John Patrick Publishing

1 Business Manager HANK PEKARSKY STAFF DIRECTORY Rev. Jeffrey J. Kegley, Pastor Rev. Richard Osborn, Parochial Vicar Rev. Jordan McConway , Parochial Vicar Carlo Squicciarini, Deacon Martin K. McMahon, Deacon Hank Pekarsky, Business Manager Ext. 232 Laney Wilkens, Sacristan/Altar Server Coordinator William Bill Large, Parish Trustee John Jack Kurkemelis, Parish Trustee Peggy Dunne, Faith Formation ext. 240 Suzanne Pfirrman, Faith Formation ext. 241 Malena Towers, Director of Music ext. 239 Jake Thiringer, Youth & Young Adult Ministry ext. 223 Sharon Crossnohere, HR/Finance Administrator ext. 228 Mary Doughterty, Accounting ext. 237 Jessica Parks, Bulletin Editor ext. 221 George Rahey, Usher Coordinator Brian Dolan, Usher Coordinator Craig Palmer, Principal of St.

2 Mary school Patrick Mullen, Vice Principal of St. Mary school Pg. 1 Thank you for your generosity! OFFICE HOURS & INFORMATION PARISH OFFICE 19 Cherry Tree Farm Rd. 732-671-0071 Middletown, NJ 07748 Fax: 732-671-6125 Parish Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM St. Mary school 538 Church Street 732-671-0129 Middletown, NJ 07748 Fax: 732-671-2653 Finance & Staff Directory Mass Intentions Pastor s Letter Pope s Message Stations, 24 hrs, Adoration Bulletins, Donations, Synod Faith Formation, Lifeteen St. Mary s App, RAS Saint Mary school Music, Ministries Respect Life, Women s Disc. Mass intentions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Table of Content Page Number Week ending March 07, 2022 Weekly drop offs and envelopes $ 18, Parish Giving $ 8, Children $ Ave Maria $ 2, E-Catholic $ Assessment $ Solemnity $ Christmas $ Human Delelopment $ Youth Ministry $ 1, Ash Wednesday $ 6, Mortgage $ Easter Flowers $ Good Friday $ Healing Mass $ MASS INTENTIONS - Second Sunday of Lent Saturday, March 12, 2022 5:00 Deceased Members of the Pepsin Family r/o Maryann Pepsin 5:00 Grace Spitalero r/o The Douglas Family Sunday, March 13, 2022 8.

3 00 People of the Parish 10:00 Nancy Mapes r/o Deborah & John Quinn 10:00 Alex Hoerlein r/o The Gallagher Family 12:00 Lou Sperendi r/o The Stavros Family 5:00 Patrick J. Whalen r/o The McKenna Family Monday, March 14, 2022 8:15 Cornelius Boylan r/o Spellman Family 8:15 Vincent C. Avella r/o Regina & John Begley 12:00 Celedonia Navarro r/o Liza & Robert Patterson 12:00 Mary Dackerman r/o Patti & Mike Lee Tuesday, March 15, 2022 8:15 James Gallagher r/o Mr. & Mrs. James Maltese 8:15 Antonio Panzica r/o Anthony Panzica 12:00 Barbara Spitzfaden r/o The Goss Family 12:00 Beatrice Carney r/o Frank Goss Wednesday, March 16, 2022 8:15 Frank Christiansen r/o Carol Christiansen 8:15 Bridget Jane Lagravenese r/o Loving Grandparents 12:00 Kayla Metz r/o Jeff Duckers 12:00 Maria Farrell r/o The Hibell Family Thursday, March 17, 2022 8:15 Deceased Members of Poole & Quigley Families 8:15 Marie Zaleski r/o Judi & Bert Rodriguez 12:00 Daniel Meehan r/o Deborah & John Quinn 12:00 Beatrice Carney r/o The Goss Family Friday, March 18, 2022 8:30 Jim & Mary O Rourke r/o Daughter 8:30 Shamus of Balley James Duff r/o Pat & Bob 12:00 Jason Henehan r/o Loving Mom 12:00 Joe Stillwell r/o John & Pat Moller Saturday, March 19, 2022 8:15 Special Intentions of St.

4 Joseph r/o Michael Goss 8:15 Eugene & Olga Sabyan r/o Sal & Doreen LaSpata 5:00 Daniel Meehan r/o Carole & Larry Perrine 5:00 Fr. Bill Halbing r/o The Carlucci Family Sunday to Saturday Candles March 13, 2022 to March 19, 2022 Adoration Candle For All Souls in Purgatory Adoration Candle Angela & Alexander Murray r/o Son & Family Adoration Candle Vocations to the Priesthood Saint Mary, Mother of God Sanctuary Candle Saint Mary Ministries Pg. 2 MASS SCHEDULE Saint Mary, Mother of God Church Saturday Vigil: 5:00 Sunday: 8:00 , 10:00 , 12:00 and 5:00 SACRAMENTS RECONCILIATION/CONFESSIONS: Saturday 1:00 to 2:00pm & Thursday 3:30 to 4:30pm SACRAMENT of BAPTISM: 1st & 3rd Sundays 1:30 pm Ceremony BAPTISM PREP CLASS: 7 pm every 2nd Thursday of each month, in the Bulman Center To register call Ext.

