The Eucharist - St Monica Masses & Reconciliation Monday - Thursday 9:00 am Saturday 4:00 pm Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 am Holy Days As Noted Reconciliation Saturday 3:15 - 3:45 pm or by appointment Exposition of the Holy Sacrament & Benediction 1st Wednesday of each month 9:30 am

Parish Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Baptisms Celebrated during Mass. Parents and godparents are required to attend our Baptism preparation program. Please call the parish office to register. Visits to the Sick and Homebound May be arranged by calling our parish office.

Youth Group Meets twice each month at 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Please see parish calendar.

Knights of Columbus Council #11529 Meets the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Visit our website: www.kofc11529.org

St. Vincent de Paul Society Emergency Assistance Helpline: 732-370-0098.

Bereavement Support Group Please contact the parish office for more information.

Women of St Monica Please contact the parish office for more information.

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:00 pm in the Parish Hall

New Parishioners Welcome to our parish family! Registration forms are available at the entrances to the Church or may be downloaded at www.saintmonica.com. Please contact

the parish office for further information.

Marriages The Catholic Dioceses of New Jersey requests a one year period of preparation for marriage in the church. Contact the parish office to make arrangements.

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) For those seeking full membership in the Catholic Faith, please contact the parish office.

Religious Education Children are expected to receive a Catholic-Christian upbringing in their family life, to worship regularly at Sunday Mass, and to participate in ongoing Religious Education classes. Our program includes grades K-8. Registration is held annually at the end of March. Classes are held Monday and Tuesday, Sept. thru May at St Monica. Karen Badach, Coordinator of Religious Education (732) 928-4038 or Stmonicaccd@yahoo.com

CHURCH OF SAINT MONICA

“WHERE EVERYONE IS FAMILY” Our Parish is Served by:

Rev. Alex Enriquez Deacon Christian Knoebel Deacon Michael Principato

We invite you to celebrate with us

679 W. Veterans Highway, Jackson, New Jersey 08527 Phone: (732) 928-0279 • Fax: (732) 928-1853

Email: stmonicanj@yahoo.com Website: www.saintmonica.com

Traveling? Call Mass Times (858) 207-6277 or online at www.masstimes.org

For the times of Masses and location of the nearest Catholic Church within the U.S. www.dioceseoftrenton.org

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Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 18, 2015

FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP

COLLECTIONS DECEMBER 31 - JANUARY 1

Solemnity of Mary $1,036

COLLECTIONS JANUARY 3 - 4

Weekly Collection $2,778 Building Maintenance $522 Online Giving (23) $795 Total $4,095

Thank you for helping to support our Parish !

MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday, January 17 4:00 pm John Shaffer (Bob & Jackie Wilson)

Sunday, January 18 9:00 am John Musarra, Sr (Dawn Rakow 11:00 am Marie Ferri (Edith Fein & Bob Vonah)

Saturday, January 24 4:00 pm Mary Tenreiro (Joseph Tenreiro)

Sunday, January 25 9:00 am Kathleen Philpot (Ed Philpot) 11:00 am Greg Eldridge (Kathleen Sakoutis)

Monday, January 26 9:00 am June Cavall (Leibner Family)

Tuesday, January 27 9:00 am Joseph Chonsky (Patti Wilson)

Wednesday, January 28 9:00 am Howard Rohr (Liz Nelsen & Family) Jane Bradley (Liz Nelsen & Family)

Intentions followed by the names of those making the offering. To secure your intentions, please contact the Parish Office.

PLEASE PRAY FOR . . .

