MASS SCHEDULE — SOME CHURCH ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN

SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE —

Saturday: 7:00 & 8:00 AM (English) 5:00 PM - Vigil Mass (English)

Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM (English) 11:00 AM (Italian) 12:30 PM Family Mass (English) 7:00 PM (Portuguese)

Weekdays: 7:00 & 8:00 AM Holy Days: 6:30, 8:00, 10:00 AM & 7:30 PM* *Check bulletin—Holy day schedule s are subject to change Other Weekly Services & Activities: Mon to Sat 7:35 AM - Morning Prayer 8:30 AM - Holy Rosary (English) Mondays 7:30 PM - Bible Study in English Tuesdays 9:00 AM - Legion of Mary 7:30 PM - St. Padre Pio Mass 7:30 PM - Holy Rosary Society 8:00 PM - Holy Rosary (Portuguese) Wednesdays 2:00 PM - Holy Rosary (Italian) Thursday 6:15 to 7:15 PM - Holy Hour Adoration for Vocations Friday 8:30 PM - Brazilian Prayer Group 1st Friday 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM - Blessed Sacrament Adoration

Served by the Vocationist Fathers Fr. Christogonus (Chris) Iwunze, S.D.V., Pastor Fr. Roberto da Silva, S.D.V., Parochial Vicar Fr. Thomas La Russa, S.D.V., D.R.E.

Church & Rectory 442 E Brinkerhoff Ave Palisades Park, NJ 07650 Tel. 201-944-1154 Fax. 201-944-9510 Email. stnicholas07650@live.com Website. www.stnicholasrcchurch.org

Office Hours Mon, Wed, Thu & Fri 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Mornings by appointment only)

ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS Baptisms: On any available Sunday during the 11:00 AM (Italian), 9:30 AM or 12:30 PM (English) & 7:00 PM (Portuguese) Masses. Please contact the rectory at least one month prior to desired date. Confessions: Saturdays 4:00 to 4:45 PM, or during the week by appointment. Marriages: Please contact the rectory at least six months prior to desired wedding date. Sacrament of the Sick: If you are hospitalized or un-able to come to Church for health reasons and would like to be visited by a priest for Confession, Commun-ion, or Anointing of the Sick, please call the rectory. Religious Education Program (CCD): For children 1st to 8th grades who are not attending Catholic School. Classes are held on Sundays from September to May at 11:30 AM, with attendance at the 12:30 PM Family Mass. Confirmation: Teens will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at 8th grade. They will attend classes at 11:30 AM from September to December; and from January to April classes will start at 11:00 AM in the church hall, with attendance at the 12:30 PM Family Mass.

ST. NICHOLAS RC CHURCH

Solemnity of Corpus Christi June 14th, 2020

Jesus said, “I am the living bread; whoever eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:51-58).

SATURDAY, June 13 7:00AM In honor of St. Anthony by Anton & Julia 8:00AM Anton Mirkovich by his sister Maria 5:00PM In honor of St. Anthony by Society SUNDAY, June 14 11:30AM Olimpia Pallotta by her family, Santo & Maria Gerbavac by daughter-in-law Duka & family, and all victims of Covid-19 7:00PM For all people of this parish MONDAY, June 15 7:00AM Eddie Mattessich by his sister Maria Morin 8:00AM Regina Piccini by Marty & Annette Mattessich TUESDAY, June 16 7:00AM Marie Elsie Herbeg by Josephine Brady & fam 8:00AM Martino Hroncich by Marino & Maria Piccinich WEDNESDAY, June 17 7:00AM In honor of St. Lazarus by Eduardo Lorenzo 8:00AM Slavko Mladjenovic by M/M Albino Matesic THURSDAY, June 18 7:00AM Dominick & John Ostuni by mother & family 8:00AM Matteo & Gaudenzia Suttora by son Nicholas FRIDAY, June 19 7:00AM Roby Giglino by M/M Martin Picinic 8:00AM Regina Piccini by Rosemarie & Steve Bialick SATURDAY, June 20 7:00AM In honor of OL of Grace by Gaudenzia Mattessich 8:00AM Robert Hroncich by his family 5:00PM Edward Adamcik Jr by Blanche & Tony DiBona SUNDAY, June 21 7:30AM All victims of Covid-19 Pandemic 9:30AM Anthony Sambogna by mom & dad 11:00AM Giuseppe Osso by his wife and children 12:30PM Martino Matesic by his wife Victoria 7:00PM People of the parish

