Sunday Parish Mass: 11:00 AM  

Dear Parishioners,

Reconciliation and Penance. Perhaps this is attributable to the fact that COVID restrictions have not allowed us to utilize the confessionals owing to their confining space. Still, I want to encourage everyone to return to this great sacrament.

     I am old enough to remember long lines of people waiting to go to confession on Saturday afternoon, and the wait to enter the confessional was even longer during Advent and Lent. But so many of us have concluded that confession is unnecessary, especially if we have not committed any mortal sins. If we have not, we can certainly rejoice and thank the Lord. Yet, when we look at our lives with honesty, we realize that that there are many other sins—venial yes, but sins none the less. Should we not acknowledge and seek to correct these sins in our pursuit of holiness? It is also important to remember that the Sacrament of Penance is a source of spiritual strength. It is harder to get on the wrong track, to drift, to fall into dangerous habits if we frequent regularly the Sacrament of Penance.

     The theme of contemporary self-help is “I’m OK, you’re OK!” But that is not always the case, as an honest examination of conscience will reveal. God surely loves us as we are but so much that he doesn’t want us to remain just the way I am. He constantly calls to change, to conquer evil, to improve, to “be perfect” as his heavenly Father is perfect.”

     Think! When was the last time you made a sacramental confession? Take advantage of the peace and the power the Lord wants to bestow upon you!

With affection,
Msgr. Gervasio

Chè pawasyen,
     Pandan nou kontan wè kantite moun ki vini nan Lamès dimanch yo ogmante, moun ki vini pou sakreman konfesyon bese anpil. Se petèt paske tout bagay yo mande nou poutèt COVID la ki pa pèmèt nou itilize konfesyonal yo ki tou piti. Men mwen vle ankouraje tout moun pou nou retounnen nan pratik bèl sakreman sa a.
     Mwen gen ase laj pou m sonje long ling ki te genyen samdi aprè midi pou moun vini konfese e tan sa te pran pou antre nan konfesyonal la te pi long toujou nan tan Lavan ak Karèm. Men anpil nan nou fini pa di ke konfesyon pa nesesè, sitou si nou pa fè okenn peche mòtèl. Si nou pa fè nou kapab kontan e di Bondye mèsi. Poutan, lè nou gade lavi nou ak senserite nou rann nou kont genyen anpil lòt peche, nou rele yo venyèl men peche kanmèm. Nan demach pou nou viv nan sentete eske nou pa ta dwe rekonèt e chache korije peche sa yo? Li enpòtan tou pou nou sonje ke sakreman penitans lan se yon sous ki ap bay fòs espirityèl. Li pi difisil pou nou twonpe, devye e tonbe nan move abitid si nou frekante sakreman penitans lan souvan.
     Tèm nan epòk pa nou an asiste tèt nou “Mwen byen, ou byen”! Li pa toujou vre jan yon bon ekzamen konsyans kapab revele l. Bondye renmen nou jan nou ye men li pa vle ou rete jan ou ye a, jan mwen ye a. Li toujou mande n pou nou chanje, konbat mal la, amelyore, pou nou vini “Sen” menm jan ak Papa nou ki nan syèl la sen.
     Panse! Ki dènye fwa ou te vini konfese? Granmèt la vle ba w lapè ak pouvwa, pran avantaj sou sa!
                                                                                Avèk afeksyon,
                                                                                Msgr. Gervasio
 

Parish Update

Weekly PARISH UPDATE
Our Lady of Sorrows-Saint Anthony, Hamilton
 14 October 2021
St.  Callistus I,  Pope & Martyr [+222]

Dear Parishioners:

A month or so has passed since I sent along an update.  I came to learn that there are parishioners who actually read them and missed receiving them.  This encouraged me to resume this additional instrument of communication!   

TODAY’S MEMORIAL

According to ancient sources,  Callistus served as a slave in a Roman home for many years.  Since he was an intelligent and resourceful servant, Callistus’ master put him in charge of his personal bank. But when Callistus lost its deposits, he was blamed and was eventually exiled to the mines of Sardinia. At some point, he was released from this hard labor and earned his freedom from his slave status. Pope Zephyrinus placed Callistus in charge of the most important underground Christian cemetery in Rome. Under Callistus it grew into a sprawling, thirteen-mile warren of dark, narrow tunnels where 500,000 bodies, many of them martyrs, were entombed. Callistus was so successful in managing the cemetery (the Catacombs)  that it came to bear his name. Catacombs were not hiding places from persecution but sacred ground on which to pray. Pope Zephyrinus ordained Callistus a deacon and around 217 he was elected Pope. During his pontificate, Pope Callistus addressed the theological and pastoral issue of how to reintegrate into the Church those Christians who had been forced to engage in emperor worship. Callistus’ position that they could be welcomed back after penance was opposed by some who thought Callistus to be too lax.    Saint Callistus’ life is not richly detailed, but he died in 222, most likely by martyrdom and, ironically, was not buried in his Catacomb. His tomb was rediscovered in 1960. His remains were transferred in the ninth century to Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.   which tradition holds was built over, or next to, an earlier church of which Callistus was the patron.

Saint Callistus, you served an earthly master as a slave and a heavenly master as a deacon and pope. You made Christian burial and praying for the dead a defining feature of the Church of Rome. May we honor you in death just as you honored so well your own forebearers in the faith.

It is not wrong to want to live better; what is wrong is a style of life which is presumed to be better when it is directed towards 'having' rather than 'being,' and which wants to have more, not in order to be more but in order to spend life in enjoyment as an end in itself.

