ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION 113 CHIEGO PLACE ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY 07204
To all who are tired and need rest; to all who mourn and need comfort; to all who are friendless and need friendship; to all who are discouraged and need hope; to all who sin and need a Savior; and to whomsoever will, THIS CHURCH OPENS WIDE ITS DOOR IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS!
Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2020 SERVED BY: EUCHARIST: Very Rev. Father James F. Spera, V.F., Pastor Saturday Evenings: 5:30 pm Dean, Union County North Sundays: 8:00 am, 10:30 am, 12:00 Noon Rev. Father Carmine Rizzi, Priest-in-Residence Weekdays: Monday - Saturday, 8:00 am Rev. Deacon David J. Farrell, Deacon and Director of Religious Education Holy Days of Obligation: John Ballantyne, Trustee 8:00 am and 7:30 pm Elizabeth Santora, Trustee Novenas: Donna Schmatz, Organist and Music Coordinator St. Jude after the Saturday 8:00 am Mass Virginia Jediny, Parish Secretary St. Anthony, prayers with Benediction of the Karen Colucci, Religious Education Coordinator Blessed Sacrament, Tuesday, 7:30 pm, September thru June New members of the Parish are welcome and invited to Confession: REGISTER by calling the Rectory Office. Please notify the Office when moving away from the Parish. Sponsor Saturday afternoon from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm certificates for the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation Weekdays (Monday-Saturday) at 7:30 am before the will be signed and sealed for Registered parishioners only. You 8:00 am Mass, or anytime by appointment must be registered for 6 months prior to your request. PARISH OFFICE EMAIL Assumption School of Religion Office (908) 245-1107 [email protected] (908) 245-6572
FAX WEB PAGE EMAIL (908) 245-2789 www.assumptionrp.com [email protected]
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SATURDAY, December 19 8:00 AM John Tarmas (Love, Sister, Dorothy Ford) 5:30 PM Grace Signorello (From: Joe and Family)
SUNDAY, December 20: Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:00 AM Michael & Mark & Angelo Franco (From: Mom and Dad) 10:30 AM Richard P. DeRoxtra (From: Cathy, James, Mom & John) 12:00 Noon For the Parishioners EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
LECTORS MONDAY, December 21: St. Peter Canissius, Priest and Doctor of the Church: Winter Begins ALTAR SERVERS 8:00 AM Maria Tripicchio THE MINISTRIES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL (Love, Husband, Sal) FURTHER NOTICE TUESDAY, December 22 PRAYER FOR A SPIRITUAL COMMUNION 8:00 AM Alfredo Pite (From: Susan & Kevin Smith) My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the 7:30 PM St. Anthony and St. Kolbe Novena most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all WEDNESDAY, December 23: St. John of Kanty, things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Priest Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, 8:00 AM Thomas Greer Jr. come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace (From: Bonnie Greer)
You as if You were already there, and unite my- THURSDAY, December 24: Christmas Eve self wholly to You. Never permit me to be sepa- 8:00 AM Vincent and Laurita Tripicchio rated from You. Amen. (Love, Son Sal) 4:00 PM For the Parishioners May the Strength of God pilot us, 12:00 Mid. For the Parishioners May the wisdom of God instruct us, May the hand of God protect us, FRIDAY, December 25: The Nativity of The Lord May the word of God direct us. 8:00 AM For the Parishioners Be always ours this day and forevermore. 10:30 AM For the Parishioners 12:00 Noon For the Parishioners -St. Patrick SATURDAY, December 26: St. Stephen, The First Prayer List: (In alphabetical order) To have someone Martyr; Boxing Day in Canada placed on or removed from the sick list please call the 8:00 AM Harry Corning Rectory. We invite you to clip out this section each Sunday. (From: Wife) Perhaps you could put it near a prayer book, in your Bible, or in your pocket or purse. It is a good thing when we pray with and for 5:30 PM Lauretta & Vincenzo Tripicchio one another. Thank you and God bless you! (From: Adelina Cosentino)
Altagracia Alvarez, Kathy Barz, John Black, Fred Boyne, SUNDAY, December 27: The Holy Family of Jesus, Florence Carosella, Christine Conrad, James Desiderio, Mary and Joseph Naomi Desiderio, Ronald Fellner, Nicholas Fusco, Bonnie 8:00 AM Michael Kudlach Greer, Joseph Gregory, Cynthia and Thomas Ingman, (Love, Virginia, Jenny and Jack) A.M.J., Elizabeth Knych, Zchantell McDonald, Eleanor 10:30 AM Alexander Prinzi Morehouse, Tanina Naccarato, Carol Fellner Nasta, (From: Joseph Accardi) Jeanette Noto, Louis Noto, Linda Osterman, Monica 12:00 Noon Brigida and Benedetto Cosentino Quigley O’Brien, Lily Rita Procopio, Roseann Santanna, (From: Adelina Cosentino) Rose Sekac, Frank Sillito, Nancy Sillito, Ann Sisalli, Anthony Spadora, Antonio Spano, Gabrielle Spano, Lynn Tumblety, Joanne Vallone, D.L.W., Tony Wargacki