5 221 SACRAMENT of MARRIAGE & BAPTISM: Ext. 222 PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Ext. 240 RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA): BORN TO ETERNAL LIFE Denise Hennessey Saint Vincent DePaul Society For assistance call: 732-671-4062 JESUS IS LORD! Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Pope Francis announced the Sixteenth Ordinary Synod of Bishops, which will take place in 2023 in Rome. His theme for the Synod is for a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission. The term Synodality means walking the same road together. We journey as a Church together, all of us Pope, bishops, clergy, religious, and those on the margins. The mission of Christ can only be accomplished by all of us collaborating together to make the Gospel heard in our time. Every age in Church history has had to figure out the best way to proclaim the Gospel and this is our time.

6 Pope Francis has asked for an extraordinary task to be done that is, he wants to hear from every part of the Church throughout the world, those committed to the church, those who have left the Church, never been a part of the church, those who are poor, marginalized and don t feel welcome in the Church. Some say that this is the largest single consultation in the world! We are all asked to join in and be a part in the ways best for us and to be as inclusive as possible. In this consultation, Pope Francis asks us to consider this question of proclaiming the Gospel and continuing his mission through prayer and discernment together. His overarching question is: What does the Holy Spirit expect of the Church of the 21st Century? Two subsequent questions to be used at the listening sessions to expound on are: 1. How is this journeying together happening today in your parish community, campus ministry, university, school , youth group, religious congregation, or other areas of Church life?

7 2. How are we walking together as a Church, and what steps does the Holy Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our journeying together? The Synod 2023 will have three phases: Phase One: The Diocesan phase in which we will all be able to reflect and give feedback to the Archdiocese December 2021- March 2022. Phase Two: The Continental Phase in which all dioceses will synthesize feedback and send a report to the bishops conference in Washington, DC (USCCB) by April 1, 2022. In turn, the USCCB will then synthesize feedback and send a report to the Vatican Synod Committee by April 2022. Phase Three: The Universal phase, which will be the actual Synod of bishops in Rome on October 2023. Next week, parishioners are invited to attend listening sessions that will be held after the Saturday Vigil Mass and Sunday Morning Masses. your thoughts and suggestions will be noted and sent to the Diocese for Phase two of the Synod.

8 I pray that you can participate next week. Have a blessed week. In Jesus and Mary, Father Jeff Kegley Pastor FR. JEFF KEGLEY FROM THE PASTOR Pg. 3 On this Second Sunday of Lent, the liturgy leads us to contemplate the event of the Transfiguration in which Jesus allows the disciples Peter, James and John a foretaste of the glory of the Resurrection: a glimpse of heaven on earth. Luke the Evangelist (cf. 9:28-36) reveals to us Jesus transfigured on the mountain, which is the place of light, a fascinating symbol of the unique experience reserved to the three disciples. They go up the mountain with the Master, they see him immersed in prayer and, at a certain point, the appearance of his countenance was altered (v. 29). Accustomed to seeing him daily in the simple appearance of his humanity, they are astonished as they face that new splendor that also envelops his entire body.

9 And Moses and Elijah appear beside Jesus and speak with Him about his forthcoming exodus , that is, of his Paschal death and Resurrection. It is a preview of Easter. Then Peter exclaims: Master, it is well that we are here (v. 33). He wished that that moment of grace would never end! The Transfiguration occurs at a precise moment in Christ s mission, that is, after he has confided to his disciples that he would have to suffer many things, [..] be killed, and on the third day be raised (v. 21). Jesus knows that they do not accept this reality the reality of the Cross, the reality of Jesus death , and so he wants to prepare them to withstand the scandal of the passion and death on the Cross, so that they may know that this is the way through which the heavenly Father will lead his Son to glory; by raising him from the dead. And this will also be the way for the disciples: no one can reach eternal life if not by following Jesus, carrying their own cross in their earthly life.

10 Each of us has his or her own cross. The Lord reveals to us the end of this journey which is the Resurrection, beauty: by carrying one s own cross. Therefore, the Transfiguration of Christ shows us the Christian perspective of suffering. Suffering is not sadomasochism: it is a necessary but transitory passage. The point of arrival to which we are called is luminous like the face of Christ Transfigured: in him is salvation, beatitude, light and the boundless love of God. By revealing his glory in this way, Jesus ensures that the cross, the trials, the difficulties with which we struggle, are resolved and overcome in Easter. Thus this Lent, let us also go up the mountain with Jesus! But in what way? With prayer. Let us climb the mountain with prayer: silent prayer, heartfelt prayer, prayer that always seeks the Lord. Let us pause for some time in reflection, a little each day, let us fix our inner gaze on his countenance and let us allow his light to permeate us and shine in our life.