Dear Friends,

The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist was a

problem for the early Christians. Why? Because if

Jesus came to John for baptism doesn’t that mean

that Jesus thought that John was his leader, that the

Baptist was superior to Jesus? That’s what it may

have looked to those who witnessed it. Yet all the

gospels mention that it happened. What are we to

make of this?

One thing that is certain – it must have happened.

After all, if it made Jesus look inferior to the

Baptist why include it in the gospels? The only

reason is that it must have actually happened.

Of course, all four gospels also stress that the

Baptist never claimed to be the Messiah. In fact, he

seemed to go out of his way to say that he wasn’t

and that his purpose was one of preparation. Only

Matthew’s account of the baptism of Jesus has the

exchange between the two where John said that

Jesus should baptize him and only did baptize him

because of Jesus’ insistence.

What does all of this tell us about the baptism of

Jesus? Of the many things, the one that stands out

is that this moment was a turning point in Jesus’

life. If he simply had come to the Baptist, like so

many others of his time, to respond to John’s call to

prepare for God to act on Israel’s behalf anew, the

actual event seemed to change him, (from a human

point of view).

What was that change? It gave Jesus his mission.

The way the gospels show this is by Jesus

experiencing the Spirit of God coming down on

him and (in the synoptic gospels but not in John’s

account), Jesus hearing a voice saying “You are my

beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

There is a profound symbolism in these passages.

The story stresses that the sky was rent in two and

the Spirit came on him like a dove. In a time when

people thought that God was up in heaven and

human beings were down here on earth, the

assumption behind this picture was that there was a

separation between heaven and earth, between God

and his creation. But, in Jesus’ experience, the gap

is overcome. The distance no longer exists. With

Jesus, God and humanity are joined!

From this point on, the mission of Jesus is to share

his vision and its implications with all. As we sing

at Christmas: the soul of humanity “has felt its

worth” in Jesus. His life is the revelation of who we

really are.

If this is so, then that mission continues down to

our present day. It will become real for the infants

whom we will baptize this Sunday at St. Anne and

in every church wherever baptisms are held. The

real essence of these children, and of all of us who

have been united to Christ in baptism, is the same:

we are God’s beloved children. No one can take

this away from us. We can’t do so even by our

sinfulness. We will always, they will always, be

sons and daughters of the Father.

Baptism today has often become a ceremony of

welcoming children into the Christian community,

which it is certainly. But that community isn’t just

a group of people who share the same beliefs. It’s

not just a club. Because we have been united with

Christ, because where “two or three are gathered in

his name, he is there,” this community, we, are the

Christ with whom these children are now united

forever.

If we are Christ, then he continues his mission

through us, especially through the parents and

families of these children! We are meant to live for

our young people the way Christ shared himself –

showing them their true worth as children of God.

We can’t do this unless that’s the way we are trying

to live. So, maybe we can ask: will I commit

myself to the same mission, the same self-worth,

that Christ lived? Love,

Fr. Joe

Worship…Called and formed by the Word of God, we

worship our Lord primarily in the Mass. The Eucharist is

the center of our Christian life. It grounds everything else

we do, from prayer to our daily tasks to our ministries. If you

have any comments, please feel free to contact any of the

following Pastoral Council Representatives: Fr. Colin

Kay, Deacon Rich McGarry and Michael Kohler.

