Welcome to St. Virgil’s… Mass Intentions for the Week

Sat., Sept. 22 5:00 PM Craig Davidson Dorothy Denman Angelina Zisa William Smith

Sun., Sept. 23 7:30 AM Larry Eckel Marlys Stover

9:00 AM Craig Davidson 10:30 AM Deceased Members of the Calentone Family

William Conradi 12:00 PM Geraldine Puca

Mary Patricia Bowers Mary McElroy

Mon., Sept. 24 6:30 AM Stanley Kudron 12:10 PM William Conradi Tues., Sept. 25 6:30 AM Bernie & John Janny 12:10 PM Dr. Randy & Ann Knob—Special

Intentions Wed., Sept. 26 6:30 AM David & Suzie Bryce 12:10 PM Cal Benson Thurs., Sept. 27 6:30 AM Mary Jo Hashagen 12:10 PM Deacon Richard Pinto—Special Intentions

Thomas Gazzo—Special Intentions Fri., Sept. 28 6:30 AM Sam Barratt 12:10 PM Emelina D. Bernardo

Special Intentions of the members of St. Virgil’s Prime Time

Sat., Sept. 29 8:00 AM In thanksgiving from the Bernardo Family 5:00 PM Jean Trancone—1st Anniversary

Dolores Marcantonio Miceál McHugh Christine Ambrosino

Sun., Sept. 30 7:30 AM Deceased Members of the Massenzio Family

9:00 AM Craig Davidson Edward Lang

10:30 AM Ann Chiocozzi Anthony Rizzo

12:00 PM Larry Colasurdo

Through your generous donations, the collection for the weekend of September 15/16 was $10,502 (Regular = $8,559 + Faith Direct = $1,943). Your commitment to St. Virgil’s allows us to continue to support the programs, ministries and outreaches of our Parish.

Ministry Schedule for September 29 and 30 5:00pm Vigil 7:30am 9:00am 10:30am 12:00 noon Cantor Nancy Fenimore Nina Rangel Janet Winston Sam Cifelli Lector Tom Wendorff D & M Schultz Lynn Kelly Mike Butchko Ellesa Effner Altar Servers Lia Dyer Brandon Kelly Alexa Urriola Natalie Dyer Chris Urriola Extraordinary Marianne Altrui Nicea D’Annunzio Dianna DeLorenzo Viji Alex Maria Aloia Ministers Marie Hantak Cathy Marshall Joe DeLorenzo Maureen Kelly Deanna Colasurdo Michele Para Beverly Morgan Barbara Fisher Pearl Law Jackie Colasurdo Pat Para Rosemary Paulison Chris Letta Penny Manser Andrew DeBlock Lydia Sesso George Perkins Karen Schwingel Matt Fallivene Pete Sesso June Sambrowski Angela Rangel

This Week at St. Virgil’s

Sunday, September 23 Choir Rehearsal, 8:45 AM, CR Parish Picnic, 1 PM, School 2nd Yr. FISH, 6:30 PM, School

Monday, September 24 Miraculous Medal Novena, 12:40 PM, Church

Tuesday, September 25 Return Support Group, 11 AM, TC

Thursday, September 27 Bible Study, 10:30 AM, TC

Divine Mercy Novena, 6:30 PM, Church Bible Study, 7 PM, Library

Friday, September 28 Eucharistic Adoration, 7 AM, Church

Saturday, September 29 Confession, 3:30-4:15 PM Sunday, September 30

Choir Rehearsal, 8:30 AM, CR PREP K-4, 10:15 – 11:45 AM

Open Forum with Fr. Lance, 4 PM, Gym

Among Ourselves

Please remember in your prayers: Noreen Ballon, Eileen Langan, Karen Cullen, Mary Sullivan, Steve O’Neill, Colleen Dillon & Family, Bob Taylor, John & Elizabeth Zisa, Kamasha Redhead, Stephen Burke, Sandra Buck, Janet Dittrich, Tammy Dolan, Mallory Miller, Miah Tully, Domenico & Teresa Procopio, Anne Benson, Baby Emma Scannelli, Barbara Bock, Theresa Mohr, Christopher Mohr, Mary Maffeo, & Rose Marie Warrick.

Please note that names will remain on the prayer list for 3 months at which time they will be rotated off. If you wish the name to stay on the list, a family member must call the Parish Office to make the request.

