St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church 30 Jackson Street, South River, NJ 08882

Phone: 732-254-2220 Fax: 732-651-8182

Website: www.stmarysr.org Facebook.com/stmarysr

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT Saint Mary of Ostrabrama Parish, a Roman

Catholic Community, embraces the teachings of Jesus Christ by fostering our rich traditions and serving the needs of others. Through worship,

sacrament and prayer, all are invited to join with us as we continue to inspire and strengthen

our parish family.

OCTOBER 28 2018 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

PARISH STAFF:

Rev. Michael J. Gromadzki Pastor

Thomas F. Dominiecki Deacon Emeritus

Mark Hennicke Deacon

Mrs. Gayle Spezio, Assistant Administrator Mrs. Rosemary Eckert, P.C.L., Faith Formation

Ms. Stephanie Nolan, Cemetery Coordinator

PARISH CONTACT INFORMATION

PARISH OFFICE: CEMETERY OFFICE: ostrabrama@stmarysr.org cemetery@stmarysr.org

PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM: prep@stmarysr.org

MASS SCHEDULE:

Sunday: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM (Children’s Liturgy), 12:00 N (Polish)

Saturday: Vigil Mass 4:00 PM

Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri.: 8:00 AM / Thurs: 6:30 PM {Weekday Masses are in the Chapel except for Holy Days}

Holy Days of Obligation: 8:00 AM, 12:15 PM, 7:00 PM

ROSARY: Prayed before daily Mass & before

4 PM Vigil & 8:30 AM Sunday Mass.

MIRACULOUS MEDAL NOVENA: Every Monday following the 8:00 AM Mass.

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: Prayed following all weekday Masses.

CONFESSIONS: Saturdays 11:00 AM-12:00 Noon or by appointment.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

CEMETERY OFFICE HOURS: Monday & Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

OFFICES CLOSED ON ALL HOLY DAYS & HOLIDAYS

“Your faith has saved you.”

MASS INTENTIONS . . . Anyone wishing to present the gifts at the Offertory of the Mass, kindly speak to an usher prior to the beginning of Mass. Family members of those for whom the Mass is offered are always welcomed and encouraged to present the gifts and given priority.

PARISH REGISTRATION: All parishioners should be registered. Parishioners over the age of 18 should register independently of their parents. It is necessary to be a registered parishioner for at least 3 months in order for us to provide testimonial letters. Kindly notify the Parish Office of any changes. BAPTISMS: Fourth Sunday of the month at 1 PM. Please call the Parish Office to make arrangements prior to making social plans. Parents & godparents must attend instructions on the third Sunday of the month at 11:30 AM in the Seniors’ Room. MARRIAGES: Arrangements should be made at least one year in advance, prior to making social plans. SICK CALLS: Arrangements for communion calls to the sick can be made by calling the Parish Office. Please notify the Parish Office when a parishioner is in the hospital. Emergency calls are made at any time.

PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM (PREP): Instruction in the Catholic Faith for children in grades 1-8. Classes are held from September to April on Monday afternoons from 4:30 - 5:45 PM. Please contact the Parish Office for further information. RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA): A process of prayer, study, & spiritual formation which prepares unbaptized adults & adults baptized outside the Catholic Church to be in full communion.. Any adult 18 years of age or older who desires becoming a Catholic should call the Parish Office.

THE HOLY FATHER’S INTENTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

Evangelization: The Mission of Religious

That consecrated religious men and women may bestir themselves, and be present among the poor, the marginalized, and those who have no voice.

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he received

his sight and followed Him on the way.” -Mark 10:52

Faith is believing in something even though you may not be able to see it. Many people think that miracles don’t happen anymore. But, if you focus on the positive, not the negative, focus on your blessings instead of your hardships, miracles will seem common and you will see God’s active presence in your daily life.

