August 29, 2022
Challenge Complete! Here is a glimpse of all the backpacks and school supplies donated by our generous parishioners for the foster children at CASA. Thank you to everyone involved. And a big thanks to Aiden for bringing in his A-Team of junior volunteers to sort and arrange all the essentials. Thank you Aiden, Jack, Ella and Katie for the assistance! Let's get this new school year started on a positive note.
August 15, 2022
The Assumption of Mary which we celebrate on Monday (not a Holy Day of Obligation this year because it is on a Monday) is a time to remember the great things that God has done for Mary, inviting her deeper and deeper into relationship with Him, becoming the mother of His Son, Jesus, and finally lifting her up, body and soul, into His heavenly Kingdom. It is also a reminder of the promises of eternal life that God has made to us, and shows that our faith and hope are not in vain. The gospel invites us to remember with praise and gratitude the great things that God has done and continues to do for us. We are also challenged and encouraged to recognize the presence of our Lord in our lives, opening us up to the marvels of his love, for He indeed comes to us each and every day.
Peace, Fr. Mike
August 7, 2022
In the precious name of Jesus and Mother Mary, I would like to thank you dear Fr. Mike, the pastor, Fr. Valentine the associate pastor, and Fr. Rob and dear faithful of IHM parish, for your generous support to my mission back in India, Diocese of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. I really enjoyed my stay in IHM! Your kind support will really be a good help for the different needs of our mission, like education of children from child labor, forced labor, and bonded labor. Little girls will be taken to school and not to work. Training of seminarians for priesthood, providing safe drinking water and sanitation, for the project of protection of women and children, empowerment of widows, health and hygiene programs, income generation programs for poor women and helpless widows, and housing program for the shelter less in our mission diocese. May I promise our prayers for you all and may God bless you all. Thank you so much.
Fr. KD Joseph
Andhra Pradesh, India
June 16, 2022
Congratulations to Marie & Bill Keller celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary! They renewed their vows today at the Immaculate Heart Chapel. Pictured with their daughter Terry, Bill, Marie and Fr. Valentine. May God bless the Keller family on this special day!
June 14, 2022
Thank you to our dear Pat Mazzucca who guided our Rosary Altar Society trip to the New York Botanical Gardens. She provided insightful commentary on the beauty and history of the famous gardens and coordinated a tasty lunch for our attendees. This was truly wonderful day spent appreciating God's creations.
May 28, 2022
Cardinal Tobin ordained five men to the priesthood during the Rite of Ordination at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark on May 28. Congratulations to Frs. Roberto Julio Moreno Andrión, Matthew Gonzalez, David Hinojosa, Peter Jacob Volz, and Ashton Ignacio Francisco Wong! May God bless them as they begin their fulfilling journey of spreading the Gospel as priests
May 25, 2022
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., has issued the following statement in response to the recent mass shootings: The disciples of Jesus that form the Archdiocese of Newark join our hearts and prayers for the anguished families of Uvalde, Buffalo and many other communities across this country, including Newark, the city in which I live and love. The slaughter of children and teachers yesterday in Texas, and the surge of violence in communities nationwide, cannot be easily explained but must not be dismissed as a perverse “new normal.”
Cynically short-sighted solutions that facilely propose turning schools, grocery stores and shopping malls into armed camps must be rejected. This nation cannot flourish by permitting the unregulated sale of weapons designed to kill. There is no convincing argument to justify the sale or possession of automatic rifles, oversize magazines, folding stocks, and other weapons that are used in an ever-growing number of massacres.
New laws alone will not change hearts. We need civil conversations around all the forms of violence that are tolerated, even celebrated in our culture. The role of social media, especially its indiscriminate use by young people, needs to be questioned. We adults must examine how our speech and slogans and our resignation and apathy contribute to violent death and the disintegration of our communities.
There is much to do, but for now, let us recognize our connection with the grieving families and plead with God to heal their broken hearts.
May 12, 2022
The Catholic Bishops of New Jersey join to express our disappointment and outrage over Governor Murphy’s announcement regarding proposed legislation to expand access to abortion in New Jersey, an act that by its very nature terminates human life. If enacted, this legislation would mandate health insurance coverage for abortions, codify regulations that permit non-physicians to perform abortions; and create a public fund that dedicates taxpayer money to pay for abortions.
May 11, 2022
Here is a beautiful letter of thanks from Rev. Ruslan Romanyuk. The pastor from St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church. In response to our recent collection of food and medical supplies for the people of Ukraine. IHM Parish reached out through prayer and service. Extending our Catholic faith with blessings beyond our community to help those in need. We are grateful for all of the generous contributions made during this crisis. From the words of Rev. Ruslan, “May God reward you and yours with the promised hundredfold.”
April 11, 2022
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the Archbishop of Newark, will be joined by his auxiliary bishops and dozens of priests from throughout the Archdiocese of Newark on Monday April 11th to celebrate the Chrism Mass, the second observance of Holy Week.
This year, Fr. Mike has been invited to concelebrate this special Mass in honor of his 25th anniversary of becoming a priest. Congratulations Fr. Mike!
