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| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Second Collection
The Second Collection this weekend is for the Retirement Collection for Diocesan Clergy. This collection benefits the Maria Regina residence for our retired Diocesan Priests. The Bishop's Annual Appeal for 2022 donates $495,000 to the Maria Regina retirement home as well. Confirmation Retreat
Today is the Confirmation Retreat for all Confirmandi. The Retreat begins at 10am and all will attend Mass at 5 pm. What a special day this is for our 9th grade students as they prepare to be sealed with the Holy Spirit at their Confirmation later in May. | ||||||
2 Second Collection
The Second Collection this weekend is for the Retirement Collection for Diocesan Clergy. This collection benefits the Maria Regina residence for our retired Diocesan Priests. The Bishop's Annual Appeal for 2022 donates $495,000 to the Maria Regina retirement home as well. Sunday Mass
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am.First Sunday Confession
Confessions will be heard on the first Sunday of the month after the 11 am Mass. Our Lord does not keep us guessing about whether or not we are forgiven. When the priest utters the words of absolution, your soul is instantly and completely healed. Sacramentally, Jesus is present in the confessional in the person of the priest. If He were here on earth, wouldn’t you ask Him for forgiveness? If you want to experience the Divine Mercy in a real way, confession is the way to do it!! | 3 | 4 Bible Study
The Bible Study Group from St. Joseph Church meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in the Church Hall. It is also live-streamed on our facebook page! Visit https://www.facebook.com/andrew.rispoli All are invited to come learn more about the greatest book on earth!!! | 5 | 6 Holy Thursday Mass
Thursday (Maundy) of Holy Week:Mass at 7 pm followed by Adoration from 8 pm to 11 pm.Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ when He established the sacrament of Holy Communion (Eucharist) prior to His arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood. Jesus celebrated the dinner as a Passover feast. Christ would fulfill His role as the Christian victim of the Passover for all to be saved by His final sacrifice. | 7 Holy Land Collections
On Good Friday, the Collection is for the Holy Land. The money donated will help preserve the shrines of the Holy Land and the Sacred Congregation of Oriental Churches. The Collection for the Holy Land, in the words of Paul VI is "not only for the Holy Places but above all for those pastoral, charitable, educational, and social works which the Church supports in the Holy Land for the welfare of their Christian brethren and of the local communities." Every year on Good Friday, a collection is taken up in Catholic Churches to support the work of the Franciscans working in the Holy Land. Christians there rely heavily on the help that comes to them from this worldwide collection. The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America is part of a world-wide network of Commissariats of the Holy Land which function as bridges between the Holy Land and Christians all over the world. The Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C., coordinates this vital support for the work of the Franciscans who work in the Holy Land. The Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land have the unique responsibility to care for the Holy Places as well for the “Living Stones,” the Christians living there. It is vital that we support Christians living in the Holy Land, in order to maintain a Christian presence in the very land made holy by the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus. Passion of the Lord
| 8 Blessing of the Easter Foods
EASTER VIGIL Mass
Join Father James at the Easter Vigil Mass which begins at 8 pm.The Easter Vigil Mass always takes place after nightfall. Our Church lies in darkness and waiting. The light of Christ has gone out of the world and darkness will have covered the earth where ever the Easter Vigil Mass takes place. A match will be struck in the darkness and the Easter fires will be lit outside of the Church, representing Christ’s return from the tomb. Jesus Christ is the light that dispels the darkness of our world. The people of different parishes throughout the world will gather around a brand new fire that has begun to burn, and a new paschal candle will be lit for the first time. The priest will act in the place of Jesus Christ, as he leads the people who are gathered there with him to the darkened, empty church. A new Easter candle will burn brightly, leading the procession of the people of God. The priest acts “in persona Christi,” carrying the newly lit paschal candle into the church that awaits his return in total darkness. He brings the light of Christ into the Church for the first time since Good Friday. It is Jesus Christ alone who dispels the darkness of our lives. All that we do, and all that we are, is nothing without Christ. He is the source of all the love, light and goodness in our lives. Often times though, each person that enters the Church for Mass that night will light their own candle from the new Easter candle at the doors of the church. Their individual candles will collectively fill the entire church with light, representing the light of Christ that burns within each one of us. The new