Pray for the recovery of: Dylan Ochanski, Helen Konarski, Cathy Nahra, Sharon Breheny, Mary Ludlow, Margaret Schneider, Dave Owens, Sam Samir, Craig Buksar, Ven Hammonds, Fr. Jim Moran, Timothy Dolan, Manny Chirico, Margaret Chirico, Facundo Daniel, Helen Kohler, Nicki Conaway, Ray Hofmeister, Virginia Sprague, June Passarelli, Barbara Spreer, Ron Barbarulo, Janet Blumka, Emma Marie Wyman, Evelyn Hedderich, Jason & Justin Leider, Kevin Barnett, Dianna Miranda, Jack Hermans, Joanne DeCaro, Brandon Higgens, Ann Millstein, Carol Gravel, Wendy Gratale, Richie Policastro, Jackie Manning, Stanislaw Tecza, Jean Calabrase, Louis Frances, Jarret Adamo, Matthew McGovern, Gloria Ranieri, Sarah Valenti, Dennis Crosby, Stan Tomon, Violeta Arva, Ken Macagna, Todd Hodge, Vickie DePadova, Louise Garcia, Emily Rao, John Rao, Carol Verbovsky, Kenneth Bodzak, Janice Ward, Carol Crosson, Anne Llewellyn, Amy Joosten Butler, Les Wolf, Gary Beal, Diana Lambouras, Thomas Brown, Mary Ann Cavana, Nicole Schepps, John Falcone, Elise Bord, Vicki Purpura, Liz Morano, Baby Regan Doyle, John Cooney, Msgr. Joseph Slinger, Jayden J. Miranda, Brenda Reef, Mary Garripoli, Kenneth Michael Bodzak, Kelly Ann Ross, Kay McAteer, Frank DiGiaimo Jr., Michael T., Mildred Adamo, Patricia Salvi, Aliysha Malone, Peter Mastrangelo, Olga Marino, Tyler Dixon, Richard DeLorenzo, Brandon Patory, Alice Giegler, Ruth Rizzo, Patrice Foster, Gertrude Mahon, Sean Cox, Ken Lisa, Kevin Considine, Baby Kaedon Ross, Glenn Endresz, Sarah Wilder, Krista Jentzsch, Patricia Hinchliffe, Helen Krajacic, Robert O’Byrne, Andrew D’Amico Sr., Anthony Frank, Janet Blumka, Anna Coletti, Patricia Castiglia, Linda DeLorenzo, Jean Conerly, Ruth Corsi, Rick Owen, Jeannie Girovasi, Natasha Santana, and Jay Paolella.

†Pray for the happy repose of † Gloria Ciba, Vera Lynch, Susan Romaino,

Martha Stuttlemeyer, Michael Allen, Cologero LaPlaca, Barbara Glover and Kim C. Silver

The Bread and Wine will be offered this week for the special intentions of the people of St. Anne Parish.

The Altar Candles will burn this week for the special intentions of the people of St. Anne Parish.

The Sanctuary Lamp will burn this week in loving memory of Jack Ryan as requested by Paul & Mary Werner.

Monday, January 11th

7:30 – Rose Rotella – Robert Van Houten 8:45 – Louis Insingna – Family Michelle Lynch – The Connor/Tully Families

Tuesday, January 12th

7:30 – Sheila Savage – Tom Maria Careesa - Sue 8:45 – Avery Guzman “1

st Birthday” – Family

Deacon Rich McGarry (Living) – Marianne & Carol

Wednesday, January 13th

7:30 – Robert Reyes Jr. – The Rodriguez Family 8:45 – James Lambert – LoBue Family David Lisi – Moran Family

Thursday, January 14th

7:30 – James A. Bredin – Tom Joyce Denise (Living) – Grace, Pat & Dor 8:45 – Patrick McHugh & Dec. members of the McHugh Family – Family Eugene Kelley – Daughter, Karen

Friday, January 15th

7:30 – Rafael Marte – Norton Family Crystal Lingenfelter – Grace Palmieri 8:45 – Chelsea Jean Sharkey – Nana & Pop Mary Ferris – Husband, Daniel

Saturday, January 16th

8:45 – Amada Cabaero Sr. - Amado Cabaero Jr. & Family Michael Allen – O’Connor Famiy 5:15 – Rev. Jeremiah McGinley OFM (Living) - Jeanette Kearns Ed & Irene Gasiorowski (Living) - Maryann & Bill DeMasso Charlie Van Hook – Genevieve Paulhus Kenneth Shedlock – Lisa Landias & Family