Saint Vincent de Paul (+1660) is celebrated on September 27. He is “The Apostle of Charity" and "The Father of the Poor". There are numerous associations, most notably: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul which has over 100,000 trained volunteers

serving in the USA alone. His life and work, his dedication to the poor and the slaves, his effective concern for priests and seminarians, and his personal example of humility, simplicity and holiness continue to influence many in our world.

Vincent began his life on a farm, decided to study and was ordained a priest. While traveling by ship he was captured by pirates and spent two years as a slave rowing oars in the galleys. Escaping he made his way to Rome and was appointed chaplain to the wealthy estate owner in France. Here he found the opportunity to help the poor and this was the beginning of his charitable works. Together with some brother priests he founded the Congregation of Missions, popularly known as the Vincentians. The founding of hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens, food pantries, and general supply centers were some of the fruits of his efforts. With Saint Louise de Marillac he co-founded the Daughters of Charity. He was instrumental in freeing hundreds of galley slaves and offer them housing, education and a means to make a decent living.

St. Vincent lived in the aftermath of the Council of Trent which called for a total reform of the church. He devoted a lot of his

energy in reforming the clergy, establishing seminaries and calling back the lost into the Church. It would be very good to ask this Saint for his timely support and assistance for the Church and Clergy during these dark and stormy times.

Though we do not have a branch of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, we do have numerous occasions when we are called upon to donate and help the poor and needy, the destitute and the impoverished. Know that the kind, generous and gracious spirit of St. Vincent de Paul is active among us, may we be strengthened in our resolve to share in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. May God bless us with good health and a compassionate heart - Fr. Lance

OPEN FORUM Concerns about the recent Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report (8/18/18) and many other reports, statements, editorials, it would be beneficial for us at St. Virgil to have a "conversation" regarding this subject.

I invite all parishioners to come to the "Open Forum" on Sunday, September 30, at 4:00 PM in our School Gym. You will have the opportunity to listen, speak, ask questions and suggest what we at St. Virgil Parish can do. There are many among us who have been greatly disturbed, rightfully angered, sorely discouraged and bitterly confused. Yet, such an opportunity is a way of gathering together and seeking ways of change, improvement and security for our children and our community. All are welcome to our Open Forum, Sunday September 30, at 4:00 PM in our School Gym. -- Fr. Lance

Parish Postings

3rd Annual Christmas Bazaar

Crafters Needed for our Third Annual Christmas Bazaar ~ December 1 & 2. Join the growing number of crafters

that have already registered! Contact the Parish Office (973-538-1418) for a registration form or email svparishoffice@gmail.com. If you’d like to join the team of volunteers who work to make the Bazaar a success, please call Gloria in the Parish Office or email her at svparishoffice@gmail.com

Join us at our Parish Picnic today at 1 PM in the school.

St. Virgil’s Tuesday Evening Bridge

On the third Tuesday of each month, the St. Virgil’s Tuesday Evening Bridge group meets to play. They are seeking new members for the group. If you’re interested in joining, please call

Joani Backes at 973-267-8484.

Faith Formation

Religious Education Schedule for September & October

PREP K – 4 Jr. High PREP 5-8 Jr. High Masses FISH (Confirmation) Youth Masses 10:15-11:45 AM Sunday: 1-3:15 PM 9:00 AM 6:30 PM 12:00 noon

September 30 October 14 October 21 2nd Yr.—September 23 October 12 October 4 & 28 Monday: 7 – 8:15 PM 2nd Yr.—October 4 2nd Grade Parent Meeting 11 am: September 17 1st Yr. Day of Service-- October 4 October 1, 15, 29 October 13

Thursday Evening Bible Study

Why should I study the Bible when we were told not to? Hmmm! Actual Church teaching seems to encourage it.

In 1920 Pope Benedict XV wrote an Encyclical Letter, "Spiritus Paraclitus" which said in part "the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, had bestowed the Scriptures on the human race for their instruction in Divine things" and "as far as in us lies, we...shall never desist from urging the faithful to read daily the Gospels, the Acts, and the Epistles, so as to gather thence food for their souls ... [to] learn spiritual perfection...[and examples] of any particular doctrine we

wish to defend. We hope both clergy and laity will be filled with enthusiasm for the study of the Bible.

