THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (Christmas)

December 25, 2016

MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday, December 24, 2016 8:15 AM Our Parishioners 4:00 PM Antonucci Family, Intili & DeGiacomo Families 6:00 PM Ann Sheridan & Eileen Davies 8:00 PM Pat & John Hughes (60

th Wedding Anniv.)

11:00 PM Derek Sabo Sunday, December 25, 2016 7:30 AM Joseph & Mildred Timpanaro, Eileen Martens 9:00 AM Dorothy Marie LaBue, Cait & Bernard Daly 11:00 AM Geraldine Carbonello, Louis Moccio Monday, December 26, 2016 8:15 AM Mary Pisarcik Tuesday, December 27, 2016 8:15 AM Dorothy Marie LaBue Wednesday, December 28, 2016 8:15 AM Fay Rusconi

Thursday, December 29, 2016 8:15 AM Frank Pisarcik, Marianne Edmueller (1

st Anniv.)

Friday, December 30, 2016 8:15 AM Patti Osterman, Dorothy Marie LaBue

Saturday, December 31, 2016 8:15 AM Parishioners 5:00 PM Doris Moore (16

TH Anniv), Anthony Egan (Spec Int.)

Sunday, January 1, 2017 7:30 AM Eleanor Osterman 9:00 AM John Walter Duffy, Jr., Michael Tooley 11:00 AM Leonard Boniface, Rita Carpentiere

CELEBRANTS FOR DECEMBER 31st& January 1, 2017

5:00 PM Msgr. John J. Carroll 7:30 AM Rev. Lukasz Iwanczuk 9:00 AM Rev. Lukasz Iwanczuk 11:00 AM Rev. Edward G. Lambro

PROCLAIMER OF THE WORD Saturday, December 31, 2016 5:00 PM Debbie Gulian, Ann Garcia Sunday, January 1, 2017 7:30 AM Peggy Tana 9:00 AM Yesenia Cohen 11:00 AM Molly Gregorie, Carolyn Rebori

EUCHARISTIC MINISTER SCHEDULE Saturday, December 31, 2016 5:00 PM Lori Covello, Richard DeMarco, Denise Hatch,

Patrice Leavenworth, Jacqui Ortega, Marie Weber Sunday, January 1, 2017 7:30 AM Bob Moris 9:00 AM Helena DeAlmeida, Jennifer & Robert Heckler, Tim

Lazarus, Bernadette Morrisroe, Bill O’Brien 11:00 AM Maryann Hobbie, MaryJane Hojell, Janine Minardi, Katherine Missbrenner, Bobbie Prescott MEMORIALS – For December 25

th to December 31

st

The Sanctuary Lamp in the Chapel will burn in loving memory of John F. DiNome. The Sanctuary Lamp in the Church will burn in loving memory of Dorothy Marie LaBue. The Bread & Wine will be offered in loving memory of the Deceased Members of the Giaquinto & Lattanzio Families.

STEWARDSHIP A WAY OF LIFE TITHING, GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING

Last Week: $13,095 Last Year: $17,290.00

Attendance: 764

Pastor’s Gratitude: “Thank you for all the donations given besides the regular collections. It’s that time of year.”

Parishioner’s Response: “How many times I have wished for things and gotten something different. This year I am wishing for the grace of God and nothing else.” Good thought!

MERRY CHRISTMAS On behalf of Fr. Lukasz, Deacon Omar and the entire staff we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. As you celebrate the miracle of this special season, may your heart be filled with joy and peace. Msgr. Carroll

MASS SCHEDULE - NEW YEARS EVE & DAY This year since the holiday falls on a weekend, our normal Mass schedule will apply. Saturday, 5pm – Church and Sunday, 7:30 am in the Chapel, 9:00 and 11:00 am in the Church. Attending Mass is the best way to begin the New Year.

PARISH OFFICE – HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Please note the office hours for Christmas and New Years.

Dec. 23, 24 25 and 26 the office is closed Dec. 30, 31, Jan. 1 & 2

nd the office is closed

If you need a Priest please call the main office and press “0” or cell phones – Msgr. 973-713-3746 or Fr. Lukasz 973-830-9825

COLLECTIONS On Christmas and New Years there will be two collections, one for the Solemnity of Christmas and the second for the Sunday collection and on January 1

st a collection for the Solemnity of

Mary and the second for the Sunday collection. WOW!

PARKING During the winter months, when the ground is frozen, you could easily park on the field behind the school. Just be careful walking and don’t block any other car.

WOMAN’S DAY OF REFLECTION Women’s Day of Reflection Committee to meet on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017 at 3pm in the Ryan Room.

