Holy
Week is traditionally a time of reflection and prayer focused on our Lord’s
Passion, Death and Resurrection. In
these saving acts we are given the gifts of life eternal with the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit. These events are also
the center of our prayer life throughout the year. Last week, at a Bishop’s Annual Appeal meeting, I was informed
of a movement in a neighboring diocese to remove crucifixes (crosses with the
body of Christ attached) from Catholic schools and churches. The reason – the image is “too graphic”,
especially for children?!? How far can
“political correctness” go when it comes in direct conflict with the basic
tenets of our faith? Can a crucifix be
seen as graphic? Yes, when taken out of
its context. Use this contemporary
incident as a reflection on how important Jesus and His saving act is for all
people of all ages at all times. Make
this Holy Week one of prayer,
reflection and hope.
GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING
Sacrificial Giving
Weekend of March 24/25 $15,054.19
Identifiable Donors (613) $13,942.47
Loose Cash $ 1,111.72
Our 5% tithe of $753.00 will
be sent to The Shannon Daley Memorial Fund.
Last year’s collection for the weekend of March 25/26 amounted to
$14,378.99 and the donors totaled 614.
LITURGICAL SYMBOLISM
This
week’s liturgical symbol is the Pussy Willow.
Many northern Europeans call pussy willow “palm” since it’s carried in
today’s procession. All sorts of
willows, as water-loving trees, are associated with the elected catechumens
preparing for Baptism at Easter.
STEWARDSHIP RECOGNITION CORNER
Special
recognition and gratitude is given this week to the Bagel Junction, for
their consistent generosity of food donation for events at OLL.
TITHING FOR APRIL 8th
The
5% tithe of next weekend’s collection will be sent to Holy Family Parish in
Pass Christian, Mississippi, to continue rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina.
RCIA
According to the Liturgical
and Canonical Statutes for the RCIA revised by Bishop Bootkoski in 2004:
Unbaptized children of
catechetical age who have reached the age of reason (ie. 7 years) “should
without exception participate fully in the children’s Catechumenate, and
celebrate all three sacraments of initiation together.”
Please continue your
prayerful support of The Elect and Candidates for Full Communion
The
Blessed Sacrament Is Reserved At Our Lady Of Lourdes And All Roman Catholic
Churches. We Repspectfully Ask That All
Observe A Reverent Silence, And Appropriate Dress.
Please
Pray For Our Service Men And Women Who Are Serving All Over The World. God Bless Them And Bring Them Home Safely To
Their Loving Families.
Sponsor of the Week
BASEMENT RX
Water Proofing – Mold
Remediation - Remodeling
Thank you for placing an ad
in our bulletin.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Good Friday’s Stations of the Cross will be led by
the Teens of our parish on Friday, April 6th, at 7:30 pm.
EASTER
FOOD BASKETS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Monday, April 2 @ 6:30 pm – People needed to set up
Community Hall.
Tuesday, April 3 @ 9:00 am – Volunteers to sort food.
Wednesday, April 4 @ 9:00 am – Volunteers to pack
non-perishable food.
Wednesday, April 4 @ 5:00 pm – Volunteers to sort and
pack fresh food.
Wednesday, April 4 @ 5:30 pm – Volunteers needed to
deliver food to those unable to pick up and to assist those picking up their
food.
Pre-Easter Reconciliation
Opportunities
Tuesday, April 3rd
6:00-7:00 pm
Wednesday,
April 4th 6:00-7:00 pm
BEREAVEMENT
SUPPORT GROUP
The Ministry of Consolation here at Our Lady of Lourdes
is offering a Bereavement Support Group.
The group is designed for those who are grieving the loss of a loved
one. The program begins on Thursday,
April 12th, at 7:00 pm and runs for eight consecutive
Thursdays. There is no charge for
this series. The sessions are designed
to help the participants deal with the sometimes-complicated feelings that are
part of the grieving process. If you or
someone you know is grieving the loss of a loved one, please join us. For more information, or to register for the
series, please call Joline Frank at 534-2319, ext. 12.
ROSARIAN
GIFT SHOP
The Rosarian Gift Shop will be open after all Sunday
Masses through July 1st.
Communion, Confirmation, and other gift items are available. Your support helps our scholarship fund
given to a child in our parish each year.
Appointments are available during the week by calling Helen at 534-2835.
PARISH DIRECTORY PICTURES
Due to overwhelming demand, two additional dates
have been added to the photo schedule in order to accommodate
parishioners. Friday, April 20th,
from 3:00-9:20 pm and Saturday, April 21st, from 10:00 am-4:00 pm in
the Old Church Hall. Please
schedule your appointment online at www.ollwhs.org,
or by calling Dottie at 788-2972 or Madeline at 534-4868.
SIGHT & SOUND THEATER
Lebanon Borough Seniors are planning a trip to Sight
& Sound Theater in Lancaster on Thursday, April 19th, to
see “In the Beginning.” The cost is
$92.00, which includes lunch, transportation and the show. Pick up is at Lebanon Plaza at 8:45 am,
departing at 9:00 am. Return time is
about 8:30 pm. Please call Helen Pappas
at 236-7112.
CHILDREN GROW BEST IN FAMILIES
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, is in need
of Foster Parents for 11,000 children in New Jersey’s foster care system. Children of all ages and backgrounds are in
need of loving, nurturing homes. Many
of these children are innocent victims of abuse and neglect. CALL TODAY! 1-866-247-HOME (4663).
You can help!
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus are collecting eyeglasses
for the Eyes for the Needy, and old cell phones for battered women. We will collect items at Community Hall on
Sundays of each month we hold our Pancake Breakfast. Contact Bob Keeling at 236-9648 if you wish to donate earlier, or
give items to any of our brother Knights at any time. Remember our next breakfast is Mother’s Day, May 13th. Our Lady of Lourdes Council 6930 is a very
proud servant of charity in our parish since March 1, 1978.
MINISTRY CERTIFICATE
PROGRAMS
Come for an Open House on
Wednesday, April 18th, at our new off-site location, St. Bernard of
Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater, at 7:00 pm.
Learn to serve God and the
People of God with competence and confidence.
The Center for Theological
and Spiritual Development at the College of Saint Elizabeth
Call Mary Ann Badenoch at (973)
290-4364
NORTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF SEPARATED & DIVORCED CATHOLICS
Season Opener Dance Saturday,
April 21st
8:00 pm – Midnight
Hot Dogs – Beer – Soda –
Music with DJ Nick
What to wear? Baseball Team Hats, T-shirts & Jeans
Holy Spirit Church
971 Suburban Road @ Morris
Avenue, Union, NJ
$20 per person in advance by
April 14th
NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR
For more information, call
Charlie at 201-986-9676 or Conrad at 973-857-2731.
NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS
Easter Sunday
Acts 10:34a, 37-43: Peter is an eyewitness: The Lord is risen.
Colossians 3:1-4:
All
who are baptized, set your hearts in heaven.
John 20:1-9: Three
witnesses, Mary, Peter, and John, each in her or his way responds to the empty
tomb.
