Celebrating 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima

Last week, the students of the Religious Education Program celebrated the 100th Anniversary of our Blessed Mother appearing to three cousins in Fatima, Portugal.  The Blessed Mother first appeared to them on May 13, 1917 and then asked them to visit her on the 13th of each month. During these visits, she told them of God's desire to bring all sinners back to Him. She asked the children to pray for peace, the end to war for the country of Russia and for all sinners.  She told them to pray the rosary daily so that they would grow closer to Jesus.  On October 13, 1917, she appeared to the the children a final time.  It was a rainy day, but Lucia, Francesco, and Jacinta were joined by over 70,000 people who came to see the miracle of our Lady.  At this last appearance, Mary told the children she wanted a chapel to be built on the spot and for the children to continue to pray the rosary for peace and for sinners.  Then the sky cleared, and the sun appeared and began to zig and zag and dance through the sky. The people became frightened because the son looked as though it was going to fall to the earth, but then it stopped and returned to its spot in the sky. All of the people were now completely dry and clean. 

To commemorate this anniversary, Grade 1 watched a video on Our Lady of Fatima and learned the story of The Miracle of the Sun.  Grades 2, 3, 4, and 5 took a short pilgrimage to the statue of Our Lady of Fatima on the side of our church. They listened to the story of the Miracle at Fatima and learned how to pray the rosary. Then together, we prayed a decade of the rosary for peace. It was a wonderful to see that many of the children brought their own rosaries to pray along with us. During our Sunday celebration, we were joined by some of our parishioners as they were leaving 9am Mass and some of the members of the Rosary Society. We ended both days of our celebration by placing flowers at the feet of our Blessed Mother.

Thank you to Catherine Sergott and Karen Visco for sharing these photos.

Relay for Life Prayer Service

On Wednesday, May 10, St. Mary's Church hosted the Nutley Clergy Association's Relay for Life Prayer Service to honor all those touched by cancer.  Fr Rich was the celebrant and spoke about finding comfort in God.  The music led by Bruce Mauro, our Music Director continued this theme as we listened to a beautiful meditation song, Matt Maher's Lord, I Need You. I invite you to take a moment to play the song (below) because it is a powerful and prayerful way to invite Jesus, Our Savior into our moments of suffering and weakness.

Relay for Life helps communities to remember loved ones lost, honor survivors of all cancers, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society make a global impact on cancer. On May 19-20, Nutley held its 11th Relay for Life. 70 teams participated in this annual event, which this year raised over $73,000!   You can find out more information by checking out their page Nutley Relay for Life

It is especially fitting that it takes place in May because May 1 is the feast day of St. Peregrine, who is the patron saint for persons suffering from cancer.  

Most of us know someone who has been affected by cancer, as we stand together as a parish family let us offer our prayers to St. Peregrine that he may intercede for us to God for healing, courage and hope.


Prayer to St. Peregrine

St. Peregrine, whom Holy Mother Church has declared Patron of those suffering from Cancer, I confidently turn to you for help in my present sickness. I beg your kind intercession. Ask God to relieve me of this sickness, if it be his Holy Will. Plead with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, whom you loved so tenderly and in union with whom you have suffered the pains of Cancer, that she may help me with her powerful prayers and loving consolation.

But if it should be God’s Holy Will that I bear this sickness, obtain for me courage and strength to accept these trails from the loving hand of God with patience and resignation, because he knows what is best for the salvation of my soul. St. Peregrine, be my friend and patron. Help me to imitate you in accepting suffering, and to unite myself with Jesus Crucified and the Mother of Sorrows, as you did. I offer my pains to God with all the love of my heart, for his glory and the salvation of souls, especially my own. Amen.

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.

7th Grade Faith Night - Sunday, November 22

On Sunday, November 22, 2015, we will be doing something a little different for the 7^th Grade students.  Instead of attending class on Sunday (11/22) from 9-10:15am or Tuesday (11/24) from 3:45-5:00pm, all 7^th Graders will meet on Sunday Night from 5-7:30pm in Walsh Hall.

This youth 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. It will be led by our Peer Leadership Team, a team of high school students who give of their time to share their faith with others. The theme for the night will be: Superheroes, Saints, and Virtues

We ask that each student be in attendance for this night.  Your child does not need their book for this night and we ask that before coming, please be sure that your child eats dinner, as we will only be having snacks during the youth faith night.

If you have any questions, please contact Anthony Armando.

Thank you and God Bless!

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

8th Grade Faith Night - We could all use a Hero

On Sunday, March 8, 2015, we will again be doing something a little different for the 8^th Grade students. Instead of attending class from 9-10:15am, all 8^th Graders will meet in Walsh Hall from 5-7:30pm for a youth faith night.

This youth 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 theme of heroes and who are the everyday heroes in our lives.

 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, as we will only be having snacks during the youth faith night.

If you have any questions, please contact Anthony Armando by email or phone.

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Take a few minutes to watch this video about St. Francis with your family. 

Share it with someone who you think could use a laugh and some inspiration.

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is October 4.  As the patron saint of animals, St. Francis had a special connection to these creations of God, the Father.
Fr. Rich will give a special Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 4 at 1pm on the steps of the Church. So, pack up Fluffy and put a leash on Spike and bring over your pets to be blessed.