St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church 30 Jackson Street, South River, NJ 08882

Phone: 732-254-2220 Fax: 732-651-8182

Website: www.stmarysr.org Facebook.com/stmarysr

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT Saint Mary of Ostrabrama Parish, a Roman

Catholic Community, embraces the teachings of Jesus Christ by fostering our rich traditions and serving the needs of others. Through worship,

sacrament and prayer, all are invited to join with us as we continue to inspire and strengthen

our parish family.

JULY 22, 2018 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

PARISH STAFF:

Rev. Michael J. Gromadzki Pastor

Thomas F. Dominiecki Deacon Emeritus

Mark Hennicke Deacon

Mrs. Gayle Spezio, Assistant Administrator Ms. Jeanette Vega, Cemetery Coordinator

Mrs. Rosemary Eckert, P.C.L., Faith Formation Mr. Peter Kalasin, Organist

PARISH CONTACT INFORMATION

PARISH OFFICE: CEMETERY OFFICE: ostrabrama@stmarysr.org cemetery@stmarysr.org

PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM: prep@stmarysr.org

MASS SCHEDULE:

Sunday: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM (Children’s Liturgy), 12:00 N (Polish)

Saturday: Vigil Mass 4:00 PM

Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri.: 8:00 AM / Thurs: 6:30 PM {Weekday Masses are in the Chapel except for Holy Days}

Holy Days of Obligation: 8:00 AM, 12:15 PM, 7:00 PM

ROSARY: Prayed before daily Mass & before 4 PM Vigil & 8:30 AM

Sunday Mass.

MIRACULOUS MEDAL NOVENA: Every Monday following the 8:00 AM Mass.

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: Prayed following all weekday Masses.

CONFESSIONS: Saturdays 11:00 AM-12:00 Noon or by appointment.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

CEMETERY OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

OFFICES CLOSED ON ALL HOLY DAYS & HOLIDAYS

Saints Joachim & Anne Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

MASS INTENTIONS . . . Anyone wishing to present the gifts at the Offertory of the Mass, kindly speak to an usher prior to the beginning of Mass. Family members of those for whom the Mass is offered are always welcomed and encouraged to present the gifts and given priority.

PARISH REGISTRATION: All parishioners should be registered. Parishioners over the age of 18 should register independently of their parents. It is necessary to be a registered parishioner for at least 3 months in order for us to provide testimonial letters. Kindly notify the Parish Office of any changes. BAPTISMS: Fourth Sunday of the month at 1 PM. Please call the Parish Office to make arrangements prior to making social plans. Parents & godparents must attend instructions on the third Sunday of the month at 11:30 AM in the Seniors’ Room. MARRIAGES: Arrangements should be made at least one year in advance, prior to making social plans. SICK CALLS: Arrangements for communion calls to the sick can be made by calling the Parish Office. Please notify the Parish Office when a parishioner is in the hospital. Emergency calls are made at any time.

PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM (PREP): Instruction in the Catholic Faith for children in grades 1-8. Classes are held from September to April on Monday afternoons from 4:30 - 5:45 PM. Please contact the Parish Office for further information. RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA): A process of prayer, study, & spiritual formation which prepares unbaptized adults & adults baptized outside the Catholic Church to be in full communion.. Any adult 18 years of age or older who desires becoming a Catholic should call the Parish Office.

THE HOLY FATHER’S INTENTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY

Evangelization: Priests and their Pastoral Ministry That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME “...come away by yourselves to a lonely place

and rest awhile.” - Mark 6:31

Do you spend time, every day, alone and in silence listening to how God is calling you? If not, you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to develop a more personal relationship with Him. Unless we talk and more importantly, listen to God every day, how else will we know how He is calling us? Consider making a retreat this year, spend some “alone” time with God.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY (SOBOTA), JULY 21 4 PM +Anna & John Adamusik Req. by: Son, Joe St. Anne Novena SUNDAY (NIEDZIELA), JULY 22 8:30 Pro Populo / For the People of the Parish St. Anne Novena 10:30 Stanley & Marie Gdula ~ Anniv. Blessings Req. by: Family St. Anne Novena 12 N +Stefania & Bronislawa Surowiec Req. by: Piatek Family St. Anne Novena MONDAY (PONIEDZIALEK), JULY 23 Weekday / St. Bridget, Religious 8 AM +James Cosentino Req. by: Victoria Toth & Family St. Anne Novena TUESDAY (WTOREK), JULY 24 Weekday / St. Sharbel Makhluf, Priest 8 AM +Joseph C. Borichewski Req. by: Michael & Marie Borichewski St. Anne Novena WEDNESDAY (SRODA), JULY 25 St. James, Apostle 8 AM +Anna Petersack Req. by: Sons, Jeffrey & Joseph St. Anne Novena THURSDAY (CZWARTEK), JULY 26 Sts. Joachim & Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary 6:30PM +Aniolowski Family Req. by: Jash & Mamie St. Anne Novena FRIDAY (PIATEK), JULY 27 Weekday 8 AM +Tadeusz Barteczko & Family Req. by: Leokadia Kozenko SATURDAY, (SOBOTA), JULY 28 Weekday / BVM 4 PM +Joseph Wilk Req. by: Wife, Mary SUNDAY (NIEDZIELA), JULY 29 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:30 +Sophie & Vincent Gostkowski Req. by: Family 10:30 Pro Populo / For the People of the Parish 12 N +Wladyslaw Sosulski Req. by: Joseph & Anna Olchowicz

