FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Pss IV  Seasonal prop  EP II of Sun

Prop or from Ritual Masses: The Scrutinies

Cr  Lenten Pf I-II or, for Cycle A, Pf for the

Fourth Sunday of Lent   Sol Bl

33: Jos 5:9a,10-12,  Ps 34:2-7  2Cor 5:17-21

Lk 15:1-3,11-32 or, for Cycle A

1 Cor 10:1-6,10-12  Lk 13:1-9 or, for Cycle

A (31):1 Sm 16:1b,6-7,10-13a  Ps 23:1-6

Eph 5:8-14  Jn9:1-41 or 9:1,6-9,13-17,34-38

Having arrived in the promised land, the Hebrews celebrated their deliverance from affliction and distress (Ps) in the Passover (1). Christ, our Passover, has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation (2): let us forgive one another and celebrate the unconditional and abundant love of God our Father (3).

Stewardship

The stewardship message in the parable of the prodigal son is that it is never too late to become a good steward. Blessed is the elder brother who had been a good steward all along, but blessed, too, is the prodigal, who had to lose all he had in order to understand the value of what he’d been given.

Rev. Msgr. Liam A Minogue, Pastor of Mary, Mother of God Church, Hillsborough. We pray he will find fulfillment of his faith and the reward of his priestly labors in the presence of the Risen Lord.

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

Collections

March 11^th   $4130.00

Spring Collection   $1611.00

March 18^th, 2007

Counters Team #3

Bingo Team #2

DIOCESAN NEWS

www.diometuchen.org

Chrism Mass

April 2, 7:30 p.m. at St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen,  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.

2007 Spotlight on Catholic Education Dinner

April 17, 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel, Somerset, NJ. Dinner proceeds will benefit St. Francis Cathedral School, Metuchen & The Foundation for Catholic Education. Tickets are $200.00. Help Support Our Catholic Schools 50/50 Raffle. Cost per ticket: $50.00, 50% of the raffle proceeds will be awarded as follows:

1^st Prize-25%       2^nd Prize-15%    3^rd Prize-10%

A maximum of 1000 shares will be sold!

The drawing will be held at the Catholic Education Dinner on April 17^th. (Winner need not be present). To purchase dinner or raffle tickets call (732) 562-2429 or visit www.diometuchen.org/development/charityevents.htm

Tenth Biennial Convention of Catholic Women

April 21  The Metuchen Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will hold their Tenth Biennial Convention at St. John Vianney Parish in Colonia. The cost for the day is $35.00 (includes hot lunch). Registration will be at 8:30 am followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The theme for the day is “Yes Lord, Your Servant is Listening”. For more info/registration, call Alice (732) 572-2638.

Operation Rice Bowl

Jesus uses the image of the prodigal son returning to his father to explain how much our Father in heaven loves us. God wants us to know that in His love we must reach out to those who have offended us and invite them back into full participation in our community.Please have all Rice Bowls back to the Church by March 31^st/April 1^st. You are welcome to put them in the offertory baskets.

MOUNT SAINT MARY ACADEMY

Watchung, NJ 07069-6587

(908) 753-2091 msmhope@msmhope.org

Please, register for all events

Drum Up Healing

Mar 28, 7:30-9:30 p.m. ($15). Join our Drum Circle where everyone has a healing voice and is empowered  to use it. Drums provided.

Holy Week Retreat Days

Apr 5 & 6, 9:30a.m.-3:00 p.m  Personal, quiet days during the Holy Triduum. Bring bag lunch. (Free-will offering)

OUR LADY OF MERCY NEWS

Bishop Bootkoski Presiding at OLM Confirmation

We are pleased to announce that Bishop Bootkoski will preside at the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation at Our Lady of Mercy on October 13^th, 2007. More details will follow as we get closer to that date.

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 Avenue at 9 am. All Fathers and Sons 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 and younger. All men and boys of the parish are encouraged to attend. Our Speaker this year is Fr. 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 held on March 18^th.. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Blessed be HIS Holy Name.

ROSARY ALTAR SOCIETY NEWS

March 18^th - Rosarian Bingo Night!!

The Rosary Altar Society will be having their annual Sunday Night Bingo on March 18th. Bingo will start at 7:00 pm in the Our Lady Of Mercy church hall. The kitchen will be selling Sausage & Peppers, Kielbasi & Kraut, Pierogies w/Onions, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, French Fries and homemade desserts. Please come and have fun, you may even win the JACKPOT!

Easter Egg Hunt for Parish Children

April 1, after 12 NOON Mass  Open to children of the parish ages 2-12. Children are to be accompanied by an adult and must fill out a permission form. Forms can be gotten from the teachers at CCD classes.

FREE! Piano

Father Dan is giving away the old (very old-1903) piano located in the church hall. PLEASE NOTE: You will have to move it out of the hall and to it’s new home-there’s no one young enough working at the rectory to help.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Boy Scout Troop 42 Invites You to Breakfast

March 18^th , 8am-1pm  At the Fellowship Hall of the Reformed Church, Clinton St., SBB. Breakfast Buffet includes Omelets (made to order), Scrambled Eggs, Pancakes, Home-fries, Sausage, Fruit and Morning Beverages. Adults $7, Seniors $5, Children (4-12) $5, Children under 4 eat free. Take out available.

Church Women United Roast Beef Dinner

March 20^th, 6:30 pm  Church Women United will hold their annual Roast Beef Dinner. We will meet at the Methodist Church located on the corner of Union Ave. and Livingston St. in Bound Brook. Tickets can be obtained from Catherine @ (732) 356-4080. Deadline for tickets is March 15^th. No tickets will be sold at the door.

15^th Annual Fish Dinner Buffet

March 30, The Ladies Auxiliary of the SBB Fire Co.#1, 81 Edgewood Terrace will be holding their 15^th Annual Fish Dinner Buffet. Lunch will be from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Dinner will be from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The menu will include: Baked & Fried Fish, Fried Clams, Fried Shrimp, Chicken Fingers, Pierogies, Vegetable Medley, French Fries, Coleslaw, Salad Bar, Homemade Desserts, Beverages. Adults $9 (lunch)/$10 (dinner), Seniors $9, Kids 12 & Under $6, Kids under 3 eat free. Take out available, call ahead. (732) 627-9577.

Lenten Retreats at Sacred Heart Church, Manville

The English Retreat will run March 17^th/18^th through March 23^rd. The Polish Retreat will begin on March 25^th and run through March 29^th. Childcare will be available. For more info please call (908) 725-0072 or visit www.sacred-heart-church.org.

Fatima, Madrid, Lourdes Pilgrimage, Nov. 5-15

At. Andrew Catholic Church in Avenel is sponsoring a pilgrimage to Fatima, Madrid and Lourdes. $2199 from Newark. Price includes airfare, superior hotels, professional guide, most meals and daily Mass. For more info, please call (732) 634-4355 or email Fr. David Kosmoski at dkosmoski@juno.com