45 W WAY, ISELIN NJ 08830 S NJ · 9/8/2019 · 8:00AM Monica Kelly req, Pat & Alma Carter 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME VIGIL MASS—9/14 4:30PM Steven Kutner req, Janson Family SUNDAY—9/15

Page 1 September 8, 2019—23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Celebration of the Eucharist

Saturday Vigil -4:30 PM

Weekdays—7 & 9:15 AM Saturday—8 AM

First Friday—6-7 PM Adoration; 7 PM Holy Mass

Holy Days—Please see the bulletin

Confession

(Before the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass)

Parish office hours Monday — Friday: 9 AM—4:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM — 12:00 PM

Gift Shop—732-283-1775

Saturday 3 — 6 PM (Hours may vary, please call before you come)

45 WILUS WAY, ISELIN NJ 08830 GPS—USE 51 VERNAM ST., ISELIN NJ † Phone: 732-283-2300 † Fax: 732-283-3326

[email protected] † [email protected] † www.stcecelia.com


Parish Staff Fr. Thomas Naduviledathu, S.D.V. —Pastor Fr. Vernon Kohlmann, S.D.V.—Parochial Vicar Deacon Richard Lutomski—Permanent Deacon Deacon Anthony Pepe—Permanent Deacon Mirabella Parota—Music Director Stephanie Setar—Parish Office Manager—[email protected] Kathleen Beglan—Parish Secretary—[email protected] Ruth Kascin—Religious Education Secretary—[email protected] Sr. Anna Tran, SCC

732-986-1839 Maria Campos—

mass Schedule Monday—Friday 7 am—9:15 am Saturday 8 am—4:30 pm Sunday 7:30 am—9:00 am—11:00 am—5:00 pm

Holy day mass times Weekday Evening before—Vigil Mass 7 PM, day of —7 AM, 9:15 AM, 12:05 PM and 7 PM.

Parish office hours Monday—Friday 9:00 am—4:00 pm

Confession Saturday 11:00 am—12:00 pm & 3:15—4:15 pm

Gift shop Gift Shop—732-283-1775— Sunday—Friday 10:00 am—1:00 pm Saturday 3:00 pm—6:00 pm Hours may vary, please call before you come.

Registration To enable us to better serve you, all parishioners are asked to register at the Parish Office. Family members over the age of 18 should register as individuals. To receive a letter of recommendation or character reference you should be registered for at least three months.

House Blessing If you would like to have a home visitation or blessing, please call the Parish Office.

The Sacraments SPONSOR LETTERS: Church law mandates that a sponsor for Baptism and Confirmation be an active Confirmed Catholic. An active Catholic is a parishioner who is registered, attends Mass weekly, contributes to the support of the Church, is in a valid Catholic Marriage, and publicly leads a life compatible with Church teaching. We can only write letters of eligibility for parishioners who meet these criteria. BAPTISM: Please contact the Parish Office for all information and to make arrangements. MARRIAGE: Make arrangements one year in advance of the proposed wedding date. One party must be a parishioner; call the Parish Office. MINISTRY TO THE SICK OR HOMEBOUND: If any of your loved ones are in need of a priest and need the sacraments, please call the Parish Office at any time. The priests are always on call! Regular communion calls to the sick, aged or homebound should be arranged in advance.

ALTAR SERVERS Children in grades 3 and up are invited join. Contact Ann Cecilia Trinh, Coordinator at the parish office 732-283-2300.

Our lady of Fatima Statue—Home Visit If you are interested in having the statue visit your home, please call Carol 732-494-8697. Education—732-283-2816 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES for grammar school students are held on Mondays from 5:45 to 7:15 PM at the former St. Cecelia School Building. R.C.I.A.: If you know anyone interested in becoming a Catholic or are baptized and want to receive other sacraments, please invite them to join RCIA! Call Deacon Rich at 732-680-1921.

Social ministry office—732-283-0150 x105 FOOD PANTRY is open for food pick-up TUESDAYS from 10 AM to 2 PM ONLY. Call or email [email protected] for food requests/appointments for pick-up. OTHER SERVICES provided by the Social Ministry Office. Those in need may call the number above.