Sunday, January 17th

7:30 – Nicholas Mannarino – Campbell Family Trudy Schweitzer – Terri & Karl Eder Father Joe - Eileen 9:30 – Antonino Randazzo – Daughter Travis Fragala – Parents Mary Mortell – Dalton Family Robert Chevrier – Chevrier Family 11:30 – Eleanor Wardrop – Joe & Alan Quinn Antonio & Maria Martino – Daughter, Maria Marge Kasper – St. Anne’s Seniors Rago Family – Setteducato Family 6:00 PM – People of St. Anne Parish

During January, Pope Francis asks that we pray especially...that sincere dialog among men and women of different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice.

Let us pray for those in our armed forces especially

for: PFC Richard Marchese, US Army; Lt. Col.

Phillip Christy, US Army; Army Natl. Guard; Pvt. John

Pagios, US Army; Pvt. Kristoffer Burger, US Army;

SPCE4 Kyle Milnes, US Army; PO 2nd

Cl Jimmy

Guerra, US Navy, PO 2nd

Cl Nicholas J. Vanni, US

Navy; Major Gregory Sugalski, US Army; MM2

Nicholas J. Magarelli, USN, Master Sgt. Michael

VanPamel, USAF; Sgt. Michael Bourke, US Army;

PFC Lindsay Newarski, US Army; PFC Jason Dawson,

US Army;Staff Sgt.. Matthew Bauer, USAF; Brandon

Motto, USMC; Lt. Marc Sabatino, USN; LCPL Storm

Odom, USMC; Airman Michael Diffin, USAF; Sgt

Major Joseph R. Lobban, US Army; CPL Justin Scales,

USMC; LCPL Dominick Rizzo, USMC; PFC Jonathan

C. Sulinski, Warrant Officer Alan Harty, US Army;

Sgt. Bert J. Frullo, US Army; LCPL. Harrison James

Bruining, USMC; LCPL Steven D’Argenio, USMC;

Capt. Kip Rainey; SP4 Monica Saucier, US Army; Spec.

4 Brian Tarantino, US Army; PO 1st Cl. Mike

Tarantino, USN; Lt. Col. Marshall Denney; Lance

Corp. Marshall Denney IV; EO2 Michael Yondolino,

USN; Col. Patrick Frank; Capt. Daniel Curtin, US

Army; Capt. Erik Mineo, US Army; Staff Sgt. Joseph

Sullivan, USMC; A1C Richard Baldassari, USAF;

Capt. Donald Pump, USMC; and all those serving in

Iraq and Afghanistan.

ALTERNATIVE TO ABORTION If you know someone who is considering having an abortion, here is a number they might call that could be of help to them to consider an alternative to this practice. The number is 1-800-395-HELP (4357).

BACK TO OUR ROOTS

Will not meet this week.. BTOR will resume on January 21st

from 1-2 PM in the Faith Center

Special Noon Mass A special mass and support group meeting for all who are affected by the disease of alcoholism will take place at Church of St. Mary, 20 Legion Place, Closter, NJ on Saturday, January 16, 2015 at 12:00 noon. Mass is offered for the support, healing and recovery of not only the man/woman directly infected with the abuse of alcohol or drugs, but also for anyone involved in the life of the alcoholic or drug addict. For information please call 201-768-7565

MEDITATION

Voices From Lemnos

Seamus Heaney

History says, Don't hope

On this side of the grave,

But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave

Of justice can rise up

And hope and history rhyme.

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTIONS Baptism of the Lord

“John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with

water; but he who is mightier than I is

coming…he will baptize you with the Holy

Spirit…’ ” –Luke 3:16

The Catholic Catechism states that “Jesus’

immersion in the water is a sign for all human

beings of the need to die to themselves to do God’s

will.” In other words, as baptized Catholics there is

only one gift that we need to give to Jesus – the gift

of ourselves. Once we surrender ourselves to God,

we will know in our hearts what God calls us to do.

