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Mission
We Make Disciples
Founded in 1931 in a cabin in Medford Lakes, New Jersey to serve the 40 Catholic families living in the area, St. Mary of the Lakes was formally established as a parish in 1943.
Our parish community now includes 4200 families with 650 children in our Parish Religious Education Program and just under 300 students enrolled in St. Mary of the Lakes School.
Learn More
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News
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December 6
Our Young Adult Ministry gathered on December 4 to participate in a local college student's service project, Paint It Forward. The TCNJ student plans to replace every 2 x 2 foot ceiling tile in K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital with painted ones. The Young Adult Ministry heard about this project and wanted to help paint encouraging messages, calming scenes, and fun pictures on the tiles. They hope the children will be able to keep smiling with a more cheerful environment. The group plans to attend 6:00 p.m. mass together on December 22 and help decorate the church afterward. If you are interested in joining the Young Adult Ministry, please contact the Parish Office at (609) 654-8208 or email: frontdesk@smlparish.org. To see more photos of the Young Adult Ministry, please go to the News/Events tab above and click on Photo Album.Read More -
December 6
The Knights of Columbus still have 7 Christmas Trees left. Trees can be purchased at the Parish Office today until 4 p.m. and at the Church parking lot from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday during the decorating day.Read More -
December 6
I’ve waited too long to believe. Way too long. What can I possibly do now for God? God uses people to change the world! People! Not saints or super humans or geniuses, but people. Crooks, creeps, lovers, and liars— He uses them all. No wagging fingers. No crossed arms. Only sweet, open arms! If you’ve ever wondered how God can use you to make a difference in the world, just look at those he’s already used and take heart. Look at the forgiveness found in those open arms and take courage. By the way, never were those arms opened so wide as they were on the Roman cross. One arm extending back into history, the other reaching into the future. An embrace of forgiveness for anyone who’ll come. A hen gathering her chicks…a father receiving his own…a Redeemer redeeming the world!Read More -
December 4As you may have already seen, Bishop O’Connell released a message today regarding the protection of religious freedom and the proposed legislation which would jeopardize this freedom. You will find Bishop’s message by clicking on the above title.Read More
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December 3
In May, the New Jersey Legislature introduced a package of bills that would create a New Jersey version of the federal Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act of 2010. Included in those bills is S3804/A5508, legislation that would eliminate the long-standing exemption in the current state law (P.L. 2005 c.251) that protects religious employers from having to provide health insurance coverage for family planning medications, devices, and procedures, including abortion inducing drugs and sterilizations. If signed into law, S3804/A5508 would impact the ability of Catholic Dioceses, Catholic schools, and Catholic Charities Agencies to offer employees comprehensive health benefits without violating fundamental Catholic principles. The New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will consider S3804/A5508 for a vote on Thursday, December 5, 2019. If S3804/A5508 passes the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, we anticipate the full Senate to vote on these bills on Monday December 16. Please contact your State Senator asking that they protect religious freedom. Click the title ACTION ALERT above to log in and send your messageRead More
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Shrines of Italy 2020 with Fr. Dan
Duration: 10 Days
Dates: October 5 to October 14, 2020
Departure City: Philadelphia, PATrip Cost: $3,500 (based on double occupancy)
Single Supplement: Base Price + $840
Payment Due Date: July 5, 2020
Meeting point is at St. Mary of the Lakes. Price includes a bus ride to the airport and back to St. Mary's upon return.
Click HERE for more information and/or to register.
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St. Mary of the Lakes Statement on the Sanctity of All Human Life
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 City, Kansas
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Upcoming Events / Registration Links
S.M.A.R.T.
Desserts and Volunteers Needed for
Trenton Soup Kitchen
Saturday, December 21
St. Mary of the Lakes Parish will be preparing and serving Christmas Dinner for 450 guests at St Mary’s Cathedral Diocesan Soup Kitchen
at 151 N. Warren St. in Trenton.
Volunteers are encouraged to attend. Please be at the Trenton Soup Kitchen at 11:15 a.m.
If you are unable to attend, we have a Dessert Drop off on Friday, December 20, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Emmaus Center. Please bring your favorite cookies, brownies, or other finger foods.
Please contact Barbara or Rick Gillespie at 856-985-8330 with Cookie drop off questions, or Tom Plantulli 609-654-0958 with Trenton Soup Kitchen input.
