offer our view of

abortion and euthanasia as forms of murder; same sex attraction as being a disorder calling for compassion; same sex marriage as being a caricature of true marriage; and permanence and exclusive fidelity as being the hallmarks of true marriage and not something passé and a holdover of a bygone era.

But Christ, who is the truth, calls upon each of us to proclaim the truth. Yes, we will be persecuted. Persecution is

the reward of those who speak the truth and conform themselves to Christ and to His Gospel and not to the ways of the world. Persecution is the reward of the righteous.

We are called to be salt and light, regardless of the consequences. Our savor and our light come from fidelity to Christ

– the one who is the way, the truth, and the life. Only by conforming ourselves to Christ can we be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Only then will men see our good works and give glory to the Father in Heaven.

May we have the courage to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. May we have the courage to be Catho-

lic.

Father David

Our Lenten Novena begins on Tuesday, February 19th at 7:00 P.M.

SAVE THE DATES

Bible Study (in Spanish, Deacon Edgar) March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, (Parish Center Meeting Room)

Bible Study (in English, Father Lou)

March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8 (Church)

Fish, Inc. Food Collection. Thank you! God bless you for your kindness and generosity to the needy in our area. We are asking each family to consider donating one or more of the following: • A box of cereal or • A package of rice or pasta or • A canned good item or • A can of coffee or • A box of tea bags or • Any single non-perishable food item

Next Food Collection for Fish, Inc:

February 16-17.

COMMUNITY MASS Sunday, February 17,

10:00 am Mass Children and parents are invited for crafts and refreshments after

Mass in the church hall.

The Knights of Columbus will hold their next business meeting on Monday, February 11th in the church hall at 7:30 pm. Anyone interested in joining the organization should

contact Kevin Mazza at 908-392-2711 for more in-formation.

2019 Bishop’s Annual Appeal Help Build a Civilization of Love

Please watch your mailbox for a letter from Bishop Checchio coming to you this week announcing the 2019 Bish-op’s Annual Appeal. The campaign

will again be conducted during Lent and our parish can earn a rebate of 50% of the amount collected over goal. Through your support of the Bishop’s Annual Ap-peal you help those in our diocese whose needs are the greatest—the poor, the homeless, and those struggling with illness or grief. Among other need-ed pastoral ministries, your gift also supports our Cultural Diversity Ministries and enhances the work of forming our youth. The many pastoral, educational and charitable ministries of the Diocese of Metuchen would not be possible without a gener-ous contribution from every household. Please be as generous as your means allow.

The OLMV Catholic Chinese Community invites you to a celebration of Chinese

New Year on February 10 at 5:30 PM in the church hall.

The activities featured in the celebration include a traditional lion dance, dump-ling making, lantern making for kids, and

some wonderful Chinese foods.

ALL ARE INVITED!

NEW DATE FOR THE OLMV BLOOD DRIVE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 IN THE CHURCH HALL

OLMV ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

“HELP LINE” 732-356-2149 option 6 All calls for assistance

are confidential.

PARISH REGISTRATION: In order to be considered a registered parishioner, an adult (persons 21 years of age or older) must complete and submit a registration form. These forms can be picked up at the parish office. Completed forms must be brought to the parish in person. Please remind young adults (family and friends) that they must be separately registered with the parish. To be eligible to receive sacraments or to receive sponsor letters, persons must be registered and active members of OLMV. ELIGIBILITY LETTERS FOR GODPARENTS AND SPONSORS: Canon Law requires that a person seeking a “sponsor letter” to serve as a godparent for the Sacrament of Baptism or a sponsor for the Sacrament of Confirmation must have received all three Sacraments of Initiation and be a Confirmed Catholic who is active in his or her parish and, if married, be in a valid, Catholic marriage. An “active” Catholic is understood to be a person who is registered, attends Mass regularly, contributes to the support of the Church, and whose lifestyle is in keeping with the Catholic faith. They must ensure that their own school age children are attending Mass, are enrolled in religious education, and have received their sacraments.

Have you visited our Meditation Garden recently? Why not purchase a brick or two as presents for those special persons in your life. Why not memorialize the day of your wedding, the birth of a child, graduation?

What a wonderful gift to give to a loved one--- a memorial which also assists the parish.

Order forms are available at church entranceways. Please contact the Parish Office if you have questions.