Mass Intentions

ST NICHOLAS RC CHURCH Parish Trustees: Giovanni Simone & Michael Massaro Parish Secretary: Débora Moreira Music Ministry: Addie Luers, Giovanni & Karen Simone, Silvia Maresca, Cynthia Ramos, Angela Costantini and Kelly Oliveira

Vocationist Sisters Community Sr. Benedita Carvalho, S.D.V., Superior & Pre-K Director; Sr. Joicy Palatty, S.D.V. and Sr. Emilia Din, S.D.V. 223 14th Street - Palisades Park, NJ Tel. 201-947-2413 Parish Pre-K “Fr. Justin Learning Center” Tel. 201-944-1376

NOTRE DAME ACADEMY 312 First St—Palisades Park, NJ Principal: Mark Valvano Tel. 201-947-5262

News of the Parish

We invite our parishioners, who do not fell yet comfortable leaving their

homes, to follow our Masses streamed-LIVE on our website:

STNICHOLASRCHURCH.ORG and on our Facebook page:

ST NICHOLAS RC CHURCH.

We also invite all to participate in the Holy Hour of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament streamed-LIVE on our website and Facebook on Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:15PM.

WELCOME BACK TO WELCOME BACK TO WELCOME BACK TO ST. NICHOLAS MASSES ST. NICHOLAS MASSES ST. NICHOLAS MASSES

It is with great joy that we inform that our public Masses will return to their regular schedule this Monday, June 15th.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, our public Masses had been suspended for the past 3 months. Now it’s safe to return once we take preventive methods to protect our parishioners and church staff.

Masks must be worn by all individuals while in the church. Hands will be sanitized when entering. In-dividuals and families must maintain social dis-tancing (six feet). The number of people safely al-lowed at each Mass is still to be determined.

Cardinal Tobin continues the dispensation from the Sunday & Easter Duty. Masses, funerals, Bap-tisms and Weddings will be permitted.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) can be offered by appointment only. Confessionals are not to be used. Masks must be worn by confessor and penitent. Social distancing must be maintained by those waiting for the sacrament and attention be given to maintaining the seal.

Our Church will remain open for personal prayers everyday until 6:00 PM.

In Memoriam BREAD & WINE donated this week

in loving memory of Pasquale Costanzo & Gabriele Cecere

by their family

Pastoral Care

BEREAVEMENT MEETINGS ON ZOOM

In these dark days of the Convid-19 Pandemic, good people are suffering and dying alone. Families are not able to say goodbye. Their loved ones are dying without their Last Rites. There are no wakes, no funerals, and most have no burials either. It is impossible to imagine the emotional distress these families are going through.

In order to give some spiritual support to these families, ST. NICHOLAS is offering MEMORIAL MEETINGS ONLINE using the ZOOM App.

A priest will meet online with the family members of the deceased for spiritual comfort and prayers. Using a private ZOOM meeting room, families will be able to be together without breaking safe distance rules. It will be a moment to pray for the souls of their beloved ones with the blessing of a Catholic priest.

We have priests fluent in English, Italian, and Portu-guese. Let us help you through these trying times. For more information or to schedule a meeting, please call or text the office at 201-944-1154.

Pray for our sick: Mateus Ribeiro, Angela Tina, Domenica Dinaro, Josephine Dolberry, Eileen Murphy, Sara Modafferi, John Hroncich (John Hroncich’s nephew), James Malatesta, Dolly Marie Caiazzo, Francesco DeCandia, Rosetta Lo Faro, Paul Albanese, Paul Albanese, Stefano Sgambellone, Giulia Picinich, Anne Mulieri, Anna Teresi, Eudineia Aniceto, Marie Marino, Stephany Posada and all the victims of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Please join us in prayers of the HOLY ROSARY ONLINE every day of the week for the end of the

coronavirus pandemic.

