5TH SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 29, 2020

SACRED HEART CHURCH established 1914

Reading 1: Isaiah 50: 4-7

Reading 2: Philippians 3: 6-11

The Gospel: Matthew 26: 14-27:66

or 27: 11-54

Parish Center 102 Park Street, Haworth, NJ 07641 P: 201-387-0080 F: 201-439-1395 Monday-Thursday: 9a-4p

Rectory:

100 Park Street

Haworth, NJ 07641

P: 201-387-0470

Emergencies: 201-401-9792

www.sacredhearthaworth.com

Pastor

Rev. Robert Wolfee

Weekend Assistants

Rev. Ashley Harrington

Rev. Jack O’Connell

Pastoral Associate

Sr. Joanne Picciurro

Catechetical Leader

Sr. Regina McTiernan

Office Personnel Linda Ferrara

Gerrie Motichka

Joan Marie O’Neill

Corinn Somers

Facilities Manager/ Youth Group Minister Alan Pitman Trustees Leo Corrigan Lee Kosmac Hospital Coordinator Ron Green Parish Nurse Katherine Flattery Children's Choir Director Mariann Annecchino Adult Choir Director Corinn Somers Music Minister Kathe Carson

All Weekday and Weekend Masses are suspended until further notice

Church is open for private prayer 8am-5pm daily. Silent exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: 8am-9am and 12pm-1pm daily Reconciliation Saturdays: 4pm-4:45pm

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

April 5, 2020

Christ be Our Light

Dear friends,

“Fear is useless. What is needed is trust”. (Mark 5:36)

Jesus said this to the parents of the 12 year old girl who was presumed dead. Jesus was able to cure her from her illness, and asked her parents to give her something to eat.

In these days of coronavirus, quarantine, unemployment, and death, Jesus is asking us to be calm and to trust when all seems like a nightmare. This is an opportunity to pray for our wounded world, for those who are sick—and for all the first responders and healthcare workers who risk their lives for others. Their dedication is sacrificial and self-emptying.

We are called to do the same, to let go of all that is not important. It is a time to cherish those we love... and those we don’t love. It is a time for taking nothing for granted.

Following are lyrics to a song called “Do not Fear to Hope” by Rory Cooney:

Do not fear to hope, though the wicked rage and rise,

our God sees not as we see, success is not the prize.

Do not fear to hope for though the night be long,

The race shall not be to the swift, the fight not to the strong.

Look to God, when cynics say, our planet’s doom is sealed.

Look to God, by whose great power, the dead were raised and the lepers were healed.

Look to God, when reason fails, and terror reigns in the night.

Look upon the crucified, and see beyond into Easter’s dawning light.

Do not fear to hope should be our mantra. When this pandemic is over, what blessings of solidarity and compassion will we discover, just like those we received during and after 9.11?

Let us reflect on Sunday’s Gospel and look to Martha as an example of trust in the most hopeless situation, the death of a loved one. (John 11:1-44)

Martha faced one of these impossible situations. Her brother Lazarus was extremely sick. Martha and her sister Mary were very close to Jesus so they sent word for Him to come to their house and pray for Lazarus. Jesus was in another city and when He didn’t come immediately, the sisters became very upset and couldn’t understand why He was taking so long. After days of waiting, finally, their worst nightmare came true - Lazarus died. They were distraught, heartbroken. They lost their brother, and to make matters worse, they knew that their good friend Jesus could have healed Lazarus. They had seen him open blind eyes, cure the lepers, turn water into wine, it would have been no big deal for Jesus to heal their brother. Four days after Lazarus had died, Jesus came to Martha and Mary. Has it ever seemed like God showed up too late? You prayed, you believed, but the problem didn't turn around; the medical report wasn't good, the business didn't make it. Martha was crying when she spoke and said, "Jesus, if you had been here sooner, my brother wouldn't have died". She was saying, "Jesus, how could you do this to us? We're your friends, we hang out together, we have you over for dinner…. the least you could do is come to us when we have an emergency". Martha could have turned and walked away, bitter, angry, complaining. That would be the end of the story, we wouldn't be talking about it today. But in that dark season, when it looked like it was too late, too far gone, Martha did something extremely significant—it is key to dealing with the negative— she said, "If you had been here sooner, he wouldn't have died, but I know, even now, that whatever you ask... God will do it for you". Notice, those two simple words: "It looks impossible, but even now you can turn it around. He's been dead for 4 days, but even now, you can raise him back up. I don't see a way, but even now, you can make a way". There will be times in life when you must have even now faith. God, the medical report doesn't look good, but I believe even now you can heal me. My business is hanging by a thread, but even now, you can prosper me. My marriage looks like it's over, but even now you can restore me. When it looks impossible, the odds are against you, you don't see how it could work out, don't complain – don't get bitter. Just remember the words of St. Paul: “All things work together for good to those that love God”. (Romans 8:28)

5th Sunday in Lent

“Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of

God?” JOHN 11:40

Many of us say that we believe in God. We go to church on Sunday. We volunteer

for events at our parish. But when life gets hard, the pressure is on, when things

aren’t going our way, do we really believe, do we really put our trust in the Lord?

When we live a life of gratitude, being thankful for the gifts we have been given, we

really do see that God is providing all that we need. It opens our hearts to see God’s

active presence in our daily lives.

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTIONS

Our loving Lord, Jesus Christ, You traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness”. At your command, the sick were made well.

Please come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.

Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together, and neighbors from help-ing one another.

Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.

Jesus Christ, Healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.

Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with You in Your eternal peace.

Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers, and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected, who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve.

Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for, or prevent future outbreaks.

May we know your peace, as we work together to achieve it on earth, whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness - or only a few,

Jesus Christ, please stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.

Jesus Christ, heal us.

By: Kerry Webber, Executive Editor of America Magazine

Monday, March 30

8:30am - Isabelle Van Zandt

Tuesday, March 31

8:30am — Joseph Finn

Wednesday, April 1

8:30am - Adelaide Koch

Thursday, April 2

8:30am

For the Special Intentions of

Pam and John Vasilik

Friday, April 3

8:30am - Joan Boyek

Saturday, April 4

5:00pm - Lois Ann Clark

Sunday, April 5

8:00am - Deceased members of the Verga Family

10:00am - Lyda Figueredo - 2nd Anniversary

12:00pm - Molly McDermott

6:30pm– People of the Parish

April Donations:

The bread & wine have been donated

in loving memory of

Max Longo

By the Pace Family

MASS INTENTIONS

A Coronavirus Prayer