paschal candle will later be dipped into the baptismal waters three times when the waters are blessed, calling down the Holy Spirit to descend upon the waters. It is fitting that the first words of the holy scriptures for Mass that night will be: “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. God then separated the light from the darkness…” Then the creation story will be retold to all the people. The Psalm that follows will repeat “Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.” This is fitting, because the new parishioners who are baptized that night will also renew the face of the earth and the very church itself, with the newly ignited fire of the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. The next reading from the old testament will recount the story of how God tested Abraham by telling him to light a fire and offer his only beloved son to God as a human sacrifice. This is because God wanted to test Abraham to see if he loved his son more than Him. When it came right down to it, Abraham did not love his son more than God, because he made the decision to obey what God commanded him to do. Because he obeyed God, the angel stopped him from sacrificing his son, and Abraham was greatly blessed because of this. This is why Abraham became the father of many nations. This is also something the new catechumens and candidates will do upon their entry into the Catholic church during the Easter Vigil Mass. They will choose God above everything else in their life and we should make a decision along with them, to do the same. The next reading tells us how God parted the red sea and led His people out of the bondage of slavery and sin in Egypt, into a new life to be lived in holiness and unity with Him. This is true for all of us who have been baptized and the ones who also will be baptized on this night as well. Jesus led all of us out of sin, through the waters of baptism, into our new life in him. The next reading begins by saying that the one who has become your husband is your Maker, his name is the Lord of Hosts. This reflects the decision that Abraham made to choose God above everyone else, including his own son. We are called to love God and the Lord Jesus Christ more than any other person in our lives as well. This does not mean that our marriages and family are not important though. It simply means that our love for God should always come first in our lives. The next reading says “Thus says the Lord: All you who are thirsty, come to the water”. It recognizes the deep hunger that every human person has for God. Psalm 42 describes this thirst for God very well when it says “like a deer thirsts for water, so I thirst for you, my God”. The new catechumens have recognized this thirst for God and His living waters, yet we too, continue to thirst for God through out our lives. The next reading tells us how God calls his people and when they answer with understanding “Here we are!”, they will shine with joy for their Maker. This describes how the catechumens and candidates have answered God’s call and have come forward to acknowledge Him. If you have ever been brought into the Catholic church at the Easter Vigil, or have witnessed others who have, then you may have noticed that our new Catholics do seem to glow with the light of the Holy Spirit the whole night. So do we though. We will be shinning with joy at the Easter mass as well, especially if we went to confession and set things right before the Lord during the season of Lent. The next reading says that God “will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities.” And that “I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you.” We will be His people and He will be our God. What an absolutely beautiful reading this is. It gives us all much hope for the future. The things of the past are no more. We have been created anew. This is true for every person who is brought into the Catholic church, whether that is at Easter this year, or many years ago. Every Easter we are made new again, through the power of Jesus Christ. The next reading says: “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.” Every single one of us who have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ can trust these words as the truth, and the gospel reading tells why. The gospel says the women from Galilee went to the tomb at daybreak. They saw that the stone sealing Jesus’s tomb, had been rolled away, and then they saw an angel who said to them: “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you.” Then, Jesus met the women on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.” The birth, life and death of Jesus Christ has no meaning without his resurrection from the dead. Jesus would have been considered an imposture, a fake, a liar, or at best a prophet, but He would not have been recognized as the Son of the living God if it were not for his resurrection from the dead. Jesus physically died, passed through the gates of hell, defeated death itself and was raised to eternal life. There were many people who personally saw Jesus Christ, resurrected from the dead. It is the most talked about event in human history, both in the time of Christ, and over two thousand years later in our modern times as well. Every single human being that has ever lived is afraid to die. There are some people who are absolutely terrified of dying. We often ask ourselves what is the point of life? But, death is