Page 3 Church of the Assumption The Bible: 1 Corinthians 13 - Christmas Style
If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, The late American Humorist Erma Bombeck once was quoted strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not saying: "There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake show love to my family, I'm just another decorator. Christmas morning and not be a child." Jesus once told us that "unless you become like a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas of God". Mt. 18:3. The prayer invoking the gift of the Holy cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully Spirit at Confirmation seeks of God that those confirmed be adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, filled with the "Spirit of wonder and awe". It is just this "spirit I'm just another cook. of wonder and awe" that captivates children on Christmas morning, and why we watch with tenderness. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my God became a child and was placed powerless into our family, it profits me nothing. hands, that He might demonstrate in a tangible way His love for all humankind. "For God so loved the world, that He gave If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the perish, but have eternal life." Jn.3:16. Our belief in Him is a choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the "child like" trust in His love, in His teachings, in His Church; point. that we might have life. It is being powerless before Him and leaving ourselves to trust like a child. The mark of a genuine Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the disciple is precisely this child like trust in God, even in a decorating to kiss the husband. "pandemic". Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated As we watch our children during these Christmas days, Christmas china and table linens. may we imitate their spirit of "wonder and awe" despite the pandemic that gets in our way, and recapture a childlike trust Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of your way. in God who became a child for our sake. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, Merry Christmas! but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Fr. Jim Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Christmas Schedule 2020 Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will The Cardinal has continued to lift the obligation of attending be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will Mass during the "pandemic". Those who do attend the Mass are endure. requested to follow the instructions of the wearing of masks and keeping the appropriate distance of six feet. The pews in Church A CHRISTMAS PRAYER are sanitized and marked for social distance seating. God of love and mercy in this season of Christmas, we offer Christmas Eve your our thanks and praise.
We want to spread the word of peace you give us through Jesus Thursday, December 24, 2020 Christ. 4:00 P.M. Vigil Mass May the birth of your Son overcome human suffering, calm our 11:30 P.M. Christmas Carols fears and bring peach to our home, our families and the world. 12 Midnight Mass of Christmas Amen
Christmas Day May the peace of God which is beyond our understanding fill your hearts and mind in the knowledge and love of God and Friday, December 25, 2020 Christ Jesus His Son. Masses 8:00 A.M., 10:30 A.M., The St. Vincent de Paul Society 12 Noon
New Year’s Eve Please pray for the repose of the souls of the recently deceased: Thursday, December 31, 2020 5:30 P.M. Vigil Mass +Frank Gilhooly New Year’s Day +Diane Morris Friday, New Year’s Day 2021 Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord! Masses 8:00 A.M., 10:30 A.M.
Page 4 Church of the Assumption Dear God, SPECIAL DONATIONS
To make a Special Donation for Hosts, Wine, Candles, There's an empty chair near the tree, Sanctuary Candles or Tabernacle Flowers, please use the an ache in our hearts Special Donation Envelopes found at the doors of the Church. and tears on our faces...
We may try to shield one another from the grief we bear "Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound but we cannot hide it from you... and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the We pray for (names) memory of the God who became a child. This is a whose presence we miss so much healing memory; it brings hope." in these days of peace and joy...
— Pope Benedict XVI Open our hearts and minds to the healing, the warmth, the light of your presence...
MARY’S GROTTO We pray, Lord, and we trust
that those we miss have found the place ATTENTION: GOOD NEWS! Just in case you are not you prepared for them, their home, aware, Mary's Grotto is now open on Sunday after Masses. within your heart...
