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SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES DIVINE MERCY DEVOTION: Every Friday, 3:00pm, in St. Mary of the Pines with Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. INTERFAITH HEALTH & SUPPORT SERVICES: Volunteers are needed for the Faith in Action program. For more information, please call 489-0278. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Meets the second Tuesday and fourth Monday of each month at 7:30pm in Monsignor Reinbold Hall. New members are welcome always. For more information, please call Grand Knight Al DelTufo at 698-1161. COLUMBIAN SQUIRES: Meets the 1st Sunday of each month, 1:00pm, in Monsignor Reinbold Hall. For more information, please call Chief Counselor John Sroczynski at 698-5625. LAY CARMELITES: Meets 3rd Saturday of every month after the 8:00am Mass in the Charlie Kiger Conference Room. All are welcome. CHILDREN’S LITURGY: Every Sunday at the 9:00am Mass. Children will learn the word of God through teachings and activities. CHILDREN’S MASS: First Sunday of every month at the 9:00am Mass in St. Mary of the Pines. HEALING MASS: The fourth Monday of each month at 7:30pm in St. Mary’s, Barnegat. The next Healing Mass will be July 28. LAZARUS MASS: Held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm in St. Mary’s, Barnegat. Our next Lazarus Mass will be July 16. This Mass is open to anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one. TEEN MASS: Second Sunday of every month at 5:00pm in St. Mary’s Church, Barnegat. Afterwards, refreshments will be served in the Charlie Kiger Conference Room. Our next Teen Mass will be July 13. NOVENAS: After the 8:00am & 9:00am Daily Masses: Tues.- St. Ann; Wed. – St. Jude; Thu. – St. Joseph; First Friday – Sacred Heart; Friday-St. Gerard; Sat.– Miraculous Medal. OUR LADY OF FATIMA: The Blue Army pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima is available. If anyone would like to invite Our Lady into their home, please call Grace at 698-6413. RESPECT LIFE: Meets the 1st Saturday of every month, 10:00am, in the Charlie Kiger Conference Room. ROSARY: Monday through Friday before the 8:00am Mass; Saturday, after the 8:00am Mass. SCRIPTURE SHARING: Every Tuesday at 10:00am in the Charlie Kiger Conference Room. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: Available to help foster deeper spiritual growth. Contact Pat Ferrari, certified Spiritual Director, at 660-2246. ST. GERARD HEALING SERVICE: The second Wednesday of every month at 1:00pm in St. Mary’s in Barnegat. Confessions will be heard beginning at 12:45pm. The next Healing Service will be July 9. ST. MARY’S ADULT GROUP: Meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm, in Monsignor Reinbold Hall. New members are welcome always. Refreshments are served ST. VINCENT DE PAUL: Meets the third Wednesday of each month after the 8:00am Mass in Msgr. Reinbold Hall. New members are welcome always. Refreshments will be served.
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KNOW YOUR FAITH The Second Commandment: “You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain.” “The second commandment [requires] respect for the Lord’s name. Like the first commandment, it belongs to the virtue of religion and more particularly it governs our use of speech in sacred matters” (CCC, no. 2142). “The Second Commandment calls us to the virtue of reverence for God, which trains us to know and to preserve the difference between the Creator and the creature. Respect for God’s name keeps us from reducing Him to a mere fact, or even a thing that we can control or manipulate - A name in some way conveys the reality of a person – the origin, the history, the very being of the person. That is why people are protective about their names and expect them to be treated with honor. The name of God obviously deserves the highest honor and respect. The Lord gives us a Commandment that asks us to reverence His name and not to use it in a disrespectful or manipulative way. When Jesus taught the Our Father, his first petition was ‘Hallowed be Thy Name’” (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pp. 353-54).
ASK A QUESTION A parishioner was asked in a sarcastic manner if more people would come to Mass if instead of “those wafers” we used something else (the questioner offered some silly alternative). This question reveals a complete misunderstanding about the Eucharist. The first point I would make is that common decency would demand that one show respect to another’s religious beliefs, even if one doesn’t understand or believe the same. More specific to the question, the reason for “wafers” is that the Church uses, in imitation of Jesus at the Last Supper, unleavened bread. In order to have Eucharist, we must use what Jesus used. The bread was unleavened because the meal was a Passover meal (see Exodus 12). In reference to the Eucharist as the Real Presence of Christ, there is not enough room here to offer a complete answer. In brief, belief in the Eucharist as the true Body and Blood of Jesus (Transubstantiation) has been an unbroken Doctrine from the beginning. Further, someone who questions the Eucharist may find it interesting to read the Gospel of John, chapter 6. In that “Bread of Life” Discourse, Jesus uses quite graphic language in speaking of our eating His Body and drinking His Blood. The language is not only graphic but also would have been considered quite offensive in His time, and ours, too! The image of a “flesh-eater” is one of an enemy, and there were strict prohibitions regarding drinking blood. If this was intended as only symbolic, Jesus chose His words rather poorly. Instead, they are intended to proclaim the truth of His abiding presence with His Church through the Eucharist.
