The Epiphany of the Lord January 6, 2019 Page 1

St. Michael’s Church

Page 2 January 6, 2019 www.stmichaelnj.com

Saturday, January 5 9:00 AM People of the Parish

4:00 PM † Kyle Jarmon Jim Sharkey & Family

† Annette Cannizzaro Husband Tom

5:00 PM † Anthony Caruso Renee & Charles Bazaz

† Donald W. Johnson Johnson Family

7:30 PM † Mary Dromerick Family

Sunday, January 6 7:00 AM † Walter M. Dromerick Family

† Rosa Alba Stranieri Mother Francesca

9:00 AM † Stephen M. Suppo Kathleen & Patricia

10:00 AM † James Weeden Grandchildren

11:00 AM Special Intention: Celeste Carlesimo

Family

12:00 PM † Stephen A. Gill Children

† George H.W. Bush & Barbara Bush

4:00 PM † Lorenza Balonzo Grandchildren

7:30 PM People of the Parish

Monday, January 7 8:00 AM † Pro-Life Cause Friends of Sylvia Marsico

† Irene Cattanach James Cattanach

7:00 PM † Louis Carlesimo Children

Tuesday, January 8 8:00 AM † Irene Cattanach James Cattanach

Thursday, January 10 8:00 AM † Jay Patock Agnes & Paul D'Angelo

Friday, January 11 8:00 AM † Dr. James S.

Cattanach James Cattanach

Saturday, January 12 9:00 AM † Mary Dunlea Rita & Peter Farrell

4:00 PM † Ursula Carlesimo Children

† Angela Sica Richard Cero

5:00 PM † Josephine Mirabito Angela Viverito

† Jesus Vasquez Flores Wanda Vasquez

7:30 PM People of the Parish

Sunday, January 13 7:00 AM † Louis Carlesimo Children

† Linda Moffitt Eileen and Larry Jones

9:00 AM † John Ryan Family

10:00 AM † Brian Valan The Sudman Family

† Engracia David Aida David

11:00 AM † Mary Weeden Grandchildren

12:00 PM † Adams Family

4:00 PM † Charles Bigalke

7:30 PM People of the Parish

Wednesday, January 9 8:00 AM † Eileen Gallo

† Ann A. Pingitore The Pingitore Family

M A SS

I N T E N T IO NS

The Center Sanctuary Candle will be lit this

week in memory of the deceased priests and dea-

cons of the Diocese of Trenton requested by Fr.

John Butler. Please pray for vocations.

The Epiphany of the Lord January 6, 2019 Page 3

MARCH FOR LIFE 2019 in WASHINGTON, D.C.

The March for Life began

as a small demonstration in

1973 and rapidly grew to be

the largest pro-life event in

the world. The peaceful

demonstration that has fol-

lowed on this somber anni-

versary is a witness to the

truth concerning the great-

est human rights violation

of our time: abortion. Join

us and half a million pro-

lifers as we head once again

to Washington, D.C.

on Friday, January 18, 2019 for the 46th annual March For

Life and walk from the Washington Monument up Consti-

tution Av to the Supreme Court. Always peaceful and up-

lifting, The March For Life offers you the opportunity to

stop in at your federal legislators' offices and let them know

how you feel (and how you pray that they will vote!). De-

funding the abortion industry, defunding embryonic stem

cell research, voting against "right to die" and "death with

dignity" euthanasia legislation are all critical parts of this

day of peaceful and prayerful witness and demonstration.

When: 6:00 A.M. Mass / 6:30 A.M. board bus & depart

Where: St. Jerome Church 254 Wall Street, West Long

Branch

Return: 9:30 P.M. (approx.)

Cost: still only $10! (College and high school students free)

Bus Captain: Kathryn Perez 732-581-9735 Call ASAP for

more info and to reserve your seat.

Diocese of Trenton MASS FOR LIFE in

Freehold, NJ Life is Precious from Conception to

Natural Death The Diocese of Trenton’s Mass for Life will take

place at 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 17th. Mass

will be celebrated by The Most Reverend David M.

O’Connell, C.M., Bishop of Trenton at the Co-

Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold and

is open to all – especially those who cannot make it

to the March for Life in Washington,

DC the next day. Life is precious from

conception to natural death. For more

information call Tom Panettiere at

908-338-7128 or email him at: tpanet-

tiere@victorypackaging.com.

Join thousands of Catholics and others nation-

wide in the annual pro-life novena, 9 Days for Life,

Monday, January 14 through Tuesday, January 22.

Pray for the respect of all human life with daily in-

tentions, brief reflections, and more. Download a

free mobile app, or sign up to receive the novena

through daily emails or text messages. A printable

version is also available online. Sign up at

www.9daysforlife.com!

Here at St. Michael’s we will pray the Pro-Life

Novena Prayer at all Masses during the nine days

commencing January 14 through January 22.