Click HERE for the Soup Kitchen Sign Up link
YES
Upcoming Events
Contact yes @smlparish.org to Volunteer· Dec 7: YES hosts a table at SMLS Christmas Bazaar
· Dec 8: Breakfast with Santa — Helpers needed 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm
· Dec 8: Christmas Caroling 5:00-6:00 p.m. / 6:00-7:00 p.m. Finish decorations for Trenton Soup Kitchen (EC)
· Dec 15: Help Ladies AUX/KOC with Ornaments at Tree Lighting 5:00 pm (EC)
· Dec 22: There is no meeting— No meeting again until January 5 at 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Emmaus Center· Feed My Sheep Casserole Ministry - all year — students should plan, shop, prepare and drop off home-cooked meals. The food should be cold or frozen on delivery to the Parish Office/ Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Please Click HERE for MLK Signup
Concert for Life
Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 6520
To benefit The Helpers of Gods Precious Infants of NJ
“Building a Culture of Life and Family “
A Night on Broadway
Join us for an evening of entertainment while supporting an organization devoted to helping women in crisis. Helpers offers a comprehensive program of mentoring, educating, and providing social services, housing, job placement, and prayer for their clients.
· When: January 25, 2020
· Where: St. Mary of the Lakes Church
· Time: There will be a buffet dinner in the Emmaus Center immediately following the 5:30 p.m. Mass [limited to the first 100 people]. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Church and is open to the entire parish.
Cost: $35.00 Concert and Buffet / $25.00 Concert only
For information call Al DiFrancesco 609-839-2991
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SML School Updates
Interested vendors for Christmas Bazaar can contact julieterrell@comcast.net or carmazur3@gmail.comSubstitute Teachers Needed
St. Mary of the Lakes School is looking for substitute teachers and substitute assistants. Interested applicants should send their resume to info@smlschool.org -
Eucharistic Adoration 24/7
Eucharistic Adoration SignupWe are using a website that helps us manage the Eucharistic Adoration schedule. You can access the website from your smart phone or computer at: sml.weadorehim.com
Just click “Sign Up” to create an account and set your preferences. Use the activation code: AVEMARIA to automatically register. You can also learn all you need to know about signing up and using the website by watching the video at: sml.weadorehim.com/help
The website is very easy to use and allows you to commit based on your schedule. The website is for everyone – whether you are committing to a weekly hour or just aIf you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Natalie Stone at mazzunat007@msn.com or Diana Kenworthy at dkenworthy1@gmail.com.
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Carnival Updates
St. Mary of the Lakes 2020 Carnival Christmas Gift Packs
A Gift Pack of 4, Ride All Night wristbands and a $25 food voucher (a $145 value) all for only $100 !
Limited Quantities Available and limit 2 packs per order
The wristband vouchers can be redeemed on any one night, along with the $25 food voucher.
Purchasers will receive a certificate to present as the gift in lieu of tickets and voucher which are not available until the Carnival opens.
The certificate is redeemable upon presentation at the
3rd annual St. Mary of the Lakes Carnival, June 23-27, 2020.
Order online by clicking HERE
Please feel free to contact Maria King with any questions: mking@eventcrazy.com or 609-313-7982
To see more photos from the 2019 Carnival, please go to the News/Events tab above and click on Photo Album
To see slide show from the Carnival, click HERE
To read story in Trenton Monitor, click HERE -
Fr. Dan's Sunday Homily on Video
Click HERE for the December 1, 2019 Homily: Stay Awake! Do Something!
To see the video archives or read the archives of Fr. Dan's weekly homilies, please go to the About tab above and scroll down to Pastor and click on the homilies. -
Catholic Charities
Know someone needing assistance with food, housing, drug addiction, mental health, domestic violence or immigration? Contact Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton click HERE or go to www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org
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Reverend Daniel F. Swift,
Pastor
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Reverend Roy Ballacillo, Parochial Vicar
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This Weekend's Events
SML Room Abbreviations
CRL = Conference Room Left
CRR = Conference Room Right
CRW = Conference Room Whole
EC– Emmaus Center
JRE = Jackson Rd. Entrance in Church
PCR = Prep Conference Room
PMR = Parish Meeting Room
SA = School Auditorium
SC = School Chapel -
Disciples in Action - Cohort 3 Parishes
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 -
Fr. Dan's Suggested Reading
Father Dan compiled the following bibliography in answer to the question, “Father, can you recommend a good book for spiritual reading?” Click HERE
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Our Faith. Our Family. Our Future. Donate/Make Pledge Online
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!
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Make a Memorial Donation for Friend/Loved One
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Parish Registration Form
Please click HERE for Parish Registration Form.