Pastoral Staff Pastor Father Vincent T. Euk Parochial Vicar Fr. John Chang Weekend Assistant Fr. Bill O’Brien Deacons Tom Cechulski, Sr. Charles R. Daye , Jr. John Franey Gino (Louis) Esposito School Principal Sister Cherree Power, C.R. Religious Education Sr. Ann Norton, D.R.E. Linda Clayton Business Manager Deacon Gino Esposito Director of Music Emer O’Mahony Youth Ministry Coordinator Sister Ann Norton Phone Contacts Rectory—732-363-4200 Convent—732-364-2361 School—732-364-4130 Religious Education— 732-364-4137 Rectory Fax 732-370-3891 Rectory Office Hours: M-F 9:00-4:30 PM Second & Fourth Saturday 9AM—12:30 PM Baptisms: Every 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month,.

Weekend Masses: Saturdays: 4:00 PM Sundays: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12 noon, 5PM Daily Masses: Mon-Fri—7:20 AM & 12 Noon, Sat: 8AM

Holy Days: As announced in the bulletin. Healing Mass –every first Friday at 7:30PM

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:45PM and before each Sunday Mass

The Epiphany of the Lord January 7, 2018

Mass Intentions for this Week January 07, 2018

MONDAY………………………………………………………….……...Baptism of the Lord 7:20 Susan DiScermi………………………………………..Susan & John Ryan 12:00 Roseanna Callahan……………………...…………………Curren Family TUESDAY 7:20 Elzbieta Jagoda ................................................. Joanna Jagoda 12:00 Susan White Sabini .............................. Denise & Brian Curran WEDNESDAY 7:20 William Lesiak ............................................ Barbara Rapczynski 12:00 Maria Grazia DeAngelis..................................... Terri Diovisalvi THURSDAY 7:20 Zemma Kim ....................................................... Augustine Kim 12:00 Devin Pullham .................................................... Bruno Family FRIDAY 7:20 Nohra Gomez……………………………..…...Margaret & Rich Savner 12:00 Nicolina Violante…………………...Christine Tumminaro & Family

SATURDAY 8AM Bonnie Yuro ................................................. Bill & Pat Fosgreen 4PM Louis Lazerow ......................................................... Jane Colaio SUNDAY …………………………….……..Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30 Bonnie Yuro .................................................. John & Alice Clark 9:00 For the People of the Parish 10:30 Maria Grazia DeAngelis .............................. John & Rachel Suri 12:00 William Rittweger ................................................ Nash Family 5:00pm Anne DeRosena .............................................. Rose Leconte Sanctuary Candle– Week of January 7, 2018 In memory of Bonnie Yuro………………………………..Pat & Eileen McCarthy Chapel Candles– Week of January 7, 2018 In memory of Alice Cassidy ................ Macrino, Diab & Varga Families

Events for this coming Week– See our website www.stveronica.com

Sacrificial Offering Update

Last Weeks Offering 12/31/2017: $14,757.00

Offering 12/24/17: $14,327.00

Parish Pay for December: $6125.00

Christmas Offering: $46,035.00

Thank you for your continued support.

Readings for the Week of January 7, 2018

Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

Monday: Is 55:1-11; Mk 1:7-11

Tuesday: 1 Sm 1:9-20; Mk 1:21-28

Wednesday: 1 Sm 3:1-10; Mk 1:29-39

Thursday: 1 Sm 4:1-11; Mk 1:40-45

Friday: 1 Sm 8:4-7; 10-22a; Mk 2:1-12

Saturday: 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19, 10:1; Mk 2:13-17

Next Sunday: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19; Jn 1:35-42

Pastor’s Notes

An epiphany is an unusually sudden perception of the

essential meaning of something. For us Catholics the

Solemnity of the Epiphany represents the revealation

that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, Our Savior and God's

anointed. Jesus of Nazareth comes with the Holy Spirit

and with power. The whole life of Jesus Christ is actually

an epiphany. To this day there is an eruption in human

history of an unbeatable force of love that can conquer

all evils and we can be part of it because of the seven

Sacraments given to us through the Church.

