Vol. 4 No. 6 PARISH NEWSLETTER JUNE, 2016
ST. MARCELLINUS AND ST. PETER June 2
hese two saints are mentioned in the First Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass. They were widely T honored and prayed to by the early Christians. The feast of these two martyrs was included In the Roman calendar of saints by Pope Vigilius in 555.
Marcellinus was a priest and Peter assisted Marcellinus in his ministry. Both were very brave in the practice of their Christian faith. They served the Christian community with great self-sacrifice. During the persecution of Diocletian, many Christians were killed. These two men were among them. They were beheaded. It seems that before they died, however, thy were forced to dig their own graves. They were taken to a hidden location to perform their difficult task. It was a forest called the Silva Nigra. Some time later, their graves were discovered in that remote spot. Their executioner eventually repented of the killings and became a Christian. He led devout Christians to the remains, which were then buried in the catacomb of St. Tiberius. Pope Gregory IV sent the relics to Frankfurt, Germany, in 827. He believed that the relics of these two saints would bring blessings to the Church in that nation.
We can learn from martyrs that our lives have to become mirrors of our belief in Jesus. We can pray to St. Marcellinus and St. Peter and ask them for the grace to grow in our faith and love.
Stewardship Prayer for June
ord Jesus Christ, You came to bring peace and offer reconciliation. You sent your Spirit to heal the L separation between people, and to reveal how it is possible for women and men to overcome their differences and celebrate their unity through your body and blood. You revealed your Father as the Father of all people; a Father who cares for every single individual and embraces them with love and mercy. It is love and mercy, made manifest by your cross that shines your light on us all, creates new life, offers a new way of living, and brings a Gospel message that is a sign of hope.
Give us the courage to live your Gospel fully even when it brings risk, to share your world vibrantly even if it leads to scorn, and to respond to others generously even when we feel like holding back. Show us the way to live as good stewards of your presence among us, and in doing so, may we shine your light on a darkened world. Amen. 2 Fatima Candlelight Procession 2016
Cool temperatures and the threat of rain prevailed on Pentecost Sunday as our parish family honored our patroness with the fifteenth annual Fatima Candlelight Procession. Over five hundred pilgrims processed throughout the parish neighborhood with love and reverence for Our Blessed Mother, Mary. Our guest presider, Reverend Joseph E. Simon Dos Santos, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Newark, New Jersey was honored to lead the faithful this year. He was joined by Rev. Paul Da Silva, Rev. Louis Mattina, Rev. Alex Carles, Rev. Bert Coruna, Rev. Msgr. Randy Vashon, Rev. Bill Halbing, Rev. Virgil Tolentino, and our pastor emeritus, Rev. Herbert J. Stab. Deacon Stan Lorenc, Deacon Larry Reilly, Deacon Bill Rider and Deacon Lou Pizzigoni took part in this prayerful celebration along with four Religious Sisters Filippini and Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr Saint George.
The Fatima children were represented by Jessica Fernandes, Angelica Fernandes and Joel Pulikkan. The Our Lady of Fatima Youth Group, first communicants, altar servers and parishioners representing all the various ministries and organizations of the parish braved the weather, praying the Rosary, and other prayers along with Marian hymns. International flags representing our parish family, religious banners, and the beauti- fully decorated platform with the statue of Our Lady of Fatima were carried as well by faithful pilgrims.
Once again neighbors sat and watched, burned candles and presented shrines as the procession passed their homes. Children bundled up in strollers, youth and adults of all ages joined the procession. One family stated that they experienced a “beautiful evening despite the weather, one filled with peace, joy, much love and happiness.” This year was the 100th anniversary of the visit of the Angel of peace to the three Fatima Children. Lucia, re- counts in her memoirs “that on that day in the spring of 1916, the angel, in the form of a young man said, do not be afraid, I am the angel of peace, pray with me.” Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco knelt with the angel and repeated his words three times, “my God I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love you.” Before leaving the children he said “pray in this way, the hearts of Jesus and Mary are ready to listen to you.” Next year the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima to the Fatima children from May 13 to October 13 will be celebrated around the world including a visit from Pope Francis to Fatima Portugal.
