Rev. Nicholas Bozza, Pastor 375 Main Street, P.O. Box 730, Chester, New Jersey 07930

Coordinators of Religious Education:

Carla Fuscaldo, Dorothy Kudron, Terry Leing

Cynthia Vittitow— Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Brian Flanagan — Confirmation

Kathleen Galdi — DRE

Music Minister: Joseph P. Tamburro

Youth Minister: Brian Flanagan

Mercy Minister: Cindy Zeis

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN: Gr. 1-8: Sun. 9:00-10:45 am (includes Mass)

Gr. 5-8: Sun. 5:00-7:00 pm (includes Mass)

Gr. 9-10: Sun. 5:50-8:15 pm (includes Mass)

CGS: Sun. 9:00-11:00 am OR Tues. 4:30-5:45 pm

Gr. K-8: Thurs. 4:45-6:00 pm

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: RCIA: Sundays (September-Easter)

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday: 4:00-4:45 pm, Monday: 6:30-7:00 pm & on request.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Please call the Parish Office anytime for communion calls or visitation

of the sick and elderly. Keep us informed so that we can be attentive to

those who are ill at home or in the hospital.

Parish Email: parish@stlchester.org

Parish Web Site: www.stlchester.org

Web Master: Joanne Franklin (908-879-6222)

Welcome Rosemary Lohrmann (973) 214-4806 Haiti Twinning Program Christine Colannino (201) 314-9824

Bereavement Don Martone (908) 879-7957 Lectors John Kennington (908) 872-0575

Good Samaritans Patsy Soden (908) 879-3374 Eucharistic Ministers Loretta Stewart (973) 222-7492

Grocery Cards Jean Ward (908) 334-3442 Ushers Bob Holl (908) 876-3488

Moms & Tots Melissa Altieri (908) 797-0676 Music Minister Joe Tamburro (908) 453-3302

Arimathaea Arlene McDonald (973) 229-9697 Spanish Ministry Louis Villafane (908) 879-3032

Liturgical Environment Joanne Carr (908) 879-5543 Youth Minister Brian Flanagan (973) 946-8770

Women’s Cornerstone Lissette Howell (973) 975-7343 Altar Servers Chuck Feller (908) 768-2838

Men’s Cornerstone Marc McFeely (973) 222-9739 Evangelization Bob Holl (908) 876-3488

Pastoral Adv. Board Jerry Frech (908) 377-2900 RCIA Jan Richards (908) 975-3555

Rosary Society Marie Holl (908) 876-3488 Respect Life Connie Wieczorek (908) 879-6453

Media Ministry Carla Fuscaldo (908) 879-7647 Barn Ministry Ed Wieczorek (908) 300-0098

Mary’s Moonflowers Karen Jones (973) 479-5271 Family Mass Social Marc McFeely (973) 222-9739

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Yohan Serrano

Permanent Deacon: William DeVizio

Trustee: Phil Guidone

Parish Secretary: Karen Jaworski

Accountant: Sharon McCann Business Manager: Bill McCormick

MASSES: Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm (Spanish), 6:00 pm

Daily Mass: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am & 9:00 am, Sat. 9:00 am

Holy Day Vigil: 7:00 pm

Holy Day: 8:00 am, 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm (bi-lingual)

Healing Mass: 7:00 pm every 3rd Tuesday of month. Rosary at 6:30 pm

BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

SPANISH BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule. Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

MARRIAGES: Please contact the Priest/Deacon whom you wish to officiate at your

wedding one year in advance to arrange for Marriage Preparation

Sessions.

PARISH MEMBERSHIP: Every family moving into the parish is requested to register. If you move

to another parish or change your address, please notify the Parish Office.

St. Lawrence the Martyr Church SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2018

MISSION STATEMENT

St. Lawrence the Martyr Roman Catholic Church is a loving and welcoming

community of disciples of Jesus who invite you to join us in becoming

disciples of Jesus. As disciples, we are faithful to prayer, to listening to

God’s Word, to meeting with Jesus in the sacraments, to building community,

and to serving others.

Parish Office: 908-879-5371 Priests’ Home: 908-879-1901 Religious Ed.: 908-879-6714 Youth Minister: 973-946-8770 Fax: 908-879-7701

Parish Ministries and Ministry Facilitators

Page Two SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2018 - EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THE

PARABLES

GOD’S STORAGE PLACES FOR HIS TRUTH

The Gospels pass on to us the work of Jesus from the time of His public ministry. It is clear

that Jesus worked with different groupings of people in different ways. We can note how the

evangelists make a note of which type of group Jesus is addressing with a particular teaching.

