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PARISH OFFICE HOURS

The Rectory Office is closed and will not be

accepting visitors. Please call 732-840-1410 if

you need assistance

March 22, 2020

Fourth Sunday of Lent

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My Dear Parish Family,

I would like to take a quick moment of your time to share with you some directives that came to us from Bishop David O’Connell. It’s important to stay healthy physically, but be sure to keep your spiritual life in shape as well! Mind, body and spirit are so important so as to give God glory and maximize our potential in this world! Please continue to pray for me as I will continue to pray for you.

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March 16, 2020

A Message from Bishop O'Connell on Measures to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19.

God has not abandoned us and is present among us. As we learn each day of the growing concern surrounding the spread of the coronavirus in our communities, we need to have faith and confidence in God, especially in times like these, praying that He will see us through the present adversity safely. Mindful of the Lord Jesus’ own words in St. Luke’s Gospel, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his Cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9: 23),” the coronavirus pandemic has placed such a Cross before us. In response to the latest guidelines from national and state health authorities aimed at stopping the spread of the disease, I have directed the following:

MASSES, SACRAMENTS AND OTHER CHURCH SERVICES All public Masses throughout the Diocese of Trenton will be temporarily suspended through April

3, 2020. That date is subject to change as the coronavirus pandemic evolves.

Baptism, funerals and weddings may continue based on the judgement of pastors, with the caution that crowds should not exceed 50 persons as mandated by the State of a New Jersey.

Social distancing practices (3-6 feet of space between participants) should be observed for any event inside church spaces.

Churches should remain open for prayer, private devotion and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Pastors are asked to consider Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the day. Praying in large groups, however, should be avoided.

Attention should be paid to the cleanliness of our church facilities.

Televised or online celebrations of the Mass and other religious programming are available for use of the faithful during this time.

All scheduled Confirmations in the Diocese will be temporarily postponed until after Easter and will be re-scheduled after that time.

The Sacrament of Penance should remain available according to need, but public Penance Services are not to be conducted.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick should also remain available for true emergencies. Hospitals and nursing homes may be on lock-down and priests are advised to check on their status beforehand.

SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OTHER CLOSURES All Catholic schools in the Diocese will remain closed as mandated by the State of New Jersey.

Directions for academic work have been provided by the Superintendent of Catholic Schools in coordination with Catholic school administrations.

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All religious education programs are suspended with at-home work provided by the local parish leaders where possible.

The Chancery offices will be closed March 16 through March 23 and staff will work remotely during that time. A limited number of staff will be present in the office on an as-needed basis to provide essential services.

Pastors should make appropriate judgments regarding parish offices. Other regular parish activities and previously scheduled events should be postponed or canceled.

Catholic social and charitable outreach programs and services in the Diocese should be adjusted to meet directions mandated by the State of New Jersey.

The Catholic faithful of the Diocese — priests, religious and lay faithful — are advised to keep informed and updated regarding the progress of the coronavirus pandemic during this national and state emergency. You will find links to national, state and local agencies on our webpage: dioceseoftrenton.org/coronavirus. We will continue to evaluate new information that could impact these directives and will post regular updates to dioceseoftrenton.org/coronavirus; TrentonMonitor.com/coronavirus and on the Diocese’s social media pages. FINALLY, avoid crowded areas, observe careful hygiene, keep appropriate distances outside the home and if feeling sick, stay at home. I ask that all of the faithful remember the elderly and other persons at risk in their families and communities, and reach out to them by phone to see if help is needed.

A CALL TO PRAYER An Act of Spiritual Communion is proposed for the faithful who are temporarily unable to receive the Eucharist: “My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.” For a list of streamed or recorded Masses available online, or television stations airing the Sunday Mass, go to dioceseoftrenton.org/coronavirus. As we all face what has become a grave and growing health risk, it is important for all the Catholic faithful to “persevere in hardship and keep praying regularly (Romans 12:12).” As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I invite all the Catholic faithful to join with me in prayer: O Mary, loving Mother, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, who at the Cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.

You, Salvation of Your People, know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection.

Be present to all those suffering from coronavirus and to those who care for them: families, friends, neighbors, doctors, nurses, staff, government officials, pastors, priests and all who seek to do God’s will. Bring comfort and calm to the elderly, to those at risk and to all who are afraid. Be for us all a beacon of hope, lighting our path once more to the heart of your beloved Son, the Divine Healer and Health of the Sick.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen

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St. Dominic Church, Brick, N J

Sanctuary Lamps Church – In Memory of Lynda Brown r/b

Sharon

Chapel – Special Intentions

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH

Peter Aiello, Michael Avillo, Vincent Biche, Alex Cavaliere Bernadette Chemidlin, Donald Deacon,

John Ennes, Joseph Fierro, John Flavin, Marie Filipkowski, Kathy Foley, Marge Fusco, Nicole Giambrone, Rosemary Hearn,

