Religious Education Office 201.447.1776

Email: NativityRelEd@gmail.com

Rectory 201.444.6362 FAX 201.444.5056 Email: Nativityrcc@aol.com

Parish Website www.churchofthenativitynj.com

November 2, 2014

315 Prospect Street Midland Park, NJ 07432

All the Souls of the Faithful Departed

Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord

Shirley T Dahlin Frieda Mastrantuono

Muriel Leodori Richard Starke Mary E Young

Brendan Charles Cole Colette Ann Schneider

Mary Lou Frankel Mary Ethel Guiquinto

Jean M Mazouat Neil M Ketterer

John W VanBlarcom Raymond Toms Anna Neumann

Herbert E Schiermeister Margaret A Stoldt

Brenda B Bardenbush Marie T Kasarda

Eleanor Capomaggi Frank Bracco

John Russell Meyer John F Rhatigan

Michael Christopher Devitt

Elsa Girald Loretta A Frey

Marguerite M Bullock Beatrice R Del Monico

Jane M Gagler Janet Smith

Michael Paul Colini Margery Lawler Daniel DeSantis Michael DiBella Marie Romero

Mass Please Remember Mass Requested By

Saturday Nov 1

5:00 Mass

Rosary Society Sick and Deceased Members Helen O’Hanlon

Rosary Society Margaret & Family

Sunday November 2nd

8:00 Mass Philip Scaglione 2nd Anniversary

Salge & Scaglione Family

10:15 Mass Fred L. Stolarski, Jr. Marks Family

12:00 Mass Owen McKeon & Eileen Collins

Mary Ann Viviani

Monday Nov 3 12:10 Mass

William Velez Bert Bersch

Tuesday Nov 4 12:10 Mass

Barbara Maxwell Mary & Gene McEvoy

Wednesday Nov 5 12:10 Mass

Harold & Mary Lou Keane Ambrose & Catherine McGarry

Thursday Nov 6 12:10 Mass

Pasquale Di Finizio 5th Anniversary

Anna & Joseph Caldiero

Friday Nov 7 12:10 Mass

For all the souls in Purgatory especially deceased members of FOSS

Victor & Judy Bastis

Saturday Nov 8 9:00 Mass

5:00 Mass

Glenn Zbonack

Helen O’Hanlon

Evelyn Ackerman

Family

Jane & Jerry Mathews

Rich & Donna Andrychewicz

Sunday November 9th

8:00 Mass Jay Tobler Stephen & Joan Joern

10:15 Mass Elizabeth Balog Pat Sullivan

12:00 Mass Shirley Marsden 2nd Anniversary

Family

9:00 Mass Jane & Shane Donlon Family

November 2, 2014 The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day)

Oct. 25th & 26th

Thank you for your continued support of your Parish.

*Amount needed each week to pay our parish expenses

Weekly Church Offering On-Line Giving Weekly Average Total Budgeted Revenue* Surplus/(Deficit)

$ 9,639 $ 2,176 $11,815 $12,420 ($ 605)

Please remember in your prayers the sick who have asked for our prayers

Marion Stark, Kathleen Thomas, Fr Peter, Baby Gavin, Mary Lou Balog , Gary Borchers, Brian Cnvery

Paul Laikowski, Pat Ferrone

Please remember in your prayers the recently deceased Michael Colina, Ignacio Suarez, Jane Gagler, Janet Smith,

Margery Lawler, Daniel DeSantis, Michael DiBella, Marie Romera

Monday November 3

7:30PM R - Stewardship Council Meeting

Tuesday November 4

1:00PM CHA - Legion of Mary 1:00PM MG - Scripture Study 7:30PM C - Choir Practice 7:30PM MG - St. Francis Closet Meeting

Wednesday November 5

9:30AM UR - Mom’s Group 1:00PM OH - Nativity Knits 7:00PM OH - Knights of Columbus Open House

Thursday November 6

3:30PM S/MG - Thursday CCD Classes 7:00PM MG - Rosary Society Meeting

Friday November 7

After 12:10 Mass MG - Shepherds Meeting and Lunch

Saturday November 8

9:00 CHA - Eucharistic Adoration Stewardship Weekend-Commitment Forms “Feathers For Food” food drive turkey feather pick up

Sunday November 9

Stewardship Weekend-Commitment Forms “Feathers For Food” food drive turkey feather pick up 9:00AM C - Mass for differently-abled people 9:00AM S - Sunday CCD Classes

KEY

C-Church OH-O’Connell Hall MG-McGrath Room CHA-Chapel

S-School KH-Kennedy Hall UR-Upper Room R-Rectory

November 3 WEEK OF

Please drop off clothing after the Masses in the McGrath Room.

NEXT Weekend

I am pleased to have Ronaldo give us his reflection on the readings for the next few weeks. As a student of Theology, he is happy to share his knowledge of the scriptures with us.

