We Make Disciples

To see the July 9, 2020, 9:00 a.m. Mass simulcasted,
please click HERE

To see the July 8, 2020, Mass on video, please click HERE
To see the July 7, 2020, Mass on video, please click HERE
To see the July 6, 2020, Mass on video, please click HERE
To see the July 5, 2020, Sunday Mass on video, please click HERE

Daily Mass Schedule
A daily Mass will be offered Monday through Friday
at 7:15 a.m. and Monday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
inside the Church. No reservations required.
Everyone must wear a mask.
The Daily 9:00 a.m. Mass is simulcasted.

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday
5:30 p.m.
Sunday
8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and noon.
Masses are inside the Church. No reservations required.
Everyone must wear a mask.
The Sunday 8:00 a.m. Mass is simulcasted.

The Coronavirus and Act of Spiritual Communion prayers are below so you can pray them with the priest at the appropriate time:

Coronavirus Prayer after Prayer of the Faithful

Jesus Christ, You traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.”
At Your command, the sick were made well.
Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience Your healing love.
Be with doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know Your protection and peace. May victims regain their strength and health through quality medical care.
Heal us from our fear.
Stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.
Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with You in Your Eternal Peace.
Hear our prayer, O Divine Physician. Hear our prayer.
Amen.

Act of Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.

Order of the Mass and Daily Readings

Click HERE  for the Order of the Mass
Click HERE for the USCCB’s daily readings

Live Adoration 

For Live Adoration on EWTN GB, click HERE

Light a Virtual Prayer Candle

For a link to the St. Mary of the Lakes Virtual Prayer Candle, please click HERE

We invite you to light a prayer candle for any intention. The large Easter Candle is lit during Mass offered inside St. Mary of the Lakes Church to symbolize and commemorate all the virtual candles requested via the internet.

YOU MAY INCLUDE AN OFFERING WITH
YOUR SUNDAY GIFT

Please consider contributing to the Food Drive being conducted by the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul. Drop off whatever you can spare at the Knight’s trailer located in the Church parking lot. The un-manned trailer is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

I received word that the Blessed Sacrament (and the tabernacle) were stolen from St. Elizabeth Church in Boone, NC. In 2014, when I was pastor at St. Benedict in Holmdel, I learned that the Blessed Sacrament was stolen by satanists for the purpose of desecration in the Diocese of Oklahoma City. Bishop Paul Coakley asked for everyone to pray through the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel for the return of the consecrated host and our prayers were answered.
 
At this time, let us join with our brothers and sisters across the nation and pray to St. Michael the Archangel for the return of the Blessed Sacrament and the tabernacle to the Church.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Assuring you of my prayers, and asking yours in return, I am
 
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Dan

The Link is posted HERE for the Wednesday, July 8 
LIVE STREAM of the SMLS Graduation.

ENROLLMENT
Our enrollment for the 20-21 school year is open.
Please contact: Admissions@smlschool.org.
All of our registration forms are available on the school website by clicking HERE

To take a closer look at SMLS, please click HERE



Part Time Marketing and Events Manager Job Summary

              Hours:  This is a part time, hourly, 12 month position. The MEM should work an average of 20-25 hours per week including some off-site work relating to representing SMLS at events and exhibitions.  

              The MEM reports to the principal and is responsible for developing a strategic marketing plan to promote the school and recruit and retain students. The MEM works closely with the principal, Director of Enrollment & Advancement, consultants and representatives from the Diocese of Trenton.  He/she is responsible for creating a strong public presence, planning, executing and promoting school events and contributing to the promotion of the school.  The MEM should be fluent with social media,  email marketing, website management, creative ad design and content creation.   The MEM should be comfortable learning and navigating school and parish information systems.  He/she must be committed to promoting Catholic identity and supporting the mission of the school. The MEM should be a self-starter, entrepreneurial, creative while being an excellent and engaged team player.  The candidate must have outstanding communication skills across a range of constituents. The candidate will work closely with school staff and volunteers to further advance the mission of the school.

 For more information or to submit your cover letter and CV,
 please contact Amy Rash, Principal at: arash@smlschool.org

Need Service Hours?
 Attention SMLS students in grades 6th - 8th looking to complete service hours! We are in need of volunteers to be "hole sitters" at the annual Ron Murphy Golf Tourney on August 19 at Medford Village Country Club
from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Witness a "hole in one!" 
Drinks and snacks will be provided. 
Interested students can contact:
admissions@smlschool.org
 
          PREP REGISTRATION UPDATE           

Registration for the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) for the 2020-2021 school year will be delayed as we await directives from the Diocese of Trenton resulting from Coronavirus restrictions. PREP instruction begins when a child enters first grade and continues through eighth grade. Preregistration is required for all returning and new students. Preregistration normally begins the first week in June to give the PREP staff time to recruit volunteers and to prepare for the upcoming year.