While we are showing some items outside by the parking lot Open our hearts, Lord, on Sunday, you may still go downstairs of the Religious to joyful memories School Building where we are located. of the love we shared with those who've gone before us... Beautiful selection for Christmas and if you missed our Advent sale, there are some items available. We look forward to once Help us tell the stories again serving you. that make the past present and bring us close again Ladies of the Rosary Society to those we miss... Church of the Assumption Teach us to lean on you, Lord, and on each other, THE ETERNAL GOD for the strength we need to walk through these difficult days... King David wished that the ark of God might have a more permanent home. David may have envisioned something like Be with us as we sing and cry our way the cedar palace where he resided. God had in mind something through Christmas cards and carols; more: a throne where David’s descendants would rule for ever, help us find and open the present you bring: a kingdom where Jews and Gentiles alike would be welcome. the gift of your peace Mary’s prayerful nature led to an even more disturbing in the birth of the child Jesus... message. She would conceive and bear a Son though she was not yet married. “How can this come about?” Mary wondered. And give us quiet moments “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” she was told (Luke with you, Lord, 1:35). and with our thoughts,
Mary’s acceptance of this difficult challenge ushered in our memories and our prayers... this, the final age of God’s reign. What was once a secret Be with us, Lord, known only by chosen people like King David and his descen- and hold us in your arms dants must now be made clear to all so that, as Saint Paul wrote to the Romans, we can be brought to the “obedience of even as you now hold those who've gone before us... faith” “according to the command of the eternal God” (Romans 16:26). Help us trust that one day Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. we'll be with those we love when your mercy gathers us together We welcome to our Parish Community in the joy of your kingdom, the child who was Baptized in Christ at in the life you've promised us....
Church of the Assumption This is the Christmas you have made, the only one we'll have this year: Mateo Ospina-Tapia help us to rejoice in it, Lord, and in the blessings of your peace... God’s Blessings on him and his family! Amen.
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Knight’s Corner (Council #3240) RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS The Knights of Columbus (Council #3240) of the Church Religious Education Contact Information: 908-245-6572 of the Assumption would like to invite any interested [email protected] Parish men, that wish to learn more about the Knights of [email protected] Columbus to fill out one of the cards located in the front of the Church and place it in the collection basket. The Fourth De- gree Knights of Columbus is currently conducting a membership drive. Please be sure to “like” our Facebook page: Knights of Colum- bus - Msgr. Loreti Council #3240
MOUNT SAINT MARY ACADEMY, a Catholic, all-girls college prep high school in Watchung, is accepting applica- tions for the Class of 2025. Prospective students are encour- aged to visit: www.mountsaintmary.org to request a Zoom meeting with the Director of Admissions to answer your questions or arrange a tour of the campus. Mandatory entrance test administered by appointment. Contact [email protected]. The academy is a sponsored work of the Sisters of Mercy, established in 1908.
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Saint John of Kanty’s Story
John was a country lad who made good in the big city and the big university of Kraków, Poland. After brilliant studies he was ordained Saint Peter Canisius’ Story a priest and became a professor of theology. The inevitable opposition The energetic life of Peter Canisius should demolish any which saints encounter led to his being ousted by rivals and sent to be stereotypes we may have of the life of a saint as dull or rou- a parish priest at Olkusz. An extremely humble man, he did his best, tine. A man blessed with many talents, Peter is an excellent but his best was not to the liking of his parishioners. Besides, he was example of the scriptural man who develops his talents for the afraid of the responsibilities of his position. But in the end he won his sake of the Lord’s work. people’s hearts. After some time he returned to Kraków and taught Scripture for the remainder of his life. Peter was one of the most important figures in the Catholic John was a serious man, and humble, but known to all the poor of Reformation in Germany. He played such a key role that he Kraków for his kindness. His goods and his money were always at has often been called the “second apostle of Germany,” in that their disposal, and time and again they took advantage of him. He his life parallels the earlier work of Boniface. kept only the money and clothes absolutely needed to support himself. Although Peter once accused himself of idleness in his youth, He slept little, ate sparingly, and took no meat. He made a pilgrimage he could not have been idle too long, for at the age of 19 he to Jerusalem, hoping to be martyred by the Turks. Later John made received a master’s degree from the university at Cologne. four subsequent pilgrimages to Rome, carrying his luggage on his Soon afterwards he met Peter Faber, the first disciple of Igna- back. When he was warned to look after his health, he was quick to point out that, for all their austerity, the fathers of the desert lived tius of Loyola, who influenced Peter so much that he joined the recently formed Society of Jesus. remarkably long lives. At