SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 - stlchester.org Flanagan — Confirmation ... CB Tommy Blackwell S1 –...

Rev. Nicholas Bozza, Pastor 375 Main Street, P.O. Box 730, Chester, New Jersey 07930

Coordinators of Religious Education: Carla Fuscaldo, Dorothy Kudron, Terry Leing

Cynthia Vittitow— Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Brian Flanagan — Confirmation

Kathleen Galdi — DRE Music Minister: Joseph P. Tamburro Youth Minister: Brian Flanagan Mercy Minister: Cindy Zeis

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN: Gr. K-4 & CGS 1: Sun. 9:00-10:45 am Gr. 1-8: Thurs. 4:30-5:45 pm

Gr. 5-8: Sun. 4:30-5:45 pm OR Mon. 7:00-8:15 pm Gr. 9-10: Sun. 5:40-8:00 pm

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: RCIA: Sundays (September-Easter)

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday: 4:00-4:45 pm, Monday: 6:30-7:00 pm & on request.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Please call the Parish Office anytime for communion calls or visitation of the sick and elderly. Keep us informed so that we can be attentive to those who are ill at home or in the hospital.

Parish Email: [email protected]

Parish Web Site: www.stlchester.org

Web Master: Joanne Franklin (908-879-6222)

Welcome Janet Villafane (908) 879-3032 Haiti Twinning Program Christine Colannino (201) 314-9824

Bereavement Don Martone (908) 879-7957 Lectors John Kennington (908) 872-0575

Good Samaritans Patsy Soden (908) 879-3374 Eucharistic Ministers Loretta Stewart (973) 222-7492

Grocery Cards Jean Ward (908) 334-3442 Ushers Bob Holl (908) 876-3488

Moms & Tots Melissa Altieri (908) 797-0676 Music Minister Joe Tamburro (908) 453-3302

Arimathaea Arlene McDonald (973) 584-7319 Spanish Ministry Louis Villafane (908) 879-3032

Liturgical Environment Joanne Carr (908) 879-5543 Youth Minister Brian Flanagan (973) 946-8770

Women’s Cornerstone Judy Irwin (201) 400-7847 Altar Servers Chuck Feller (908) 768-2838

Men’s Cornerstone Marc McFeely (973) 222-9739 Evangelization Bob Holl (908) 876-3488

Pastoral Adv. Board Jerry Frech (908) 377-2900 RCIA Jan Richards (908) 975-3555

Rosary Society Marie Holl (908) 876-3488 Respect Life Connie Wieczorek (908) 879-6453

Media Ministry Jeanne McCormick (908) 879-6884 Barn Ministry Ed Wieczorek (908) 300-0098

Mary’s Moonflowers Karen Jones (973) 479-5271

Rev. Rolands Uribe, Parochial Vicar

Deacon William DeVizio, Permanent Deacon

Trustees: Phil Guidone, Jeanne McCormick

Parish Secretary: Karen Jaworski

Accountant: Sharon McCann Business Manager: Bill McCormick

MASSES: Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm (Spanish), 6:00 pm Daily Mass: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am & 9:00 am, Sat. 9:00 am Holy Day Vigil: 7:00 pm Holy Day: 8:00 am, 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm (bi-lingual)

Healing Mass: 7:00 pm every 3rd Tuesday of month. Rosary at 6:30 pm

BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

SPANISH BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

MARRIAGES: Please contact the Priest/Deacon whom you wish to officiate at your wedding one year in advance to arrange for Marriage Preparation Sessions.

PARISH MEMBERSHIP: Every family moving into the parish is requested to register. If you move to another parish or change your address, please notify the Parish Office.

St. Lawrence the Martyr Church SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017

MISSION STATEMENT St. Lawrence the Martyr Church is a community of Catholic Christians who gather

together to celebrate the Eucharist, their love of Jesus Christ and their love of one another

as children of Christ. We are a diverse community focused on creating an enthusiasm for our faith and enriching the lives for all who come to worship in our parish. Inviting and

welcoming liturgies, multiple youth and young adult activities and adult enrichment

programs all help make the Word of Christ a living reality at St. Lawrence.

