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5/22/2022 Father Owen's Bulletin Message
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Dear Parishioners,
So folks, as you can see, the painting of the church has begun! I am very excited and deeply grateful to the many hearts and hands who have made this possible. As I had mentioned, the painters should be finished within three weeks, then the floors will be regrouted, cleaned and buffed. We expect the pews to be delivered on June 13th and the church to be completed except for the runner by Thursday, June 16th in time for Confirmation, June 17th and of course, the weekend of June 18th and 19th. As you aware during this time, weekend Masses will take place in the Parish center, daily Masses, and Baptisms in the former chapel.
We will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord into heaven this coming Sunday, May 29th, Memorial Day weekend. The New Jersey bishops decided to transfer the celebration from Thursday, 26th to the Sunday before Pentecost. This gives the faithful the opportunity to truly be part of Jesus’ great ascension into heaven and the message to us, “Go make disciples of all nations.”
Our children in CCD last weekend were excited when I told them about our upcoming Vacation Bible Camp. This will take place from June 20th-24th for 5-year-olds before October 1, 2022 through Grade 5. Nina Dorlon is coordinating this event and will be very happy to have volunteers from 6th through 8th grade, high school students, college students and adults.
This weekend completes our CCD program for the current academic year. We complete Cycle B today, last week Cycle A and May 11th the weekday option. Maureen and I are very grateful to the catechists who gave their time this past year in teaching our children the faith. We are both very happy with our teaching Masses and honored that you entrust us with the care of the children which we know will be the strong Catholic adults of the future. On May 1st, we completed our 9th grade academic year, and we look forward to beginning 10th grade academic year in early September. Today, our 10th graders complete their academic formation. Please keep them in prayer as they come to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. We look forward to having our Confirmandi involved in our parish life in the coming months. Bishop Kevin Sweeney will be unavailable to celebrate Confirmation and has asked Bishop Emeritus Serratelli to preside. I am looking forward to having Bishop Serratelli back to St. Luke.
The wisdom of scripture gives such beauty to our lives, and we are very grateful to Tim and Helen Kelly who have hosted the Lenten and Advent Bible Study sessions and to Karen Hannon who is presently hosting the Women’s Bible Study. During the month of May, we celebrate Mary, our Blessed Mother in a special way. Our First Holy Communion children crowned her, and this brings back many happy memories of our childhood. Several parishioners have begun informally praying the Rosary after the 9 am Mass on Saturdays. The rosary is indeed a beautiful prayer, and I would certainly be thrilled that in time, the rosary could be prayed every day following the 9 am Mass.
Fr. Owen