45 WILUS WAY, ISELIN NJ 08830 GPS—USE 51 VERNAM ST., ISELIN NJ † Phone: 732-283-2300 † Fax: 732-283-3326

Stceceliaparish.website@gmail.com † ceceliaparish@gmail.com † www.stcecelia.com † (For quick reference—See pages 2 &3)

Parish Staff Fr. Thomas Naduviledathu, S.D.V. Pastor Fr. Vernon Kohlmann, S.D.V. Parochial Vicar Deacon Richard Lutomski Permanent Deacon Deacon Anthony Pepe Permanent Deacon Mirabella Parota Music Director Kathleen Beglan Parish Secretary kbeglan@stcecelia.com Sr. Anna Tran, SCC

Maria Campos

mass Schedule Monday—Friday 7 am—9:15 am Saturday 8 am—4:30 pm Sunday 7:30, 9:00, 11:00 am, 5:00 pm Spanish Mass 6:30 pm

Holy day mass times Weekday Evening before Vigil Mass 7 pm, day of: 7:00, 9:15 am, 12:05 pm, and 7 pm.

Parish office hours Monday—Friday 9:00 am—4:00 pm

Confession Saturday 11:00 am—12:00 pm / 3:15—4:15 pm

Gift shop Gift Shop—732-283-1775 Monday—Friday 10:00 am—1:00 pm Saturday 3:00 pm—6:00 pm Sunday 10:00 am—12:30 pm Hours may vary, please call before you come.

Registration To enable us to better serve you, all parishioners are asked to register at the Parish Office. Family members over the age of 18 should register as individuals. To receive a letter of recommendation or character reference you should be registered for at least three months.

Social ministry office— 732-283-0150 FOOD PANTRY is open for food pick-up TUESDAYS from 10 AM to 2 PM ONLY. Call or email stcecelia.socialministry@gmail.com for food requests/appointments for pick-up. OTHER SERVICES provided by the Social Ministry Office.

House Blessing If you would like to have a home visitation or blessing, please call the Parish Office.

The Sacraments SPONSOR LETTERS: Church law mandates that a sponsor for Baptism and Confirmation be an active Confirmed Catholic. An active Catholic is a parishioner who is registered, attends Mass weekly, contributes to the support of the Church, is in a valid Catholic Marriage, and publicly leads a life compatible with Church teaching. We can only write letters of eligibility for parishioners who meet these criteria. BAPTISM: Please contact the Parish Office for all information and to make arrangements. MARRIAGE: Make arrangements one year in advance of the proposed wedding date. One party must be a parishioner; call the Parish Office. MINISTRY TO THE SICK OR HOMEBOUND: If any of your loved ones are in need of a priest and need the sacraments, please call the Parish Office at any time. The priests are always on call! Regular communion calls to the sick, aged or homebound should be arranged in advance.

ALTAR SERVERS Children in grades 3 and up are invited join. Contact Ann Cecilia Trinh, Coordinator at the parish office 732-283-2300.

Our lady of Fatima Statue—Home Visit If you are interested in having the statue visit your home, please call Carol 732-494-8697.

Education—732-283-2816 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES for grammar school students are held on Mondays from 5:45 to 7:15 PM at the former St. Cecelia School Building. R.C.I.A.: If you know anyone interested in becoming a Catholic or are baptized and want to receive other sacraments, please invite them to join RCIA! Call Deacon Rich at 732-680-1921.

Devotions CENACLE FOR MARIAN MOVEMENT OF PRIESTS every Wednesday after 9:15 AM Mass. NOVENAS to St. Jude and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal after 8 AM Mass on Saturday. DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET—Fridays after the 9:15 AM Mass. 2,000 HAIL MARY’S every 2nd Saturday of the month, in the Chapel starting at 7:00 AM.

