St. Elizabeth & St. Brigid Parish

September 2021

My dear friends in Christ,

On this solemn anniversary of September 11, 2001, we commemorate 20 years when our nation was changed forever.

Much has happened these past 2 decades but one thing has not, and that is our resolve to identify evil when we see it.  Our faith teaches us not to hate.  Both our faith and our patriotic principles teach that we are to be tolerant of those we may not agree with.  However, there is one glaring exception to these principles.  We are all called to hate terrorism and there is never a circumstance when we can tolerate terrorism.  Why?  Because terrorism is always an evil that can never be tolerated.

In these past 20 years, we have witnessed the best of our citizens become American soldiers in order to protect us and our homeland following the attacks on September 11, 2001. Thousands have served.  Many have made the ultimate sacrifice and many others returned home with scars, both visible and invisible.  They have served our country well and we owe them a great debt.

In recent weeks we have watched as our troops left Afghanistan and returned home.  We applaud all who served, but we grieve for the 13 young men and women who lost their lives … some say unnecessarily.  We continue to pray for our fellow Americans left behind as well as those Afghans who chose to support our efforts and now fear for their very lives.

As we commemorate 20 years, we feel loss, yes, and pride too, for the best who served in our American military.  But we also feel confusion, sadness and shame. We have never left Americans behind in a war zone. Why now?

In the days ahead, may we join all Catholics around the world, as well as all men and women of good will, by lifting up our hearts in prayer asking our loving God to protect us now in our greatest needs.  May He protect those left behind in Afghanistan; protect our protectors in their service; protect our families; our neighborhoods; our town, our state and our nation; and protect us against the reign of terrorism that continues to threaten our world!

May Saint Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, watch over us. May Mary, Queen of the World, provide us with her maternal guidance and grant us God’s peace, now and at the hour of our death.

In Christ Jesus Our Lord,

Rev. Msgr. Edward C. Puleo, Pastor
St. Elizabeth-St. Brigid Parish
Far Hills-Peapack, New Jersey
 

2021 BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL
Transformed by Christ’s Body and Blood
– Sent on Mission to Light a Fire in the Heart of the Church

The appeal supports the works of the Diocese to meet the needs of many for Evangelization, Vocations, Catholic Charity and other areas to bring Christ to our local Church. To view Bishop Checchio's Message see https://youtu.be/SYMONc5S8IA To date, the Development Office has received pledges totaling $ 244,922.50 and payments totaling $ 237,310.25 from 205 parishioners. This represents 96% of our goal of $255,000.00. We are just $10,077.50 short of reaching our goal. The parish receives a 50% rebate for all funds received over the goal. Thank you to all who have given so generously to the 2021 Bishop’s Annual Appeal.

Your gift to the Bishop's Annual Appeal helps support the formation of our seminarians. Listen to Ronal's story and how his vocation has been directly impacted by the generosity of the Bishop's Annual Appeal Together we are Transformed by Christ's Body and Blood, Sent on Mission to Light a Fire in the Heart of the Church.

Please be aware that neither Monsingor Puleo nor the parish will solicit assistance in the form of gift cards or other charitable requests via e-mail.  There are a number of e-mails being sent asking for assistance.  Should you have any questions, please contact the parish office at 908-234-1265 before acting on these requests.

Monsignor Puleo

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Year of Saint Joseph Prayer

Dear Saint Joseph,
guardian of the Holy Family,
watch over our human family.
With Mary, our heavenly Mother,
keep us safe in God’s care.

Although divided and distracted,
by many ungodly preoccupations,
including the destruction of precious human life,
we seek a path that leads back to God.

Glorious son of David and just son of God,
protect us as you once protected Mary and Jesus.
Inspire us in ways that will help us
overcome our transgressions.

Rekindle in the souls and arouse in the minds
of all who have turned away from God,
the joy of loving and serving Him;
as you did most perfectly as husband and father
for Mary and Jesus.

As you cooperated with God’s grace
and lived your life virtuously,
enable us to follow your example,
giving of ourselves to God and neighbor,
all the days of our lives.

We ask this through Christ Jesus Our Lord,
Amen.

Imprimatur:           
Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA
Nihil Obstat:         
Reverend John G. Hillier, Ph.D
22 January, 2021
 

At this time, due to the observance of public safety protocols and the increase in the availability of vaccines, we have begun a return to some sense of normalcy in various sectors of our society.

Therefore, we the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey, are lifting the dispensation of the Sunday and Holy Days Mass obligation beginning on Saturday, June 5, 2021, and Sunday, June 6, 2021, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

We welcome the Christian faithful to return to the regular participation in the Sunday Eucharist, the source and summit of our Catholic faith (cf. Code of Canon Law canon 1247 and Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2180).

This obligation does not apply to those who are ill; those who have reason to believe that they were recently exposed to the coronavirus or another serious or contagious illness; those who are confined to their home, a hospital, or nursing facility; or those with serious underlying health conditions. One should consult the local pastor if questions arise about the obligation to attend Mass (canon 87).