This year, everything is different. Rather than have you register amid so much uncertainty, we are waiting until we have a better idea of what PREP will look like in this era of quarantines, masks, and COVID-19. Rest assured that St. Mary of the Lakes will always offer religious instruction for Grades 1 through 8. In the meantime, check the Parish website, the bulletin, and your email frequently for updates.
Remember that parents are the foremost educators of their children in all areas, especially religion. Pray daily with your children, attend Mass with them in any way that you can (in person or on line), and practice kindness, even if you do not think they are watching (they are!). I also ask that you give prayerful thought to volunteering to be part of the SML religious education program. No matter what form PREP takes, many volunteers are needed to share our faith with the children of this parish!

  Contact the PREP Office at smlprep@smlparish.org with questions or to volunteer.
 

RESCHEDULING CONFIRMATION AND FIRST EUCHARIST

Many parents of eighth and second graders have contacted the PREP Office to inquire if Confirmation and First Eucharist have been rescheduled. Unless otherwise directed by the Diocese, the Sacraments will not be rescheduled until social distancing restrictions are lifted. We are as anxious as you are, and we will keep you informed of any updates via the parish website, the bulletin, and email.

The Diocese of Trenton is Here to Support
You and Your family

Resources for families can be found on our webpage by clicking HERE

For the theme of the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, please click HERE

From the Pastor’s Desk

           The Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) is ongoing throughout the Diocese of Trenton. 
           Each year, the Bishop seeks the support of our parishes, our clergy, Catholic education and social services.
           Each of us has a vital part in all we do in Christ’s name, and each of us can share in all we do with a gift to the ACA. The ACA gives us the opportunity to support the Church beyond our parish. 
          To date, SML has pledged $107,913. Our parish goal is $140,000. We need $32,087 to reach our goal. By reaching our goal, the rebate will be $21,000 (15 percent of goal). By continuing to exceed our goal, the rebate will be $21,000 + 50 percent of difference above $140,000.
           Last year’s generous response allowed our parish to exceed our goal by 10.9 percent with total received pledges of $154,782 for a total parish rebate of $28,545.
          We hope your generosity will allow for the same results this year and we thank you in advance for making a gift to this year’s ACA!

Father Dan

Click HERE to watch the ACA 2020 video

To donate online, click HERE

St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church and School embraces the teaching of the Catholic Church that all human life is sacred and must be protected.
 
God loves each human life from the instant of his or her conception and entrusts this gift to the protection of a mother and father. Abortion ends the life of a child and offends God. It also deeply wounds the women and men involved. Our Church provides healing for those who have had an abortion and prays to end abortion.
 
During these days when abortion is made to seem like merely a political issue, we are reminded that abortion is a moral issue and encourage all to pray for pro-life efforts on behalf of those who cannot help themselves.
 
We fully endorse the most recent statement from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops about its unequivocal mission to support mothers and children, and to end the tragedy of abortion:
 
Every single human life has value. The trend of states passing pro-life legislation is a very encouraging move toward ensuring that our society cherishes unborn children and their most basic right to life.  The pro-life movement has always had two critical goals: increasing support for mothers and children and eliminating the tragedy of abortion. Our march for justice and human rights for unborn children will not be complete until they are recognized and protected as persons by the law. Our ultimate objective, however, is for abortion to be unthinkable. As we celebrate these pro-life legislative victories, we reiterate our commitment to supporting all mothers with the care and resources they need. The Church stands ready to help and welcome them.

- Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas 

For information on Mass, Confession times, or other information at any of the Burlington County Cohort 3 parishes, Disciples in Action, click on the following:

 Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle
 St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton
​​​​​​ St. John Neumann Parish, Mt. Laurel
 St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton

Father Dan compiled the following bibliography in answer to the question, “Father, can you recommend a good book for spiritual reading?” Click HERE

To make an online pledge or donation to Our Faith. Our Family. Our Future. capital campaign, click on:  Faith To Move Mountains.  Go to the top of the page and click on Donate Now. Select your amount. Then scroll down to select a parish. Select St. Mary of the Lakes Medford to donate or make a pledge to Our Faith. Our Family. Our Future. God bless you for your most generous support!

Please click HERE for Parish Registration Form.