Welcome to the
Parish family of
St. Margaret of Cortona
ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS
Shining the Light of Christ - 2020 Annual Appeal
Visit RCAN.ORG/SHARING to learn more and make a gift today. Play the video below to learn more (click here if you are having trouble playing the video).
Click here to view Cardinal Tobin's letter
2020 Lenten Regulations
Please click here to view the latest 2020 Lenten Regulations as issued by the Archdiocese of Newark
Feb 22 6:30PM
Movie Night Spaghetti & Meatballs Dinner
Our next movie night will be Saturday February 22 at 6:30 or following the 5:30 PM Mass. We will be showing the movie, “Miracle.” This movie tells the story of the “Miracle on Ice” when the United States Olympic Hockey Team won the Gold Medal at the 1980 Winter Games at Lake Placid, NY. It should be noted that we are showing this movie on the exact 40th anniversary of that team’s miraculous victory over the vaunted Russian team, which many consider the greatest upset in sports history. It will also be our parish’s feast day. As usual, there will be no charge.
February 3 to February 28
Annual Spring Candy Sale
Annual Spring Candy Sale will go from February 3 to February 28. The candy will be delivered the week of March 23. You may place orders on line - group number is 119350 at gertrudehawkchocolates.com
Feb. 26, 2020
Ash Wednesday
Schedules:
8 am Mass in church with distribution of Ashes
12 noon Mass in church with distribution of Ashes
3:30 pm Scripture Service in church with distribution of Ashes
7:00 pm Mass in church with distribution of Ashes
Saturday Feb. 29, 2020 8AM to 4PM
Catholic Men's Conference
Save the date! Catholic Men's conference taking place at Seton Hall. To register go to: https://www.rcan.org/
Saturday March 7th, 8AM to 4PM
Women's Commission Day of Reflection
Alive in Christ: The Eucharist... His Heart is in my Heart. To be held at Seton Hall. To register go to: https://www.rcan.org/
2020 Anniversary Masses
It is an annual tradition to honor the couples in the Archdiocese who are celebrating 5, 25, 50 or more years of marriage. These marriage liturgies are celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Tobin and are held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.
5th and 25th Anniversary - April 19 @ 3PM (Due April 3)
50th Anniversary - May 3 @ 3PM (Due April 15)
For more information please call the Parish Office and speak to Dina - 201-641-2988.
Donate to St. Margaret's
Two ways to help our Parish!
ParishSoft - Click here to go to the giving site.
You can also give via text to (201) 689-5641, just enter the amount you want to donate in the message. You will need to create an account if you haven't done so yet. Click here if you need help creating an account.
Amazon Smile - you can also donate to St. Margaret’s whenever you make a purchase.
1. Go to https://smile.amazon.com, it uses the same account that you have on Amazon.com.
2. Go to Your Account and under Account settings select St. Margaret of Cortona Church as your preferred charity and you’re all set.
3. Every time you make a purchase the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of the eligible item to St. Margaret’s. Just make sure to make all your future purchases on Amazon Smile so that donations are made
Memo from the Archdiocese on Donation Email Scams
The Archdiocese is sending out an alert on an increase in the number of fraudulent emails across the country and urging parishioners to question any email or text that doesn’t come from a person in their contacts. If you feel you have been the victim of this type of scam please contact your local police department or the New Jersey Cyber Crime Unit online. https://www.njsp.org/division/investigations/cyber-crimes.shtml
For questions, please contact Nancy F. Lystash, Parish Business Services at lystasna@rcan.org or call 973-497-4074. Click here to download the complete pdf version
Religious Education Sessions 2019 - 2020
Download the form for 2019 using the link below:
Click here to download our registration form
Religious Education Office 201-641-3937
Religious Education Sessions - Tuesday
Grades 1,4 & 5 - (3:20 to 4:20)
Grades 6,7 & 8 - (6:30 to 8:00)
January 14 March 3
21 10
28 24
February 4 31
12 April 21
18 28
25 May 5
Thank you all and God bless you!
Home Study Schedule for 2019-2020
Sundays - 10:40AM to 11:55 Followed by Mass at noon
Grade 2 - January 12, February 2, March 8, March 29, May 17
Grade 3 - January 19, February 9, March 22, May 3
Independent Victim Compensation Program
As announced this past February, the Archdiocese of Newark, along with the other Roman Catholic dioceses in New Jersey, has established an Independent Victim Compensation Program (IVCP) to compensate those who, as minors, were sexually abused by a priest or deacon of the Archdiocese. Click here to view the flyer
Have you considered becoming a Cantor?
The role of a cantor is both a singer with a strong voice and a leader of congregational song.
• As a leader of congregational song,the cantor takes part in singing with the entire gathered assembly.
