NeW PARISH ADMINISTRATOR
Bishop Serratelli has appointed Fr.
Joseph Orlandi as the temporary administrator of St. Jude Church
effective February 8, 2010. Many in the parish remember Fr.
Joe through the liturgies he celebrated at St. Jude, which highlighted
veterans. Fr. Joe served as a military chaplain in combat zones
in the Balkans, Afghanistan and recently in Iraq. In the aftermath
of this service, he pursued a sabbatical year at the Pontifical
Salesian University in Rome for theological studies. Prior to
his service as a chaplain overseas, Fr. Orlandi served as pastor
of St. Michael Church in Paterson for eighteen years, and as
a member of the pastoral team of St. Brendan Church, Clifton.
PALM BRANCHES
As the church prepares for the season
of Lent, palm branches from the previous year are burned to
form the ashes which are imposed on Ash Wednesday. These ashes,
which are a reminder of our Lenten commitment to penance, are
intimately linked to the Passion of Palm Sunday. We invite anyone
who has palm branches at home to bring them to the church through
February 14.
There will be a basket in the church narthex for your palm branches.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO HAITI DISASTER
The Catholic community in the United
States is reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Haiti
in significant and immediate ways. Catholic Relief Services
(CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the
U.S. Catholic Church, is mounting a major emergency response
to this disaster and has made an initial commitment of 5 million
dollars for immediate use in relief effort. If you would like
to donate, please call 1-877-HELP-CRS, donate online at www.crs.org,
or send a check to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090,
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090. Please write in the memo portion of
your check” Haiti Earthquake.
CHILDRENS BOOKS
In the narthex of the church we have placed
a basket with a wide selection of books for children that can
be used during or before mass. In the last few weeks, more than
1/2 of the books have been taken and not returned. If you have
any of these books at home, please return them so that we can
continue to provide them for all the children to use.
Parish Library
Start the New Year right by expanding
your knowledge of your faith without leaving the comfort of
your home. St. Jude Parish has its own parish library that was
created a few years ago and is sadly underutilized. Beginning
in January, the parish library will be open for use to check
out materials whenever there is a “coffee and” being
sponsored in the parish center. If you would like to see the
library open at another time, please offer a suggestion and
we will see if it can be arranged. The library houses a variety
of books and tapes on various topics about our faith and religious
practices.
PARISH
OFFICE REQUEST
Do you have a new Address? Are you
moving? Are your envelopes getting lost in the mail? We’re
still receiving undeliverable envelopes at the parish office
with postage due. Please take a moment to let us know so
we can ensure prompt delivery! Contact the parish office
at 973-691-1561or send your updated information to secretary@stjudeparish.org
Seating Latecomers at Liturgy
Throughout the past year our hospitality
ministers (ushers) began to request latecomers to hold back
from walking into the worship area at sacred moments of liturgy
that include spoken prayer, scripture readings, song, and homilies.
We do this out of respect for all ministers, members of the
assembly, deacons, and priests in that the seating of latecomers
at these sacred moments renders a great distraction to the minister
who proclaims, sings, or preaches, as well as members of the
assembly who seek to pray. Therefore, to avoid these distractions,
hospitality ministers (ushers) wait for the conclusion of the
prayer, reading, song or homily before they guide you to a seat.
Although this may disturb those who arrive late for liturgy,
the situation could be avoided if all who gather for prayer
make a little greater effort to arrive for liturgy at least
five minutes early. This permits both ministers and the assembly
a few minutes of quiet time before the gathering song.
use of Church Envelopes
If you receive church envelopes from
our envelope company, you receive a record of your contributions
for the year. For safety’s sake, whenever possible make
your contribution by check. Also, for accuracy in recording
the amount of the donation into your record, please always remember
to record the amount of your donation on the outside of the
envelope.
MARRIAGE
ENCOUNTER
Military families, are you getting ready to
deploy? Is your family trying to reconnect after deployment? Worldwide
Marriage Encounter offers tools of communication that have kept many
military marriages strong and happy through out the ups and downs of
military service. Contact your local chaplain or call 1-800-499-6552
for more information.
Church Books for Children
In the narthex of the church
there is a wide selection of books for children that can be
used during or before mass if you feel it is beneficial to your
child. However, please do not allow young children to use the
maroon music books located in the pews. Some books have been
discovered to have numerous crayon markings and ripped/folded
pages coming from a lack of care.
Lighting Church Candles
Please be aware that there are candles located throughout the
church to light which is one way we bring our prayer to God. However,
please do not bring in your own candles for placement in the candle
stands or inside the glass containers that hold the candles in that
it is against safety/fire regulations.
Baby Changing Table
A changing table for infants
has been installed into both the ladies and men’s restrooms
that are located in the hallway next to the parish center. Many
people have requested the changing tables due to the amount of infants
that are brought to church and other parish activities.
USING THE HYMNAL BOARD
Two hymnal boards have been placed on
the pillars to the right and left of the sanctuary in church so
that music selections and biblical readings can be found with
a quick glance if an announcement is missed. In using the hymnal
board please be aware of the following; song selection that comes
from the Gather Hymnals is indicated by the number of the song
selection, Biblical readings for liturgy are indicated with an “R” that precedes
the page number of the readings, and music that comes from the supplement
is preceded with an “S” before the number of the selection.
For those who need to follow the order of the mass, it is found
on page 134.
BRINGING UP THE GIFTS
Families, individuals and guests are
always welcome to bring up the gifts during the Offertory Procession
on Sunday liturgy. Anyone wishing to bring honor to God in
this manner should mention it to one of our ushers or ministers
of hospitality in the back of church. They will be happy to
guide in this important part of the liturgy.
SECOND COLLECTION
On the Fourth
Sunday of each month a second collection will be taken at the parish
for the Building and Grounds. This is to maintain the facility
and render necessary improvements that come forth through the usage
of the church complex. Preventive maintenance is a necessity to the
church grounds in that it receives much wear with numerous activities
that are planned at the parish. Ongoing improvements are always
part of keeping the facility in good shape.
RINGING CELL PHONES
It is common
courtesy to shut off cell phones prior to entering church for
liturgies. Keeping a phone on
makes a statement that YOU are
more important than God or your neighbor. This is a
sad statement and a BAD example
for our children. Ringing cell phones become great
distractions to the prayer of ministers and the assembly. Please
observe this courtesy so that a prayerful spirit can be maintained
at all liturgies.
THE QUIET ROOM
Please
be mindful that a “quiet
room” is available for “crying infants” and small
children that you may feel need special attention at mass or bring
distraction to yourself or others in the church. The room in located
on the far right side of the church near the altar server sacristy
and youth ministry office. Recently a sound system was added to
the room so that liturgical prayers/songs could be heard as a person
participates in liturgy. The room is also a perfect location in
church to teach your child about liturgy as services take place.
Please know that priority for people with infants and small children
should be given to this location.