"Our one desire for all the Church's children is that, being saturated with the Bible, they may arrive at the all surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ."

This knowledge would be very useful for the third point made in the Evangelization Corner: focus evangelization "3. Where there is a need for 're-evangelizing' of those who have fallen away from their faith."

Fr. Lance’s Letter

If the above isn't reason enough to study the bible, we find Pope Leo XIII granted, to those who read it for at least a quarter hour per day with the veneration it's due and as a spiritual reading, an indulgence of 300 days (Precis et Pia Opera. 645).

Members of the Revelation book of the bible study group have commented that they never realized every Mass liturgy was

conjoined with the worship of the saints and angels in Heaven and that it opens a new depth of richness in participation.

We meet on Thursday evenings at 7 PM, in the Tracy Center. We will soon start a new book The Gospel of Mark. Join us at any time to see for yourself that, as Fr Lance said in last week’s Letter, "Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Life." God's word has no beginning or end. Start this week!

Ministries & Outreaches

Respect Life Weekend

Respect Life Annual Raffle on October 6 and 7

Tickets sold prior to and after all masses. Raffles are $10 each. Cash or Check is acceptable with checks payable to: New Jersey Right to Life.

40 Days for Life Is Prayer and Fasting, Peaceful Vigil, and Community Outreach

Join Morris County Right to Life at: Planned Parenthood, 196 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown

7 AM – 7 PM, 7 Days a Week ~ Begins September 26 ends November 4

Cover Planned Parenthood 40 Clinic Hours of Operation: Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

Open 9:00 AM 1:00 PM 9:00 AM 12:30 PM 10:00 AM 9:00 AM --- Close 4:30 PM 8:00 PM 4:30 PM 7:30 PM 4:00 PM 2:00 PM --

Your registration in time slots during clinic hours is much preferred and far more likely to save an unborn baby. When YOU sign up YOU make it possible to cover ALL 40 clinic hours!

A postcard campaign to our legislators will be conducted

that same weekend.

As stated in last week’s bulletin, we are joining others throughout New Jersey in an effort to the support and sponsorship of Bill—A-1686-S 537 passed. Stand up and flyers explaining the project are at each church entrance. Seventeen (17) other states have passed the “Pain Capable” bill. We need to do this in New Jersey!!

Post cards, like this sample, will be available the weekend of October 6 & 7.

Bereavement Ministry

Can you really recover from personal loss? Most of us deal with grieving experiences on a regular basis and never realize it! While most people associate grief with death, it’s something that reaches far beyond that narrow focus. Grief is the normal and natural reaction to every change we experience in life. Many of those changes are so small that, while we have feelings attached to those events, we do not label them as grief. Whether the loss is due to the death of a spouse, a parent or friend – or perhaps because of the breakup of a relationship through divorce, or even the loss of our youth, it’s possible that your loss gave way to intense feelings of sadness and affected your life in immeasurable ways. If you have found grief to be overwhelming for you, it’s not because there is anything wrong with you. Grief is the normal and natural reaction to change in your life. Likewise, if you have felt lost in how to deal with that emotional pain, it’s simply because you never had the proper tools to deal with it effectively. The Grief Recovery Method® can offer you that direction and the opportunity to look forward to another day, rather than fearing what it might bring. Grief can be scary, but it does not need to destroy your ability to feel joy again, unless you allow that to be the case!

Please join me to find out how joy can be part of your life again. The program is free, but you need to register. The introductory session will be held: Thursday, September 27, at the Morris Plains Community Center on Jim Fear Drive in Morris Plains. R.S.V.P. by: September 24, to Betty Dangler, Grief Recovery Specialist 973-539-3300

Interfaith Food Pantry Even in Morris County, NJ, which is often ranked as one of the best counties in the nation to live in, there are many households struggling. Please remember to bring an item for the Food Pantry when you come to Mass each Sunday. You can consult their website – www.mcifp.org for a complete list of needs, but here is a list of their most current needs:

