The JOY of helping women and their families in need. From left to right:
Rosanne Sacchetti, June Morgan and Luann Sacchetti.
Every person carries a unique cross. At the beginning of Holy Week, we’re encouraged that Palm Sunday – officially Passion Sunday – is followed by Easter Sunday. Our crosses can also lead to resurrections. In our parish, a dedicated ministry walks alongside those who have suffered the loss of a child in utero, infancy, or early childhood. At a special Mass on April 28 and throughout the year, Remembering the Innocent Ministry provides faith, compassion, and service.
On March 29, we will place our intention box in the vestibule of the church. Please place your personal prayer requests in the box, trusting that your intentions will be lifted up with love and care. We especially pray to St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962) an Italian pediatrician who refused to abort her child despite being warned of a dangerous childbirth. St. Gianna died after giving birth. Her daughter, also named Gianna, followed her mother’s footsteps and became a physician. St. Gianna’s husband and their children were present at her canonization in 2014.
From April 12 through April 26, we will also collect baby items for distribution to the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Center and the Jersey Shore Women’s Center. You may retrieve a tag from the small wicker basket in the church’s vestibule, which will indicate what type of baby items are desired, and your donations should be placed in the large plastic baskets. Your generosity makes a real and meaningful difference in the lives of the mothers and children these organizations serve.
We will assemble the donations for distribution to these organizations following the 9:00 AM Mass on April 26. We seek your help and ask you to meet us in the lower library after the Mass. Please spread the word to anyone you know who could benefit from God’s healing grace. All are welcomed.
Fr. Jon Thomas