An Important Note from Msgr. Celano Regarding the Sunday Mass Obligation

The live-streaming of Sunday Mass during the pandemic has been something of a double-edged sword for us. On one hand, it served a genuine spiritual need and created a virtual community of sorts when we were unable to gather and celebrate the Eucharist during the pandemic’s height. On the other hand, it has also created unintended side-effects, one being that some mistakenly believe that, for those who are capable of attending Mass, watching a live-streamed or televised Mass is an acceptable alternative to coming to church on Sundays or holy days of obligation. 

As you recall, Bishop Checchio along with the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey, reinstated the obligation to participate in Sunday and holy day Masses on June 6. The reinstatement of the obligation is a serious matter. This means that, unless age or condition prevents it, all Catholics must participate in the Sunday Eucharist. The obligation is not fulfilled by watching the Mass online or by television if one is able to participate in Mass, nor can any act of spiritual communion replace the worthy reception of the Eucharist on the Lord’s Day. 

Why is the Sunday Mass obligation important? Besides being rooted in the third commandment (the commandment to keep the Lord’s day holy) and the unbroken tradition of the Church since apostolic times, if we begin to disconnect from the celebration of the Eucharist we begin to disconnect from the very things that define us as Catholics in the first place. The Church and Her sacraments were established by the Lord as the means by which we encounter Him and the vehicles through which His life-giving grace is given to us. For the Catholic believer, Church and sacrament are not unnecessary to faith but central to it. Sunday Mass is important because Christ is important. There is no mission, discipleship, or community apart from Him and the Eucharist. 

I strongly encourage all our parishioners to take the reinstatement of the Sunday and holy day obligation to heart. We will continue to live-stream Sunday Mass and daily Mass for the time being as a service to our parishioners who are unable to come to church. However, if age or condition does not prevent you from coming to Mass, you should be present at church to celebrate the Eucharist with us on Sundays and holy days of obligation.

Msgr. Celano
 

 

COVID-19 ChildCare Tuition Assistance Program

The applications for the COVID-19 ChildCare Tuition Assistance Program opened September 24, 2020. Eligible families in need of child care for their school age children as schools have opened remotely can apply online at www.childcarenj.gov/COVID19.

The tuition assistance is part of $250 million plan announced last month by Governor Murphy to support working families and child care. This new program will provide tuition assistance to New Jersey families with incomes up to $75,000 in need of either full or part-time child care depending on their school’s remote learning schedule. The department will consider applications until funding is exhausted.
Click LINK for more details.

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