Rev. Nicholas Bozza, Pastor 375 Main Street, P.O. Box 730, Chester, New Jersey 07930

Coordinators of Religious Education:

Dorothy Kudron, Shannon Rossi

Cynthia Vittitow— Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Brian Flanagan — Confirmation

Kathleen Galdi — DRE, Youth Protection/Safe Environment

Music Minister: Joseph P. Tamburro

Youth Minister: Brian Flanagan

Mercy Minister: Cindy Zeis

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN: Gr. 1-7: Sun. 9:00-10:50 am (includes Mass)

Gr. 5-7: Sun. 5:00-7:00 pm (includes Mass)

Gr. 8-10: Sun. 5:50-8:15 pm (includes Mass)

CGS: Sun. 9:00-11:00 am OR Thurs. 4:45-6:00 pm

Gr. K-7: Thurs. 4:45-6:00 pm

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: RCIA: Sundays (September-Easter)

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday: 4:00-4:45 pm, Monday: 6:30-7:00 pm & on request.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Please call the Parish Office anytime for communion calls or visitation

of the sick and elderly. Keep us informed so that we can be attentive to

those who are ill at home or in the hospital.

Parish Email: parish@stlchester.org

Parish Web Site: www.stlchester.org

Web Master: Joanne Franklin (908-879-6222)

Welcome Rosemary Lohrmann (973) 214-4806 Haiti Twinning Program Christine Colannino (201) 314-9824

Bereavement Resource Don Martone (201) 274-9723 Lectors John Kennington (908) 872-0575

Good Samaritans Patsy Soden (908) 879-3374 Eucharistic Ministers Loretta Stewart (973) 222-7492

Armata Bianca Lorna Phillips (617) 538-5567 Ushers Bob Holl (908) 876-3488

Moms & Tots Meghan Mahoney (732) 407-1618 Music Minister Joe Tamburro (347) 213-0621

Arimathaea Arlene McDonald (973) 229-9697 Spanish Ministry Louis Villafane (908) 879-3032

Liturgical Environment Joanne Carr (908) 879-5543 Youth Minister Brian Flanagan (973) 946-8770

Women’s Cornerstone Lissette Howell (973) 975-7343 Altar Servers Kathleen Garrison (973) 945-1518

Men’s Cornerstone Tommy Reynolds (908) 463-0167 Evangelization Robert Holl (908) 876-3488

Pastoral Adv. Board Jerry Frech (908) 377-2900 RCIA Jan Richards (908) 975-3555

Rosary Society Marie Holl (908) 876-3488 Respect Life Robert Holl (908) 876-3488

Barn Ministry Ray Waugh (908) 432-5046 Family Mass Social Marc McFeely (973) 222-9739

Mary’s Moonflowers Karen Jones (973) 479-5271

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Yohan Serrano

Permanent Deacon: William DeVizio

Trustees: Phil Guidone, Margie Scobell

Parish Secretary: Karen Jaworski

Accountant: Sharon McCann Business Manager: Bill McCormick

MASSES: Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm (Spanish), 6:00 pm

Daily Mass: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am & 9:00 am, Sat. 9:00 am

Holy Day Vigil: 7:00 pm

Holy Day: 8:00 am, 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm (bi-lingual)

Healing Mass: 7:00 pm every 3rd Tuesday of month. Rosary at 6:30 pm

BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

SPANISH BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule. Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

MARRIAGES: Please contact the Priest/Deacon whom you wish to officiate at your

wedding one year in advance to arrange for Marriage Preparation

Sessions.

PARISH MEMBERSHIP: Every family moving into the parish is requested to register. If you move

to another parish or change your address, please notify the Parish Office.

St. Lawrence the Martyr Church SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019

MISSION STATEMENT

St. Lawrence the Martyr Roman Catholic Church is a loving and welcoming

community of disciples of Jesus who invite you to join us in becoming

disciples of Jesus. As disciples, we are faithful to prayer, to listening to

God’s Word, to meeting with Jesus in the sacraments, to building community,

and to serving others.

Parish Office: 908-879-5371 Priests’ Home: 908-879-1901 Religious Ed.: 908-879-6714 Youth Minister: 973-946-8770 Fax: 908-879-7701

Parish Ministries and Ministry Facilitators

Page Two SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019 - TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THE FAMILY WHO DINES TOGETHER . . . AND PRAYS TOGETHER

This past Tuesday, I was reading the recom-

mendations that are given to families by the

Family Dinner Project, which is a project of

the psychiatry academy of Massachusetts

General Hospital in Boston. They point to

the following as benefits that are a product

of regular family meals:

• Better academic performance

• Higher self-esteem

• Greater sense of resilience

• Lower risk of substance abuse

• Lower risk of teen pregnancy

• Lower risk of depression

• Lower likelihood of developing eating disorders

• Lower rates of obesity

Having meals together is a benefit to us in our birth families. Having meals together like at

our parish picnic is a benefit to our parish family, too. We will be better as a parish family as

a result of Mass together today and our down time together, too. A bit of Church teaching is

applicable here, too. The Eucharist is the source and summit toward which and from which

the Christian life proceeds. Our growth in unity and love will flow into our celebration of the

Eucharist here. Our celebrations of the Eucharist enrich this day also. It is good for all of us

and for us as a parish that we are here together today for the Mass and the picnic!