ADORATION CHAPEL—Daily starting after 7 AM Mass to 4 PM. Please arrive before 4 PM for admittance to church. When you come in the Chapel and the Tabernacle doors are closed, open them. If you are the last one in the Chapel, please close the Tabernacle doors and shut off the light (make sure they are completely pressed down). FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION—6:00 pm Adoration followed by Holy Mass at 7:00 pm

societies/organizations LEGION OF MARY—Saturdays—9 AM, Conference Room ROSARY ALTAR SOCIETY—The Rosary is prayed before every daily/weekend Mass. The meetings are the 1st Monday after 1st Sunday at 7 PM in the Church Conference Room. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CONFERENCE— 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7:30 PM in the Parish Office. SPIRITUALITY GROUP—Every other Thursday evenings from 7:00—9:00 pm in the Conf. Room. Contact—George Madden 732-634-8031. YOUNG ADULT ADORATION—Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm in the Chapel. Contact Anthony Chin 732-589-4182.

music ministry CLASSICAL CHOIR—Practice Tuesday evenings from September—June at 7:30 PM in the church. Coordinator—Mirabella Parota.

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR—Practice on Saturday from 1:30—3:30 pm.

Youth ministry The meeting will be held on the first Saturday of every month after the 4:30 pm Mass in the Youth Ministry Room. Coordinator—Break Ministry.

Church etiquette Upon entering the church, make the sign of the Cross and bless yourself with Holy Water and genuflect before you sit. Please participate in the singing and responses. Come to Mass early enough not to disrupt and leave late enough not to insult the Lord. The Mass does not end until the final song has been completed. Worship reverently enough not to distract. This includes silence in the church and vestibule before Mass. Be mindful to turn off your electronic devices and quietly put the kneelers up and down during the Mass. Dress modestly and appropriately as you would for a special occasion.

Mass Intentions—February 8—16, 2020

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

VIGIL MASS—2/8 4:30PM Vernon & Frances Sriwardena req, Anton, Manel, and Family

SUNDAY—2/9 7:30AM Living and Deceased of the Parish 9:00AM *Irene Yurko req, Joy & Lauren Frisoli *Antonia Salas req, Maria Suarez 11:00AM Special Intention req, Bohdan & Dorota Jarosz 5:00PM Arthur & Marian Seaman req, Gary & Angie Seaman 6:30PM SPANISH MASS

MONDAY—T. SCHOLSTICA—2/10 7:00AM Keleher/Kolibas Family req, Kolibus Family 9:15AM Elaine Kondracki req, Carter Family 1:15 PM Joseph Vullo req, Angela Causing

TUESDAY—OUR LADY OF LOURDES—2/11 7:00AM Joslin, Basil, Wije, and Kumar req, Angela Causing 9:15AM Barry Noel req, Noel Family

WEDNESDAY—WEEKDAY—2/12 7:00AM Louis Leva req, Anna Gonnella 9:15AM Laurita Morris req, St. Cecelia Food Pantry

THURSDAY—WEEKDAY—2/13 7:00AM Margaret Hoffman req, Eileen Thompson 9:15AM John Craig req, Craig family

FRIDAY—WEEKDAY—2/14 7:00AM Nelly Senon Calvo req, Joe and Gigi Drust 9:15AM Charles Miele req, daughter Genevieve

SATURDAY—WEEKDAY—2/15 8:00AM Mary Calabria req, Maggie Bergbauer

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME VIGIL MASS—2/16

4:30PM Anna Pellegrino req, family

SUNDAY—2/16 7:30AM Living and Deceased of the Parish 9:00AM *Richard Wyzykowski req, Don and Maureen Wyzykowski *Joseph Caiola req, Phyllis and John Kraker 11:00AM Michael Buttitta req, Donna Buttitta 5:00PM Arthur and Marian Seaman req, Gary and Angie Seaman 6:30PM SPANISH MASS

Responsorial Psalm The just man is a light in the darkness to

the upright (Psalm 112).