Devotions CENACLE FOR MARIAN MOVEMENT OF PRIESTS every Wednesday after 9:15 AM Mass. NOVENAS to St. Jude and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal after 8 AM Mass on Saturday. DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET—Fridays after the 9:15 AM Mass. 2,000 HAIL MARY’S every 2nd Saturday of the month, in the Chapel starting at 7:00 AM.

ADORATION CHAPEL—Daily starting after 7 AM Mass to 4 PM. Please arrive before 4 PM for admittance to church. When you come in the Chapel and the Tabernacle doors are closed, open them. If you are the last one in the Chapel, please close the Tabernacle doors and shut off the light (make sure they are completely pressed down).

societies/organizations LEGION OF MARY—Saturdays—9 AM, Conference Room ROSARY ALTAR SOCIETY—The Rosary is prayed before every daily/weekend Mass. The meetings are the 1st Monday after 1st Sunday at 7 PM in the Church Conference Room. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CONFERENCE— 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7:30 PM in the Church Conference Room.

music ministry CLASSICAL CHOIR Adult Choir practice Tuesday evenings from September—June at 7:30 PM in the church. Coordinator—Mirabella Parota.

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR The Contemporary Choir practice on Saturday from 1:30—3:30 pm.

Youth ministry The meeting will be held on the third Sunday of every month at 6pm in the Youth Ministry Room. Coordinator—Deacon Anthony Pepe.

Church etiquette Upon entering the church, make the sign of the Cross and bless yourself with Holy Water and genuflect before you sit. Please participate in the singing and responses. Come to Mass early enough not to disrupt and leave late enough not to insult the Lord. The Mass does not end until the final song has been completed. Worship reverently enough not to distract. This includes silence in the church and vestibule before Mass. Be mindful to turn off your electronic devices and quietly put the kneelers up and down during the Mass. Dress modestly and appropri-ately as you would for a special occasion.


23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

VIGIL MASS—9/7 4:30PM Drust & Palomata Families req, John & Olivia Drust

SUNDAY—9/8

7:30AM Living and Deceased of the Parish 9:00AM *Helen Messina req, Laura & Phil Coffin *Rose Czajkowski req, Genevieve Vitale 11:00AM Cecilia Moloney req, Kathy Murray 5:00PM Louis Randall req, Ida & Ted Matejus

MONDAY—ST. PETER CLAVER—9/9 7:00AM Arnoldo Mora req, Pedro Mora 9:15AM Rose Czajkowski req, Kathy & Joe Gilhooly

TUESDAY—WEEKDAY—9/10 7:00AM Elizabeth Hoffman req, Anne Banks 9:15AM Rosemary Czajkowski req, Mike & Teresa Clifford

WEDNESDAY—WEEKDAY—9/11 7:00AM Living Intention for Milana Kwong Idnay req, William & Macrina Idnay 9:15AM William Henkel req, Family 2:00PM Roosevelt—John Smyth req, Ruth Kascin THURSDAY—THE MOST HOLY NAME OF MARY

9/12 7:00AM Norman Medrano req, Nita Kennedy 9:15AM Rosemary Czajkowski req, Margherita Piegari

FRIDAY—ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM—9/13 7:00AM Vera McFadden req, Children 9:15AM Mary Prout req, Peggy & Bob Rosenbach

SATURDAY—THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS —9/14

8:00AM Monica Kelly req, Pat & Alma Carter

24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME VIGIL MASS—9/14

4:30PM Steven Kutner req, Janson Family

SUNDAY—9/15 7:30AM Living and Deceased of the Parish 9:00AM *Catherine Donahue req, Lucille Giordano *Rose Czajkowski req, Barbara Frost 11:00AM Lilly & Angelo Curto req, The Curto Family 5:00PM Francis Mallavarapu & Dr. Raja T. Mallavarapu req, Mirnala Family