Canned fruit Cereal—low sugar, high fiber White rice/brown rice 1 or 2 lb sizes Dry Milk – 1 qt. package Evaporated milk Calcium-fortified milk alternatives such as Tuna Fish Peanut Butter – 18 oz preferred Soy, Rice or Almond Milk Canned Meats and Meals Rice-A-Roni, Pasta-Roni—etc Condensed, hearty and low-sodium soups Baby Food: Stage 1 Meats & Meals, Baby Food: Stage 2 Meats & Meals, Baby Cereal—Rice Vegetable & Fruits Vegetables Baby Wipes Boost or Ensure—regular Boost Glucose Control or Glucerna Water—0.5 liter bottles Paper Towels

Free Course for Parents of Children with Mental Health Challenges: NAMI Basics is a free six-session course for parents/family caregivers of children and teens with emotional, behavior or mental health challenges. The Sussex and Morris County affiliates of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Family Partners of Morris and Sussex are jointly sponsoring the course this fall on Tuesday evenings, October 2 through November 6 from 7 – 9:30 PM at St. Francis Residential Community and Conference Center in Denville. Advance registration by phone is required. To make inquiries or to register for the course, call 973-214-0632 or 201-532-2267. Class size is limited to 15. Interested parents/family caregivers are urged to register as soon as possible. To learn more, visit www.nami-sussex-nj.org.

Around the Diocese

2018 Bishop’s Annual Appeal Here I Am, Lord!

While there are many ways to give to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, there is a particularly beneficial opportunity if you are 70 ½ or over and have an IRA. If you are in this category, the IRS requires you to take a required minimum distribution from your IRA each year. As a result, this distribution is added to your taxable income and increases the amount of taxes owed to the government. However, instead of taking your required minimum distribution, you can instruct your IRA investment manager to donate this distribution to a charity such as the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and this automatically omits this amount from your adjusted gross income. This tax benefit can be realized by all qualifying individuals, whether you take the standard deduction or itemize your deductions. This can be a significate benefit to you and a great way to support the work of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. If you are considering making a charitable donation using your IRA required minimum distribution, please be sure to first discuss this with your financial or tax advisor to make sure it is right for you.

Morris Catholic will be hosting a Clothing Drop from 8:30am – 1:30 pm on Saturday, October 13, in the side parking lot of the high school near the convent. Clothing, bedding, pots, pans, and small household appliances will be collected. All items should be placed in plastic bags. Please be aware that we do not accept VCR Tapes, CDs, Outside Toys, or Books. All proceeds will benefit the MCHS Class of 2019 Project Graduation. If you have questions, email ftuite@morriscatholic.org or Joanne Feeney at jojohn89@optonline.net.

Saturday, October 6"You at Least Try to Console Me." World Apostolate of Fatima, Our Lady's Blue Army Shrine, 674 Mt. View Rd East, Asbury, NJ invites all to Honor Our Lady's plea of Dec. 10, 1925, requesting Five Consecutive First Saturdays of Reparation. Confessions 10:00 am; 11:30 Rosary w/15-minute meditation; 12:15 Holy Mass; 2:00 Holy House; Children's Video, Talk on Last Vision of Fatima; 3:00 Divine Mercy Chaplet. Bring your family and friends to answer the call of the Child Jesus: "And have you spread through the world what our heavenly Mother requested of you?"www.bluearmy.com 908-689-1700 Ext 210.

The Compassionate Friends, a self-help group for bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents will be meeting on Thursday, October 11, at St. Christopher's Church, in Parsippany, at 7:30PM in room 101. This month’s program: "How to Survive; Will I Survive" (Photo sharing; bring a photo of your child). For more information please call Lily Capriglione at: 973-568-4164.

Silver & Gold Wedding Anniversary Mass: Couples, were you married in 1968 or 1993? The Diocese of Paterson invites you to celebrate your 25th or 50th wedding anniversary during a special Mass to be offered at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, NJ. Bishop Serratelli will serve as main celebrant on this joyful occasion to be held on Sunday, November 4, at 3:30 PM. Arrangements can be made by contacting the parish office. The deadline to register is Monday, October 15. You will receive additional information from the Office of Family Life once your registration has been processed. Congratulations on this joyous occasion!

Villa Walsh Academy is hosting an Open House on Sunday, October 14, from 2 – 4 PM. Villa Walsh is an independent college preparatory Catholic day school for girls grades 7 through 12. VWA is located at 455 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ. Call (973-538-2680 or email vwa@villawalsh.org for additional information. Visit our website at www.VillaWalsh.org.

