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In observance of Memorial Day weekend, the parish office will reopen at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29. Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend.

SMLS is seeking a creative, mission-driven professional to join its team. The Director of Admissions and Advancement will be responsible for planning, coordinating and managing the marketing, recruitment, retention and fundraising programs and other duties as assigned by the principal. This full time, 12-month position reports directly to the principal and works closely with other staff and volunteers. The successful candidate will have the ability to create, execute and evaluate plans and programs to advance the mission; exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously; a passion for Catholic education; strong time-management skills; some experience in enrollment development, marketing, fundraising, volunteer management, communications. Bachelor’s degree preferred; computer skills a must. Qualified candidates are invited to send a cover letter and resume to Mrs. Amy Rash, St. Mary of the Lakes School, 196 NJ-70, Medford, NJ 08055 or arash@smlschool.org.

St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church and School in Medford, a growing parish of 4,200 families, seeks full- time maintenance/custodial staff member. Responsibilities include: day to day maintenance of buildings and grounds, set-up and break down of school and church functions, janitorial duties along with cleaning from floor to ceiling. Seasonal jobs will arise throughout the year that will require attention. Must be able to work from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and work extra hours to complete tasks and help with evening or weekend functions. This position reports to the Facilities Manager. Qualified candidates are to submit their letter of interest. resume, references and salary requirement to: Mr. Bill Scherf, Facilities Manager at wscherf@smlschool.org. Please include SML#2546 on the email subject line to be considered. Virtus training and fingerprinting will be required.

St. Mary of the Lakes is hosting the 3rd Annual Icon Workshop, August 27 through September 1, with Dmitri Andreyev from the Prosopon School and coordinated by parishioner, Nadine Haines. The subject this year will be Our Lady of Vladimirskaya, known as "Tenderness" for advanced students or a half figure of Mary for beginners.  Students will create a Byzantine-style sacred icon, using natural materials: wood panels with natural gesso, genuine gold leaf, and egg tempera. The focus will be on the icon writer’s spiritual growth through prayer, lectures, and the practice of the ancient technique of iconography. Artistic experience is helpful, though not necessary, as icon “writing” is a form of contemplative prayer, as well as an artistic practice. All faiths are welcome. Please contact the coordinator at njchaines@comcast.net or 609-953-5892.   Classes will be held at the school in the Parish Meeting Room.  Deadline is July 15.

Will you commit one of your 168 hours a week and spend it with JESUS? He is rich in mercy and love and will not be outdone in His generosity and blessings. He is waiting for you in The Blessed Sacrament.

Everyone and anyone is welcomed to join us playing pickup basketball at the St. Mary of the Lakes School gym on Monday & Wednesday nights from 9-10 p.m. ! There will be no basketball on Monday, May 28, Memorial Day.

On Thursday night, the St. Mary of the Lakes Knights of Columbus Council 6520 welcomed 13 new Knights: Ed Mayer, John Gimbel, Anthony Stone, Howard Gilland, Sam Xerri, Thomas McDonald, Robert Price, Harry Meshirer, Paul Xerri, Jim Agolio, James Gibson III, Matthew Mitchell And Stanley Czarnecki. If you want to help those in need, serve your parish, and grow in your faith, then join the Knights of Columbus. Membership is open to men age 18 or older who accept the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspire to live in accord with the precepts of the Church, and are in good standing with the Church. For more information, contact Bill Mazzio at williammazzio@yahoo.com or visit www.medfordknights.org.

The Knights of Columbus will be selling Block Pool squares for $20 each in the Jackson Road Entrance after each Mass on the following weekends: June 2-3 June 9-10 The prizes are (3) tickets for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins conference game on Monday, December 3, 2018.  The tickets are in section 112 row 14.  This package also includes free parking.   Also included in the package is a Coleman Tailgate Grill and a Bud Light Corn Hole Set. The value of the package is $1,175 The drawing will be held during the golf tournament dinner on June 11 at the Medford Lakes Country Club.  You DO NOT need to be there to win.

