Post on 23-Jul-2022
Rev. Nicholas Bozza, Pastor 375 Main Street, P.O. Box 730, Chester, New Jersey 07930
Coordinators of Religious Education:
Dorothy Kudron, Shannon Rossi
Cynthia Vittitow— Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Brian Flanagan — Confirmation
Kathleen Galdi — DRE, Youth Protection/Safe Environment
Music Minister: Joseph P. Tamburro
Youth Minister: Brian Flanagan
Mercy Minister: Cindy Zeis
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN: Gr. 1-7: Sun. 9:00-10:50 am (includes Mass)
Gr. 5-7: Sun. 5:00-7:00 pm (includes Mass)
Gr. 8-10: Sun. 5:50-8:15 pm (includes Mass)
CGS: Sun. 9:00-11:00 am OR Thurs. 4:45-6:00 pm
Gr. K-7: Thurs. 4:45-6:00 pm
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: RCIA: Sundays (September-Easter)
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday: 4:00-4:45 pm, Monday: 6:30-7:00 pm & on request.
SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Please call the Parish Office anytime for communion calls or visitation
of the sick and elderly. Keep us informed so that we can be attentive to
those who are ill at home or in the hospital.
Parish Email: parish@stlchester.org
Parish Web Site: www.stlchester.org
Web Master: Joanne Franklin (908-879-6222)
Welcome Rosemary Lohrmann (973) 214-4806 Haiti Twinning Program Christine Colannino (201) 314-9824
Bereavement Resource Don Martone (201) 274-9723 Lectors John Kennington (908) 872-0575
Good Samaritans Patsy Soden (908) 879-3374 Eucharistic Ministers Loretta Stewart (973) 222-7492
Armata Bianca Lorna Phillips (617) 538-5567 Ushers Bob Holl (908) 876-3488
Moms & Tots Meghan Mahoney (732) 407-1618 Music Minister Joe Tamburro (347) 213-0621
Arimathaea Arlene McDonald (973) 229-9697 Spanish Ministry Louis Villafane (908) 879-3032
Liturgical Environment Joanne Carr (908) 879-5543 Youth Minister Brian Flanagan (973) 946-8770
Women’s Cornerstone Lissette Howell (973) 975-7343 Altar Servers Kathleen Garrison (973) 945-1518
Men’s Cornerstone Tommy Reynolds (908) 463-0167 Evangelization Robert Holl (908) 876-3488
Pastoral Adv. Board Jerry Frech (908) 377-2900 RCIA Jan Richards (908) 975-3555
Rosary Society Marie Holl (908) 876-3488 Respect Life Robert Holl (908) 876-3488
Barn Ministry Ray Waugh (908) 432-5046 Family Mass Social Marc McFeely (973) 222-9739
Mary’s Moonflowers Karen Jones (973) 479-5271
Parochial Vicar: Rev. Yohan Serrano
Permanent Deacon: William DeVizio
Trustees: Phil Guidone, Margie Scobell
Parish Secretary: Karen Jaworski
Accountant: Sharon McCann
MASSES: Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm (Spanish), 6:00 pm
Daily Mass: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am & 9:00 am, Sat. 9:00 am
Holy Day Vigil: 7:00 pm
Holy Day: 8:00 am, 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm (Spanish)
Healing Mass: 7:00 pm every 3rd Wed. of month. Rosary at 6:30 pm
BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.
Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.
SPANISH BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule. Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.
MARRIAGES: Please contact the Priest/Deacon whom you wish to officiate at your
wedding one year in advance to arrange for Marriage Preparation
Sessions.
PARISH MEMBERSHIP: Every family moving into the parish is requested to register. If you move
to another parish or change your address, please notify the Parish Office.
St. Lawrence the Martyr Church SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019
MISSION STATEMENT
St. Lawrence the Martyr Roman Catholic Church is a loving and welcoming
community of disciples of Jesus who invite you to join us in becoming
disciples of Jesus. As disciples, we are faithful to prayer, to listening to
God’s Word, to meeting with Jesus in the sacraments, to building community,
and to serving others.
