When Jesus presents the images of salt and light in today's Gospel from Matthew, he is describing some of the primary characteristics for his community of followers. As salt adds flavor to food, so Christians are to bring hope and meaning to their world. As light reveals what is hidden in darkness, so Christians are to bring wisdom and truth to others. To be Christian is not to sit back, give thanks, and savor God's blessings. Just as salt and light are gifts from God for everyone, those who follow Christ are to be agents of God's love for all. Saint Paul describes this further, teaching that we might begin by embracing humility and vulnerability. Isaiah calls us to be generous and to work for justice. These are the characteristics of a "city set on a mountain," a community of salt and light. Jesus uses the present tense, "you are" salt of the earth and light of the world. This can be troubling to hear, upon a little reflection, when we already suspect that we are not. It's easy to see how often we fail to truly be salt and light for others. This can lead to discouragement and a fear of failing again. But Jesus says that being salt and light is God's gift, and not our own accomplishment. He notes the "bushel basket" that prevents the light of the lamp from being seen. We have created and received all kinds of patterns of thinking and behaving that block our capacity to be light for others. But these patterns do not define us. Whatever our faults, we are primarily God's beloved and gifted people. We can have hope that God will assist us in addressing our "bushel basket," to overcome what blocks our ability to love others. Jesus' Good News for us is that we are ultimately not the bushel basket, but the lamp. Clearly, these images are also directed to Christian communities. As salt and light, a community of faith can add its own flavor and wisdom to its surroundings. A Prayer to Saint Blaise O glorious Saint Blaise, who by thy martyrdom didst leave to the Church a precious witness to the faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this divine gift, and to defend, without human respect, both by word and example, the truth of that same faith, which is so wickedly attacked and slandered in these our times. Thou who didst miraculously restore a little child when it was at the point of death by reason of an affliction of the throat, grant us thy mighty protection in like misfortunes; and, above all, obtain for us the grace of Christian mortification together with a faithful observance of the precepts of the Church, which may keep us from offending Almighty God. Amen. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION By Candlemas, forty days after Christmas, February 2, 2016 the season of Christ s coming has depleted our candle supply. Soon, the parish will order a new paschal candle from a catalogue or candlemaker, or in some communities, wax will be collected to be melted and molded. Last year s paschal candle shows the wear and tear of summer heat, or many funerals or baptisms. Paschal candles have been around since at least the fourth century. Light was a precious commodity in the ancient world, and this lavish use of precious beeswax was a sign of the Christian s call to bear Christ s light into the world s darkness. In a pre-electric age, a whole city aglow from the paschal flame must have been a glorious sight, and a reminder to every baptized Christian of our vocation to be the light of the world. Christmas Tree THANK YOU! To all of You who took part in last Christmas giving Tree at St. Adalbert. We have collected $2,890.00. Kamil and his brother Daniel are very grateful for this help, prayers and words of encouragement. May God have Kamil in His loving care and protection. For statement of 2016 donations It is necessary only if you have donated $250.00 or more to the Church. You must be a registered parishioner for us to record your offerings and provide statements. We have no means to record checks submitted without envelopes. If you would like a statement of your donations to St. Adalbert Church for Tax purposes, please contact the Parish Office 908 352-2791.
5 Niedziela - Wy jesteście solą... Wy jesteście światłem. Co sobie mogli pomyśleć apostołowie, gdy usłyszeli z ust Jezusa, że są solą ziemi, że są czymś, co jedzeniu nadaje smak, co konserwuje żywność, co uodparnia przed zepsuciem. Co sobie myśleli, słysząc, że są światłem w ciemnościach? Normalny człowiek by powiedział, że to dotyczy kogo innego, a nie ich, zwyczajnych ludzi. Ale apostołowie te słowa napisali w ewangelii już po zesłaniu Ducha Świętego, po otrzymaniu mocy. Wtedy już nie czuli się słabi. Najpierw sól, świeża sól, niezwietrzała, zachowująca smak i odporność, nie poddająca się obcym wpływom. To chrześcijanin, który co niedzielę przystępuje do Komunii św., który nie psuje innych, a raczej ich strzeże, wzmacnia dobro u drugich, jest uczciwy, prostolinijny. I to zarówno