Our parish celebrated a Christmas Eve Vigil Mass in the

chapel at the San Alfonso Retreat House at 4:30 p.m. The

Redemptorist priests of San Alfonso graciously wel-

comed us to use their chapel. Fr. James Wallace (Rector

of San Alfonso) was the principal celebrant and homilist.

The concelebrants included Fr. Dennis Foley, Fr. John

Cody, and Fr. John Butler. We are very grateful to Fr.

Wallace and San Alfonso for the use of their chapel.

Christmas Eve 2018 at San Alfonso

Page 4 January 6, 2019 www.stmichaelnj.com

CCD Christmas Class Schedule

Sundays: Sunday class resumes on Jan. 6th.

Tuesdays: Tuesday class resumes on Jan.

8th.

Please be kind and gentle to yourself.

Christmas is joy, religious joy, an inner joy of light and peace.

Pope Francis

May you know the beauty of the season,

Merry Christmas.

Have a peaceful & a wonderful New Year

During this wonderful season there is al-ways the opportunity for

the blues to arrive. Try and find the middle ground. Change

it up. Make new traditions. Do something different, something new.

Go to mass.

Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of

God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God's perfect, indescribable gift. The

amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift, but we are able to share it with others on

Christmas and every other day of the year. Joel Osteen

St. Michael's has a group for those that need

support with life's new paths and journeys. The PATHWAY TO HEAL Group is a ministry for

widowed, separated, and divorced persons.

Our group is here to help those who may be

new to the emotional stresses of separation and loss in your world. If you need a place

to come and feel safe please plan on at-

tending our group.

Thursday, January 10th, 2019

7:00 P.M.

St. Michael's Living Room 6 West End Court, Long Branch, NJ

Please Join Us, All Are Welcomed.

Please contact the Parish Office if you need immediate assistance.

Rosarian Prayer Group

PRAYERS FOR THE

SICK OF THE

PARISH This is a list of parishioners, relatives, and friends who are in need of our prayers for healing. Our Rosarians also pray every Saturday for all the parishioners of St. Michael’s. Please note that intentions will be listed for two months and then removed, unless the

requestor calls to renew for another two months. Please also note that according to the HIPPA & privacy laws only the sick themselves or family members may request to be added to the list. Contact the Parish Office for all prayer requests. Thank you and may Our Lord grant healing to all those who are suffering and in need of our prayers.

Week 3

Virginia Maita

Week 4

Xan D.

Week 7

Antonio Bevacqui

Joelle Vega

St. Michael’s Winter Bible Study

Times & Locations Welcome all Parishioners,

Cohort Members, and Visitors!

New Testament Bible Study

Begins the week of January 14, 2019

Monday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m. Outreach Center Tuesday, January 15 at 8:30 a.m. Lower Church Wednesday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. Outreach Center Thursday, January 17 at 1:30 p.m. Outreach Center

For additional information call 732-483-0360 Ext 121 and leave your name and number. We will return your call, or com-plete the registration form that is available in the back of the church and place it in

the box in the church vestibule.

The Epiphany of the Lord January 6, 2019 Page 5

SIMBANG GABI AT ST. MICHAEL’S

Saint Michael’s was the host parish for the sixth night of 2018’s Simbang Gabi (Advent Novena of

Masses held at night) on Wednesday, December 19. Fr. Nillo was the 2018 Chairman of the Mon-

mouth County Simbang Gabi Committee. Simbang Gabi is a tradition held by Filipino Catholics to pre-

pare for the birth of Jesus. Also known as Misa de Gallo (“Mass of the Rooster”), the tradition began in

the 1600s in the Philippines where church bells would start ringing as early as 3:00 a.m. during the last

nine days of Advent leading up to Christmas. The bells and the loud crowing of the roosters awakened

the townspeople for 4:00 a.m. or 5:00 a.m. Mass and allowed farmers and fishermen and their families

to go to Mass before they worked in the fields or when they came back from the seas in the early hours

of the morning. The Filipino Catholics brought the tradition to the United States. And since the cold

December weather would not allow them to celebrate at dawn, the celebration was held at night. Thus,

the tradition became known as Simbang Gabi, which literally means “Night Mass.” Please see the ac-

companying photos from the Simbang Gabi Mass at St. Michael’s and the reception in our Lower

Church that followed the Mass.

Page 6 January 6, 2019 www.stmichaelnj.com

PARISH COUNSELING SERVICES

A joint effort of the Diocese of Trenton and Catho-

lic Charities provides licensed professionals for short

term counseling (up to 6 sessions) to parishioners

dealing with difficult issues, for example, job-stress,

family concerns and bereavement. Contact your pas-

tor or parish priest for additional information and

referral. The fee is $90 per session, but, if needed,

financial assistance is available through the Diocese of

Trenton Parish Counseling Services.

CCD Classes Resume Sunday, January 6 and

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Mass for Life (Co-Cathedral of

St. Robert Bellarmine in Free-

hold, NJ)

Thursday, January 17, 2019

7:00 P.M.

Rally & March for Life

(Washington D.C.)