actually our biggest concern. Everyone of us wants to know what happens when we die? Do we just cease to exist? Is heaven and hell real? Is God real? It is a beautiful thing that Jesus Christ not only died for the forgiveness of our lives, but he also did his best to shatter our fear of death. It isn’t so much what we say in life that matters, but what we actually do. Jesus knew that his words would only go so far in helping us to believe in him. He rose from the dead to physically prove to all of us, that there really is life after death. We were also created for eternal life. Jesus Christ broke through the barriers of our doubts and our fear of death, when he was raised from the dead on Easter morning. The stone that sealed the tomb of our Lord was merely a door through which He passed into eternal life. Death is but a door that we too shall pass through. There really is no such thing as death. Death does not the final say. Jesus Christ does. As long as we believe that Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins, that He rose from the dead to eternal life, so that we too, might live forever, then we will. We need not fear what death has in store for us, because Jesus Christ went ahead of us, to light the way to our Father’s Kingdom. This is why He is the Light of the World, the Light of the entire human race, and this is our Easter joy! |
9 Sunday Mass
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am. | 10 Parish Office Closed
The Parish Office will be closed today along with the Diocese of Metuchen in observance of Easter Monday. | 11 Bible Study
The Bible Study Group from St. Joseph Church meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in the Church Hall. It is also live-streamed on our facebook page! Visit https://www.facebook.com/andrew.rispoli All are invited to come learn more about the greatest book on earth!!! | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 Food for Families
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16 Food for Families
Sunday Mass
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am.Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place following the 11 am Mass. During Adoration, Confession will be heard and the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed and afterwards, Benediction. All events will conclude roughly around 1pm. St. Faustina was a Polish nun who received visions from Jesus, including one of Jesus wearing a white garment with beams of red and white coming from His heart, which came to be known as the image of Divine Mercy. She wrote in her diary that He said:
According to the vision, those who receive communion and attend confession on the Feast of Mercy receive total forgiveness of sins, which means temporal punishment as well. What a blessing God has given to us, to have our souls completely cleaned and refreshed as if it were our first Baptism. Don't miss out on this very magnificent day in the Catholic Church. Click HERE to recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet Novena which begins on Good Friday. | 17 | 18 Bible Study CANCELED FOR TODAY
The Bible Study Group from St. Joseph Church meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in the Church Hall. It is also live-streamed on our facebook page! Visit https://www.facebook.com/andrew.rispoli All are invited to come learn more about the greatest book on earth!!! | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 Wedding
May God bless Michael and Freya as they begin their life together. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. |
23 Sunday Mass
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am.Sunday Breakfast after all Masses
Save the date...more information to follow. This event is sponsored by the St. Joseph Social Ministry, in loving memory of Kathryn Van Nest. | 24 | 25 Bible Study
The Bible Study Group from St. Joseph Church meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in the Church Hall. It is also live-streamed on our facebook page! Visit https://www.facebook.com/andrew.rispoli All are invited to come learn more about the greatest book on earth!!! | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 Second Collection
The Second Collection this weekend is for Catholic Relief Services. This collection benefits Catholic Relief Services and the Black & Indian Collection. The Black and Indian Mission Office is comprised of three distinct but inter-related organizations, each with its own purpose and history, but all seeking to fulfill the one Mission to the Missions! Founded by the Catholic bishops of the United States, each organization cooperates with local diocesan communities to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and respond to real and pressing needs on the ground. Read more and join us in our Mission to the Missions! To learn more about Catholic Relief Services, click HERE.
Wedding
We thank you, O God, for the Love You have implanted in the hearts of Terry-Lynne & William. May it always inspire them to be kind in their words, considerate of feelings, and concerned for each other's needs and wishes. Help them to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings. Increase their faith and trust in You and may Your Prudence guide their life and love. Bless their Marriage O God, with Peace and Happiness, and make their love fruitful for Your glory and their Joy both here and in eternity. God bless William & Terry-Lynne.
