OUR LADY OF MERCY

Please Note: No Mass on Wednesdays

Monday March 17^thMonday of Holy Week

9:00 AM Intentions of the Parishioners

Tuesday March 18^th Tuesday of Holy Week

8:00 AM Anthony Wojno r/o Greenbrook Family Dental

7:00 PM Confessions

Wednesday March 19^th Wednesday of Holy Week

No Mass on Wednesday

Thursday March 20^th Mass of the Lord’s Supper

7:30 PM Intentions of the Parishioners

Friday March 21^st Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

3:00 PM Good Friday Service

7:00 PM Stations of the Cross

Saturday March 22^nd Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil

12 NOON Blessing of Food

7:30 PM Easter Vigil - Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday March 23^rdEaster Sunday

8:00 AM Intentions of the Parishioners

10:00 AM Intentions of the Parishioners

12 NOON Intentions of the Parishioners

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION

HOURS Pss II Seasonal Prop

MASS Prop Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance

(1 of 3 forms) Cr Pf of Passion Sun Sol Bl

RDGS 37: MT 21:1-11 (procession)

38: Is 50:4-7 Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

Phil 2:6-11 Mt 26:14-17:66 or 27:11-54

Jesus, humbling himself out of love for us (2), did not shield his face from buffets and spitting (1), but offered his life on the cross (3). He relied on his Father’s love (Ps).

Stewardship

“The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I may know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them,” says Isaiah in today’s first reading. The gifts God has given us are likewise given for the good of others. How am I using my gifts? (See Isaiah 50:4)

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR PARISHIONERS

Patricia Ryan, Al & Ruth Schraeder, Elizabeth Connelly, Genevieve Casey, Josephine Sarnoski, Josephine Martens, Peter Yazgier and Christine Dyke may the love of Christ be evident to them in the welcome and help they find in the family of the Church.

Let us remember in our prayers Violet Rusk,

Anthony Mignella, Sr., William Kiely and Helen Bohay whom God has called home.

Collections

March 9^th, 2008 $3985.00

Spring Collection $1356.25

Counters

March 16^th, Team #3

March 23^rd, Team #4

March 30^th, Team #1

MOUNT ST. MARY HOUSE OF PRAYER

1651 U.S. Highway 22

Watchung, NJ 07069-6587

(908) 753-2091 msmhope@msmhope.org

Please register for all events

PERSONAL RETREAT DAYS

Sacred Time, Sacred Space

March 20, 21, 9:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Bring bag lunch ($15) A personal quiet day to enjoy God’s presence. Day begins and ends with communal prayer .

Weekend Retreat

April 4-6. Begins 7 p.m. on opening day; concludes at 2 p.m. ($110/weekend; non-refundable deposit $25) Registration required. An experience of personal prayer based on Scripture. Daily spiritual direction. Atmosphere of prayerful quiet. Adaptable to the needs of each individual.

ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS AND THE HUMAN JOURNEY

Wed - Apr 2 and 9, 7:30-9:30 p.m. OR Fri - Apr 18 and 25, 9:30-11:30 a.m. ($30/series) A two-part series that will focus on the experience of darkness and how it can lead us to light in our journey of faith.

You Are Invited!

Please join us on

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Pines Manor, Edison

6 PM Cocktails; 7 PM Dinner

Proceeds to Benefit

Immaculate Conception School, Spotswood,

St. James School, Woodbridge

And

The Foundation for Catholic Education

in the Diocese of Metuchen

Dinner Tickets: $200.00

50/50 Raffle Tickets: $50.00

732-562-2429 or visit

www.diometuchen.org/development/charityevents.htm

DIOCESAN NEWS

www.diometuchen.org

Pontifical Good Friday Collection

Since the 13th century, the Order of St. Francis has worked not only to make Christianity’s holiest sites accessible to all the faithful, but to preserve the Holy Land’s precious Christian community, the “living stones of the Church.” Your contribution to the Franciscans’ annual Good Friday Collection gives hope to the sons and daughters of the land Christ made holy through his life, death and Resurrection.
God bless you for your generosity.

Holy Land Franciscan Monastery

Chrism Mass

Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen

Monday, March 17, 2008, Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski will celebrate the Chrism Mass with the priests of the diocese. At this Mass, the Bishop will bless the Holy Oils which each parish receives for the rites of anointing. At the Mass, all priests make a Renewal of Commitment to Priestly Service, recommitting themselves to their Bishop and to their ministry to God and His People; the Bishop and all Priests then ask the people for a pledge of their prayerful support. All are strongly encouraged to join in the ancient, grace-filled Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen at 7:30 p.m.

Trip to Guatemala for Young Adults

Diocesan Youth & Young Adult Ministry Office and CRS Metuchen’s trip to Guatemala is scheduled for June 29^th – July 6^th, 2008. Any mature young people 16 and older who wish to join this trip, please call the rectory for papers you need to fill out. Cost is $1000.00 per person. Deadline to submit an application to go on this trip is March 30^th, 2008.

Dealing with Divorce…

Someone in your family facing it? A self-help support group is being offered for those who are in the early stages of a separation/divorce experience. The group will meet at St. Bernard Church, Bridgewater on April 2^nd, from 7:30 to 9 PM. Please contact Lidia Augello (908) 429-2647 or Mike Zieger (908) 872-9228 for registration. The program is free.

Healing Journey Through Grief

An on going program for those who have experienced the death of a parent, spouse, sibling or any loved one is being held at St. Mary’s Church in Bound Brook from April 12 to May 24 (every SATURDAY morning) from 11 AM to 12:30 PM. Contact Tony Provenzano (732) 271-0516.

OUR LADY OF MERCY NEWS

www.olmsbb.org

Easter Flower Collection

Please don’t forget to place your envelope in this week’s collection basket. Easter is the March 23^rd. To rejoice in the resurrection of Christ, we would like to decorate our Church with lovely Easter flowers as we do every year.

Rosarian Easter Craft & Bake Sale

The Rosary Altar Society is sponsoring their annual Easter Craft and Bake Sale after each Mass this weekend. Any donations of crafts or baked items are welcome and appreciated. Please drop them off 15 minutes before Mass starts. The Rosarians will be waiting in the Church Hall to take them from you.

Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday, March 16^th the 2008 Confirmation Candidates will sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt for our Parish children up to age 12. Please complete the form located in the vestibule and place in the box next to the forms.

All forms need to be completed by Sunday March 9th.

SBB Boy Scout Flower Sale

March 21^st & 22^nd Boy Scout Troop 42 will have an Easter Flower Sale on Good Friday and Holy Saturday at the Reformed Church on Main Street, SBB. Hours are

8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Children Grow Best In Families

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen is in need of Foster Parents for the 11,000 children in New Jersey’s foster care system. Children of all ages and backgrounds are in need of loving, nurturing homes. Many of these children are innocent victims of abuse and neglect. CALL TODAY! 1-866-247-HOME (4663).You Can Help!!