The May Procession was held at the St. Mary of the Lakes School on Wednesday morning. To see more photos from the May Procession, please go to the News/Events tab above and click on Photo Album

At each Mother’s Day Mass, Father Dan read A Mother’s Blessing (see below) and presented each mom with a rose. He also added great levity to the Masses by tossing orange DISCIPLE T-shirts into the pews and offering pink MOM T-shirts to winners of categories such as the mother with the most children. To see more photos from Mother's Day, please go to the News/Events tab above and click on Photo Album

At all Masses this weekend the Blessed Mother was crowned by a girl from Grade 6-8 and four girls who recently received their First Holy Communion. To see more photos from the May Crownings, please go to the News/Events tab above and click on Photo Album.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning." But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; the sun shone on them and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this." Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children," A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you." And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I have given them strength." And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence." Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...not even death!

May is Melanoma/skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. UV radiation can also come from tanning booths or sunlamps. The most dangerous kind of skin cancer is called melanoma. The good news? Skin cancer can almost always be cured when it’s found and treated early – even melanoma. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to prevent skin cancer or detect it early on. To help you remember some of the basic sun safety tips, the American Cancer Society has adopted this simple message: SLIP! SLOP! SLAP! WRAP! SLIP on a shirt. Clothing is one of the most effective protections against UV radiation. SLOP on sunscreen. Sunscreens absorb, reflect, or scatter most but not all UV rays before they can penetrate the skin. SLAP on a hat. For the most protection, wear a hat with a brim wide enough to shade your face, ears, and back of your neck. Look for hats made of tightly woven fabrics such as canvas. Avoid loose weaves, particularly straw hats with holes that allow sunlight through. WRAP on sunglasses. Sunglasses protect your eyes, your eyelids, and the delicate skin around your eyes from UV rays. They also reduce the risk of cataracts.

Protecting God’s Children Virtus is a national Catholic program designed to identify and prevent inappropriate behavior towards children. Within the Diocese of Trenton, any adult over 18 years of age who has regular contact with children as either an employee or a volunteer is required to attend a training session. A Virtus session is scheduled for Monday, May 21, starting at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary of the Lakes School in the PREP Conference Room. Participants must register at virtusonline.org. Questions should be emailed to lxerri@smlparish.org.

The third St. Mary of the Lakes PREP First Holy Eucharist was held Saturday afternoon. To see more First Holy Communicants photos please go to the News/Events tab above and click on Photo Album.

If want to help those in need, serve your parish, and grow in your faith, then join the Knights of Columbus Council 6520. As a member of the Knights, you’ll be part of the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world. Membership is open to men age 18 or older who accept the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspire to live in accord with the precepts of the Church, and are in good standing with the Church. For more information, contact Bill Mazzio at williammazzio@yahoo.com or 609-458-0704, or visit www.medfordknights.org.

The first novena, instituted by Jesus shortly before the Ascension, when He sent Our Lady and the Apostles to Jerusalem to pray for the promise of the Father. On May 4, 1897, Pope Leo XIII proclaimed: "We decree and command that throughout the whole Catholic Church, this year and in every subsequent year, a novena shall take place before Whit-Sunday (Pentecost), in all parish churches." Pope John Paul II has reiterated Pope Leo XIII's command for a worldwide Pentecost novena, although the novena can be prayed at any time — not only before Pentecost. Pick a time during the day to pray it – by yourself, with family or friends. Join our parish as we prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit! As an additional devotion, throughout the novena, try to go to Mass daily; go to Confession; and make visits to church to adore the Eucharistic Jesus.

A special Sports Mass was celebrated on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Mass in the Church for all players playing SML baseball and SML lacrosse this spring.   Each player wore their team uniforms to this special Mass. To see more photos from the Sports Mass and reception at the Emmaus Center, please go to the News/Events tab above and click on Photo Album

The St. Mary of the Lakes School First Holy Eucharist was held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. while another PREP First Holy Eucharist was held in the afternoon. To see more First Holy Communicants photos please go to the News/Events tab above and click on Photo Album.

This is the amphitheater in Caesarea Maritima, on the Mediterranean Sea, where Peter baptized Cornelius as is described in Sunday, May 6, first reading, Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48. The acoustics are so good that St. Peter would have only had to raise his voice to be heard. It has been rebuilt over the years since some of the stones were taken by locals to build their own homes.