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30 Second Collection
The Second Collection this weekend is for Catholic Relief Services. This collection benefits Catholic Relief Services and the Black & Indian Collection. The Black and Indian Mission Office is comprised of three distinct but inter-related organizations, each with its own purpose and history, but all seeking to fulfill the one Mission to the Missions! Founded by the Catholic bishops of the United States, each organization cooperates with local diocesan communities to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and respond to real and pressing needs on the ground. Read more and join us in our Mission to the Missions! To learn more about Catholic Relief Services, click HERE.
Sunday Mass
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am. |
Saturday Apr 1, 2023
Second Collection
Saturday Apr 1, 2023 All day
The Second Collection this weekend is for the Retirement Collection for Diocesan Clergy. This collection benefits the Maria Regina residence for our retired Diocesan Priests.
The Bishop's Annual Appeal for 2022 donates $495,000 to the Maria Regina retirement home as well.
Confirmation Retreat
Saturday Apr 1, 2023 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Today is the Confirmation Retreat for all Confirmandi. The Retreat begins at 10am and all will attend Mass at 5 pm. What a special day this is for our 9th grade students as they prepare to be sealed with the Holy Spirit at their Confirmation later in May.
Sunday Apr 2, 2023
Second Collection
Sunday Apr 2, 2023 All day
The Second Collection this weekend is for the Retirement Collection for Diocesan Clergy. This collection benefits the Maria Regina residence for our retired Diocesan Priests.
The Bishop's Annual Appeal for 2022 donates $495,000 to the Maria Regina retirement home as well.
Sunday Mass
Sunday Apr 2, 2023 All day
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am.
First Sunday Confession
Sunday Apr 2, 2023 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM
Confessions will be heard on the first Sunday of the month after the 11 am Mass.
Our Lord does not keep us guessing about whether or not we are forgiven. When the priest utters the words of absolution, your soul is instantly and completely healed. Sacramentally, Jesus is present in the confessional in the person of the priest. If He were here on earth, wouldn’t you ask Him for forgiveness? If you want to experience the Divine Mercy in a real way, confession is the way to do it!!
Tuesday Apr 4, 2023
Bible Study
Tuesday Apr 4, 2023 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
The Bible Study Group from St. Joseph Church meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in the Church Hall. It is also live-streamed on our facebook page! Visit https://www.facebook.com/andrew.rispoli All are invited to come learn more about the greatest book on earth!!!
Thursday Apr 6, 2023
Holy Thursday Mass
Thursday Apr 6, 2023 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Thursday (Maundy) of Holy Week:
Mass at 7 pm followed by Adoration from 8 pm to 11 pm.
Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ when He established the sacrament of Holy Communion (Eucharist) prior to His arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood. Jesus celebrated the dinner as a Passover feast. Christ would fulfill His role as the Christian victim of the Passover for all to be saved by His final sacrifice.
Friday Apr 7, 2023
Holy Land Collections
Friday Apr 7, 2023 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
On Good Friday, the Collection is for the Holy Land. The money donated will help preserve the shrines of the Holy Land and the Sacred Congregation of Oriental Churches.
The Collection for the Holy Land, in the words of Paul VI is "not only for the Holy Places but above all for those pastoral, charitable, educational, and social works which the Church supports in the Holy Land for the welfare of their Christian brethren and of the local communities."
Every year on Good Friday, a collection is taken up in Catholic Churches to support the work of the Franciscans working in the Holy Land. Christians there rely heavily on the help that comes to them from this worldwide collection.
The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America is part of a world-wide network of Commissariats of the Holy Land which function as bridges between the Holy Land and Christians all over the world. The Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C., coordinates this vital support for the work of the Franciscans who work in the Holy Land.
The Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land have the unique responsibility to care for the Holy Places as well for the “Living Stones,” the Christians living there. It is vital that we support Christians living in the Holy Land, in order to maintain a Christian presence in the very land made holy by the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus.
Passion of the Lord
Friday Apr 7, 2023 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
The Passion of the Lord
April 7: 3 pm
Good Friday is the day on which we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Catholics are joined by almost all other Christians in solemn commemoration on this day. Today we fast and abstain from meat.