Readings for the Week

Monday: Col 1:24 — 2:3; Ps 62:6-7, 9; Lk 6:6-11 Tuesday: Col 2:6-15; Ps 145:1b-2, 8-11; Lk 6:12-19 Wednesday: Col 3:1-11; Ps 145:2-3, 10-13ab; Lk 6:20-26 Thursday: Col 3:12-17; Ps 150:1b-6; Lk 6:27-38 Friday: 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14; Ps 16:1b-2a, 5, 7-8, 11; Lk 6:39-42 Saturday: Nm 21:4b-9; Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-38; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17 Sunday: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Tm 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-32 [1-10]

Questions of the Week Question for Children: Jesus says that in order to be one of his followers, we must be close to him. When do you feel closest to Jesus? Question for Youth: Jesus tells his disciples that they must renounce their possessions in order to be His disciple. If you had to, could you leave everything behind to be with God? What would hold you back? How much of a struggle would it be? Question for Adults: Today's Gospel is demanding. How do you as a modern man or woman "denounce your possessions?" What does this mean for you?

Sick Relatives & Friends Mirabella Parota, Michael Cherego, Cathy (Napiorski) Harris, Jamie Nestor, Joseph Jonathan Cem, Jackie Sewing, Ryan Michael, Liz Lutomski, Lena Zimbardo, Nicole C. Rossi, Marieta M, Samuel & Rose M., Lenny Cartwright

Responsorial psalm —9/8/19 In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge (Psalm 90)

In Loving Remembrance Let us remember all our departed brothers and sisters, especially Louis Leva asking God to reward them with

joy and eternal peace.

Mass Intentions September 8 through 15

In-pew Faith Direct Total

$ 7,837.50 $ 1,452.25 $ 9,289.75

August 25, 2019:


$ 7,553.50 $ 1,542.75 $ 9,096.25

August 26, 2018:


$3,335.00 $ 345.00 $3,680.00

Improvement Fund 2019:


$ 3,127.00 $ 286.00 $ 3,413.00

Improvement Fund 2018:


$ 7,823.50 $ 1,452.25 $ 9,275.75

September 1, 2019:


$ 8,171.50 $ 1,542.75 $ 9,714.25

September 2, 2018:


From the Desk of Our Pastor...

Dear Friends in Jesus Christ…, We have heard Jesus say in the gospel, “anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” We are challenged today by Jesus to put God first in our life and live out that choice daily. I have two examples to share with you, of people who lived their life with this principle, as a model for us. I found these stories in Fr. Mark Link’s book of Sunday Homilies. Gale Sayers, who played with the Chicago Bears back in the 1960’s ranks among the greatest running backs in the history of professional football. Around his neck he always wore a gold medal about the size of a half-dollar. On it were inscribed three words: I am Third. Those three words became the title of his best-selling autobiography. The book explains why the words meant so much to Gale. They were the motto of his track coach, Bill Easton, back at the University of Kansas. Coach Easton kept the words on a little sign on his desk. One-day Gale asked him what they meant. Easton replied, “The Lord is first, my friends are second, and I am third.” From that day on, Gale made those words his own philosophy of life. In his second year with the Bears, Gale decided he wanted to wear something meaningful around his neck, like a religious medal. So he bought a gold medal and had the words I am Third engraved on it. In his autobiography Gale says, “I try to live by the saying on my medal. I don’t always succeed, but having the saying around my neck keeps me from straying from it too far.” (paraphrased) The story of Gale Sayers illustrates the point Jesus makes in the first half of today’s gospel, when he says: “If anyone come to me without hating his father and mother…and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” In other words, we must give top priority in our lives to Jesus and to his heavenly Father. Some time ago the Los Angeles Times carried a moving story by reporter Dave Smith. It was about another modern Christian who, like Sayers, puts God first in his life, other people second, and himself third. His name is Charlie DeLeo. He grew up as a “tough kid on New York’s Lower East Side”. After returning from Vietnam, he got a job as maintenance man at the Statue of Liberty. Charlie told the reporter that part of his job is to take care of the torch in the statue’s hand and the crown on the statue’s head. He has to make sure that the sodium vapor lights are always working and that the 200 class windows in the torch and the crown are always clean. Pointing to the torch, Charlie said proudly, “That’s my chapel. I dedicated it to the Lord, and I go up there and meditate on my breaks.” Charlie said that when Pope John Paul II spoke at Battery Park, a mile and a half away from the statue, he stood on the catwalk that circles the torch and listened to the Holy Father’s talk. From that same catwalk Charlie also prayed fervently for the success of the pope’s visit to the United States. Charlie told the Los Angeles Times reporter: “I don’t socialize much, don’t have fancy clothes, but I have fun. The thing is, however, I don’t have enough money to get married. I don’t keep any of my money. After I got my job, I sponsored six orphans through those children’s organizations.” Charlie ended by telling the reporter that he calls himself the “Keeper of the Flame” of the Statue of Liberty. Later a park guide told the reporter: “Everybody knows Charlie is special. When he first gave himself that title, people smiled. But we all take it seriously now. To us, he’s exactly what he says: ‘Keeper of the Flame’. Charlie DeLeo began his life as a tough kid on New York’s Lower East Side. But then, like Gale Sayers, he decided to put God first in his life, other people second, and himself third. That decision changed his life forever. Charlie is a living illustration of the two points Jesus makes in today’s gospel: the decision to put God first in one’s life, and the decision to live out that choice. Charlie is also a living inspiration for us to do what he did: to give top priority to God and, with God’s help, to live out that priority as courageously as we can. This is the message of today’s readings. This is the invitation God holds out to each one of us here at this Eucharist. Let’s close with a prayer that Charlie DeLeo wrote. It sums up the challenge of today’s Scripture readings:

