On Sun. Aug. 16, 2009, Sharrott Winery of Winslow Township, NJ (not far from Hammonton) and Plagido's Winery of Hammonton, NJ will be hosting a wine tasting at St. Mary's Feast of the Assumption.

One ticket will allow feast-goers unlimited wine tasting throughout the day, plus a free souvenir wine glass. We also hope to be selling wine by the glass. Plagido's and Sharrott will have their wines available for purchase by the bottle as well.

Sharrott Winery won "Best Chardonnay" at a prestigious international wine competition. And having had Plagido's wines, I can tell you they are also very good! We are privileged to have two amazing wineries join our Feast!

To help facilitate communication, we have started a newsletter.  The first issue went out to the 8:30 and 11:30 Sunday Mass attendees and the CCD parents.  For anyone who missed it, the content is posted below.  Please also see the Editor's Note at the bottom.

St. Mary's News

As most of you are aware, we now have a new pastor, Fr. Edward Namiotka.  Fr. Romanowski has appealed his removal as pastor of St. Mary's*, but while the appeal is pending, Fr. Namiotka will be pastor.  Fr. Romanowski has chosen retirement over reassignment as a parochial vicar at St. Nicholas in Atlantic City.  If he wins his appeal, Fr. Romanowski will be reinstated as pastor of St. Mary's.  In the meantime, he will continue to reside at the rectory at least through the end of April and will assist Fr. Namiotka with the pastoral care of our parish.  We welcome Fr. Namiotka and continue to support Fr. Romanowski. 

Many people are wondering what this transition means for our efforts to save St. Mary's.  For the most part, we will continue on exactly as we have been.  Fr. Namiotka's appointment does not mean our church will close anytime soon, nor does it mean that our church will stay open for the duration of his six year term.  This will be explained in more detail at the Save St. Mary's Meeting on Monday, March 9^th at 6:30 pm.

 

 

Upcoming Events this Week
9th	Save St. Mary's Meeting (6:30 pm)
10th	Jr Choir Practice (7:00), KOC/Choir Practice (8:00)
11th	Eucharistic Adoration, Mass and Miraculous Medal (7:00)
12th	Rally (TBD), Jr. Legion (4:00), Legion of Mary (7:00)
13th	Rosary (6:30), Stations of the Cross & Sacred Heart (7:00)
14th	Confession (3:30)
15th	Third Order Carmelites (1:00)

Saving St. Mary's

What You Can Do To Help

1.        PRAY!  Say a quick Hail Mary, a whole rosary or a decade, offer a mass, visit St. Mary's, offer time before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, whatever you can do.

2.        STAY ACTIVE!  Try joining a parish group, participating in a devotion, become a lector, etc.  Our parish is active every day of the week, stop by anytime and encourage others to come to St. Mary's. 

3.        CONTRIBUTE!  It's important that St. Mary's be self-sufficient.  Please contribute generously to your church (the first collection) and also to Save St. Mary's.  

4.        WORK WITH ONE OF THE SAVE ST. MARY'S COMMITTEES!  We have several committees working to keep St. Mary's open.  Please join one of the following committees to help with the planning:  Prayer/Devotionals, Picketing/Rallies, Media, Letter Writing, Fundraising, Vigil Prep, Canon Law Appeal, Civil Litigation. 

5.        CONTINUE WRITING LETTERS AND RALLYING!

For more information, please attend our meeting on Monday, March 9^th at 6:30 pm or contact Leah Vassallo (692-0222) or Kevin Kelton (694-2748) for more information.  We will also provide more details in our next newsletter.

 

Fr. Edward Namiotka's Contact Info:

     Address: Queen of Angels Parish

           202 North West Blvd.,

           Landisville, NJ 08326

     Phone:     697-1450 or 691-4491 x. 1116

     Email:       enamiotka@shhslions.com

 

"To not resist error is to approve it, to not defend the truth is to suffocate it."   - Pope St. Felix III

 * Editor's Note:  Since the publication of this newsletter, Fr. Romanowski has informed us that he has withdrawn his appeal.  We will present this latest change at tonight's meeting and in next week's newsletter.

No Surrender, No Comromise

 

The Devil's Attacks on Mankind

With the devil there is no end to his onslaught against God and souls. He constantly tempts men to follow his way--by pleasure, materialism, success, and power. We cannot be unaware of the weakness in men no matter what their status. Human nature is weak. The Church, which is the Visible Manifestation of God on earth, teaches the correct means to overcome these temptations: constant prayer, penance, and the Truth. If we are unaware of the Truth, then we fail.

 

The Importance of the Holy Name of Jesus

The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus presents us with the proper relationship we must have with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That name above all names wins salvation for us. Learning to bow one's head at the Name of Jesus reflects our inner respect for Our Lord. St. Paul tells us every knee should bend at the sound of that Holy Name (Philippians 2:10). The Name itself demands respect.

 

Worldly Disrespect for the Holy Name

Men do not show respect to Our Lord's Name. There is use of this Name without respect and with the intention of attacking that Holy Name and His person. Everything is subject to that Name. Peter cured the blind man in the Name of Jesus. St. Paul tells us that whatever we do in word or in work, do it in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father (Colossions 3:17).

 

All of Life is Connected to Reverence of God and His Name

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for he shall not be unpunished that taketh his name upon a vain thing." (Deuteronomy 5:11)

When we pray in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit we acknowledge our allegiance to God against the snares of the devil. If we don't persevere in this quest for holiness, the ever present assault of the devil attempts to cause us to compromise and to surrender. But the devil does not tempt those who are followers of Jesus to foresake only our allegiance to the Holy Name! A sin against the Sixth Commandment--a minor sin, says the devil--won't hurt us. But this is a lie. All sin hurts us immeasurably and that is why frequent confession is a necessity--to combat that compromise that leads to surrender. Praise His Holy Name often during the day and you will find the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE.

 

Praised be Jesus Christ,

Now and Forever.

MAY HIS NAME BE PRAISED!

Fr. Jerome Charles Romanowski, Pastor

I liked this sign outside of St. Lucy's in Blue Anchor. It's beautiful in a sad sort of way.
 
Driving down the street past this sign, something about it really struck me. I guess it was just a reminder of God--who He is, what He's about. God sends us these little messages from day to day, even in the form of this street sign, and it's so easy to overlook them. In the midst of the smallest annoyances and greatest sufferings, God is "still here." Even if the worst were to happen and the bishop succeeded in his plan to shutter half the churches in the diocese, God is still here. The Church is still here, even though there are those who work against her, because God promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. No matter the corruption and ungodliness within the Church and around the Church, she will endure because she is the Bride of Christ and Christ will preserve the Church on earth from all onslaughts as He has always done.

(By the way, St. Lucy's is located on Route 73 in Blue Anchor, NJ [part of Winslow Twp.] and is part of Blessed John XXIII Parish along with Sacred Heart. The sign's been up at least a month now.)