Let us spend quiet time with Our Lord today, remember how He suffered for us and thanking Him for all that He endured.
Today we begin the Divine Mercy Chaplet Novena. Click HERE to recite the Novena.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Friday Apr 7, 2023 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Take a mini pilgrimage with Father James and Deacon Tom & Deacon Steve as they pray with you on a journey of Jesus' last day on earth.
Let us make every effort to attend at least one Stations of the Cross this Lent, where we remember Christ's suffering for our sake.
Guide: We adore You O Christ and we praise You,
All: Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
February 24: Deacon Tom & Deacon Steve
March 3, First Friday: Fr. James
March 10: Children's Stations: Fr. James
March 17: Deacon Tom & Deacon Steve
March 24: Fr. James
March 31: Deacon Tom & Deacon Steve
April 7, Good Friday: Fr. James
Saturday Apr 8, 2023
Blessing of the Easter Foods
Saturday Apr 8, 2023 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
EASTER VIGIL Mass
Saturday Apr 8, 2023 8:00 PM to 9:15 PM
Join Father James at the Easter Vigil Mass which begins at 8 pm.
The Easter Vigil Mass always takes place after nightfall. Our Church lies in darkness and waiting. The light of Christ has gone out of the world and darkness will have covered the earth where ever the Easter Vigil Mass takes place. A match will be struck in the darkness and the Easter fires will be lit outside of the Church, representing Christ’s return from the tomb. Jesus Christ is the light that dispels the darkness of our world.
The people of different parishes throughout the world will gather around a brand new fire that has begun to burn, and a new paschal candle will be lit for the first time. The priest will act in the place of Jesus Christ, as he leads the people who are gathered there with him to the darkened, empty church. A new Easter candle will burn brightly, leading the procession of the people of God. The priest acts “in persona Christi,” carrying the newly lit paschal candle into the church that awaits his return in total darkness. He brings the light of Christ into the Church for the first time since Good Friday. It is Jesus Christ alone who dispels the darkness of our lives. All that we do, and all that we are, is nothing without Christ. He is the source of all the love, light and goodness in our lives.
Often times though, each person that enters the Church for Mass that night will light their own candle from the new Easter candle at the doors of the church. Their individual candles will collectively fill the entire church with light, representing the light of Christ that burns within each one of us. The new paschal candle will later be dipped into the baptismal waters three times when the waters are blessed, calling down the Holy Spirit to descend upon the waters.
It is fitting that the first words of the holy scriptures for Mass that night will be:
“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. God then separated the light from the darkness…”
Then the creation story will be retold to all the people.
The Psalm that follows will repeat “Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.” This is fitting, because the new parishioners who are baptized that night will also renew the face of the earth and the very church itself, with the newly ignited fire of the Holy Spirit dwelling within them.
The next reading from the old testament will recount the story of how God tested Abraham by telling him to light a fire and offer his only beloved son to God as a human sacrifice. This is because God wanted to test Abraham to see if he loved his son more than Him. When it came right down to it, Abraham did not love his son more than God, because he made the decision to obey what God commanded him to do. Because he obeyed God, the angel stopped him from sacrificing his son, and Abraham was greatly blessed because of this. This is why Abraham became the father of many nations. This is also something the new catechumens and candidates will do upon their entry into the Catholic church during the Easter Vigil Mass. They will choose God above everything else in their life and we should make a decision along with them, to do the same.
The next reading tells us how God parted the red sea and led His people out of the bondage of slavery and sin in Egypt, into a new life to be lived in holiness and unity with Him. This is true for all of us who have been baptized and the ones who also will be baptized on this night as well. Jesus led all of us out of sin, through the waters of baptism, into our new life in him.
The next reading begins by saying that the one who has become your husband is your Maker, his name is the Lord of Hosts. This reflects the decision that Abraham made to choose God above everyone else, including his own son. We are called to love God and the Lord Jesus Christ more than any other person in our lives as well. This does not mean that our marriages and family are not important though. It simply means that our love for God should always come first in our lives.
