PARISH HAPPENINGS

The Parish Happenings for the week of 7/25/2010 are as follows:


Our Parish Mission Statement

- Our Lady of Perpetual Help -

A Catholic community growing together in our faith in Jesus Christ through prayer and loving service.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Capital Campaign

Our Legacy of Generosity . . . Growing toward the Future

 June 2010 Update -- Campaign Approaches $3.6 Million in Collections!

We are sincerely grateful to all those who have pledged to our Capital Campaign thus far.  To date, over 400 families have pledged $ 4,032,864.  As you know, the beginning total of our debt was $4,984,219.  As of June 30, 2010, we have collected $3,591,667, reducing our outstanding principal to $1,392,552.*   As you can see, we have been blessed by the generosity of many parishioners (and even several non-parishioners as well).  We invite and need everyone to join them.  If you have already pledged-- thank you very, very much; please continue to send in your pledge payments.  If you have not yet made a pledge, we would be grateful if you could do so as soon as possible.  Together, we can put this burden behind us and continue to build a brighter future for our parish family.

*We also pay 3% interest on the outstanding principal; the interest payments come from our regular Sunday collections.  As we promised, every dollar raised through the Capital Campaign is put directly toward reduction of the principal.

Wedding Banns

(III) Christine Forgione & Adam Bevevino

(II)  Candice Balsamo & Matt Paragano

(I) Katie Burke & Michael Moylan

Please welcome the newest members of our parish!

Matthew Vazquez Ayala, son of Josue and Dany

Mia Grace De Rosa, daughter of Robert and Alison

Sophia Josephine Gudgion, daughter of Eric & Rita

Keyla Angelina Maccado, daughter of Benito & Maria

Sasha Lopez, daughter of Eladio and Claudia

Alejandro Miguel Nestor, son of Omar and Jennifer

Olivia Anne O’Hare, daughter of Dean and Kelly

SOCIAL MINISTRY
 Anne Lynch (908) 766-0079, ext. 7
 olphsocialmin@aol.com

Backpack Collection – Helping hands are needed to assist during the summer with our annual backpack collection. If you can help organize, sort or deliver backpacks, please call or email Anne.

We are in need of 2 cribs for parishioners expecting new babies over the summer.

A parishioner with strong work experience is seeking employment. College educated in South America, fluent in English, holds a  driver’s license and valid working documentation. Has worked in the U.S. as a personal assistant and caregiver.

Please Save the Date!

7th Annual OLPH Golf & Tennis Outing

Monday, October 4, 2010

Roxiticus Country Club,  Mendham

More info to follow.

“The 12 Keys to Spiritual Vitality -- A Life Changing Experience for Maturing Adults”

Mondays, 8/26 through 11/11, 10:30am until noon

$5.00 per session or $50 for all 12 sessions

St. John Neumann Pastoral Center

Interested in finding new ways to improve your attitude and feel good about yourself, your relationship with God and others? Would you like to learn how to mature with grace and enthusiasm? Do you want to discover the deeper meaning of your life, forgive others and self, let go of anger and change the way you feel about aging? Are you eager to develop a youthfulness of spirit, meet new friends, have some fun?

Information and registration call (732)562-1990 ext 1624 or email familylife@diometuchen.org.

Are you suffering after an abortion?  Help is available!

As we are beginning to understand the long term effects of abortion, we see that abortion creates human need instead of solving a human problem. Abortion leaves behind a trail of bereaved mothers and fathers with life long consequences. Many who have had abortions experience what is referred to as “Post Abortion Stress Syndrome.” If you or someone you know is suffering from the after effects of abortion, there is hope.

For free,  confidential counseling call,  1-877-877-4300.

Assumption College for Sisters welcomes lay people to register for theology and philosophy courses for credit or audit and any  other  course  for  audit.  Courses begin August 25 and run through December 20, 2010.

For information about all courses offered this semester contact Sister Gerardine Tantsits (973) 543-6528, ext 228.

HEADS-UP!   FALL BIBLE STUDY

Sept. 14 – Nov. 16, Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 9 PM

Plan to join us to read and discuss EXODUS.

ALL ARE WELCOME! Contact Gale Fitzgerald 766-5309 or galefitzgerald@aol.com

12:15 Sunday Mass Help Needed

Anyone interested in possibly serving as a Lector or Eucharistic Minister at the 12:15 pm Sunday Mass is asked to contact Father John as soon as possible.