Parish Office: 908-879-5371 Priests’ Home: 908-879-1901 Religious Ed.: 908-879-6714 Youth Minister: 973-946-8770 Fax: 908-879-7701

Parish Ministries and Ministry Facilitators

Page Two SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 - THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

USING OUR TIME WELL

A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION The Sacred Scriptures and the saints tell us about degrees of

communion with God. Sometimes they speak about levels of

heaven. Eileen George spoke about levels of heaven. St. Paul,

similarly, speaks about different heavens in II Corinthians 12:2. The Scriptures, in addition, speak about the

angels singing of the glory of God in the “highest heavens.” St Teresa of Avila, in her work on the “Interior

Castle,” speaks of the soul’s journey through seven rooms, finally arriving where God dwells in the “interior

castle.” This was St. Teresa’s way of describing the journey of the soul. The popular American writer,

Thomas Merton, entitled his work on spirituality, “The Seven Story Mountain.” Merton was describing an

ascent to God. All of this is to say that by our efforts to be faithful to God on earth, we can achieve through

God’s grace a greater or lesser degree of communion with Him here on earth and forever in heaven.

This matter of levels of heaven refers to the invitation that God is extending to all of us to come into greater

communion with Himself. We achieve this by prayer time, through the regular celebration of the sacraments,

especially the Mass and Confession, through the process of being purified of our sins, and through the process

of growing in grace and virtue. God offers us grace. He is extending to us an invitation. The graces and the

invitations are available for us to accept or to refuse. The more of God’s offers we accept, the better off we

will be for all of eternity.

The saints say, “Our time of life here on earth is the time of decision.” We need to make good use of our time

and God’s graces while we are here on earth. This time of choices will end with our death.

As we approach the new year, 2018, a great resolution would be to use our time here on earth well in order to

achieve the greatest union possible with the Son, the Father and the Holy Spirit! Happy New Year!

LEARNING ABOUT LIFE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Service Committee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal sponsors a monthly prayer meeting at St. Paul

Inside of the Walls in Madison. The meeting provides an opportunity to praise God together in word and

song, to listen to a teaching on Life in the Holy Spirit, to petition God together, to give witness to God’s ac-

tion in and around us and to socialize with others who are living the life in the Holy Spirit. The meetings take

place on the second Monday of the month. The next meeting is set for January 8 at 7:30 pm.

THE MARCH FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON, DC

JANUARY 19, 2018

Andrew Schlafly, the organizer of the bus ride to Washington, DC, has reserved a bus for all those interested

in taking part in the March for Life in Washington on January 19. The details for the trip will be publicized

shortly. I have attended the March a number of times and I can highly recommend taking part in the day. It

affords an opportunity to be with and support the hundreds of thousands of people who wish to change the

law that legalizes the killing of children in the womb. Children are priceless and so is God’s gift of life.

Please consider taking off from work or school to join us for the March on January 19. We go to demonstrate

and pray for the safety of the children in the womb.

God bless.

Father Nick

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

Page Three SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 - THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

A MIGHTY NEW YEAR / A NEW DAWN

12 months of holiness,

52 weeks of joy & surrender to the Lord,

365 days of prayer,

8760 hours of good thoughts,

525,600 minutes of compassion,

31,536,000 seconds full of faith.

So we wish you a mighty New Year

Immersed in the presence of God.

~ Unknown

WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE SICK . . .

Kirsten Mumma, William Ware, Julio Carrera, Sebastian

Quinn, Ralph Bozza, Sister Eucharia, Bishop Frank Rodimer,

Father Rolands Uribe, Father Eugene Romano, Father Paul

Knauer, Father Rafael Perez, Msgr. Martin Rauscher, Msgr. Richard Rusconi, Msgr. Peter McBride, Patrick John Moran,