this early age Peter had already taken up a practice he con- tinued throughout his life—a process of study, reflection, prayer, and writing. After his ordination in 1546, he became widely known for his editions of the writings of Saint Cyril of THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Alexandria and St. Leo the Great. Besides this reflective liter- ary bent, Peter had a zeal for the apostolate. He could often be found visiting the sick or imprisoned, even when his assigned duties in other areas were more than enough to keep most peo- ple fully occupied. In 1547, Peter attended several sessions of the Council of Trent, whose decrees he was later assigned to implement. After a brief teaching assignment at the Jesuit college at Messina, Peter was entrusted with the mission to Germany—from that point on his life’s work. He taught in several universities and was instrumental in establishing many colleges and seminaries. He wrote a catechism that explained the Catholic faith in a way that common people could understand, a great need of that age. He had great diplomatic ability, often serving as a reconciler between disputing factions. In his letters—filling eight vol- umes—one finds words of wisdom and counsel to people in all walks of life. At times he wrote unprecedented letters of criti- cism to leaders of the Church—yet always in the context of a loving, sympathetic concern. At 70, Peter suffered a paralytic seizure, but he continued to preach and write with the aid of a secretary, until his death in his hometown of Nijmegen, Netherlands, on December 21, 1597. Believe and Pray
Page 7 Church of the Assumption Do you Remember? 198. What is the first commandment of God?
Baltimore Catechism Revised Edition 1941 (Continued…) The first commandment of God is: I am the Lord thy God; thou
shalt not have strange gods before Me. 193. Is everyone obliged to perform the works of mercy? Thou shalt not have strange Gods before me. Thou shalt not Everyone is obliged to perform the works of mercy, according make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of anything that to his own ability and the need of his neighbor. is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and that are in the waters under the earth. (Exodus 20:3-4) you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I was in 199. What are we commanded by the first commandment? prison, and you came to me. (Matthew 25:35-36) By the first commandment we are commanded to offer to God 194. Are all the ordinary deeds done every day to relieve alone the supreme worship that is due Him. the corporal or spiritual needs of others true works of mercy? It is written, "The Lord thy God shalt thou worship, and him only shalt thou serve." (Luke 4:8) All the ordinary deeds done every day to relieve the corporal or spiritual needs of others are true works of mercy, if done in the 200. How do we worship God? name of Christ. We worship God by acts of faith, hope, and charity, and by For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, adoring Him and praying to Him. because you are Christ's, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. (Mark 9:40) 201. What does faith oblige us to do?
195. Which are the commandments of God? Faith obliges us: first, to make efforts to find out what God has revealed; second, to believe firmly what God has revealed; The commandments of God are these ten: third, to profess our faith openly whenever necessary. 1. I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also before Me. will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 10:32) 3. Remember thou keep holy the Lord's day. 202. What does hope oblige us to do? 4. Honor thy father and thy mother. 5. Thou shalt not kill. Hope obliges us to trust firmly that God will give us eternal life 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery. and the means to obtain it.
7. Thou shalt not steal. Paul, a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, in 8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. accordance with the faith of God's elect and the full knowledge 9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. of the truth which is according to piety, in the hope of life 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods. everlasting which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began. (Titus 1:1-2) 196. Should we be satisfied merely to keep the commandments God? 203. What does charity oblige us to do?
We should not be satisfied merely to keep the commandments Charity obliges us to love God above all things because He is of God, but should always be ready to do good deeds, even infinitely good, and to love our neighbor as ourselves for the when they are not commanded. love of God.
If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the And one of them, a doctor of the Law, putting him to the test, poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow asked him, "Master, which is the great commandment in the me. (Matthew 19:21) Law?" Jesus said to him, "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy 197. What does Our Savior especially recommend that is whole mind.' This is the greatest and the first commandment. not strictly commanded by the law of God? And the second is like it, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as Our Savior especially recommends the observance of the thyself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law Evangelical Counsels – voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity, and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:35-40) and perfect obedience.
You therefore are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) Christmas! ‘Tis the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial fire of charity in the heart. -Washington Irving