SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Pss III  Seasonal prop

Prop Gl Cr  Sun Pf I-VIII

81: 1 Sm 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23  Ps 103:1-4,

8,10,12-13  1 Cor 15:45-49  Lk 6:27-38

In baptism we are called to mirror and image (2) the mercy and forgiveness the Lord has won for us (Ps). As David would not harm Saul, his enemy (1), so we are challenged to love and pardon those who wrong us (3).

Stewardship

Today’s Gospel has encouraging words for good

stewards — “Give and it shall be given to you. For the measure you measure with will be measured back to you.” What encouragement to give generously of the resources entrusted to our care!

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR PARISHIONERS including: Tony Gangitano, David King, John & Peter Foxwell, Haley Weber, Frank Stashak, Josephine Sarnoski, and Elizabeth Connelly, Kippy Hale, Loretta Girard and Mary Kelly.

Collections

February 11^th   $3609.00

Annual Winter Collection    $1475.00

February 18^th, 2007

Counters Team #3

Bingo Team #1

DIOCESAN NEWS

www.diometuchen.org

The Catholic Spirit

The annual subscription drive for our weekly diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Spirit, takes place during February. Our diocesan newspaper is an award-winning publication and we urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to subscribe. You should have received a subscription envelope in your weekly envelope packet. Simply drop it in the collection basket. Or you can subscribe to The Catholic Spirit by calling (732) 562-2424

2007 Lenten Instructions From Bishop Bootkoski

So that the Church of Metuchen may be spiritually one in a common observance of Lent, the following days of fast and abstinence are to be observed by all Catholics of the Diocese who enjoy the blessings of good health:

·         The days of fast and abstinence are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

·         All other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.

·         From the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday until the celebration of the Easter Vigil on the evening of Holy Saturday, the Easter fast should be observed so that, with uplifted and welcoming hearts, we may be ready to celebrate the joys of the Resurrection.

The obligation to fast applies only to Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59. To fast in the Catholic tradition means to limit oneself to one full meal during the day so as to experience hunger.

The obligation of abstinence affects all Catholics who have reached the age of 14. Abstinence in the Catholic tradition means to abstain from meat and all meat products.

The obligation of fast and abstinence, as a whole, is a serious obligation. While failure to observe any penitential day in itself may not be considered serious, the failure to observe any penitential days at all, or a substantial number of them without good cause, would be considered a grave matter. Those unable to abstain for a valid reason on any given Friday of Lent are asked to perform some other penitential act, or to abstain on another day.

May all our Lenten prayers, fasting and works of mercy help prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord with renewed minds and hearts.

MOUNT SAINT MARY ACADEMY

1651 U.S. Highway 22

Watchung, NJ 07069-6587

(908) 753-2091 msmhope@verizon.net

Please, register for all events

O God, Our Hearts Are Restless Til They Rest In You

Mar 3, 1:00-5:00 p.m. ($20)  Lenten afternoon of reflection Lent invites us to discover new ways to live for God alone. Presentations, prayer & group sharing.

Six Day Retreat

March 9-16, Begins 7 p.m. on opening day concludes at 11 a.m.($350/week)  An experience of personal prayer based on Scripture. Daily spiritual direction. Atmosphere of prayerful quiet. Adaptable to the needs and desires of each individual.

Weekend Retreat

Mar 9-11, Begins 7 p.m. on opening day concludes at 2 p.m. ($100/weekend)  An experience of personal prayer based on Scripture. Daily spiritual direction. Atmosphere of prayerful quiet. Adaptable to the needs and desires of each individual.

OUR LADY OF MERCY NEWS

Divine Mercy Healing Mass at Our Lady of Mercy

Feb 18^th, 3 to 5:30 pm  The celebrant will be Father Tom Ganley. Music will be by Tim Kennedy. For more information, please call Father Tom at (732) 545-6549 or email at dmhealing@aol.com.

Would You Like to Renew Your Vows??

On the third Sunday of each month, at the 10:00 AM Mass, an opportunity will be provided for any couple who will be celebrating their marriage anniversary during that month to renew their vows.

You may call the Rectory ahead of time or tell the celebrant of the Mass before it begins.

HOLY NAME SOCIETY NEWS

Mark Your Calendars!!

The 2007 Holy Name Society Father – Son Communion Breakfast will be held on Sunday, March 25^th at the Somerset Holiday Inn on Davidson Ave. at 9 AM.

ALL Men and Young Men of the parish are invited and encouraged to attend.

Everyone going to the breakfast will meet for the 8 AM Mass at Our Lady Of Mercy Church and proceed to the Holiday Inn afterwards. The price this year is $18 for Adults and $12 for Children 10 years or younger.

Our speaker this year is Father John N. Fell of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Bernardsville. Fr. Fell is also a very exciting and inspirational writer for The Catholic Spirit, our Diocesan newspaper.

Tickets may be purchased after all masses on March 3^rd/4^th, 10^th/11^th and 17^th/18^th. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Blessed Be His Holy Name

Lenten Munching and Learning Series

On the first four Fridays of Lent, starting Feb 23^rd, St. Mary’s Byzantine Church, 1900 Brooks Boulevard, Hillsborough, NJ will present a special series called, “Lenten Munching & Learning.” The program will begin with a short Lenten Service in the church followed by a simple Lenten meal in the Parish Center with guest speakers. Due to popular demand, the program is presented twice each Friday-once at Noon and again at 6:45 pm. There is no charge for these events. For more info contact Father Ed Cimbala (908) 725-0615

This submission was sent in by one of our parishioners and is very appropriate for Operation Rice Bowl. This story is about the art of giving and defines the phrase

“helping others”.

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, “Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like." The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.  There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The holy man said, "I don't understand." It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other."

Our Lady Of Mercy Church has successfully been involved in Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Operation Rice Bowl for many years and we hope to do so again this year.

February 24^th & 25^th, we will be putting out the “Rice Boxes” for you to pick up at the end of each Mass so Our Lady Of Mercy can participate in helping Catholic Relief Services help others through Operation Rice Bowl.