Parish Office: 908-879-5371 Priests’ Home: 908-879-1901 Religious Ed.: 908-879-6714 Youth Minister: 973-946-8770 Fax: 908-879-7701
Parish Ministries and Ministry Facilitators
Page Two SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019 - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
THE HOLY SEASON OF ADVENT
Advent is the first season in the Church’s liturgical year and is the season that
helps us prepare both for our celebration of Christ’s birth and for our meetings
with Him. The name Advent comes from Latin roots that mean that Jesus is
coming to us. During Advent, we recall that Jesus will come at the end of time
to judge the living and the dead, that He came among us as a divine and hu-
man person in the Middle East 2,000 years ago, and that He comes to us regu-
larly now when we pray and celebrate the Sacraments. In the spirit of Advent,
we prepare ourselves for our meetings with the Lord Jesus.
When Jesus comes to us, we prepare for the coming of a most special and be-
loved guest. We beautify our souls in preparation for His coming through the
Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession), through acts of love like personal
prayer, the sacraments and by acts of charity and mercy toward others in need.
A beautiful Advent prayer that we may pray is Maranatha, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12
On Thursday, December 12, we will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady of
Guadalupe is the patron of the Americas and the patron of the unborn. The celebration will begin
with Mass at 6:00 pm and will be followed by a social in the Church Hall following the Mass. As
she is the patron of the Americas, I ask that we all make an effort to attend.
THE BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL
It is so easy to put letters and bills aside and then not have time to return to them to complete our
task. I want to remind you of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal just in case you have not yet made your
pledge or offering. Please keep in mind that our donations to the Annual Appeal assist our Catholic
Charities Agencies, our inner city Catholic schools, seminarian education, support of Nazareth Vil-
lage and half of the overage comes back to our parish. Thank you for your generosity!
God bless.
Father Nick
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Page Three SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019 - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION THIS WEEK
Sunday
• Classes - 9:00 am, 5:00 pm
Thursday
• Classes - 4:45 pm
Sunday
• Confirmation classes - 5:50 pm
MEETINGS / EVENTS THIS WEEK
Tuesday
• Women’s Cornerstone - 7:00 pm
• Beginner ESL - 7:30 pm
Wednesday
• Armata Bianca - 4:15 pm
• ESL - 7:30 pm
Thursday
• Moms & Tots -10:00 am
• Adult Choir - 7:00 pm
Friday
• Divine Mercy Chaplet - 3:00 pm
Saturday
• Men’s Cornerstone - 7:30 am
• Candle Night Vigil - 7:00 pm
OUR NEW SICK LIST
Each month we will begin a new list of names of the sick.
If you would like to place a name on the list, please con-
tact the Parish Office at 908-879-5371 or par-
ish@stlchester.org. If you would like a name to appear
again for the following month, contact the office then and
we will include the name and continue our prayers. It is
hoped that a shorter, updated list will allow for easier
recognition of those in need of our healing prayers.
WE PRAY FOR THE SICK . . .
Sister Eucharia, Father Joseph Farias, Father Joseph Gar-
barino, Father Gilberto Gutierrez, Father Daniel Kelly, Fa-
ther Thomas Mangieri, Father Eugene Romano, Father Stan-
islaw Wajdziak, Msgr. Eugene Boland, Msgr. Peter
McBride, Msgr. Peter J. McHugh, Msgr. Richard Rusconi,
Deacon Hector Cassillas
Dorothy Diana, Camille McQueen
THE TEN
COMMANDMENT CHALLENGE
Week 5:
1. I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other
gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God
in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
4. Honor your father and mother.
5. You shall not kill.
5:00 pm
CB –
Nora
Mulligan
S1 –
Aidan
Mulligan
S2 –
Declan
Mulligan
S3 –
7:30 am
CB –
Todd
Smith Jr.