The Bereavement Support Group will meet on Monday evening Jan. 11th from 7:00-8:30 PM in the rectory. All are welcome, this is a walk in program and there is no need to register. Your loss does not have to be recent, if you have lost a loved one and are still grieving then come to a meeting. Each session is facilitated by registered nurses who are certified bereavement group facilitators. For more information call Margaret Howard at 201-796-9365.

Word… St. Anne’s is a family of faith formed by the Word of God, especially as this is expressed in the person of Christ, in the

Scriptures, and in the Tradition of the Church. As we hear this word and take it more and more deeply into our lives, we

become ever more truly the People of God.

If you have any comments, please feel free to contact any of the following Pastoral Council Representatives:

Donna Stickna, John Hill, Carmie DeMerchant, Melissa Rovetto-Ruffner & Marianne Cummins

SAINT ANNE SCHOOL NEWS

Sunday, January 31, join us for mass at 9:30 am to kick off Catholic Schools Week then stop at the school for a student-guided tour and a chance to meet the principal, teachers, and current parents.

It’s time to begin thinking about the upcoming school year. St. Anne School offers an amazing preschool with several attendance options as well as full-day Kindergarten. Both will put your child on the right track to the outstanding academics that continue in all grades.

FAITH FORMATION NEWS

SUNDAY/TUESDAY FAITH NEWS - Sunday Faith classes resumed January 3; Tuesday Faith classes resumed January 5. All Sunday/Tuesday Faith students should return their signed progress reports.

CONFIRMATION PREP - January Confirmation prep sessions will be held January 17 & 31. All sessions are in the school, 7-8:30pm. Please enter through door #4. Name Assignments are due January 31.

EUCHARIST INFO: PARENTS/GUARDIANS - ALL parents/guardians of children preparing for the sacrament of Eucharist are to attend a Eucharist Info Meeting on Wednesday, January 13 at either 10am or 7:30pm in the Church Hall. Preparation materials will be distributed at this meeting.

HOME STUDY & FAMILY CATECHESIS SESSIONS

January 12: Family Catechesis grade 7

January 19: Home Study 2

January 26: Family Catechesis grade 8 All sessions are 7-8:30pm in the school cafeteria (enter/exit through door #5). The following chapter reviews are due 2 weeks prior to the next session:

Home Study (grades 1-6): chapters 9-12

Family Catechesis (both 7th & 8th grade): chapters 7-12. New books will be distributed at this session

Save the dates for our Parish Mission…

Saint Anne Parish will host a Parish Mission this Lent

featuring Msgr. Paul Schetelick

beginning with the weekend Masses on March 5 & 6, 2016

and continuing in the evening on March 7, 8 & 9 at 7:30 pm in the Church

In keeping with the Holy Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis,

The theme of the Parish Mission will be mercy.

Stewardship Dinner 2016

HATS OFF TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!

Saint Anne parish owes a great deal to YOU, our volunteers--the life force of our parish--and our annual

Stewardship Appreciation Dinner allows us to honor, celebrate, and thank you for the many ways in which

you have devoted your time, energy, and talents to our community. Whether you assist with the running of

liturgies, or minister to the sick, or attend to the religious education of our children, or serve on parish

committees, or prepare our sacramental candidates, your involvement is crucial to the overall life of our parish!

We cordially invite all who have served in any capacity during the past year to join us on Saturday, January 23rd

at the 5:15 p.m. Mass and subsequent dinner, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Church Hall, so that we can

demonstrate our gratitude! The theme of this year’s dinner will be “Hats Off to Our Volunteers” and everyone

is invited to participate in a hat contest that will be judged at the dinner. Be creative!

If you are planning on attending that evening, please call the Rectory no later than Tuesday, January 19th

at

which point reservations will close. When you call, remind us of your area of involvement so we can do seating

arrangements. After Mass on January 23rd

check in at the door of the Church Hall for your table number.

Reservations are first-come, first-served.

