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 4,200 families with 650 children in our Parish Religious Education Program and just under 300 students enrolled in St. Mary of the Lakes School.
Learn MoreTo see the March 9, 2021,
9:00 a.m. Mass simulcasted, please click HERE
To see the March 8, 2021, 9:00 a.m. Mass on video,
please click HERE
To see the March 7, 2021, Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass on video, please click HERE
Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday - 7:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m. (simulcasted)
10:30 a.m. and noon.
Everyone must wear a mask.
Daily Mass Schedule
Monday through Friday 7:15 a.m.
and
Monday through Saturday
9:00 a.m. (simulcasted)
Everyone must wear a mask.
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
Virtual Prayer Book
For a link to the St. Mary of the Lakes Virtual Prayer Book, please click HERE
Light a Virtual Prayer Candle
For a link to the St. Mary of the Lakes Virtual Prayer Candle, please click HERE
YOU MAY INCLUDE AN OFFERING
WITH YOUR SUNDAY GIFT
Lenten Intergenerational Scripture Study Tonight
Father Dan will continue to offer a adult scripture study “Jesus of Nazareth Part II - Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection,” based upon Our Holy Father Emeritus Benedict XVI’s book by the same title, on Mondays, March 8, 15, 22 from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Father Dan will teach hybrid in the Emmaus Center
with 52 attending in-person and also on-line.
Meeting Link
Please click HERE for the Meeting Link to all the classes
Meeting Number (access code)
182 995 2330
Meeting Password
Francis (3726247 from phones and video systems)
Please BYOB (bring your own Bible) if you like, as Father Dan will be teaching from the Bible on screen.
To see a video of Fr. Dan's
Lenten Intergenerational Scripture Study Class
on March 1, 2021, please click HERE
Church Study
Father Dan continues to offer an Intergenerational Church Study on the second Wednesday of each month with the next class March 10 from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Father Dan will teach hybrid in the Emmaus Center with 52 attending in-person and also on-line.
Click HERE for classes on the
second Wednesday of the month.
Meeting number (access code): 182 867 1434
Meeting password: Francis
(3726247 from phones and video systems)
Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-415-655-0001,,1828671434#3726247# US Toll
Some mobile devices may ask attendees to enter
a numeric meeting password.
This course was inspired by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, who wrote, “I don’t hear a lot of people today having trouble with God and I don’t really hear a lot of people having trouble with Jesus. I hear everybody having trouble with the Church. In some way, we’ve got to reclaim the identity
of Christ in His Church.” To that end, the course was written using Fulton Sheen’s The Mystical Body of Christ.
Journey With Us This Lent
All Teens In Grades 8-12
Join us virtually on March 14 at 7:00 p.m. on Webex.
Permissions slips can be found HERE to attend virtual gatherings. Once received you will receive the meeting link.
For more information contact yes@smlparish.org.
YES will meet in the Emmaus Center on March 21 at 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to fill Easter Eggs and sort Operation Yellow Ribbon donations. All families are invited to help transport SML donations to Operation Yellow Ribbon drop off location (A Rose in December) beginning at noon
on March 28 at the Emmaus Center.
YES will host Service Sundays on March 21 and 28.
Limited slots available due to room capacity restrictions per executive order. Absolutely NO WALK-INS can be permitted. Once the slots fill we can not take any more volunteers. Use the SignUpGenius HERE to register.
All 6th and 7th graders are invited to help out!
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.
This year, St. Mary of the Lakes’ goal is $140,000. As in past years, 15 percent of the goal, or $21,000 will be returned to St. Mary of the Lakes in the form of a parish rebate. Once we surpass our goal, 50 percent of all gifts will be returned to the parish.
As of 3/8/2021, SML has pledged $73,783.
We thank you for making a gift to this year’s ACA!
Father Dan
Annual Catholic Appeal Donation
To make a donation to the 2021 Diocese of Trenton
Annual Catholic Appeal, please click HERE
Catholic Charities
To make a donation to Catholic Charities to assist those who have been affected by the recent winter storms,
please click HERE
Click HERE for Admissions
as it spearheads a community wide effort called, UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY, in support of OPERATION YELLOW RIBBON. Between now and March 25, our parish, school, PREP and YES Ministry will be collecting donations from the list below. Drop off your donations at any of the collection bins found at the JRE, PLE, SCHOOL or PREP OFFICE before March 25. On March 28, we invite all parishioners to attend the packing and send off event at A ROSE IN DECEMBER, 629 STOKES ROAD, MEDFORD between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. For information regarding this service project, please contact yes@smlparish.org or call 609-654-8208, ext. 111.
Food List
Trail mix, Chips, Beef Jerky, Tuna;
Instant Oatmeal; Granola Bars; Bars (Cliff or Balance); Gum; Powdered Drink Mix; Toothbrushes/Toothpaste; Baby Wipes; Feminine Hygiene products; Travel size Body Wash; Tissues (heavy duty); Candy (heat resistant).
Brick Fundraiser
The Knights of Columbus are selling bricks that will be placed along the walkways and in the shape of two (2) Crosses that will be placed entering the church from the back parking lot. You can have the bricks inscribed with the names of your family, an anniversary, a special event or a deceased loved to commemorate their legacy.
We are at 82 percent on breaking ground for our first of two Dedication Crosses and we would like to start in the
Spring-Summer 2021.
The cost is $125 for a 4x8 brick and $175 for a 8x8 brick. Add $25 for clip art and mini replica bricks (below) are available for an additional $35.
Click HERE for the Brick Fundraiser order form.
You can make your check payable to St Mary of the Lakes Church and drop off at the Parish Office.
Food Collection in Trailer
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.
Please click HERE for Parish Registration Form.
Father Dan compiled the following bibliography in answer to the question, “Father, can you recommend a good book for spiritual reading?” 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