Friday, December 30, 2016

Happy New Year!!!

Today in the gospel, Luke tells us about the shepherds who received a heavenly message about the birth of a child who would be there savior.  They quickly went off to see if the message that they received was true. When they found the child just as the angels had said, they gave glory to God and sang his praises.  We hear about Mary, who was probably exhausted and overwhelmed, taking time to reflect and treasure all that was happening.  Mary, Joseph, the shepherds all took time to be grateful for this truly blessed occasion. Their hearts were full of joy and gratitude for the ways that they were able to encounter God's love at this 1st Christmas.
We hope that your Christmas was a time of peace and joy!  As we celebrate the New Year, we hope that you can take a moment to reflect, treasure, and give praise and thanks for all the ways that you and your family have encountered the love of Jesus this past year.  We pray that your new year is blessed with the hope, peace, joy and love of the new born King.  
We have so much to look forward to in 2017, but before we look ahead, we took some time to look back at the past few months of the Religious Education year. Here are some of the highlights:

- We have welcomed 60 new families into our Religious Education Program and our program has grown to over 450 students
- Our Peer Leadership Team has grown to 23 high school students. The team meets each week to prepare to work with our Confirmation candidates and Religious Ed students, share their faith and to pray together
- Our Family Gathering Event at the TurtleBack Zoo, where Fr. Rich celebrated Mass, and then we had the chance to spend the day learning about animals
- Our 7th Graders came together to learn about how the saints are our truest superheroes
- We have 14 new youth altar servers (and more coming) to serve at our Liturgies 
- Our families came together to make Advent wreaths to remind us of God's hope, peace, joy and love and to help us prepare for Christmas
- 81 young people received the Sacrament of Penance for the first time on December 10th, and many of their parents were able to receive God's mercy and forgiveness through this wonderful sacrament too
- Santa visited our parish as our children and families enjoyed breakfast together 





Monday, December 19, 2016

God With Us

In today's First Reading from Isaiah, we hear the prophet tell us:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: 
the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, 
and shall name him Emmanuel.

The name Emmanuel is one of my favorite titles for Jesus. It translates from Hebrew as "God is with us."  The Son of God, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, becomes like us in every way but sin to show us how to truly be alive.  He comes to offer us a true vision of who God the Father is and shares his own life with us. He offers us true hope, peace, joy and love.

In all that we do here at St. Mary's, we try to remember that our main goal is to be Emmanuel to others. Our hope is that our catechists, parents, students, and all of our parish families may experience God's hope, peace, joy and love in our classrooms, at our family gathering events, at our celebrations, at Mass, and in every encounter that we may have with them.  

We have been blessed with so many great opportunities to encounter Christ through one another so far this year. Here are just a few highlights from the past few months:

- We have welcomed 60 new families into our Religious Education Program and our program has grown to over 450 students
- Our Peer Leadership Team has grown to 23 high school students. The team meets each week to prepare to work with our Confirmation candidates and Religious Ed students, share their faith and to pray together
- Our Family Gathering Event at the TurtleBack Zoo, where Fr. Rich celebrated Mass, and then we had the chance to spend the day learning about animals
- Our 7th Graders came together to learn about how the saints are our truest superheroes
- We have 14 new youth altar servers (and more coming) to serve at our Liturgies 
- Our families came together to make Advent wreaths to remind us of God's hope, peace, joy and love and to help us prepare for Christmas
- 81 young people received the Sacrament of Penance for the first time on December 10th, and many of their parents were able to receive God's mercy and forgiveness through this wonderful sacrament too
- Santa visited our parish as our children and families enjoyed breakfast together 


Wednesday, November 23, 2016


A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

"Today we give thanks for our many blessings as we pray for those in need. We give thanks for our family and friends as we pray for those who are lonely. We give thanks for our freedoms as we pray for those who are oppressed. We give thanks for our good health as we pray for those who are ill. We give thanks for our comfort and prosperity as we share our blessings with others. On this day of Thanksgiving, May the love of God enfold us, the peace of God dwell within us, and the joy of God uplift us. Amen."