Jackie Wilson, Jean Colbert, William Cole, Jr., Diane Black, Frank Colbert, Matthew Strout, Bob Wilson, Micki Smith, Annette Petercsak, Lorraine Crowell, Gloria Maloney, Allison Raphael, Carolyn Atherton, Joyce Picon, David Merwin, Humberto Jimenez, Thomas Bieszczad, John Purfield, TJ Sinclair, Ryan Walters, Bob Wythoff, Fr. Bob Schulze, Gordon Johnson, Elaine McGuire, Joseph Steelman, Nora Petronico, Terri St Laurent, Pembleton Family, Peter Laudati, Scott Samu, Warren Balthaser, Glenn Franklin, Jo Belizzone, Joseph Mays Jonathan Lantieri, Iris Jones, Brian Diana, Doug Merwin, Michael Bocchicchio, Joan Kolb, Carl Bocchicchio, Kathleen Cole, Betty Cole, Larry Mays, Dianne Smith, Clark, Roy Ravenfeld, Joanne Baldachino, Ryan Connell, Vera Dzumyk, Sal and Anna Morrello, Howard Sjursen, Daniel Duryea, Matthew Wolansky, Myron Wolansky, Melissa Flynn, Pete Fitzpatrick, Joanne Baldachino, Frank Potenza, Karen Bressi, Kathleen Lucchese, Doris O’Donnell, Elaine Felico, Gloria Trachtenberg, Edith Fein, Ann Marie James, Walter C Vonah, Salvatore Fertitta Call the office and let us know of anyone to be remembered in prayer, so we may include them.

DID YOU KNOW? THE ST. MONICA PARISH CALENDAR MAY BE FOUND AT

WWW.SAINTMONICA.COM.

CLICK ON “PARISH CALENDAR/EVENTS” SECTION FOR UP TO DATE CALENDAR ITEMS.

MASS READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Heb 5:1-10; Ps 110:1-4; Mk 2:18-22 Tuesday: Heb 6:10-20; Ps 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10c; Mk 2:23-28 Wednesday: Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Ps 110:1-4; Mk 3:1-6 Thursday: Heb 7:25 — 8:6; Ps 40:7-10, 17; Mk3:7 12, or any of a number of readings for the Day of Prayer Friday: Heb 8:6-13; Ps 85:8, 10-14; Mk 3:13-19 Saturday: Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Ps 47:2-3, 6-9; Mk 3:20-21 Sunday: Jon 3:1-5, 10; Ps 25:4-9; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20

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ST MONICA YOUTH GROUP NEWS

St Monica Youth Group (Grades 9 - 12) meets in Little Church. If you’re in Grades 9 - 12, you’re invited to join us. If you have any questions, please contact : Jeanne Moir – 732-616-4390 or Michael Casper – 732-859-1970

Upcoming Calendar:

Sunday, January 25

ONLINE GIVING -- BENEFITS FOR YOU AND ST MONICA

BENEFITS FOR YOU :

▫ No check writing or ATM stops before church

▫ Safe, secure, and confidential

▫ Use your checking, savings, or credit card

▫ Schedule recurring or one-time donations

▫ Choose offering, special funds, CCD tuition, pledges

▫ Earn rewards through your credit card ▫ $50 gift card to iPlay America in Freehold to first 50 families that sign up BENEFITS FOR ST MONICA:

▫ Allows us to forecast finances and budget more accurately

▫ Allows staff more time to focus on ministries

▫ Creates peace in knowing your data and auto- deposited gifts are secure

▫ Accommodates special funds and CCD tuition

▫ Provides giving history for tax statements

▫ Reaches a wider demographic of givers Go to www.saintmonica.com and click on Donate Online. Contact the parish office for assistance 732-928-0279.

NOTE REGARDING 9:00 AM DAILY MASS

On the following dates we will have a Communion Service instead of Daily Mass: January 19 - January 22

Daily Mass resumes Monday, January 26 at 9:00 am

ANNUAL FEAST OF SANTO NINO AT ST MONICA SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 - MASS 7:00 PM

Santo Nino is the devotion to the Holy Infant Jesus. Sponsored by the Mary, Queen of Peace Prayer Group. Bring your Sto.

Nino for Blessing.

ST MONICA PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP BEGINS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

All are welcome to join us in Little Church on Wednes-days 9:30 - 11:00 am. For more information/questions contact Caroline White 732-829-5299.