Natalia Kaleta, Donna Knight, Ann LeRose, Haley Lumberto, Dorothy Lynch, Wayne Madsen, Brian Mahoney, Grace Mangan,

Barbara Lynne Martini, Ron Masterson, Susan Mayer, Christine McClean, Frank McGeehan, Dolores McLaughlin,

Lucille Morgan, John Piana, George Porrata, Edith Reckholder, Natalie Santibanez, Evan Schaffer, Sara Scheller,

Lorraine Schaab, Juliana Schinn, Ann Slifer, Anthony & Christina Simone, Mary Kaye Steinert, Charles Stivali, Jen Trebino,

Zack Wade,Ruth Wilson, Sandy Welch, Robert Zolkiewicz, Sr.

FOR THE MILITARY OF OUR PARISH Scott Balog, Corporal Jordan Basile USMC, Nick Bovona,

Thomas J. Butchko, Jason Carchio, Jeffrey Ciaston, Michael DiBiase, Peter Ferro, Alexis Ferro Goble, Joseph Goble,

Anthony Mitchell, Jose Luis Petrovich, Matthew Platz, Douglas Scelfo, Deven Scelfo, Shawn Platz,

Steven Schocket, Stephen Vajda, Sean Wright

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED OF OUR PARISH

Regina Schneider

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CENTER

Food Panty and Thrift Shop

are currently closed until further notice.

If you need assistance, please call 732-458-7450

Prepare to Hear God’s Word

Scripture Readings for The Week of

March 23- March 28 Monday, March 23 Is 65:17-21; Jn 4:43-54 Tuesday, March 24 Ez 47:1-9, 12; Jn 5:1-16 Wednesday, March 25 Is 7:10-14, 8:10; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38 Thursday, March 26 Ex 32:7-14; Jn 5:31-47 Friday, March 27 Wis 2:1a, 12-22; Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Saturday, March 28 Jer 11:18-20; Jn 7:40-53 Sunday, March 29th – Fifth Sunday of Lent

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14 Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11 Gospel: John 11:25a-26

All public Masses throughout the

Diocese of Trenton will be temporarily

suspended. The the situation will be re-evaluated as circumstances unfold.

All meetings have been canceled.

Eucharistic Adoration will continue

Monday through Friday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

in the Church as permitted.

MARCH 22N D, 2020 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEARS AGO, DAVID WAS ANOINTED KING OF ISRAEL.

TODAY, JESUS IS THE NEW KING, THE NEW ANOINTED ONE. NOW, CHRIST CALLS US TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT, TO WAKE FROM SLEEP, TO GREET THE DAWN.

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Please Visit Our Website www.stdominicsparish.com

REFLECTIONS FOR MARCH 22, 2020 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14 Gospel: John 9:1-41 In the entire Bible from Genesis in the Old Testament through the Gospel of John, the incident reported in John 9, the Gospel Reading on this Fourth Sunday of Lent, the restoration of sight to the blind man is the only instance of a blind person since birth being healed. No other prophet or apostle or priest ever performed such a miracle.

Isaiah the prophet had predicted “The eyes of blind will be opened” (Isaiah 35:5) in his prophecies of the Messiah. Of course, we need to understand that the “eyes of the blind will be opened” has a double meaning. Yes, the blind man can see, but he can also understand and comprehend what Jesus’ saving grace means.

This time during Lent is a time for us to open our eyes as well. We need to see and to embrace the fact that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. To see we need light. In the Second Reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, Paul says, “Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”

Is that not what our whole purpose in Lent is? To seek the light; to find an understanding of the Lord’s place in our lives; to open our eyes; and to become Disciples of the Lord? We often make reference to the fact that we are called to be disciples. What does that mean? According to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, it meant, “Do not keep Christ to yourselves. Share with others the joy of your faith. The world needs the witness of your faith; it surely needs God.”

Lord, I want to see. Help me to be healed of my blindness. Help me to see You at work in every ordinary activity of my life. Help me to see Your divine grace in the smallest events of my day. And as I see You alive and active, fill my heart with gratitude for this vision. Jesus, I trust in You.

Guidelines for Fasting & Abstinence Here are the guidelines to help you understand the obligations of fasting and abstinence during the season of Lent Abstinence: A penitential practice of refraining from the consumption of meat and is to be observed by all Catholics who are 14 years old age and older. Fasting: Fasting is to be observed by all Catholics between the ages of 18-59 (inclusive). On days of fasting one full meal is allowed. Two smaller meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids are allowed. Ash Wednesday (February 26) and Good Friday (April 10) are days of both fast and abstinence, and Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence. The obligation of receiving the Eucharist at least once a year should still be fulfilled during the period from the First Sunday of Lent, March 1 to Trinity Sunday, June 7 . However, the Code of Canon Law does permit this precept to be fulfilled at another time during the year when there is a just cause.