Ann Kelly, Lloyd Matsamoto, Helen Crowe, Jane Alt, Pat-

rick Pronio, Allison Spina, Lesley Pawar, Tom Walsh, Steve

Briggs, Brian Graham, Colleen Saito, William Kelly, Mary

Norwood, Mary Lanzara, Rocco Colantuono, Diane Verge,

Cade Feitel, Christine Ambrosino, Carole Stessl, Kathy Boll-

work, Dick Goodwin, Nicholas Brown, Jane Rufino, Kevin

Callahan, Judith Stampone, Jeanette Mahoney, Paul Fitzger-

ald, Charlotte Poth, Colleen Looby, George Serafin, Charlie

Romano, Salman Javed, Joe Cillo, Jerry Green, Mary Con-

stantinople, Dan McGuigan, Patricia Gilvey, Daisy Hallock,

Robert Snow, Ryan Menzel, Vincent & Giuliana Petane, Bet-ty Macaluso, Dorothy Powers, Ellie Cowie, Wesley Snawder,

Jeanne McCormick, Tom Murray, Eidelia Jimenez Martinez,

Mila Balicki, Timothy Gearty, Karen Curley, Consiglia Er-

denberger, Arnold Family, Connie Dziomba, Bonnie Lieber-

worth, Barbara Drive, Jack Ratti, Finn Michael, Olivia Gill,

Maureen Diana, Teresa Smith, Linda Colligan, Frances Fer-

reri, Katelin Riggs, Teresa Colamonaco, Baby Gianni Mazza,

Carol Mattone, Anna Birsilli Garich

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION THIS WEEK

Sunday

• No classes

Monday

• No classes

Thursday

• Gr. 1-8

Sunday

• CGS

• Gr. K-4, 5-8

• Confirmation Session #7

MEETINGS / EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday

• ESL - 7:30 pm

• BOLD PST - 7:30 pm

Thursday

• Moms & Tots - 10:00 am

• Bell Choir - 6:00 pm

• Adult Choir - 7:00 pm

Friday

• Divine Mercy Chaplet - 3:00 pm

• BOLD Middle Ice Skating

Saturday-Sunday

• Welcome Weekend

ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE

January 6-7

5:00 pm

CB – Evan Tusa

S1 – Kath-leen Tusa S2 –

7:30 am

CB – Blake Stevens

S1 Sinclair Stevens S2 –

9:00 am

CB Tommy Blackwell

S1 – Kylie Blackwell S2 – Seth Vittitow

11:00 am

CB Gretch-en Higgins S1 – Trevor Connolly

S2 –

6:00 pm

CB – An-drew Guido

S1 –Ali Wallace S2 – Sofia Uribe

MASS BOOK 2018 Just a reminder that the Mass Book for 2018 is open for

your Mass intentions. Please call or visit the Parish Of-

fice to schedule your desired dates and Mass times.

ST. LAWRENCE CHURCH OFFICES

WILL CLOSE FOR HOLIDAYS

The Parish Office and Faith Formation Office will be

closed from December 26 - January 1. Office hours will

resume on Tuesday, January 2.

CALENDARS FOR NEXT YEAR

Calendars for 2018 are now available.

Be sure to pick one up after Mass.

MARCH FOR LIFE

Friday, January 19, 2018

Washington, D.C. Save the date!

Help us be the voice that supports life from conception to natural death.

FLORAL REMEMBRANCE

PROGRAM

Parishioners have the opportunity to

sponsor a floral arrangement for the

church altar ($125), the tabernacle ($75) or the chapel altar ($100) in

memory/honor of a loved one. If in-

terested, please call the Parish Office at 908-879-5371 to choose an available Sunday (other

than Easter or Christmas) .

Page Four SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 - THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

THE NEW YEAR

May God be with you throughout

the new year,

and fill your life with

comfort, love and peace.

May this day and the days ahead

hold many blessings for you and yours.

Happy New Year!

Fr. Nick, Fr. Rolands,

Deacon Bill, and the parish staff

DAY OF ADORATION & PRAYER Friday, January 5, is a day of adoration and prayer. All

are invited to come to Our Lady’s Chapel from 9:30 am-

8:30 pm. Adoration also takes place each subsequent

Friday from 9:30-10:30 am in the chapel. Make it a New Year’s resolution to spend more quiet time with the Lord.

10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

TO CONSIDER MAKING:

1. Resolve to stay faithful to Jesus Christ. He is the

one Truth, Way and Life. There's no reason to

look elsewhere.