The next reading says “Thus says the Lord: All you who are thirsty, come to the water”. It recognizes the deep hunger that every human person has for God. Psalm 42 describes this thirst for God very well when it says “like a deer thirsts for water, so I thirst for you, my God”. The new catechumens have recognized this thirst for God and His living waters, yet we too, continue to thirst for God through out our lives.
The next reading tells us how God calls his people and when they answer with understanding “Here we are!”, they will shine with joy for their Maker. This describes how the catechumens and candidates have answered God’s call and have come forward to acknowledge Him. If you have ever been brought into the Catholic church at the Easter Vigil, or have witnessed others who have, then you may have noticed that our new Catholics do seem to glow with the light of the Holy Spirit the whole night. So do we though. We will be shinning with joy at the Easter mass as well, especially if we went to confession and set things right before the Lord during the season of Lent.
The next reading says that God “will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities.” And that “I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you.” We will be His people and He will be our God. What an absolutely beautiful reading this is. It gives us all much hope for the future. The things of the past are no more. We have been created anew. This is true for every person who is brought into the Catholic church, whether that is at Easter this year, or many years ago. Every Easter we are made new again, through the power of Jesus Christ.
The next reading says:
“Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.”
Every single one of us who have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ can trust these words as the truth, and the gospel reading tells why. The gospel says the women from Galilee went to the tomb at daybreak. They saw that the stone sealing Jesus’s tomb, had been rolled away, and then they saw an angel who said to them:
“Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you.”
Then, Jesus met the women on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.”
The birth, life and death of Jesus Christ has no meaning without his resurrection from the dead. Jesus would have been considered an imposture, a fake, a liar, or at best a prophet, but He would not have been recognized as the Son of the living God if it were not for his resurrection from the dead. Jesus physically died, passed through the gates of hell, defeated death itself and was raised to eternal life. There were many people who personally saw Jesus Christ, resurrected from the dead. It is the most talked about event in human history, both in the time of Christ, and over two thousand years later in our modern times as well.
Every single human being that has ever lived is afraid to die. There are some people who are absolutely terrified of dying. We often ask ourselves what is the point of life? But, death is actually our biggest concern. Everyone of us wants to know what happens when we die? Do we just cease to exist? Is heaven and hell real? Is God real?
It is a beautiful thing that Jesus Christ not only died for the forgiveness of our lives, but he also did his best to shatter our fear of death. It isn’t so much what we say in life that matters, but what we actually do. Jesus knew that his words would only go so far in helping us to believe in him. He rose from the dead to physically prove to all of us, that there really is life after death. We were also created for eternal life.
Jesus Christ broke through the barriers of our doubts and our fear of death, when he was raised from the dead on Easter morning. The stone that sealed the tomb of our Lord was merely a door through which He passed into eternal life. Death is but a door that we too shall pass through. There really is no such thing as death. Death does not the final say. Jesus Christ does.
As long as we believe that Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins, that He rose from the dead to eternal life, so that we too, might live forever, then we will. We need not fear what death has in store for us, because Jesus Christ went ahead of us, to light the way to our Father’s Kingdom. This is why He is the Light of the World, the Light of the entire human race, and this is our Easter joy!
Sunday Apr 9, 2023
Sunday Mass
Sunday Apr 9, 2023 All day
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am.
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Parish Office Closed
Monday Apr 10, 2023 All day
The Parish Office will be closed today along with the Diocese of Metuchen in observance of Easter Monday.
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Bible Study
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
The Bible Study Group from St. Joseph Church meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in the Church Hall. It is also live-streamed on our facebook page! Visit https://www.facebook.com/andrew.rispoli All are invited to come learn more about the greatest book on earth!!!
Saturday Apr 15, 2023
Food for Families
Saturday Apr 15, 2023 All day
Help those less fortunate by donating food items and hygiene items to the Open Cupboard Food Pantry. Drop off your items during the week, Monday through Thursday from 8am to 4pm or at Mass, before or after, on the weekends. Wonderful volunteers will drop off the items to the pantry. May God bless you for helping those in need. To learn more about the food pantry, click HERE.