For example, the Evangelist Mark may portray Jesus directing a particular teaching to the

“crowds” in one place. In another place, Jesus can be addressing a teaching to His

“disciples.” And in still another place, Jesus can be addressing a teaching to His “Apostles.”

These distinctions can be useful for us depending on where we are in our personal journey of

faith. Early in our faith journey, we can be in the crowd as we are in the process of believing

that Jesus is God. Later, Jesus will call us to advance to be His disciples (by the way,

“disciple” means a student of Jesus). Still later, Jesus will call us beyond being a new disciple

to being a missionary or a working disciple who helps others to become disciples, too. It is

most helpful to note to whom Jesus is addressing His teachings as we read and meditate on

the Gospels.

During this past week, we were exposed to several parables of Jesus. We heard the parable of

the wheat and the weeds, the parable of the treasure in the field, the parable of the really valu-

able pearl, and the parable of the potter’s clay (from Jeremiah). It struck me that the parables

are parts of Jesus’ filing system for the special teachings that He gives us at the different stag-

es of our journeys of faith. This system is most helpful for us as disciples. The parables help

us to remember Jesus’ teachings because we have to work on finding the lesson contained in

the parables. Parables can help us, too, in the process of recalling what we need to know

when we are trying to live by the Word of God. The parables are a great system for storing

and finding the various truths presented us by God!

Father Nick

Page Three SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2018 - EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE SICK . . .

Kirsten Mumma, William Ware, Julio Carrera, Sebastian Quinn,

Ralph Bozza, Sister Eucharia, Bishop Frank Rodimer, Father Eu-

gene Romano, Father Paul Knauer, Father Rafael Perez, Father

Daniel Kelly, Father Joseph Farias, Msgr. Richard Rusconi, Msgr.

Peter McBride, Deacon Hector Cassillas, Patrick John Moran, Ann Kelly, Lloyd Matsamoto, Helen Crowe, Jane Alt, Patrick Pronio,

Allison Spina, Lesley Pawar, Tom Walsh, Steve Briggs, Brian Gra-

ham, Colleen Saito, William Kelly, Mary Norwood, Mary Lanzara,

Rocco Colantuono, Diane Verge, Cade Feitel, Christine Ambrosino,

Carole Stessl, Kathy Bollwork, Dick Goodwin, Nicholas Brown,

Jane Rufino, Kevin Callahan, Judith Stampone, Paul Fitzgerald,

Charlotte Poth, Colleen Looby, George Serafin, Charlie Romano,

Salman Javed, Joe Cillo, Jerry Green, Mary Constantinople, Dan

McGuigan, Patricia Gilvey, Daisy Hallock, Ryan Menzel, Vincent

& Giuliana Petane, Betty Macaluso, Dorothy Powers, Wesley

Snawder, Tom Murray, Eidelia Jimenez Martinez, Mila Balicki,

Consiglia Erdenberger, Arnold Family, Bonnie Lieberworth, Barba-

ra Drive, Jack Ratti, Finn Michael, Olivia Gill, Teresa Smith,

Frances Ferreri, Teresa Colamonaco, Baby Gianni Mazza, Carol

Mattone, Anna Birsilli Garich, Greg Villafane, Anne Owens

McGrath, Janet Courtland, Jack Arnold, Lily Barbero, Hunter Bar-

bero, Robert LeFrancis, Moire Riley, Brian Spring, Jim Robertiello,

Doug Blessen, Barbara Davis, Jim Kielley, Jimena Garcia, Dr. An-

thony Borrelli, Jorge Lombardo, Janice Thurston, Matt Adonis, Jim

Balicki, Bill Renzetti, Baby Vaia, Bill Pigot, Rosa Salgado, Vera

Sax, David Goulart, Christine Clark, Winnie Knapik, Kolbe, Paul

Maurer, Joanne Seiller, Gail Anderson, Phillip Heery, Rosemary

Shattuck, Frank Loprest, John Memora, Kathy Hannan, Joanne

Strutt, Buddy Black, Eileen Schiano, Annerys Castillo

Please help us keep this list up to date! Call 908-879-5371

and let us know if a name should be added or deleted.

WE SHARE

WeShare, our online giving system, allows parishioners

to donate to the parish electronically from their checking

or savings account in a secure and convenient way.

