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The NJ Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved a postcard campaign designed to ask our State Senators and Assembly Members to support legislation that would ban abortions after 20 weeks (5 months). The United States is one of only 7 countries in the world including China, North Korea, and Vietnam that allow elective abortion past 20-weeks. Our parish will participate in this campaign next weekend (February 16-17) Pre-printed postcards will be in the pews. We are asking parishioners to enter their address and signature. The parish will forward them to our legislators.

During January, more than 265 hours of service were provided by 40 volunteers to 43 persons. Caring Hearts volunteers provide non-medical services to our homebound elderly and disabled neighbors. If you would like more information on this ministry, click the article title.

Be an answer to someone’s prayer! If you have one hour a week to make a difference in the life of an elderly or homebound person, please consider volunteering. New volunteer training is offered twice a month from 10 am until 12:30 pm. Click the article title to see the schedule and contact information.

With an eye to the future, our parish council has been working on a plan of restructuring that will make it more effective as a consultative body to the pastor. In the past, the group was rather informal. Last week our council took initial steps to give the group a more formal and precise mission. For more information, click the article title.

All OLS-SA ushers are asked to attend FEMA’s Until Help Arrives program, which will be offered free of charge from 6 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23, at St Gregory the Great Parish Community Center (4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton). The program is open to other interested parishioners also. Click the article title for a link to the flyer and registration information.

During December, more than 315 hours of service were provided by 49 volunteers to 53 persons. For more information about this ministry, click the article title.

Having a disagreement? Try this: Rate how strongly you feel about the issue on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being “I would be devastated to give in on this one.” Spouse also rates the issue. Sometimes the partner with the lesser investment will be willing to give in - this time. Click the article title for more on what to do if the ratings are not that clear.

The Society's next meeting will be held on January 9, at 1PM in the Church Library. Click the article title for more information on the meeting, and on the membership dues drive.

“It is not your love that sustains the marriage, but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, writing to a young bride and group from his prison cell in Nazi Germany in 1943)

“In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find grounds for marriage." (Robert Anderson, Solitaire/Double Solitaire) This week discuss a significant value or belief that holds you and your spouse together.

Fr. Joseph, Fr, Jean and I, along with our parish staff, sincerely thank all those who remembered us in this holy season. Your cards, spiritual bouquets, homemade treats, and gifts were most thoughtful. May the Lord bless you abundantly for your kindnesses.

"Yeah, you won," said the irate wife to her husband, "and now you get to live with the loser." Retrouvaille leader on why win/win outcomes are a better way to resolve disagreements.

The 2018 Adopt-a-Family program was again a huge success! Gifts for 342 children were donated by the 124 parish families who participated. In addition, numerous parishioners donated more than $3,500 in cash and gift cards. Thanks to all who helped—committee and donors alike!

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.

Life can be difficult, and so can the challenges you face in marriage. If your marriage is in trouble, consider coming to a Retrouvaille Weekend for Couples, in Somerset, NJ, on the weekend of February 8 - 10. Click the article title for details, and contact information for registration.

If you have books, clothing, diapers, formula, or other items that are looking for a new “home,” please do not bring them to the parish office. Instead, consider donating them to Mt. Carmel Guild or Martin House. Click the article title for contact information.

Marriage is: Joyful, Fulfilling, Life Giving, God’s Plan, Frustrating, Trying, Testing The OLS-SA Marriage Ministry would like to connect our engaged couples preparing for marriage with parishioners whose marriage has weathered the good times and bad times relying on Christ and prayer. Click the article title for more information.

"Is it any wonder that couples are finding it more difficult to make and keep marriage vows when promiscuity is portrayed as normative on the sitcoms and is snuck into our e mails and annoyingly pops up on websites?" (Susan Vogt, Raising Kids Who Will Make a Difference) This week, be mindful of what the media is feeding your psyche.

Our pastor, Msgr. Gervasio, said, “The answer is simple—marriage matters! A parish should not be content with providing only a good preparation for marriage. It should also be eager to accompany a couple on the road of married life...A marriage does not succeed just because it lasts; its quality is also important. Click the article title for more information.

Click the article title to see the Caring Hearts report for November.