Monday, July 23 No Senior Meeting

Friday, July 27 Parish Office Closed ~ Summer Schedule

Saturday, July 28 Confessions 11 am

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE . . . WINE & HOSTS +Helen Brodzinski -

Gail & George Olszewski

CANDLE INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Sanctuary Candle ~ Church +Jane Chadwick - Family

Blessed Mother’s Altar Candles +Gladys Nagy - Gayle & Jeff

Sacred Heart Altar Candles +Marianne Cole - Chadwick Family

Candle for St. Joseph +Marianne Cole - Barglow Family

Candle For St. Anthony God’s Blessings & Good Health for

Jordan Fragiacomo - Mary & Cindy Wilk

Our Lady of Ostrabrama Candles +Anna Petersack - Sons, Jeffrey & Joseph

Sanctuary Candle ~ Chapel 90th Birthday Blessings for Ed Roginski -

Deacon Tom & Janet

Divine Mercy Candles ~ Chapel +Peter Kiczula, Sr. - Gayle & Jeff Spezio

St. Anne’s Altar ~ Chapel Blessings for Bill H. - Barb & Russ

La Pieta Grotto Candles {Available ~ $25 for two candles for one week}

Please contact the Parish Office to make arrangements to donate candles or wine

& hosts in honor of a loved one.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMORIALS

In addition to Mass intentions, St. Mary’s offers a variety of

options to remember your loved ones or special occasions. All of the following are available throughout the year. The names and/or intentions will be printed in the bulletin for that week. Please contact the Parish Office for details and availability.

Altar Flowers: Available weekly for specific areas in the church & chapel except Lent & Advent

Wine & Hosts: Available for Masses for one week Candle Intentions: Available weekly for specific

areas in the church & chapel Memorial Room Candles: Available monthly Memorial Room Plaques: Various sizes available Tree of Life: Leaves still available

REMEMBER THE SICK & HOMEBOUND, especially: Cindy Abreu-Maia, Mrs. Marlene Ahde, Nina Argresta, Jack Batchie, Ted Batko, JoAnn Belko, Marie Borichewski, Patricia Brink, Virginia Brown, Cathy Christan, Lynette Cucco, Thomas DelGuercio, Mary Dzienkowski, Tom Fackovec, Evelyn Fafara, Penelope Fry, Patricia Gaffney, Sophie Galinski, John Ganser, Matthew Giardelli, Maryann Goccia, Carmela Goff, Amelia Halmo, Irene Hanko, Jean Hill, Eleanor Holz, Rose Johnson, Edward Jurewicz, Catheryn Kelly, Jason Klee, Boguslaw Kmieciak, Marion Kovacs, Joan Krenzel, Michael Lucas, Anthony Martino, Wanda Massaro, Dorothy McMahon, Hannah Grace Michlik, Rozalia Milkowski, Kazia Naglik, Maria Nunez, Adela Ogrodnik, Joe Pawelek, Hattie Pawlowski, Charles Philipone, Shona Pietraczenko, Nicholas Piacenti, Anne Piersanti, Cecelia Polanski, Kevin Rasimowicz, C. Rasmussen, Rose Razzano, Walter & Edna Rice, Sr. Rosangela, Rosalie Rudy, Sean Ryan, Steven Samuel, Gregory Sciscoe, Raymond Stavish, Joe Szumski, Pauline Terelmes, Sylvia Thrasher, Maria Uzzo, Juan Velazquez, Arlene Watson, Claire Watson, Martha Sue Williams, Karolina Wojciechowski, Edward Wolanin, Jr., Kathryn Wolanin, Barbara Zambrzicky, Henry Ziolkowski.

IN OUR HEARTS & PRAYERS . . .