Monday, October 31, 2016

Religious Education Program Up Coming Classes & Events for November


Tuesday, November 1 - Class (no class for Gr 7)
Thursday, November 3 - Confirmation Class
Saturday, November 5 - Altar Server Training - Anyone in Gr 4-8 is welcome (see post below)
Sunday, November 6 - Class
Tuesday, November 8 – No Class – Election Day
Sunday, November 13 – Class
Tuesday, November 15 – Class
Thursday, November 17 – Confirmation Class
Sunday, November 20 – Class & Family Gathering Event: Family Advent Wreath
Tuesday, November 22 – Class
Sunday, November 27 – No Class – Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 29- Class


Friday, October 7, 2016

Serving God and His People at Mass - Youth Altar Servers

Serving God isn't just for adults, we are all called to serve God and his people.  One of the most important places to do that is during the Saturday evening/Sunday liturgy.  We are looking for boys and girls in Grade 4 and up to be Altar Servers.  
We will have a training session on Saturday, November 5 at 11am in the Church.  During this training session, we will teach them how to be an altar server, why it is an important role at Mass, and talk about some of the things that happen during the liturgy.  Once they are trained, they will be able to serve at any of the Masses that you attend. If you are interested, please email Kristen Gawlik - kristen@stmarysnutley.org with the name of your son or daughter, their grade, a contact number, and what Mass you normally attend.  

Monday, October 3, 2016

A Day in the Life of St Francis

Tuesday, October 4 is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. In honor of this great saint, we will have a blessing of animals at 5:00pm next to the St. Francis mural (across the street from the Church). Bring your dog, cat, bird, frogs, fish or whatever pets you may have to receive a special blessing on the feast day of the Patron Saint of Animals.  The Tuesday Religious Education students will be brought over to the mural at 4:45pm and will be dismissed from the parking lot.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Be a Part of Our Children's Choir

Our Children's Choir under the direction of our Music Director, Bruce Mauro is looking for some new voices!!! If you like to sing, we would love to have you help us lead the Church in song at Mass. 
The Children's Choir is open to boys and girls in Grades 3-8. There are 2 Sunday morning rehearsals per month and after the 2nd rehearsal, the choir will sing at the 10:30am Mass. The next rehearsal is this Sunday, October 2 at 9:45pm.  The students will leave Religious Ed early and meet in the Parish Center Chapel for rehearsal and will be finished in time to attend the 10:30am Mass.  
If you are interested, please contact, Bruce Mauro - 609-558-1035 or by email at b.mauro1@yahoo.com.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Registration for 2016/17 School Year


Registration Forms for the 2016/17 Religious Education school year.
We ask that you please return them to the Parish Center as soon as possible to guarantee that you will be placed on the day that you have chosen.

For families new to our Parish, please read our Welcome Letter
We look forward to having you in our parish program. In order to register your child in our program, we ask that you complete the Registration Form and bring it in to the Parish Center Office.

The Registration form has 2 pages:
Family Information page: which includes our registration fees
Student Information page: please provide information for each student (K-8)
Select a day and time when the student will attend class.
Students in Grades 1-8 have a choice of either: Sunday 9-10:15am or Tuesday 3:45-5pm.
Kindergarten will only meet on Sunday mornings
Please provide a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate, 1st Communion & 1st Penance (if  applicable)

If your child attended religious education in another parish, please ask the parish that they attended for a Transfer Letter, so that we can properly place them in the correct grade level.

Religious Education begins in Grade 1 and continues through Grade 8.  Students who are suitably prepared will directly prepare and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in Grade 9.  Students who have gaps in their religious education will need to do make-up work either during the summer or during the school year.

Preparation for First Penance and First Holy Communion is a 2 year program that begins in Grade 1.  If your child has not completed Grade 1 religious education in our parish or another parish and will be entering Grade 2 in the fall of 2016, they will need to do a make-up class at home with you over the summer.  If there is not adequate time to do the make-up work before classes begin in September, the child will enter into Grade 2 and receive the Sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion in the spring of their 3rd Grade school year.