EMAIL ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION If your phone number, email address or any other contact information has changed, don’t forget to update us by emailing us at secy@olmchurch.org. Thank you!

FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION – January 6, 2017 8:15am Mass will be followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament ending with Benediction at 5pm.

FIRST SATURDAY ROSARY – January 7, 2017

8:15am Mass will be followed by praying the rosary as Our Lady requested.

We pray especially for our parishioners, relatives and friends.

Baby Oscar Beckman Paul Boniface Gaetano Caccavale JoAnne Catlin Monica Davenport Michael Fitzpatrick, Sr. Joseph Hammond George Halavin Nicholas Hayward Danielle Kneringer Elvin Lister Joseph Maher Rosemary Marsden Cara McGloin Chris Morello Tom O’Dougherty Peggy Spreen Lori Villa Fred Weber Terry Wickham Pat & Phil Zito

PRO-LIFE CORNER

Gracious God, grant that through the coming of Your Son this Christmas, the light of faith may ever burn in our hearts and shine through all our deeds. Look down upon your family gathered here in your name and graciously pour out your healing love and blessings so that this Christmas season will be a time for a counter-assault on the culture of death. May the Holy Spirit, the true Spirit of Christmas, heal our families so that we can defeat the Herod's of this world, and replace our culture of death with a civilization of love and life. Give us the true joy and peace of Christmas so that we may put our families, ourselves and Christmas in Christ. We pray this through Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

SACRAMENTAL PREP Parent meeting EITHER on Wed., Jan. 4 OR Thurs., Jan. 5, 7-8:30 in the church. One or both parents please make every effort to attend this important meeting.

CLASSES Religious Education Classes resume in Jan. 2017 as follows: GRADES 6-8: Sun., Jan. 8 - 6:30 to 8:30 or Mon., Jan. 9 - 7 to 8:30 Sun., Jan. 22 - 6:30 to 8:30 or Mon., Jan. 23 - 7 to 8:30 GRADES 1-5: Sun., Jan. 22 - 10:15 to 11:30 or Mon., Jan. 23 - 4:30 to 5:45

JANUARY EVENTS Sat., January 7

th: Sophomore Sponsor/Candidate Retreat

CORRECTION FROM LAST WEEK:

This retreat is for Sophomore Candidates and their Sponsors. There will be 2 sessions: One from 3pm to 5pm and one from 6pm to 8pm. More info to follow via email as to which session your teen and sponsor will need to attend. There will be no Mass component to this retreat as the teens have confirmation class the next day which starts with the 11am Mass. Sun., January 8

th Freshmen/Sophomore Confirmation Class

10:40am Arrival, 1:30pm Dismissal The Feast of the Epiphany! The 11am liturgy will be graced by the talented Straight and Narrow choir. Sat., January 21

st: Freshman Sponsor/Candidate Retreat

CORRECTION FROM LAST WEEK This retreat is for Freshmen Candidates and their Sponsors. There will be 2 sessions: One from 3 to 5pm and one from 6 to 8pm. Attending the 5pm Mass will not be part of this retreat, however the retreat times make this Mass very convenient to attend. More information to follow via email as to which session your teen and sponsor will need to attend.

ST. ANTHONY COLUMBIETTE’S COMEDY NIGHT Comedy Night hosted by Danny C, Friday, January 13

th.

Doors open 7:30pm, show starts 8:00pm at St. Anthony's Knights of Columbus Hall, 65 Hamburg Turnpike, Butler, $30 per person Includes: Show, Tap Beer, Wine, and Soda, Cash Bar, NO B.Y.O.B - Please Feel Free to Bring Your Own Snacks, For information or to purchase tickets contact: Cathe Nicholson 201-723-5935 or sacolumbiettes@yahoo.com

SPONSOR CANDIDATE RETREAT We are looking for juniors and seniors to help run our freshman and sophomore Sponsor Candidate retreat. The retreat dates are January 7th and January 21st. If you are interested, let us know! (Email Branden at youthministry@olmchurch.org). These are great retreats for the confirmation candidates to get to know their sponsor on a deeper level. Our meeting schedule will be Dec. 29th at 6:30-8pm and Jan. 6th at 6:30-7:30pm for the Jan. 7th retreat and on Jan. 8th at 9:30-10:30am and Jan. 12th at 7:30-9pm for our Jan. 21st retreat.

