Members of the Our Respect Life Ministry will be distributing Prayer for Life cards and Precious Baby Feet pins/tie tacs after all the masses this weekend. Please help us support respect for life by taking one and praying with us. 

A meeting of all those wishing information and scheduling for a baptism will meet on Monday, March 18th, at 7:00 pm in the parish office.

The Saint Padre Pio Prayer Group will meet on Wednesday evening, March 20th at 7:00 pm in the parish office for devotions and prayer meeting!

Due to the icy winter weather there will be no classes on Sunday, March 10th

The parent's retreat scheduled for Saturday morning, March 2nd, is canceled due to the impending snow storm.

March 2nd, Saturday, at St. Francis has been canceled due to the impending storm.

Abstinence from meat (beast or fowl) is to be observed by all Catholics fourteen years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays of Lent. This obligation prohibits the eating of meat, but not eggs, milk products, or condiments of any kind, even though made from animal fat. Fasting means limiting oneself to one full meal on a given fast day. Catholics who are eighteen years of age but not yet fifty-nine are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On fast days, two additional smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength. However, the two smaller meals together may not equal one full meal. Moreover, eating solid foods between meals on fast days is not permitted.

With the beginning of the holy season of Lent old blessed palms may be brought to the church and placed in the basket located in the church vestibule. Blessed palms may be disposed of by burning or burying them.

SAINT JOSEPH NOVENA – The novena in honor of Saint Joseph will begin on Monday, March 11th. The novena will take place at the conclusion of the 8 o’clock morning Mass each day. The Solemnity of Saint Joseph is Tuesday, March 19th. Following the 8 o’clock Mass on the feast day the traditional Saint Joseph Table will be blessed in Hayes Hall. All are welcome for coffee and “St. Joseph pastry” on that day.

Due to the pending inclement weather, please be advised that the Padre Pio Prayer Group meeting is canceled for Wednesday, February 20th. The next meeting is March 20th @ 7:00 pm in the parish office.

BISHOP SERRATELLI AT FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTIONS – Our Bishop will preside at First Friday Devotions at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on East Main Street on Friday, March 1st. Devotions begin at 6:30 p.m. with Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Holy Mass and Veneration of the relic of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.

MONDAY – PRESIDENTS DAY – Tomorrow, February 18th is a holiday. Divine Mercy Academy is closed, the parish office is closed, and Holy Hour and the Monday Evening Adult Faith Formation class are cancelled. The church will be open for the morning Masses only. THE BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS FOR PARENTS WILL MEET IN THE PARISH OFFICE AT 7 O’CLOCK IN THE EVENING.

ECUMENICAL LENTEN LUNCHES – Our parish will host the first of the weekly Friday ecumenical lunches on March 8th. The lunch takes place at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall starting at 12 noon. Following lunch a prayer service and meditation is provided by a member of the ecumenical clergy group. Our pastor will serve as the presenter on March 8th. All are welcome to attend.

PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP – The Saint Padre Pio Prayer Group will meet on Wednesday evening at 7 o’clock in the parish office for devotions and prayer meeting. Father Zig’s presentation will be on MONASTERIES AND THE MONASTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO. All are welcome!

The Knights of Columbus councils 514 and 3359 wish to thank the generous parishioners of St Cecilia’s and Sacred Heart whose Rose for Life donations of $1300 helped cover a significant portion the $4,000.00 cost to send 2 busloads of pro-life marchers to Washington, D.C. It was one of the most energizing marches in memory and you can read comments from our riders in the Jan. 24 issue of the Beacon. Please keep the cause of life in your prayers and may God continue to richly bless you all.   

PIZZA NIGHT WITH BISHOP: For young men in high school or college, or even older come join Bishop Serratelli and priests from the Diocese of Paterson for adoration, reflection, fellowship and of course, pizza!!! Tuesday, February 5th at Pope John, XXIII in Sparta from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information, please contact the Vocation Office at 973-777-8818, ext: 711.

LUNAR NEW YEAR – His Excellency, Bishop Arthur Serratelli will come to Saint Cecilia Church on Sunday, February 3rd to join in the celebration of Vietnamese New Year. The Bishop will preside at the 3:30 p.m. Mass. The celebration will continue in Hayes Hall following the Holy Mass. To all those celebrating , HAPPY NEW YEAR!

LISTEN TO POPE FRANCIS… “Why it is so important to go to Mass on Sundays and why it is not enough to just live a moral life, loving others: We don’t go to Mass to give something to God, but to receive from Him that which we truly need. Sunday Mass is the time and place Christians receive grace and strength to remain faithful to His work, follow His commandment to love others and be credible witnesses in the world. Just like a plant needs the sun and nourishment to live, every Christian needs the Sunday Eucharist to truly live. Without Christ, we are condemned to be dominated by the fatigue of daily life with all its worries and the fear of tomorrow. The Sunday encounter with the Lord gives us the strength to live today with confidence and courage and to move forward with hope.”

Please be advised that we are still having our baptismal class on Monday, January 21st, at 7:00 pm in the parish office.

BLESSING OF THE THROAT – The traditional blessing of the throat in commemoration of the feast of Saint Blasé, Bishop and Martyr, will take place at the conclusion of Masses the weekend of February 2-3.