S1 –
Sadie
Smith
S2 -
S3 –
9:00 am
CB – Sophia
Economou
S1 – Alex Econ-
omou
S2 –
Nicholas
Leo
S3 –
11:00 am
CB –
Stephen
Howell
S1 –
Aidan
Howell
S2 –
Margo
Higgins
S3 –
12:30 pm
CB –
Brianna
Carrera
S1 –
Erik
Carrera
S2 – Angel
Carrera
S3 –
Hector
Carrera
6:00 pm
CB –
S1 – Beth
Hoye
S2 –
Meredith
Hoye
S3 –
ADVENT
Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush, ra-
ther than a last-minute rush.
~Anonymous
SAINT JOHN OF DAMASCUS (c. 675-749)
December 4
From almost 1300 years ago, John’s mes-
sage for the church’s spirituality and mis-
sion is surprisingly contemporary. Pope
Benedict said that in our modern culture of
images, sacred images often speak more
eloquently than words. This “incarnational
theology,” the concept that visible, tangible
elements can give believers access to di-
vine realities beyond, found an eloquent champion in
John of Damascus. He challenged the Iconoclasts (image-
breakers), whose misinterpretation of the biblical prohibi-
tion of idolatrous images (Exodus 20:4-5) led them to
campaign for the destruction of all sacred art. Before this
controversy, however, John bore witness to Christ in a
way that provides a timely example for Christians in to-
day’s pluralistic society. Succeeding his grandfather and
father, John served as chief financial officer to the Mus-
lim caliph, professing his Christian faith without compro-
mise, while winning the esteem of his Islamic sovereign
by his competence and integrity. No wonder John could
eloquently defend icons as “windows into heaven”—he
had already learned to see Christ in the living icons of
people different from himself yet fashioned in the same
divine image!
ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE
December 7-8
Page Four SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019 - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2019
Vigil of Immaculate Conception of Mary
Saturday, December 7 at 7:00 pm
Holy Rosary in 5 languages (main language
English), Solemn Procession, Candle Night,
Refreshments
Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of Mary
Monday, December 9
8:00 am, 4:30 pm Mass in English
7:00 pm Mass in Spanish (Projection in Eng-
lish)
Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Thursday, December 12 at 6:00 pm
Holy Mass in Spanish (Projection in English)
Festivities afterwards in Church Hall.
Posada-Novena “Inn” to Baby Jesus
December 14 - December 23
6:30 pm
(Monday, 12/16 at 7:45 pm
Sunday, 12/22 at 7:15 pm)
12/23: Closing of Posada-Novena,
Wood Fire, Gift Night
Parish Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 pm
Come enjoy the sounds of the season performed
by our adult and children’s choirs accompanied
by our instrumentalists. Refreshments served
afterwards in Church Hall.
Confession
Sunday and Monday, December 22-23
7:00 pm
Christmas Eve Masses
Tuesday, December 24
4:00, 6:00, 10:00 pm Mass in English
8:00 pm Mass in Spanish (Projection in
English) and the Rocking of Baby Jesus
Christmas Day Masses
Wednesday, December 25
7:30, 9:00, 11:00 am Mass in English
CHRISTMAS GIVING TREES
Our Annual Christmas Giving Trees are dis-
played in the Church Hall and Vestibule.
Please place your gift cards in the regular
weekly collection basket during Mass with
the original tag attached to the card.
Larger gifts can be placed under the trees. Returns
are due back by Sunday, December 15.
It is important to remember this deadline date as the
Good Samaritans need to distribute the gifts to the partic-
ipating organizations before Christmas.
We will be supporting these organizations this year:
• St. Peter’s Orphanage/Village
• Family Promise of Morris County
• Birth Haven
• Catholic Family & Community Services of Paterson
• Local Parish Families
• Fr. Enrique’s and Fr. Rolands’ parishes
Thank you for helping so many children and families
during this blessed time of year. Your generosity is very
much appreciated and will help make a joyous Christmas
for someone else!
BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL
“For I Was Hungry…”
As the year comes fast to an end, and many are planning
on how to make a final year-end charitable contribution
that has the most impact, please consider the many lives
that are helped because of the support given to the Bish-
op’s Annual Appeal. These are your neighbors, your
friends, our senior priests and seminarians and urban
school students. All of us can play a part in the Bishop’s
Annual Appeal — as either a contributor to the cause or
as a recipient of its mission — and all are blessed as a
result. Please make the Bishop’s Annual Appeal a priori-
ty in your year-end philanthropy. Gifts can be made by
check, credit card, through gifts of securities or on-line at
www.2019appeal.org. If you are age 70 ½ or over and
have an IRA, you can receive a tax benefit by instructing
your IRA investment manager to donate your required
minimum distribution to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.
Contact the Bishop’s Appeal Office at 973-777-8818, ext.
218 for additional details and also consult your tax or
financial advisor for more information.
MASS BOOK 2020
Opens Monday, December 2, for Mass intentions.
WE PRAY FOR PARISHIONERS IN THE MILITARY
Brianna Harmon, Kevin Phillips, Brad Carfaro
Page Five SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019 - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 8:00 am - Joanie DiBello
9:00 am - Bill & Jeanne McCormick
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
8:00 am - Edith Creddon
9:00 am - Spec. Int. of Lotto Family
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019 8:00 am - Bill McCormick
9:00 am - Spec. Int. of McGinley Family
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 8:00 am - Maureen Diana
9:00 am - Martin Cerza
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019 8:00 am - Spec. Int. of Robertiello Family
- Rita Senger
9:00 am - Parents of Mike & Elena Acerra
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019
9:00 am - Maureen Diana
5:00 pm - Kathryn Dalton
- Charles Cerami
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 7:30 am - Eileen Schiano
- Jonathan Tio
9:00 am - Gerard Forrester
- Victoria & John George
11:00 am - For the People of the Parish
12:30 pm - Spec. Int. of Susan Smith
6:00 pm - Richard Joseph Croak
- Ann Marie Koch
TITHING IS GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING.
Biblically a tithe means 10%. All are asked to consider
tithing and return 10% of our income to the Lord (5% to
the parish, 5% to God’s other charities) in gratitude. The
spiritual practice of tithing disposes us to make God first
in every area of our lives! The aim is to secure not the
tithe, but the tither. Not the gift, but the giver — for God!
Tithing Income November 24, 2019 $________*
Tithing Income November 25, 2018 $11,757.00
* Collection amount unavailable at time of bulletin printing.
Reflection: “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not
know on which day your Lord will come."
(Matthew 24:42)
People who have had health issues or near-death experi-
ences generally have a greater appreciation for each day
being a gift from God. The rest of us usually take for
granted that we will be around tomorrow. But when you
start to look at each day as a gift, you realize all the little
miracles that happen daily and grow in gratitude for all
that we have been given. You begin to see God’s active
presence in your life.
From Father Nick: “I know that the experience of tith-
ing with God can help people to grow in faith. I am happy
that a good number of our people are taking advantage of
this plan from God that is explained in the Bible.”
A Testimony from a Member of St. Elizabeth Church,
Washington Hts., NY: “Regarding tithing, nothing better
has happened at St. Elizabeth’s in years. Thank you for
following what the Spirit is saying. We must continue to
teach the spirituality of tithing so that the joy of giving
may be experienced.”
HOPEFUL EXPECTATION Our liturgical year begins with the season of Advent, a
time of hopeful expectation of the coming of the Lord.
On the First Sunday of Advent, we look forward to the
end of time when we will awaken to the dawn of Christ’s
new day.
Today we hear Isaiah speak of a day when God’s power
will have brought universal peace and God’s Word will
have instructed all people, radiating God’s
“light” (teachings) into all of human society. Only when
humanity walks “in the light of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:5),
when all people desire to be instructed “in [God’s]
ways” (Isaiah 2:3), will the world be set aright and our
deepest longings fulfilled. The reading from Romans
calls us to “awake from sleep” for this final “day is at
hand” (Romans 13:11, 12). Together, this Sunday’s
scriptures proclaim our Christian faith that Jesus is the
One who will finally come to fulfill God’s plan of salva-
tion.
TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — All the peoples shall stream toward the
LORD’s house (Isaiah 2:1-5).
Psalm — Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord
(Psalm 122).
Second Reading — It is the hour to cast off the dark and
clothe ourselves in the light (Romans 13:11–14).
Gospel — Stay awake! Be prepared! The Son of Man
will come when you least expect (Matthew 24:37-44).
MASS READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 4:2-6; Ps 122:1-9; Mt 8:5-11
Tuesday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17;
Lk 10:21-24
Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:29-37
Thursday: Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a;
Mt 7:21, 24-27
Friday: Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Mt 9:27-31
Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps 147:1-6;
Mt 9:35 — 10:1
Sunday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17;
Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12
NEXT HEALING MASS
Wednesday, December 17
7:00 pm (Rosary at 6:30 pm)
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1 Mass-7:30 Mass-9 Mass-11 Mass-12:30 (Spanish) Mass-6 FF-9, 5
2 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Confession-6:30
3 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Beginner ESL-7:30 Women’s Corner-stone-7
4 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Armata Bianca-4:15 ESL-7:30
5 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Moms & Tots-10 Adult Choir-7 FF-4:45
6 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Adoration 9:30-8:30 Divine Mercy Chaplet-3
7 Morn. Prayer-8:25 Mass-9
Confession-4-4:45 Mass-5 Men’s Cornerstone-7:30 am Candle Night Vigil-7
8 Mass-7:30 Mass-9 Mass-11 Mass-12:30 (Spanish) Mass-6 Confirmation Clas-ses-5:50
9 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Immaculate Con-ception Masses-8, 4:30, 7 (Spanish) Good Samaritans-7
10 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Beginner ESL-7:30 Adult Choir-7
11 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Armata Bianca-4:15 ESL-7:30
12 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Moms & Tots-10 Our Lady of Guada-lupe Mass-6 (Festivities after)
13 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Adoration 9:30-10:30 Divine Mercy Chaplet-3
14 Morn. Prayer-8:25 Mass-9
Confession-4-4:45 Mass-5 Posada Novena- 6:30
15 Mass-7:30 Mass-9 Mass-11 Mass-12:30 (Spanish) Mass-6
FF-9, 5 Confirm. Classes-5:50 Concert-3
16 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Confession-6:30
FFF-5:15
Spanish Ministry-7:30
Posada Novena- 7:45
17 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Beginner ESL-7:30
Posada Novena- 6:30
18 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9
Armata Bianca-4:15
ESL-7:30
Healing Mass-7 (Rosary at 6:30)
Posada Novena- 6:30
19 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Moms & Tots-10 Adult Choir-7
FF-4:45
Posada Novena- 6:30
20 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Adoration 9:30-10:30 Divine Mercy Chaplet-3
Posada Novena- 6:30
21 Morn. Prayer-8:25 Mass-9
Confession-4-4:45 Mass-5 Posada Novena- 6:30
22 Mass-7:30 Mass-9 Mass-11 Mass-12:30 (Spanish) Mass-6 Confession-7 Posada Novena- 7:15
23 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Confession-7 Posada Novena- 6:30
24 CHRISTMAS EVE
Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Christmas Eve Masses- 4, 6, 10 (English) 8 (Spanish)
25 CHRISTMAS DAY
Masses-7:30, 9, 11
26 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9
27 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Adoration 9:30-10:30 Divine Mercy Chaplet-3
28 Morn. Prayer-8:25 Mass-9
Confession-4-4:45 Mass-5
29 Mass-7:30 Mass-9 Mass-11 Mass-12:30 (Spanish) Mass-6
30 Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 Confession-6:30
31 NEW YEAR’S EVE Morn. Prayer-7:25 Mass-8, 9 New year’s Eve Masses-5, 6:30 (Spanish)
JANUARY 1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Masses-8, 11