the Church of the

Immaculate Heart of Mary Mahwah, New Jersey

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph December 27, 2015

Saturday, December 26, 2015 5:00PM Mary Kownacki by the Family Sunday, December 27, 2015 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph 7:30AM Anne Stricker by daughter, Anne, John & Children 9:00AM Robert Maleszewski by Wife & Children 10:30AM Tom O’Sullivan by wife, Peggy 12:00PM Stephanie & Michael J. Remo by the Remo Family Monday, December 28 For Our Parishioners and 8:00AM Jack Dempsey by Ceil & Bill Reid Dr. Robert Huebner by Joan & Sean O’Connell 12:00PM Julia, Edward & Michael Cleary by Julia Cleary, Shannon, Kelly & Ryan Hall Ann Norris Medler by Don & Kay Bruce Kimberly Miner by James Dugandzic Tuesday, December 29 8:00AM Stanley Zembriski by Gloria & Irene Health Blessings for Henry Baker by the Gerling Family 12:00PM Peter & Bessie Smith by the O’Sullivan Family Rose Leahy by Helen Soboleski Wednesday, December 30 8:00AM Anton Leahy by Kenny & Virginia Sochulak & Family Lorraine Wiener by husband, Hank & Family 12:00PM John Joseph Johnson, Sr. by Carole & Chuck Coviello Frank V. France by the McEntee & Coviello Families Thursday, December 31 8:00AM Michele Szwed by the Family Health Blessings for Pascal Joseph

TThe Solemnity of Mary Friday, January 1, 2016 5:00PM Vigil Mass James Miles by the Family 9:00AM (Polish) Deceased Members of Albin & Tillie Kownacki Family 10:30PM Thomas Quinn by the Freeley Family Saturday, January 2 8:00AM Rosary Society Adela & Peter Ostrowski by daughter, Anne Ernest Gerling by the Gerling Family

Saturday, January 2 5:00PM Patricia Deserio by Christine Graham Arnaldo Callioni by Loredana DeBruno & Family Health Blessings for Joann Duma-Blanco by Olga, Mike & Family Sunday, January 3 The Epiphany of the Lord 7:30AM Priscilla Binko by John & Pat Spiech 9:00AM 44th Wedding Anniversary of Natalie & Boleslaw Halka by the Family Christine Wyszomirski by Ursula & Stanley Fornal & Family Deceased Members of the Polish American Club 10:30AM Anna Krupinski by Joyce Hammerstein Jean Storms by the Leahy Family Ted Bruchalski by Larry Janisheski & Dwight Grogon 12:00PM Anthony Fontana by Antoinette Fontana

Memorial Candles

Blessed Sacrament (Sanctuary Candle) In memory of Charles Wilson From daughter, Carol Zarcone

Blessed Mother (Sanctuary Candle)

In memory of Rose Leahy from Gary & Karen Cox

Saint Joseph (Sanctuary Candle) In memory of Bill & Frances McCloud

From daughter, Darlene

Blessed Mother (Alcove) In memory of Camilo Cabig

From wife, Fe

Sacred Heart (Alcove) In memory of Cynthia, my loving wife

From husband, Ed Plicinski

PRAYERS FOR PARISHIONERS For those who are ill: Christine Sanese-Brett, Joan Malone, Stella Moran, Paul Mayer, Helen Kelly, Nora Dempsey, Tara Arbia, Peter Rice, Maryann Titko, Theresa White, John LaPlaca, James and Barbara Straut, Ruth Stager, Eleanora Swingle, Frances Konior, Irene Calotta, Gabrieile DiCarlo, Mary Gisonno, Carol Zarcone, Nicholas Sorgine, Susan Sorgine, Henry Baker, Louise Yankowski, Michael Cardinale. For the recently deceased: Irena Ceglinska, John Kelly, Anna Krupinski, Christina Wyszomirski, Frederico Chacon, Rose Leahy, Bozena Niepostyn, Anthony Fontana, Helena Marut, Joseph Szwerc, Jack Dempsey, Marilyn Jasenzak, Ted Bruchalski, Gabriel Wolanski, Stanley Zembriski, Stanislaw Wrzesien, Anthony Suleski, Fr. Chester Szemborski, SDB, Edward Michalak, Richard Gotowko, Eileen Conway.

