DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, DIVINE MERCY ACADEMY & THE PARISH OFFICE ARE CLOSED FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 2nd. ALL PARISH & SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELLED AND THIS DOES INCLUDE BIBLE STUDY AND HOLY HOUR! STAY SAFE AND GOD BLESS!

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has stated that this year’s celebration of the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary IS NOT A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. Therefore, Holy Masses for this feast, which has been transferred to Monday, December 9th, will be celebrated in the morning at 6:30 and 8 o’clock only!

The 6:30 morning Mass during the season of Advent will be the RORATE MASS in honor of the Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary. This Mass dates from the Middle Ages in Europe when the faithful gather before dawn to celebrate Holy Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin who welcomed the Christ Child into her life and into our world. A single candle is lighted before the image of Our Lady at the altar dedicated to her during this Mass,

The final opportunity to go to confession prior to Christmas will be on Wednesday evening, December 18th at 7 o’clock. Eight priests will be available for the sacrament of penance so that our hearts may be ready to receive our Lord in the celebration of His Nativity.

A wonderful program of Christmas music will be presented in our church on Friday evening, December 13th at 7 o’clock. Please invite your family and friends to enjoy the beautiful sounds which will fill our parish church, the house of Cecilia, Patron Saint of music!

Bishop Serratelli is inviting you to the annual diocesan Christmas concert which will be held on Sunday, December 8th in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist located on Main and Grand Streets in Paterson. The concert begins at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Free indoor parking is provided at the County Garage located adjacent to the cathedral.

The Knights of Columbus Councils 514 and 3359 invite you to join the bus trip to the 47th March for Life in Washington, DC on Friday, January 24th. The bus will depart at 6 a.m. from the Gardner Field Park and Ride in Denville. Holy Mass will be celebrated at 5:15 a.m. in Saint Mary Church in Denville prior to departure. There is no charge for the bus, but please bring $10 to cover the DC METRO cost and a tip for the bus driver. Please contact Deacon Jim Rizos at 973.627.2595 or jrizos10@gmail.com to reserve your place. If you are unable to join the march, please keep the cause for life in your prayers.

Our Bishop cordially invites all the faithful of the Diocese of Paterson to join with him in the Annual Respect Life Mass which will take place on Saturday, November 16th in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Paterson. The liturgy begins at 10 a.m. and is cosponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Please join us as we pray for the protection of human life from conception to natural death.

Advent Retreat Saturday, December 7, 2019 - 8:30 am—1:00 pm St. Francis Resort, Denville - Reservations Required Questions/Information, please call - Pat Zayac—973-625-4572 - Sponsored by The St. Monica Guild

Join Father Zig on this trip September 29th to October 12th, 2020 which will begin with a visit to the site which is traveled to by thousands of pilgrims every year and is associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary. An information meeting for all those interested in this trip will be held in Hayes Hall on Tuesday evening, November 12th at 7:00 pm. Information brochures can be found in the church vestibule. Join us on this once in a lifetime visit to a most beautiful part of the world!

DUE TO THE WEATHER, PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16th IS CANCELLED!

HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION – Friday, November 1st is ALL SAINTS DAY and a holy day of obligation. This solemnity will be observed in our parish with a vigil Mass on Thursday, October 31st at 4:30 in the afternoon. On Friday, November 1st, Holy Mass will be celebrated in the morning at 6:30 and 8 o’clock. The evening Mass will be celebrated at 7 o’clock. Please remember to obey all traffic and parking regulations for these Masses since Church Street remains a two-way road during the week. One way parking is available only for the weekend Masses.

We will gather for a brief All Souls cemetery service on Sunday, November 3rd beginning at 1:30 p.m. Please join us as we pray for the departed in our “second church,” our parish cemetery.

The Men’s Society is sponsoring their annual coat drive on the weekend of November 9-10. New coats, or clean and gently used coats, will be accepted along with gloves, etc. These donations will be distributed to the poor through the Morristown Mission. Your generosity will be blessed in heaven!

Tuesday evening, October 22nd at 7:00 pm, Father Joseph Vadakkel will conduct a retreat on the Eucharist which will also include a service of healing for those who are sick. Father Joseph was born in 1965 in Kerala, India and is a member of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Father regularly conducts retreat in Europe, the United States and many other parts of the world. Join us for this faith-filled evening of prayer and healing on the feast day of Saint Pope John Paul II.

The annual remembrance of All Souls will begin the weekend of October 26-27 in our church. On this weekend the Book of the Dead and All Souls Mass offering envelopes will be available at the Saint Joseph altar. The All Souls Mass offering envelopes bearing the names of the departed will rest on the altar for the entire month of November so that they may be prayed for at each Mass during the month of All Souls.

Friday, October 11th is the date of the Pro Life Community Evening which will take place in Hayes Hall from 7 to 9 o’clock. The guest speakers will be New Jersey Assemblyman Jay Webber of the 26th legislative district and Chris Slattery, founder and president of Expectant Mother Care. Please join us to meet and hear these two outstanding advocates for pro life issues. Admission is free, refreshments will be served.

The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is Monday, October 7th. In place of HOLY HOUR we will pray the Rosary and process to the outdoor statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Join us in celebrating this feast and offering this powerful prayer as requested by the Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary. The evening service begins at 7 o’clock.

The annual blessing of pets in commemoration of the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi will take place on Saturday, October 5th at Sacred Heart of Jesus Churchyard on East Main Street. The service begins at 12:30 p.m. This event is being cosponsored by Sacred Heart Church and Saint Cecilia Church.

Join us next Sunday, September 29th for the “5th Sunday of the Month Rosary” which will take place at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on East Main Street. We begin at 3 o’clock with praying the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and pray with the children. The event is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Council 3359.