1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

ST. NICHOLAS RC CHURCH
Served by the Vocationist Fathers
Fr. Stephen Ehiahuruike, S.D.V., Pastor
Fr. Louis Caputo, S.D.V., Parochial Vicar
Fr. Chris Iwunze, S.D.V., Parochial Vicar
Church & Rectory
442 E Brinkerhoff Ave
Palisades Park, NJ 07650
Tel. 201-944-1154 Fax. 201-944-9510
Email. [email protected]
Website.
www.stnicholasrcchurch.org
Office Hours
Mon, Wed, Thu & Fri 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
(Mornings by appointment only)
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 12, 2014
I have prepared my banquet, and everything is ready.
Come to the feast! (Matthew 22:1-14 [1-10]).
ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS
Baptisms: On any available Sunday during the 11:00
AM (Italian), 12:30 PM (English) & 7:00 PM
(Portuguese) Masses. Please, contact the rectory at
least one month prior to desired date.
Confessions: Saturdays 5:00 to 5:45 PM, or during the
week by appointment.
Marriages: Please contact the rectory at least six
months prior to desired wedding date.
Sacrament of the Sick: If you are hospitalized or unable to come to Church for health reasons and would
like to be visited by a priest for Confession, Communion, or Anointing of the Sick, please call the rectory.
Religious Education Program (CCD): For children 1st
to 8th grades who are not attending Catholic School.
Classes are held on Sundays from September to May at
11:30 AM, with attendance to the 12:30 PM Family
Mass.
Confirmation: Classes are held on Sundays, from January to April at 11:00 AM in the church hall,
with attendance to the 12:30 PM Family Mass.
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday: 7:00 & 8:00 AM
6:00 PM (Vigil Mass)
Sunday:
7:30 & 9:30 AM English
11:00 AM Italian
12:30 PM English (Family Mass)
7:00 PM Portuguese
Holy Days: 6:30, 8:00, 10:00 AM & 7:30 PM
Weekdays: 7:00 & 8:00 AM
Other Services & Activities:
Monday to Saturday: 7:40 AM Morning Prayer
Tuesdays: 9:00 AM Legion of Mary
7:30 PM St. Padre Pio Group (Oct 28)
7:30 PM Holy Rosary Society (Oct 28)
8:00 PM Holy Rosary in Portuguese
Wednesdays: 7:30 PM Holy Rosary in Italian
Thursdays: 2:00 PM Bible Study in Italian
6:15 to 7:15 PM Holy Hour for Vocations
(October 16, 23 & 30)
7:30 PM Bible Study in English
7:30 PM V.A.U.S.
8:30 PM Rosary by Brazilian Men (Nov 13)
Fridays:
8:30 PM Brazilian Prayer Group
1st Fridays: 5:30 to 8:30 PM Bl. Sacrament Adoration
(November 7)
ST NICHOLAS RC CHURCH
Parish Trustee: Giovanni Simone & Michael Massaro
Parish Secretary: Débora Moreira
Music Ministry: Addie Luers, Giovanni & Karen Simone,
and Kelly Oliveira
Vocationist Sisters Community
Sr. Benedita Carvalho, S.D.V., Superior & Pre-K Director;
Sr. Antonietta Cioce, S.D.V., Sr. Meltiana Ding, S.D.V. and
Sr. Sali Antony, S.D.V.