December 27, 2015 Message from the Pastor: How meaningful and special for us that we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph two days after Christmas! Today’s Gospel gives us a beautiful image of the Holy Family faithfully keeping the traditional practices and observances of Jewish law. Jesus, at the age of twelve, is on the verge of becoming a man and He and his parents traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Upon completion of the festivals, Mary and Joseph departed but where unaware Jesus remained behind in the Temple. He amazes the religious teachers with His wisdom and intelligence. When Jesus' parents discover Him missing, they are quite upset. Jesus said to them “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” While Mary and Joseph did not immediately understand the meaning of these words “his mother kept all these things in her heart.” Today’s Gospel reminds us to keep Jesus in the heart of our families and the importance of keeping Him “up close and personal” in our lives. When we do this, everything else in life will fall into place. Our experience of divine presence, obedience, and growing in wisdom unfolds first and foremost in our family life. The joys, challenges, and pains of family life are all opportunities to look for and find Jesus. This Friday, Jan. 1st, we also celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. One of the most outstanding characteristics of Mary is her willingness to trust and do God’s will. Again, in today’s Gospel, Luke cites “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” In our busy life styles’ today, let us not forget meditation as a prayer and let us look up to Mary, our Mother, as our example and guide! I would like to thank everyone that donated their time and talents in making our church so beautiful for our Christmas liturgies and for our wonderful adult and children’s choirs who made our liturgies so special. I would also like to say a “special” thank you for the flower donations and for the sacrifices and generosity of all your Christmas donations that are so vital to our Church and our ministries year round. On this special day I’d like to close with this prayer for all our families:

Holy Family of Nazareth, make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the

weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at

peace in our true home with you. Amen.

God Bless You and I wish you all a Blessed and Healthy, Happy and Safe New Year! Fr. Jacek

The Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God

January 1st, 2016 is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass are as follows:

Thursday, December 31st, 2015 5:00PM Vigil Mass (English)

Friday, January 1st, 2016 9:00AM (Polish), 10:30AM (English)

December - January Parish Events Calendar

December 28, 29 CCD Christmas Break December 31 (Day) 8:00AM Mass Only NNew Years Eve Dance January 1, Solemnity of Mary January 3 Feast of Epiphany January 10 Oplatek Celebration

2015 PARISH CALENDARS

Parish calendars compliments of Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home and Scarr Funeral Home are available in the Church entrance. Please pick one up on your way out of church. We extend our sincere thanks to both Funeral Homes.

The Polish American Club

Is hosting their annual Polish “OPLATEK”

Sunday, January 10, 2016 2:30PM

* Mikolaj Szopka Bozenarodzeniowa * Dinner * Dance (DJ)

Donation $20.00 per person

Children 7-14 years of age $10.00.

The Parish Office will be closed on Thursday, December 31st, 2015 and New Year’s Day Friday, January 1st, 2016, Emergency calls are always accepted; please call 201-529-3517.

Reminder: There will be No Religious Education Classes

on

Monday, December 28 or

Tuesday, December 29

A Year of Time

As we look into 2016 we look at a block of time. We see 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours,

525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds. And all is a gift from God.

We have done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or purchased it. Like the air we breathe, time comes to us as a part of life.

The gift of time is not ours alone.

It is given equally to each person. Rich and poor, educated and ignorant, strong and weak—every man, woman and child

has the same twenty-four hours every day.

An important thing about time is that you cannot stop it. There is no way to slow it down, turn it off, or adjust it.

You cannot bring back time.

Once it is gone, it is gone. Yesterday is lost forever. If yesterday is lost, tomorrow is uncertain.

Time is one of our most precious possessions.

We can waste it. We can worry over it. We can spend it on ourselves or,

As good stewards, we can invest it in the kingdom of God.

The New Year is full of time. As the seconds tick away, will you be tossing time out the

window, or will you make every minute count? Steven B. Cloud

A NEW YEAR’S DAY PRAYER

Dear Lord, please give me … A few friends who understand me

and yet remain my friends. A work to do which has real value,

without which the world would feel the poorer…

A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed.

An understanding heart… A sense of humor.

Time for quiet, silent meditation. A feeling of the presence of God.

And the patience to wait for the coming of these things,

with the wisdom to know them when they come. (W.R. Hunt)

New Year’s Eve Dance Tickets are still Available