News - March 2016 RSS Feed

Confirmation sign-up for classes beginning in the fall are now underway. All 8th and 9th grade students who are parishioners of Sacred Heart and intend to receive the Sacrament should be enrolled in faith formation.

A series of six weekly sessions will begin on Wednesday evening, April 6th, 2016 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM, at the Parish Office, 90 Church Street (the brick building to the left of the Church); Rockaway, NJ 07866.This group is lead by a trained facilitator certified by the National Catholic Ministry to the Bereaved and the Family Life Office of the Archdiocese of Newark. We pray that in this informative environment, you will find understanding suggestions for coping, practical help, people who care, and friendship.

St. Cecilia Parish will sponsor a pilgrimage, on May 17-18 (Wednesday-Thursday), to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York.

Sacred Heart & St. Cecilia’s are sponsoring a 3 session "True Love Waits" chastity empowerment program for teens on Sunday April 10th, 17th and 24th from 6-9pm in Hayes Hall in St. Cecilia’s. Come hear about the languages of love, consequences of sex outside marriage, strategies for staying pure, attaining life goals, secondary virginity, dangers of pornography, authentic masculinity and femininity and much more!

CHRIST IS RISEN! Yes, this is the greeting which the Apostles received from Saint Mary Magdalene who with the other women disciples (Myrrh Bearers) visited the tomb on Easter Sunday morning and saw the evidence of the Resurrection. This greeting prompted Saint Peter and the Apostles to run to the tomb and see for themselves that life was victorious of death. Those who had witnessed the horror of His crucifixion were now the witnesses to His Holy Resurrection, TRULY HE IS RISEN!

We wish to extend a warm welcome to Ralph Ortega who recently registered as a new parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. Please keep him in your prayers as he grows with us within our parish community.

In our coming together for the Lord’s Day we mark the first day of Holy Week, Palm Sunday. This day opens before us the week in which we will solemnly commemorate the Lord’s suffering, death and holy resurrection. The liturgy for this day begins with a remembrance of the Lord Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. The blessing of the palms reminds us of the exuberance which greeted Jesus but as the liturgy continues with the reading of the Passion narrative from the Gospel of Saint Luke, chapters 22:14 – 23:56, we are reminded that this welcome was short lived. The HOSANNA became CRUCIFY HIM.

The Second Grade Class has been very busy this month. We are preparing for First Penance which is on Saturday, April 9th at 10:00 AM. This year, First Holy Communion will be on Mother's Day, May 8th at 11:30 AM. Please keep our Second Graders in your prayers as we prepare for these very special sacraments .

Registration for Divine Mercy Academy for the 2016-2017 school year is now taking place. Divine Mercy Academy, Rockaway’s New Catholic School, will offer an academically excellent, faith-based education to students in pre-K3 through eighth grade.

All are invited to Sacred Heart's Dogmatic Dinner on Tuesday March 22nd. ​We will be sharing a great meal and discussing how to enter fully into this Holy Week. We hope to see you there at 6:30 PM in Suchon Hall.

Join us as we continue with our parish ‘CD of the Month’ program. For the month of March all parishioners are welcome and encouraged to purchase and listen to "My Beloved Son" by Bishop Robert Barron.

Each Friday during Lent (except Good Friday) a luncheon is held at the First Presbyterian Church beginning at 12 Noon followed by a Lenten reflection offered by one of the clergy of the participating churches. The theme for this year is “God’s Name is Mercy.” ​ The following schedule has been set: March 18 – Saint Cecilia Roman Catholic Church. All are welcome to attend, An offering for the lunch is appreciated.

We gather on the Lord’s Day to celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The Gospel Acclamation for the liturgy is “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.” We see the mercy of God displayed in the Gospel reading of the “woman caught in adultery.” The Lord Jesus tells the self-righteous men who have brought the woman before Him for stoning, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one the sinful men leave until only the sinful woman remains before Jesus. He says to her, “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

Hungering To Grow A New Tomorrow: This week’s CRS Rice Bowl country is the island nation of Madagascar, where we’re reminded of the important role farmers play in caring for God’s creation. As we prepare our meals throughout the week, let us reflect on where our food comes from and what role we can play in caring for our environment. Visit crsricebowl.org for more.

We wish to extend a warm welcome to the Reed/Prosser family and the Wry family who recently registered as parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. We ask that you keep them in your prayers as they grow with us within the life of our parish community

The Kolbe Krew Family Rosary group would like to thank all who participated in the fundraiser for clean water for Flint, Michigan residents.

Break out of the winter doldrums, and break into Spring with a beginning of the season run!!

Please join us for hospitality after the 10AM mass on Sunday, March 20th. The weekend of March 19th and 20th is our monthly food drive for the Rockaway Food Pantry. Canned goods, Paper goods, cereal, peanut butter, pasta, etc.

Diana Salvatore & Timothy Hiler will be married April 3, 2016 at 12:00 noon.

Registration is open for the Divine Mercy Academy for the 2016-2017 school year is now taking place. Divine Mercy Academy, Rockaway’s New Catholic School, will offer an academically excellent, faith-based education to students in pre-k3 through eighth grade.