Thank you for all you do for our parish! We can’t wait to celebrate with you on the 23rd

! Please recall that this

event is BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage); water will be available.

The time has come to say THANKS TO ALL!!!

You have no idea how many people you have touched with your glorious gifts that were

filled with joy, happiness and love.

GIVING TREE ELVES - Our team of workers were the best elves ever. They were

selfless with the amount of time they donated and their dedication to making sure that the

right gifts went into the correct family’s very large black bags. A chore that sounds

simple, but is not an easy task. So now I would like you to meet my GIVING TREE

ELVES - Lucy DePadova, Diane DePadova, Carly DiSclafani, ME Scrudato, Jessica

Gravel, Sue Jacobson, Mary Ann Corallo, Pat Molenaar, Rose Ann Anderson, Janet

Sheahan, Barbara Bender and Joann Lawler.

FOOD PANTRY ELVES - A holiday would not be complete without a love filled, festive meal. These elves

make it happen by emptying donated food bags filled with food. They put products on pantry shelves, then

make new bags of specific foods for our clients, according to the number of family members. Bending and

lifting is not easy but they don’t have to pay for a gym! Some of my elves also shop for goods to put on the

shelves. These elves are: Herme Volpe, Marie Torre ,Helen Mansfield, Kathy Scianna, Carmie DeMerchant,

Sheila Scarpuila, Lorraine Murphy, Darlene Santiangelo, Pat Pompeo and Jerry Cunningham.

ORGANIZATION FOOD DRIVES ARE ALWAYS THERE WHEN NEEDED… Thank you… Girls Scouts,

Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, Fair Lawn Jewish Center, St. Anne’s School,

Religious Education, Rosary Society, Our Senior Groups, Fair Lawn Food Pantry and The Pompeo Family.

God’s blessing and thanks to you and yours. If I goofed and left out anyone, please let me know.

Shalom, Michelle

Service… Impelled by the Spirit of Jesus, St. Anne’s strives to reach out to others. In works on behalf of justice, charity, and human

development, we seek to imitate Jesus in bringing glad tidings to the poor, liberty to the oppressed and captives, and healing to

the blind and the sick. If you have any comments, please feel free to contact Fr. Joe or Fr. Colin.

FROM THE OFFICE OF HUMAN CONCERNS

ITEMS MOST NEEDED: CANNED VEGETABLES, CANNED FRUIT, PEANUT BUTTER, JELLY,

TUNA, MAC/CHEESE, FACE SOAP, LAUNDRY DETERGENT!! Rice, instant potatoes, pancake mix,

syrup, cake mix, healthy snacks, cookies, deodorant, paper towels, house cleaning products.

Please check the dates on your donations prior to donating them. We do not hand out expired food. You can

drop off food anytime at the rectory.

Food coupons from Newspaper: Please collect the inserts from the Sunday papers. DO NOT CLIP

COUPONS! Bring them to the church and place them in the third drawer of the small wicker chest in the main

vestibule of the church. A parish family collects them and uses them when they purchase the food they donate

to our Food Pantry.

ST. CAJETAN MINISTRY

for the Unemployed & Under-employed

We meet every two weeks as follows: St. Catharine’s Ministry Center - next meeting: Thursday, Jan. 21st - first floor meeting room 7-9PM and at St. Anne’s Rectory on Saturday, Jan. 23rd - from 10am-12 noon. If you think you may be interested please contact Ed Grzesiak 201-321-5144, John Lederer 201-286-9354, Lou Cuomo 201-657-3838, Eamon Jennings, 917-841-2558, Steve Zmuda 201-819-9026. You can also email us at stcajetan@stannefairlawnnj.org

Ladies…was this book in your Christmas stocking? If not, there’s still time to get your copy before the Book Chat on Saturday, February 20! Here’s a sample: “I kept walking through the fogged afternoon light as if the mere ritual of putting one foot in front of the other would lead me out of my pain...The familiar circles of my life left me with a suffocating feeling…Things that used to matter no longer did; things that had never mattered were paramount. My life had curled up in the mark of a question…. I happened to look up again as I passed beneath the branches of a dogwood tree, and my eyes fell upon a curious appendage suspended from a twig just over my head…I had come upon a cocoon.”