MONDAY, JANUARY 19 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR DAY

There is no CCD Class and the Parish Offices will be closed.

ST. MONICA ANNUAL ITALIAN DINNER FUNDRAISER SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 AT 2:00 PM

The dinner takes place in our parish hall. Menu includes: penne and spaghetti; meatballs, eggplant parmesan; lasagna; sausage, pepper and onions, antipasti salad; rolls and butter; dessert; coffee, tea, iced tea & lemonade. Tickets purchased in advance are $10 for

Adults; $5 for Children ages 6-10; and Children 5 and under are admitted for free. Tickets purchased at the door are $15 for

Adults; $8 for Children ages 6 – 10; Children 5 and under admitted for free.

Purchase tickets after Mass or at the Parish Office . Join us for a wonderful afternoon! We seek volunteer meatball makers for the dinner as well as assistance with clean up. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up on the forms at the back of the church. Confirmation Students: A total of five student volunteers are needed. If interested, please contact Linda Thompson at 732-961-7452.

4TH SUNDAY ROSARY – SUNDAY, JANUARY 25

Join us in the sanctuary to Pray the Rosary on Sunday, January 25 following our 9:00 am Mass.

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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Upcoming Calendar:

Monday, January 19 No Class Tuesday, January 20 5:30 pm Class

Thursday, January 22 5:30 pm First Reconciliation Practice Saturday, January 24 10:00 am First Reconciliation

Monday, January 26 4:15 pm Class 6:00 pm Class

Tuesday, January 27 5:30 pm Class

Monday, February 2 No Class Tuesday, February 3 5:30 pm Class

Monday, February 9 No Class Tuesday, February 10 5:30 pm Class

Religious Education Office Phone: 732-928-4038

Email: stmonicaccd@yahoo.com

LOOKING TO HELP YOUR PARISH?

�Musician that plays piano, organ or guitar for our Saturday, 4 pm Mass.

�Choir Teens and adults are welcome to join. �Ushers (to take up collections during the Offertory) �Greeters (to welcome parishioners and visitors and distribute missals as they arrive for Mass. ) Confirmation Students: This is an opportunity for service hours. If interested, please contact the parish office or speak with Fr Alex.

Our next meeting takes place Sunday, January 18 fol-lowing the 9:00 am Mass. Anyone interested in joining our group may sign up at the table at the back of the Church. If you need more information or have questions, please contact Kim Merwin 732-547-6946 or attitudelady05@aol.com .

ST MONICA REGISTERED PARISHIONERS 1341 DONORS 101 PARTICIPATION 8% GOAL $18,000 PLEDGES $18,780 PAID $16,341 % OF GOAL IN PAID PLEDGES 91%

We were $1,659 away from reaching our goal in Paid Pledges. In order to receive our $2,700 rebate, St Monica paid the $1,659 shortage. Thank you to all who participated in the appeal.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BLOOD DRIVE, JANUARY 29

St Monica Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a Blood Drive through the Central Jersey Blood Center in the Parish Hall between 5:00 and 9:00 pm on Thursday, January 29. Please consider donating the “gift of life.” For your convenience, you may schedule a donor appointment by completing the sign up sheet at the back of the church or by contacting Michael Carle, 732-928-8592. Bring along a signature ID.

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ST. MONICA’S PARISH CALENDAR

EVENTS

Sunday, January 18 9:00 am Children’s Mass 10:00 am RCIA - Adult (Little Church - Dcn Mike) 10:00 am Special Prep Mtg (Parish Foyer) 10:00 am Women of St Monica Mtg 11:00 am Mass 12:00 pm Meeting (Little Church- Karen Badach)

Monday, January 19 9:00 am Communion Service 7:30 pm Choir Practice (11 am Choir) No Religious Education Class Today Parish Offices Closed Tuesday, January 20 9:00 am Communion Service 9:30 am Tuesday Social (Parish Hall) 5:30 pm Religious Ed Class