Download the free app ZOOM on your phone or computer. You will

be asked the meeting number: At 12:00 PM—Holy Rosary in English

Meeting # 863-589-223 At 3:00 PM—Santo Rosario Italiano Meeting # 596-882-780

At 6:00 PM—Sto Rosario em portu-guês

Meeting # 294-266-791

All are welcome. Please call the rec-tory office if you need assistance

installing the Zoom app

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

In John's Gospel, Jesus gives a long discourse on the Bread of Life. In today's Gospel, he says that the bread he will give is his flesh. The leaders of the Jews don't under-stand. Hopefully, we can do better.

In the pagan world at the time of Christ and before, a sac-rifice was also a meal. Jesus used that understanding of sacrifice to explain his gift of self. He would die on the cross as a sacrifice to the Father and we would share in the meal by consuming bread and wine, which are his Body and Blood.

Better than the pagan sacrifice, the Eucharist unites us with God because Jesus is both human and divine. His humanity allowed him to represent us to the Father, as a lawyer represents a client to the court. Jesus' divinity al-lowed his sacrifice to be worthy of the Father, as no merely human gift could be.

The Eucharist also unites us to one another. Because the food we share is the Body and Blood of Christ, we in a sense become what we eat. We show this by our love, by sharing our faith, by forgiving each other, and by our ser-vice to each other. If we believe that Jesus is divine, we must believe his word that the Eucharist is truly his Body and Blood, given for us. —Tom Schmidt, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

Vocationist Corner

O my God and my All! O my Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

I believe that You listen to and consider each one of our feelings, each one of our anxieties, You who love us

without limitations!

I want to concentrate myself completely in the Divine Present, so that I may do everything with the

greatest possible perfection of nature and grace, in the most faithful imitation and intimate

union with You, O my God and my All!

Blessed Fr. Justin Russolillo, SDV, Spirit of Prayer, page 89

POPE PRAYER FOR MARY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves

to you, Health of the Sick,

who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm. You, Salvation of the Roman 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. Amen.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God.

Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger,

O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Saint Anthony of Padua, also venerated as Saint Anthony of Lisbon, was born in Lisbon, Portugal, which was then a part of Spain, in 1195 A.D., and named Fernando de Bulhões. He is one of the most be-loved Catholic saints today, and he was much loved even in his own time. Saint Anthony's physical ap-pearance was unremarkable; he was short and slightly plump, but every-one who heard him speak was drawn to him. St. Anthony was known to have a winning smile, a loud voice and a prodigious mem-

ory. His fervent faith must have been apparent from a young age, for by fifteen, he had entered the Augustinian Abbey of St. Vincent at Lisbon against his well-to-do family's wishes. Then, in 1219, St. Anthony had a portentous meeting with five Franciscans who were on their way to preach to the Muslims in Morocco. St. Anthony was apparently very moved by the Franciscans’ sacrifice and their simple lifestyle. He asked his order for permission to join the Franciscans, and in the sum-mer of 1220, received his habit. He took the name Anthony, after St. Anthony the Great. Saint Anthony greatly desired to follow in the foot-steps of the five Franciscans who had so affected him, and preach in Morocco, but ill health forced him to return soon after his arrival there. However, his homebound ship was never to reach Spain; a storm forced it to land instead on the coast of Italy. Franciscans there had pity on the ailing Anthony and as-signed him to the rural hospice of San Paolo outside of Bolo-gna. In that location, St. Anthony lived as a hermit and worked in the kitchen, his educated background either unknown or ignored. The hermitage was, in time, visited by a gathering of Dominicans. As that order was known for its preaching, the Franciscans did not prepare a homily themselves. When it was found that the Dominicans had expected their hosts to provide a preacher, the head of the hermitage, in desperation, called upon Anthony to speak some simple words from his heart. The friars were probably hoping at most for a minimal amount of embarrassment in front of the more learned Dominicans. In-stead, the whole company was awestruck by the brilliant words emanating from the mouth of St. Anthony. It was the beginning of his fame as a preacher. St. Francis himself learned of St. An-thony's extraordinary speaking abilities and sent Anthony a note exhorting him to preach to the other Franciscans. The beloved preacher became ill with dropsy in 1231 and on June 13, now his feast day, he died at the Poor Clare convent in Arcella at the young age of 36. His body was buried in a chapel, which is now enclosed by the Basilica of St. An-thony in Padua. Saint Anthony's was the second fastest canoni-zation in history; he was declared a saint 352 days after his death, by the same Pope Gregory he had met in life.

