News RSS Feed

Adoration is cancelled Thursday, March 21, due to a funeral Mass. Thank you.

On Monday, March 25, A1504/S1072, the Aid in Dying bill will be voted on in both the Senate and the Assembly. This assisted suicide bill is a direct threat to anyone viewed as a cost liability to an insurance company. In an era of cost control and managed care, patients with lingering illnesses may be branded as an economic liability, and decisions to encourage death could be driven by cost. The facts are clear – in California, in Vermont, and in Oregon – states that have passed assisted suicide bills – insurance companies have denied individuals healthcare coverage, but offered them low cost drugs to end their life. Please contact your state legislators and tell them that you oppose A1504/S1072. Click on the title above for the link to log in and send your message or copy and paste this link: https://njcatholic.org/faith-in-action?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f57657%2fRespond … In addition, here are links to two recent articles in The Monitor regarding this bill: • https://trentonmonitor.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=36&ArticleID=20094&TM= 39366.87 • Bishop O’Connell’s recent letter to NJ State Legislators: https://trentonmonitor.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&subsectionID=132&articleID=20098

VIRTUS is a national program designed to equip adults with the tools to recognize inappropriate behavior towards children and vulnerable adults. The Diocese of Trenton requires anyone over the age of 18 who participates in one or more ministries to attend a 3–hour VIRTUS session every four years. Therefore, every adult who currently volunteers for SML Church, School, and/or PREP and has not previously attended a VIRTUS session, or who has not taken a refresher course within the past four years, must attend a class in order to participate. VIRTUS Training Sessions are offered at parishes throughout the Diocese. St. Mary of the Lakes will offer the following class on: • March 28, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. – Location: PREP Conf Rm Pre-registration is MANDATORY at virtusonline.org. Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible. No Walk-ins will be accepted Please note when registering for your VIRTUS account to use your Legal Name, be sure to include any information on your account as applicable (i.e. driver’s license or passport name must match) Email questions to frontdesk@smlparish.org

High School choristers in Diocese of Trenton invited to audition for national camp, tour. Read The Monitor article by clicking on the title above.

“If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” Take a break from the busyness of life and come to our parish Lenten mission. Rest in the Lord and be reminded just how much He loves you and wants you to know it! Join us the evenings of April 8, 9 and 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the church for the iMercy Lenten Mission offered by Father Bill Garrott. O.P., with the praying of the Rosary starting at 6:40 p.m. Father Garrott will be offering the 9:00 a.m. daily Masses on April 8, 9, and 10. Father Garrott’s morning homilies will not be the same as his evening talks. The mission’s evening schedule: Monday, April 8: The Father Blesses Tuesday, April : The Son Heals Wednesday, April 10: The Spirit Strengths Bring your family! Bring a friend or neighbor! Come by yourself and be among family and friends!

Sisters Regina and Judy renewed their vows as Sisters of St. Joseph and received a gift from Father Roy on behalf of SML. The SSJ Associates also renewed their promises Tuesday on the Feast of St. Joseph.

Dynamic Catholic is an organization with a mission to re-energize the Catholic Church in America by developing world-class resources that inspire people to rediscover the genius of Catholicism.  To keep our parish aware of these resources Barbara Potts signed up to be a part of Dynamic Catholic Institute’s (DCI) Parish Champion Outreach.   What is a Parish Champion?   • Barbara will pray for Father and our parish intentions • Share with Father and parish council FREE DCI resources we can use as a parish • And distribute a FREE case of 44 books or 50 CD’s to parishioners periodically. (As quantities are limited, you can order free books and CD's with S&H, on their site below) If you would like to be a part of Barbara’s prayer team, contact her bacp@comcast.net / 609-859-0317  or the parish office 609-654-8208. To learn more about Dynamic Catholic's Mission and why they offer this outreach, visit ‪www.DynamicCatholic.com.

