We Make Disciples

       Bishop O’Connell has recently written a statement  for the "Monitor" that condemns  new bills being
introduced in the legislature.  The Bishop states “S3813/A5510 would amend the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and, therefore, is an “anti-discrimination” bill, not really a health care bill." As such, S3813/A5510 appears to be a 'backdoor' attempt to force religious organizations that provide and administer health insurance benefits to violate their deeply held religious beliefs.“
       This new legislation joins the healthcare bill (A5508/S3804)  which  would expand insurance coverage for abortion inducing drugs and eliminate the religious employers’ exemption contained in New Jersey public law.
As Catholic citizens we cannot permit this to happen to our religious liberty without a response. Please click HERE of go to the NJ Catholic Bishops web site at www.njcatholic.org.  Open the web site and click TAKE ACTION NOW.  Then click WE MUST PROTECT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN NJ.   Fill out your information and  then click SEND MESSAGE.  
 

If you want to contact your legislative member directly,  in your parish the members are listed below:

 For District 7:  (Mt. Laurel)
 Assemblywoman Carol Murphy:  856 735-5334 / aswmurphy@njleg.org
 Assemblyman Herb Conaway: 856 461-3997 / asmconaway@njleg.org
 Senator Troy Singleton: 856 234-2790 / sensingleton@njleg.org
 
For District 8:
(Evesham,  Medford, Hainesport,  Lumberton)
 Assemblyman Joe Howarth: 609- 654-1498 / asmhowarth@njleg.org
 Assemblyman Ryan Peters: 609-654-1498 / asmpeters@njleg.org
 Senator Dawn Addiego: 609-654-1498 / senaddiego@njleg.org

 
Thank you for your action in defending our Catholic principles. Burlington County Diocesan Respect Life Committee

Check out the SMLS 2018-2019 Calendar at smlschool.org 

SML CYO Basketball
Now open to PREP in Grades 3 through 5
St. Mary of the Lakes CYO Basketball is now open to Parish students in grades 3rd-5th who are enrolled St. Mary of the Lakes PREP.  Any boy or girl in grades 3-5 enrolled in PREP at SML is now eligible to play for the SML CYO Basketball teams. To register online, click HERE or go to sports.bluesombrero.com/smlsports, enroll, and fill out and return the required forms.  Only $75 per player. 

Nurse Needed
St. Mary of the Lakes School is seeking a Registered Nurse for Fridays only (8 a.m.-3:15 p.m.).  Interested and qualified applicants should send resume and credentials to Amy Rash, Principal at arash@smlschool.org

Teachers Needed
SMLS is looking for a part time classroom assistant, a lunch/recess assistant and substitute teachers.
If interested, please contact: info@smlschool.org
 
PREP
ON-LINE REGISTRATION: Any family registered in the Parish Religious Education Program as of 2019 should have received an email at the beginning of the summer from Parish Giving containing instructions on how to register on line. If you did not receive the email from Parish Giving or else are new to SML PREP, you can register either by printing a blank registration form from the Parish website under Faith Formation, or you can request a form from the PREP Office, smlprep@smlparish.org. Parents of new students who were not baptized at SML Church must provide us
with a copy of their child’s Baptism certificate.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We are in need of catechists to teach PREP classes. Our goal is to place two adults in every classroom, and at this point, we have several classes without any catechist. Do not worry if you have never taught before. We provide guidelines, guidance, and, most importantly, the Teacher’s Guide with the answers! Please take a few minutes to read about PREP on the Parish website. Whether you are a parent or a grandparent, a college student or a retiree, a teacher or someone who has never taught at all, all are welcome and needed. High schoolers are also needed on both afternoons to assist students who may need one-on-one support.
 
PREP classes for Grades 7 and 8 begin September 24. Grades 1 through 6 begin the following week, October 1 and 2. We are currently in need of catechists and assistants for the following classes:
Tuesday 4:15–5:30: Grade 3 (two catechists); Grade 6 (one catechist)
Wednesday 4:15–5:30: Grade 3 (two catechists); Grade 5 (one catechist); Grade 6 (one catechist)
 
Hall monitors, substitute catechists, classroom assistants, and office help for both afternoons and Tuesday evening classes are also needed. Please pray for all our volunteers and families, and if you would like to join us in this vital ministry, contact the PREP Office at 609-654-2546 x310.
 
