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“Let your life reflect the faith you have in God. Fear nothing and pray about everything. Be strong, trust God's word, and trust that God holds you close.”
Solemnity of Saint Peter and Paul, Apostles
6/29/2020
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ:
Peace to you! I hope and pray that you are well.
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, two towering figures of the Church. Both called by Christ, both gave their lives completely to Christ witnessing to Him by their fidelity to the Gospel and their martyrdom in the city of Rome. Certainly we have benefited from their witness and their prayers.
This week is an important week for our diocese in that the Ordination and Installation of our new Bishop, Kevin Sweeney will take place on Wednesday. The diocesan website and our diocesan newspaper, The Beacon, share information on the Bishop-elect and where he has ministered to this point. At Mass we pray daily for him.
As restrictions are placed on gatherings above a certain number at this time most of the clergy, religious and laity who may have wanted to participate in the Mass on Wednesday are not able to do so. This is of course disappointing for us but we have the ability to witness and pray with the local church through live-streaming.
Two special liturgies will be televised through the diocesan website: www.patersondiocese.org. Solemn Vespers will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The Mass of Episcopal Ordination and Installation will take place at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, of this week.
Through the kindness of the Brooklyn Diocese, the ordination/installation Mass will also be televised live by New Evangelization Television (NET), a Catholic cable TV network based in Brooklyn, beginning at 1:45 p.m. on July 1. Catholic TV Network (catholictv.com) will take the NET-TV feed and will also broadcast the July 1 ordination/installation live. Both NET-TV and Catholic TV Network are available on multiple cable outlets, as well as nationwide on streaming platforms including Roku, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV and Amazon Fire. EWTN will also take the NET-TV feed and air the ordination/installation of Bishop-elect Sweeney at 3 p.m., Thursday, July 2 as part of its ongoing series, "Cathedrals Across America."
Please keep Bishop elect Sweeney in your prayers as he assumes this responsibility and ministry. May he be a man after the heart of God and a faithful shepherd of God's holy people. We also pray in thanksgiving for the 16 years of service to our diocese from Bishop Serratelli.
On Saturday we will celebrate Independence day. Certainly there is much to pray for in our nation at this time. Please note that Mass is not scheduled for 4 PM this Saturday. The only Mass on Saturday will be at 8:30 AM. Masses on Sunday will be offered at 7, 9 and 11 AM. It is again necessary to sign up on our website to attend and participate in one of those Masses. Please do not sign yourself or members of your family up unless you are sure that you will be here. While last minute emergencies happen if you need to modify or change after you have signed up the confirmation email you receive will allow you to do that while freeing a place for someone else.
Our response to the Bridges Run last Saturday was wonderful and I thank those who contributed. We continue to meet the needs of those who come to our Food Pantry, thanks to your goodness. I am also most grateful to the Shrine of St. Joseph who gave a $1,000 donation to the Food Pantry. This will allow us to offer gift cards so that those who come may also be able to purchase milk, bread, eggs and other perishable items that we are unable to store here. Again my thanks to each of you who prayerfully and financially support the needs of the parish and help sustain our mission here. God is never outdone in generosity and so I pray that God will bless your every effort and kindness.
In the next week’s we will be celebrating First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation for those who desire to do so at this time. I look forward to beautiful moments of sacred sacramental encounter for our children and teenagers. I also believe that we offer our children and teenagers an important lesson that when challenges or obstacles are set before us we do not stop or give up but find creative and constructive ways of moving forward making the best of the situation we find ourselves in. After all is this not a reality in the journey of our living.
In all of this be assured of my prayers for your loved ones and each of you. Please continue to pray for me, I depend on your prayers.
Peace and Happy 4th,
Fr. Richard
God, Lord of Heaven and earth, we praise you for the many blessings you pour out on us.
We thank You for this nation as we celebrate her Independence. Forgive the sins of our past and those of our present so that freed from their shame we may begin to shape a nation which values every life created
in Your image and likeness from conception through natural death.
We ask that you lead us through these times of uncertainty, fears and tensions. You alone can bring the peace which this nation and every nation needs. Bring healing to the wounds of division and an end to the hatred that becomes so visible in times of unrest.
We thank you as a people of faith for our new Bishop Kevin Sweeney as he prepares to shepherd this diocese. May he know of your unwavering love and support in his ministry. May he find in us a people committed to the Lord and the truth of the Gospel. Bestow your grace on the families of this faith community who have so courageously and generously braved this time of challenge with faith and trust.
May Mary, the Immaculate Conception, to whom this nation is dedicated pray for us before the Throne of your Grace. This and every prayer we utter in the name of Jesus Christ for He lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
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Today's Readings
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Reading 1 Zec 9:9-10Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14Reading 2 ROM 8:9, 11-13Gospel Mt 11:25-30
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The Corpus Christi Food Drive continues to feed the hungry during these critical summer months.
Visit www.ccpaterson.org/corpus to make a monetary donation or for more information about this important effort. Visit www.yougivegoods.com/ccpaterson-fooddrive2020 to find our parish, and shop for Catholic Charities’ pantries in need.
You may also email: Info@ccpaterson.org or call (973) 737-2077 ext.403 with any questions.