There are actually three mysteries that mark the

Epiphany in the Catholic Church. The first is the

adoration of Jesus by the wise men. These men were

most likely Persian religious leaders with a primitive

scientific background. By following the star, these

pagans come to know the Incarnation by studying the

Jewish Scriptures. By following Micah’s prophecy (Mi

5:1), they proceed to Bethlehem. God’s vision to

Abraham said, “In you all nations will be

blessed.” Salvation was open to the Gentiles from the

earliest times. The Wise Men are the first fruits of the

Gentiles and become part of the Church based on their

belief in Jesus, fulfilling the Scripture, “I see him, but not

now; I behold him, but not nigh: a star shall come forth

out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Dt

24:17). The second Epiphany is the baptism of Jesus in

the Jordan by John the Baptist. Here the heavens open

and God the Father gives Jesus His credentials: "This is

my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” The last of these

Epiphanies is the wedding feast at Cana where water is

changed into wine. This foreshadowed the Holy

Eucharist. If God can transform water into wine and

multiply loaves to feed thousands, what is to stop him

from transforming bread into His Body?

Isaiah (Is 60:6-8) sees the God of the Old Testament is

not just the God of the Israelites. All people He created

are made in His image & likeness. The caravans from

Arabia represent the Gentiles. They will bring gold to

emphasize His Royal Godhead, incense to acknowledge

Him as the Priest of the New Covenant and myrrh to

praise and celebrate His sacrifice which redeemed

man. St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, a Jew himself,

says that all who embrace Christ become co-heirs with

the Jews and members of the same Body (Eph 3:6).

By God's design the Wise Men, in seeking the truth,

investigate a new phenomena: a moving star. God

generally works signs and wonders for unbelievers, and

rarely for believers. As they leave the meeting with the

corrupt Herod, the star's behavior changes. The star

becomes a fixed point. They are now going to encounter

unchanging Divine Truth. While the Magi give physical

gifts to Jesus, Jesus gives them spiritual gifts for their

souls.

As the Magi return, they no longer retrace their steps by a

star, but by God's will directed through an angel. They,

like Mary and Joseph, follow the message of God's angel

and go by another route free and enlightened by the

Truth.

The Wise Men have been associated with astrology, a

pagan rite which presents an unreal world where all is

fixed. Scott Hahn’s research has an interesting take on

this. The three gifts given to Jesus were actually tools for

astrology. Their visit to Jesus converted them from their

sinful trade and they present them to Jesus as an aban-

donment from that enslavement. Astrology is gravely

sinful because it destroys Christian hope, freedom and

personal responsibility. It weakens our faith by making

us falsely independent of God and reliant on a lie.

When we meet Christ and accept His Gospel, our lives

change and we are driven to communicate our experi-

ence to others. Worshiping the true God is an authentic

act of resistance to all forms of idolatry. Jesus is the

Rock on which to build our future and a world of greater

justice and solidarity. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and

the source of forgiveness and reconciliation

Fr. Euk

If Jesus truly is who he claims to be, the eternal Son of

God and Savior of the world, then why is he not recog-

nized by everyone who hears his word and sees his

works? John the Evangelist states that when Jesus came

into the world the world knew him not and his own peo-

ple received him not (John 1:10-11). Jesus was born in

obscurity. Only the lowly shepherds recognized him at his

birth. Some wise men also found their way to Bethlehem

to pay homage to the newborn King of Israel. These men

were not Israelites, but foreigners. They likely had read

and discussed the Messianic prophecies and were anx-

ious to see when this Messianic King would appear. God

led them by means of an extraordinary star across the

desert to the little town of Bethlehem where Jesus was

born.