Sunday Apr 16, 2023
Food for Families
Sunday Apr 16, 2023 All day
Help those in need by donating food items and hygiene items to the Open Cupboard Food Pantry. Drop off your donations during the week between 8am & 4pm, Monday through Thursday, and wonderful volunteers will deliver your donations to the pantry. May God bless you for helping those less fortunate. To learn more about the pantry, click HERE.Sunday Mass
Sunday Apr 16, 2023 All day
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am.
Divine Mercy Sunday
Sunday Apr 16, 2023 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place following the 11 am Mass. During Adoration, Confession will be heard and the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed and afterwards, Benediction. All events will conclude roughly around 1pm.
St. Faustina was a Polish nun who received visions from Jesus, including one of Jesus wearing a white garment with beams of red and white coming from His heart, which came to be known as the image of Divine Mercy. She wrote in her diary that He said:
I want the Image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it…
My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy.
According to the vision, those who receive communion and attend confession on the Feast of Mercy receive total forgiveness of sins, which means temporal punishment as well. What a blessing God has given to us, to have our souls completely cleaned and refreshed as if it were our first Baptism. Don't miss out on this very magnificent day in the Catholic Church.
Click HERE to recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet Novena which begins on Good Friday.
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Bible Study CANCELED FOR TODAY
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
The Bible Study Group from St. Joseph Church meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in the Church Hall. It is also live-streamed on our facebook page! Visit https://www.facebook.com/andrew.rispoli All are invited to come learn more about the greatest book on earth!!!
Saturday Apr 22, 2023
Wedding
Saturday Apr 22, 2023 All day
May God bless Michael and Freya as they begin their life together.
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Sunday Apr 23, 2023
Sunday Mass
Sunday Apr 23, 2023 All day
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am.
Sunday Breakfast after all Masses
Sunday Apr 23, 2023 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Save the date...more information to follow.
This event is sponsored by the St. Joseph Social Ministry, in loving memory of Kathryn Van Nest.
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Bible Study
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
The Bible Study Group from St. Joseph Church meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in the Church Hall. It is also live-streamed on our facebook page! Visit https://www.facebook.com/andrew.rispoli All are invited to come learn more about the greatest book on earth!!!
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Second Collection
Saturday Apr 29, 2023 All day
The Second Collection this weekend is for Catholic Relief Services. This collection benefits Catholic Relief Services and the Black & Indian Collection.
The Black and Indian Mission Office is comprised of three distinct but inter-related organizations, each with its own purpose and history, but all seeking to fulfill the one Mission to the Missions! Founded by the Catholic bishops of the United States, each organization cooperates with local diocesan communities to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and respond to real and pressing needs on the ground. Read more and join us in our Mission to the Missions!
To learn more about Catholic Relief Services, click HERE.
Wedding
Saturday Apr 29, 2023 All day
We thank you, O God, for the Love You have implanted in the hearts of Terry-Lynne & William. May it always inspire them to be kind in their words, considerate of feelings, and concerned for each other's needs and wishes. Help them to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings. Increase their faith and trust in You and may Your Prudence guide their life and love. Bless their Marriage O God, with Peace and Happiness, and make their love fruitful for Your glory and their Joy both here and in eternity. God bless William & Terry-Lynne.
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Second Collection
Sunday Apr 30, 2023 All day
The Second Collection this weekend is for Catholic Relief Services. This collection benefits Catholic Relief Services and the Black & Indian Collection.
The Black and Indian Mission Office is comprised of three distinct but inter-related organizations, each with its own purpose and history, but all seeking to fulfill the one Mission to the Missions! Founded by the Catholic bishops of the United States, each organization cooperates with local diocesan communities to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and respond to real and pressing needs on the ground. Read more and join us in our Mission to the Missions!
To learn more about Catholic Relief Services, click HERE.
Sunday Mass
Sunday Apr 30, 2023 All day
Join Father James A. Kyrpczak as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Sunday Mass Schedule is: 8am, 9:30am and 11am.