THE PARISH FAMILY OF Our Lady of Good Counsel Church
155 WEST PARKWAY • POMPTON PLAINS, NEW JERSEY 07444
Our Parish Mission Statement
“We, the Roman Catholic Community of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, endeavor to create an environment of peace, joy and hospitality.
We are nurtured by the Word of God and the Eucharist.
We welcome each and every person to walk in our mission for the Father, as Disciples of Christ.
We celebrate God’s mercy and compassion for all and honor His will as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
Parish Office Temporary Office Hours Due to COVID-19: 9:00 am – 12 noon, (Mon., Wed. & Fri.) Phone: 973-839-2447 Fax: 973-839-9492
Rev. Darwin Lastra ------Pastor Masses [email protected] Sunday ----- 8:00, 10:00 am & 12:00 noon Saturday------5:00 pm
Rev. Slawomir Tomaszewski ------Parochial Vicar SUMMER SCHEDULE [email protected] Sunday — 8:00 am, 11:00 am Saturday — 5:00 pm Msgr. Patrick J. Sco ------Pastor Emeritus Weekdays (Monday - Saturday) ------8:00 am Mass Marc Mackin, Carmen Restaino, Herb Coyne Deacons Holy Days ------8:00 am, 12:00 & 7:30 pm
Donna Grieco ------Parish Office Manager [email protected] Growing in Faith Together
Carla Troast ------Pastoral Associate Phone: 973-839-5247 Fax: 973-839-9492 E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Laura Shamber ------Coordinator Bob Cipole , Ray Renza ------Trustees Jacquie Sokoloff ------Assistant Coordinator
Youth Ministry 973-839-5247 / fax: 973-839-9492 Sacramental Life
Laura Shamber ------Coordinator Marriage: Arrangements must be made at least 6 months in [email protected] advance. Please contact Carla Troast at 973-839-2447 or
[email protected]. Youth Protection/Safe Environment 973-839-5247 Bap sm: Currently, due to the pandemic, the Sacrament will be Laura Shamber ------Coordinators celebrated on Saturdays at Noon and Sundays at 1pm. Requests for dates will be honored as possible.
Music Ministry Susan DePalma ------Director Penance: Saturdays, 3:45 - 4:30 pm, or by appointment. [email protected]
Barbara Brown ------Choir Director Anoin ng of the Sick: Those of advanced age & those seriously [email protected] ill should be prepared to receive this Sacrament. Please contact the parish office to make arrangements.
Second Sunday of Advent December 6th, 2020 From our Parochial Vicar….
Today we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Advent.
The very word “Advent” means “arrival” or “coming” and Jesus is the One whose Advent or arrival or coming we await. Jesus will come to us this Advent and Christmas if we make room for him in the inn of our hearts.
Jesus is already with us, always with us, but Advent is a time of grace to recognize more than ever that we can have more of Jesus in our lives, that we can make more room for Jesus, that Jesus is the One for whom we really long as the answer to all our longings and questions. Advent is a grace-filled season to spend more time with Jesus to allow him to answer our needs and problems and wishes. Jesus will come to us this Advent and Christmas if we make room for him in the inn of our hearts, if we create a desert in our lives so that we can hear the voice of God without distractions, if we carve out a place of peace and quiet in the busyness of our lives to give space and time to Jesus every day. John the Baptist tells us that the first step is conversion and repentance. Conversion involves receiving God’s word into our heart and mind and allowing his Word to change our attitudes and wrong ways of thinking and judging. Repentance is the deliberate turning away from Sin (wrongdoing) and turning to God to receive his pardon, healing, and strength to do what is good and reject what is wrong.
God bless Fr. Slawomir
Advent & Christmas 2020 Lives of Service,
This holy time of the year is right around the corner! Lives of Joy!
Be sure to visit our website:
www.goodcounsel.org/christmas-2020 Church Cleaning Ministry
for info on special events & our Christmas Mass schedule. The volunteers in this ministry assist with disinfecting the church after Mass and other liturgies during the week. It takes about 20 minutes to complete with our fogging machine.
New for Christmas this Year Additional help is needed as we enter the Advent and Christmas seasons. Each week a schedule is emailed to our volunteers so Due to the ongoing concerns about COVID, we will hold they can sign up for the time slot (s) that fit their schedule. an OUTDOOR Christmas Eve Mass at 2PM!
Help is needed to ensure that this is successful! Outdoor Mass Helpers
If you are interested in assisting, please contact Carla at With the COVID Virus intensifying in our area, we will [email protected]. continue our outdoor Masses indefinitely. Additional volunteers are needed to assist with parking, and ushering. We will also need volunteers for our 2pm Christmas Eve Mass. Registration is open for our Christmas Masses! For additional details or to sign up for the above ministries, www.goodcounsel.org/christmas-mass-registration please contact Carla in the parish office at 973-839-2447 Or email: [email protected]
We Are A Parish Family
Masses of the Week Pray for the Sick SATURDAY, December 5th Anne Albert Bob LoFaro 8:00AM Martin Scanlan † Sandra Bellomo Rose LoFaro Danilo Gamino - Special Intention Marilyn Beneventine Deacon Alan Lucibello
5:00PM Evan Kowalsky † Ben Beneventine Jim Mackin, Jr. Barbara Rizzo † Doug Billitz Marion Marino Vincent Dujets † Anastasia Borovskis Thomas Joseph McCloughy Gavin Brady Maureen McIntosh SUNDAY, December 6th - 2nd Sunday of Advent Dina Conforti Paul McLaughlin 8:00AM Frank Lucibello † Evelina Capelli Deanna Melone
11:00AM Therese Sabbath † Yolanda Chavez Maryann Miksits Ruth Ann Phoebus † Mary Coppa Geraldine Moore Kira Dilley Jesse Morella MONDAY, December 7th Adelaide Elliott Maureen Morella 8:00AM Mary Hanlon † Tricia Fell Beth Newman Eddie Phillips † Lydia Hartford Fr. John Pierce, OFM James Horvath Constance Quarantino TUESDAY, December 8th - Immaculate Conception Liz Kalina Gary Ragusa of the Blessed Virgin Mary Maureen Karsen Riley L. Russo 8:00AM Anthony Argentieri † Eileen Kapotes Jeanne Sabido 12:00PM People of the Parish † Fr. Dan Kelly Kara Skafalstad
7:00PM People of the Parish † Therese Knight JoAnn Suckiel Jennifer Kraft Edward Thomson WEDNESDAY, December 9th Bill Link Sharon Van Riper 8:00AM John Bisaccio † Sam & Mary Bisaccio † The residents of Mountainview Gardens at Cedar Crest Judy Peter † Those serving on the front lines of the COVID19 Pandemic THURSDAY, December 10th When requested, names will be included on the “Prayers for the Sick” 8:00AM Kirstin Compton - Special Intention list for 4 weekends. If you would like the name added again or, if FRIDAY, December 11th someone's name can be removed sooner, please let us know. 8:00AM Andy Sercton - Special Intention Call 973-839-2447 or email [email protected]
SATURDAY, December 12th 8:00AM People of the Parish †
5:00PM Barbara Rizzo † Gertrude Pownall † Pray For Those Serving Gary Schumacher † Our Country SUNDAY, December 13th - 3rd Sunday of Advent 8:00AM Brian Spring † James Horgan † MAJ Daniel J. Ciccarelli
11:00AM Therese Sabbath † CPT Craig T. Robertson Thaddeus J. Jachera † PFC Christian Baxter PVT Brandon Janz
If you have a loved one serving in the armed forces, please contact the parish office so we may include them in our prayers! Our deepest sympathy to…
The Family & Friends of
Joan Cardillo
May she rest in peace.
WE SHARE OUR TIME, TALENT & TREASURE!
STEWARDSHIP - A WAY OF LIFE Diocesan Ministries Appeal
As the year comes fast to an end, and many are planning on Weekly Collection Diocesan Assessment how to make a final year-end charitable contribution that has 11/22/20: $4,966.00 11/8/20: $1,062.00 the most impact, please consider the many lives that are helped
Our goal: $78,528.00 because of the support given to the Diocesan Ministries WeShare (Nov.) $13,597.88 Collected to date: 2,664.00 Appeal. These are your neighbors, your friends, our senior Balance: $75,864.00 priests and seminarians and urban school students. All of us can play a part in the Diocesan Ministries Appeal - as either a Our second collection next weekend: Diocesan Assessment contributor to the cause or as a recipient of its mission - and all are blessed as a result. Thank you for your generosity! Please make the Diocesan Ministries Appeal
a priority in your year-end philanthropy. Gifts can be made LIFE: by check, credit cards, through gifts or securities or online at WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CHOICE www.2020appeal.org.