As the procession approached New Market Road, as in the account of Lucia, a light rain fell and a strong wind came. Father Dos Santos stated that the rain was a “blessing” and that throughout our lives, our own personal journey; we experience wind, rain, and storms. He said that we need to persevere and sacrifice because we belong to
Publisher Staff Contributors Editor email [email protected] Rev. Arlindo Paul Da Silva Jeanette Horai Dave Sprayberry Pastor Sue Ellen Bibby Marie Reilly The Newsletter will be published Editor Roberta Maurer MONTHLY
Pat Lorenc 3
Christ. Father Dos Santos advised us to let nothing stop us, and that we are all called to be saints. He encouraged the faithful to say yes to God’s project and that in doing so we will say, like Mary “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” He stated that we are all called to be disci- ples, and that our mission is to make God known to all people so that through the Holy Spirit all nations may be united. A beautiful reception followed in the auditorium.
The parish family would like to thank the Knights of Columbus, the Blue Army World Apostolate for Fatima for distributing information about Our Lady of Fatima, those who assisted visitors and parishioners with obtaining their candles, handkerchiefs and Rosary beads, the choir, led by Jean Lyons, and assisted by organist Marilyn Prall, Marie Reilly and all those who assisted in the decorating of the platform and church, Father Virgil Tolentino for his assistance with the sound system, Dave Sprayberry and Phil Cox, for photography and videography, Cora Verdadero, Raffi Villalongo, Digna Rivera, and Marga Bower who led the Rosary, prayers and songs in the van for the faithful, Aurora Sardo for the priest reception planning, the Lopez family and the Hispanic prayer group for the reception preparation, Gloria Hughes, Natalie Mueller, Sue Ellen Bibby and Jeanette Horai for their assistance along the months of preparation, and the Fatima Candlelight Procession Committee for their many hours of devotion, love for Our Lady of Fatima and the sharing of their time and many talents.
The Committee was blessed to have three new members join the committee this year, Teresa Dias, Jocelyn Galdamez and Kathy Spatz. They were a great help. Thank you to all the parishioners and visitors who made the fifteenth year celebration a memorable one and always a blessing for our parish.
4 PILGRIM STATUE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA
March 21, 2016, Monday of Holy Week began the tour of the International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima through out all of our 50 states, and will continue thru 2017 the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima’s visit to the three shepherd children of Fatima Portugal, Lucia Dos Santos, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, cousins of Lucia.
Patrick Sabat, the custodian of the International Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, called the Apostolate of Fatima Metuchen Division just days before Holy Week to invite our parish to host our Lady’s visit. He told Marie Reilly, that whenever he thinks of the Diocese of Metuchen, the 1st Parish that comes to mind is Our Lady of Fatima of Piscataway. Fr. Paul’s yes brought over 400 visitors to our parish. What an inspiring way to begin Holy Week with a visit from our
Beloved Mother. What is extraordinary is that we are the 1st parish in the United States of America to receive Our Lady of Fatima’s visit. Our Lady’s procession began with four Portuguese women, the two in the photo are Aurora Santos and Teresa Dias, her cousin. Our pastor, Fr. Paul Da Silva, crowns our Lady and the last photo is Patrick What a great Blessing for our Parish to Sabat, the custodian speaking receive Our Lady’s Love and Affirmation!!! of Our Lady’s journey. We LOVE YOU MOTHER,
and we are committed to praying the Rosary daily for the conversion of sinners and change of hearts, to pray First Saturday Devotion in reparation for the blasphemies committed against Our Lady’s heart and we are committed in these prayers for WORLD PEACE AND THE TRIUMPH OF OUR LADY’S HEART!!!
ADORATION CHAPEL GUARDIANS NEEDED FOR THE FOLLOWING HOURS-WEEKLY
Friday 1:00 am 7:00 am & 8:00 am
Wednesday 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
Please call Gerry 732-266-4145 or Pat 732-752-4479
Happy Anniversary Rev. Louis A. Mattina - 21 years