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY (SOBOTA), OCTOBER 27 4 PM +Stary/Shine Family Req. by: Bernice & Don McSorley

SUNDAY (NIEDZIELA), OCTOBER 28 8:30 +Siemonski Family Req. by: Joan & John Krenzel 10:30 +Julia Nowakowski Req. by: Husband, Alfons PREP Mass 12 N Pro Populo / For the People of the Parish

MONDAY (PONIEDZIALEK), OCTOBER 29 Weekday 8 AM +Elizabeth Duran Req. by: Daughter, Pauline Glinka

TUESDAY (WTOREK), OCTOBER 30 Weekday 8 AM +Henry Mizin Req. by: Olga Mizin

WEDNESDAY (SRODA), OCTOBER 31 Weekday 8 AM +Mary & Alex Olender Req. by: Family

THURSDAY (CZWARTEK), NOVEMBER 1 All Saints 8 AM +Teresa Gerlachowska Req. by: Janina Konopko 12:15 +Frank Czapkowski Req. by: Jim & Linda Samuel 7 PM +Rosa Francisca, +Joao Andre & Joao Parracho Req. by: Dina & John Andre

FRIDAY (PIATEK), NOVEMBER 2 All Souls’ Day 8 AM +Mass for Deceased

SATURDAY, (SOBOTA), NOVEMBER 3 Weekday / St. Martin de Porres, Religious / BVM 4 PM Pro Populo / for the People of the Parish

SUNDAY (NIEDZIELA), NOVEMBER 4 Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:30 Intentions of Rosarians 10:30 +Alexander Wyluda Req. by: Mom & Sister, Elizabeth 12 N +Jozef Gienieczko Req. by: Alina Pitera, Daughter & Family

Sunday, October 28 PREP Mass 10:30 am

Monday, October 29 Senior Meeting 10 am, Msgr. Wujek Room Finance Council Meeting 2 pm, Parish Office PREP 4:30-5:45 pm Altar Rosary Executive Meeting 7 pm, Msgr. Wujek Rm

Thursday, November 1 ~ All Saints’ Day Masses: 8am 12:15 pm & 7 pm Parish Office Closed

Friday, November 2 ~ All Souls’ Day Mass: 8 am Parish Office Closed

Saturday, November 3 Confessions 11:00 am Food Bank Collection

Sunday, November 4 Altar Rosary recites Rosary 8am Meeting follows Mass in Parish Center Food Bank Collection Cemetery Procession 2 pm, St. Mary’s Cemetery

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE . . .

WINE & HOSTS

+John E. Smith - Wife, Liz

CANDLE INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Sanctuary Candle ~ Church +Elizabeth Duran - Family

Blessed Mother’s Altar Candles +Rosa Francisca, +Joao Andre & +Joao Parracho -

Dina & John Andre

Sacred Heart Altar Candles +Eugene Fedor - Nancy Prysiazny

Candle for St. Joseph Blessings in Heaven +Donna Joswick -

Cousin, Pat

Candle For St. Anthony +Nora Skelly Consigli - Mary & Cindy Wilk

Our Lady of Ostrabrama Candles +Raymond Ciak - Cousin, Ann

Sanctuary Candle ~ Chapel {Available ~ $25 for one candle for one week}

Divine Mercy Candles ~ Chapel +John & Louise Szot - Grandchildren

St. Anne’s Altar ~ Chapel {Available ~ $25 for two candles for one week}

La Pieta Grotto Candles {Available ~ $25 for two candles for one week}

Please contact the Parish Office to make arrangements to donate candles or wine

& hosts in honor of a loved one.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMORIALS

In addition to Mass intentions, St. Mary’s offers a variety of

options to remember your loved ones or special occasions. All of the following are available throughout the year. The names and/or intentions will be printed in the bulletin for that week. Please contact the Parish Office for details and availability.

Altar Flowers: Available weekly for specific areas in the church & chapel except Lent & Advent

Wine & Hosts: Available for Masses for one week Candle Intentions: Available weekly for specific

areas in the church & chapel Memorial Room Candles: Available monthly Memorial Room Plaques: Various sizes available Tree of Life: Leaves still available

REMEMBER THE SICK & HOMEBOUND, especially: Cindy Abreu-Maia, Mrs. Marlene Ahde, Nina Argresta, Jack Batchie, Ted Batko, JoAnn Belko, Marie Borichewski, Patricia Brink, Virginia Brown, Cathy Christan, Lynette Cucco, Thomas DelGuercio, Mary Dzienkowski, Tom Fackovec, Evelyn Fafara, Penelope Fry, Sophie Galinski, John Ganser, Matthew

Giardelli, Maryann Goccia, Carmela Goff, Amelia Halmo, Irene Hanko, Jean Hill, Eleanor Holz, Rose Johnson, Edward Jurewicz, Catheryn Kelly, Jason Klee, Boguslaw Kmieciak, Sofia Koutsoupias, Marion Kovacs, Joan Krenzel, Michael Lucas, Anthony Martino, Wanda Massaro, Dorothy McMahon, Hannah Grace Michlik, Rozalia Milkowski, Kazia Naglik, Maria Nunez, Adela Ogrodnik, Joe Pawelek, Hattie Pawlowski, Charles

