TWENTIETH  SUNDAY

IN ORDINARY TIME

HOURS       Pss IV Seasonal prop

MASS         Prop Gl Cr Sun Pf I-VIII

RDGS         120: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10  Ps 40:2-4, 18

                   Heb 12:1-4  Lk 12:49-53

The Lord came to the aid (Ps) of Jeremiah whose preaching brought upon him rejection and ill-treatment (1). For those who take the gospel seriously, misunderstanding and division must likewise be expected (3). Like Christ, we must never grow despondent or abandon the struggle (2) to proclaim and live the truth.

Stewardship

In today’s second reading, St. Paul encourages us not to grow weary or lose heart, but to persevere in following Jesus.  Our willingness to give of ourselves, even in the face of conflict and division, is one way to measure our discipleship.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR PARISHIONERS including:  Lucy Ciancia, Judy Salcewicz,

Tony Gangitano, David King, Haley Weber, Frank Stashak, Josephine Sarnoski, Elizabeth Connelly, Loretta Girard, Mary Pokotello, Blanche Ferarro, Sheila Del Mastro, John & Peter Foxwell, Terese King, John & Christine Dyke, Peter Yazgier and Genevieve Casey.

Collections

August 12^th, 2007  $4180.25

Counters Team #1

Final Meeting Before Sale!

August 27 – After 7:00 p.m. Mass

Please--This is a must attend meeting for who will be helping at the sale on Sept. 6 – 7 – 8.

Final details will be decided.

OUR LADY OF MERCY NEWS

Religious Education Registration

Parents of school aged children are encouraged to register their children for religious education. It’s never too late to get the kids into the 2007/2008 classes. Registration forms can be found at church entrances.

Healing Mass at Our Lady of Mercy

August 19^th Father Tom Ganley will here at Our Lady of Mercy to celebrate a Healing Mass from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. The Healing Mass is not only for those who are ill, but is for those of us who are in need of physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological and relational healings.

Rosary Altar Society Day of Renewal

October 7, 8:30am – 4:00pm  The Rosary Altar Society Day of Renewal will be held at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Sterling, NJ. We will meet in the church parking lot at

8:30 am and will return Approximately 4:00 pm.

The day will begin with prayer, opening remarks, and conference, an opportunity for confession, hot lunch, conference or free time to visit the outdoor Shrines or Stations of the Cross, Recitation of the Rosary and Liturgy in the Chapel. Donation will be $27. All women of the parish are invited. Please join us in honoring our Blessed Mother. Please call Rose Wickman at (732) 469-0858 or Lynn Lynch at (732) 356-4792.

DIOCESAN NEWS

www.diometuchen.org

A Program for Troubled Marriages

September 14-16  If your marriage has become unloving and uncaring, or if your relationship has grown cold and distant, if you are thinking of separation or divorce, or if are already separated or divorced, but both of you want to try again – then the RETROUVAILLE program may help you.

The next program begins the weekend of September 14-16. All inquiries are confidential. For more information please call the Family Life Office (732) 562-1990 x 1624 or Tom & Pat McTague (732) 583-4468

Renew Your Marriage Vows With Bishop Bootkoski

September 30^th 4:00 pm  You are warmly invited to celebrate your 25^th or 50^th Wedding Anniversary with the Church of Metuchen. Renew your marriage vows and receive a personalized certificate from Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski.

Application forms may be secured by contacting the parish office or by logging on to www.diometuchen.org/family life (click on the Silver/Gold Application icon). Forms must be signed by the pastor and returned to the Diocese by the parish office. Application forms will be accepted by the Family Life Office until September 4^th. For additional information call the Family Life Office (732) 562-1990 x1624.

Prepare to Lead

A Catholic Bible Study Training Course sponsored by the Office of Evangelization. The course offers a basic introduction to the Sacred Scriptures for people who desire to understand the Bible better and/or may wish to facilitate Bible Studies. The classes lay a foundation in the Catholic approach to reading and interpreting the Word of God. Anybody who is interested in growing in their knowledge and love of the Scriptures is invited to participate.

The course will be offered in several locations in English and Spanish and will begin in September and run through May. Registration is required. For further information contact the Office of Evangelization at: 732-562-2469 or dsclafani@diometuchen.org

Adventures in Matthew Seminar

October, 6, 2007, 8:30-4:30  The Diocesan Office of Evangelization is sponsoring a Bible Conference entitled: Adventures in Matthew on at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, Kendall Park. It will be presented by Ted Sri, a professor of Theology at Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas and author of several books, among which is: The Mystery of the Kingdom: on the Gospel of Matthew. The seminar is suitable for beginners as well as the serious Bible student. Pre-registration is required since materials have to be ordered. For more information contact: dsclafani@diometuchen.org or (732) 562-2469

COMMUNITY NEWS

Holy Family Academy Carnival

August 25^th & 26^th  The Wolk Family will be at the front entrance of the church after each Mass selling half price ride tickets to this year’s Holy Family Academy’s Carnival.

This year’s carnival will be held on September 20^th thru the 23^rd at Codrington Park in Bound Brook.

Affordable Home Ownership Opportunity

Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity will build four single-family homes in Somerset in 2008. Families interested in applying for one the homes must attend on of the following orientations:

St. Matthias School, 168 JFK Blvd. Somerset, NJ

Parish Meeting Room – parking behind the church and school. Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 2:00 pm

Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 2:00 pm

Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 2:00 pm

Please call (908) 704-0016 or log onto www.rvhabitat.org for information about the selection process, qualifications and no interest mortgages on these units.

Free Traditional Irish Ceili Dance Classes

The Somerset County Ancient Order of Hibernians sponsor free traditional Irish folk dancing (ceili) lessons for adults. Classes start at the beginner level and will be held each Thursday evening from 7:30pm to 9pm at the PeopleCare Center, 120 Finderne Ave., Bridgewater. Classes run from Sept. 6 through Nov. 8. Individuals and couples are welcome. For more info: (908) 722-4561 or (908) 371-9080.

Metuchen Diocese Is Looking For A Few Good Men

The Diocese is looking for men who are interested in becoming Permanent Deacons. A new diaconate formation class will begin in September 2008. Applications for that class will be accepted this fall. A General Information Meeting is being conducted at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway on September 12, 2007 at 7:00 pm. If you believe you are being called to this ministry, you and your wife are cordially invited to attend this meeting. If you have any questions, please contact the Diocesan Diaconate Office (732)-562-1990 x1710.