Holy Mass in observance of the Lord’s Day will be celebrated in the church and the parish cemetery. Our schedule is as follows: SATURDAY – The 4:30 Mass will be celebrated in the church. The 7 o’clock Mass will be celebrated at the parish cemetery. In the event of inclement weather the Mass will be celebrated in the church. SUNDAY – The 8 o’clock, 9:15 and 10:45 Masses will be celebrated in the church. The 12:15 Mass will be celebrated at the parish cemetery. In the event of inclement weather the Mass will be celebrated in the church. A FLOCKNOTE will be sent out at Noon on Saturday to provide information regarding the outdoor Masses if the weather is inclement. (Sign up for FLOCKNOTE, go to the parish website for information.)

I am so grateful to all those who volunteered their time and labor last Saturday morning in “tidying up” our parish property. Please know that your pastor appreciates your hard work which was done on a very hot morning. Special thanks to Jim Clancy who organized this event. God bless you all! – Father Zig

After consultation with the diocese and my advisors I would like to inform you of the following items. A limited amount of PEW SONG BOOKS will be returned to the pews. I am trying a one volume book which contains Mass parts, Scripture readings and hymns. This text will be in use until November 27th. (I would be interested in hearing your comments regarding the one book as compared to the two books which we have had in the past.) COMMUNION ON THE TONGUE which is the traditional way of receiving the Holy Eucharist will resume on Corpus Christi, Sunday-June 6th. I ask that those who would like to receive the Blessed Sacrament in this manner approach only the priest (not an extraordinary minister) and to do so as the last on the Communion line. MASSES IN HAYES HALL will continue only until the end of the month of May. Beginning June 6th all Masses will be celebrated in the church with an increase of worshippers as allowed by protocols. LIVE-STREAMING OF SUNDAY MASS will continue only until the end of the month of May. Beginning June 6th all live-streaming will end as a result of low viewership. All of these are welcome signs that we are gradually returning to normal in church. I look forward to the lifting of even more restrictions within the coming weeks. Let us continue to pray that the Lord will bring an end to the pandemic and heal those still suffering from it. – FATHER ZIG

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi will be observed on Sunday, June 6th with a joint service which will take place at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on East Main Street. The service of Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and outdoor procession with the Most Holy Eucharist will begin at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Both adults and children of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish and Saint Cecilia Parish are invited to participate. Assistance will be needed in altar serving and the strewing of flower petals during the procession. LET US JOIN TOGETHER TO WORSHIP OUR LORD IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT.

Join us on Thursday evening, May 13th at 7 o’clock for the praying of the Holy Rosary in celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. The service will take place at the parish cemetery. In the event of rain the service will take place in the church. A FLOCKNOTE will be sent out during the day on Thursday with the latest information.

The Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Newark have decided that the Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension into Heaven will be transferred to next Sunday, May 16th rather than on Thursday, May 13th (the 40th day after Easter). This coming Thursday is not a holy day of obligation this year!

On Monday, Memorial Day, May 31st only one Mass will be celebrated at 9 o’clock in the morning at the parish cemetery. Please bring a lawn chair for Mass and know that in the event of rain the Mass will be celebrated in the church. (The 6:30 and 8 o’clock Masses will not be celebrated in the church on Memorial Day.)

The monthly Saint Joseph Holy Hour for May will take place on Wednesday, May 19th beginning at 8 o’clock in the evening. The service begins with a presentation from “In the Breach,” regarding male spirituality followed by 20 minutes of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament. All men, fathers and their sons, are especially encouraged to attend as we spend time in prayer through the intercession of Saint Joseph.

An outdoor Rosary Devotion will take place at the parish cemetery on Friday evening, May 14th at 7:30 to commemorate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima which is May 13th (this year suppressed due to the Solemnity of the Ascension). Join us for this Scriptural praying of the Most Holy Rosary. Bring your lawn chair and face covering. In the event of inclement weather the ceremony will take place in the church. A FLOCKNOTE will be sent out for notification.