Oratory PREP: Excellence is not what we do, it’s who we are. This fall, we invite you to visit our beautiful campus to experience all that Oratory has to offer. Open House is on Sunday, September 30, 1 – 3 PM and Thursday, October 25 from 6:35 – 8:15 PM. Call 908-273-1084 ext. 1 or email admissions@oratory prep.org for additional information. Visit our website at www.oratoryprep.org.

Second Annual Latin Mass Pilgrimage at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. Our Bishop Arthur Serratelli will celebrate a Solemn High Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form at 9:30 AM on Saturday, October 13. There will be a reception with the Bishop immediately after the Mass in the Rodimer Center behind the Cathedral. Free parking is available in the Public Employees Parking Garage on the Grand Street side of the Cathedral.

Weekly Reflections

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 9:30-37

Notice that in each of these past few gospels, Mark has us following Jesus traveling, going from town to town. He was on a journey, just as we too are on a journey through life. Mark wants us to see that similarity. Thus, he portrayed Christ as a man on the move, on a mission. Christ was not sitting around doing nothing. Whenever Christ got to a place with his disciples, he stopped and rested and spoke more directly to them, to make sure they understood what He was teaching. Like our lives, Christ seemed to have good days and bad days, ones where the Apostles seemed to “get it,” and others when they didn’t seem to understand.

In one case, to make it perfectly clear to them, Christ put His arms around a child and said, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” Those are well known words that many people may recognize as Christ having said. Most of us spend a good amount of our lives, one way or another, with children, be it as parents, Aunts and Uncles, or kind neighbors. All of us can relate in some way to caring for a child. Christ made this the “gold standard,” one to which we can all identify. But caring for children is not an easy task. Every day, children must be nurtured, loved, protected, instructed, and clothed, e.g., taken to doctors, games, lessons, etc; the list is unending. Christ pushes us to see how we must treat not just children, but all persons with whom we come in contact. On our journey we need to see and care for all individuals on the journey with us, as Christ instructed we should do for children. That is, all individuals need our love and attention, whatever their makeup or status in life.

Lord, help us see the child in every person!

St. Virgil’s Parish Family Picnic Sunday, September 23

1:00pm Church Grounds

Bring a salad or dessert!

Games and activities for the kids!

EVANGELIZATION CORNER Despite the rapid proliferation of technology, today there are still many people who don't know the basic truths of Christianity or the redemptive story told in

the scriptures. Furthermore, there are many who hold distorted views of Jesus, the gospel, and traditional Catholic faith. As a result, they are biased against us before we’ve had a chance to start a conversation.

Evangelization can be a scary word for many Catholics especially in our culture today. When we hear the word “evangelization”, we can respond with apprehension, indifference, or excitement. Although you might not consider yourself to be an evangelist or that you may not have the special gift or the knowledge to effectively evangelize, never-the-less we each are called to reach out to others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What our Catholic faith offers is, by its very nature, infinitely greater than any worldly pleasure. So why is it so difficult for us to discuss our faith with others?

We each have been given different gifts that we can use to evangelize others. There are numerous articles on the Internet that describe alternative approaches to evangelization. Below is a short list of alternative approaches: boil down to

1. The Direct Approach - Boldly proclaiming the Gospel to anyone that is willing to listen.

2. The Intellectual Approach - An evidence-based, logical thinking discussion of Jesus, the gospel of salvation and the Church.

3. The Personal Testimony Approach - Simply sharing your own personal story of how you came to know Jesus in a personal, life-changing way.

4. The Lifestyle Approach – A highly passive approach built on the foundation of how you live your life, with the belief that the example of your life will lead others to Christ.

5. The Invitational Approach (a.k.a. The Event Evangelism) - The Invitational Approach is similar to the interpersonal approach, but as its name suggests, thrives on inviting people to events like a church service, a retreat, or a Bible study.

6. Service Approach - People who prefer this approach often enjoy sharing the love of Christ through deed over word. People with the gift of hospitality often fall into this approach.

These approaches are presented not that you should force yourself into the one approach that seems to fit you the best, but to help you realize the great diversity of ways God can use your strengths and personalities to reach others with the message of the Gospel. May His grace be with each of us as we continue on our journey with Jesus.

St. Virgil’s Evangelization Ministry