Scripture Meditation

OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE

Please Pray for Our Sick

Tom Lovito Marjorie Paulmann Margaret Flood

Mark Stoughton Mia Castellan Baby Dylan Gallego

Connie Camilleri Rosemary DeFalco Diane Grad

Erin Haber Monica Noble Steven Hensle

Paula Baiga Diane Cudhedy Jake Infanti

Joe Oates Jane Oates Ann Donovan

John Kerod Dorothy Sabol Billy Gordon

Robert Farrell Christine Clements John Rodrigues

Cathy Forman Ed Kelly Dennis Hayward

Kathy Hayward Marie Schmidt Christopher Hunt

Greg Mador Brayden Walton Victoria Burke

Robert O’Malley Sr. Karen & Dylan D’Souza-Casiero

Barbara Sewing Joanne Oates Carmen Devone

Mike Kuris Marisa D’Sa Joseph Greco

Milagros Martino Corinne Kerod Robert Robisky

Charles Layton George Keith Kathy Aiello

John Burke Retired Bishop John Smith

Erasmo Ninamango Douglas Floyd Ella Floyd

Judy Silagi Denise Worster Vinnie Gaglardi

Mary Ann Morelli Michelle Schultz Roberta Wingren

Carl Lahetta Antonio Esposito Gavin Femiano

Jen Arico Jerrie Guempel Jessica Przyeylski

Please Pray for our Parishioners Serving our Country: Sgt. Sean T. Curran Sgt. Brennan Six

PV2 William Wotton GSMI Sandro Farduchi

Sgt. Krystyna Cechulski Major Julio Collazos

S.R. Steven Brennan Sgt. Gregory Hiller

PFC Zackary Burkey LCDR Matthew W. Smith Sgt. Luke Wlodkowski 1st Lt. Robert F. Farrell

1st Lt. Ash Young Sgt. Paul Coyle

Sgt. Matt Myers

Baptism St. Veronica’s Parish Family wishes to

welcome those who have become

members through the Sacrament of

Baptism.

Liam John, son of Federico & Nicole Massei

Thank you for the gift of life!

Church and Chapel Sanctuary Candles

If you would like to donate a Sanctuary

Candle for a loved one, please contact the

rectory office (732-363-4200).

Candles will be in memory of or intentions of

the named individual for one week

(Sunday to Saturday) and announced in our bulletin.

Church Candle $15 Chapel Candles $20 (2).

Divine Mercy Prayers

As you grow deeper in your relationship with God, you will

have many moments of struggle as well as many mo-

ments of consolation. Do not be afraid of

moments of dryness and interior suffer-

ing. They are necessary and part of God’s

method of

holiness for you. In those moments, raise

your eyes to Jesus.

Please come and join our parish family on

Sunday,

January 7th at 1:30 to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Thank you from the Knights of Columbus

Dear Church of St. Veronica,

Thank you for your donation to the Knights of Columbus Chari-

ties 2017 Annual Appeal.

It is individual gifts such as yours that make it possible for us

to play such a vital role around the world. Whether through aid

to Christian refugees in the Middle East, children who need

warm coats, food for needy families, assistance in times of

disaster, scholarships for young people, or help for students

whose parents gave their lives in military services, your gift

counts. We are grateful for your prayers, service and financial

support. Thank you again.

Sunday Brunch St. Veronica’s next monthly brunch is on Sunday, January

21st. Come join us in the cafeteria after the noon Mass

for food and friendship. All are welcome!

Youth Free Throw Contest

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus

The Father Cetkowski Council of the

Knights of Columbus (Howell/Jackson) is

sponsoring the annual Basketball Free

Throw Contest. All boys and girls ages 9

through 14 are invited to participate. The

competition will be held on January 20,

2018 at St. Veronica’s School Gym located

on Route 9 in Howell. Registration begins at 2:00 p.m. and the

competition will begin at 2:15. Winners of the competition will

move onto the district competition.

All contestants on the local level will be recognized for their

participation in the event. Participants are required to furnish

proof of age (i.e. birth certificate) and written parental consent.

For entry forms or more information contact Brian Curran at

(908) 415-4720.