• The cantor serves as a psalmist, leading and proclaiming the Responsorial Psalm from the Ambo.
If you are interested, please contact Eileen Ballone,the Director of Music at 201-843-1097 or see her after mass.
HELP WANTED: Readers/Lectors
We are currently in need of Readers/ Lectors. Readers/ Lectors proclaim God’s Word at Mass. Anyone who is fully initiated (baptized, confirmed, and admitted to first Communion), and a practicing Catholic is worthy to read The Word of God. They must be in good standing with the Church.
The Reader proclaims the Word of God from the Amboy on the Altar and the Prayers of the Faithful once the Nicene Creed is finished. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an Altar Server, please contact Sophie at 201-641-0474.
SCHEDULES
Regular Masses
Saturday vigil:
5:30PM
Sunday:
8:00AM, 10:00AM, 12:00PM
Weekdays:
Monday:
7:00 PM
Tuesday to Friday:
8:00 AM
Saturday:
9:00 AM
Holy Days
(Except Christmas and Easter): 8:00 AM, 12:10 PM, 7:00 PM
Mass followed by Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Benediction every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm
Confessions
Saturdays 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Experience God’s Mercy. Celebrate the Grace-Filled Sacrament of Reconciliation
Contact Us
Parish Center (Monday to Friday):
Tel: 201-641-2988
Fax: 201-641-0664
Rectory (By appointment only):
201-641-2988
Religious Education (Sunday to Thursday):
201-641-3937
Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention
For February 2020
Listen to the Migrants’ Cries
We pray that the cries of our migrant brothers and sisters, victims of criminal trafficking, may be heard
and considered.
POSTER BOARD
Importance of Mass Intentions
As Catholics, we believe that there is inestimable value in “having a Mass celebrated” for a particular intention. A Mass may be offered in thanksgiving for our blessings, family, health and answer to prayers. A Mass may be offered for the intentions of another person (such as on a birthday), or, as is most common, for the repose of the soul of someone who has died. We must never forget the infinite graces that flow from the Sacrifice of the Mass which benefit ones soul. Masses offered for us during our life can help us obtain the great grace of a happy and holy death.
The most beautiful gift one can give to another person is a gift of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. No material gift can ever compare to or equal the Infinite Value of the Holy Mass. Masses offered for our departed loved ones and all the Holy Souls in Purgatory is a great act of charity. As a Spiritual Act of Mercy consider, then, to have Masses offered for yourself and your family, living and dead. Use the Infinite Treasure of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Mass intentions are scheduled in the Parish Office.
NOTE: Please remember that the Altar Bread and Wine and the Sanctuary Candle, as well as Flowers for the Altar can be memorialized. Check at the Parish Office for available dates.
Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..
O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue
deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
February is dedicated to the Holy Family
The Holy Family consists of the Child Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph. Veneration of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint François de Laval, the first bishop of New France, who founded a Confraternity.
We know very little about the life of the Holy Family through the Gospels. Matthew and Luke narrate the episodes from this period of Christ's life, namely his Circumcision and later Presentation, the Flight to Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the Finding in the Temple. While the exact details of the day-to-day life of the Holy Family may be unknown, we can still learn a lot from the stories we do have.
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of February has been primarily associated with the Holy Family. On
October 26, 1921 the Congregation of Rites (under Pope Benedict XV) inserted the Feast of the Holy Family into the Latin Rite general calendar. Popes before and including Benedict XV (especially Leo XIII) promoted the feast as a way to counter the breakdown of the family unit. At the very outset of Christ's work on earth, God showed the world a family in which, as Pope Leo XIII teaches, "all men might behold a perfect model of domestic life, and of all virtue and holiness." The harmony, unity, and holiness which characterized this Holy Family make it the model for all Christian families.
Since the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, the feast is celebrated on the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, the Sunday between Christmas Day and New Year's Day (both exclusive), or if both Christmas Day and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God are Sundays, on 30 December (always a Friday in such years). It is a holy day of obligation only if it falls on a Sunday.
The feast was instituted by Pope Leo XIII in 1893 and set on the Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany; that is to say, on the Sunday between January 7 through January 13, all inclusive (see General Roman Calendar of 1960). The 1962 Roman Missal, whose use is still authorized, follows the General Roman Calendar of 1960, which has the celebration on that date.
In Honor of the Holy Family
O God, heavenly Father, it was part of Thine eternal decree that Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, should form a holy family with Mary, His blessed mother, and His foster father, Saint Joseph. In Nazareth home life was sanctified, and a perfect example was given to every Christian family. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may fully comprehend and faithfully imitate the virtues of the Holy Family so that we may be united with them one day in their heavenly glory. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
~ Prayer Source: The Prayer Book, by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A.,