dorosły, jak mały, uczeń czy nauczyciel, cywil czy duchowny, prosty czy uczony, uczciwy ojciec rodziny, matka kochających i kochanych dzieci... Błogosławiona, niezwietrzała sól. Wy jesteście solą ziemi. Wy macie nadawać smak życiu. Wy jesteście światłem świata. Światło - od światła, ogień - od ognia się zapala. Nie ma innego sposobu. Dziecko nasiąka dobrem w domu od dobrej matki i od dobrego ojca. Nasiąka ich dobrymi słowami, które oni wpajają w nie i z tymi słowami pójdzie w świat. Nie załamie je zły wpływ, a raczej ono będzie oddziaływać na innych. A skąd czerpią światło Boże matka i ojciec? Oczywiście od swoich rodziców. A jeśli ich nie mieli lub mieli złych? Dziwne, ale nieraz od własnych dzieci, które idą na pielgrzymkę, biorą udział w oazach czy w różnych spotkaniach. Nie ma innego źródła dobra jak tylko od Boga, od Ducha Świętego, od Maryi. Mówił Ojciec św. do młodych: Młody człowiek jest wrażliwy na prawdę, sprawiedliwość, piękno, na inne wartości duchowe. Młody człowiek pragnie odnaleźć siebie samego, dlatego szuka, czasem burzliwie szuka, prawdziwych wartości i ceni tych ludzi, którzy ich nauczają i według nich żyją. Któż z nas nie miał w życiu i nie wspomina z wdzięcznością takiego człowieka: kapłana, nauczyciela, profesora lub przyjaciela, który umiał odsłonić nam nowy świat wartości i wzbudzić dla niego trwały entuzjazm czy nawet nadać cały kierunek życiu? Patrzcie na Jezusa głębią waszych serc i umysłów! On jest waszym nieodłącznym przyjacielem... Mocna wiara, z której rodzi się nadzieja, cnota tak bardzo dziś potrzebna, uwalnia człowieka od lęku i daje mu siłę duchową do przetrwania wszystkich burz życiowych. Nie lękajcie się Chrystusa! Zaufajcie Mu do końca! On jedyny ma słowa życia wiecznego". Chrystus nigdy nie zawiedzie. Serdeczne Bóg zapłać za dar Drzewka Bożonarodzeniowego założony dla Kamila. Nasza parafia zebrała $2,890.00 Kamil i jego brat Daniel bardzo dziękują za pomoc, modlitwy i wsparcie w walce o życie. Niech Dobry Bóg ma was w swojej opiece i niech wam nigdy nie zabraknie Jego łaski. Światło zapala się od światła, ogień - od ognia, miłość Boża - od Pana Boga i od ludzi, napełniających się tą miłością. Wtedy dla drugich jesteśmy podobni do potrzebnej soli i do światła, świecącego w ciemnościach. Matko, pomóż na ziemi światłem być, aby ludzie widzieli dobre czyny w nas, i chwalili Ojca, który w niebie jest". Czas przygotowania i płacenia podatków za rok 2016. O dokument potwierdzający złożoną donacje na kościół mogą ubiegać się osoby, których roczne ofiary wyniosły $250 lub więcej. Przypominamy, że oświadczenie podatkowe wydaje Parafia dla osób zapisanych do parafii, używających koperty, lub składających ofiarę imiennie z prośbą o potwierdzenie donacji. Powtarzamy, że czeki lub gotówka wrzucana do kolekty bez koperty nie jest wpisana do systemu. Po oświadczenie proszę dzwonić 908 352 2791
February 11/ 12, 2017 SATURDAY, February 4, 2017 * 9:30 AM Confession / Spowiedź Św. * Second Collection: Fuel * Blessing of candles * St. Blaise - Blessing of throats SUNDAY, Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time * Second Collection: Fuel * Blessing of candles * St. Blaise - Blessing of throats WEDNESDAY, February 8, 2017 * 6:30 8:00 PM No Religious Education Classes Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion 4:00 PM D. Swider 10:00 AM D. Dorobek 12:00 Noon R. Dujanowicz 4:00 PM D. Swider 8:00 AM Z. Wydra 10:00 AM Youth Mass 12:00 Noon V. Prado Servers 8:00 AM I. & D. Szaro 10:00 AM A. Kaluzny, K. Stopa, D. Koziol 12:00 Noon V. Prado, F. Fojtik & D. Osegueda SATURDAY, February 11, 2017 Our Lady of Lourdes * 9:30 AM Confession / Spowiedź Św. SUNDAY, February 12, 2017 Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time We remember our ailing parishioners in our daily prayers, including those at home, in hospitals and nursing homes: Stanislaw Pekosz, Emilia Kiczek, Kamil Nowosielski, Lorraine Staboris, Joseph Horbacz, Josephine Cardillo, Felicia Bober, Jozefa Boguszewski, Sophie and Frank Koczur, Ann Zamorski, Rose Czekaj, Stanley Gorski... Lord, keep them in Your loving care. Let us pray for the repose of the souls of Jane Golden and Edward Wowkanyn Eternal rest grant unto them, o Lord. May they rest in peace. Last Sunday Collection: $2,157.00...where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Luke 12 Bóg zapłać za złożone ofiary. Week of Hosts: W intencji poleconej Wine: In Loving Memory of Betty Cioban John Cioban Altar Candles: Sanctuary Lamp: In Loving Memory of Betty Cioban Michelle
