Dear Parishioners,

The readings of today’s Mass highlight “vocation,” that is, one’s calling from God. We hear of God’s call to Samuel, who was prompt to serve the Lord. The Gospel recounts the call to John and Andrew. These apostles were not called directly by the Lord but through an intermediary, their teacher, John the Baptist. In turn, Andrew becomes an intermediary and goes to his brother, Simon Peter and “brought him to Jesus.”

Every Christian is called—in a way suited to his or her state of life—to follow Christ in holiness and through an apostolate. More often than not, God uses intermediaries to bring one to the light of a vocation. He may use us to invite someone to consider a particular vocation. This is very important when we consider the vocation to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life.

Have we ever identified someone who might be a good future priest, deacon, or religious? The power of personal invitation cannot be overstated. A national survey a few years ago found that those who had one person encouraging them were nearly twice as likely to consider a religious vocation as those who were not encouraged. Those encouraged by more people were even more likely to consider such a vocation.

However, to encourage someone to consider such a vocation, we must ourselves be convinced of its necessity, value, and importance. Priests, Deacons, and Religious must do their part to convey the joy and satisfaction they experience in living it.

While God is surely the One who calls, He may use us as His instruments to help bring a flowering of vocations for the Church. Let us pray, identify, encourage potential vocations, and invite many to “come and see” how wonderful it could be to serve the Lord through His Church.

With affection,
Msgr. Gervasio

Chè Pawasyen-m yo,

Lèkti yo nan lamès jodia insiste sou “vokasion”, sa vle di Bondye ki rele yon moun. Nou tande koman Bondye rele Samyèl , la menm Samyèl mete-l nan sèvis Granmèt la. Levanjil la pale nou osijè Jezu ki rele Jan ak Andre. Se pa Jezu ki te rele yo dirèkteman, men se te Jan Batis, profesè yo ki te sèvi lentèmedyè pou yo te vin swiv Jezu. Menm jan tou, Andre te sèvi lentèmedyè pou mennen frè li Simon Pyè bay Jezu.

Chak kretyen jwenn yon apèl, chak moun selon eta yo, pou yo swiv Kris la nan yon lavi ki sen epi nan apostola. Pi souvan ke nou ta panse, Bondye itilize entèmedyè pou mennen yon moun sou rout yon vokasyon. Li kapab sèvi ak nou pou nou ankouraje yon moun pou li konsidere yon vokasyon espesyal. Sa enpòtan anpil sitou lè nap konsidere vokasyon pou Pè, pou Dyak oubyen pou lavi konsakre.

Eske sa rive déja nan lavi nou pou nou idantifye yon moun ki te ka fè yon bon Pè, yon bon Dyak oubyen yon bon relijye?Nou paka ensiste ase sou pouvwa yon envitasyon pèsonel genyen sou yon moun. Nan yon rapò ki te fèt o nivo nasyonal nan lane ki pase yo, yo te demontre ke moun ki te jwenn moun ankouraje yo konsidere yon vokasyon relijyez, yo de fwa pi plis pase moun ki pat jwenn moun ankouraje yo fè sa. Plis yon moun jwenn moun ki ankouraje-l konsidere lavi -l kom relijye, plis moun sa gen chans pou-l vin tounen relijye reyèlman.

Men li ta bon pou nou raple ke pou nou ankouraje yon lòt moun pou li konsidere vokasyon relijye-a , nou bezwen tou dabò pou nou menm relijye, nou gen konviksyon ke vokasyon sa gen nesesite li, enpòtans li ak valè li. Pè yo, Dyak yo ak Relijyez yo dwe fè travay yo tou pandan yap transmèt kè kontan ak satisfaksyon yo jwenn nan eksperyans yo fè kòm relijye nan lavi yo chak jou.

Bondye se Sila ki rele nou-an. Men li ka sèvi ak nou kòm enstriman pou ede yon bèl florezon vokasyon leve pou legliz la. An nou lapriyè, an nou idantifye, an nou ankouraje vokasyon ki gen chans devlope yo. An nou envite tou moun pou yo «vini epi pou yo wè» jan sa bèl lè yon moun mete tèt li nan sèvis Bondye nan Legliz la.

Avèk afeksyon,
Monsegnè Jèvazyo

This parish update comes to you on Inauguration Day, a new beginning to our national life but also a day of fervent prayer for its unity, security, prosperity, and healing.  May Our Lady, Mary Immaculate, Patroness of our nation, intercede and watch over us.  Our Roman Missal contains this prayer which is appropriate for this day:

O God, who arrange all things according to a wonderful design,
graciously receive the prayers
we pour out to you for our country
that, through the wisdom of its leaders and the integrity of its citizens,
 harmony and justice may be assured
and lasting prosperity come with peace.

Best Wishes, Fr. Jean

Earlier this week, Fr. Jean Felicien, returned to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.to complete the final semester of his studies in Canon Law. There he will enjoy the surroundings conducive to put the final touches on his thesis and prepare for the comprehensive exams in order to attain, this Spring, a Licentiate in Canon Law. We look forward to his visits on holidays. Que l'Esprit Saint soit avec lui alors qu'il va de succès en succès!