ATTENTION MEN…….SAVE THE DATE

A 26-Hour Retreat Experience

Right here at St. Anne Church Hall Men’s Cornerstone …. April 15-April 16, 2016

Cornerstone is…

An opportunity to step out of the hustle of daily life to pause and reflect.

A welcoming, non-judgmental environment

An outstanding opportunity to meet and interact with other members of the parish

Contact: David Ruffner Andy McDonough Joe Barone

908-812-5059 201-214 2754 551-206-2502

Community… Formed by the Word and by the Eucharist, St. Anne’s

builds community in the ways that we live and work and

celebrate together. In these ways, we experience the living

presence of Christ.

If you have any comments, please feel free to contact any of

the following Pastoral Council Representatives: Junie

Fuertes, Peggy Long, Eamon Jennings, Danielle

Douglass, Stephanie Kedersha, Joe Barone and Terence

Curley

EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK Sunday, January 10th Summer Ret. Sess. – 10:30 – 11:30 am – CH Holy Name Soc. – 10:30 am – CR BOLD – 7:00 pm - CH Monday, January 11th Seniors Mtg. – 1:00 – 3:00 pm – CH Bereavement Group – 7:00 pm – CR SAS Adv. Board – 7:00 pm – FC PTG – 7:00 pm - CAF AA – 7:30 pm – LCR Choir – 7:30 – 9:00 pm – C Tuesday, January 12th Men’s Prayer Group – 6:00 am - FC Family Catechesis – 7:00 pm – CAF/SCF Faith Ctr. Board Mtg. – 7:00 pm – FC Men’s Cornerstone – 7:30 pm – CR Pre-Baptism Mtg. – 7:30 pm - CH

Wednesday, January 13th Play Group – 9:30 – 10:30 am - CH 1st Euch. Infom Mtg. – 10 am & 7:30 pm - CH Bible Study – 7:00 pm – CR Welcoming Comm. – 7:30 pm - CR

Thursday, January 14th Children’s Choir – 4:15 pm – C Cub Scouts – 6:30 – 8:30 pm – CAF/CH SCC – 7:00 pm - FC Choir – 7:30 pm - C

Friday, January 15th Stages – 7:00 – 10:00 pm - CH Saturday, January 16th Stages – 1:00 – 5:00 pm - CH CFC – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm - CAF AA – 7:30 – 8:30 pm – CAF

SAINT ANNE'S SENIORS TO MEET JANUARY 11

St. Anne's Seniors will start their new year under President Marie Petrocelli at the January 11th meeting to be held in the church hall at 1:00 p.m. It is also time to renew your membership. In spite of rising costs, the dues will again remain at $20 per member. This is a good time for seniors aged 55 and older to join with us in order to take advantage of the member rates for our various social functions. We wish you all a happy and healthy new year. For further information call Lucy at 201-791-3440.

Are you a stay-at-home mom or dad of children age 5 and under? Or perhaps you care for your grandchildren during the week?

If so, come join us for a weekly Play Group this Wednesday, January 13th at 9:30 am for about an hour in the Church Hall. Hope to see you there! For info, please email Meghan at meghan.lobue@gmail.com

St. Anne’s Athletic Council is hosting a Flapjack Fundraiser breakfast on Sunday, January 17th from 8:00 – 10:00 am at Applebee’s, Rt 17 North & Ridgewood Ave. at The Fashion Center in Paramus. Tickets are $10.00 and includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, juice, soda or tea. Tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the breakfast.