Now that spring has arrived I would like to share with you the locations of the Lord’s Day Masses which goes into effect immediately. SATURDAY – The Vigil Mass at 4:30 will always take place in the church. The 7 o’clock Mass will be celebrated at the parish cemetery. In the event of rain the Mass will be celebrated in the church. SUNDAY – The morning Masses at 8, 9:15 and 10:45 will always take place in the church. The 12:15 afternoon Mass will be celebrated at the parish cemetery and NOT in the church unless it rains. A FLOCKNOTE will be sent out on Saturday at Noon time with notification regarding the outdoor Masses (that’s why it is important to sign up for FLOCKNOTE, go to the parish website!!!) – Father Zig

The Saint Padre Pio votive candle room has reopened after being closed since last March due to the pandemic. You are once again able to enter and light a candle for prayer. I ask that no more than 2 persons be in the room at the same time so that we can maintain social distancing. Please do not sit in the votive candle room during Holy Mass. – Father Zig

SAVE THE DATE: Parish Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 27th @ 12:00 (noon) outside St. Cecilia Church weather permitting. Fun and Games for everyone with a special visit from the Easter Bunny! Please RSVP to Pat Zayac @ 973-625-4572.

His Excellency, Bishop Kevin Sweeney will make his first visit to Divine Mercy Academy on Thursday, March 25th. The visit will include the celebration of Holy Mass via live stream. Following the Mass the Bishop will visit all of the grades and have an opportunity to become acquainted with our school.

“Welcome Home” is the initiative of the Diocese of Paterson to encourage every Catholic to go to confession during Lent in preparation for the Solemnity of Easter. Every Monday evening, from February 22 to March 22, churches in the diocese will be open from 7 to 8:30 for the sacrament of penance. All of us, old and young, should approach the sacrament of penance during this holy time.

ASH WEDNESDAY IS A DAY OF STRICT FAST AND ABSTINENCE. NO MEAT IS PERMITTED ON THIS DAY. ONE FULL MEAL AND TWO SMALLER MEALS ARE PERMITTED. THIS IS A DAY OF PRAYER AND RESPONDING TO THE CALL TO REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION!

Every Friday during the holy season of Lent the Stations of the Cross will be prayed following the 8 o’clock morning Mass and in the evening at 7 o’clock. Join us in meditating upon the sorrowful and painful journey the Lord Jesus took for our sins.

Our annual parish Lenten retreat sponsored by the Rosary Society will take place on March 20. The Saturday morning event will begin with the celebration of the Holy Mass at 8 o’clock. The presenter will be Father Cesar Jaramillo, parochial vicar at Saint Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany. As with the Advent retreat, this year’s Lenten retreat will also be virtual with a limited audience in Hayes Hall. The retreat is free of charge. Additional information will be printed in next Sunday’s bulletin.

The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments has directed priests to take special anti-COVID 19 precautions this year when distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, February 17, including sprinkling of ashes on the top of the head rather than making a cross on the person’s forehead. The Vatican document further says that the priest sprinkles the ashes with holy water without saying anything, says only once to the entire congregation – “Remember that you are dust and unto dust shall you return,” cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask and sprinkles the ashes on the top of the head of those who come before him without saying anything. Sprinkling ashes on the top of people’s heads, rather than marking the foreheads with ashes, is the customary practice at the Vatican and in Italy. Given the spread of the coronavirus, the practice has the advantage of not requiring the priest to touch multiple people.

A holy card commemorating the YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH is available for your devotional use and can be found on the table located in the church vestibule. The prayer located on the card will be recited at the conclusion of the daily Masses, Monday thru Saturday. Daily Mass communicants should bring their card to Mass for the prayer.

The Thursday evening faith formation class will resume on February 18th and will meet every Thursday evening during Lent in Hayes Hall from 7 to 8:30. Father Zig will announce the topic for the program within the next week.