OLS Elevator Update

Last week I reported that the modernization of the elevator is completed.  However, we are not permitted to use it until it passes an inspection by township officials.  Hopefully, this “green light” will be given very soon.  Thanks for your understanding and patience throughout this long process.

Christmas Appeal

I renew yet again, my thanks to the generous donors to the Christmas appeal.  Gifts are still being received.  The bulletin and a future update will report the total and the disbursements of the funds. If you have not yet made a gift, please consider doing so!  I hasten to add my thanks for your weekly and monthly contributions, either in person, by mail, office/rectory drop off, or through online giving.

Diocesan COVID Protocols:  Two Developments!

Among the updated COVID protocols are two that will especially interest you: 

• Bulletins

  Printed copies of the bulletin will be available beginning next weekend— January 23-24.   However, they must be taken only after Mass and on the way out of church.  Please do not ask for a bulletin prior to Mass.  They are permitted in the church; nor can they be shared with others.  Many parishioners have had the habit of reading the bulletin before Mass and then leaving it the pew.   This will not be permitted and will be strictly enforced.

• Missal/Hymnal:  

  The “Breaking Bread” Missal/Hymnal will also be available next weekend.  However, they are to be retained as a personal copy.  The book is not to be shared with others or left in church.  Take it home and bring it to church with you each week.  Singing will continue to be kept at a minimum, in order to diminish the possible transmission of the virus.

Being A Pro-Life Parish

This Friday, January 22 is the 48th anniversary of the tragic Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade.  Such a date should not pass unobserved.  Prayer is our great strength and something we can all do.  I urge you to make time for one or all of these practices:

• Eucharistic Adoration

  The Blessed Sacrament is exposed upon the altar following the 9:00 am Mass until 6:00 pm.  Make a visit sometime during the day to pray for an end to abortion and all attacks on human life at every stage.

• Continue to pray the Novena to St. Joseph which concludes this Friday.

• Observe Friday as a Day of Fasting and Abstinence for the restoration of the right to life and penance for violations to the dignity of the human person.

• Offer the Rosary for these same intentions. 

Christian Unity

We find ourselves in the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25).  Please keep in prayer the work of ecumenism.  At the Last Supper, Our Lord prayed for the unity of his disciples. Divisions in Christianity are a scandal, and the Church is committed to healing divisions.  Ecumenical dialogue, the search for full, visible unity is essential to the Christian life.

Two Celebrations This Sunday

• “Sunday of the Word of God,”

  While every Liturgy honors and celebrates the word of God, Pope Francis has designated the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time as “Sunday of the Word of God.”  By this decree, the Holy Father invites Catholics throughout the world to deepen their love, appreciation, and witness of the Word of God.  Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella expressed succinctly the intent of the Pontiff: “This Sunday, he wants to stimulate all Christians not just to place the Bible on the shelf as one of many books, perhaps filled with dust, but as an instrument that awakens our faith.”

• Opening of Catholic Schools Week 

  This year’s celebrations and activities will be different owing of COVID-19 but no less enthusiastic.  Prior to the creation of our parish in 2005 both communities made a strong commitment to the mission of Catholic education which continues still through our elementary Pre-K to Grade 8 school.  Its mission is more vital than ever as our culture becomes increasingly secular.  I hope that every parishioner will be an ambassador for our school!  

Register For the Vaccine!

There appear no moral issues to prohibit a Catholic from receiving vaccines produced by Pfizer or Moderna.  If other vaccines are released which have an illicit origin, Catholics should utilize the option that is least morally problematic. Providentially, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are acceptable.  I strongly urge everyone to register for the vaccine.  I have registered and have an appointment.  The process is quick and easy.  Please visit:  covid19.nj.gov/vaccine.

Thanks to all for your continuing support and prayers….and thanks for taking time to read the update…. much to read this week!

The Diocese of Trenton is committed to the norms of the U.S. Bishop’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors.  If you have been sexually abused as a minor by anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan Hotline: 1-888-296-2965 or via e-mail at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org.  Such allegations are reported to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

The scammers are at it again! If you receive an email message like the one below

Let me know if you are not occupied at the moment, I need you to do me a favor real quick. Email me back immediately you receive this message.

(or anything similar), purportedly from Monsignor Gervasio, Fr. Joseph (or any other OLS-SA staff member), please do not respond to it. Instead, report it to the Hamilton Township police.

Please visit www.ols-sa.org/news/warning for more information.
 

The elevator at Our Lady of Sorrows Church is temporarily out of order, leaving no handicapped-accessible entrance there. However, the repairs have been completed and we are now only waiting for inspection and approval by the township.

In the meantime, the elevator is working at St. Anthony Church, so those needing handicap access can attend Sunday Mass there at 4:00 PM on Saturday, or 9:30 AM on Sunday. The 11:00 Mass will continue to be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, as well as the daily Masses at 9:00, but the church will not be accessible to those who cannot go up and down stairs.We will let you know as soon as the elevator is approved for use!