st. ann roman catholic church · 2020. 3. 29. · st. ann roman catholic church 781 smith road,...
TRANSCRIPT
St. Ann Roman Catholic Church
781 Smith Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054 Phone: 973-884-1986 / Fax: 973-884-0940
www.saint-ann.net
March 29th, 2020 PARISH STAFF
Rev. Edgar O. Rivera, Pastor 973-884-1986 ext. 201 / [email protected]
Rev. Mr. Nico Quintos, Transitional Deacon 973-884-1986 / [email protected]
Deacon Al Frank, Permanent Deacon/RCIA [email protected]
Deacon Len Deo, Permanent Deacon [email protected]
Sr. Frances Sanzo, SSC Pastoral Associate/DRE
973-884-1986 ext. 202 / [email protected]
Ginny Bissig, Pastoral Associate Safe Environment Coordinator
973-884-1986 ext. 204/[email protected]
Nancy Goddard, Bookkeeper 973-884-1986 ext. 205/ [email protected]
Joe Pisauro, Secretary 973-884-1986 / [email protected]
Caitlin Seymour, Youth Ministry/Confirmation 973-884-1986 ext. 203 / [email protected]
Louis Castano, Music Director 973-884-1986 ext. 206 / [email protected]
Elena Bocchino, Adult Choir Director [email protected]
Kathleen Astrella, Youth Choirs Director [email protected]
Parish Office Hours
Closed until Further notice
Mass Times
Monday-Friday: 8:30 AM (chapel)
First Fridays: 12 NOON (chapel)
Saturday: 5:00 PM (Vigil)
Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
Holy Days of Obligation
7 PM (Vigil) & 12 NOON (church)
ST. ANN CHURCH MINISTRIES
Altar Server Coordinator Kathy Iradi 973-887-6064 Children’s Church Jennifer Lepre 973-460-5154 Door Hospitality Maureen Como 973-334-6963 Lazarus Ministry Ginny Bissig 973-884-1986 x 204 Lector Ministry Cindy Golembuski 973-723-4885 Lydia/ Troy Hills Ministry Sr. Frances Sanzo 973-884-1986 x 202 Ministers of Holy Communion Vince Blazovic 973-884-0355 Prayer Shawl Ministry Loretta Blazovic 973-884-0355 Samaritans Nancy & Joe Pisauro 973-884-3236
Baptisms
Saturdays at 11:00 AM Sundays at 10:30 AM Mass
Confessions
Saturdays at 4:15 PM or by appointment
Marriages Please contact Fr. Edgar
at least one year in advance
Anointing of the Sick
Please call the Parish Office
ALL MASSES SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
THE CHURCH IS OPEN DAILY FOR PRIVATE PRAYER FROM 1PM TO 4PM. CLOSED ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS FOR SANITIZING. PLEASE PRAY FOR A QUICK RESOLVE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
MASSES ARE LIVE-STREAMED ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, SUNDAYS AT 10:30 AM, MONDAY - FRIDAY AT NOON.
MASSES FOR THE WEEK
SUNDAY 3/29 Mass 10:30 AM, Live-Streaming on Facebook Fifth Sunday of Lent
MONDAY 3/30
Mass 12 Noon, Holy Hour 6:00 PM, Live-Streaming on Facebook
TUESDAY 3/31 Mass 12 Noon, Holy Hour 6:00 PM, Live-Streaming on Facebook
WEDNESDAY 4/1
Mass 12 Noon, Holy Hour 6:00 PM, Live-Streaming on Facebook April Fool’s Day
THURSDAY 4/2 Mass 12 Noon, Holy Hour 6:00 PM, Live-Streaming on Facebook St. Francis of Paola
FRIDAY 4/3
Mass 12 Noon, Holy Hour 6:00 PM,
Live-Streaming on Facebook
First Friday
SATURDAY 4/4
St. Isodore
SUNDAY 4/5 Mass 10:30 AM, Live-Streaming on Facebook Palm Sunday
ST. PETER ITEMS FOR MARCH:
Laundry and Dish Detergent, Soap, Shampoo, Tooth Paste, Toilet Tissue
In honor of the Lord’s presence, the Sanctuary lamp will burn this week beginning March 29th for Ralph Giuliano.
GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING March 22nd, 2020
$816.00 $1,637.00
$2,453.00
$6,060.00
Week’s surplus/(deficit) ($3,607.00)
The Building Our Future Campaign Team would like to thank all participants in the campaign. Our goal is to involve every parishioner in this exciting initia-tive. There is still time for you to be a part of the campaign by honoring or memorializing a loved one or family with a brick, a leaf or a rock as we lay the foundation for the fu-ture of Saint Ann. The campaign runs through June 30, 2020, so please be sure to pick up a brochure on your way out. If anyone has questions about the campaign, feel free to contact the co-chairs Chris Toomey (973) 420-3639 or Ben Bakas (908) 342-5677.
On-line Giving A big thank-you to those who use on-line giving and to those who continue to mail donations during this difficult time. Our church’s expenses continue even during this state of emergency so please continue your generosity.
The 2020 Golf Outing like many other events has been post-poned! Stay tuned for more information in the future! Please disregard the mailings you received regarding the golf outing as the mailing "crossed in the mail" before the Coronavirus warnings and stay at home mandates happened!
St. Ann Social Seniors Club The Social Seniors meet every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 11 AM at the Parsippany Community Center in Lake Hiawatha. All 60 and older are welcome. For more info please call Emilio Prisco, 973-887-6655.
Gospel Message
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, March 29, 2020, “Those who believe in me, will live”
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"Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live." (Jn. 11:25) Brothers and sisters in Christ, death shall not hold captive those who believe in the Lord Jesus. Praise God for the gift of life!
Today we are entering the fifth and last week of Lent. This will be followed by "Passion Sunday," (Palm Sunday) and finally the Holy Week that will reach its peak on Easter Sunday. The next two weeks are a very special time for our brothers and sisters in Christ who have come home through their conversion to the Catholic Faith. They are now preparing themselves to receive the Church Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. And for those of us who have already been baptized, this will be a time of renewal, when we will reaffirm our belief in the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church.
One of the beliefs that is found in our faith is that our physical bodies shall all be raised one day. Those who believe in Jesus, although they physically die, they will live. (Jn. 11:25) When departing from this world, when our physical bodies die, our souls shall rise to Heaven to await the last day of this world when all the physical bodies shall be raised from their graves. (1 Cor. 15:42-55) Since today's readings all appeared to speak of the resurrection, my ser-mon shall expand on the subject.
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life." (Jn. 11:25) In other words, He is the difference between life and death. Those who come through Him who is the "one Mediator between God and humankind," (1 Tim. 2:5) they shall share in the blessed hope that is found in the Divine Plan of Salvation.
Today's Gospel reading sends out two messages to those who hear it. First of all, through our living faith in Jesus, all our physical bodies will be raised in the final resurrect. Secondly, especially now with the approaching of Easter Sunday, we are called to symbolically resurrect from sin to grace by partaking in the Sacrament of Confession to cleanse our souls so they may be pleasing to God, now and forever. Therefore, let us march forward faithfully in our blessed hope, knowing that those who believe in Jesus, will live.
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No palms next week…but Easter is still April 12. It’s obvious this is going to be an unusual Easter in the Church, thanks to COVID19. On our website you can read Bishop Serratelli’s mandate about next Sunday – Palm Sunday – and the rest of Holy Week. Although I had earlier thought about blessing palms and leaving them out for those who visit our church, Bishop instead says we will simply bless them at another time to be determined. (Good thing too, because we ordered $200 worth!)
The mandate against gathering for Mass and other liturgies remains in effect but we are in good shape as far as his suggestion to live-stream. As those of you who have already discovered, my daily Mass has been available on the Saint Ann Facebook page for more than a week and that will continue.
As for the sacred three days (Triduum), Bishop has ordered some adaptations to the liturgies: on Holy Thursday (no foot-washing); Good Friday (no veneration of the cross); and Easter Vigil (no fire). Our confirmations that night are also postponed. Other rituals remain in place. So it is very, very possible to have a holy week, one that takes us to the glory of Easter.
As I said in my homily a week ago, there are so many other spiritual practices we can engage in with our families as we remain in our homes. Prayer - including the rosary and stations of the cross - is essential. Many versions of the stations can be found on line. Also on line are the daily Mass readings – and they can’t be easier to access.
Type in usccb.org for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website. The landing page includes a calendar on the right side. Simply click on the date and the lectionary readings will be displayed for that day.
Also, the church remains open Monday to Friday for private prayer from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM , closed Saturdays and Sundays for sanitizing. Mass is live-streamed on Sundays at 10:30 AM with Praise and Worship at 10:00 AM. Mass is Monday to Friday at Noon and Holy Hour at 6:00 PM.