Sunday, May 22, 2016

Pentecost & Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity

During the past two weeks, the Church has given us two wonderful feast days to celebrate. Last Sunday, we celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Both of these days give us the opportunity to meditate on the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  On Pentecost, the Father sent the Holy Spirit that the Son had promised to his disciples. Today, we honor the Blessed Trinity, the union and love shared by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Through this union and love, we are united to God the Father by the love of Jesus and the power of the Spirit in our lives. 

During these past two weeks, our parish has been especially blessed as we also celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation with 13 adults and 51 teenagers.  In Confirmation, our hearts are imprinted with a permanent seal that marks us forever as Christians and we are given the strength and gifts needed to be true witnesses of Jesus Christ. 
We pray that they always open themselves to the Holy Spirit and allow the gifts of wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence and wonder and awe to fill their hearts. We also pray that they may remain connected by the Holy Spirit to the True Vine, Jesus Christ, who nourishes us by His own Body and Blood and allows us to grow as true disciples who bear God’s love to all.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Registration for 2016-17 Religious Education

Registration forms for the 2016-17 school year were distributed during our final classes. If your child was absent at our final class, the forms will be mailed to your home. Please be sure that you have your family registration packet, so that you can register your children for classes next year so they can continue on their journey of faith.  During each year of Religious Education, we look to deepen the faith of our students and provide opportunities for them to experience God's love, peace and joy. 
If you have a child that will be entering Grade 1 in September 2016, now is the time to register them for classes.  You can do so by coming in to the Parish Center and speaking to Diane or by emailing Anthony (armandoa@stmarysnutley.org). 
If you know of anyone who has children who have been away from religious education, invite them to speak to a priest, Kristen or Anthony to find out how they can get back into the program and continue their faith journey.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Happy Easter

Humorous little video about two Roman Soldiers assigned to guard the tomb of Jesus. 
The woman of Jerusalem know the Alleluia that we sing here at St. Mary's. 
(Perhaps Bruce went back in time to teach it to them???)

 

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Holy Week, The Triduum, & Easter



We hope you will join us in celebrating 
the Triduum and Easter Sunday

Holy Thursday
Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30pm

Good Friday
The Seven Last Words – 2pm

The Passion of the Lord
Service at 7:30pm

Holy Saturday
Easter Vigil Mass
7:30pm

Easter Sunday
Masses at 7:30AM, 9:00AM, 10:30AM, 12 Noon

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Our Lenten Journey

As the season of Lent draws to a close, we take a look back at the ways in which our students learned about the mercy of Christ and were able to grow in their faith.
In Kindergarten and Grade 1, the students have been learning their prayers and about all that God has done for us.
Our 2nd Graders are preparing for their First Holy Communion by working at home with their parents and in the classroom with their catechists. They have been learning about the parts of the Mass and about the amazing miracle that happens each time we come to the Eucharist.
The students in Grades 3, 4, 5, 7, & 8, all had the opportunity to receive God's mercy through the Sacrament of Penance. Fr. Trinidad visited each class to give a refresher course on the sacrament and then each of our students was able to go receive forgiveness for their sins and renew their relationship with Christ.  
And our 6th Graders continued their journey through the Bible and have learned about the history of our salvation with the Encounter Bible Study Series.

Operation Rice Bowl
In addition to the learning that has gone on in the classroom, each student received an Operation Rice Bowl to take home. Each student was asked to use these boxes as a way to help give to those who are in need of food in our country and in our world.  The money that is raised by our students will go to Catholic Relief Services, which is one of the largest relief agencies in the world.  We hope that everyone of our Religious Education families can help us to accomplish this Corporal Work of Mercy and feed the hungry.  The Rice Bowls should be returned at our final class in April.