Friday, January 18, 2019

Baptism Preparation Class for

Parents

Thursday, January 10, 2019

7:00 p.m.

Resumption of Small Group for

Women (Part 2): Facing Cancer With

Mary

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

6:30 p.m.

First Penance Saturday, April 6, 2019

11:00 a.m.

First Holy Communion Saturday, May 11, 2019

11:00 a.m.

PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH

YEARLY MASS I NTENTIONS JULY 2019 Walter & Veronica Skowrenski r/o Robert Skowrenski & Family

OCTOBER 2019 Salvatore J. Mirarchi r/o Joe & Carmel Mirarchi

Ronald Lubischer Family NOVEMBER 2019 Louis Carlesimo r/o Children Ursula Carlesimo r/o Children

DECEMBER 2019

Dorothy Brady r/o Daughter Dee Celli

On the Calendar at

St. Michael’s Church

WEEKLY MASS I NTENTION

† Ronald Lubischer Joyce Lubischer

St. Vincent de Paul Society

Our cupboards are bare and we will take any

non-perishable food, especially cereal, fruit

and canned vegetables. Detergent and paper

items will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

for your generosity,

Thank you for your generosity!

Christmas 2018 Collection The tallying of the Christmas collection is a work in pro-

gress at this time since cash and checks earmarked for

Christmas continue to come in through the mail and drop

-offs at the parish office. We’ll publish the amount of the

Christmas collection in the Sunday bulletin in the next

few weeks, promptly after we close the books on the

counting process. Also, the collection data for the week-

ends of December 23 and December 30 and January 6

will be published in the January 13 bulletin due to early

printer’s deadlines. Thank you for your faithful steward-

ship and financial support of the parish.

Poinsettias for Your Home

The Christmas Season (but not the Christmas

SPIRIT!) will conclude with our 7:30 p.m. Mass on

Sunday, January 13 (The Baptism of the Lord). We

will begin removing the church’s Christmas decora-

tions after the 7:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday the 13th and

complete that work after the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Mon-

day the 14th. If you would like to take home one or

two poinsettia plants, they will be

available in the vestibule of the church

next Tuesday right after the Morning

Mass on a first come, first served, no

charge basis.

The Epiphany of the Lord January 6, 2019 Page 7

+AMDG+

At Christmas we pilgrims consider the staggering

fact of the Incarnation – God becomes a human

child. With the humble shepherds gazing upon the

manger scene we feel a deep connection with the

intimacy and wholeness of family, and the mystery

of humanity itself. The Epiphany shifts our focus

to shine upon the incredible reality that the Christ

child is the King and Ruler of all creation and our

omnipotent God. The two holy days bring together

the human and divine natures in the one person of

Jesus Christ.

The Epiphany highlights three episodes in the life

of Christ where His mission and divinity are made

known to the world: the visit of the Magi, the bap-

tism of Jesus in the Jordan and the miracle at the

wedding feast in Cana. With the star shining

brightly over them, the Magi, Gentiles and not

Jews, are the great announcement to the rest world

that the Royal King, the Messiah and Light of the

World has come for ALL people. The Gentiles

shall walk in thy light and kings in the brightness

of Thy rising. We, too, are called to follow the star

despite hardships in the journey and to bow down

in worship, giving Him our loyalty and love. Then

we are to dispel the darkness by carrying back to

our own lands and to all we meet the light of

Christ.

At Jesus’ baptism the Holy Spirit descends and

God the Father speaks saying This is my

Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Fol-

lowing his earthly birth, this is Christ’s heavenly

acknowledgement of His mission as our Savior.

Sinless himself, His baptism calls all to repentance

and washes away the sins of His Church in the Jor-

dan. This prepares us for an astonishing relation-

ship with God. Beginning with our own baptism in

the Spirit, we personally encounter a loving Father

and a God who will die for us.

It’s no coincidence that Christ

performs his first public mira-

cle at the wedding feast in Ca-

na, changing water into wine.

He is preparing the celebration

of the divine marriage of

Christ with humanity, a deep

mystery that we don’t always

appreciate. I will rejoice

greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God;

For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,

He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Heaven is a mystical marriage feast to which the

Magi are headed and we are invited to delight in

the unbreakable and sacred bond of God’s love for

us.

The Epiphany is a joyous feast day about God’s

visit to earth, his royal kingship, the light that is

come and the royal nuptials. Don’t let the Three

Kings pass you by without joining them in devo-

tion, meditation, prayer and festivity. As important

as Christmas is, the Epiphany reveals to us more

profound understanding of Jesus Christ and our

ultimate destiny with God. Instead of being over-

shadowed by the Nativity (which centuries past

was celebrated on the same January 6th) the Epiph-

any is a burst of light shining forth from the man-

ger to all the world.

Kevin Connelly

Director of Religious Education For information about the parish’s CCD program and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, please contact Kevin Connelly at (732)483-0360 ext. 3.

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San Alfonso Retreat House).

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