Philipone, Shona Pietraczenko, Nicholas Piacenti, Anne Piersanti, Cecelia Polanski, Kevin Rasimowicz, C. Rasmussen, Rose Razzano, Walter & Edna Rice, Sr. Rosangela, Sean Ryan, Steven Samuel, Gregory Sciscoe, Raymond Stavish, Joe Szumski, Pauline Terelmes, Sylvia Thrasher, Maria Uzzo, Juan Velazquez, Arlene Watson, Claire Watson, Martha Sue Williams, Karolina Wojciechowski, Edward Wolanin, Jr., Kathryn Wolanin, Barbara Zambrzicky, Henry Ziolkowski.

IN OUR HEARTS & PRAYERS . . .

Relationship with God

God loves us and wants to have a close relationship with us. In fact, He loves us so much that He took an extraordinary step in order to make that possible: He became one of us.

- from Find a Real Friend in Jesus

MINUTE MEDITATION

Shop-Rite Certificates

Everyone needs to shop for groceries & prescriptions. The certificates program

is a means for St. Mary’s to earn five cents on every dollar spent at Shop-Rite without any additional cost to shoppers. Certificates are available before and after all Masses at the entrances of the church, or may be purchased at the Parish Office during regular office hours.

REMEMBER ST. MARY’S IN YOUR WILL

God will never be outdone in generosity. Please remember

St. Mary’s Parish in your Will & Testament!

The repairs you are witnessing in our Beautiful Church are the results of donations and remembrances in our Parishioners’ Last Will & Testaments. Thank you & Bóg Zapłać for your generosity!!!

GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING . . .

St. Mary’s Parish is totally dependent upon the generosity of its parishioners for parish support. Our church support program is called “Sacrificial Giving”. Each individual parishioner or family is asked to consistently give “their fair share”, in support of their parish in a spirit of thanksgiving to God, to enable our parish church to carry out the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. The envelopes provided for you are to be used as gift wrappers for each sacrificial gift you give to the Lord. Please be generous, since God is generous to us.

Sunday Collection - October 21, 2018

Weekly Collection $3,509.00 Building Fund $1,523.00 World Mission Sunday $1,011.00

Thank You & God Bless You! Bóg Zapłać!

IN OUR PARISH . . .

**Please patronize our advertisers** They make our bulletin possible.

The Holy Name would like to thank all parishioners who donated to their C.O.P.E. Program the weekend of

October 13/14. Because of your generosity, the November disbursement was $990. Our next collection will be our Christmas collection on November 11/12.

Thank you for your continued support to this important collection for our parish.

2019 MASS INTENTION BOOK

Please be advised that the 2019 Mass Intention Book is now open. Masses will be accepted between the

hours of 10 am and 3 pm Monday through Friday in the Parish Office. Request forms are available at the entrances of the church and in the Parish Office.

REMINDER: The Food Bank collection in our parish is the first weekend of the month. The next collection will be November 3/4. Non-perishable groceries may be dropped off in the bin outside the upstairs elevator. Supermarket gift cards are also graciously accepted.

CEMETERY BLESSING

The annual Blessing of the Graves of St. Mary’s Cemetery will be held on Sunday, November 4, 2018 at 2:00 pm. Please join us for prayer and

procession in honor of the deceased of our parish.

Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour next

Sunday at 2:00 AM.

**IMPORTANT BAPTISM SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR 2019**

Beginning January 2019, Baptisms at St. Mary’s will be held the third Saturday of each month at 1:00 pm.

The Pre-Baptism Class will be held the second Sunday of each month at 11:30 am in the Msgr. Wujek Room.

Right to Life . . .

Vote Expected on NJ Assisted Suicide Bill Action Required! ….

