SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY APRIL 23, 2017

MONDAY, April 24, 2017 7:00 AM Theodora Martino r/o Daughter & Family 8:45 AM Carolyn Kearney, r/o M/M Connie O’Donnell

TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 7:00 AM Itana Branche, r/o Imbriani Family 8:45 AM Robert J. Pfaff, r/o Wife and Family

WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 7:00 AM Anna Terranova, r/o Ralph & Dorothy Genova 8:45 AM Tessie Pozyc, r/o Diane Pompeo

THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 7:00 AM Mary & Thomas Parrillo, r/o Family 8:45 AM Michael Hanley, r/o Family

FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 7:00 AM Ramon Olaya, r/o Bernie Dieguez 8:45 AM Manuel Campolargo, r/o Wife

SATURDAY, April 29, 2017 8:00 AM Grace Angela Folgar, r/o Candace Evans & Tiffany D’Arpa 5:00 PM Rosario Alberto, r/o Famiglietti Family 7:00 PM Dominick Cavallero, r/o Family

SUNDAY, April 30, 2017 7:00 AM Living and Deceased Members of our parish 9:00 AM Bernice Nufrio, r/o Sheila Williams 10:45 AM Antonio Rego, r/o M/M Volpe 12:15 PM Geraldine Trasente, r/o SJV Altar Rosary Society

Remember and pray for the sick of the parish, those who are hospitalized, and their caregivers: Jeff Robinson, Kate, Gloree Parker, Alex Perialis, Vincent Dell’Aquila, Margaret Batista, Olivia Pullen, Jane Cordi, Andrew Rodriguez, Rose Thompson, Hailey Noble, Annie Panaccione, Hugh McCague, Salvatore Aloe, Michelle Valian, Josh Estenes, Nicholas, Jacqueline McDonough, Mary Bowkley, Baby Matteo, Ronald Kutsy, Andrew Merlo, Millie Calandriello, Rosie Catalon, Terry Briante, Lisa Auerbach, Judith McCabe, Danny Sheldon, John Mihalko, Artie Palumbo, Eileen Reilly, Baby Lucas DeCarlo, Bethany Ciccarelli, and please remember our service men and women in your prayers. Let us pray for our recently departed brothers and sisters, especially: Anna Kreutzer, Lillian Wzorek and reward them a place in heaven and eternal rest.

2018 MASS BOOK NOW OPEN

The Bread and Wine have been

offered in loving memory of Tadeusz Kubiak

From Anne Marie Nappi

GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING Collection for Easter 4/16/17 was $37,269.00 May God bless you for your generosity.

Next Baptismal class will be May 16th 2017. Please call the Rectory to register.

Parish May Crowning

Sunday May 7th!!! On Sunday May 7th we invite you to join with our new 1st

communicants for our parish May Crowning Ceremony

following the 9:00 AM Mass. Our children’s choir will lead us

in song during mass and we invite everyone to join us at the

Blessed Mother’s Statue in front of the school following mass

for the crowning. Following the ceremony everyone is

welcome to join us for food and fellowship in the school

cafeteria as we celebrate with all our 1st communicants and

their families. All are Welcome to Attend!!!

Treasures from our Traditions: The May Crowning

So, what is a “May Crowning”? In our church, crowning Mary was associated with adding ornamentation to an icon of Mary, sometimes as simple as adding additional gold trim. Perhaps in homage to this, Pope Clement VIII added two crowns to the icon of Mary with the infant Jesus in the St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome. The crowns were eventually lost, but were replaced by Pope Gregory XVI in 1837 in a rite that was to become the standard practice for Crowning. Parishes and private groups often process and crown an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with flowers. This often is referred to as a “May Crowning.” This rite may be done on solemnities and feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or other festive days, and offers the church a chance to reflect on Mary’s role in the history of salvation. In some countries, it takes place on or about May 1st, however in many United States Catholic parishes, it takes place on Mother’s Day. The custom fell out of practice in some places in the 1970’s and 80’s, but has since made a comeback. An image or likeness of the Blessed Virgin Mary is ceremonially crowned to signify her as Queen of Heaven and the Mother of God. Today, May Crownings occur in many parishes with the crowning of a statue of Mary. The rite may consist of hymns, prayers, and perhaps an act of consecration to Our Lady. The climax of the celebration is the moment when the one of those present places a crown of flowers on Mary’s head accompanied by a traditional hymn to the Blessed Mother. The ceremony usually takes place with young girls and boys carrying flowers to adorn the statue. One of the children carries a crown of flowers on a cushion for placement by the May Queen on the statue. The flowers are replaced throughout the month to keep them fresh.

SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY APRIL 23, 2017

St. John Vianney School News

We hope everyone enjoyed their Easter break. School will reopen on Monday, April 24. Students may now begin wearing their summer uniforms, weather permitting. If the forecast for the day is 50 degrees or below, please do not send your child to school in their shorts as they may be cold and uncomfortable. Now is a good time to check the length of your child’s shorts and skorts. They should come to the top of your child’s knees—if not, they should be replaced. Please refer to the Handbook/Calendar for details regarding the summer uniform.

Now that the weather is getting nicer, we have a few reminders for everyone. First of all, no pets are permitted on the school grounds at any time. Also, we would ask that you do not linger outside the building after dismissal. The playground area is used by aftercare. Children should not be running on the church steps or around the area in front of the church. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in these matters.

Space is available for all grade levels for the 2017-2018 school year. If you would like more information or would like to register your child, please call the school office at 732-388-1662.

Pre-School News

We still have some spaces available for our Pre-School classes for the 2017-2018 school year. If you would like more information or would like to register your child, please call 732-388-1662 to schedule an appointment.

YOUTH MINISTRY This Sunday night the youth group will gather for a game of ultimate frisbee from 7:00pm to 8:30pm behind trailer D. Bring your permission slips for Tooling Around the Township! spread the news...See you there!!

Inviting all St. John Vianney School

Alumni and Parents

Please participate in the First Diocesan Catholic School

Alumni Partnership Survey.

You can find a survey for Alumni and another for parents at:

http://diometuchen.org/AlumniSurvey

http://diometuchen.org/ParentSurvey

Please share this invitation with other family members,

friends and classmates. Here is an opportunity to share a memory or honor that special teacher by mentioning their

names and their impact on you and others.

The Society of St. Vincent DePaul is collecting,

new or gently used Communion dresses, suits and

accessories for those less fortunate in our

community. It is the perfect opportunity to donate

those outfits your child has outgrown to make some

other child’s Communion day just as special.

Please contact Barbara Morrisey 732-501-2195 or

Donna Worosila 732-381-1584 to arrange for a

pick up. Monetary donations are also welcome.

God bless you for generosity during this Lenten

season.

PRO LIFE

There will be no more meetings until September. Maternity donations can be dropped in the crib in the foyer of the church. Both new (especially diapers size 3 to

6) and gently used items are accepted. Please continue to remember the children and families who are helped with your donations. If you have larger items, please call Carolyn at 732-381-0499 to arrange for pickup. Thank you for your continued generosity.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LADIES AUX.#6571

BUS TRIP

ATLANTIC CITY/RESORTS CASINO

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

Bus leaves SJV parking lot at 11:30 AM.

Cost is $25., receive back $25.00

For tickets contact Mary at 732-382-2558

SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY APRIL 23, 2017

MUSIC MINISTRY NEWS Adult Choir

Many thanks to all those in our adult choir for enhancing ALL

the Holy Week Liturgies/Services here at the parish. As

always, I received many compliments on the music!! We are

now beginning to practice for Confirmation (Which will be

held on Wednesday May 10th!). We are always looking for

new people to join with our very dedicated group!! We

welcome all adults (And high school students) to be part of our

choir! The adult choir sings weekly at the 9:00 am mass (And

once a month at the 10:45 am mass). We practice each

Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:00 Pm in the church. Our next

rehearsal will be on Wednesday April 26th!!

Children’s Choir Many thanks also to our children’s choir for an awesome job

enhancing the 9:00 am liturgy on Easter Sunday!! Thanks to

our many soloists and a special thank you to Evan Chin who

did a great job playing the guitar!! We are now beginning to

practice for 1st Holy Communion (Which will be held on

Saturday May 6th). We practice on Tuesday afternoons from

4:00 to 5:00 pm in the church. We sing twice a month at either

the 9:00 or 10:45 am mass! All students from grade 2 and up

are welcome to join our group!! Our next rehearsal will be on

Tuesday May 2nd!! We sing again this Sunday April 23rd

at the 10:45 am mass!!