Father Dan’s four-week 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 recent book by the same title, continues on Mondays, March 25 and April 1 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Parish Meeting Room at St. Mary of the Lakes School. To register, please contact St. Mary of the Lakes Parish Office at 609/654-8208 x110 or email parish office@smlparish.org. Please BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) If you need a Bible, New American Bibles will be sold for $6.00 at the class.

An email scam is being perpetrated on numerous parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and one parish in the Diocese of Trenton. The scammers use the pastor’s name/email address or some slight variation of it to solicit funds from parishioners in the form of gift cards or cash donations. Father Dan does not solicit gifts for St. Mary of the Lakes using email. Please delete the email if you receive one.

Another Mass Mob Masses was celebrated Sunday, March 17, at 10:30 a.m. (Children’s Mass). The next Mass Mob Mass is and Sunday, March 24 at 12: 00 p.m. with Redemption, our contemporary music group.The first Mass Mob Mass of March was celebrated at the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 10, with an initiation ceremony for the RCIA candidates.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Operation Rice Bowl is the agency’s Lenten faith-in-action program which the Diocese of Trenton is asking all parishes/schools to participate in this Lent. It offers an opportunity for families to engage daily with the spiritual pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Throughout Lent, our parish has many opportunities for families to come together as a community and reflect on what it means to live out our gospel call and go out and encounter those most in need. In support of CRS Operation Rice Bowl, collection “bowls” are available at the doors of the church. We encourage you to take one home and fill it each week with a monetary offering that will then go directly to CRS. Filled collection “bowls” can be placed in the boxes at the JRE or returned to the Parish Office, PREP Office or School Religion Office during regular business hours. If you prefer to give your donation by check, please place it in an envelope, and make it payable to St. Mary of the Lakes with the word “CRS Operation Rice Bowl” on the memo line and envelope. Any questions about the CRS Operation Rice Bowl, please contact yes@smlparish.org or call the YES Office at 609-654-8208, ext. 111

Photos by former parishioner Dave Hernandez from the Ash Wednesday 9 a.m. Mass can be seen on the Burlington County Times website by clicking the Ash Wednesday title above.

Father Dan will offer a four week 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 recent book by the same title, on Mondays, March 11, 18, 25 and April 1 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Parish Meeting Room at St. Mary of the Lakes School. To register, please contact St. Mary of the Lakes Parish Office at 609/654-8208 x110 or email parish office@smlparish.org, or sign the roster in the Parking Lot Entrance. Please BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) If you need a Bible, New American Bibles will be sold for $6.00 at the class.

Applications are no longer being accepted for this year’s Habitat for Humanity trip because University of Maryland-Baltimore County housing is at a premium this year, and they cannot provide any additional rooms. This year’s trip is to Baltimore Md. - partnering once again with Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. We leave SML on Monday, June 24, and return Friday, June 28. Questions contact yes@smlaparish.org

A second collection for all Easter Masses will support YES Outreach efforts.  Money collected will go towards the Covenant House Sleep Out for Poverty Event on April 12 and the Habitat for Humanity Mission Trip scheduled for June 24-28.  Thank you !

The Knights of Columbus have put on display in the church an icon for assistance of persecuted Christians.

The Parish Office snow closings follow the school. If school is closed, the parish office is closed. If school has a delayed opening, the parish office has a delayed opening. When the Governor declares a state of emergency, SML always follows his directive and the parish office and school are closed, and Masses/confession are cancelled. Otherwise, Father Dan will decide if Masses/confession are cancelled based on the condition of the parking lot and sidewalks. Father's decision will be noted in the greeting when you call the parish office.

Burning last year's palms for ashes.

Join us for parish pickup basketball games in March on Sunday afternoon s from 3 to 5 p.m. at SML School gym. Any questions, contact Kevin Callahan at Kcallahan@smlparish.org for more information.

William Schmidt, Sean Hasson, Jim Gibson, Bob Abplanalp, Ken Nelson, Box Nixon, Howard Gilland, Harry Meshirer, Scott Andryca, Dom Golato and Sam Xerri.