Dear Parishioners,

The readings of today’s Mass highlight “vocation,” that is, one’s calling from God. We hear of God’s call to Samuel, who was prompt to serve the Lord. The Gospel recounts the call to John and Andrew. These apostles were not called directly by the Lord but through an intermediary, their teacher, John the Baptist. In turn, Andrew becomes an intermediary and goes to his brother, Simon Peter and “brought him to Jesus.”

Every Christian is called—in a way suited to his or her state of life—to follow Christ in holiness and through an apostolate. More often than not, God uses intermediaries to bring one to the light of a vocation. He may use us to invite someone to consider a particular vocation. This is very important when we consider the vocation to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life.

Have we ever identified someone who might be a good future priest, deacon, or religious? The power of personal invitation cannot be overstated. A national survey a few years ago found that those who had one person encouraging them were nearly twice as likely to consider a religious vocation as those who were not encouraged. Those encouraged by more people were even more likely to consider such a vocation.

However, to encourage someone to consider such a vocation, we must ourselves be convinced of its necessity, value, and importance. Priests, Deacons, and Religious must do their part to convey the joy and satisfaction they experience in living it.

While God is surely the One who calls, He may use us as His instruments to help bring a flowering of vocations for the Church. Let us pray, identify, encourage potential vocations, and invite many to “come and see” how wonderful it could be to serve the Lord through His Church.

With affection,
Msgr. Gervasio

Chè Pawasyen-m yo,

Lèkti yo nan lamès jodia insiste sou “vokasion”, sa vle di Bondye ki rele yon moun. Nou tande koman Bondye rele Samyèl , la menm Samyèl mete-l nan sèvis Granmèt la. Levanjil la pale nou osijè Jezu ki rele Jan ak Andre. Se pa Jezu ki te rele yo dirèkteman, men se te Jan Batis, profesè yo ki te sèvi lentèmedyè pou yo te vin swiv Jezu. Menm jan tou, Andre te sèvi lentèmedyè pou mennen frè li Simon Pyè bay Jezu.

Chak kretyen jwenn yon apèl, chak moun selon eta yo, pou yo swiv Kris la nan yon lavi ki sen epi nan apostola. Pi souvan ke nou ta panse, Bondye itilize entèmedyè pou mennen yon moun sou rout yon vokasyon. Li kapab sèvi ak nou pou nou ankouraje yon moun pou li konsidere yon vokasyon espesyal. Sa enpòtan anpil sitou lè nap konsidere vokasyon pou Pè, pou Dyak oubyen pou lavi konsakre.

Eske sa rive déja nan lavi nou pou nou idantifye yon moun ki te ka fè yon bon Pè, yon bon Dyak oubyen yon bon relijye?Nou paka ensiste ase sou pouvwa yon envitasyon pèsonel genyen sou yon moun. Nan yon rapò ki te fèt o nivo nasyonal nan lane ki pase yo, yo te demontre ke moun ki te jwenn moun ankouraje yo konsidere yon vokasyon relijyez, yo de fwa pi plis pase moun ki pat jwenn moun ankouraje yo fè sa. Plis yon moun jwenn moun ki ankouraje-l konsidere lavi -l kom relijye, plis moun sa gen chans pou-l vin tounen relijye reyèlman.

Men li ta bon pou nou raple ke pou nou ankouraje yon lòt moun pou li konsidere vokasyon relijye-a , nou bezwen tou dabò pou nou menm relijye, nou gen konviksyon ke vokasyon sa gen nesesite li, enpòtans li ak valè li. Pè yo, Dyak yo ak Relijyez yo dwe fè travay yo tou pandan yap transmèt kè kontan ak satisfaksyon yo jwenn nan eksperyans yo fè kòm relijye nan lavi yo chak jou.

Bondye se Sila ki rele nou-an. Men li ka sèvi ak nou kòm enstriman pou ede yon bèl florezon vokasyon leve pou legliz la. An nou lapriyè, an nou idantifye, an nou ankouraje vokasyon ki gen chans devlope yo. An nou envite tou moun pou yo «vini epi pou yo wè» jan sa bèl lè yon moun mete tèt li nan sèvis Bondye nan Legliz la.

Avèk afeksyon,
Monsegnè Jèvazyo

Hope you are having a good week.  I am pleased to share with you yet another parish update.  I was happy to learn that these weekly messages are being read not only by our parishioners but many others!

“ITE AD JOSEPH”

OLS Elevator Update

Christmas Appeal

Diocesan COVID Protocols:  Two Developments!

• Bulletins: Parishes are now permitted to make available printed copies of the bulletin.  We shall do so beginning the weekend of January 23-24. However, we strongly advise that bulletins can be taken only after Mass on the way out of church. They cannot be brought into church or shared with others. I know that many people have had the habit of taking a bulletin into church, reading it before Mass and then leaving it the pew. This will not be permitted and will be strictly enforced.

• Missal/Hymnal: On the weekend of January 23-24 our “Breaking Bread” Missal/Hymnal will be made available. However, these will be given to be retained as a personal copy. The book is not to be shared with others or left in church. It will be exclusively your own! They are provided so that you might follow the Scripture Readings and make the responses. Singing will continue to be kept at a minimum, in order to diminish the possible transmission of the virus.

Being able to have a missal and bulletin will be welcomed I am sure, but everyone must be responsible in observing the directives tied to their availability.  I thank all in advance for their cooperation.     More about COVID protocols as we approach the Lent.

Cohort News

The Lumen Christi-Cohort 6, Covid-19 Walk-A-Thon was a success, with just about 25 registered walkers from our three parishes:  Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, St. Gregory the Great, and St. Raphael-Holy Angels. See the news article for more information.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

In observance of the birthday/holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the parish and school offices will be closed on Monday, January 18.  As we honor this “apostle of non-violence” we might surely pray:

Lord God lead us from any enslavement to hatred, ignorance, racism, and all that prevents us from being the community of love and respect that you want us to be. As we remember the witness of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we ask for the courage and determination to follow his example in battling injustice and living the Gospel of love, through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

[Source:   Notre Dame University Website, adapted]

May the great Saint Joseph watch over you and intercede for you!

The Diocese of Trenton is committed to the norms of the U.S. Bishop’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors.  If you have been sexually abused as a minor by anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan Hotline: 1-888-296-2965 or via e-mail at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org.  Such allegations are reported to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

The scammers are at it again! If you receive an email message like the one below

Let me know if you are not occupied at the moment, I need you to do me a favor real quick. Email me back immediately you receive this message.

(or anything similar), purportedly from Monsignor Gervasio, Fr. Joseph (or any other OLS-SA staff member), please do not respond to it. Instead, report it to the Hamilton Township police.

Please visit www.ols-sa.org/news/warning for more information.
 

The elevator at Our Lady of Sorrows Church is temporarily out of order, leaving no handicapped-accessible entrance there. However, the repairs have been completed and we are now only waiting for inspection and approval by the township.

In the meantime, the elevator is working at St. Anthony Church, so those needing handicap access can attend Sunday Mass there at 4:00 PM on Saturday, or 9:30 AM on Sunday. The 11:00 Mass will continue to be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, as well as the daily Masses at 9:00, but the church will not be accessible to those who cannot go up and down stairs.We will let you know as soon as the elevator is approved for use!