This weekend we will share two big feast days. One is the Feast of All Saints (Saturday) and the other is the Commemoration of all Faithful Departed (All Souls, Sunday). In the church, there has always been many people who have struggled to live gospel values, sharing their time, talents and treasure of faith. Some have given their lives for the gospel. The Church calls these people, Saints. Many of us Christians look at the saints with wonder and with special respect because they lived their Christian life intensely. We also celebrate the day when we remember our friends and family who have gone on the last trip, their final journey. This day brings to our hearts moments of longing and hope, as well as sadness and joy for the loss of those people with whom shared our lives. On this day, some of us go to the cemetery to visit our loved ones and decorate the graves with flowers.

But this is not my point, my point is that we should always remember each of our loved ones and the saints. God gives us the opportunity to live every experience; both to witness the saints, and to remember our family and friends who were in our lives. Each saint had a treasure that they shared with us in life. The question we need to ask ourselves is: What is our time, talent and treasure that we should share with our sisters and brothers?

Dear brothers and sisters, our invitation from God is to share our time, talents and treasure so that we are the witnesses of the Gospel, just as the saints have shared theirs with us.

♦♦♦♦♦

Thoughts on Scripture: God wills that all “have eternal life”. While this gift is surely and freely given by God, it nonetheless requires something of us: belief in the Son. Rather than an intellectual consent, this belief is a consent of our self, of our will, of our life. Jesus will raise up on the “last day” those who come to him, who choose to be grasped by him, and who welcome the Life he gives. These are the faithful departed who rest in peace and whom we commemorate this day. Consent implies something more than words. Signing a contract means fulfilling its terms; marriage consent means a lifetime of fideli-ty, consent to undergo surgery means we place ourselves in the hands of the surgeon. Our belief-consent in Jesus means more than words: it transforms the way we live and relate, both in this life and in the next.

[Taken from Living Liturgy]

A Word from the

Pastor

Peace,

Living the Paschal Mystery

It is not easy to move from mourning through faith to hope. The value of annually celebrating this feast day is that we remember our beloved dead in the midst of a community of faith that believes in the resurrection. Traditionally, many practices of prayer, penance and good works take place on this day, and this is surely a good thing to do (see Catech-esis about Liturgy). At the same time, this day reminds us that we are called now to live lives of prayer, penance and good works, that we ought not to live our faith minimally and hope for the best after we die, relying on God’s mercy. God is forgiving and merciful, to be sure, but at the same time we are called to be faithful disciples of Jesus. Our belief in him must translate to doing good. Paul asks in his letter to the Romans, “Are you unaware…?” Unfortunately, all too many of us do seem to be unaware of our baptismal commitment. Baptism is an ongoing yes to doing God’s will in our lives, conforming ourselves to God’s will, accepting the challenge of Gospel living. This yes requires that we continually be “buried with [Christ]...into death.” This means that we are daily to die to ourselves, thus preparing for our final, physical death. Dying to ourselves isn’t simply a matter of the “big things”. It’s a matter of doing everything for the good of another. In smiling to those who seem sad or tired, in lending a helping hand to the overburdened, in sharing with those less fortunate than ourselves, we are already expressing our own belief in the Son who freely offers us everlasting Life.

The Church of the Nativity Faith Community joyfully welcomes the newly Baptized!

Jackson John Dillon Joseph Douglas Friscia

Vincent Michael Aufiero

FALL CRAFT SHOW Paramus Catholic High School, 425 Paramus Road in Paramus on Sunday, November 9th from 10 am to 5 pm. A show consisting of 130 quality crafts and artisans from woodwork, florals, jewelry, photography, stained glass, apparel, children's items, folk art, holiday items and more! Admission: $3.00 per person - children 10 & under FREE. No strollers or pets please For additional show information and directions go to www.pjspromtions.com. Paramus Catholic Parents Association thank you for your support!!

Parish Cateche cal Program: Gr. K-8: Just a reminder… There will be NO SESSIONS on Thursday Nov 6th due to the NJEA Conven on. FIRST PENANCE PROGRAM: The presenta on of the second theme “We Remember God’s Law and Forgiveness” in the First Penance Program begins this week. Parents will help the children preparing for the Sacrament understand that God loves each of us very much. He wants us to stay as close to him as possible, but this is not always easy to do. CONFIRMATION 2015 Missed the mee ng and want to par cipate? You can call the office @ 201-447-1776 GOOD NEWS FOR LITTLE ONES: This program for children 2 ½ to 5 years of age will help them come to know the Good News of God’s Love and the concern for them. A staff of trained catechists and volunteers is currently presen ng it. GOOD NEWS FOR LITTLE ONES is open during the 10:15 AM Mass on Sundays in the upper room of the Church. We invite parents to bring their children to this program as they a end Mass. For children under 2 ½ years of age, we ask that you make use of the cry room.