If you’ve never donated online before, signing up is easy!

Visit our church website at www.stlchester.org and click

“online giving” to follow the step-by-step instructions.

You can also call 800-950-9952, option 1, for additional

help and information.

ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE

August 11-12

5:00 pm

CB – Justin

Katz

S1 – Julia

Katz

S2 – Aman-

da Katz

7:30 am

CB –

S1 –

S2 –

9:00 am

CB – Cole

Capuzzi

S1 – Curran

Capuzzi

S2 – Sofia

Varua

11:00 am

CB – Trevor

Connolly

S1 – Liam

Brandt

S2 Stephen

Howell

6:00 pm

CB – An-

drew Guido

S1 Gretch-

en Higgins

S2 – Margo

Higgins

RECENTLY BAPTIZED

May God hold you always in the

palm of His hand.

Mia Jolie Raczyk, daughter of Kevin &

Jessica Raczyk of William Street,

Succasunna.

Weston Cole Klobchar, son of Al & Christina Klobchar

of Black Bear Path, Lake Hopatcong.

Jaxon Rhys Hilliker, son of Oliver & Danielle Hilliker

of Prides Crossing, Flanders.

Rodrigo David Carrera Carrera, son of Cesar & Evelyn

Carrera Carrera of Four Bridges Road, Chester.

JOINED THE PARISH

We welcome you!

Scott & Jaclyn Malyk and their daughters

Mia and Morgan of

Fox Chase Road, Chester.

Steve & Theresa Thomson and their son Chase

of Hardin Court, Chester.

THE BEACON

Do You Receive The Beacon?

If you receive The Beacon, your support to help under-

write the monthly subscription bill would be greatly ap-

preciated. The annual subscription fee is $29.50. A

check, made out to St. Lawrence Church, can be mailed

to the Parish Office or dropped in the collection basket at

Mass.

Would You Like to Subscribe or Cancel The Beacon?

Please contact Karen in the Parish Office:

908-879-5371 OR parish@stlchester.org.

Pray, hope, and don’t worry.

Worry is useless.

God is merciful and will hear your prayers.

Prayer is the best weapon we have.

It is the key to God’s heart.

~ Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Page Four SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2018 - EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

LAST BARN SALES OF SEASON

September 8

October 12 & 13

9:00-2:00 pm

Donated items are still being accepted and

are most appreciated!

WE WERE ASKED TO ANNOUNCE

An Exciting Cultural Experience for our Community

Consider becoming the host family for an extraordinary

Portuguese Catholic AFS Intercultural Exchange Student

who enjoys going to Mass! Fifteen-turning-sixteen year old

Manuel is a positive, musical, athletic boy with excellent

grades and English language skills. He is the youngest of 5

children and all of his siblings went on AFS programs and

had amazing experiences. He plays piano, guitar and ukule-

le, and he and his brother compete to be the funniest in the

family! Currently he is focused on gymnastics, but he also

loves many other sports. He is in the top 5 students in his

class and his favorite subject is physics.

AFS Intercultural Programs has been bringing students to host

families in New Jersey for over 50 years. There are usually

around 40 AFS students hosted in NJ during the school year,

who become life-long family members of their host families.

AFS students and their host families are personally well sup-

ported with enriching activities and a community of volunteers

and other host families.

Please consider giving your own family a once-in-a lifetime

experience by sharing your life, culture and community with a

brave and interesting teen while seeing your own life through

an international perspective. Time is of the essence. I'm a local

volunteer who would love to share more about Manuel - or

perhaps another student - and answer all your questions. I'm

available day, evening and weekends!

Alison Colaluca

AFS-NJ Volunteer Hosting Coordinator

973-397-9999 landline

973-985-3583 mobile

Save the Date!

All parishioners are invited to join

in a visit to . . .

The National Shrine of

Our Lady

of Czestochowa

In Doylestown, PA

September 15, 2018

Included:

• Mass for St. Lawrence parishioners in Chapel

• Tour of Shrine including 15 minute video

• Buffet lunch including traditional Polish food (Cost will be $12 or $15 depending on attendance)

• Visit to gift/book shop

• Time for private prayer

• Time to walk through Gardens

This visit is coordinated by the Rosary Society.

If interested, please contact Marie Holl at

marieholl@comcast.net or 908.876.3488

by Monday, August 20, 2018.

More information including travel logistics

to follow.

