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MONDAY, January 1, 2018 MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (not a Holy Day of Obligation) 9:00 AM Paul Therriault, Jr., r/o Mom and Dad

TUESDAY, January 2, 2018 7:00 AM Carol Sullivan, r/o Michael & Doreen Duffy 8:45 AM Deacon Lou Rusignuolo, r/o Anne Marie Nappi

WEDNESDAY, January 3, 2018 7:00 AM Rose McCabe, r/o Dindayal Family 8:45 AM Evelyn Tavares, r/o Daughter

THURSDAY, January 4, 2018 7:00 AM Adolfo Gomez, r/o Waldron Family 8:45 AM Jane Alencewicz, r/o Nancy Lanza

FRIDAY, January 5, 2018 7:00 AM George Pevarnik, r/o Gertrude Zafian 8:45 AM Audrey Angrisani, r/o Val Henningsen

SATURDAY, January 6, 2018 8:00 AM Ann Priestley, r/o Tom & Linda Dunbar 5:00 PM Rocco Fariello, r/o M/M John Bizzoco 7:00 PM Jim D’Addezio, r/o Feeney Family SUNDAY, January 7, 2018 7:00 AM Living and Deceased member of the parish 9:00 AM Purgatorial Society 10:45 AM Adolfo Gomez, r/o M/M Connie O’Donnell 12:15 PM John Falzone Sr., r/o Tom & Janice Michnewicz

Remember and pray for the sick of the parish, those who are hospitalized, and their caregivers:, Vicki Piceni, Crystal Williams, Mary Fredericks, Michael Christie, Dolores Robinson, Ronald Harvey, Hedy Moskwa, Rose Thompson, William Kriston, Salvatore Aloe, Ann Marie Puchala,, Annie Panaccione, Sister Rose, Pauline Mendicino-Franke, Sadako Vargas, Robert Grecco, Finny Saporito, Maeve Cullinon, Sophie Ryan, Victor Rosales, Johnny Marques, Mary Bowkley, Baby Matteo, Danny Sheldon, John Mihalko, Artie Palumbo, Eileen Reilly, Baby Lucas DeCarlo, Sandra Lynn Place, and please remember our service men and women in your prayers. Let us pray for our recently departed brothers and sisters and reward them a place in heaven and eternal rest.

THE RECTORY WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY JANUARY 1

The Bread and Wine have been offered in loving memory of

Rita Feighan From Dunbar & Napoli Families

and Deacon Lou Rusignuolo From Anne Marie Nappi

The Sanctuary Light Has Been donated in loving memory of Enza Pagano From Loving Family

Next Baptismal class will be January 16, 2018. Please call the Rectory to register.

First Reading: Gn 15:1-6, 21: 1-3 Abram shows us the Lord keeps His promises, for his offspring were indeed many, like the stars in heaven. We, too, must trust in the Lord, so like Abram, our families might prosper.

Second Reading: Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 By faith Abraham and Sarah were blessed with Isaac, and through him, many descendants because they trusted in God’s promise and believed in what they could not see. We see that faith, trust and prayer bring forth God’s miracles in our lives.

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 Jesus was brought to Jerusalem to be consecrated according to the law of Moses. A man named Simeon had learned he would not die until he had seen God’s anointed. Upon seeing Jesus, he immediately declared he had witnessed “the glory of your people of Israel.” The prophetess Anna also gave thanks and spoke of Jesus to all who would listen. Both recognized the power of Jesus, although he was still an infant.

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH DECEMBER 31, 2017

SJV SENIORS Our next general membership meeting will be on Wed. Jan. 3 at 2:30, 2018 at 2:30PM in the school cafeteria. Prior to this meeting, there will be an Executive Committee meeting at 1:30 PM in the conference room off the narthex. It’s fun Bingo and you know what the prizes are! All seniors are invited to join us. Don’t forget to bring cereal for the homeless children at Ozanam Family Shelter. For info call Madeline at 732-381-1858. See you in the New Year!

BASKETBALL

FREE THROW CONTEST

The Knights of Columbus Council 6571 is once again pleased to announce that under the sponsorship of Saint John Vianney's parish, they will be conducting the Saint John Vianney annual basketball free throw contest in the school gym on Wednesday January 17, 2017, from 6-8 PM. There is no admission charge, but try to bring some proof of ID. The contest is open to ages 9 to 14. Contest registration begins at 6pm. In the event of a substantial snow event the alternate date is January 22, 2017.

You Can Save Your Marriage!

Retrouvaille – A lifeline for troubled

marriages Has your marriage become unloving or uncaring –your

relationship grown cold, distant– thinking about a separation or

divorce? Are you already separated/divorced but (both of you)

wish to try again – then the Retrouvaille program may help

you. RETROUVAILLE (Rediscovery) sponsored by the

Family Life Office/Diocese of Metuchen consists of a weekend

experience for couples (no group discussions) with six follow-

up sessions. The next program is scheduled for the weekend of

February 9-11, 2017. All inquiries are confidential. For more

details please call the Family Life Office 732-243-4573, Rich

& Annette Colasuonno 732-236-0671 or Tom & Pat McTague

732-583-4468 (evenings).

CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

With Fr. James Hagerman and Msgr. Edward O’Neill

MAY 8 – 17, 2018 $3,495.00 ALL INCLUSIVE FROM NEWARK NJ

Brochures with more information and registration forms can be found at the Rectory. Pilgrimage Tours can be reached at 1-800-278-1351 or email at PilgrimageTours@aol.com

St. John Vianney School News

Happy New Year to all of our students and their families!

School will reopen on Tuesday, January 2.

Please remember that in the event of a school closing, you will be notified by the School Messenger system. You can also listen to WCTC 1450 AM on the radio or tune in to WCBS Channel 2, News 12 New Jersey, or Channel 11 on TV for closings or delayed openings. We will also post closings on our school website.

We are once again taking part in the AOH Plunge for Catholic Education on Sunday, January 28, at 2 PM at Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright. All proceeds will be used for tuition assistance. Pledge forms are available on the school website at school.sjvianney.com.

St. John Vianney Children’s Choir to sing

at Rutgers University!! Our parish children’s choir has been selected to sing the

national anthem at the Rutgers Men’s basketball game

against Perdue on Saturday February 4th 2018!! What a

wonderful opportunity for our children to be chosen to

sing for this event!! All the children will be on the court

to sing at the beginning of the game. We are so excited

that we are opening up this event for the whole parish to

experience together!! Tickets are $15, and we will be

reserving a section of seats just for SJV parishioners and

family members. The game begins at 4:00 pm at the

RAC in Piscataway NJ. Please call/text e-mail Jamie

Frame (908 331-0471 jframeiii@yahoo.com) for tickets!!

PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND WITH FR. JOSEPH KUBIAK

August 3 – 12, 2018 $2,950.00 all inclusive from Newark

For more info call 732-574-0150 or Phyllis at 732-566-4115. Also www.sjvianney.com

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

“They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Now there was a man in

Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout awaiting the

consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him… He came in the Spirit into the

temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law

in regards to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God saying, ‘Now Master you

can let your servant go in peace.’”

How often we have attended a baptism, as parent, godparent, big brother or sister, relative or

friend. Some assumed the role of Joseph and Mary, others that of Simeon, or Anna who

prayed. Whatever our role, we are called to recognize the special presence of the Christ as they

did. Joseph protected, Mary reflected, Simeon prayed and praised. We do too.

Pope Francis in his exhortation ‘The Joy of Love’ provides a terrific teaching as we bring one

year to a close and turn the page to a new year of grace. He says, ‘Family prayer is a special

way of expressing and strengthening this paschal faith. A few minutes can be found each day to

come together before the living God to tell him of our worries, to ask for the needs of our family,

to pray for someone experiencing difficulty, to ask for help in showing love, to give thanks for life

and for its blessings and to ask Our Lady to protect us beneath her maternal mantle. With a few

simple words, this moment of prayer can do immense good for our families.’

As we hear of all the new year’s resolutions, may we see this as our priority.

HIS WORD TODAY BY REV. WILLIAM J. REILLY

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUNDAY READINGS