News - April 2017 RSS Feed

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter and the Scriptural texts speak of the Risen Christ and His triumph over death. In the Gospel we hear the account of the Risen Christ’s walk with two disciples on their way to Emmaus. This event takes place on Easter Sunday afternoon as the despondent disciples flee Jerusalem seeking safety. Jesus, risen from the dead, appears and walks with them although they do not recognize Him. As they share their sorrow and confusion, the Risen Christ proclaims the Scriptures and interprets them. When they reach their destination they recognize the Risen Christ in the “breaking of the bread” and then He vanishes from their sight. As we consider what Jesus had done we see that this was the second time that the Holy Mass was offered. The Lord presides at the Liturgy of the Word; proclaiming the Scriptures and giving the homily. The Liturgy of the Eucharist takes place at the inn at Emmaus where the Lord does what He did at the Last Supper, “He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” These Eucharistic gestures brought about recognition and faith. 

First Holy Communion will be administered to a group of our children on Sunday, May 7th at the 10 o’clock morning Mass.

Please join the Knights of Columbus as they the pray the Rosary next Sunday at 3 o’clock here at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. All are welcome!

When speaking of Divine Mercy we refer to this gift from God as “The Divine Mercy.” By pondering “The” Divine Mercy we are more aware of two things: First, The Divine Mercy of God is real, definite and concrete. It is not some abstract concept but it is a reality that we must understand and enter into. Second, there is only One Divine Mercy. It is “The” one and only gift of God. All that God has given us is a gift and for this gift we are to be eternally grateful.

On this Octave Day of Easter I greet you with: CHRIST IS RISEN! Yes, this continues to be Easter Day and once again the Gospel reading takes us back to the first Easter Sunday and the Sunday which followed. The Second Sunday of Easter has traditionally been called “Saint Thomas Sunday” as a result of the Apostle Thomas who professed his faith in the Risen Lord on this day. More recently this day is called DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY as promulgated by Saint Pope John Paul II in honor of the Lord Jesus whose heart overflows with mercy and compassion for sinners. The mystical revelations made to Saint Faustina Kowalska, a 20th century Polish nun, testify to God’s great love for us shown in His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Saint Faustina introduced the Chaplet of Divine Mercy which is prayed on the Rosary for both and living and the dead. We pray on each bead: FOR THE SAKE OF HIS SORROWFUL PASSION, HAVE MERCY ON US AND ON THE WHOLE WORLD. Yes, mercy and compassion are the gifts the Lord freely gives us when we approach Him in repentance. Saint Faustina was asked by the Lord to produce an image of Him as He appeared to her, pointing to His heart from which came two streams of red and white, blood and water. Beneath this holy image are the words: JESUS I TRUST IN YOU.

A meeting of the Sacred Heart Women’s Society will take place on Monday evening, April 24, at 7 o’clock in the rectory basement.  Our new president, Ann Marie Hopler, extends a cordial invitation to all women of the parish to attend.

Divine Mercy Celebration will be held here at Sacred Heart on Sunday April 23rd. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and confession from 2 PM to 3 PM. Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction at 3 PM. Jesus I Trust In You!!! Do not miss it.

Please save the date for the Saint Cecilia Men’s Society who is having a Beefsteak Dinner on April 29th  in Haynes Hall for the benefit of the Saint Cecilia’s Food Pantry.

Congratulations to our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who have been inducted into Divine Mercy Academy’s National Junior Honor Society. Eligibility is determined by a student’s cumulative GPA which must meet or exceed our chapter’s standard for scholarship currently set at 90. In addition to the scholarship standard, membership in NJHS is based on standards of service, leadership, character, and citizenship:

The seminarians, Joseph Boykow, and Mateusz Darlak are to be ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon on May 13, 2017. 

The resurrection is an invitation to look around to see transformation, to see what is evil being changed, what is immature becoming adult; what appears inert like an egg or seed sprouting life .But for the Christian the resurrection has a still richer meaning.

CHRIST IS RISEN! Truly He is risen! These were the words which were first spoken by the women disciples who went to the tomb of Jesus early on the first day of the week. Angels had announced this news to them. However, it was to Saint Mary Magdalene that the Risen Christ had first appeared and who told her to announce this news to His Apostles. These myrrh-bearing women brought the good news of Resurrection to Saint Peter and his confreres. The Apostles would bravely proclaim that CHRIST IS RISEN after the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

First Friday Devotion APRIL 7TH  2017 6 PM – Stations of the Cross Followed by Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament, Confession and Holy Mass

Thank you to all parishioners who have completed and submitted your Commitment Card to the church. As a reminder, all commitments need to be submitted to the church no later than April 16 in order to be accounted for in the final Summary Report.

All Catholic Churches in the United States require from Catholics serving as a Godparent for Baptism or a sponsor for Confirmation a certificate of eligibility. This document certifies that the Godparent/sponsor is a registered member of the parish, attends Holy Mass, approaches the sacraments regularly and contributes to the support of the Church via the offering envelope system or Parish Pay.

Today we observe the Fifth Sunday of Lent as we gather to celebrate the Lord’s Day. The Scripture texts for this Sunday speak of LIFE and the triumph of life over the forces of death. The Apostle Paul reminds us through his Roman correspondence, “If the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.”  The Holy Spirit, given in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, brings life to us in this present time and empowers us to offer our lives to God so that we may one day share in heavenly glory.

Bible Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Lent JN 11:1-45 “...When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days...” “...Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”...” “...Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die...” “...Do you believe this?...”

You are invited to join the 40 Days for Life  prayer campaign from March 1st to April 9th, to peacefully pray for the end of abortion outside the Planned Parenthood in Morristown. Abortions are the leading cause of death in the world, and Planned Parenthood is a facility that performs over 1,000 abortions each year.

The Rockaway Ecumenical Clergy Association will once again sponsor a Lenten Luncheon for seniors every Friday during Lent, except Good Friday.  The Lunch begins at 12 Noon in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church located on Church Street.