Readings for the Week

Monday: 1 Kgs 8:1-7, 9-13; Ps 132:6 -7, 8-10; Mk 6:53-56

Tuesday: 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30; Ps 84:3-5, 10-11; Mk 7:1-13

Wednesday: 1 Kgs 10:1-10; Ps 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40; Mk 7:14-23

Thursday: 1 Kgs 11:4-13; Ps 106:3-4, 35-37, 40; Mk 7:24-30

Friday: 1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19;

Ps 81:10-11ab, 12-15; Mk 7:31-37

Saturday: 1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34;

Ps 106:6-7ab, 19-22; Mk 8:1 -10

Sunday: Sir 15:15-20; Ps 119:1-2, 4- 5, 17-18, 33-34;

1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37 [20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37]

questions of the Week

Question for Children: What can you do to bring the light of Jesus into the lives of your family, friends, and people you meet? Question for Youth: How do you feel when Jesus says that YOU are the salt of the earth and that YOU are called to be the light for others? Question for Adults: What specific efforts do you take to maintain your light? Do you let your light dim? Why?

Sick Relatives & Friends Mirabella Parota, Cathy (Napiorski) Harris, Jamie Nestor, Joseph Jonathan Cem, Ryan Michael, Liz Lutomski, Lena Zimbardo, Nicole C. Rossi, Marieta M, Samuel & Rose M., Marina Gomez, Gloria Reichley, Shawn Ekatan, Alberto Batista, Thomas, Amanda & Christine Porcelli, Ligia Riezenman, Kat T., Marilyn Rentko, Robert & Mary Maurer, Raymond Kneckel, Craig Soper, Lucy Angela Knoth, Julia Hilinski, Gail Rezmerski, Howard Chubbuck

In Loving Remembrance Let us remember all our departed brothers

and sisters, especially asking God to reward them with joy

and eternal peace.

Go to www.faithdirect.net to enroll; our church code is NJ425.

February 2, 2020:

In-pew Faith Direct Total

$ 9,011.00 $ 1,493.50 $ 10,504.50

February 3, 2019:

In-pew Faith Direct Total

$ 8,815.50 $ 1,598.25 $ 10,413.75

Snow Removal ‘20

In-pew Faith Direct Total

$ 2,563.00 $ 0.00 $ 2,563.00

Snow Removal ‘19

In-pew Faith Direct Total

$ 2,361.50 $ 0.00 $ 2,361.50

Candle—Al Valvano req, Lisa Valvano

From the Desk of Our Pastor...

Dear Friends in Jesus Christ…,

The Last week I tried to explain to you the reason of difference in the numbers of book in the Catholic and Protestant Bibles. We have seven more books than the Protestants. So it is a continuation of last week’s writing. There are several objections to these 7 books, besides not being approved at the Jewish Council Jamnia. Some say that since the New Testament never references these disputed books, then that proves that they are not canonical. But that isn’t right, because the non-disputed books of Ecclesiastes and Ezra aren’t mentioned in the New Testament at all, not even once. By this standard then, Ecclesiastes and Ezra aren’t canonical either. On the other hand, there are many references indeed from the deuterocanonicals in the New Testament. Anybody who reads the book of Wisdom 2: 12-20 would immediately recognize that this is a direct reference to the Jews who were plotting against Jesus in Matthew 27:41-43: Wisdom 2:12-20: "Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God's son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected." Matthew 27: 41-43: So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, `I am the Son of God.’” Another similar instance of this is Hebrews 11:35 being a direct reference to 2 Maccabees 7, where the mother and her 7 sons were slaughtered by the evil King for not forsaking the Jewish law. Romans 1:19-25 is also referenced in Wisdom 12-13. The clincher, of course, is that Jesus Himself observed the feast of Hannukah, or the Dedication of the Temple, in John 10. This can be found in the Old Testament book of First Maccabees, Chapter 4, which is in the Catholic Bible, but not in the Protestant Bible. Additionally, there are some unscriptural books referenced in the New Testament, like Enoch and the Assumption of Moses (in the book of Jude), so if the standard is that books referenced in the New Testament are canonical, then Enoch and the Assumption of Moses would be in the Old Testament, but they are not. Some people object to these 7 books because they claim some of the early church fathers like St. Jerome didn’t think they were divinely inspired. While it’s great that all of a sudden so many non-Catholics start quoting the early Church Fathers, it’s not right to quote them on this and then not on the Eucharist, the papacy, or the supremacy of Rome, all which prove that the Catholic Church was the only Church around in those days. St. Jerome initially had some concerns about these books, saying that the Palestinian Jews didn’t consider them canonical, but St. Jerome was not infallible, and later agreed that they were. All of the early Church Fathers accepted these disputed books as divinely inspired. Still others object to some of the disputed 7 books because of historical or geographical errors in them. And there are some, but it has to be remembered that not all stories in the Bible are historical. For instance, was there really a rich man who died and went to hell, and then saw his poor servant in the bosom of Abraham? Was there really a young man who sold his inheritance and went off to a faraway country and squandered it, and returned home as the prodigal son? Was there really a vineyard where the workers who showed up late got paid the same as the workers who worked all day? Or is it rather not more important that these parables teach important theological lessons than it is for them to be 100% historically accurate? In other words, books of fiction that relate Biblical truths can be divinely inspired. It’s important also to note that the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls included the book of Tobit and the book of Sirach, proving that the people back then thought them canonical, because they were found with the book of Isaiah and other Old Testament books. And you can check all of this out for yourself. The first bible ever printed was the Gutenberg Bible, in the century BEFORE Luther started his Reformation. And the 7 books are indeed in that Bible. And an interesting numerology coincidence occurs here as well. In the bible, the number 7 denotes perfection (God rested on the 7th day, 7 spirits that minister to God, 7 sacraments), and the number 3 represents the Holy Trinity. On the other hand, the number 6 represents imperfection (as in 666). Therefore, 73 books sure sounds a lot better than 66 books!