God bless.

Father Nick

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

Page Three SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019 - TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION THIS WEEK

Sunday

• Classes - 9:00 am, 5:00 pm

Thursday

• Classes - 4:45 pm

Sunday

• No classes

MEETINGS / EVENTS THIS WEEK

Tuesday

• Rosary Society - 7:00 pm

• Beginner ESL - 7:30 pm

Wednesday

• Armata Bianca - 4:15 pm

• EC - 7:00 pm

• ESL - 7:30 pm

Thursday

• Adult Choir - 7:00 pm

Friday

• Divine Mercy Chaplet - 3:00 pm

Sunday

• Blood Drive - 8:00 am-1:00 pm

WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE SICK . . .

Kirsten Mumma, William Ware, Julio Carrera, Sebastian Quinn,

Sister Eucharia, Father Eugene Romano, Father Daniel Kelly, Fa-

ther Joseph Farias, Father Thomas Mangieri, Father Gilberto

Gutierrez, Father Joseph Garbarino, Father Stanislaw Wajdziak,

Msgr. Richard Rusconi, Msgr. Peter McBride, Msgr. Eugene Bo-

land, Deacon Hector Cassillas, Patrick John Moran, Ann Kelly,

Lloyd Matsamoto, Helen Crowe, Jane Alt, Patrick Pronio, Allison

Spina, Tom Walsh, Brian Graham, Colleen Saito, William Kelly,

Mary Norwood, Mary Lanzara, Cade Feitel, Carole Stessl, Dick

Goodwin, Nicholas Brown, Jane Rufino, Kevin Callahan, Judith

Stampone, Paul Fitzgerald, Charlotte Poth, Colleen Looby, George

Serafin, Charlie Romano, Salman Javed, Joe Cillo, Jerry Green,

Mary Constantinople, Dan McGuigan, Daisy Hallock, Ryan Men-

zel, Dorothy Powers, Wesley Snawder, Tom Murray, Eidelia

Jimenez Martinez, Mila Balicki, Consiglia Erdenberger, Arnold

Family, Bonnie Lieberworth, Barbara Drive, Jack Ratti, Finn Mi-

chael, Olivia Gill, Teresa Smith, Frances Ferreri, Teresa Colamona-

co, Baby Gianni Mazza, Carol Mattone, Anna Birsilli Garich, Anne

Owens McGrath, Janet Courtland, Jack Arnold, Lily Barbero,

Hunter Barbero, Robert LeFrancis, Moire Riley, Brian Spring, Jim

Robertiello, Barbara Davis, Jim Kielley, Jorge Lombardo, Janice

Thurston, Matt Adonis, Jim Balicki, Bill Renzetti, Bill Pigot, Rosa

Salgado, Vera Sax, David Goulart, Christine Clark, Winnie Knapik,

Kolbe, Paul Maurer, Joanne Seiller, Gail Anderson, Phillip Heery,

John Memora, Buddy Black, Annerys Castillo, Jesus Serrano, Tere-

sa Toro Penagos, Kitty, Susan Novick, Stephanie Gonda, Bob

Sircovich, Camille McQueen, Brayden Michael, Cassie Bollwork,

Julie Hasbrouck, Stanley Kudron, Michael Mooney, Ed Poto,

Thomas Kennedy, Gary Ross, Ann Valles, Wayne Farbanish, Wil-

liam Hockenbury, Carol Senatore, Dorothy Diana, Frank Carfaro,

John McNulty, George SanGiovanni, John & Sally Goron, Joseph

Zukowski, Anthony Vaccarino, Cathy Nuding, Conrad Spring,

Maryann Villone, Shayna Wasileski, George Dietz, Bill McCor-

mick, Victor Saccaro, Paul Gallo, Donna Bruno, Maria Mastrange-

lo, Anne Sommer, Isabelle Mitchell, Nancy Scobell, Becky Wil-

liams, Bob Summers, Kathleen Garrison

Please help us keep this list up to date! Call 908-879-5371

and let us know if a name should be added or deleted.

LIVING A FAITH

’Tis not the dying for a faith that’s so hard—every man

of every nation has done that—’tis the living up to it

that’s difficult.

~William Makepeace Thackeray

RCIA

Faith is a Journey

Pope Francis said that Faith “takes the form of

a journey, a path to be followed which begins

with an encounter with the living God.”