223 14th Street - Palisades Park, NJ Tel. 201-947-2413
Parish Pre-K “Fr. Justin Learning Center”
Tel. 201-944-1376
Notre Dame Academy
Sponsored by St. Nicholas, St. Michael and St. Matthew
Pre-K to Grade 8: 312 First Street, Palisades Park, NJ
Principal: Mark Valvano
Tel. 201-947-5262
MASS INTENTIONS
SATURDAY, October 11
7:00AM In honor of St. Lazarus by Eduardo Lorenzo
8:00AM Anton Mirkovich by mother
6:00PM John Ferraioli by DiBona family
SUNDAY, October 12
7:30AM Michael & Anna LaForgia by Pappalardo family
9:30AM Fedora Parise by M/M Giuseppe Parise
11:00AM Carmela Oliverio by family
12:30PM Intentions of Gaetano Graziano & family
7:00PM People of the Parish
MONDAY, October 13
7:00AM Daniel Germaine by family
8:00AM Maria Picinic by M/M M. Matesic
TUESDAY, October 14
7:00AM In honor of O. L. of Fatima by Julia & Anton Picinich
8:00AM Sr. Mariastella Tarabocchia by M/M Matesic
WEDNESDAY, October 15
7:00AM Italia DeMaio by M/M Frank Cundari
8:00AM Nicola Picinic by M/M Matesic
THURSDAY, October 16
7:00AM Frank & William by Emily Albanese & family
8:00AM Mirko Marucic by M/M Matesic
FRIDAY, October 17
7:00AM Nickie’s birthday by family
8:00AM Antonella De Carlo by M/M Dominick Chiola
SATURDAY, October 18
7:00AM Ivan Piccinich by daughter Anna
8:00AM Nicola Picinic by John Piccinich
6:00PM Italia DeMaio by Lina & Vinny DeMaio
SUNDAY, October 19
7:30AM All souls in purgatory by Graziano family
9:30AM Joseph Pallotta by Lucille & Scott Pallotta
11:00AM Giuseppe & Paola Cundari by son & wife
12:30PM Lloyd J. Kennedy by Eleonora Hroncich
7:00PM People of the Parish
News of the Parish
BRAZILIAN FEIJOADA—This Sunday, October 12
from 2:30 to 6:00 PM in the Church Hall. Feijoada is a
delicious typical Brazilian dish. Come and join us as
we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady Aparecida.
Tickets are $15.00 per person. Children 7-12 $8.00 and
0-6 are free. Tickets on sale at the door.
Come and join us in the PROCESSION OF OUR
LADY APARECIDA this Sunday after the 7:00 PM
Brazilian Mass.
WILL AWARENESS AND PLANNED GIVING
SEMINAR—This seminar will inform Catholics
of their right to make a will and to ensure that
their wishes and the needs of their family are
carried out as intended. It will be held on
Saturday, October 18 at 4:00 PM in the church
hall. Free admission—no need to register.
49th ANNUAL DINNER DANCE will be held on
Friday, October 24 at La Reggia Restaurant in
Secaucus from 7:30 to 11:30 PM. Mark your
calendar and join us in this major fundraiser of our
parish. Tickets are $65.00—on sale at rectory office.
If you wish to sponsor a page in our 2014
JOURNAL BOOK, please use one of the contracts
available in the entrance of the church or call the
rectory office during the week at 201-944-1154. The
printing deadline is Friday, October 17.
BIBLE STUDY IN ENGLISH—The meetings will
be held every Thursday at 7:30 PM in the church
hall.
In Memory
ALTAR CANDLES
donated this week in memory of
Carl Sambogna
by Ferraioli family
BREAD & WINE
donated this week in memory of
Carl Sambogna
by Ferraioli family
SANCTUARY LAMP
donated this week in memory of
Carl Sambogna
by Ferraioli family
Holy Hour for Vocations
Every Thursday from 6:15 to 7:15 PM in church
~ Except on eve of first Fridays ~
Page 3
October 12, 2014
Events of the Week
Tuesday, October 14
9:00 AM - Legion of Mary meeting in Bl. Mother’s room
8:00 PM - Holy Rosary in the Brazilian families
Wednesday, October 15
7:30 PM - Holy Rosary by Italians in church
Thursday, October 16
2:00 PM - Bible Study in Italian in church hall
6:15 to 7:15 PM - Holy Hour for Vocations in church
7:30 PM - Bible Study in English in church hall
Friday, October 17
8:40 PM - Brazilian prayer meeting in church hall
Saturday, October 18
4:00 PM - Will Awareness and Planned Giving Seminar
Ministers’ Schedule for October 19
6:00 PM: Lector - Carmela B.
E.M. - Claudia
7:30 AM: Lectors - Michael and Linda
9:30 AM: Lectors - Gina
E.M. - Suzanne, Sr. Meltiana and Sr. Sali
11:00 AM: Lectors - Carmela R. and Lucia
E.M. - Francesca, Frank and Carmela A.
12:30 PM: Lector - John and Alexa
E.M. - Rita, Wendy and Roberto
7:00 PM Lectors - Viviane, Marcia, Leny
E.M. - Candido and Cida
Pastoral Care
Holy Communion was brought last week to: Mary
Ostuni, Valentine Miele, Alexander Mauro, Sheila
Hutchinson, Arthur and Amelia Mazzarella.
Pray for our sick: Mateus Ribeiro, Domenica Dinaro,
Pete Giannantonio, Anne Ring, Lorenzo Cafasso,
Josephine Dolberry, Eileen Murphy, Mercedes
Schindler, Gilberto Jr. Pereira and Vincenzo Parisi.