Holy Name Medical Center & Filipino Medical Program and the Filipino American Association of Fair Lawn invite you to a FREE HEALTH SCREENING for diabetes, Hepatitis B/Sakit sa Atay, BMI/Komposisyon ng Katawn and the Affordable Care Act Enrollment on Sunday, January 24th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at St. Anne Church Hall. For questions call 201-833-3355 or email filipinomedical@holyname.org

Memorial Donations

During the months of October, November and December

Donations were made to the St. Anne Food Pantry by:

Jeannette Kearns, The Breakfast Club & Jack & Anne O’Neil

In loving memory of Lenora Mosca by: Helen & Bill Ball

In loving memory of the Tauras, Domyon, Mattal & Unger Families

By: George & Grace Tauras

Donations were made to St. Anne Church

In loving memory of Ruth J. DeNegri by:

Jeanne Covello

Joy Gianolio & David Falk

Bergen County Dept. Of Human Services

In loving memory of Josephine Quartarone by:

The Lovermi Family

Mr. & Mrs. Kent Handestam

Sicomac Sunshine Fund

William & May Godley

Pam & Dave Break

If you wish to make such a donation to St. Anne Church or Food Pantry in

memory of a friend or loved one, please contact the Rectory.

Finance/Administration… A Christian community strives to steward its resources so that they can provide the material by which its various

ministries can reflect the parish’s mission to reflect Christ’s presence in all that we do and say. Finance Committee

Members: Ed Hughes, Bill Ball, Sally Quinn, Sheila Abate, Ed Trawinski, Loretta Stachiotti, Kristie Bednarz,

Karen Gillies, Steve Palermo and Jerry Cunningham.

Buildings/Grounds: Carl Shoemaker, Dave Lee, Kate Humble, and Steve Zmuda.

We are grateful to the 1,378 people who worshipped with us on Dec. 26/27 weekend and contributed $10,089.00 in the offertory and $2,159.00 through Online Giving offertory,

which along with other fees and donations, totaled $16,543.00. We are grateful to the 1,446 people who worshipped with us last weekend and

contributed $13,363.00 in the offertory and $3,540.00 through Online Giving offertory, which along with other fees and donations totaled $21,049.00.

Our weekly expenses average out to $20,348.00.

Heating & Air Conditioning ~ Everyone knows that there are some months in which our electricity bill or heating bill is higher than

others. Well, it’s the same with the Church. As you know, we use an additional way of paying for our extra

energy months. In the back of the church each Sunday you will find separate ENERGY envelopes. If you should

happen to hit the jackpot that week, and wish to throw a dollar or two in that envelope, we’d greatly appreciate

it! You can throw these special envelopes right in the collection with your regular envelope. The energy

envelopes will not be mailed to you. They will simply be in the back of the church, so if you don’t spot them, be

sure to ask the ushers at your Mass. Thanks so much. And special thanks to those who have already been doing it

regularly. It makes a difference!!!

Online Giving…

You have the opportunity to make donations to our Sunday collection online! To sign up, go to the St. Anne website – www.stannefairlawnnj.org

There are several ways to access the system: 1. Underneath the scrolling slideshow on the home page, on the bottom right-hand corner, you will see a

light blue icon with a $ sign. Click that icon to go directly to the system.

OR

2. From the homepage, check the left-hand menu options. The second to last menu option says

“envelopes & online giving.” Click that link, and a page with various giving options will appear. Select the

Online Giving option to be taken directly to the system.

Once you are taken to the new site, click on the section that says Create New Account. Next you will see New User Account Registration. Fill out the form and click “submit.”

When you are enrolled, you can go into Manage My Account, where you will see My Payment Methods. Here you can choose to have the funds deducted from your checking or bank account (you will need your routing and account numbers on hand). Under Manage My Account, you will also see Give a New Gift. There you will decide when and how much to give. (In the list, Offertory Collection means the Sunday collection.) You can select recurring or one time gifts. You also have the option to access all the other special envelopes you would normally find in your envelope packet and which are generally one-time donations.

Each time you go to Mass, get a card that says “I have made my donation online” and put it in the collection when the usher comes around. Thanks so much for giving online!