Our parish is holding a retreat for our young parishioners preparing to receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist for the first time, this Saturday, February 19. May it help them better understand and appreciate the sacraments they will receive later this year. Please pray for them.
As we get back to some of our outreach services, our parish finds itself in great need of Eucharistic Ministers to our homebound brothers and sisters, as well as our neighboring nursing homes.
An Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC) is a Catholic adult lay person who assists the priests and deacons in the distribution of the Blessed Sacrament at Mass or in visits to the sick or homebound when an adequate number of ordained ministers are not available. Click the article title for more information.
Congratulations to our First Communicants, with special thanks to those who helped prepare them for this special gift, and to all those who participated, making the celebration beautiful. Click the article title for more information.
Please keep in prayer the young boys and girls who are preparing to receive their First Holy Communion. On Saturday, March 27, they will participate in a retreat. It will be a morning of prayer and reflection together with their parents on the gift and mystery of the Lord’s Body and Blood.
The bishops of New Jersey have continued the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass in person on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation through Christmas. This decision applies to all New Jersey Roman Catholic parishes. For a link to more in-depth information, click the article title.
RCIA Candidates will be received into the Church on Sunday October 11, at St. Anthony's at the 9:30 AM Mass. Catholics completing their Sacraments will also receive their First Holy Communion and Confirmation at the same ceremony. Click the article title for more information.
Our parish family extends warm and prayerful congratulations to all our First Communicants, along with special thanks to our priests, deacons, music ministry, and religious education staff, catechists, and volunteers, who helped prepare the children and this celebration!
Our long-awaited celebration of First Holy Communion will take place [by invitation only] this Saturday, September 19, at 10:00 am and 12:00 pm at St. Anthony Church. The following day, a group of older candidates will receive the Eucharist for the first time during the 11:00 am Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows!
According to a recent Pew Research Study, there are a surprising number of Catholics who don't believe that Jesus is really, truly present in the Eucharist. If you are unsure about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, or are concerned that you might not be able to explain it to someone who doubts, click the article title for links to a message from Bishop O'Connell, and three homilies from our own priests on the Real Presence.
About Our Updated RCIA Process--Our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is now going year round! Now anyone interested in receiving the Sacraments of Holy Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation can begin the process (Period of Inquiry and Discernment) at any time throughout the year. Click the article title for more information.
Special thanks go to Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio and Fr. Pierre-Louis Joseph, our Deacons, Director of Music Ministry, Cantor, Director of Religious Education, School Principal, Parish Office staff members Doris Cordero and Miranda Day, and the catechists, who shared their faith as they prepared the children who made their First Holy Communion this weekend. Click the article title to see the names!
The Diocese of Trenton offers a 6-day program for all persons involved in pastoral ministry, including visiting the sick, jail or prison volunteers, family caregivers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who visit nursing homes or hospitals, grief/bereavement counselors, separated and divorced group ministers, Elizabeth ministers, Stephen ministers, and parish pastoral ministers. Click the article title for more information.
Or were you baptized Catholic as a child, but have not celebrated the sacraments of Confirmation or Holy Eucharist? Or do you know someone who is thinking of becoming Catholic, or has a child over the age of seven who has not been baptized? The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults may be just what you need! Click the article title for more information.
Special thanks go to all those who shared their faith as they prepared the children who made their First Holy Communion this weekend. Click the article title for a complete list of those who gave their time and attention to this wonderful ministry!
to those who received the Easter Sacraments at the Solemn Vigil. Click the article title for the names of those who were baptized, who were received into the Church, and who were confirmed.