“GIVE GLORIOUS PRAISE” Today we celebrate the “Incarnation”, an event that forever changed the world. The offer of salvation came to the human race the moment the Christ child took His first breath. He is born in a humble manger, into a troubled world filled with broken hearts. Christ’s light overcomes the darkness and His gift of salvation brings you the same joy and good tidings that Mary & Joseph experienced in the stable. The Babe, Jesus, offers you the love you have been longing for, the remedy for your brokenness and your unconditional acceptance as a child of the most high God. Give glorious praise and thanksgiving for you are the “apple of God’s eye”. You are the reason for Christ’s Incarnation and the “Beloved” for whom He died. NO ONE IS MORE LOVED BY CHRIST THAN YOU! Merry Christmas from RCIA!

FREE THROW CONTEST – January 14TH

The Knights of Columbus will sponsor a free throw contest from 3pm to 5pm for boys and girls ages 9 to 14. Sign-up forms are in the narthex. For more information please call Anthony DePalma 973-886-8942.

MARCH FOR LIFE – JANUARY 27TH

The Knights of Columbus will sponsor a bus from OLM Chapel to Washington DC. More information to follow.

I N & A R O U N D O U R P A R I S H

THE KNIGHTS CORNER

Knights of Columbus News: All Catholic men in the Parish are welcome to join the Knights. If you have any questions, please contact Dave Puccia or Mike D’Amelio or talk to any current member of the Knights. Exemplifications and new membership: Dave Puccia, Grand Knight: 973-492-2774 Mike D’Amelio, Deputy Grand Knight: 973-800-4915 Calendar: 1/11: Officers, 7:15pm; Business Mtg. at 8pm - Ryan Rm 1/25: Social Mtg. at 8pm – Ryan Rm 1/14: Free throw competition. 1/27: March for Life bus trip to Washington DC 2/8: Officers, 7:15pm; Business Mtg. at 8pm - Ryan Rm 2/22: Social Mtg. 8pm – Ryan Room

Happy New Year! from

The OLM Ladies Guild

Join us at our next meeting - Monday, January 9th

7:30pm Church - Ryan Room

Come Create Valentine Day Cards for Residents of the New Jersey Fireman’s Home in Boonton.

New members always welcome!

Thanks to all who purchased raffle tickets!

Next Raffle Drawing Saturday, Dec. 31st after 5pm Mass!

C O N F I R M A T I O N

Faith Formation

R E L I G I O U S E D U C A T I O N N E W S Y O U T H M I N I S T R Y

R E F E C T I O N S F R O M R . C . I . A .

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS)

“The grace of God has appeared, offering salvation to all men. It trains us to reject

godless ways and worldly desires and live temperately, justly and devoutly in this age

as we await our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of the great God and of our

Savior Christ Jesus… to redeem us and to cleanse for himself a people of his own…

eager to do what is right.”

Why this passage from St. Paul’s letter to Titus as part of our worship on this great Christmas

day? It is easy for us to be so caught up in many distractions that we overlook some basic

points. Do I realize that there were centuries of waiting for the Messiah and people grew weary

and forgetful? Paul tells them, the savior has appeared.

If the coming of the redeemer speaks to me today, my Christmas joy reminds me that godless

ways and worldly desires are not the focus. Gifts, consumerism, travel and visits are ours

because the gift, Jesus, who travelled to earth and Bethlehem, placed salvation at our

disposal. God did His part, we now must do ours.

He has redeemed and purified us and claims us as His. My response is eager acceptance of

what He has come to offer me. As I look around, who needs to know of my experience of this

redeeming savior? The books, the songs, the traditions can tell me of Him and this day. They

encourage me to seek Him. Prayer is where I meet Him.

The virtues of temperance, justice and piety reflect our serious and joy filled acceptance of

Jesus Christ this Christmas of 2016. May you be blessed.

HIS WORD TODAY BY REV. WILLIAM J. REILLY

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON

THE SUNDAY READINGS

SAVE THE DATE

Sat. February 25, 2017 – 9:30 - 1:30

$10, includes Speaker, Light breakfast & Lunch Take some time for yourself during Lent to

This mini-retreat is a great way to enhance your Lenten journey with other women of our parish and beyond. The day will include a wonderful speaker, Jan Figenshu. Jan is excited to share her experience and expertise with other faith-filled women. Jan also has a passion for sharing the Scriptures with others and for bringing pilgrims to walk the land that was Jesus’ Homeland. Jan earned a Masters in Divinity from and a Masters of Arts in Theology. She was awarded the Pope John Paul II Medal for Academic excellence in both 2001 and 2005 and the SHU Many are One Award. Jan has also received several community awards for her work with children in theater and children with special needs. Jan's other areas of responsibility include Adult Faith Formation, Liturgy, RCIA, and Bereavement. A light breakfast and homemade soup buffet for lunch.

More information and registration to follow For questions please contact:

Religious Education Office at 973-838-0567 or reled@olmchurch.org