2. Resolve to not let anything – a career, a significant

other, social media, a house – become an object of

worship.

3. Resolve to watch your language and not speak any

destructive talk, especially involving the name of

God.

4. Resolve to prevent burnout by putting aside work

one day a week. Trust God to provide for your

needs that day and just enjoy the time He's given

you.

5. Resolve to talk to your parents on a regular basis

and show them love and respect.

6. Resolve to be angry less. Channel any feelings of

rage, which Jesus said are as severe as murder,

into worshiping God and serving others.

7. Resolve to honor your commitment to your

spouse. Whether in thought or in deed, stay pure

and loyal in the union God made.

8. Resolve to not take anything that's not yours, in-

cluding stuff you can hold and put in your pocket,

and plenty that you can't, like music downloads,

streaming movies and hours on your timecard.

9. Resolve to speak about others only with truth and

love, not gossip.

10. Resolve to be content with what you have and not

worry about that others are amassing.

NEW YEAR MASS SCHEDULE

New Year’s Eve Masses

5 pm, 6:30 pm (Spanish)

New Year’s Day Masses

8 am, 11:30 am

WE WERE ASKED TO ANNOUNCE

Help Needed

Gentleman living in Mendham Area Senior Housing is in

need of a helper for a few hours a day beginning 1-2-18. For more information, please call Joan at 908-391-5942.

Blood Drive

The First Aid Squad is hosting a blood drive sponsored by the

American Red Cross on January 11, 2018 at the Chester Vol-

unteer Fire House, from 3:00-8:00 pm. For more information,

please email, [email protected],

NEW BAPTISMS

We welcome the following children

into out Parish Family through the

Sacrament of Baptism.

Thomas James Siano III, son of Thomas & Jaclyn Siano

of Drakestown Road, Long Valley.

Dylan Kenneth Stanley, son of Mark & Amanda Stanley

of Oak Street, Chester.

MOVING?

LOCAL ADDRESS CHANGE?

Please notify the parish office by phone

or email if you are moving or if your

address has changed. We appreciate your help in keeping our parish directo-

ry up to date.

mailto:[email protected]

Page Five SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 - THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 2018 (New Year’s Day) 8:00 am - Judy Tully

11:30 am - Spec. Int. of Theresa Smith

- Spec. Int. of Denise Cillo

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2018

8:00 am - Maryann Stonelake

9:00 am - Anna Eutize

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018 8:00 am - Tim Parks

9:00 am - Ginger Pagano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018 8:00 am - Anna D’Angelo

9:00 am - Patricia Coari

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018 8:00 am - Graham McCormick

9:00 am - Parents of Mike & Elena Acerra

- Ryszard Stroz

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2018

9:00 am - Josephine Pezzino 5:00 pm - Ruth Colantuono

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2018 7:30 am - For the People of Parish

9:00 am - Sheila Owens Mulcahy

11:00 am - Robert Traynor

12:30 pm - Marylin Diaz

6:00 pm - Gus Jaworski, Jr.

BEARERS OF THE WORD The Church has placed a number of notable feast days

immediately after Christmas. The feasts of Stephen, John

the Evangelist, and the Holy Innocents form a summary

of the life lived in Christ, the Word made flesh. What do these have to do with the feast of the Holy Family which

crowns the Octave of Christmas? These feasts remind us

that suffering will occur in fulfilling the mission of Christ, and that we are all called to be bearers of this

Word whose birth we celebrate.

We also see this manifested in the lives of Joseph and

Mary, both of whom took social and religious risks in

obedience to the will of God, and both of whom were open to the word of God sent to them from on high. In

these ways they prefigured the life of Jesus himself.

Most likely, few of us found ourselves at Mass this past

Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, but the essence of

these feasts and the essence of the holiness of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus remain central, a holiness we celebrate

today.

TIME

Do not squander time,

for that is the stuff life is made of.

~Benjamin Franklin

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — Those who honor their parents will be

greatly blessed and will atone for sins

(Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14) or Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3.

Psalm — Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways (Psalm 128) or Psalm 105.