STEWARDSHIP OF TIME AND TALENT
We commend the commitment and dedication
of our dear Catechists teaching
our CCD children this year. Your work at
St. Nicholas is an example to many.
May the Lord reward you with blessings
over you and your entire family.
STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE
For collection amount please
see our bulletin paper edition
This weekend second collection will be
ASSESSMENT FREE (yellow envelopes)
28th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
COME TO THE
FEAST
"On this mountain,
the Lord of hosts /
will provide for all
peoples / a feast of
rich food and choice
wines"
(Isaiah
25:6). That's what
Isaiah
tells
us
today.
God
is
putting together a
huge party for "all
peoples," to "wipe
away / the tears from every face" (Isaiah
25:8).
And what does Jesus tell us? The reign of God,
he says, "may be likened to a king who gave a
wedding feast for his son" (Matthew 22:2).
When the guests didn't come, the king had his
servants go out "into the main roads and invite
to the feast whomever you find" (Matthew
22:9). We are called to deliver that invitation.
One of the themes woven into today's liturgy
is that of divine generosity. Asleep to reality,
people often think they have "earned" what
they have. In our better moments, though, we
know that all our gifts--even the spiritual gifts-come through God's generosity. Our vocation
is to invite people, to remind them the tickets
aren't for sale. We can only show up and say
thank you. Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
The confessional is a familiar setting in literature and
drama. Everyone from Dostoevsky and Shakespeare
down the line to Seinfeld has used the sacrament to
tragic or comic effect or to reveal aspects of character
otherwise hidden. All of this theater, from world
classics to slapstick, has had a numbing effect on our
own expectations, and has skewed how the culture
looks at us and our struggle with sin and forgiveness,
hope and healing.
Yet the artists are on to something. The reconciliation
chapel is a place where hearts are laid bare, where
honesty is the watchword, and people confess their
deepest needs. It is also a place of rebirth, or at least
realignment. It is, like the baptismal font, a place where
something dies, and where something else is born.
Today, although literature has barely caught up, the
place is usually not the dark and gloomy cabinet of old;
rather it is a chapel that speaks of peace, serenity, and
the comfort of a welcome home. People in one parish
were astonished recently to see their children skipping
with delight as they left the place of their first
confession. We have to wait a bit for world literature to
catch up with this reality, but at least we can
experience the joy of penance, the thrill of a new
beginning, the assurance of God's love.
--Rev. James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.
DINNER DANCE & JOURNAL
We have mailed the contracts for the 2014 Journal
Book. If you know anyone who would like to support a
page in memory of a recently deceased loved one, or
would like to place a business ad, please let us know.
49th
Annual
Dinner
Dance
Friday,
October 24
From 7:30 to 11:30 PM
at the La Reggia Restaurant
in Secaucus, NJ
Bring your family and friends to
celebrate with us.
Tickets are $ 65.00 per person
ON SALE AFTER EACH SUNDAY MASS
or during the week at the rectory office.
~~ RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW! ~~
CATHOLIC RADIO FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY
The first 24/7 Catholic AM radio station serving the tristate area is now on the air: WNSW 1430 AM in Newark. The listener-supported station is owned by Relevant Radio. Its mission is "to help people bridge the
gap between faith and everyday life." The network's
talk shows and call-in shows discuss topics such as current events, social concerns, family life, finances, culture, bioethics - all from a Catholic perspective. The programming can - not only inform Catholics - but also
reach those who have fallen away from the Church and
those of other faiths or no faith, potentially changing
lives and bringing many souls closer to Christ.
HOLY ROSARY SOCIETY is welcoming new
members. The Rosarians meet
once a month on the Tuesday—
that precedes the first Sunday—at
7:30 PM in the church hall. They
pray the Holy Rosary and meditate
on its mysteries (1 hour meeting).
The group is made of devoted ladies of our church. If you are interested in becoming a Rosarian,
please contact Mrs. Gina Odorisio
after the 12:30 PM Sunday Mass.
“WILL AWARENESS
AND PLANNED GIVING
SEMINAR”
This seminar will inform Catholics in the Archdiocese of
their right to make a will and to ensure that their wishes
and the needs of their family are carried out as intended.
It will also illustrate some gift planning techniques people can use in coordination with their estate plan to give
back to God some of material blessings He bestows on
all of us. Its vision is to show parishioners the opportunities to leave gifts in their estate plans and will.