Our parish recently hosted these young adults from Cross

Roads Pro Life. They walked from the west coast from either

California, Oregon or Washington. Their mission is to promote

the gospel of life. We were most happy to have them with us

last weekend.

MOVING?

LOCAL ADDRESS CHANGE?

Please notify the Parish Office by

phone or email if you are moving

or if your address has changed.

We appreciate your help in keep-

ing our parish directory up to

date. Thank you.

mailto:marieholl@comcast.net

Page Five SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2018 - EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2018 8:00 am - Helen & Bert Carr, Sr.

9:00 am - Rose Prisco

TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2018

8:00 am - Hugh McCague

9:00 am - Edward J. Shaara

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 8:00 am - Bob Weiser

9:00 am - Joseph Hoffman

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2018 8:00 am - William & Bill Novick

9:00 am - Charles Emmert

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 8:00 am - Michael Murphy

9:00 am - Spec. Int. of Bob & Carol Farbanish

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

9:00 am - Douglas Crane, Jr.

5:00 pm - Ruth Colantuono

- Luisa Trinidad Rodriquez

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 2018 7:30 am - Joe Stockage

9:00 am - For the People of the Parish

11:00 am - Edward Boyle

- Jeanne McCormick

12:30 pm - Karen Ventura

6:00 pm - Cindy Kennington

TITHING IS GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING.

Biblically a tithe means 10%. All are asked to consider

tithing and return 10% of our income to the Lord (5% to

the parish, 5% to God’s other charities) in gratitude. The

spiritual practice of tithing disposes us to make God first

in every area of our lives! The aim is to secure not the

tithe, but the tither. Not the gift, but the giver — for God!

Tithing Income July 29, 2018 $ 9,573.00

Tithing Income July 30, 2017 $10,646.00

Reflection: EXODUS 16:4

“Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily

portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow

my instructions or not.”

When the Israelites gathered more than their daily portion

of manna, the surplus became wormy and rotten. In the

same way today, self-reliance, pride and ego leads to

hoarding and excessive surplus of goods and money. Liv-

ing a stewardship lifestyle helps us discern our “wants”

from our “needs”. Living a generous lifestyle reminds us

that God will provide all that we need and that we have

plenty to share.

From Father Nick: “I thank you for your generous of-

ferings to God. I know that you are loving God as you do

so and you are helping his Church to serve at the same

time.”

From a Parishioner of St. Therese Church in Suc-

casunna: “As a new couple in the parish, we found the

tithing packet most informative. We are thankful for all

the blessings from God and feel honored to be giving

Him something in return.”

GOD’S WORK

We are so busy! Most of us have more than one job to do

and we never seem to have enough time. We are workers,

volunteers, parents, friends, and most of us are more than

one thing at a time. But which of these is the work of

God? We seldom view our ordinary work as being the

work of God. We may think that we have to be ministers

or priests, missionaries or charity workers, engaged full-

time in works formally identified as being “God’s work.”

But everything we do with a faithful heart and with love

for others is God’s work. We each have our own role to

fill in the world and many gifts are necessary. We cannot

always see the direct connection of our daily work to the

plan of God. But we trust and we believe that God leads

us to do what is needed, where it is needed. What is

“God’s work?” “This is the work of God, that you believe

in the one He sent” (John 6:29).

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — I will rain down bread from heaven for

you (Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15).

Psalm — The Lord gave them bread from heaven

(Psalm 78).

Second Reading — Put on the new self that has been

created in God’s way (Ephesians 4:17, 20-24).

Gospel — Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and

whoever believes in Me will never thirst (John 6:24-35).

NEXT HEALING MASS

Tuesday, August 21, at 7:00 pm (Rosary at 6:30 pm)

MASS READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9;

2 Pt 1:16-19; Mk 9:2-10

Tuesday: Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Ps 102:16-21, 29,

22-23; Mt 14:22-36 or Mt 15:1-2, 10-14

Wednesday: Jer 31:1-7; Jer 31:10, 11-12ab, 13;

Mt 15:21-28

Thursday: Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:12-15, 18-19;

Mt 16:13-23

Friday: 2 Cor 9:6-10; Ps 112:1-2, 5-9; Jn 12:24-26

Saturday: Hb 1:12 — 2:4; Ps 9:8-13; Mt 17:14-20

Sunday: 1 Kgs 19:4-8; Ps 34:2-9; Eph 4:30 — 5:2;

Jn 6:41-51