Are you:

• A person who has not been baptized, but recognizes a

need for spirituality in life?

• A baptized Christian of another denomination who

would like to learn about and possibly join the Catho-

lic Church?

• A baptized Roman Catholic who has not received the

Sacraments of Holy Eucharist or Confirmation and

would like to become a full participant in the life of

the Church?

• Married to a Catholic and attend Mass, but don’t

know what the next step is to become one of the

Catholic faithful?

If your answer is YES to any of the above and you would

like more information on the RCIA program, please con-

tact Father Nick at 908-879-5371 or email at par-

ish@stlchester.org.

ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE

October 12-13

5:00 pm

CB –

S1 –

S2 –

7:30 am

CB –

S1 –

S2 –

9:00 am

CB – Nich-

olas Weah

S1 – Liam

Brandt

S2 – Rory

Lincoln

11:00 am

CB – Margo

Higgins

S1 –

S2 –

6:00 am

CB – An-

drew Guido

S1 – Ricci

Granberg

S2 Victoria

Granberg

PLANNING

If you are planning for a year,

sow rice.

If you are planning for a decade,

plant trees.

If you are planning for a lifetime,

educate a person.

~Chinese Proverb

Page Four SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019 - TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

BLOOD DRIVE

Please Donate!

St. Lawrence Church is sponsoring a blood

donation drive with Community Blood

Drive of NJ on Sunday, October 13, from

8 am to 1 pm. It is recommended that

those interested in donating blood make an

appointment first. Please call 201-251-3703

to schedule. For any questions concerning the event,

please call Nick Laudano at 973-945-0306.

Donor Guidelines:

Weigh at least 110 lbs.

Eat before donation

Bring ID

Drink plenty of water before and after donation

WE PRAY FOR PARISHIONERS IN THE MILITARY

Brianna Harmon, Kevin Phillips, Brad Carfaro

RESPECT LIFE MONTH

Planned Activities for October 2019

• Tuesday, October 9, at 7 pm in the Church Hall:

Showing of UNPLANNED: “a true story of love,

hope and redemption”. Abby Johnson served as one

of the youngest Planned Parenthood clinic directors

until the day she saw something that changed every-

thing, leading Abby to join her former enemies at 40

Days for Life, and become one of the most ardent pro

-life advocates in America. Hosted by the Rosary So-

ciety. Refreshments to follow. Invite your family and

friends. Please let Marie Holl know at marie-

holl@comcast.net if you will attend.

• Saturday, October 12, at 12 noon:

2019 Public Square Rosary Crusade to pray the Ro-

sary in front of St. Lawrence Church.

• Tuesday, October 22, 11 am to 12 noon:

40 Days for Life Rosary in front of the Morristown

Planned Parenthood clinic. 40 DFL runs from Sep-

tember 25 to November 3rd. Lend your support

through prayer, fasting and participating in the vigils.

• Saturday, October 26 (more information forthcom-

ing):

Music and Rosary. Dan Ferrari (songwriter, performer

and worship leader) will lead us in song and worship

on our St. Lawrence Church grounds.

WE WERE ASKED TO ANNOUNCE

St. Cecilia’s LIFE Runners’ Morristown Pro-Life 5K

Sunday, October 6

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 91 Maple

Ave., Morristown, NJ

Participants should arrive by 1:30 pm to sign in for 5K

which commences at 2:30 pm immediately following pray-

er gathering. Light Refreshments.

Entry Fee: $25. (Check payable to St. Cecilia Church. Write

LIFE Runners in memo section of check.)

Registration & More Info: (973) 664-9460

e-mail: jaidanbyrne@optonline.net

Walk-Ins accepted. Jerseys available on a first come, first

served basis while supplies last. You can also wear your

own pro-life jersey. Run, walk or jog!

Beer Tasting

Saturday, October 12

Oktoberfest Beer Tasting at St. Marks Church at 7 pm. Din-

ner, beer and dessert included. Cost is $35/per person ad-

vance signup extended to October 6 or $45 at the door. Sign

up in the St. Mark's Gathering Space or call the church at

908-850-0652. Checks made payable to St Mark’s Church.

Must be 21 or older to attend.

Pathway Through the Pentateuch Join Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli for a series of masters-level

lectures about the first five books of the Bible known as the

Pentateuch. Bishop Serratelli, who spent many years teach-

ing on the subject of sacred scripture before becoming our

bishop, holds a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture and a Doctor

ate in Sacred Theology.

Lecture dates are Tuesdays, October 8th, 15th, 22nd, No-

vember 5th and 19th. To register for this lecture series,

please visit https://insidethewalls.org/ptp

THE BEACON

Do You Receive The Beacon?