O Lord, I don’t ever expect to have the faith of Abraham, Nor do I, O Lord, ever expect to have the leadership of Moses,

Nor the strength of Samson, nor the courage of David, nor the wisdom of Solomon… But what I do expect, O Lord, is your calling on me some day.

What is your will, I shall do, what is your command shall be my joy…? And I shall not fail you, O Lord, for you are all I seek to serve.

(slightly paraphrased)

God Bless You, Fr. Thomas


St. Cecelia’s Church— Tricky Tray Gift Auction Saturday, September 21, 2019

Doors open at 6:00 pm—Prizes called at 7:30 pm General Admission—$20.00 (includes 1 free sheet of yellow tickets)

We are accepting the following NEW and UNUSED items (All donations will be checked in the Parish Office. If they have been used, we will not accept):

Tickets on sale after all Masses or

in the Parish Office.

Religious Education Office phone number is 732-283-2816; CELL phone number is 732-343-1132

and is located in the brick building to the left of the school.

Religious Education Classes are held on Mondays from

5:45 to 7:15 PM at Oak Tree School #29 Building.

IMPORTANT DATES September 9 – Religious Education Classes Begin for

Grades 2 – 8. ALL will meet in Church before going to the classroom.

September 15 – Catechetical Sunday – 9:00 am Mass for all Catechists

September 16 – Religious Education Classes for Grades 1 – 8. ALL will meet in Church before going to the classroom. Grade – 1 parents will remain in Church for a meeting with the PCL and Father Thomas then proceed to the First Grade classroom.

September 23 – Religious Education Classes Grades 1 – 8. Parent Meeting for students of Grades Three and Four at 6:00 in Church with PCL & Father Thomas.

September 29 – Retreat Day for Grade – 8 and their Spon-sors at St John Vianney. All must come to the 11:00 am Mass and then proceed to St. John’s for a Pizza Lunch and then re-treat with John Cook as facilitator.

September 30 – Religious Education Classes Grades 1 – 8. Parent Meeting for students of Grades Five and Six at 6:00 in Church with PCL and Father Thomas.

October 1—Meeting Night for Parents & Candidate Phase 1 Confirmation (Grade 7) from 7—8:30 pm in the Atrium.

This raffle signifies one of our single, most lucrative fund raising efforts of the year. We rely on this raffle to help keep us viable, maintain our facility and continue to meet the many needs of the Parish. Your continued generosity and support is greatly needed to make this a successful raffle.