Religious Education Classes

Sunday, March 20 - Religious Education Class
Tuesday, March 22 - Religious Education Class
Sunday, March 27 - No Class
Tuesday, March 29 - No Class
Thursday, March 31 - Confirmation Class
Sunday, April 3 - Final Sunday Class
Tuesday, April 5 - Final Tuesday Class

Registration for 2016-17 Religious Education
During our final classes (April 3 & 5), registration forms for the 2016-17 school year will be distributed.  Please be sure to take home your family packet, so that your children can continue their journey of faith.  During each year of Religious Education, we look to deepen the faith of our students and provide opportunities for them to experience God's love, peace and joy.  If you know of anyone who has children who have been away from religious education, invite them to speak to a priest, Kristen or Anthony to find out how they can get back into the program and continue their faith journey.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

8th Grade Faith Night - Sunday March 6

On Sunday, March 6, 2016, we will be doing something a little different for the 8th Grade students. Instead of attending class at their normal times on Sunday from 9-10:45am or Tuesday, March 8, ALL 8th Graders will meet in Walsh Hall Sunday, March 6, 2016 from 5-7:30pm for a night of faith sharing.

This faith night will give them an opportunity to engage in their faith in a different way and will allow them to begin learning how to live out their faith. The night will focus on the Jubilee Year of Mercy. We will do activities and hear about how much God loves us. They will also have the opportunity to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. After the Sacrament, we will celebrate with ice cream! (Because is there any better way to celebrate the love of Jesus than with ice cream!)

 We ask that each student be in attendance for this night, which will be led by our Peer Leadership Team, a team of high school students who have been preparing for the past month.  Your child does not need their book for this night and we ask that before coming, please be sure that your child eats dinner.  If you have any questions, please contact Anthony Armando by email or phone.



Wednesday, February 10, 2016

LENT: PRAYER, FASTING, & ALMSGIVING

Want to learn more about Lent, check out this video from our Lego friends on what we are called to do as Catholics.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

1st Holy Communion Parent Meeting


On Monday, February 8, 2016 at 7pm in the church, we will have a meeting for all parents who have a child receiving First Holy Communion this spring.  We ask that at least one parent/guardian attend this meeting during which we will go over the preparation and details of the First Communion program.

During the meeting you will also receive the First Communion preparation book, which you will complete at home with your child prior to their First Communion rehearsal. This book is similar to the one that was used during the preparation for First Penance. It contains six chapters that you and your child should work on and complete together.

Important Note: We needed to change the date of the First Communion Retreat. It was originally scheduled for Saturday, February 28.  It will now be Saturday, March 19 from 10am-12 Noon.


If for any reason, you are unable to attend the meeting, please notify Anthony Armando or Kristen Gawlik by email or phone to arrange a time to pick up the information and the First Communion Book.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Religious Ed Classes are Cancelled for Sunday, January 24

Due to the crazy amount of snow, we are canceling Religious Ed Classes for Sunday, January 24.

The Confirmation make-up class will be rescheduled for next Sunday, January 31.


St. Mary's Church will be cleaned and ready for all of our Masses tomorrow. 
We hope you will join us for Mass at 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am or 12 Noon. 

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Growing in Faith in 2016

It is the goal of our Religious Education program to introduce our children and their parents to a life giving relationship with Jesus and provide them with the opportunities to experience His love, peace, and joy.  In addition to the catechesis that goes on in each class room, we will be enhancing our program by challenging our students to experience God's love and mercy in new ways.

As we begin this Year of Mercy, we will provide Grades 3, 4, 5, and 7 with the opportunity to receive God's forgiving mercy in the Sacrament of Penance.

While our 6th Grade and 8th Grade students will deepen their knowledge of Jesus through a new set of programs in their classes this semester. Grade 6 will be learning more Jesus through scripture with the Encounter Bible Study program from Ascension Press. While the 8th Grade will be looking at how they are called to a relationship with the God who created them and loves them and calls them to live out that love using the Chosen series, also from Ascension Press.  Both DVD based lessons will challenge the students to think about who they are, how they are called to live as disciples of Christ and how they play a role in God's kingdom. 

Grade 8 - Chosen Program


Grade 6 - Encounter Bible Series