Wednesday, January 21 9:00 am Communion Service 7:00 pm AA Meeting (Parish Hall)

Thursday, January 22 9:00 am Communion Service 9:30 am Thursday Rosary (Sanctuary) 4:30 pm RCIA - Teen (Little Church - Dcn Mike) 5:30 pm 1st Reconciliation Practice 7:00 pm K of C Meeting (Parish Hall)

Saturday, January 24 10:00 am 1st Reconciliation 3:15 pm Confession 4:00 pm Mass

Sunday, January 25 9:00 am Mass 9:45 am 4th Sunday Rosary (Sanctuary) 10:00 am RCIA - Adult (Little Church - Dcn Mike) 10:00 am Special Prep Mtg (Parish Foyer) 11:00 am Mass 6:30 pm Youth Group Mtg Gr 9 - 12 in Little Church

Monday, January 26 9:00 am Mass 4:15 pm Religious Ed Class 6:00 pm Religious Ed Class 7:30 pm Choir Practice (11 am Choir)

Tuesday, January 27 9:00 am Mass 9:30 am Tuesday Social (Parish Hall) 5:30 pm Religious Ed Class 7:30 pm K of C Officer Mtg (Little Church)

MINISTRY SCHEDULE

Saturday, January 24 - 4:00 pm Lector: Diane Black Extra-Ordinary Ministers: Marie Gould, Mike Hintenach Altar Server: D Kaba Ushers: Laura Debiak, Michael Debiak, John Finley, Guy Okulewicz Greeter: Needed

Sunday, January 25 - 9:00 am Lector: Denis Balint, Jack Guarnieri Extra-Ordinary Ministers: Betty Cole, Cathy Sedano Altar Servers: K Carlson, J Smink Ushers: Tom Kujawski, Needed Greeter: Sylvia Piznik

Sunday, January 25 - 11:00 am Lector: Barbara Rookey Extra-Ordinary Ministers: Liz Mauro, Needed Altar Servers: A Viterbo, G Viterbo Ushers: Nickey DeLuca, Christopher LaPorte, Walt Stemmler, Needed Greeter: Needed

Found:

iPod If this item belongs to you, please contact the Parish Office at 732-928-0279.

Lost/Missing: Power cord to Parish 42-cup coffee pot. Please return -- Thank you. ****Uh Oh -- Last week we didn't have enough books for folks attending Mass. We’re missing a number of our Breaking Bread Missals. Please return so we can all have a book.

ST MONICA TUESDAY SOCIAL

Come join our Social on Tuesdays which begins with the celebration of the 9:00 Mass, followed by fellowship, good conversation and refreshments.

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Page 6 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 18, 2015

NATIONAL MEMORIAL FOR THE PRE-BORN AND THEIR MOTHERS AND FATHERS

This January, add to the excitement of attending the March for Life by joining the 21st annual National Memorial for the Preborn and their Mothers and Fathers. On Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 8:30-10:30 a.m., this service will take place in Constitu-tion Hall at 1776 D Street NW (18th and D St.), in Washington, D.C. Doors will open at 7 and Mass will be celebrated at 7:30. The event is free, no tick-ets are required, and large groups are welcome. Come and be part of this prophetic witness against the scourge of abortion and for God's glorious gift of life. See more info online at www.NationalPrayerService.com.

REDISCOVER THE LOVE IN YOUR MARRIAGE!

The Retrouvaille Marriage Program offers help for struggling marriages. Tens of thousands of couples have successfully saved their marriages by attending a Retrouvaille weekend and the six post sessions that follow it. Retrouviaille is not just a social gathering or series of seminars, but rather a way to rediscover and rekindle the loving relationship in your marriage. The next program begins on the weekend of February 12 - 15 at the Family Life Center in Malvern, PA. For more information, or to register for our upcoming weekend, visit our website at www.HelpOurMarriage.com or call 800-470-2230.