Confessions on Saturday, 9:00-9:30 AM, at St. Adalbert Church, or by request here at Sts. Peter and Paul before or after the Sunday Masses. If you wish a statement of your 2016 donations to the church, kindly call the church office. Statements for those who have requested one in the past have been sent out in the mail. There are some Sunday and weekday Masses available in February and March. We also have openings for the Tabernacle and Altar candles. Please call or come to the office to reserve the dates. A Low-Salt Faith Jesus uses two different examples of a good disciple-- salt of the earth and light of the world. While these images seem to have little in common, there are similarities, the most obvious being that a little of either goes a long way. So also, a little faith can make a big difference. The faith of little children can bring his parents back to the Church. The way we live our faith can speak even louder. Isaiah gives us some hints in the first reading when he writes about feeding the hungry and giving shelter to the homeless and clothes to the poor. But we sometimes get things backwards. If we do the things Isaiah tells the people to do, we might think that the deeds will give us faith. If we truly believe that God lives in the people around us, especially the poor, then we will want to show our love by caring for each other. But if we don't have faith, then we are like the salt that has lost its flavor. A low-salt diet may be good for us; but a low-salt faith, instead of making things better, would make them worse. Without faith in God's love for us, we would not respond with love of our own. We could still be a good person, but we would not be a very good disciple. To all of our parishioners: Effective March 1st, the business office in the former St Peter & Paul rectory will permanently close in consideration for the safety of our staff and volunteers, to be able to answer requests quickly and to effectively manage the resources of the Parish. All requests for both Churches, including those for Mass intentions, can be obtained at the parish business office located at 250 E Jersey Street, Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm. St. Adalbert and Ss. Peter & Paul Parish Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion 11:00 AM Dolores Leonard George Doney 11:00 AM Vytautas Masiliunas/Nijolė Klimik February 12, 2017 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion 11:00 AM Dolores Leonard 11:00 AM Vytautas Masiliunas/Nijolė Klimik Sunday Collection $781.00 Thank you for your generosity. Ačiu už jūsų dosnumą. We remember our sick parishioners in our daily prayers including those at home, in hospitals, and nursing homes: Lorraine Staboris, Robert Cook, Ruta Didzbalis, Helen Gradeckis, Julianna Liana, Mary Mackelis, Frank Matuzewski, Madeline Morris, Miriano Rodrigez, Noel O Sullivan, Dolly Townsend, Karen Townsend... The Week of February 5th, 2017 Tabernacle Candle: Health Intentions for Noel O Sullivan Requested by O Sullivan family Altar Candles: Health Intentions for Noel O Sullivan Requested by O Sullivan family
Sts. Peter & Paul Church Week of SUNDAY (5th) 9:00 AM - Birthday Intention Joan Salus 11:00 AM + Evelyn Fogarty MONDAY (6th) 12:00 Noon + Helen & Walter Zipf WEDNESDAY (8th) 12:00 Noon + John & Ursel Locke FRIDAY (10th) 12:00 Noon + Eugene Liana SUNDAY (12th) 9:00 AM + Julius Veblaitis 11:00 AM + Rev. Antanas Paškus GIVING When you give, see that you give that which multiplies in giving. --Raymond Lull POPULARITY Avoid popularity if you would have peace. --Abraham Lincoln Our Lady of Lourdes 11th February Mary, you showed yourself to Bernadette in the crevice of the rock. In the cold and grey of winter, you brought the warmth, light and beauty of your presence, In the often obscure depths of our lives, in the depth of the world where evil is so powerful, bring hope, return our confidence! You are the Immaculate Conception, come to our aid, sinners that we are. Give us the humility to have a change of heart, the courage to do penance. Teach us to pray for all people. St. Adalbert Church Week of SATURDAY (4) SOBOTA 4:00 PM + Tadeusz Klimek Rodzina Klimek SUNDAY (5) NIEDZIELA Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time 8:00 AM + Maria i Władysław Swoboda Edward 10:00 AM + Czesława i Wojciech Zając Syn z Rodziną 12:00 PM + Patrick Guirnalda Mr. & Mrs. Macierowski MONDAY (6) PONIEDZIAŁEK 7:30 AM + Charlotte T. Yavorski Estate 8:15 AM + Tadeusz Klimek Syn z Rodziną TUESDAY (7) WTOREK 7:30 AM + Jean Tomchek (2nd Anniversary) Family 8:15 AM + Frances Wlazlowski Barbara Franczak WEDNESDAY (8) ŚRODA 7:30 AM + Stella Brylski Quevedo Family 8:15 AM + Eugeniusz Serafin Zofia THURSDAY (9) CZWARTEK 7:30 AM + Michael Slodziak Wife Emily 8:15 AM + Za dusze potrzebujące pomocy Józef FRIDAY (10) PIĄTEK 7:30 AM + Julius S. Maciorowski Mr. & Mrs. Michael Macierowski 8:15 AM + Casimir Strzepek Mr. & Mrs. Frank Wnek SATURDAY (11) SOBOTA 7:30 AM + Ramon Olavarria Ana Vargas 8:15 AM + Zuzanna Nicol Kiczek Family 4:00 PM + Deceased Members of the Marczak Family Ted Marczak SUNDAY (12) NIEDZIELA Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time 8:00 AM + Stefan Czarnocki Żona 10:00 AM O zdrowie i Boże błogosławieństwo dla Marianny Jędrysa z okazji 95 urodzin Córka z Rodziną 12:00 PM + Jan Machowski Stanley Folcik & Family