Thursday, September 24, 2015

Welcome Pope Francis!!!

All of us at St. Mary's Church have been watching very closely to the coverage of Pope Francis's visit to the United States.  I hope that you have been following along with the Pope's Apostolic Journey as it has been a joyous and inspiring visit.

Let us all continue to pray for the Pope's safety as he comes to New York and then to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families.  Pope Francis's Itinerary in the US

Unfortunately with so much going on in our town this weekend, we had to cancel our Family Gathering Event that was scheduled for Saturday Evening.


We will still be celebrating this historic visit at all of our Masses this weekend and in a special way at the 10:30am Mass.

All children attending the 10:30am Mass will receive a band with a special message from Pope Francis that reads "Christ is Knocking at the Door of Your Heart".  These inspiring words are a reminder to all of us that Jesus wants to enter deeply into our lives. Jesus wants to share in our joys and in our hurts and give us the strength to love and have hope.

Some of the staff of St. Mary's Parish with the Holy Father
#stmarysnutley
After our Religious Education classes and following the 10:30am Mass, our Pope Francis cardboard cutout will be outside the church for anyone who wishes to take a picture with the Pope.  If you post it to any social media, please use the hashtag #stmarysnutley so that we can see all the great photos.

Below are some great resources that you can help you and your family learn more about Pope Francis, including an awesome comic book featuring the Holy Father. Just click on the links below to learn more.

A Comic Book About Pope Francis and His Call to Serve

How the Pope Got His Name

The Symbols of Pope Francis’s Coat of Arms

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Meet Kristen, our new Ministry Assistant

Hello, my name is Kristen Gawlik and I am the new Ministry Assistant here at St. Mary’s.  I will be helping out in the various ministries throughout the parish, including Religious Education, RCIA, Youth Ministry, and the Children’s Liturgy of the Word.  
I’m from Closter, New Jersey and attended St. Joseph’s Grammar School in Oradell, where I also attended the high school youth group.  After graduating from the Academy of the Holy Angels, I attended Franciscan University of Steubenville, where I studied Theology and Catechetics for two years (and had a lot of fun playing intramural flag football on the side).  
I have been studying to be a Salesian Sister of Saint John Bosco since August 2012 and hope to one day dedicate my entire life to serving Jesus and His Church, especially the young people.  
I'm a huge Yankee fan, I love music and have a particular love for playing the guitar and learning new instruments.  I am very excited to be here, and I look forward to meeting you all!

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Welcome Back!!!

Opening Day of Religious Education
Sunday, September 13 from 9-10:15am
Tuesday, September 15 from 3:45-5pm

Today (and Tuesday) begins our Religious Education classes for the 2015-16 school year. This is the beginning of a new year of growing in knowledge of the Catholic faith. However, our faith isn't just about memorizing facts and knowing about Jesus; it is about knowing who Jesus is and building a relationship with Him.  Our goal is to help every student and their family to get to know Jesus, experience the love that He has to offer each of us and provide ways for everyone to share that love with others.  The knowledge that each child gains from learning about our Catholic faith helps them to better be able to share God's love with everyone they meet.
This faith formation takes place not just in the classroom, but also in the Church during Mass, where we are able to encounter Jesus in the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. When we learn about Jesus and then are nourished by His Body and Blood, we have all we need to share His love with others.
Let this "new beginning" be an opportunity for you and your family to make Christ the center of your family.  We are excited to be with you as we pray together, learn together, and celebrate God's love together as a parish family.


Catechetical Sunday
We will be celebrating Catechetical Sunday on Sunday, September 20 during the 10:30am Mass in the Church. We invite all students, parents, and catechists to attend this Mass to pray for the upcoming school year and for our dedicated catechists and volunteers.

First Day of Class
The first day of classes can be a little hectic, so to help minimize any confusion, we ask that you try to have your children at the school building by 8:40am on Sunday and 3:30pm on Tuesday. Upon arrival you will see tables set-up where you can check in and find your child’s class and room number.
Invitation to Parents
On the first day of classes, we extend a warm welcome and strongly encourage a parent to stay for the beginning of class. This will give you an opportunity to meet your child’s catechist and share any information with them about how to better serve your child. 

After your child is settled into their class, we invite you to stay for some light refreshments and to mingle with the other parents and our parish priests.  We will then gather with your children and catechists for an opening prayer service. If you are unable to stay for the entire first class, please come back and join us for the opening prayer service and kick-off: Sunday, September 13 at 9:40am in Walsh Hall or Tuesday, September 15 at 4:30pm in the Church. Together, we will kick off the year in a positive way and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance during this school year.  Classes will then be dismissed at their normal times.


Save the Date!!!
Saturday, September 26 at 7pm 
This September, the Holy Father, Pope Francis will be visiting the United States for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. In celebration of his Papal visit, we will be having our own Gathering of Families for our Religious Ed families in Walsh Hall. We will have food, crafts and activities for adults and children. We will also stream the Holy Father's prayer vigil so that we can all witness this historic event.  
We hope that you can join us!!!


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Prayer for a New School Year


Bless what we are about to begin, O God. 
Open our eyes to discover.
Open our ears to listen.
Open our hearts to care.
Guide us to make our best efforts.  
Encourage us.

Bless all who will help us.
Bless those who will teach us.

Bless those who will serve us.
Bless those who will guide us.
Bless those who will encourage us.
Bless especially our parents, grandparents, families, and friends. 

Amen.



Prayer Service is A Service of Pflaum Publishing Group 

Classes Begin Sunday, September 13 & Tuesday, September 15

Welcome to a new year of Religious Education! I hope that you have had a restful and relaxing summer. We are very excited to begin this year and are looking forward to growing in faith and knowledge together. 

As parents, you are called to be the first catechists of your child. Religious Education is the continuation of what he/she has already learned from you and your family. Our priests, staff, catechists, and volunteers are here to support you and to help further develop the faith of your child. We ask you to please let us know how we can better serve you and your family and we in turn ask that you reinforce the lessons learned in class. This can easily be done over breakfast after class or Mass on Sundays or during dinnertime after class on Tuesday. You and your child may also find it helpful to review the previous lessons together. However, the best way to help them truly learn about how to live their faith is by modeling it for them. Going to Mass as a family, living out the commandments, and sharing your time, talent, and treasure allows not only your faith to grow, but allows your children to see what it means to be a true disciple of Christ.

We pray that this year will be enriching for both your child and your entire family.
We look forward to working with you and your children this term. 
God bless you and your family!

Opening Day of Class
Sunday, September 13 from 9-10:15am
Tuesday, September 15 from 3:45-5pm

First Day of Class
The first day of classes can be a little hectic, so to help minimize any confusion, we ask that you try to have your children at the school building by 8:40am on Sunday and 3:30pm on Tuesday. Upon arrival you will see tables set-up where you can check in and find your child’s class and room number.

Invitation to Parents
On the first day of classes, we extend a warm welcome and strongly encourage a parent to stay for the beginning of class. This will give you an opportunity to meet your child’s catechist and share any information with them about how to better serve your child. 

After your child is settled into their class, we invite you to stay for some light refreshments and to mingle with the other parents and our parish priests.  We will then gather with your children and catechists for an opening prayer service. If you are unable to stay for the entire first class, please come back and join us for the opening prayer service and kick-off:

Sunday, September 13 at 9:40am in Walsh Hall or Tuesday, September 15 at 4:30pm in the Church. Together, we will kick off the year in a positive way and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance during this school year.  Classes will then be dismissed at their normal times.