FROM THE DESK OF . . .
Fr.John Fell

Dear Friends,

I would like to begin with a heartfelt thanks to everyone who organized and participated in our parish’s 110th Anniversary celebrations last weekend.  We celebrated the 12:15 Sunday Mass as a Mass of Thanksgiving for all God’s blessings on our parish family throughout the years.  It was a special treat to have two former Pastors, Msgr. John Torney (1952-1985) and Msgr. Dick Behl (1985-1995), with us for the celebration.  After Mass, the Parish Pastoral Council treated us to a wonderful picnic under tents on the rectory lawn.  It was a wonderful celebration, and I am so grateful to everyone who participated.  I would like to say a special thank you to Jim Hamerschlag who organized the celebration and to his helpers– Eduardo Agnese, Tom Brenner, Phil, Philip, and Joseph Calinda, Alana Davis, Beth and Grace Hamerschlag, Gretchen Helpinstill, Germaine McGrath, Debbie Vaughn, and Anthony Volpe.  Many thanks also go to Raúl Caceres who photographed the whole event, and to Joe Cullinan and our Music Ministry for providing the beautiful music for the mass.  Your efforts made for a very memorable milestone in our parish’s history.   We scheduled our celebration at this time of the year because this past Thursday, June 26, was the actual 110th Anniversary of the date of the first celebration of Mass in our parish community– the Mass was celebrated at place known as the Somerset Hills Casino that was located near the corner of Mendham and Washington Corner Roads.

This weekend marks the beginning of a special time in Catholic church history.  Pope Benedict XVI has declared the time between June 28, 2008 and June 29, 2009, to be a Jubilee Year in honor of the 2,000 anniversary of the birth of St. Paul the Apostle.  The idea of Jubilee years is mentioned in the Old Testament (see Leviticus 25:1-13); the church has celebrated them as times of special grace and religious fervor since the 14th century.  Pope Benedict has convoked this Jubilee as a time for church members to better know St. Paul, to study his writings, to imitate his zealous devotion to Jesus, and to better foster his commitment to bringing Jesus to all peoples.

Please keep our nation in prayer as we approach the July 4th holiday this week.  If you will be traveling please know that our prayers for your safety go with you– we look forward to seeing you upon your return.

God bless,
Father John

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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