UPPER ROOM SPIRITUAL CENTER

3455 West Bangs Avenue, Building 2 Neptune, NJ 07753

e-mail: office@theupper-room.org www.theupper-room.org

Centering Prayer Join us as Fr. Keating invited us into greater depth and transformation in Christ. The day will include presentation, discussion and Centering Prayer. Facilitator: Bunny Scott Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 Time: 10:00 am-2:00 pm Fee: $35 (A light lunch and materials included.)

MERTON SERIES BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING

3 Tuesdays 9:30 AM – Noon January 13, February 10 and March 17 We commemorate Merton’s 100th birthday with a wonderful 3-part series that will help us live more contemplatively and peacefully in our everyday lives. Merton speaks to the soul like no other. He gently leads us toward spiritual transformation and a more contemplative and peace-filled life. Merton re-minds us: “Your life is shaped by the ends you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire.” We will study Merton in these three sessions and let his pursuit of his true self in God foster our own search. Donation: $65, includes 2 books: To register, call 609-877-0509. Please check

www.FHOP.org for our other offerings!

OFFERINGS AT FRANCIS HOUSE OF PRAYER

Trenton Diocesan Spiritual Center Box 392 • Rancocas, NJ 08073

609-877-0509 or FHOP@verizon.net

ST. ALOYSIUS SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

St Al’s will be holding Open Houses during Catholic Schools Week. Sunday, January 25; 9:00 a.m. -Noon

and Friday, January 30; 9:15-10:15 a.m. You are wel-come to come and see what our great school has to offer. Meet the teachers and see our school in ac-tion. Registration paperwork for the 2015-2016 school year will be available at that time. For ques-tions, please contact Olive Taylor otay-lor@saintaloysiusonline.org / 732-370-0500. ext. 220.

CONTACT OF OCEAN & MONMOUTH COUNTIES

The next 15-week training class for telephone vol-unteers for CONTACT (24-hour crisis intervention hotline) will begin on Tuesday, January 13 from 6:30 - 9:30 pm in the Brick Township area. CONTACT, a free and confidential service, has been assisting with the needs of individuals throughout the community since 1975, by providing a safe place for callers to talk about their problems with anonymity. Information and referral are pro-vided when requested. For additional training in-formation, please call the CONTACT office 732-240-6104.

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Sin: You're Doing it All Wrong By Deacon Christian Knoebel

Get five Catholics in a room and ask them what sin is, and you'll get six definitions. You may hear about venial and mortal sins. You'll probably hear a very long list of don'ts. In the end you'll be convinced that no matter what you do you're headed straight for hell. Sin plays a big role in Catholicism. We fear its ultimate consequences. We sometimes talk too much about it, other times hardly at all. We have a sacrament through which our sins are forgiven, yet few of us participate in it because we're scared to face it. Even so, living with the guilt of sin can be crushing. Sin rightly gets a bad rap, but do we really know what it is? If we boil down all the things we do but shouldn't, and all the things we didn't do but should have, we find that sin is about only one thing: breaking our relationship with God. Sin means to miss the mark, like a lousy archer would. The target in this case is God. St. Augustine (St. Monica's son) said about it: "Sin is love of oneself … to the contempt of God." When we do stuff that puts distance between us and God (or between us and other people), that's sin. It ends up that lists of sins like the ones we learned in CCD don't serve us well because they're not from the heart. It’s in our hearts that we really know when and how we dented and scratched our relationship with God. We need to find the everyday ways we miss the mark. A judgment, a look, a comment, a chuckle, a feeling of superiority or entitlement, these little things get us in trouble now and lead to bigger problems later. The devil's strategy is death by a thousand cuts. The hospital for all those cuts is reconciliation. When we confess from the heart, rather than from a list, we can be sure that all our wounds are bound-up and cared-for by our God who is compassionate and merciful. Sin comes from the heart, so it’s through the heart that we're forgiven, just as the psalmist tells us: "My transgres-sions, truly I know them … a broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn." Do you have a question about our faith that no one has ever answered? Email stmonicanj@yahoo.com.