"Attribute to God every good that you have

received. If you take credit for something that does not belong to you, you will be guilty of theft."

"The life of the body is the soul;

the life of the soul is God." — St. Anthony

St. Anthony of Padua Feast Day: June 13

The effect of our sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ is to change us into what we receive.

—Pope St. Leo the Great

One prays best who does not know that one is praying.

—St. Anthony of Padua

Solemnity of the Most Holy Bread and Body of Christ

“CORPUS CHRISTI”

WE DON'T REALLY EAT CHRIST'S BODY -- OR DO WE? It's easy to go to Mass on auto pilot. You genu-flect, go into the pew, sit down, stand up, kneel, mumble prayers, think about your girlfriend or your plans for the afternoon, mumble prayers, stand again, shake someone's hand, kneel, get up, walk up the aisle, receive the body and blood of Christ...

Hey, wait a minute! Receive the body of Christ? Take His actual flesh into your mouth ...? You do that? You do it without even thinking about it?

Maybe it's time to do a little thinking. Do you believe that's what you're doing? Or is Com-munion just another part of the Mass for you?

A lot of Catholics aren't too clear on this whole concept of the Eucharist. They're not too sure what it is. The Church does believe the Eucharist is the real body and blood of Christ. After the words of con-secration ("This is My body ..." and "This is My blood..."), the bread and wine are no longer bread and wine. They've become Jesus Christ: body, blood, soul and divinity. He's there.

It all happened in the Gospel of John. Jesus was teaching His disciples, talking about bread. And He said something really astounding. He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you have no life in you ... for My flesh is real food indeed and My blood is real drink indeed" (Jn 6:53-55). He was pretty adamant on the point.

So how do we get this bread which is really His body? He told us at the Last Supper. "And He took bread and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you. Do this in remem-brance of Me.’ And likewise he took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood’" (Lk 22:19-20).

So Christ made things pretty clear. Unless we eat His flesh, we have no life within us. Receiving the Eucharist is a big deal. It's essential to our life in him. It's essential to staying on the right side of the gap between God and man. It's a pretty awe-

some thing when you think about it. God, the big God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God who created the universe and holds it in exis-tence -- He comes into you in a very real, very physical way. He becomes tangibly present in your body, He gets as close as He possibly could.

When you understand that, you get a little better understanding of people who go to Mass every day. They're not just going to sit down, stand up, mumble prayers and kneel. They're going to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ. They're going to drink Him into their lives, literally, so that He remains present to them. They're going so that, with Him constantly present, they'll be better able to love as He loves. They'll be stronger Christians and live better lives. They don't go because they're really good people. At least that's not why I go. I go because I need a lot of help.

All of this tells us something about how we should approach Communion. Receiving the Eucharist is a profound act. It's as close as you'll get to God in

this life. If we want to receive all the benefit we can from it, we need to have the right attitude. Our approach needs to be prayerful, respectful and reverent.

We also need to approach the Eucharist "clean." We can't just sin all week, and then expect to re-ceive the body and blood of Christ. Receiving wor-thily means that going to Him with a clear con-science. If you've committed a serious sin which you haven't confessed, to go to Communion would be another serious sin. Far from strength-ening your faith, receiving Communion unworthily will diminish it. I believe it was Voltaire who said that the way to lose your faith is to commit a seri-ous sin and then go to Communion. It's a "grace drain" and it's really wrong.

So the Eucharist is serious business. It's our "daily bread" that nourishes our spiritual life. Don't take the Eucharist lightly. Pay attention to the conse-cration. Something really incredible is happening. And don't settle for "starvation rations." Receive the Eucharist often. It's your spiritual food. You need it.

Excerpted from an article by MARY BETH BONACCI, that appeared in February 23,

1995 issue of "The Arlington Catholic Herald."