Second Reading — Be thankful; do everything in the

name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:12-21 [12-17]) or Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19.

Gospel — The child grew and became strong, filled with

wisdom (Luke 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]).

MASS READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7;

Lk 2:16-21

Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28

Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:29 — 3:6; Ps 98:1, 3cd-6; Jn 1:29-34 Thursday: 1 Jn 3:7-10; Ps 98:1, 7-9; Jn 1:35-42

Friday: 1 Jn 3:11-21; Ps 100:1b-5; Jn 1:43-51

Saturday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Mk 1:7-11 or Lk 3:23-28 [23, 31-34, 36, 38]

Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13;

Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

My eyes have seen your salvation,

which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples.

~Luke 2:30-31

NEXT HEALING MASS

Tuesday, January 16

Rosary at 6:30 pm followed by Mass at 7:00 pm

Bring your prayers for physical, mental, financial, rela-

tional and spiritual healing and place your needs before

the Lord. All are welcome!

Tithing: God’s Plan for Giving.

Tithing Income December 24, 2017 $________*

Tithing Income December 25, 2016 $ ________*

* Amount unavailable at time of bulletin printing.

FROM THE PASTOR: “I offer you my sincere thanks

and ask God’s blessings upon you for all of the help that you provide through your sharing of your time, talent and

treasure.”

A TESTIMONY FROM A MEMBER OF SACRED

HEART CHURCH IN SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ: “I

have been tithing faithfully for the past ten years and it is

the best decision that I have ever made. There is an inner

conviction and peace that says you are doing the right

thing and there are other benefits as well. Right now, I

could not afford to stop tithing! God is good and God is

faithful – take the leap!”

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Masses-8, 11:30

2 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Tutoring-4:30

3 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 ESL-7:30 BOLD PST-7:30

4 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9

Moms & Tots-10 Gr. 1-8 Bell Choir-6 Adult Choir-7


Adoration 9:30-8:30

Divine Mercy Chaplet-3 BOLD Middle Ice Skating

6 WELCOME WEEKEND Morn. Prayer-8:30 Mass-9

Confession-4-4:45 Mass-5

7 WELCOME WEEKEND Mass-7:30 Mass-9 Mass-11 Mass-12:30 (Spanish) Mass-6 CGS Gr. K-4, 5-8 Confirmation #7

8 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Confession-6:30 Gr. 5-8 Good Sam.-7

9 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Tutoring-4:30 Rosary Society-7

10 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Moonflowers-7 ESL-7:30 BOLD TNL-7:30



12 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Adoration 9:30-10:30 Divine Mercy Chaplet-3

13 Morn. Prayer-8:30 Mass-9

Confession-4-4:45 Mass-5 First Reconcilia-tion-10, 12 Antioch Team Re-treat (Crossroads)

14 Mass-7:30 Mass-9 Mass-11 Mass-12:30 (Spanish) Mass-6 Antioch Team Re-treat (Crossroads)

15 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Confession-6:30

16 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Tutoring-4:30 Healing Mass-7 (Rosary at 6:30)

17 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 ESL-7:30


Moms & Tots-10 Bell Choir-6 Adult Choir-7

19 MARCH FOR LIFE

Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Adoration 9:30-10:30 Divine Mercy Chaplet-3



21

Mass-7:30 Mass-9 Mass-11 Mass-12:30 (Spanish) Mass-6

CGS Gr. K-4, 5-8 Confirmation #8

Antioch Team Meeting-4:30

22 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Gr. 5-8 Confession-6:30


24 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 ESL-7:30 BOLD PST-7:30



26 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Adoration 9:30-10:30 Divine Mercy Chaplet-3



28 Mass-7:30 Mass-9 Mass-11 Mass-12:30 (Spanish) Mass-6

CGS Antioch Team Meeting 4:30

Spanish Ministry (1:30 library, 2:30 Church Hall)

29 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 Dinner for CASH-5 Confession-6:30


31 Morn. Prayer-7:30 Mass-8, 9 ESL-7:30 BOLD TNL-7:30

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 - stlchester.org Flanagan — Confirmation ... CB Tommy Blackwell S1 –...

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