Pope John Paul I

OCTOBER—RESPECT LIFE MONTH

During this month, under the merciful eyes of our Blessed Mother let us reaffirm the fundamental truth that human life is sacred at every stage—from “womb to tomb” so to speak.  The assaults on those most vulnerable and defenseless are on the increase—the unborn, the physically and mentally handicapped and the aging.  We are also asked to study and pray over the pressing issues of prisons, healthcare systems, and gun violence.  These are all “respect life” issues that merit our attention in prayer and action.  How important it is to be aware of the proposals to enshrine in law, policies and practices that undermine and destroy the dignity of human life. We must be wise enough to “cut through” the clever use of language that camouflages attacks on life and make our defense of life heard in the public square.

RECENT CHURCH CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS

The installation of railings for the steps of the sanctuary of St. Anthony’s Church is now complete. We hope these will serve to assist our clergy and lay ministers. We also express our thanks to the team who saw to needed painting at St. Anthony Campus—the stage and steps of the parish hall and outdoor railings. 

At Our Lady of Sorrows Church, you may have noticed landscaping work being done.  The removal of a few dead or dying trees was necessary for reasons of safety and  also for the appearance of our property.  We are considering the planting a couple trees in the large area between the church and rectory.

HAITI EARTHQUAKE RELIEF ---THANK YOU!

Your generosity in the recent collection taken up for relief efforts after the massive earthquake that devasted Haiti was tremendous!  Your help will go a long way to restoring hope to the injured, homeless and all who suffer.  I am very pleased to report that the special collection taken up on the weekend of September 4-5 realized with a little boost from our Social Concerns Fund (Poor Box donations)  $8,500.   These funds were recently wired to Bishop Joseph Gontrand DéCoste, S.J.  of the Diocese of  Jérémie, who will see that the gift will assist four parishes.

COVID INFORMATION 

Vaccinations

The highest doctrinal authorities in the Church (Pope and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and our own Bishop) have advised that it is morally permissible to be vaccinated and have encouraged (not mandated) people be vaccinated. It must be voluntary, according to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as well as the Catholic Medical Association.   Free Vaccinations are available at St. Francis Medical Center in the Hamilton Ave. Lobby, every Tuesday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  No  appointment necessary.

Wearing of Masks

New Jersey government officials strongly recommend that both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents wear masks in indoor settings where there is increased risk.    At this point, this is a recommendation and not a mandate

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

Help us keep our churches in good order by not leaving used tissues in the pews or missal racks.  It would also be very helpful if people would refrain from  bringing to church old religious magazines, books, damaged statues,  broken rosaries, and packets of holy cards and mission society “gifts” received by mail.  These only clutter the church vestibules.  People do not take them, and we are left with the task of disposing them.  Blessed religious articles that are broken should be buried or burned. Your help is appreciated.
 

 from Various Sources

Q.   Why is a drop of water placed into the chalice at Mass?   Why does the priest later, place a particle of the sacred host into the chalice?

A.  Both actions are ancient and began as practical necessities, but eventually the necessities disappeared and were forgotten. The practice continued but the actions were interpreted symbolically. The ancient Greeks added water to wine because it was often thick, gritty, and too strong. It was simply good taste to add water to wine before drinking it. The Romans who loved all things Greek, adopted the custom and it spread throughout the Empire. And even though it was not a Jewish custom to add water to wine, it soon became part of the Passover meal and, hence, part of the Mass. As early as the 4th century, catechists explained that the water represented humanity and the wine, divinity. Once you put the water into the wine, it’s impossible to take it out again and so it was symbolic of the union of the Christ’s divinity and humanity in the Incarnation.  While putting the drop of water into the chalice the priest or deacon says quietly, “Through the mystery of this water and wine may be come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”

The practice of dropping a piece of the sacred host into the chalice (the commingling) is an ancient custom.  Originally, there was only one Sunday Mass in each city at which the community would gather with the bishop.  As Christianity spread, it became physically impossible  for all to gather for a single celebration and Masses began to be celebrated throughout the area. To maintain the connection to the bishop’s liturgy, a small portion of the host consecrated by the bishop was taken to the other Masses.  This particle was mingled into the chalice  Of course, while we no longer receive a fraction of the bishop's host for each Mass,  the priest places a small fraction of the larger host used at Mass into the chalice.   He says quietly: "May this mingling of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it."  Just as the fraction of the host symbolizes the death of the Lord, the Lamb of God,  so the commingling symbolizes the Lord's resurrection.  In death, body and blood are separated; in life they are united.  

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has called for the 16^th Ordinary Synod to be held in Rome in October 2023.   Synods were established by Pope St. Paul VI shortly after the Second Vatican Council.  A synod is a group of bishops chosen from different parts of the world to meet together to assist the Pope in addressing questions and issues pertaining to the mission of the Church in the world.  The Synod called by Pope Francis is wider in scope.  He has requested the assistance of all the faithful—clergy, consecrated religious, laity, and Catholic institutions of higher learning.  We might well call this synod a world-wide “listening session”—an instrument for listening to the Holy Spirit as the Church seeks to become more missionary and a more effective channel of evangelization of the world…moving beyond self-preservation.  The Holy Father pointed out the three key words guiding this expansive project—communion, participation, and mission.   It is his hope that they Synod will initiate a process of change and healing.  The Synod has three phases:  diocesan, continental and  universal.  The Synod’s universal phase to take place in Rome will bring together the aspirations, hopes and challenges from the Church throughout the world.  This is no small undertaking 

Bishop O’Connell will open the diocesan phase of the Synod this Sunday with the Mass to be celebrated at 3:00 pm at Saint Mary’s Cathedral. All are welcome to participate either in person or by way of live streaming on the diocesan website.   Let us pray for the success of this enormous undertaking:

We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.

With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts.

Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.

We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.

Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.

Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.

All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever.

Amen.

With affection and thanks for your continued support,                        

Msgr. Gervasio

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.