Religious education Religious Education Office phone number is 732-283-2816; CELL phone number is

732-343-1132 and is located in the brick building to the left of the school. Classes are held on Mondays from 5:45 to 7:15 PM at Oak Tree School #29 Building.

February 10 Religious Education Classes Grades 1-8 February 17 No Religious Education Classes – President’s Day February 20 Grade 8 Journey of Faith 7:00-9:00 pm Lourdes Hall February 24 Religious Education Classes Grades 1-8 February 26 Ash Wednesday March 2 Religious Education Classes Grades 1-8 March 8 Family Mass at 9:00 AM – Hosted by 8 grade and Presentation of Service Hours March 14-15 Vacation Bible School Bake Sale after Masses. If anyone

would be interested in helping to bake, please give the Religious Education Office the “thumbs up!”

St. Cecelia Winter Dinner Dance

Saturday, February 22, 2020 6:30 – 11:00 pm in Lourdes Hall

Buffet Dinner ~BYOB Must be 21 to attend

Tickets $35 per person. Must be 21 to attend.

Snow date—Saturday, February 29, 2020.

Tickets are available in the Parish Office and after Masses

payable with cash or check—payable to St. Cecelia Church.

Asparagus contains many

anti-inflammatory

nutrients!

February 2020 Wedding Anniversaries

Anthony & Carmen Maldonado, 30 years

Raphael & Tulu D’Cruze, 35 years Robert & Marie Dalesandris, 51 years

Arthur & Ellen Wageman, 56 years William & Eileen Donovan, 57 years

Some of the more interesting items in these 7 books are as follows: In 2 Maccabees 12:39-45, we learn how Judas Maccabees prayed for the dead and made atonement FOR THEM by sending money to the temple as a sin offering (purgatory). In 2 Maccabees 2:4-7, we learn the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant and when it will be found. In 2 Maccabees 15:12-17, we learn about how saints in heaven pray for us and help us out here on earth. In Wisdom 7, we see a biblical type of the Blessed Virgin Mary known as "wisdom." In Sirach 38:1-15, we learn about the role of the physician and how God uses him/her to cure us. In Tobit, we learn about the Archangel Raphael (a name which means God Heals), the only place in the entire bible where he is mentioned. We also learn about the anti-marriage demon Asmodeus. In Judith, we see a biblical type of Mary crushing the head of the serpent; Judith cuts off the head of the evil General Holofernes, and saves Israel.

