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Please Note: If you wish, you can change the "tip" option on GoFundMe to $0.00 by clicking "custom" when asked. Dear Friends, “Christ is born; glorify Him! Christ comes from heaven; go to meet Him! Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, because of Him who is of heaven and is now on earth!” -St. Gregory Nazianzen, 4th c. Each Advent and Christmas, we prepare for and celebrate the mystery of Jesus’ coming to us – in the past (2,000 years ago on Christmas), the present (each day in His Word, Sacrament, and all the graces he gives us), and the future (His Second Coming). For each liturgical season, we decorate the Church to help us more deeply enter into the celebration. On Christmas, we always look forward to our Christmas trees and lights, poinsettias, wreaths, and candles adorning the Tabernacle, Altar, and Nativity scene. These beautiful decorations remind us of the hope, peace, joy, and love we celebrate! They are a sign of our warm and joyful welcome of Jesus into our Parish each year as we celebrate His birth. As Jesus is born to us this year, let’s glorify Him! As he comes from Heaven, let’s go out to meet Him! Could you help us welcome Jesus with the same joy as ever before? Offering Envelopes for Christmas Flowers are available in the Vestibule. Offerings for Christmas Flowers and Decorations can also be made through our GoFundMe Page or myEOffering. In the memo/note, please specify for Christmas Flowers. May God bless you for your generosity to STM as we persevere in our mission, even throughout these difficult times we all face! Rest assured of our continued prayers for good health and healing for all… Peace & Blessings, Fr. Marek Chachlowski, Pastor Fr. Robert Lamirez, Parochial Vicar & The Parish Staff of STM Please Note: If you wish, you can change the "tip" option on GoFundMe to $0.00 by clicking "custom" when asked. Please Note: If you wish, you can change the "tip" option on GoFundMe to $0.00 by clicking "custom" when asked.
All are invited to join our Seminarian, Andrew Rubinich, for an Advent Reflection Series each Wednesday evening of Advent at 7:30 PM. We will reflect on Faith, Hope, Love, and the Angelus Prayer. The live-stream will be accessible from our Facebook Page. We hope you will join in this meditation! **Each reflection will conclude with Night Prayer from the Liturgy of Hours. To view/print a "Night Prayer Sheet" so you can follow along, click here. Click here to go to the live-stream. All the videos (and links) to them will be posted here and on the Facebook Page after each reflection. If you have any questions about accessing the stream or viewing it, please check out this guide for helpful tips and tricks! 
As we navigate these difficult times together, we know: "Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family. Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven's glory was made manifest. The Church never tires of singing the glory of this night" (CCC 525). May Jesus' birth and heaven's glory which comes to us strengthen our faith, hope, and love! Due to the COVID pandemic, St. Thomas More Church is especially concerned about everyone’s health and safety. We have received directives from the Archdiocese of Newark concerning Christmas Masses. In view of these directives (and their implementation - see bottom of page), attendance for Christmas Masses will be by registration only. Registration will be on a "first come" basis for all Masses. You can sign up using the "attendance form" in the Bulletin, or by contacting the Rectory. When we reach our permitted capacity, we will inform you. The "attendance form" may be placed in the basket on Sunday, dropped off at the Rectory during office hours (Mon-Fri, 8:30AM - 4:00PM), or in the new “drop box” on the brick wall outside the Rectory. You may also call the Rectory at 973-227-0055 or email: stmparish@verizon.net. **Note: It is very important that you include your name, phone number, Email, the Mass time you wish to attend, and the number of people who will be attending with you.** The directives have been implemented as follows...
We are permitted to have 100 people in Church and 50 people in O’Connor Hall. It is mandatory for everyone to wear a mask in Church & O’Connor Hall throughout the Mass, along with maintaining social distancing of 6'. There is to be absolutely no congregating (socializing inside or outside Church) besides for the liturgy. An additional Vigil Mass (at 2PM on December 24th) will be celebrated. The dispensation continues to be in effect for those not able to attend Mass. We will live-stream Christmas Mass. (Note: this information is all pending directives that are sent to us from the Archdiocese of Newark. We will inform you if any changes are made.)  In the true Christian spirit of charity and helping those less fortunate than us, please take a tag or tags from our tree. Please only take a tag if you are able to purchase the gift.
Wrap it, securely attach the tag and place it in the appropriate bin for each charity by 12/6. Tags insure the gift goes to the right person. If you purchase a gift card, wrap & firmly attach the tag and either put it in the collection basket or bring it to the rectory during business hours Mon. thru Fri. 8:30am-4:00pm. Due to COVID we are trying to minimize all contact and keep everyone safe. If you would like to help out but are unable to shop, please consider a cash or gift card donation. Please place these in an envelope labeled ‘Giving Tree donation’ and place in either the collection basket or bring to the rectory. Thanks for helping make this a Merry Christmas by purchasing the gift on your tag. May God bless you for your generosity! Click here to go to the Live-Stream. Saturday, November 14th, 2020 Masses at: 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM Streaming will begin approximately 5 minutes before the Mass begins. If you go to the stream too early, refresh the webpage until STM goes live. For other helpful tips, including troubleshooting information, please reference this guide. Please note: Each Candidate will have a pew. In that pew is the Candidate, Sponsor, and 2 other family members. (Parents or others chosen.) No additional siblings, grandparents, or other family members will not be able to attend. A total of 4 people. O'Connor Hall will be open, but only 50 people are permitted in OCH, socially distanced. Seating there will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Thank you for your understanding!  While our celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will be different this year, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit will indeed strengthen and seal our Confirmandi. Our world needs authentic disciples of Jesus, who live His Gospel in word and deed. So, we pray that our young brothers and sisters receiving the Sacrament will use these gifts to serve Jesus, His Church, family and friends, and the whole world! May God bless and protect them always! "Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who brought these your servants to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, freeing them from sin: send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety; fill them with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Through Christ our Lord. Amen." (Prayer for the Laying on of Hands, For the Conferral of Confirmation) |
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