We are pleased to have the attorney, Liz Durkin, Esq.,
attending the seminars to answer any questions our parishioners may have. Ms. Durkin has been practicing in
the area of estate planning for more than 25 years. Ms.
Durkin is a practicing Catholic and volunteers her time
with the Archdiocese.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 AT 4:00 PM
ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH HALL
FREE ADMISSION—ALL WELCOME!
Join Fr. Stephen Ehiahuruike, SDV
and Fr. Dwayne Davis
Pilgrimage to the
Holy Land
February 12 to
20, 2015
Cost: $3,190.00
Double occupancy room
For more info:
Mrs. Michelle Bove
Tel. 718-680-5600 [email protected]
Or call the rectory’s office at 201-944-1154
Vocationist Corner
O my Lord Jesus Christ of the
Eucharist, with You I
surrender totally to the
obedience of Your ministers,
so that I may be used for the
greater good of souls
—eaten by everyone—without any other
compensation but that of being forgotten,
as long as I come to You!
O my God and my All…
Blessed Fr. Justin Russolillo, SDV - Spirit of Prayer,
page 249
Our Lady Aparecida
Patroness of Brazil
Feast Day: October 12
Feast Day: October 12 — The history of Our Lady of Conception Aparecida begins in October of 1717, when three
fishermen, Domingos Garcia, Filipe Pedroso and João Alves
were sent out by the local authorities to find fish in the
Paraíba River. They went down the river and found nothing. After many unsuccessful attempts they arrived at a
place called Porto Itaguaçú. João Alves threw his net into
the water and brought back a statue of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, but its head was missing. He threw
his net in again and soon reeled in the head of the statue.
After that, according to the legend, the fish arrived in
abundance for the three humble fishermen and their nets
were full.
According to most sources the image had been
sculpted by Frei Agostino de Jesus, a monk from São Paulo
known for his sculptures. The image, about 15” tall, was
made around 1650, and must have been underwater for
years because it had lost its colors. As soon as the two
parts were joined together again, the statue began to be
venerated by the families and neighbors of the fishermen.
It soon became known as “Our Lady of Conception Who
Appeared from the Waters”, which in shortened form became Our Lady Aparecida (one who appeared).
Soon a small prayer chapel was built for the statue,
and then a larger one was constructed near the site where
it has appeared.
From the start there were miracles. At the times,
when the candles of the church went out, they rekindled
again by themselves. A slave in chains running from a cruel
supervisor knelt at the feet of the statue, prayed to the Virgin Aparecida and his chains loosened and came off. A man
who hated Catholicism tried to enter
the chapel to break
the statue, but the
feet of his horse
locked fast to the
ground at the entrance of the building. Miracles of all
kinds took place
there and the fame
of Our Lady Aparecida grew and
spread among the
simple people. Pilgrimage from the
neighboring towns
became common and
soon people from
throughout the State
of São Paulo, Rio de
Janeiro and Minas
Gerais were coming to
visit the statue and
ask for graces.
In 1888, a
large colonial basilica
replaced the chapel to
host those pilgrims
whose numbers had
already
reached
150,000 a year.
Fifty years after the proclamation of the dogma
of the Immaculate Conception, St. Pius X declared Our
Lady Aparecida the Queen of Brazil. In 1931 the country
was officially consecrated to Our Lady Aparecida.
In 1955 construction began on a modern style
new basilica of monumental proportions that was completed in 1980. From 1959 on, however, the clergy moved
the masses to the new basilica that was still under construction. It was common knowledge that the statue that
was now housed in the new basilica would miraculously
appear every morning in the old colonial basilica. The
miracle went on for many month and then suddenly
stopped.
In May 16, 1978 a member of a Protestant sect
took the statue out from her niche after the last mass of
the day. As he was caught, the statue fell down on the
ground breaking into pieces. Her face in particular was
damaged. Because the statue was made of clay that was
submersed in water for so many years, it was difficult to
put the pieces back together. It was done, however the
original expression was recaptured as much as possible.
The symbolism of the incident is very eloquent. The recovered statue is now displayed under intense protection.
The New Basilica is now the second largest Catholic place of worship in the world, after St. Peter’s Basilica
in Vatican City, and in 1984 was officially declared as
"The Largest Marian Temple in the World." According to
the official site of the basilica, in 2012 the number of pilgrims was 11,114,639. In January of 2013 alone
1,298,560 pilgrims visited the Basilica.
Pope Francis visited the Basilica Shrine of Aparecida on July of 2013, during the celebrations of the World
Youth Day that happened in Rio de Janeiro.