God Bless You, Fr. Thomas

DECREE ON THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY PAUL BISHOP

SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD TOGETHER WITH THE FATHERS OF THE SACRED

COUNCIL FOR EVERLASTING MEMORY (Chapter 1: The Vocation of Lay People to the Apostolate)

(# 4 conclusion: The Spirituality of Lay People) Furthermore, the laity who in pursuit of their vocation have become members of one of the associations or institutions approved by the Church, are trying faithfully to adopt the special characteristics of the spiritual life which are proper to these as well.

They should also hold in high esteem professional competence, family and civic sense, and the virtues related to social behavior, namely, honesty, sense of justice, sincerity, courtesy, moral courage, without them there is no true Christian life.

The perfect model of this kind of apostolic spiritual life is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles. While on earth her life was like that of any other, filled with labors and the cares of the home; always, however, she remained intimately united to her Son and cooperated in an entirely unique way in the Savior’s work. And now, assumed into heaven, “by her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home” (Cf. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church [Lumen Gentium] chap. 8, no. 62). Everyone should have a genuine devotion to her and entrust their life and apostolate to her motherly concern.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2020-2021 TUITION ASSISTANCE

ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS OPEN

Families interested in applying for tui on assistance to a end an eligible Diocese of Metuchen elementary or high school may apply online now through FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment at h ps://online.factsmgt.com/aid. Online applica ons must be completed (including all required documenta on) by no later than March 31, 2020. Applica ons are available in English and Spanish.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

8 2,000 Hail Mary’s in the chapel starting at 6:30am

9

World Marriage Day—Blessing of all Marriages at all Masses

9 am—Family Mass gr. 6 & 7

Coffee and Fellowship hosted by gr. 6 & 7

6:30 pm—Spanish Mass

10 5:45—7:15 Rel. Ed.

7:30 pm—Spanish Bible Study—Chapel

7:30 pm—St. Vincent de Paul—Parish Office

13

7—9:00 pm—Spirituality Group—Conf. Room

14 15

16 12:30 pm—Baptism

6:30 pm—Spanish Mass

17 PRESIDENT’S DAY

PARISH OFFICE CLOSED

NO REL. ED. CLASSES

20 21 22

6:30—11:00 pm Winter Dinner Dance

2nd Collection—Parish Impr. Fund

23

2nd Collection—Parish Impr. Fund

12:30 pm—Baptism

6:30 pm—Spanish Mass

24 5:45—7:15 Rel. Ed.—Gr. 8 Confessions

7:30 pm—Spanish Bible Study—Chapel

7:30 pm—St. Vincent de Paul—Parish Office

7—9:00 pm—Spirituality Group—Conf. Room

28

6:00 pm Adoration, 6:30 pm Mass, and 7:00 pm Stations of the Cross

29

1 MARCH

6:30 pm—Spanish Mass

2 5:45—7:15 Rel. Ed.—Gr. 7 Confessions

7:00 pm—Rosary Altar Society Meeting—Conf. Room

7:30 pm—Spanish Bible Study—Chapel

5 6 FIRST FRIDAY

6:00 pm Adoration, 6:30 pm Mass, and 7:00 pm Stations of the Cross

7

February 2020

INFORMATION SHEET CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS 511586: St. Cecelia 45 Wilus Way, Iselin NJ 08830 PHONE 732-283-2300 (Church) CONTACT PERSON Kathy or Stephanie @ 732-283-2300 SOFTWARE Microsoft Publisher® 2010 Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard Windows 7 PRINTER HP® Laserjet 1200 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT We are a 12 pager this week.

SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION

February 9, 2020 TRANSMISSION TIME Thursday, 8 AM SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS (for production)

PLEASE PRINT 900 COPIES!!!

FedEx shipping address: 45 Wilus Way, Iselin NJ 08830

Special instructions (for delivery): If atrium locked, please leave by doors.

FedEx tracking e-mail: kbeglan@stcecelia.com