If you receive The Beacon, your support to help under-

write the monthly subscription bill would be greatly ap-

preciated. The annual subscription fee is $29.50. A

check, made out to St. Lawrence Church, can be mailed

to the Parish Office or dropped in the collection basket at

Mass. You can also make your donation using the e-

giving option by accessing on-line giving on the parish’s

home page. Thank you!

Would You Like to Subscribe or Cancel The Beacon?

Please contact Karen in the Parish Office:

908-879-5371 OR parish@stlchester.org

ROOTEDNESS

The flower does not bear the root. The root bears the flower.

The rose is merely evidence of the vitality of the root.

~Woodrow Wilson

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS.

Page Five SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019 - TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2019 8:00 am - Elaine Stewart Tyrrell

- Cliff Day

9:00 am - Spec. Int. of Bill McCormick

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

8:00 am - Thomas Ricca

9:00 am - Florence Senger

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019 8:00 am - Albert Senger

9:00 am - James DeVizio

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 8:00 am - Constance Senger

9:00 am - Spec. Int. of Father Brendan

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 8:00 am - Richard Senger

9:00 am - Ralph Bozza

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

9:00 am - James DeVizio

5:00 pm - James “Larry’ Holley

- Bernard Mayhood

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2019 7:30 am - For the People of the Parish

9:00 am - Eileen Schiano

- James DeVizio

11:00 am - Dolly Cillo

- Camille Cianci

12:30 pm - For the Souls in Purgatory

6:00 pm - Jim DeVizio

TITHING IS GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING.

Biblically a tithe means 10%. All are asked to consider

tithing and return 10% of our income to the Lord (5% to

the parish, 5% to God’s other charities) in gratitude. The

spiritual practice of tithing disposes us to make God first

in every area of our lives! The aim is to secure not the

tithe, but the tither. Not the gift, but the giver — for God!

Tithing Income September 29, 2019 $11,948.00

Tithing Income September 30, 2018 $10,661.00

Reflection: “For God did not give us a spirit of coward-

ice, but rather of power and love and self-control.”

(2 Timothy 1:7)

Many of us compartmentalize our Faith; we bring it out

only when we attend Mass or when we attend a parish

event. Being a good steward requires discipline and striv-

ing to put God first in everything all the time. The next

time you are at a neighborhood party, at work or out

shopping, would your actions signal to others that you

are a good and faithful servant of our Lord?

From Father Nick: “I find it encouraging that so many

people in our parish are living by God’s Plan for Giving.

I applaud you for the love and faith that supports your

offering each Sunday!”

A Testimony from a Parishioner of St. Augustine Par-

ish, Seymour, CT: “We are seniors on a fixed income,

but we decided instead of going to breakfast after Mass,

we would go home, cook breakfast and use the money to

increase our donation to God. We will continue this plan

as long as we can financially. Thank you for the oppor-

tunity to give back to God.”

A LITTLE FAITH

Today our readings are about faith, frustration, and how

much is enough. Habakkuk is a complainer having an

argument with God. Timothy is encouraging a communi-

ty challenged by cowardice and the apostles want more

faith than they have. Things aren’t happening fast enough

for any of them or for us. All of them and we want God

to do something sooner rather than later and we want

God to give us a reason to believe that it will all work

out. What does God do? God puts it back on them—and

us—telling Habakkuk to describe the world he wants;

telling the apostles to do more than the expected. Doing

more with less is a familiar phrase today and a reminder

that a little faith may be enough even for the most diffi-

cult times.

OPTIMISM

A cheerful frame of mind that enables a tea kettle to

sing though in hot water up to its nose. ~Anonymous

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — The just ones, because of their faith,

shall live (Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4).

Psalm — If today you hear His voice, harden not your

hearts (Psalm 95).

Second Reading — Bear hardship with the strength that

comes from God (2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14).

Gospel — The apostles said to Jesus, “Increase our

faith” (Luke 17:5-10).

MASS READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Jon 1:1 — 2:2, 11; Jon 2:3-5, 8; Lk 10:25-37

Tuesday: Jon 3:1-10; Ps 130:1b-4ab, 7-8; Lk 10:38-42

Wednesday: Jon 4:1-11; Ps 86:3-6, 9-10; Lk 11:1-4

Thursday: Mal 3:13-20b; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 11:5-13

Friday: Jl 1:13-15; 2:1-2; Ps 9:2-3, 6, 16, 8-9;

Lk 11:15-26

Saturday: Jl 4:12-21; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12;

Lk 11:27-28

Sunday: 2 Kgs 5:14-17; Ps 98:1-4; 2 Tm 2:8-13;

Lk 17:11-19

NEXT HEALING MASS

Tuesday, October 15

7:00 pm (Rosary at 6:30 pm)

The Healing Mass takes place every third Tuesday of the

month. Come. Bring your prayers of healing and place

them before our loving God.