News RSS Feed

Women’s Society is collecting Easter Candy to help the less fortunate, the weekends of March 23/24 & March 30/31. They are looking for individually wrapped small chocolate bunnies, crosses plastic eggs, crafts, little toys.

The Confirmation Class is doing a pre-Lent project which will include essentials for those less fortunate. There will be boxes in the entrances to the church to leave any supplies from the following list: new socks for men and women, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, regular wipes, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, and shampoos/conditioners. There will also be a can if you would like to donate toward this cause. Whatever supplies are still needed will be purchased. This project was selected after last week’s Gospel when Jesus reminds us to do for others as we would want done for us. In our own backyard, we would like to help with essential supplies. God bless you for your continued support – The Confirmation Class

March 2nd, Saturday, at St. Francis has been canceled due to the impending storm.

Abstinence from meat (beast or fowl) is to be observed by all Catholics fourteen years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays of Lent. This obligation prohibits the eating of meat, but not eggs, milk products, or condiments of any kind, even though made from animal fat. Fasting means limiting oneself to one full meal on a given fast day. Catholics who are eighteen years of age but not yet fifty-nine are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On fast days, two additional smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength. However, the two smaller meals together may not equal one full meal. Moreover, eating solid foods between meals on fast days is not permitted.

The next Women's Society Meeting will be April 13th at 9:30 am in the rectory meeting room. All are welcome!

ECUMENICAL LENTEN LUNCHES – St. Cecilia Church will host the first of the weekly Friday ecumenical lunches on March 8th. The lunch takes place at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall starting at 12 noon. Following lunch a prayer service and meditation is provided by a member of the ecumenical clergy group. Fr. Zig will serve as the presenter on March 8th. All are welcome to attend.

Due to the pending inclement weather, please be advised that the Padre Pio Prayer Group meeting is canceled for Wednesday, February 20th. The next meeting is March 20th @ 7:00 pm in the parish office at St. Cecilia Church.

BISHOP SERRATELLI AT FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTIONS – Our Bishop will preside at First Friday Devotions here at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on East Main Street on Friday, March 1st. Devotions begin at 6:30 p.m. with Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Holy Mass and Veneration of the relic of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.

The Knights of Columbus councils 514 and 3359 wish to thank the generous parishioners of St Cecilia’s and Sacred Heart whose Rose for Life donations of $1300 helped cover a significant portion the $4,000.00 cost to send 2 busloads of pro-life marchers to Washington, D.C. It was one of the most energizing marches in memory and you can read comments from our riders in the Jan. 24 issue of the Beacon. Please keep the cause of life in your prayers and may God continue to richly bless you all.   

The Men’s Society of Sacred Heart and St. Cecilia parishes will hold its monthly meeting in Suchon Hall on Saturday Feb 9th after an 8 AM mass at Sacred Heart Church. This is the first time the group will meet at Sacred Heart and all men of the parish wishing to find out more or wishing to join are invited.

The traditional blessing of the throat in commemoration of the feast of Saint Blasé, Bishop and Martyr, will take place at the conclusion of Masses the weekend of February 2-3.

Catholic Schools Week will be commemorated at our 10:00 AM. Mass on January 28th with students from Divine Mercy Academy participating. The second collection will be used to support our children. Please be generous!

My Dear parishioners,   Jesus’ words today, at the Beginning of his ministry are something like a priest’s sermon at his first Mass – on a theme really important to the priest. He knows he is appointed and chosen by God.

Father Jonas St. Martin, brother of our departed assistant Father Jean Claude St. Martin, will visit St. Cecilia Church on the weekend of February 9th and 10th . Father will tell us about the status of the foundation established in his brother’s memory to help poor children in Haiti. Father Jonas is a member of the religious order, Holy Cross Fathers, and is stationed at Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, Canada.

It has come to our attention that some people have received “scam” emails from Fr. Pawel or one of the priests. Please know these messages requesting “favors” or “gift cards”are fake. Should you have any questions, please call the rectory at 973-627-0422 or St. Cecilia Parish office at 973-627-0313. Do not reply to these emails.

All are welcome to attend the Adoration prayer service on Sunday, January 27th , at 3:00 PM to be held at St. Mary's Church in Wharton, located at 371 South Main Street, Wharton, NJ 07885. This is a great opportunity to come together and pray for the protection of life. This Pro-Life Holy Hour will include singing the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction.

PIZZA NIGHT WITH BISHOP: For young men in high school or college, or even older come join Bishop Serratelli and priests from the Diocese of Paterson for adoration, reflection, fellowship and of course, pizza!!! Tuesday, February 5th at Pope John, XXIII in Sparta from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information, please contact the Vocation Office at 973-777-8818, ext: 711.

LISTEN TO POPE FRANCIS… “Why it is so important to go to Mass on Sundays and why it is not enough to just live a moral life, loving others: We don’t go to Mass to give something to God, but to receive from Him that which we truly need. Sunday Mass is the time and place Christians receive grace and strength to remain faithful to His work, follow His commandment to love others and be credible witnesses in the world. Just like a plant needs the sun and nourishment to live, every Christian needs the Sunday Eucharist to truly live. Without Christ, we are condemned to be dominated by the fatigue of daily life with all its worries and the fear of tomorrow. The Sunday encounter with the Lord gives us the strength to live today with confidence and courage and to move forward with hope.”

You are cordially invited to Divine Mercy Academy's Open House on Sunday January 27th , from 10:15 AM to 12:30 PM at Divine Mercy Academy, located at 87 Halsey Avenue, Rockaway, NJ.

The Women at the Well meet on  the FIRST SATURDAYS of each month. These evenings are meant to serve as spiritual and social refreshment for women.  The evening begins with a potluck dinner, followed the Rosary, quiet prayer and ending with dessert and socializing.