IN PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO SERVE Capt Kevin Boyajian—Lakenheath RAFB, England Capt Stanley Benarick, U.S. Army (Res.), Fort Drum (NY) Col Gretchen Wiltse – Deployed overseas Chaplain, Lt Col Stuart King – (Res.) US South-ern Command, Miami, FL Chaplain, Maj Timothy J. Hirten – Osan AFB, Korea Chaplain, Maj Louis A. Mattina – (Res.) Eielson AFB, Alaska A1C Kenneth W. Pine – Dover AFB, DE A1C Kristoffer Engel – Peterson AFB, CO Lcpl. Jack F. Sweeney USMC- Camp Lejeune, NC Lance Corporal Sean P. Dowling, USMC, Camp Lejeune, NC Cpl Brian C. Robinson, USMC, Iraq

Fr. Lou's Military Service Fr. Lou will be away for military service at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, from Sunday, Jan. 20 through Thursday, Feb. 14.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2019-2020 TUITION ASSISTANCE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS OPEN

Families interested in applying for tuition assistance to attend an eligible Diocese of Metuchen Catholic ele-mentary or high school may do so now. The applica-tion process is online through FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment. Online applications must be completed (including supporting documentation) by no later than March 31, 2018. Applications are available in Eng-lish and Spanish. Families that need assistance completing the online application, or need access to the technology to apply, may attend an Application Workshop that is scheduled for February 7 at Perth Amboy Catholic School, 500 State Street, Perth Amboy from 2 to 4 pm, and from 6 to 8 pm.

Boletin en Español Domingo 10 de Febrero 2019

V Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

Boletin en Español: Actividades y Anuncios • Confesiones: Domingos antes de la Misa a la 1:00—1:25 p.m, o llamando a la oficina parroquial para solicitar

una cita para la confesión. • Si desean llevar a la Virgen a sus hogares, se pueden anotar en el libro que esta en la par te de atrás de la

Iglesia por la puerta hacia el parqueo, o llamando a la Oficina Parroquial. • Misas: Todo parroquiano que desee pedir la Intención de la Misa para cualquier domingo deberá venir a la Oficina

Parroquial durante horas de trabajo. De lunes a jueves entre 8:30 am—2:00 pm. Si usted habla Inglés puede venir durante el siguiente horario: De lunes a viernes entre 8:30—4:00 pm. Las Misas se pueden reservar personalmente únicamente. No podemos reservar Misas por teléfono. La donación por una Misa es $10.

• Café Social: Nuevos miembros que deseen ayudar durante el Café son bienvenidos. Para anotarse a ayudar hablar

con Eduardo y Lady Miranda despues de Misa. Próximo café social será el 24 de febrero. • Classes de Inglés: Todos los miércoles en el Centro Parroquiano de 6:00—8:00 pm. • Ayuda a tu parroquia como Lector, Ministros Extraordinarios de la Santa Comunión, Monaguillos.

Necesitamos tu colaboración!!

SERVICIO MILITAR DEL PADRE LOU: Padre Lou estará fuera en servicio militar en la Base de la Fuerza Aérea Eielson, Alaska, desde el domingo 20 de enero hasta el jueves, 14 de febrero.

RESERVA LAS FECHAS CUARESMA

Como preparación para la Cuaresma y nuestras clases bíbli-cas tendremos un Retiro para toda la comunidad el Sábado 2 de Marzo, mas información en las próximas semanas. Con alegría les informamos que tendremos por segundo año nuestras clases biblicas en español durante la Cuaresma, este año nos enfocaremos en los testigos silenciosos del Evangelio. Separé las fechas los lunes de 7:00 a 8:30 pm. Marzo 11, 18, 25, Abril 1 y 8.

Apelación Anual del Obispo 2019 Ayuda a construir una civilización de amor

Por favor, verifique en su buzón de correo una carta del Obispo Checchio que le llega esta semana para anunciar la Apelación Anual del Obispo de 2019. La campaña se llevará a cabo nuevamente durante la Cuaresma y nuestra parroquia puede obtener un reembolso del 50% del monto recaudado durante. A través de su apoyo a la Campaña Anual del Obis-po, sirve a las personas de nuestra diócesis cuyas necesidades son más importantes: los pobres, las personas sin hogar y las personas que luchan con-tra una enfermedad o el dolor. Entre otros ministe-rios pastorales necesarios, su donación también apoya nuestros Ministerios de Diversidad Cultural y mejora el trabajo de formación de nuestros jóve-nes. Los muchos ministerios pastorales, educativos y caritativos de la Diócesis de Metuchen no serían posibles sin la generosa contribución de todos los hogares. Por favor, sea tan dadivoso como sus me-dios lo permitan.