Finally, safety protocols (such as wearing masks, social distancing, etc.) and liturgical directives (communion in the hand, communion under one species, etc.) in each New Jersey Diocese remains in place until modified or revoked by the respective Diocesan Bishop.

Given on May 20, 2021, the memorial of St. Bernardine of Siena.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. Archbishop, Archdiocese of Newark
Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M. Bishop, Diocese of Trenton
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan Bishop, Diocese of Camden Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney Bishop, Diocese of Paterson Most Reverend James F. Checchio Bishop, Diocese of Metuchen Most Reverend Kurt Burnette Bishop, Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic Most Reverend Yousif B. Habash Bishop, Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac

The Catholic Church believes and teaches that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death. For that reason, we, the Bishops of each of the dioceses in New Jersey, join in voicing the strongest possible opposition to the “Reproductive Freedom Act.”

Without minimizing other serious threats to human life and dignity evident in contemporary American society, the Catholic Church consistently maintains that “the threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed.” (USCCB, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, “Introductory Letter,” 2020).

When informed of the text of the USCCB document early in 2020, Pope Francis observed that the right to life of the unborn “is the most fundamental right. This is not first a religious issue; it is a human rights issue.” (Pope Francis to American Catholic Bishops, USCCB Region IX, January 16, 2020).”

As the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey, we urge all Catholics and people of good will to reject this proposed legislative initiative in our state and to contact your State legislators to vigorously express opposition to its passage.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. Archbishop, Archdiocese of Newark
Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M. Bishop, Diocese of Trenton
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan Bishop, Diocese of Camden
Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney Bishop, Diocese of Paterson
Most Reverend James F. Checchio Bishop, Diocese of Metuchen
Most Reverend Kurt Burnette Bishop, Eparchy of Passaic
Most Reverend Yousif Habash Bishop of Our Lady of Deliverance of Syriac Catholic Diocese

October 5, 2020

New Jersey Reproductive Freedom Act (RFA) S3030

Reproductive Freedom Act (RFA) S3030 was introduced in the New Jersey State Senate and has been referred to the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. The Assembly version of the bill is A4848.

If passed, the RFA would codify into New Jersey law the findings of Roe v. Wade, meaning that abortion would remain legal in New Jersey even if the case was overturned by the Supreme Court.  It is unconscionable and perhaps unconstitutional to permanently prohibit future legislatures from amending a radical abortion law. The RFA would also strip safeguards and regulations on the abortion procedure, making New Jersey a more dangerous place for women and their unborn babies.  Specifically, the following are key provisions of this bill:
 

• Establishes that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent rights under the laws of this state;
• Permits abortion up until birth and partial birth abortion;
• Violates First Amendment provisions for religious freedom by forcing insurance providers,  employers and subscribers to pay for procedures that violate their conscience;
• Eliminates New Jersey’s long standing conscience protection law for healthcare workers that do not want to perform or assist with abortion because doing so would violate their religious beliefs.
• The law also applies to non-New Jersey residents and encourages, by having such funding provisions, the attraction of more human traffickers to New Jersey to force women to have abortions;
• Allows non-physicians such as a physician assistant or certified midwife to conduct abortions and places vulnerable women at even greater risk of physical and mental harm.

For more information, visit:  https://njcatholic.org/reproductive-freedom-act.  To express your immediate opposition to this bill before it moves closer to becoming law, please contact your state legislators now to oppose this measure; here is an email for you to send to your representative(s):

_________________________________________________

Dear (see below*):

As a New Jersey resident, taxpayer and faithful Catholic, I am writing to you, to adamantly oppose Bill numbers S3030/A4848. I believe these bills violate First Amendment provisions for religious freedom and advocate infanticide behind the protective cloak of Roe v Wade rights.  We must protect all human life as God’s children and not support “choice” at the expense of a life!  Please vote against these bills!
Sincerely,
Name

*Legislator representatives by District/location:

Peapack/Gladstone and Bedminster (District 23):
Senator Michael J. Doherty ---email is doherty@senatenj.com
Assemblyman John DiMaio----email is asmdimaio@njleg.org 
Assemblyman Erick Peterson—email is asmpeterson@njleg.org

Far Hills (District 21):
Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr-email is tomkean@senatenj.com.
Assemblyman Jon M. Bramnick-email is asmbranmick@njleg.org
Assemblywoman Nancy F. Munoz-email is asmmunoz@njleg.org

If your residence is not in the above Districts, you can follow the below links to identify your legislator representatives.  Thank you!

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/abcroster.asp
https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/municipalities.asp

Food Drive September 4-5 2021
Benefiting the Somerset County Food Network Food Pantry
Canned and Non Perishable items needed.  Monetary donations accepted.
 

Jesus reminds us that there is no greater live than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends; if we do so our joy will be complete. Have you ever considered giving yourself to the service of your sisters and brothers as a priest or religious? If so, call the Vocations Office @ (732) 562-2453 or e-mail us at vocations@diometuchen.org. Or you can visit our website at www.diometuchen.org/vocations. Turn your life over to the Lord today.
 

 © Reverend John G. Hillier,  March 10, 2020