Sandwiches for 60 - Wednesday,  7/28 at 4:30pm St. E’s cafeteria

Please join us to make bagged lunches for the those who utilize the shelter in Somerville. If you would like to help please contact the Religious Education office 777-5638 or olphreligioused@aol.com.

Adult Open Gym - Tuesday and Thursdays  8pm until 10pm

Adults are welcome to join their neighbors in pick up basketball games in St. Elizabeth's gymnasium.

Needed!  Volunteers With Database Management Experience

The Parish would like to undertake the collection of Parishioner email addresses and the creation of an active email   database.  If you have skills in this area, your help is needed urgently!  This would include anyone with experience creating and managing a database, experience with various database programs, outbound email marketing experience. 

Contact Neil Contess at (973) 979-0010 or neil@contess.us.

Bernardsville Farmer’s Market

The Farmer’s Market is back! Support your local farmers and vendors!  This  farmers  market  is  located  at the Bernardsville train station,  just across the street from The Bernards Inn on US 202, Saturdays from 9am until through the end of October. 

The vendors change from week to week, but the usual staples are always represented -- farm fresh produce and flowers from several vendors, home made pies, craft cheeses, yummy baked granola, and healthy whole-grain baked goods.  On a recent Saturday, Pickle Licious of Teaneck, NJ offered up their terrific olives and half-sour, full-sour, and hot & spicy pickles. 

There is  plenty  of free and  convenient parking in the Bernardsville train station.  The market is open from 9am until 2pm, but be sure to get there early as many of the vendors are sold out and packed up by noon.

Most of the vendors only accept cash, but there are ATM's located at the Wachovia bank across Mine Brook Road and in the Bernardsville train station.

Find Nearby Churches while Traveling

For information on Catholic Churches near your travel area, visit www.masstimes.org or call (410) 676-6000.

OZANAM-PROVIDE-A-MEAL Project

Sunday, July  25 at 2pm, St. Elizabeth’s cafeteria
 
Many thanks to all who provided food, clothing toys and laundry detergent for the homeless guests at Ozanam.  This weekend, we will bring pizza for dinner and celebrate "Christmas in July" giving each adult a large plastic carton filled with toiletries, bath towel, washcloth, etc, and mostly new toys for the children.  We hope to have a picnic at the shelter on August 22nd and need volunteers--adults and teens, and seek donations of socks and underwear for children and adults. Many thanks to Sr. Annelyth for helping us prepare dinner, and serving and offering hope to the guests at the Homeless Shelter.   Questions, contact Carol & Bob Dooley 766-6807.

During the months of July and August, the office will close at 12:30 on Fridays.

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, will be available in the back of the church. Please help yourself to a complimentary copy.  The Catholic Spirit contains diocesan as well as parish news, stories of people giving witness to their faith, inspirational articles and much more. Individuals can subscribe to the  paper or view it online. The copies in the church are free. We encourage you to take a copy home with you. 

Supporting Our Church

“Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” Luke 12:32

We are grateful to all those who contributed to the  collection on July 18. The parish collection totaled $13,470 and represented $12,754 from identified givers (our envelope users, as well as those who used loose checks, plus the 109 parishioners who contribute through FaithDirect), as well as $716 in loose cash.

Let your love for Christ’s ministry live on…please remember your parish in your will.

Can You Save Your Marriage?
Retrouvaille - a lifeline for troubled marriages

If your marriage has become unloving and uncaring, or if your relationship has grown cold and distant, you are thinking of divorce, or you are already separated or divorced, but you both wish to try again — RETROUVAILLE program may help you.

RETROUVAILLE (rediscovery) sponsored by the Family Life Office/Diocese of Metuchen consist of a weekend experience for couples (no group discussions) with six follow-up sessions.

The next program begins the weekend of September 17-19, 2010. All inquires are confidential. For further information call the Family Life Office (732)562-1990, ext. 1624 or Tom and Pat McTague at (732) 583-4468.

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, will be available in the back of the church. Please help yourself to a complimentary copy.  The Catholic Spirit contains diocesan as well as parish news, stories of people giving witness to their faith, inspirational articles and much more. Individuals can subscribe the  paper or view it online. The copies in the church are free. We encourage you to take a copy home with you.

Directed Retreat, Quellen Spiritual Center, Mendham

July 23-30.  The six day Ignatian directed retreat is an invitation to reflect on how we are meeting God in our prayer and in our life experiences. Within an atmosphere of silence, there is a time for personal prayer, reflection and liturgy, as well as other prayer and sacramental opportunities. A directed retreat is a one-on-one experience. A director meets with you individually on a daily basis to assist you in processing your prayer, and discerning the movement of the Spirit. To learn more, please visit www.quellenspiritualcenter.org.