PARISH OFFICE SUMMER HOURS

St. Mary’s Parish Office is open Monday thru Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and will be closed

on Fridays through Labor Day. Thank you & have a wonderful Summer!

FAMILY TIME

Just as the family that prays together, stays together, so does the family that plays together. It is important that Christian families spend time together on a regular basis. Oftentimes, families are too busy to enjoy a meal together or catch up on each other’s lives. However, a period of “family time” offers families a chance to become closer to God and to each other.

Shop-Rite Certificates

Everyone needs to shop for groceries & prescriptions. The certificates program

is a means for St. Mary’s to earn five cents on every dollar spent at Shop-Rite without any additional cost to shoppers. Certificates are available before and after all Masses at the entrances of the church, or may be purchased at the Parish Office during regular office hours.

REMEMBER ST. MARY’S IN YOUR WILL

God will never be outdone in generosity. Please remember

St. Mary’s Parish in your Will & Testament!

The repairs you are witnessing in our Beautiful Church are the results of donations and remembrances in our Parishioners’ Last Will & Testaments. Thank you & Bóg Zapłać for your generosity!!!

GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING . . .

St. Mary’s Parish is totally dependent upon the generosity of its parishioners for parish support. Our church support program is called “Sacrificial Giving”. Each individual parishioner or family is asked to consistently give “their fair share”, in support of their parish in a spirit of thanksgiving to God, to enable our parish church to carry out the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. The envelopes provided for you are to be used as gift wrappers for each sacrificial gift you give to the Lord. Please be generous, since God is generous to us.

Sunday Collection - July 15, 2018

Weekly Collection $3,371.00 Energy Collection $1,332.00 Building Fund $1,629.00

Thank You & God Bless You! Bóg Zapłać!

IN OUR PARISH . . .

2018 BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL Lighting a Fire in the Heart of Our World

To date, the Development Office has received pledges totaling $38,459.00 and payments totaling $37,296.50 from 189 parishioners. This represents 91.6% of our $42,000.00 goal. Thanks to the dedication of our faithful parishioners, pastors and parish appeal coordinators, we exceeded our Bishop’s Annual Appeal goal for the second year in a row with pledges of over $7.8 million from nearly 26,000 households. Achieving our $7.2 million goal for the 2018 Appeal allowed us to distribute funds to the ministries as projected. Your extraordinary generosity enables us to continue advancing our mission. Money raised over goal will help cover tuition costs for 6 more seminarians than originally budgeted for, address the needs of a growing number of retired clergy, and enhance our communication strategy. Thank you for also providing for these urgent needs. As you can imagine, the needs are great! It’s Not Too Late to Give: Donations are still being gratefully accepted for the 2018 Bishop’s Annual Appeal. Money raised over goal will help provide for more urgent needs. A parish receives 50% of the amount collected over the parish goal. Parish rebates can be earned through October 2018, so there is still time to fulfill your pledge. To see how Appeal funds are being allocated or to make a gift, go to https://diometuchen.org/BAA. Your wonderful response is a reflection of our commitment as a diocesan family to bring Christ’s message of hope and love to everyone we meet. Together we are Lighting a Fire in the Heart of Our World.

**Please patronize our advertisers** They make our bulletin possible.

PRE-CANA

St. Mary’s will once again host Pre-Cana for engaged couples on Saturday, August 18. If you or someone you know is getting married and would like to attend, please contact Donna Jones via phone 732-254-0055 or email donnajonesdmj@gmail.com for registration information.

The Holy Name gratefully thanks all parishioners who donated to the C.O.P.E. Program on July 7/8.

Because of you, our August disbursement was $990. Thank you for your continued support & generosity.

Our next collection will be August 11/12.

Baptisms Welcome to our Catholic Community through the Sacrament of Baptism:

Max Reginald Capanna

May the Lord bless him and keep him in His care!

Appreciate Others

Spend time to remember and appreciate the people in your life who, despite it all, kept you hopeful as you encountered situations of evil, suffering, and sadness. See, too, the love and grace that touches all our lives in these situations.

- from Startled By God

MINUTE MEDITATION

FAITH FORMATION . . . **PREP REGISTRATION REMINDER**

If you have not yet done so, please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible to register for St. Mary’s PREP Program for 2018-2019 school year so books can be ordered.

Our PREP Program is for Grades 1-8 and classes are held on Monday, 4:30 to 5:45 pm. For additional information, please call the Parish Office.

UNANNOUNCED MISSION MASSES If you are interested in scheduling Masses said by a Missionary priest, please submit the name, fee ($10 per name), and number of Masses. These Masses are sent out of the country by the Diocesan Pontifical Mission Society and will not be announced in our weekly bulletin. Please call the Parish Office.