On Monday, October 29, 2018, the NJ General Assembly very likely will vote on the Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act (A1504). The bill would allow physicians to prescribe drugs to end the lives of terminally ill individuals considered to have six months to live. The facts are clear--in California, in Vermont and in Oregon--states that have passed assisted suicide bills--insurance companies have denied individuals expensive healthcare coverage but offered them low cost drugs to end their life. In an era of cost control and managed care, patients with lingering illnesses may be branded as a financial liability for the insurance company, and decisions to encourage death could be driven by reducing costs. Please contact your state legislators and tell them that you oppose A1504. Use the link below to log in and send your message:

https://www.votervoice.net/NJCC/Campaigns/57657/Respond

**IMPORTANT MASS SCHEULE ANNOUNCEMENT**

Please be advised that beginning January 2019 we will have Mass scheduled on the First Saturday of every month at 8:00 am in the Polish language. Mass intentions for deceased loved ones can be included in the list of names which will be read and remembered at the Mass. Names can be submitted at the Parish Office by Friday before the First Saturday for a suggested donation of $10.

St. Mary’s Altar Rosary Society

Annual Christmas Party Sunday, December 2, 2018 2:00 - 5:00 PM ~ Parish Center

Tickets are $36 and can be purchased at the Altar Rosary Meeting on November 4, after all Masses on the weekend of November 17/18 or at the Parish Office.

All are invited.

Deadline for ticket sales is Wednesday, November 21.

For more information, please call Pat Brzozowski 609-655-9041

Loretta Gostkowski 732-254-1613.

AROUND THE DIOCESE . . .

Office of Cemeteries invites all to attend

All Souls Mass Friday, November 2, 2018

10:00 am

Holy Cross Cemetery 840 Cranbury South River Rd., Jamesburg

Resurrection Cemetery

Hoes Lane & Park Avenue, Piscataway

For information, call (732) 463-1424 or visit www.diometuchen.org/cemeteries

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

AT ST. MARY’S

Beginning November 2018, we will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament the First Thursday of every month following the 6:30 pm Mass. Mass and Exposition will be held in the upstairs church on those

Thursdays only. Thursday Mass when there is no Exposition will be held in the Chapel.

Also, we will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday during Advent and Lent.

The Exposition is being held for the intention of St. Mary’s Parish and Parishioners and their intentions.

HOW TO REPORT SEXUAL ABUSE … If you were sexually abused by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or you know of someone who was, you are encouraged to report that abuse to law enforcement and/or by contacting the Diocesan Response Officer at (908) 930-4558 (24 hours/7 days a week). For more information on how to report abuse, visit our diocesan website:

https://diometuchen.org/report-a-suspected-abuse.

ANNULMENT INFORMATION SESSIONS An information session on Annulments will be held at St. James Church, 184 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 and St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, 45 Henderson Road, Kendall Park on Thursday, November 8, 2018. Both identical presentations will begin at 7:00 PM. These identical presentations are intended for those who have experience the pain and anguish of a divorce and who wish to learn more about the Annulment process and have common myths dispelled. Presented by The Tribunal of the Diocese of Metuchen in a confidential and sensitive atmosphere. RSVP appreciated: 732-529-7589 or Tribunal@diometuchen.org.

Our Lady of Victories Parish Sayreville

MASS & HEALING SERVICE Monday, October 29, 2018 ~ 7:00 PM

Celebrant: Father John Campoli, Director His Love Ministries

Individual healing prayers will be given following Mass. All are welcome.

For information, call Marilyn 732-991-7379 or visit www.frjohncampoli.com

VENDORS WANTED …

Saturday, November 24

Fall Festival/Craft Show

Immaculate Conception Church Manalapan Road, Spotswood

Hosted by the Rosary-Altar Society. To reserve a space/table,

please contact Jay at 609-409-0199.

St. Bernadette Church Social Concerns Ministry 20 Villanova Road, Parlin

Saturday, November 3, 2018 ~ 9 am - 1 pm

Please help us fund our programs by donating clothing, small appliances, household items, toys, reading books, small furniture, linens, blankets, curtains, drapes, bedspreads, pillows, handbags, shoes. No large appliances or furniture will be accepted. Tax receipts will be available.

Tricky Tray

St. Lawrence Altar Rosary Society will hold their annual Tricky Tray on December 2 in the Parish Hall, Laurence Parkway, Laurence Harbor. Doors will open at 1 pm; calling will start at 2:30 pm. Refreshments or lunch will be available for purchase. There will be a 50/50 as well as mystery prize. The event will feature over 175 prizes. Tickets are $10 which includes two cards. Coolers over 16 quarts will not be permitted. NO ONE under 18 will be admitted. For additional information, call Maria 732-290-3002 or Karen 732-727-3774.