Save the Date

“Under the Sea”

St. Veronica School Gift Auction

March 2, 2018

Adoration Chapel “The best, surest and most effective way of establishing everlasting PEACE on the face of the earth is through the great power of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.” Pope Saint John Paul II

“O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord”

Registered adorers insure our commitment to keep the chapel open 24/7. Give Him time and He will give Himself to you. Hours Urgently Needed:

Sunday : 7AM, 5PM

Monday: 1AM

Wednesday: 12 midnight

Saturday: 6PM, 7PM (Urgent)

Contact Debbie drev514@aol.com or leave message 732-367-

7750.

Gift Cards Available at St. Veronica School Office Support St Veronica School with the purchase of gift

cards for routine shopping and gifts! Cash and checks

accepted.

$25 Target, iTunes, Kohl's, Macy's, Stop & Shop, Shop

Rite, Barnes & Noble, Wawa, Applebee's, Panera,

Dunkin’ Donuts cards and more.

***School earns cash rebates at no additional cost to

you!! Please help support our school!

2019 Mass Book Our 2019 Mass Book will open on Tuesday, January 9th

at 10AM. Limit: 2 Masses per person.

Save the Date Parish Lenten Retreat

Each evening starting, Sunday February 18th through

Wednesday February 21st.

Details to Follow

Pantry Needs

Instant potatoes, gravy, rice, Rice-A-Roni, ketchup,

mayonnaise, pasta sides, canned fruit

Air Conditioner Replacement Campaign Goal- $200,000.00

To Date Donations: $38,072.00

Please continue to help reach our goal to replace the AC

system. Thank you to those who have donated and for

your continued support. March for Life

Washington, D.C. January 19, 2018

This year, we are joining St. Robert Bel-

larmine’s bus to go down to the March

for Life in Washington, D.C. on Friday,

January 19, 2018. Cost is $10.00 per person. We will

arrange car pools from St. Veronica’s to St. Robert’s for

the morning of Jan 19, or provide directions to the

Church. It is more important than ever to show our sup-

port for the sanctity of all human life. Please call Hu or

Joan Mador at 732-367-2565 to reserve a seat on the

bus.

St. Veronica Cafeteria is available for rent for family and

special events. Call the rectory.

St. Veronica School Open House

Have you considered the benefits of a Catholic School

Education? St. Veronica School will host an Open House

that offers you the opportunity to explore how your child

could benefit from our faith filled, academically excellent

school! Come Visit St. Veronica School Open House

Sunday, January 28, 2017

12:00-2:00PM

For further information, please call 732-364-4130, ext. 0.

Christmas Flowers, In Memory of: Corazon Escalona, Mario Escalona, Jose Escalona, Stiff Alimar-

io, Machelini & Steven Fillipcsuk, Alex & Anna Revutoski, Eliza-

bith & Onofrey Fillipcsuk, Connie & Norman

Nagy, Phyllis A. Cross, Ralph Critzer, Anna &

Alexander Radzikowski, Margaret Notangiaco-

mo, Monica Wirth, Frances Maiorino, Louise

Mastroianni, Romba Family, Stockdale Family,

Redman Family, Daly Family, Roy & Santa

Johnson, George Seabrook, George M. Sea-

brook, James Luckhurst, Harry & Helen Ferguson, Nick & Lisa

Guadagno, Betsy & Victoria Guadagno, Rificci Family, James &

Mary Bridgetts, Paul & Evelyn Cherecwich, Mary Stein, Kathy

White Fuller, Virginia Shimko, Richard & Marie Manz Margiotta

Maria Preciosa Tanghal, Augusto Tanghal, Henry Dublon,

Moishe Dublon,Rev. Chester Genecki, Edward Genecki, Parke

Baker, Tony Genecki, Richard Fiorentino & Rosalia Rosello

For the Intentions of: David & Lori Germain, David & Patty

Supplee, Connie, Ray & Ray Sewing

In Honor of: Blessed Virgin Mary

OUR NEEDS