$8,810

Brittany & Louie DeRosa, 1 year Robert & Christine Ferreira, 15 yrs Wayne & Danielle Jackson, 20 yrs Donald & Patricia Gardner, 20 yrs

Anthony & Linda Favor, 25 yrs John & Rosemarie Davis, 30 yrs

Christian & Charlotte Madsen, 30 yrs Ronald & Gloria Sprague, 35 yrs

Steven & Mary Rawa, 35 yrs Jerry & Sophie Strzepek, 45 yrs Mike & Teresa Clifford, 53 yrs

Manuel & Maria Gafanhao, 54 yrs Paul & Rose Johnson, 62 yrs

Kazimierz & Cecylia Niemczyk, 63 yrs Mario & Barbara Gomes, 64 yrs Stanley & Virginia Chase, 64 yrs Harold & Gloria Carney, 66 yrs

September 2019 Wedding Anniversaries


St. John Vianney Seniors

All St. Cecelia’s seniors are invited to join our organization which will meet on Wednesday, September 4th at 2:30 pm, downstairs in our cafeteria. This month we will be playing Vino Bingo. See or call Madeline at 732-381-1858 if you are interested in joining us. Hope to see you there.

B akers needed for our Coffee And… on Sunday, September 15, 2019. Please call

Terry Schantz at 732-877-5360 if you can bake or provide a purchased treats! Thank you for your support.

If you know anyone i n t e r e s t e d i n becoming a Catholic or are baptized and want to receive other

sacraments, please invite them to join RCIA! Call Deacon Rich at 732-680-1921. Classes begin on September 18th at 7:00 pm.

The first meeting of the 2019-2020 year will be held Monday, September 9, at 7:00 pm, in the Atrium. All women of the parish (18 years & older) are most welcome to attend.

Tickets for the annual Communion Breakfast will be available at the meeting. The breakfast will be held, Sunday, October 6, after the 9:00 am Mass, at the Colonia Country Club. Tickets are $32.00 per person. Tickets are also available by calling Carol 732-494-8697.

a used Ford F150 or similar to be used by the

Church to plow the parking lot, etc. If anyone

has a truck that they would be willing to sell to

the church, please see Fr. Thomas.



Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 7

8

9

7 pm Rosary Altar Society—Atrium

7:30pm St. Vincent de Paul—Conf. Room

7:30 pm—Spanish Prayer Group—Chapel

10

7:30 pm—Classical Choir

12 13 14

2,000 Hail Mary’s in the chapel starting at 6:30am

15

16


17


19

7 pm—Gr. 8—Service Awareness—Atrium

20 21

22

23

7:30pm St. Vincent de Paul—Conf. Room


24


6:30—8:00 pm Gr. 9—Evening of Recollection

25 26 27 28

29 30

1 OCTOBER


7:00—8:30 pm Gr. 7—Phase 1 of Confirmation Meeting

4 FIRST FRIDAY

6 pm Adoration— 7 pm Mass

5

September 2019

Page 9 September 8, 2019—23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time INFORMATION SHEET CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS 511586: St. Cecelia 45 Wilus Way, Iselin NJ 08830 PHONE 732-283-2300 (Church) CONTACT PERSON Kathy or Stephanie @ 732-283-2300 SOFTWARE Microsoft Publisher® 2010 Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard Windows 7 PRINTER HP® Laserjet 1200 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT We are a 10 pager this week.

SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION

September 8, 2019 TRANSMISSION TIME Thursday, 8 AM SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS (for production)

PLEASE PRINT 900 COPIES!!!

FedEx shipping address: 45 Wilus Way, Iselin NJ 08830 Special instructions (for delivery): If atrium locked, please leave by doors. FedEx tracking e-mail: [email protected]

Documents

45 W WAY, ISELIN NJ 08830 S NJ · 9/8/2019 · 8:00AM Monica Kelly req, Pat & Alma Carter 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME VIGIL MASS—9/14 4:30PM Steven Kutner req, Janson Family SUNDAY—9/15