CHILDREN’S CHURCH (Liturgy of the Word): Children’s Church will be returning to SML on Sunday mornings during the 10:30 Mass, beginning this Sunday, September 22. Our new and improved Children’s Church will be run as a co-operative whereby parents of the children participating will take turns leading the program each week. Parents will leave their preschool-aged children at the Emmaus Center (unless it is their turn to lead the group); the children will re-join their parents in the Church in approximately 20 minutes. During these 20 minutes or so, the children will pray together, sing, listen, and explore the Gospel in terms they understand. This is not babysitting; it is a way to introduce our youngest parishioners to God’s Wonderful Word. Parents, don’t worry - there is a manual/teacher’s guide! 

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

“Come To Me”
Jeremiah 29:12 
 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.” 
 
OUR MISSION:
To join together weekly (in person or in spirit)
and bring to God the needs of our parish, our world
and all who have asked us to pray for them.
 
OUR MINISTRY:
Intercessory prayer is about praying for and with others. Our goal and commitment is to “surround our parish in prayer.” We will supply a list of requests once a week to those who offer to join us in prayer. We will share first names only (or no name) to protect the privacy of those we hold in prayer. As a member of Jeremiah 29:12 you can:
· Pray each week at home alone or with family
and/or friends.
· Pray in your already established prayer groups
· Pray in our new Adoration Chapel 
· Simply, join our weekly email prayer chain:
one email … many prayers
 
If you want to pray for others or if you need prayer support, reach out to us. 
Email: CometoMe@smlparish.org
Call: 609-953-8670 (please leave message)  

The Adoration Chapel was consecrated on the Feast of Corpus Christi, Sunday, June 23.
To see photos from the Consecration of the Adoration Chapel, please go to the News/Events tab above
and click on Photo Album 
To read the Trenton Monitor article, please click HERE


Eucharistic Adoration Signup

We 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 a specific hour during the week as a substitute.

The website makes it easy by:
· Automatically sending you email, text or phone reminders of your commitment
· Allowing you to request a substitute
· Allowing you to manage your commitment and preferences
· Seeing the opportunities to help out as a substitute adorer

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Natalie Stone at mazzunat007@msn.com or Diana Kenworthy at dkenworthy1@gmail.com.

Click HERE for the September 15, 2019 Homily: From Freedom, Character Emerges

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.

To see more photos from the 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

Thank You to Our Sponsors !
Allen’s Oil and Propane
The Venable Family
Surety Charitable Trust
Swift-Hummel Family
The Stewart Family
Chiusano Homes
The Martin Family
The Cogan Family
The DiFilipo Family
Medford Ford
Action Plumbing
Today’s Dance Center
Marge and John Fleming
Mark and Arlene Baldwin Family
Accurately Controlled Environments
 Murphy’s Fresh Markets
Karbasian Law Firm
PJ Whelihans
Republic Bank
Action Plumbing
Leo’s Yum Yum
Ponzios Restaurant
Patrick Kearney
Duane Morris LLP
Warren Mazzochette Contractor
Lenora & Michael Gange
Clyde N. Lattimer and Son Construction Co. Inc.
Burdey Publications presents Hometown Magazine

 If you are interested in any sponsorship opportunity for the 2020 carnival, please contact Maria at mking@eventcrazy.com
for more information.

Go directly to the Carnival Facebook Page by clicking HERE

Continuing to Exceed Our Goal
          
The Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) is ongoing throughout the Diocese of Trenton. 
       
To date, SML has pledged $146,439 to top our goal of $139,600. By reaching our goal, the rebate will be $20,960 (15 percent of goal). By continuing to exceed our goal, the rebate will be $20,960 + 50 percent of difference
above $139,600. Therefore, when all pledges are paid, St. Mary of the Lakes will receive a parish rebate of $24,379.50.
 
Last year’s generous response allowed our parish to exceed our goal by 11 percent with total received pledges of $155,405 and this gives a total parish rebate of $29,140.

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!

Community Outreach Survey Update

Thank you to all who responded to our survey in March.  Your feedback was thoughtful and meaningful.  The primary purpose of this survey was to determine if there are gaps in our ministries.  Is there a new need in our community, whether our parish or our town, where we could be providing help?  An example could be a response to the growing and disturbing trends of prescription drug addiction.  In analyzing the survey responses, there doesn’t seem to be a serious gap in how we are serving the needs of our local communities.  Should you feel differently, you still may provide suggestions in this area.  You may send an email to Stella.denn@verizon.net with any feedback or suggestions.

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.