I leave you my blessing and prayers for your health and wellbeing during this trial. Peace. Fr. Edgar
PARISH PRAYER LIST
If you wish to place or remove a name on the Prayer List, please call the church office at
973-884-1986. If you know of someone in a hospital, homebound
or care center, and would like the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick or a visit, please contact Fr. Edgar and/
or Sr. Frances.
PRAYERS NEEDED Prayer to Saint Raphael Angel of the Sick
May the Angel, Raphael, physician in care of our health, come down from Heaven to cure all who are sick, especially,
Gail Egan, Dona Van, Irene Dekker, Rocco Martone, Erin Cox, Roxanne Klein, Rachel Brzostowski, Alex Garfinkel, Jack Gumersall, Jean Burge, Patricia Baio, Judy Grasso, Joseph Percoco, Bob Lapin, Daniel Paglia, Kyle O’Brien, Mark Berkowitz, Stefanie Appel, Anthony Michael LaSpina, Peyton Zitelli, William DeGrosky, Marcia Kirincich, Ida Kelly, Margie Benefico, Ralph Valentino, Christopher Plaxe, Sienna Ferrugio, Kendra Bramble, Jane Zegarski, Andrew Bergman, Ethel Illuzzi, Gil Peterson, Jim Frederick, Sebastian Quinn, John Oscovitch, Linda Gearty, Megan Szaloczy, Barrett May, Norma Scinto, Justin Brown, Erika Gruisc, Mimi Mutty, Dana Pierce, John Mulhall, Emil Schneider, Phyllis Wyks, Anita Nurge, Carla Fresco, Mary Pat Kelly, Dwight Bellinger, Susan Katsekas, Sharon Acquaire, Sam Frisoli, Connie Bravo, Eugene Tappan, Ryan Whittom, Lou Borzone, Arlene Michalski, Joyce Salvi, Carol Weiss, Bernie Reidinger, Barbara Rotunno, Sr. Margaret Strauch, John Favia, Dorothy Collins, Doug Schroeder, Sara Fresco, Paul Spina, Judith McBride, Guy Schwanse, Linda Morris, Howard Grant, Bobby Visoskas, Autumn Iwaszczuk, Suzanne De Filippis, Maria Fiore, Joseph Mandrillo, Judy Fallon, Sylvia Leone, Francine Kramer, Anthony + Lenny Valentino, Arleen Christe, Alzate Vargas, Andres Felipe Gomez, Len Valentino, Elizabeth Keller, Dana + Donna Melillo, Sophia Leogrande, Paula Esposito.
Be with us, O Archangel, called the Medicine of God; drive
away diseases of the body and bring good health to our minds.
Lord, hold our troops in Your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them, and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need, and bring them home safely. May their sacrifices bring
about a lasting and just peace to those lands. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Savior. Amen.
Travel in the Footsteps of St. Paul! Join Deacon Len & Andrea Deo as they travel in the footsteps of St. Paul. In 11 days (Rescheduled to October 10th to 20th, 2020) you will travel
throughout Greece to places like Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Patmos, Phillipi, Thessalonki, and more. In-cluded will be a 3-day cruise on the Luis Hellenic Cruise Lines. Cost including airfare, all travel, break-fasts and dinner is $4,499 per person double occupan-cy. Registration deadline is September 20, 2020. For more information please contact Deacon Len Deo at 973-464-7622. Come join us!
SOS—WE NEED YOUR HELP! The Don Bosco Columbiettes are sponsoring a cam-paign to seek our Blessed Mother’s intercession for Salvation Of Souls. Please support this endeavor to collectively say ONE MILLION HAIL MARYS by praying and reporting the amount of Hail Marys you have said. This campaign runs to May 31, 2020. A dedicated e-mail address has been set up at: [email protected] to receive tallies from anyone at anytime. Please ask family members, friends, neighbors, church groups, etc. to pray Hail Marys to help in obtaining this goal. Thank you for your assis-tance.
An email to Fr. Edgar Hello Father Edgar, I hope you’re doing well. Thank you for celebrating mass today. We watched it as a family and your words were a source of calm and inspiration. Thank you so much. We all miss being in church. My daughter Cate misses helping as an
altar server. I’m sharing a picture of Cate drawing our church altar at the end of your service today. We hope to see you soon and please stay well and healthy. God bless, Jeff Estilo and family
If you are able to come to the Church for prayer, we still have some crosses, please take one and make someone a Happy Easter. Return by April 5. Thank-you. Sr. Frances
Prayer of Pope Francis for Protection and Help O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm. You…know what we need, and we are sure you will pro-vide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of those of us who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and Blessed Virgin.