Novena to St. Anne 2018 Schedule

Saturday&Sunday,July21&22NovenafollowsallweekendMasses

Monday,Tuesday,WednesdayJuly23,24&25

Novenafollows8:00amMass

Thursday,July26~Sts.Joachim&AnneNovenafollows6:30pmMass

Glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who

suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg

of you to take the present affair which I recommend to you under your special protection.

St. Anne, please, recommend to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary and lay it before the throne

of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. St. Anne cease not to intercede for me until my

request is granted. (Mention petition now.)

Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face, and with You and

Mary and all the saints, praising and blessing Him through all eternity. Amen.

St. Mary’s Altar Rosary Society is sponsoring a trip to see the production of JESUS, a musical stage adventure at:

Sight and Sound Theatre Lancaster, PA

Date: November 23, 2018 Time: Leaving St. Mary’s parking lot promptly at 9:30 am Price: $135 Adult, $75 Children (3 to 12yrs old)

Price includes bus, lunch and show. Full payment due at time of reservation. NO REFUNDS. Please make check payable to: St. Mary’s Altar Rosary Society. LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE. First come, first serve.

For reservations and inquiries, please contact Fatima Fernandes through phone or text to 732-672-1268.

Father Malak Saadallah and the Egyptian Catholic Coptic Congregation of Sacred Heart, who have been using our Chapel for the past several months for their

religious services, have decided to move their services to St. Ambrose Church in Old Bridge. We would like to thank Father Malak and his Congregation for their prayerful presence and wish them God’s blessings.

AROUND THE DIOCESE . . . Immaculate Conception

23 Manalapan Road, Spotswood

With Fresh Local Produce & Beautiful Handmade Goods from Local Farmers and Artisans!

Sundays thru September 9 10:00 am - 1:30 pm

A variety of vendors each weekend will be bringing an array of fresh produce and goods including vegetables, fruit, eggs and baked goods. We will also have pickled salsa and relishes, gourmet chocolate treats and honey.

SILVER & GOLD WEDDING

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Sunday, October 21, 2018

You are cordially invited to celebrate your 25th or 50th Wedding Anniversary with the Church of Metuchen. Renew your marriage vows with Bishop James F. Checchio at a special Evening Prayer Service in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen.

Application forms may be secured by contacting your parish office or by logging onto the diocesan website: www.diometuchen.org/silverandgold. The system will automatically send a confirmation message for your records.

The deadline for registration is Wednesday, October 3rd. More information, call Aida Matos, 732-243-4573 or amatos@diometuchen.org.

Stress in Your Marriage!

Do you feel lost, alone or bored in your marriage? Are you frustrated, hurt or angry with your spouse? Are you constantly fighting? Or, do you simply shut down? Have you thought about separation or

divorce? Does talking about it only make it worse? ...Retrouvaille is a Lifeline to Help Couples Heal and Renew their Marriages. The program consists of a weekend experience for married couples (no group discussions) with six follow-up sessions.

UPCOMING WEEKEND: August 24-26, 2018 More information, call the Family Life Office at 732-

243-4573. TO REGISTER: Call Rich & Annette Colasuonno 732-236-0671 or email

3024@retrouvaille.org.

Our Lady of Victories Parish Sayreville

Mass & Healing Service Monday, July 23, 2018

7:00 PM

Celebrant: Father John Campoli, Director of His Love Ministries

Individual healing prayers will be given following Mass All are welcome.

For information, call Marilyn 732-991-7379 or visit www.frjohncampoli.com.

ST. PETER’S GIANNA CENTER

We are very pleased to introduce you to the Saint Peter’s Gianna Center located in New Brunswick. The Center is

dedicated to offering truly prolife women’s health care, including infertility services, general gynecologic care, and more. All services are provided in accordance with the US Catholic Bishops Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

Please visit http://www.saintpetershcs.com/GiannaCenter/

or contact us at 732-565-5490 for more information.

2018 New Jersey WINE: Catholic Women’s Conference

WINE: Women In the New Evangelization invites women of all ages and stages to the first New Jersey WINE: Catholic Women’s Conference on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the Church of the

Immaculate Conception, Somerville. The theme, Hope: An anchor for the Soul, is inspired by Saint Philomena’s example and Pope Francis’ invitation to fight against enemies of hope (like discouragement and negativity) in order to shine as beacons of hope to those we encounter. The conference will begin at 8 am on Saturday with Mass followed by inspirational talks, music, lunch, prayer, shopping, Confession, chocolate and more! Registration is $55 before August 21 and $65 afterward. For more information and to register, visit www.CatholicVineyard.com and select the EVENTS tab.