Monday December 7^th Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor

7:00 PM Genevieve Casey r/o Bob & Joan McArdle

Tuesday December 8^th Immaculate Conception of the

Blessed Virgin Mary

8:00 AM Rudy (Bucky) Stys

r/o Graber & Longo Families

7:00 PM Anna & Alexander Skirka

r/o Mary Getlik & Family

Wednesday December 9^thSt. Juan Diego, Hermit

8:00 AM Communion Service Only

Thursday December 10^th

8:00 AMKostas Gussis r/o M/M S. Golaszweski

Friday December 11^th Damasus I, Pope

8:00 AMPaul Sternador r/o Loving Sister

Saturday December 12^th Our Lady of Guadalupe

8:00 AM Genevieve Casey r/o Terry Mahoney

5:30 PM Jack Hosler r/o Lou & Nancy

Sunday December 13^th Third Sunday of Advent

8:00 AM Lorelei Longo r/o Brenda Holcomb

10:00 AM Dorothy Yazgier r/o Tony & Eileen Amoroso

12 NOON Michael Pinkos r/o Nancy & Jim Sickoria

Second Sunday of Advent

HOURS* Pss II Seasonal prop

MASS Prop Cr Adv Pf I Sol Bl 1

RDGS 6: Bar 5:1-9 Ps 126:1-6 Phil 1:4-6, 8-11

Lk 3:1-6

The Lord has done great things, leading his people out of slavery to the glorious splendor of Jerusalem. Let us make ready the way of the Lord by abounding in love and in works of justice.

Stewardship

Good stewards believe that God, who has begun this good work in them, will carry it through to completion. They can sing with the psalmist, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy!” (See Psalm 126)

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR PARISHIONERS

For those who are ill, especially: James Esposito, Beverly Turok and Josephine Sarnoski that their suffering and trials may become sources of grace for themselves and others.

Let us join in prayer as Peter Yazgier is welcomed back into the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father.

Collections

November 22, 2009 $3951.02

November 29, 2009 $4442.37

Counters

Dec. 6^th Team #1 Joe Graber & Gerry Fasanella

Dec. 13^th Team #2 Ken Giacomini

Dec. 20^th Team #3 M/M Nelson & David Boyle

Dec. 27^th Team #4 Jim Scaletti

2009 Bishop’s Annual Appeal

Because We Are Church

If you are 70 ½ years of age or older, you may directly transfer up to $100,000 TAX-FREE (Federal Tax) to a qualified charity. Our Lady of Mercy, a parish school, Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Metuchen are qualified charities. These charitable donations count toward your required annual minimum withdrawal. This distribution neither generates taxable income nor a tax deduction—so this may also benefit non-itemizers. Please talk to your IRA manager about any fees for the transfer.

MOUNT ST. MARY HOUSE OF PRAYER

1651 U.S. Highway 22

Watchung, NJ 07069-6587

Registration is required for all programs.

Please call 908-753-2091 or e-mail: msmhope@msmhope.org

PERSONAL RETREAT DAYS

Sacred Time, Sacred Space

Wed, Dec 9, 9:30 a.m.—3:00 p.m. Bring bag lunch ($20)

A personal quiet day to enjoy God’s presence. Day begins with communal prayer.

COME TO THE STABLE DAY

Prayerful preparation for Christmas!

Sunday, Dec 20, 2:00-4:00 p.m. An annual tradition, includes prayer, blessing of the Christmas tree, community, refreshments.

Diocese of Metuchen

www.diometuchen.org

Special Diocesan Collection

December 12^th and 13^th

Retirement Fund for Religious

The second collection on December 12^th & 13^th benefits elderly women and men religious. More than 19,000 religious have less than 20 percent of the amount needed for projected costs of living and healthcare.

The average Catholic sister, brother, or order priest remains in active ministry until age 74. Today, 37,870 women and men religious are past age 70 and need our help with the current high cost of living and health care.

Please be generous.

Our Lady of Mercy

www.olmsbb.org

Thank you from the

Kentucky Giving Tree Team

We’d like to thank everyone who provided gift cards and gifts to our less fortunate friends in Appalachia. The Giving Tree this year was a stunning success because of the caring, generous people at Our Lady of Mercy who once again proved we are Good Stewards.

Thank you!

Youth Group News

Youth Group & GSA Giving Tree

The Youth Group/Girl Scout Giving Tree is up. Everyone was so kind to our Kentucky friends. Now we ask you to be just as kind to the local food bank and local families the Youth Group and Girl Scouts are sponsoring.

Please consider buying Shop Rite Gift Cards to place on the Giving Tree to help less fortunate area families have holiday meals as plentiful as we will have for our own families.

Good will and stewardship never end and we will accept Shop Rite Gift Cards any time of the year. But to meet the families needs by Christmas, we will collect this year’s gift cards on December 20^th.

Shop Rite Gift Cards are sold after each Mass every weekend.

Bagel Breakfast Sunday is Here!!

This Sunday, after 10 AM Mass, the Youth Group will hold their BAGEL BREAKFAST. Come downstairs and enjoy a hot breakfast with others in our church community. Be sure to tell the ones behind the counter how much you enjoy these monthly events and how you appreciate their dedication to Our Lady of Mercy.

Our Lady of Mercy

Christmas Flower Collection

December 6 & 7

The second collection this week is for Christmas flowers for our church. The parishioners do such a wonderful job setting up the church for Advent and the coming of Christmas. Let us be as generous as in years past so we can have the same beautiful Christmas church as we are used to seeing.

Rosary Altar Society News

Thank you from the Bake Sale Team

We would like to thank everyone who donated baked goodies and crafts and had a hand in making this year’s Holiday Bake Sale a success.

We would especially like to thank everyone who came downstairs and participated in the bake sale by buying up our delicious offerings. We hope you enjoyed them!

Rosary Altar Society

Holy Name Society News

Shop Rite Card Inventory List

With the help of the Our Lady of Mercy parishioners buying Shop Rite Gift Cards, we were able to add to our church’s NEW ITEMS inventory list. The newest inventory item bought for Our Lady of Mercy Church is 12 new padded folding chairs for the choir loft. The choir thanks you and so does the RAS and HNS. Keep those Shop Rite Gift Cards flying out the door.

CCD News

Calling All Angels!

The CCD teachers will hand out forms this week for any children in grades 1-4 who would like to participate in this year’s Christmas Pageant. Forms must be returned by December 13^th and there will be a practice on Sunday, December 20^th.

The Christmas Pageant will take place on December 24^th at the 4:30 Mass. Everyone is invited to attend the spectacular show. A good time for all is guaranteed.

Wanted

NEW ALTAR SERVERS

All boys and girls of the parish in grade 3 (who have received their First Holy Communion) through grade 12 are invited to become Altar Servers. The training takes place on Saturday mornings, but other times can be arranged if Saturday mornings are not convenient. For more information please call Mr. Reid at 732-469-2335.