Our Lady of Mt. Virgin Church - Middlesex

1 Our lady of Mt. Virgin Church 600 Harris Avenue, Middlesex , New Jersey Parish Office: 732-356-2149 Rectory Emergency: 732-667-8034 Fax: 732-356-1302 Our lady of Mount Virgin is a vibrant and welcoming Roman Catholic Parish that, guided by the Holy Spirit, offers opportunities for all to experience God. SERVED BY Very Rev. Patrick J. Kuffner, Pastor x 1006 Rev. Mark Kehoe, Associate Pastor x 1011 Deacon John R. Tietjen Deacon John Czekaj Deacon Tom Sommero Sr. James Xavier Landi , Pastoral Minister 732-609-1091 Dorothy Zmigrodski, Parish Catechetical Leader x 2010 Anita McGinley, Catechetical Assistant x 2010 Rives Cassel, Director of Sacred Music x 1105 Kelly Rooney, Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry x 1108 Elizabeth Graebener, Ministry to Veterans Military x 1109 Ellen Fleming, Parish Office Manager x 1002 Carol Valente, Pastor s Assistant, Financial Manager x 1003 Gabriella Rosales, Parish Secretary / Hispanic Ministry x 1001 Ed Kura, Facilities Manager x 2009 Sean Fleming, Custodian x 2009 MARRIAGES: Couples are encourage to contact the parish office to begin Marriage Preparation Program.

2 It is recommended that engaged couple begin this process a year in advance of the wedding. Please contact the parish office for additional information. INFANT BAPTISMS: The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month after the 11:30 am Mass (except during Lent). Families must be registered in the Parish and attend a Baptism Preparation Class. Please contact the parish office for additional information. VISITS TO THE SICK & HOMEBOUND: Eucharistic Ministers are pleased to bring Holy Communion to the members of the parish who are homebound. Please contact the Parish Office to arrange for a visit by a Eucharistic Minister or to arrange for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. MASS SCHEDULE: Saturdays: 8:00 & 5:00 (Sunday Vigil Mass) Sundays: 8:00, 10:00 & 11:30 1:30 (Misa en Espa ol) Weekdays: 7:00 (M, W, F); 12:00 Noon (Tu, Th) Holy Days: 7:00 Vigil Mass, 7:00 and 12:00 noon ADORATION: 1st and 3rd Friday after the Morning Mass until 12:00noon SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday from 3:30 to 4:15 Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 pm (during Lent) OLMV is open each day until 4:15 pm.

3 All are encouraged to visit and spend time in prayer and meditation in the Church and in our Meditation Garden. Parish Office hours: Monday-Friday (8:30 am-4:00 pm) Fourth Sunday of Lent March 6, 2016 for the Week of March 6 13 Altar Candles Health of Rogers sons r/o Mom Tabernacle Candles Frank Detz r/o Wife, Jean MASS INTENTIONS MON., Mar. 7th Lenten Weekday 7:00 Joseph Deloronzo r/o Audrey Cherubino TUES., Mar., 8th Lenten Weekday 12:00 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Zabczyk & Family r/o Ann Sowa, Daughter & Family WED., Mar., 9th Lenten Weekday 7:00 Rev. Edmund P. Connors r/o Father Pat THURS., Mar., 10th Lenten Weekday 12:00 Mary Pakozpi r/o Frank & Barbara Suchak FRI., Mar., 11th Lenten Weekday 7:00 Parishioners SAT.

4 , Mar., 12th Lenten Weekday 8:00 Special Intention r/o Heinold Family 5:00 John Burke Maggio r/o Mrs. John B. Maggio & Daughter SUN., Mar., 13th Fifth Sunday of Lent 8:00 Ann Cocarro r/o Richard & Linda Miller 10:00 Natale Family Special Intentions r/o Michael & Jackie 11:30 Dominic Franzoso r/o Family 1:30 Comunidad Hispana Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? Here I am, I said, send me! (ISAIAH 6:8) Every day in little ways and in big ways God asks, Whom shall I send? Whether it is someone to take on a new ministry or just someone to open a door for a stranger, God constantly provides doors of opportunity. The next time you hear God calling, have the courage to walk through the door and say Here I am, Lord.

5 GOD S PLAN FOR GIVING Feb. $11, Major Renovations $ Development of $2, Weekly $19, Opportunities to support your Parish Did you know that in addition to Mass intentions for your loved ones you may remember them through the following memorial opportunities? Floral Memorial at the Altar Altar, Sanctuary or Tabernacle Candles Meditation Garden Remembrance Bricks A gift of cash, securities, or other assets to OLMV Automatic Deposit (ACH Banking): Our lady of Mount Virgin Parish has an arrangement with Provident Bank for Automatic Deposit (ACH Banking) for our parishioners. Many parishioners tell me that the only check they write out each week is the one for our Church ; that they do all their other banking through automatic deposit or online. Please find applications for automatic deposit banking that are available around the Church entranceways. Completed forms should be returned to Father Pat. Please contact Father Pat if you want additional information about this program.