Celebrate! MARCH
MARCH 29/FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT. John 11:1-45: When Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus died, Jesus came to be with them. He cried with them and prayed with them. He gave them a message of hope: “I am the resurrection and the life” and brought Lazarus back to life. / Do you know someone who is lonely because a loved one has died? Call them and invite them to be with your family.
Now that Catholics are spending unprecedented amounts of time at home, how can we continue to stay spiritually engaged and even grow during this time? 5 Ways to Stay Spiritually Engaged at Home. 1. Build a home altar or shrine. Setting aside a sacred space in your home encourages your family to pray. Candles, a crucifix Bible, holy water, and your favorite sacred icons and images can all be placed around a small table to uplift the soul to God. 2. Participate in the Mass. While Mass may be suspended in many places, Catholics can still participate in the Holy Mass via livestream and worship as if they are actually there. During this time, Ascension will be livestreaming Sunday Mass celebrated by Fr. Mike Schmitz at 10 AM on YouTube and celebrated by Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia at 11 AM on both YouTube and Facebook. 3. Pray a daily family Rosary. Set aside 20 to 30 minutes each day to gather around your home altar as a family and to pray the Most Holy Rosary for a swift end to the pandemic, for all those afflicted, for all healthcare workers, for the souls of the faithful departed, and any intentions you and your family may have. 4. Gain a plenary indulgence every day of COVID-19. The Church grants a plenary indulgence to all those who are suffering from the coronavirus, to healthcare workers who are treating those affected, and to all the lay faithful. In order to obtain the plenary in-dulgence, Catholics must have the will to fulfill the usual conditions as soon as possible and do one of the following spiritual acts: For those suffering from the coronavirus & healthcare workers treating them: Attend Mass (even if this is only possible through video streaming). Pray the Rosary. Pray the Stations of the Cross. If Mass, Ro-sary, or Stations of the Cross is not possible, pray the Apostles’ Creed, an Our Father, and a Hail Mary. For the rest of the lay faith-ful: Visit the Blessed Sacrament. Read the Bible for at least half an hour. Pray the Rosary. Pray the Stations of the Cross. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The spiritual act must be offered for the following intentions: the end of the pandemic, relief for those afflicted, and eternal salva-tion for those whom the Lord has called to himself. 5. Study God’s Word. Start a virtual small group, continue your existing small group via video chat, or study Scripture on your own with The Great Adventure Catholic Bible. By studying God’s Word and pondering it in our hearts, we will grow in our faith and fall in love with Scripture.
A CHARACTERISTIC OF AN EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP FOR LENT - COMMITTED
I remember Jim Valvano, Jimmy, to many, saying the words “Don’t give up, you can never give up”. The former coach of the NC State men’s basketball team was dying of cancer, yet he refused to throw in the towel and give in to his disease. His words exemplified the best of the human spirit we all share. Sometimes, living out those words seem much more diffi-cult than saying them. These words are also important for our faith life. The life Jesus calls us to is not easy. When working toward a life of greater generosity and surrender of all to God, we are prone to fall flat on our face many times. We are not called to this life only when we are strong. It is how we respond when times are the most difficult that truly defines us as disciples and stewards. The world may think we are down for the count, but rising again gives testimony that in Christ we are strong-er. Commitment takes a willingness to do the things needed to get stronger and build our spiritual muscles. We cannot ex-pect to find success in the spiritual life unless we continue to work on our resolve and grow in our knowledge of the faith. A marathon runner would never be able to make it to the finish line unless they have trained and prepared in advance. We must work hard to stay the course and prepare for the race at hand. No matter what this life may have in store for us, we are called to not give up. God will never give up on us. Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK First Reading: During the dark days of Israel’s exile in Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel foresaw God’s resurrection and restoration of His people. As the season of Lent comes to a close, what parts of your life are still in need of God’s restorative power. Second Reading: Paul assured the believers in Rome that “the Spirit of God dwells in you” and that this same Spirit will raise you from the dead. What gives you confidence in Paul’s words? Gospel Reading: John tells us that after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, many “began to believe in Him.” On what grounds do you believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior?