Our Lady of Mount Carmel Sunday, February 3, 2019 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

PARISH STAFF Father Abuchi F. Nwosu ...... Pastor [email protected] Father Peter Oddo ...... Weekend Assistant Deacon Anthony Barile Deacon Al Kucinski Deacon Edward Muller Dan Salvatore ...... Coordinator of Religious Education

Caroline Mazzola ...... Secretary Ann Johnson ...... Secretary

PARISH OFFICE WEEKEND MASSES 203 Newton-Swartswood Road • Newton, NJ 07860 Saturday ...... 5:00 pm

Hours ...... 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Sunday ...... 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 am Phone ...... 973-383-3566 Fax ...... 973-383-3831 Email ...... [email protected] DAILY MASSES Web ...... www.olmcswartswood.org Monday-Saturday ...... 8:30 am (except Wednesday) Wednesday ...... 7:00 pm

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE First Friday Mass ...... 2:00 pm @Homestead Nursing Home Hours ...... 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Holy Days ...... 8:30 am & 7:00 pm Phone ...... 973-579-2355

OLMC JOY CLUB (Just Older Youth) EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Patricia Cholasta ...... 973-534-7733 Monday ...... 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

YOUTH GROUP SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Heather Falotico ...... [email protected] Saturday ...... 4:15 - 4:45 pm

SACRAMENTS OF BAPTISM, MARRIAGE & KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, Council 9920 ANOINTING OF THE SICK William R. Nagy……………………………………………Grand Knight Please contact the office to arrange. [email protected]

February 3, 2019 Fourth Sunday on Ordinary Time

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING

Jennie Apostola, Ann Bott, Walter & Concetta Brock Jr., Saturday, February 2 – Feast of the Presentation of the Bradley BurchIield, Dominic Bongiorno, Colon, Fr. Lord Angelus Croce, Stephanie Cuomo, Ingrid Diaz, Kara Deserto, MAL 3:1-4 / HEB 2:14-18 / LK 2:22-40 Doug Ernst Sr., Linda Flynn, Donna Gatto, Richard Hennings, 8:30 am Robert P. Hardy by Parish Staff Ava Kljajic, Ziggy Knop, Bruce Konar, Joshua Koontz, Alex 5:00 pm In Memory of Edward Muller, Sr. Krucinski, John Kucinski, Kden LeoGrande, Pete Mahler, by Deacon Ed & Mary Lou Muller Maria Mallozzi, Mary Jo Manno, Deacon Charles Mathias, Susanne Martone, Brett Mershon, Mary Ellen Nienstedt, Sunday, February 3 – In Memory of Blaise, Blessing Stephen Osborn, Margie Palazzo, Jason Parker, Sr., of the Throat Pasternak, Lorraine Paxton, Clarence Remke, Peter F. JER 1:4-5, 17-19 / 1 COR 12:31—13:13 / LK 4:21-30 Reynolds, Carol Rock, Colleen Romano, Olga Romeo, Linda 7:30 am Francine Crivelli by Marie & Ray Nazzaro Ross, Rose Marie Sciascia, Carole Salvatore, Diana Salvatore- 9:00 am Intentions of Lee Switak by Ron & Ann Johnson Hiler, John Samsock, Greg Schmiditty, Alfonso Scrudato, 11:00 am Grabin Family by Pat & Lester Zaleski Gloria Shope, Marianne Skrocki, Debbie Smith, Nancy Snook, Stephanie, Richie Sorce, Andrew Sorce, Gene Streeter, Dale

Monday, February 4 Swoboda, Roberta Treptau, & Vince Ventresca, Brooke HEB 11:32-40 / MK 5:1-20 Zaleski, Virginia Zaleski 8:30 am Marion Gross by Frances DeWitt A GOOD STEWARD

Tuesday, February 5 – Memorial of St. Agatha, , Sunday, January 27 $3,061.00 HEB 12:1-4 / MK 5:21-43 Online Giving $250.00 8:30 am Intentions of Fr. Kevin Corcoran by Parish Staff nd *There will be a 2 collection next weekend for the Wednesday, February 6 – Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Diocesan Assessment Companions, Thank you for your generosity! HEB 10:11-18 / MK 4:1-20 7:00 pm Intentions of Rose Grabinski by Ron & Ann Johnson

This Week the Sanctuary Lamp Thursday, February 7 Burns for Recovery of OLMC HEB 12:18-19, 21-24 / MK 6:7-13 Sick Parishioners 8:30 am For the Seminarians by Parish Staff

Friday, February 8 WOMEN AND MEN OF THE ARMED FORCES HEB 13:1-8 / MK 6:14-29 We ask God the Father, through the intercession of St. 8:30 am Bertha & James Esposito by Patricia Cholasta the , to protect all the men and women in our Armed Forces. May they be brought back safely to those

Saturday, February 9 whom they love: Major Brandon Bennett, NJ Army National HEB 13:15-17, 20-21 / MK 6:30-34 Guard (Federal); Larisa Furs, US Navy; Lt. Jason Gieniewski, 8:30 am Intentions of Barbara Froestcher by Parish Staff US Army; Pvt. Michael Mobilio, Army; Captain Richi 5:00 pm Mass of Thanksgiving by Barbara Froestcher M. Pazdzierski, US Army; Captain Jane Petrick, Army; Lt. Daniel T. Pevarnik, Jr., National Guard; Captain Cheryl Ryan, US Army; Seaman Recruit Tyler Joseph Salonia; Michael Sunday, February 10 Valeich, Staff Sergeant; Pvt. Zachary Wharton, Robert IS 6:1-2A, 3-8 / 1 COR 15:1-11 / LK 5:1-11 Williams, Airman 7:30 am Duncan Fitton by Parish Staff 9:00 am Deceased Members of Muller & Weisser Families by Deacon Ed & Mary Lou Muller 11:00 am Mauro Colonna by Joe & Charlene Marchese

February 3, 2019 Fourth Sunday on Ordinary Time

Continued… How do I pray? Various forms of prayer are presented in the Catechism of 4. Contemplation (contemplatio) is a gaze turned toward Christ and the things of God. By God's action of grace, the (CCC 2623-2649). These various forms you may be raised above meditation to a state of seeing include prayer of blessing or adoration, prayer of petition, or experiencing the text as mystery and reality. In prayer of intercession, prayer of thanksgiving, and prayer of contemplation, you come into an experiential contact praise.

What is meditation? Memorial of Saint Agatha – February 5 Meditation is a Christian practice of prayer dating back to the early Church. As the Catechism states: "Meditation is above St. Agatha, also known as Agatha of , is one of the all a quest. The mind seeks to understand the why and how most highly venerated virgin martyrs of the Catholic of the Christian life, in order to adhere and respond to what Church. It is believed that she was born around 231 in the Lord is asking." By meditating on the Gospels, holy icons, either or , Sicily to a rich and noble family. liturgical texts, spiritual writings, or "the great book of From her very early years, Agatha dedicated her life to creation," we come to make our own that which is God's. "To God. She became a consecrated virgin, a state in life the extent that we are humble and faithful, we discover in where young women choose to remain celibate and give meditation the movements that stir the heart and we are themselves wholly to Jesus and the Church in a life of able to discern them. It is a question of acting truthfully in prayer and service. She resisted the advances of a Roman order to come into the light: "Lord, what do you want me to prefect named Quintianus, sent by the emperor Decius to govern Sicily. Because he was of a high diplomatic ranking, do?" (CCC 2705-2706). thought he could force her to turn her away from her vow Meditation is an essential form of Christian prayer, and force her to marry. His persistent proposals were especially for those who are seeking to answer the consistently spurned by Agatha so Quintianus, knowing she was a Christian during the persecution of Decius, had vocational question, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" her arrested and brought before a judge. He was the How do we pray with Sacred Scripture? judge. Her profession of faith and rejection of the prefect resulted in her brutal torture during which her breasts Spiritual reading of Sacred Scripture, especially the Gospels, were cut off. During her imprisonment, she famously had is an important form of meditation. This spiritual reading is a vision of St. Peter the Apostle, who is said to have traditionally called lectio divina or divine comforted her and healed her wounds with his prayers. reading. Lectio divina is prayer over the Scriptures. She was sent to the stake, but, according to some accounts, as soon as the fire was lighted, an 1. The first element of this type of prayer is occurred, causing the people to insist upon her release; reading (lectio): you take a short passage from the she then allegedly died in prison. Saint Agatha is the Bible, preferably a Gospel passage and read it carefully, perhaps three or more times. Let it really soak-in. of Sicily, breast cancer, against fire, rape victims, wet nurses and Palermo. 2. The second element is meditation (meditatio). By using your imagination enter into the Biblical scene in order to "see" the setting, the people, and the unfolding action. It is through this meditation that you encounter the text and discover its meaning for your life.

3. The next element is prayer (oratio) or your personal response to the text: asking for graces, offering praise or thanksgiving, seeking healing or forgiveness. In this prayerful engagement with the text, you open yourself

up to the possibility of contemplation.

February 3, 2019 Fourth Sunday on Ordinary Time

Bereavement and Funerals given ecclesiastical funerals according to the norm of law." Others who are eligible for an ecclesiastical funeral Because of our belief not only in the immortality of the include: soul, but also in the resurrection of the body, the Church § Catechumens professes hope in the face of death, and acts with charity § Children whom the parents intended to baptize but who died before baptism, and in the funeral rites. The Church provides a number § "In the prudent judgment of the local ordinary, of prayers for the faithful to offer both to accompany the ecclesiastical funerals can be granted to baptized persons dying of a loved one and to strengthen our faith upon who are enrolled in a non-Catholic Church or ecclesial their death. Through private prayer and public funeral community unless their intention is evidently to the rites, we strengthen our faith and hope, comfort those contrary and provided that their own minister is not who mourn, and bury the bodily remains of the deceased available" (canon 1183.3). with care befitting what was the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

The following excerpts are taken from the General Introduction of the Order of Christian Funerals: SAVE THE DATE At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun OLMC Family Dinner in the waters of baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the Saturday, February 9th after 5pm Mass deceased because of its confident belief that death is not Join us for good food and fun activities for kids of all ages. the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Stop by the crafts table, answer the trivia questions, and Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them more. in the funeral rites with the comforting word of God and Compliments of OLMC the sacrament of the Eucharist. Sign-up sheets at doors as we need a head count for food.

Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which MANNA HOUSE has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just. The Mass, the memorial of Christ's death Kindly support this Manna House fundraiser where our and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the parishioners volunteer to feed the needy. Christian funeral.

The Church through its funeral rites commends the dead to God's merciful love and pleads for the forgiveness of their sins. At the funeral rites, especially at the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice, the Christian community affirms and expresses the union of the Church on earth with the Church in heaven in the one great communion of . Though separated from the living, the dead are still at one with the community of believers on earth and benefit from their prayers and intercession. At the rite of final commendation and farewell, the community acknowledges the reality of separation and commends the deceased to God. In this way, it recognizes the spiritual bond that still exists between the living and the dead and proclaims its belief that all the faithful will be raised up and reunited in the new heavens and a new earth, where death will be no more.

Canon 1176 from the Code of Canon Law states, "Deceased members of the Christian faithful must be

February 3, 2019 Fourth Sunday on Ordinary Time

“True love bears and endures all things but true love does not happen overnight!”

Last week, St Paul spoke to the Corinthians about the anatomy of the human body. St. Paul highlighted how each part of the body is so important for the general wellbeing of the human body. He compared the function of parts of the body to the skills and talents of each individual in a community. According to St. Paul, in as much as human body parts works simultaneously for body needs, so do each individual must use God's given gift, that is talents for common good. In addition, each individual gifts/talent are meant to build the community but not to edify oneself. And loving and caring for each other will help them to utilize their individual talents appropriately.

Hence, in today’s second reading, St Paul addressed the Corinthian community using the same four letter words “Love”. Paul highlighted the necessity to love and its repercussions. It's one of the most beautiful scripts of St. Paul. Many couples usually choose this reading for their wedding. St Paul was faced with a Corinthian community torn by rivalries and discrimination of all sorts. In fact, it was a dysfunctional community with lots of chaos among them. It seemed almost everyone felt their importance and cared less for others. “In a few brief words, St. Paul called everything into question reminding Corinthians that their gift of prophecy, speaking in tongues, knowledge, faith is nothing if it is not inspired by love.” Paul reminded them that they are a sanctified community and thus, they should love one another just like they love themselves. St. Paul taught them the true meaning of Christian Love. Paul understood that loving could be very hard and he started off with what love is not. He knew that relationships are difficult to sustain, so he painted no rosy picture of what it means to be in love or stay in love. He acknowledged that jealousy and anger can creep in, that lovers can be rude and pompous, irritable and resentful. Those are not the ways of love. “Love in a more excellent way gives life, heal hurt, sustains hope and endure slights and trials. And that spurred him to write, "Love is patient, love is kind. it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.” Indeed, true love never fails.

None of us begin a relationship with this type of perfect love. And a couple does not begin marriage also with this perfect love. Loving each other doesn’t happen overnight. It is something that you will learn and become better at as you get to know people better. Loving each other means sharing your lives with them, taking each other into consideration always. Loving each other means getting rid of all selfishness. Love does not gossip or criticize the conduct of the other person with the intention of destroying his/her reputation. True love means accepting people in spite of their differences and personalities. St. Paul’s description of Christian love reminds us the need to love each other always. It is this type of Christian love that ultimately saves relationships and marriages from crashing. –Fr. Abuchi

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again: for forgiveness has risen from the grave!” –St.