Statement of the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey on the Reproductive Freedom Act Oct. 5, 2020 The Catholic Church believes and teaches that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death. For that reason, we, the Bishops of each of the dioceses in New Jersey, join in voicing the strongest possible opposition to the “Reproductive Freedom Act.” Without minimizing other serious threats to human life and dignity evident in contemporary American society, the Catholic Church consistently maintains that “the threat of abortion remains our Save the Date preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it Join Fr. Darwin & our Music takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the Dec. 13th, 3 - 4:30pm number of lives destroyed.” (USCCB, Forming Consciences for Ministry for our annual concert. This year it will be an Faithful Citizenship, “Introductory Letter,” 2020). When informed outdoor event for the whole family! Love Burns Bright! of the text of the USCCB document early in 2020, Pope Francis Please join us for a tree lighting, live nativity and visit observed that the right to life of the unborn “is the most from Santa. Light refreshments will be available. fundamental right. This is not first a religious issue; it is a human Register online! rights issue.” (Pope Francis to American Catholic Bishops, USCCB Region IX, January 16, 2020).” As the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey, we urge all Catholics and people of good will to reject this proposed legislative initiative in our state and to contact your State legislators to vigorously express opposition to its passage.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. Archbishop, Archdiocese of Mass for Deceased Members of the Newark Columbiettes & Knights of Columbus Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M. Bishop, Diocese of Trenton Father David Monteleone will be saying Mass for our deceased members at Holy Spirit Church on December 7th at 7PM. Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan Bishop, Diocese of Camden
Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney Bishop, Diocese of Paterson The families of our deceased members are invited to come and honor those Knights and Columbiettes who have given of Most Reverend James F. Checchio Bishop, Diocese of Metuchen themselves and are no longer with us. Most Reverend Kurt Burnette Bishop, Eparchy of Passaic
Most Reverend Yousif Habash, Bishop of Our Lady of Deliverance of Syriac Catholic Diocese
A great first step for taking action is to visit https://njrtl.org/ legislation/ where New Jersey Right to Life offers electronic form letters you can quickly send to your representatives. There you’ll also find addresses and phone numbers if you’d like to write or Support Youth Ministry call. Microprotests are also planned throughout the state. More information to follow. Tip: Do you have a special way that you observe Advent?
May God richly bless you! Check our website for some ideas for daily reflections or follow us on Twitter: @olgcyouthmin or OLGC Heather L.O.O.P. and share with a teen in your life!
Remote GIFT Classes: We are moving to remote GIFT classes for the month of Decem- ber. Please be sure to sign up for Flocknote to receive up-to-date information regarding GIFT classes. For information about lessons and other resources, visit the GIFT page on our parish website: https://goodcounsel.org/gift-ministry and https://goodcounsel.org/at- home-faith-formation
Sign up for Flocknote! PLEASE BE SURE TO ACTIVATE A FLOCKNOTE ACCOUNT so that you will receive messages about the GIFT program. Sign up for Flocknote here: https://goodcounsel.flocknote.com/ From Flock- note, click the grey and white person icon in the top left part of the screen. Your profile will pop up on the right side of the screen; click on the groups icon to see the ministries you are getting messages from. Scroll down to the bottom of your list and click on the Join another group button, and you can add Growing In Faith Together, along with any other sub-categories, especially for First Com- munion, Confirmation and the grades your children attend.
Sacrament of Reconciliation Grade 2 Our students preparing for First Communion will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Tuesday, December 15th beginning at 7pm.
Reverse Advent Calendar Service Project: This Confirmation service project to collect donations for our local food pantry can be done safely socially-distanced. Visit https:// goodcounsel.org/confirmation-2 for details.
Zoom LOOP this Sunday! High school age teens can join us for a virtual youth group meeting this Sunday night beginning at 7pm. Email youthminis- [email protected] to receive login information.
Confirmation in 2021 Mark your calendar for our Sacrament of Confirmation Mass that is scheduled with Bishop Sweeney for Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 7:00 PM.
Annual Christmas Tree Sale
Holy Spirit School is having their 13th Annual Christmas Tree Sale. The sale includes a variety of trees and wreaths and will begin Saturday, Nov. 28th. Hours are Monday thru Thursdays 6 pm to 9 pm, Fridays, 6 pm to 10 pm, Saturdays 9 am to 10 pm and Sundays 9 am to 9 pm. All proceeds benefit the students at Holy Spirit School. For more information or if you have any questions, please call the school office at 973-835-5680.
During these especially difficult times, our local food pantry and the Fr. English Center in Paterson are in need of donations.
Please bring non-perishable foods and/or toiletries to church and leave them in the baskets in the gathering area. We will make sure your donations are brought to the food pantries.
If you would like to make a monetary donation, please send a check or make your donation online through our website, be sure to indicate that it is for the food pantry.
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