Dear Parish Family,

I pray you are well and getting through these stressful and challenging times. It is unprecedented for all of us, we might be feeling a loss by the inability to attend Mass. Here are some simple suggestions for staying close spiritually while maintaining a safe and respectful social distance: Begin each day with prayer. Ask Jesus to stay close to you and to all your family and friends. Attend Mass and other prayers and devotions virtually. Make a spiritual communion. Many opportunities are available each day at St. Magdalen’s. We offer daily Mass at 8:00 am each day and Eucharistic Adoration is also available every day. Participation in the life of the Church can help us feel more closely connected with God and with each other.

You can view our Mass daily by going to our website. It also has great resources and our bulletin with great liturgical articles, information, and more . Our Church doors are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily and on Saturday & Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. For you to come and pray silently. We will be having Eucharistic Adoration during these times, please remember that we are to follow social distancing while in the Church.

On a Friday in September of 1240, at the convent of San Damiano in Assisi, Italy, Muslim Crusaders threatened the Poor Clares. Saint Clare defended the sisters with a monstrance. At the time, St. Clare was too ill to walk. St. Clare prostrated herself and prayed to the Eucharistic Lord to protect His handmaids. She had her sisters help her confront the invaders while she held the Blessed Sacrament in a silver and ivory case high in the air. When the attackers saw the courage of the sisters in the presence of the sacramental Eucharist, they were filled with fear and fled back over the walls they had scaled at the start. The sisters were left in peace.

Dear Parish Family,

Today the Easter Octave concludes with the Second Sunday of Easter called Divine Mercy Sunday. During his revelations to Saint Faustina on Divine Mercy, Jesus asked on many occasions that a feast day be dedicated to the Divine Mercy and that this feast be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. On April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the canonization of Sr. Faustina named this Second Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday. May we remember this important Sunday to realize anew what Christ’s new life has done for us. This celebration is not about a private revelation, rather Jesus’ words to St. Faustina about His merciful heart supports what the Church has always professed and which she seeks to remind the world of once again; namely God’s goodness and love for sinners. Faustina wrote that Jesus promised that all who recite this chaplet at the hour of death or in the presence of the dying will receive great mercy. Faustina also stated that Jesus promised that anything can be obtained with this prayer if it is compatible with His will. May we pray for God’s protection and realize an end to the threat of this disease.

“Jesus withdrew to a deserted place to pray.”—Luke 5:16

The book of Genesis describes how God worked for six days, creating the heavens and the earth and how on the seventh day He rested. Likewise, Jesus spent His days ministering to the crowds, feeding the hungry, and healing the sick, yet He drew His strength by frequently taking time to be alone with His Father in prayer. Jesus teaches us that in order to be fruitful in ministry, in order to “be” for others we must first receive love and strength from God our Father in prayer. In Eucharistic Adoration we too can take time to be alone with God—to allow Him to fill us with His strength and His love. The love we give to others is only what we have first received from God. In Adoration we receive the grace necessary to be faithful and fruitful for the Kingdom of God.

Dear Parish Family,

I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Easter. Although this is a different Easter then what we are accustomed to, this is a time to remember and know how deeply God loves us; and the extent to which He has been willing to go to save us.

Next Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. May we remember this important Sunday to realize anew what Christ’s new life has done for us. This celebration is not about a private revelation that took place in Poland, rather Jesus’ words to St. Faustina about His merciful heart supports what the Church has always professed and which she seeks to remind the world of once again; namely God’s goodness and love for sinners. I encourage you to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, you can find it in this bulletin. Faustina wrote that Jesus promised that all who recite this chaplet at the hour of death or in the presence of the dying will receive great mercy. Faustina also stated that Jesus promised that anything can be obtained with this prayer if it is compatible with His will. May we pray for God’s protection and realize an end to the threat of this disease.

Dear Parish Family,

As Holy Week approaches, our parish as well as all the parishes in our Diocese will be without Easter and Holy Week public Masses . Father Brighenti, Father Matt and Father Trigilio will be celebrating the Masses live as we have been in the last week or so. You may view the Mass on our website or by going to our Facebook page.

Holy Week will begin on Palm Sunday with Mass at 8:00 am and 12:00 pm (Spanish) and it will conclude on Easter Sunday, with Mass at 8:00 am and 12:00 pm (Spanish). There will be no Eucharistic Adoration on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Easter. The faithful are granted a dispensation from abstaining from meat on Fridays for the rest of Lent, except Good Friday which is universal law and a day of fasting and abstaining from meat.

How To Do The Stations of the Cross At Home
www.getfed.com/do-stations-of-the-cross-at-home-6658

Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the granting of special Indulgences to the faithful in the current pandemic
press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/20/200320c.html

History of Pandemics
www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest

Fr. John Pietropaoli provides inspiration and 5 practical tips to stay close to Jesus during this time of uncertainty.
www.facebook.com/637116133/posts/10157167500706134

Diocese of Metuchen Facebook page
www.facebook.com/145175512331883/posts/1457956804387074

Dear Parish Family,

Facing the rapidly evolving Corona Virus pandemic, I would like to inform you of some of the things we as a parish will be doing to be proactive as we navigate our way through this period of time. The Bishop has announced that all Masses will be suspended until April 3. Masses may resume on April 4th, however, this is a ever changing situation. We will keep you informed of the latest updates.

The Church will remain open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed during that time.

The most important thing to realize about making a private Holy Hour is that we don’t have to do anything out of the ordinary. We don’t have to say any particular prayers, or read, or sing, or anything else. All we have to do is be present to the One who is present to us. We are present in body and with our hearts. We come to the Blessed Sacrament in a loving awareness of who is present. We can just be silently present without analyzing, thinking, or saying prayers with our lips. Even a few minutes of this loving, silent presence to the Lord is a precious treasure. In this silence, the Lord speaks to us and we are showered with His mercy, love, and graces. If after an initial period of silent adoration we feel a desire to pray, or read, or write, we simply do so as we feel led each moment. Many people read scripture, spiritual leaflets, or spiritual books. Many also pray the Rosary or traditional prayers.*

Just like Christ's foster father, we can draw strength from the Lord if we deny ourselves worldly pleasures

Catholics know that 19 March is the Feast of St Joseph. Fewer, perhaps, are aware that the entire month of March is dedicated to the Most Chaste Heart.

That seems a bit odd, doesn’t it? March is dominated by the Lenten fast, which is itself a preparation for Eastertide. According to tradition, Our Lord’s foster-father didn’t live to see his public ministry. In fact, it was necessary that St Joseph pass from this life before Christ could reveal Himself. Only then would Jesus become head of the royal House of David – both God and King by birthright.

“Come to Me all you who are weary…” Matthew 11:28

How Can I Make Better Use of My Time this Lenten Season?

Consider visiting a nearby church in the area of your work or come to St. Magdalen’s during the day or after work. Spend a few quiet minutes before the Tabernacle.

"The Sacred species reserved in the Tabernacle is to be adored because Christ is substantially present!” Imagine, time alone WITH Jesus!! What better use of anyone’s time, even if only for a short while?