Folk Group Our Parish Folk Group enhances the 12:15 liturgy each week.

The Folk Group is under the direction of Ms. Jennie Esposito.

Rehearsals are held weekly at 11:15 Am in the conference

room adjacent to the church gathering area. Jennie is always

looking for more singers as well as instrumentalists to join with

the Folk Group! I thank the Folk Group for enhancing the

12:15 PM Liturgies on both Palm Sunday and Easter

Sunday!!

Teenage/College Group This group of young adults in the parish generally enhances the

12:15 Pm mass on the fourth Sunday of each month. Rehearsal

is held at 11:15 am in the conference room. If you sing or play

an instrument, then this group is for you!! Please speak to

Jennie Esposito after 12:15 pm for more information on both

groups!!

You can contact me at jframeiii@yahoo.com with any

questions,

Jamie Frame. Dir. Of Music/Organist

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

COLLECTION DRIVE The Knights will be collecting for

the challenged children’s drive

next weekend, April 29th and 30th

after all the masses. See you

then!

2017 Bishop’s Annual Appeal

Ambassadors for Christ

Ministering to those experiencing pain, confusion and fear,

and those preparing for death is the role of the clergy

assigned as Hospital Chaplains. They respond to calls at

every hour of the day and night providing sacramental and

pastoral presence when needed most. The Bishop’s Annual

Appeal helps to support the work of the priests serving as

chaplains in more than 15 hospitals and health care facilities

located in the Diocese of Metuchen. Last year, our hospital

chaplains made over 40,000 pastoral visits.

If you have yet to make your gift to the 2017 Bishop’s

Annual Appeal, please prayerfully consider doing so today.

Mail your check made payable to the Bishop’s Annual

Appeal to Diocese of Metuchen, PO Box 4000, Metuchen,

NJ 08840-4000 or visit our secure online site at

http://diometuchen.org/BAA. Thank you.

Catholic Charities-Diocese

of Metuchen

Please consider supporting our local poverty relief services by donating gently used clothing, shoes, household items and small appliances to Catholic Charities-Diocese of Metuchen.

Clearly marked donation boxes are available in more than 30 locations throughout our four-county diocese. For a complete list of drop-off locations, visit http://www.ccdom.org/how-you-can-help/clothing-donation-drop-boxes.

If you have an item that is too big to fit in a donation box, call 877-343-3651 to arrange for a free pick up at your home.

“Jesus came and stood among them and

said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” JOHN

20:19 Are you good at making people feel welcome? When you

meet someone new, a new neighbor, a new work

colleague, a new parishioner, do you make them feel at

home? Many of us can probably do a much better job at

this. When we make people feel welcome, we make them

feel like they are included instead of being excluded. A

simple “hello” and a smile goes a long way.

SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY APRIL 23, 2017

SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY APRIL 23, 2017

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUNDAY READINGS HIS WORD TODAY by Rev. William J. Reilly

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers… All who believed were together and had all things in common… Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes… and every day the Lord added to their numbers.”

Such a description seems ‘too good to be true’ but this is the description of the first disciples of the Lord. The teaching of the apostles, the kerygma, telling of the resurrection of Jesus and His victory gave their discipleship new meaning. Like a family, they formed a support group, sharing joy, as well as fears, anxieties and triumphs because Christ was alive. The Eucharist became the common bond, uniting them with Christ and one another. Prayer became a binding force.

Can I not see that my life in my parish, my small group, is a mirror of those described by St. Luke or of those gathered in the upper room? Can the presence of Christ in my life, lead me to recognize His presence in others? Can I truly believe that I am not alone in my faith and move from ‘God and me’ to ‘God and we?’ On Divine Mercy Sunday, it can happen.

HOLY HOUR FOR PRIESTS

A holy hour for priests will be held Sunday, April 30, 2017 at

3:00pm at the St. John Neumann Center in Piscataway (146 Metlars

Lane 08854).

All are welcome. For more information go to

www.diometuchen.org/evangelization and click on ‘Intercessors

for the Shepherds’ or call 732-765-6438.

ELCOME! Our warmest welcome to all who celebrate with us, whether long time residents or newly arrived in the parish. We thank God for you. If you are not registered, please fill out the form below & place in the collection basket or mail to the rectory. Name________________________________________Address____________________________ Phone________________________________________ New Address__________________________________ Send Envelopes________________________________