6 Please remember in your prayers Father Pat s good friend, Rev. Edmund P. Connors, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, who was called home to the Lord on February 23, 2016. Father Connors helped out on occasion here at OLMV after he retired. May he rest in peace! Lenten Novena this Monday, March 7, 7:00 pm in the Church . Wedding Bans I John A. Comune & Kristine A. Jones DEALING WITH DIVORCED? A self-help support group is being formed at the Cathedral of St Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, for those who are in early stages of a separation/divorce. For more information please contact Vicki 732-548-3170 or Jo Flanigan 732-548-0100 x225. My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, He was lost and now is found. We hear and reflect on these wonderful words of hope and redemption. As he so often does, Jesus tells a story to his listeners---and to us---teaching everyone that God s forgiving love has no bounds. Just like the father in today s parable, God our Father always waits for his wayward children and lovingly welcomes us home.

7 What a powerful lesson for us in this Year of Mercy! Today s parable is a favorite Gospel story. There are two sons. One can t move on from his family soon enough. He wants his inheritance now, and his indulgent father readily gives in to him! Once he has it, he makes one bad choice after another until he is eventually without funds and without friends. He realizes that he has gotten himself into a situation so dire, that even his father s most humble servants are better off than him. Finally he comes to his senses and begins the journey back to his father s house. The other son has been a model child ever obedient to his father. He is out working the fields---giving of himself completely to support his father. The wayward son returns, and when his father sees him, he embraces him and immediately calls for a great celebration. The good son refuses to celebrate. He is angry. He is upset with his father s decision! What a great story of merciful love!

8 What powerful forgiveness of sin! We are drawn into the story. We feel just a little for the good brother---we identify with him. We are here at Church this morning---aren t we the good parishioners who support the Church regularly and follow the rules and regulations of our faith? And so, we bristle at what we know is just not fair! Shouldn t God love us more than those who stay home??? This parable is a reflection on the mystery of God s immeasurable love and forgiveness. The father in the story loves both his sons completely and without reservation. Both sons are sinners. The one son goes off and turns from the ways of the father, freely entering into sin. It is only when he reaches rock-bottom that he begins to come to his senses. He climbs his way back and the father greets him with love and joy. How easily the good son falls into sin---the sins of anger and jealousy. Both of these sons are us! The father goes out and tries to reason with the good son: Come inside, your brother is back, now is the time for joyous celebration.

9 The father doesn t condemn either son---the father reaches out to both in love. The father invites the sons to love each other. This a tough lesson for each of us---we are called by God to love even those who hurt us!!!. Jesus has taught us how to live. And we must follow the ways of the Lord. But God also seems to freely forgive those who don t follow the rules. And then we get mad at God---but expect God to freely forgive us. This really is a mystery---a really hard one! It is much easier to see other s sins than to see our own---much easier to expect God to forgive us! Such is the mystery of God s love for his sinful children!!! Father Pat ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A SPECIAL COLLECTION WILL BE TAKEN ON THE WEEKEND OF MARCH 12/13 TO BENEFIT OUR RETIRED PRIESTS OF THE DIOCESE OF METUCHEN. THESE MEN HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO BRING CHRIST TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR DIOCESE. MANY OF OUR RETIRED PRIESTS HAVE ASSISTED US HERE AT OLMV.

10 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!! A letter from our Pastor MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!! The Knights of Columbus Will hold its Seventh Annual Knight of Comedy" on Friday, April 15th at 7:30 pm, featuring Vinnie Brand, from the Stress Factory and a professional opening comedian. Tickets are $25 per person and will be available in the parish office and after all Masses beginning 2/26. It s a BYOB event but complimentary hors d oeuvres are Included in the admission price. Doors open at 7pm. Cocktail hour begins at 7:30 pm. Coffee with a Cop Saturday, March 19, 2016 10:00AM-12:00PM Middlesex Elks 545 Bound Brook Road The Middlesex Borough Police Department encourages community members to come together with members of the police department, in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, eat breakfast and drink coffee. Lenten Schedule at OLMV: Lenten Activities at OLMV: Sacrament of Reconciliation: Thursday from 6:30 7:30 pm (during Lent) Lenten Novena is each Monday at 7:00pm in the Church February 8 March 21 Stations of the Cross each Friday at 7:00pm in the Church February 12 March 18 Living Stations March 25 at 7:00 pm in the Chur ch Lenten Penance Service Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00 pm Lenten Penance Service Wednesday, March 8 at 7:00pm in the Church .