November 2, 2014 The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day)

Catechesis...about Liturgy

Purgatory: The word “purgatory” is derived from the Latin, purgare, which means to clean, cleanse, or clear (the same Latin word from which we get out English word “purge”). This gives us the sense of what we mean by the Catholic doctrine of purgatory and reminds us that to be forgiven is not all there is to ridding ourselves of sin and its effects Sin, essentially, weakens (or destroys, in the case of mortal sin) our relationship with God and each other. When we seek forgiveness and are washed clean by our merciful God, we still have the work of restoring our relationship with God. If we die without having “purged ourselves of all the effects of sin—that is, without resorting our relationship to what it was before the sin—then we are not fully holy nor ready yet to enter into the fullness of glory that is heaven (see CCC nos.1030—1032). Thus, the church teaches that there is needed a time of purification for these faithful who die after death, which we call purgatory. The doctrine of purgatory is the basis for our offering prayers and good works for those who have died. The church has always taught that it is a good work to pray for the dead. But rather than “buying” the faithful departed out of purgatory, these prayers and good works help to “purify” our own relationship with the faithful departed, this strengthening their relationship not only with us but also with God (that is, coming to greater holiness) Lumen gentium (the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church) presupposes the past teaching of the church but does reaffirm the doctrine of purgatory (no 51) in the very last paragraph of chapter VII on the Pilgrim Church.” This placement of the affirmation of purgatory implies that the members of the church are always growing as we pilgrim toward our final destiny. This contest for understanding purgatory emphasizes less the penal nature of purgatory and rather emphasizes more the faithful departed’s growth in and readiness for eternal contemplation of God in all the divine glory. Our prayers for them are a constant reminder that dying does not end our relationship with our departed loved ones; they are very much living in the hope of eternal Life, which also gives us hope. The church is silent in here teaching on purgatory about who or how many go there or who or how many go directly to heaven; this is surely left to the judgment of God.

...will be grazing again Friday, November 7th after the 12:10 Mass

for Lunch in the McGrath Room

The Luncheon is $6.00 and all are asked to reply to clairedrexler@verizon.net or 201-447-5369 by November 5th.

Don’t forget your Thanksgiving donation for the Love Fund.

November 2, 2014 The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day)

Here is our Nativity’s new Stewardship Form for 2014. This year, you will be able to complete the form at Mass on November 8th & 9th and November 15th & 16th. This is an opportunity for you to look it over so that you will be ready to fill it out on the designated weekends. We are hoping to give as many parishioners as possible the opportunity to complete and submit a form this year. This is such a vital part of our Steward-ship Parish for each and every parishioners whether you are...

Recommitting to YOUR parish

Recommitting to pray for YOUR Parish Community

Becoming a Registered Parishioner

if you are new to Nativity

Recommitting to YOUR ministry

Exploring new ministries where YOU

can make a difference

Hopefully, our spiritual life continues to grow. In that growth, we may be called to a new ministry. Each of us has unique gifts to use in service to God and our neighbors. God has a plan and as long as he continues to wake us up every morning, our mission and our purpose continues. Stewardship is using our God given time and talents to be His hands and feet to others. And, our treasure, helps Nativity to maintain the worship space and reach out to those people who are less fortunate.

Please, take the time to review this form and complete it on November 8Th & 9th, 15th & 16th to recommit to YOUR Parish.

November 2, 2014 The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day)

Eucharistic Adoration will be in the Nativity Chapel on the second Saturday of every month. It will start with 9:00AM Mass and end with Benediction at 4:00PM. We invite you to spend some time with our Lord.

Next Adoration is Next Saturday

November 8th If you wish to become part of the team of Guardian Angels, taking charge of a time slot, please contact Fred Young at 201 444-2781. Next Adoration is December 13th.

Wedding Anniversary Celebration Form

Nativity will be having their annual Wedding Anniversary Mass on Saturday, November 22nd at 6:00pm. If you are celebrating a significant anniversary such as your 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, or 50th+ please join Nativity’s many other couples celebrating this special occasion. You’ll be glad you did! Please complete the form below and return to the rectory OR drop it in the offering basket. Questions? 201 444-6362 or kzbonack@churchofthenativitynj.com Couples First Names______________________ _____________________________________ Last Name_____________________________ Address _______________________________ City __________________________________ Date of Marriage _________________________ Phone Number__________________________ Wedding Anniversary Song _____________________________________

Give yourself the gift of Cornerstone...

Give yourself a glimpse at what God is weaving

into the fabric of our lives.

Women’s Cornerstone is an opportunity to reflect upon, renew and strengthen your faith. Take the journey… Come to Cornerstone You’ll be glad you did! You can pick up a brochure at the back of the church.

November 14 & 15, 2014 at St. Luke’s (with the Church of Nativity)

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS

Come One Come All The Knights of Columbus invite you to an open house in O’Connell Hall this Wednesday, Nov 5th at

7:30PM. We will be there to answer any questions you have about the Knights.

Our next meeting will be held Thursday Nov 6th at 7:00 PM in the McGrath Room.

Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Rosary Society News

Please be sure to fill out a prayer card for Fr. Peter. There are enough cards for everyone in the family. And when you are done...take a bracelet!

Calling all Cornerstone Sisters!

We need your help for the upcoming Women’s Cornerstone being held on November 14-15th at St. Luke’s. We would love to have you come and assist us with Friday’s set-up and welcoming, serving meals both on Friday and Saturday, and clean up on Saturday night. Please contact Trish Olson at 201-493-7771 if you can lend a hand. Many hands make light work. Thank you!