2010 Flame of Charity Dinner

The 26th Annual Flame of Charity Dinner will take place on Tuesday evening, October 26, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick. Two outstanding individuals are being honored this year:

William Ard
Senior Vice President Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC
Parishioner of St. Mary Church-Stony Hill, Watchung , NJ
Community Servant

Rev. Msgr. Gregory E.S. Malovetz
Pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Church
Skillman, NJ

The proceeds from this event help support the many social service programs of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, including homeless shelters, health clinics, youth programs and low income housing. The Flame of Charity Dinner Committee is proud of what has been accomplished over the years and this could not have happened without the generosity and continued support of people like you. Please contact us at (732) 562-2438 for more information on underwriting and sponsorship or to order tickets. You may also visit the website at www.diometuchen.org/event-viewer/.

Ridge Oak Senior Housing apartment applications

Applications are now available through Friday, October 15th. Applications will be accepted for efficiency, 1-BR & 2-BR units in the Manchester Drive and Lindbergh Lane locations.  The facility is located in Basking Ridge. Applicants must be 62 years of age or older and income eligible to qualify.  Applications may be obtained in-person at the rental offices located at 150 Manchester Drive, Basking Ridge weekdays between 9am and 4:30pm, via the website or mail. www.ridgeoak.org or call (908)221-0266 for details.
 

Have you Heard about the Revised Roman Missal? Part 8

 When will we actually begin using the revised Roman Missal at Mass?

Until the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal is given final approval by the Vatican, no official date for implementation has been or can be given.  While the process is nearing completion, even after the approval is given, publishers will then need about a year to prepare all the texts and music.  The current projection for actual usage in parishes is Advent 2011.  Although seemingly a long time off, we are being encouraged by the bishops to use this interim time for preparation and catechesis of both the faithful and the clergy.  This will ensure a smooth transition to the new Missal.  Study texts are available for priests to become familiar with the revised texts and prayers. However, at present, they can not be used at Mass until formally promulgated.  As the faithful learn more about these changes, it presents us with a wonderful opportunity to enrich and deepen our understanding of the Mass and to increase our love of the Eucharist.

To learn more about it, please visit the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops www.usccb.org/romanmissal.

Jesus may be calling YOU to be a priest, deacon, or sister!

What is a vocation?

The word vocation comes from the Latin word “vocare” which means “to call.”  A vocation is a call from God to do something special with your life.  When we are baptized, God calls each of us to follow him and make the world better by living as a priest, deacon, religious sister or brother, married person, parent, single person, etc.  This is a special opportunity to think about whether God might be calling YOU to be a priest, deacon, or religious sister.

How do I know whether God is calling me?

God is calling each of us to do something.  We are asking you to think about whether God might be calling you to serve as a priest, deacon, or religious sister.  We can try to figure out what God is asking of us by praying, by talking to a priest or religious sister, and by thinking about what kinds of things we like to do.    We can say a prayer each day asking God to make his will clearer to us; we can talk with the priests and sisters that we know, asking them what they do and if they have any suggestions for us; and we can think about whether we like to pray, help others, teach, organize things, and make a difference—these are things that priests, deacons, and sisters do every day.

For more information . . .

The best place to get more information about being a priest, deacon, or religious sister is talk to with one.  Always feel free to ask your favorite priest, deacon, or sister about what they do.  You can also call a special priest or religious sister known as a Vocation Director—this is a priest or sister that is responsible for helping people figure out whether God is calling them to a church vocation.  If you are thinking about being a priest or deacon, you can always call Father Randy Vashon, the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Metuchen at 732-549-9770; if you are thinking about being a sister, you can call Sister Bernadette McCauley, the Vocation Director for the Sisters of Christian Charity at 973-543-6528, ext. 274.

Prayers for Vocations

(Young People) Dear Jesus,

I love you and I want to help you.  Help me to know what you are calling me to do with my life.  I want to serve you and to help other people.  Please make it clear to me whether you are calling me to be a priest, deacon, or sister, and help me to say “yes” to whatever you ask of me.  Amen.

(Parents) Dear Jesus,

I love you, and I want my children to know and love you.  As a Christian parent, help me to lead my children to you.  Help me to support them as they discern your call in their life and to encourage them to say “yes” to what you ask of them.  Amen.

 

Community CONTACT NUMBERS

Pregnancy Aid Center:  908-526-8121

Family Planning:  1-800-334-06999

Domestic Violence Hotline:  908-685-1122
 

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