(If you have a question, please send it to the rectory office.)
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LETTER FROM THE PASTOR LETTER FROM THE PASTOR “We hold these truths to be self-evident…” With those immortal words a new nation was born. Many years after that Declaration, we find ourselves debating over what truths were meant, what does it mean to be self-evident, and who is the greatest proponent of those truths? These are legitimate questions and an important debate, but the buried treasure underneath all the politics and political correctness should be gratitude. How often in the heat of debate and argumentation have complaints and accusations overshadowed a spirit of thanksgiving? We are so blessed to live in this country, and I believe that our national holiday of July 4th should be our day of thanksgiving. Even a superficial glance at the globe reveals that we are a cut above the rest of the nations. Why is that? Is it our material wealth? Is it our military might? Is it mere good fortune? I believe the one thing that sets us apart is our commitment to freedom. The inaccurate application of “separation of Church and state” drives me crazy, but I am free to be a Catholic priest, to dress as one and celebrate Mass without any hindrance. The news media aggravates me to no end, but it is a good thing that there is freedom of the press. I can name any number of politicians that I would love to send on a cruise J but they have all been freely elected. I believe that the amount of money that some people make is immoral, but our government does not dictate how much a person can make. We believe in freedom. It has and always will be imperfect, but it is far better to live in an imperfect world of freedom than to be enslaved by one person or one belief system, which would be “solution” by tyranny. Free speech and debate are part of that freedom. However, how many in this country simply take all that we have for granted? How many would trade one minute as a citizen of this nation for one minute as a citizen in another? Everyone should know that all that we enjoy has been given to us as a gift. How many have suffered, struggled, and died to give us what we have? To reject this with indifference and ingratitude is inexcusable. As in every generation, we face serious problems and important challenges. Is it too much to ask that we begin and end with a sense of mutual respect and gratitude for this great nation? Without that, I don’t think the debate accomplishes anything or makes any difference at all. As is sung in the rarely heard introduction to a popular patriotic song: “While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.” And, as we sing in that same song, God Bless America!
CHURCH CLEANERS NEEDED We are in need of volunteers to help clean both Churches during the week. It only requires one hour of your time. If interested, please call the rectory |
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL NEWS On the celebration of our beloved country’s 232nd birthday, we extend our best wishes that July Fourth festivities were enjoyed safely and pleasurably. This is also the time to send a reminder to “Save your Pennies” for the annual Vincentian brown bag penny collection to be held in August. This fundraiser greatly enhances our treasury and enables us to continue to assist those in need. Also in need is our pantry for these particular food items: canned vegetables, pasta, jelly and jello. May God Bless America, and all of you too!
CARNIVAL ST. MARY’S “NIGHTS OF SUMMER” CARNIVAL July 15 – 20th. Our carnival is just ten days away! Remember to return your volunteer form and also the super 50/50 tickets. It is your support that makes our carnival a success each year. This year’s carnival will feature all our same wonderful attractions, plus we have added BUMPER CARS AND A RING-THE-BELL TEST OF STRENGTH. Once again, we will have free entertainment each night. v Tuesday: The Valmonte Center of Performing Arts; v Wednesday: JERSEY SHORE DJ’S; v Thursday: the return of the popular CROSS COUNTRY DANCERS; v Friday: THE RETURN OF VENTRILOQUIST JOHN PIZZI (if you didn’t see him last year, make sure you don’t miss him); v Saturday: THE CASTOFF’S; v Sunday: MID-LIFE CRISIS. v Each night we will have martial arts demonstrations featuring local schools.
THIS YEAR WE ARE RAFFLING A GAS CARD WORTH $1,000 – TICKETS ARE $2.00 AND CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE RECTORY. GOOD LUCK! WE ARE ALSO RAFFLING OUR EVER POPULAR GIFT CERTIFCATE BASKET. TICKETS ARE $1.00 EACH AND ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE RECTORY.
VOLUNTEER MEETING: There will be a meeting for carnival volunteers working either food or games on Wednesday, July 9th at 7:00pm in the Parish Center.
Carnival Bakers Needed If you are interested in donating baked goods for sale at our carnival, please complete the form below and return it to the rectory as soon as possible. Thank you.
Name: ___________________________________ Phone: __________________________________ Days: Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun |
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