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This weekend affords us the opportunity to reflect on the great privileges and responsibilities that we all share as citizens and as residents of the United States. Tomorrow we will witness the swearing-in of a new president, yet one who has previously held that office. This is a peculiarity witnessed only once before in our history, the only president born in New Jersey, Grover Cleveland. At a time of great division in our country, we pray for healing and a positive vision for the future; with the uncertainty of global conflicts, we pray for peace; with the devastation we see in California caused by wildfires, and those who in North Carolina are still suffering from the hurricane last summer, we pray for their safety and security, and that they have the resources necessary to rebuild their lives and provide for their families. Read more.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This is a good time for each of us to reflect on the meaning of our own baptism. Pope Francis has on several occasions challenged everyone to note the day of their baptism and to celebrate it as they would their birthday. Sadly, when asked, most Catholics do not know the day of their baptism (October 6th for me, by the way). It might be a fun thing to do as a family today. Look at baptism pictures and remember the moment when we became children of God and members of the Body of Christ. Read more.

Unfortunately the deadlines for printing the bulletins around the holidays make it so that I am actually writing this letter before Christmas. This means that I have no real clear updates and that I cannot really talk about the Christmas season and holiday, leaving this a more generic note.

We hope that everyone had an enjoyable and blessed Christmas. Again, Father Adam, our deacons, and the entire staff of the parish church and school want to thank each of you for your thoughtfulness, generosity, prayers, and presence during this most blessed season. Read more.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Here we are, the Fourth Sunday of Advent yet there are only two more days left until we celebrate the great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. Read more.

The Advent Season and approach of Christmas is now close to fruition as we celebrate Christmas in just ten days time. I hope that everyone is making progress on all of the tasks and projects of the holiday season. More importantly, though, I hope everyone has been able to take advantage of Advent todo some spiritual reflection and preparation. Advent and Christmas are at their very core and definition religious observances. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make sure that we are indeed ready for what the season offers us: a time to reflect on the coming of God into our world, our human experiences, and ultimately our lives through the great mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. Read more.

Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, though both the solemnity and the obligation to attend Mass transfers to tomorrow (Monday, December 9th) due to the eighth being the Second Sunday of Advent. We will celebrate Mass on Monday at 9 am and at 7 pm. The 5 pm Mass this Sunday is for Sunday and not for the Holy day. Read more.

Happy Advent!I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends, and we are now all ready to hit the ground running as we prepare for the coming Christmas Season! Read more.

I am sure many of you are, like myself, traveling this week for the Thanksgiving celebrations. Blessings to all of you, and thank you for all that you do with and for our parish community, and the many constituencies we serve here. While as Catholics we celebrate thanksgiving every day -- the Eucharist which itself means thanksgiving -- we do nonetheless focus this week on family, health, and the freedoms that we enjoy living here in the USA. Let us never take these for granted and instead, not only celebrate but also remember to pray for those who lack what we have. Read more.

I know it’s a bit shocking to see the Christmas trees in the narthex this early in the season, but it is the best way to get the message out there that this season of giving is underway. Thank you for your generous response to this initiative.

The election is over; the campaigning has ended, and now it istime for us all to pray for the new leadership in our country -- our new president, the new senator from our state -- and all those who have been elected to office. These are not easy times and there is much to address. Hopefully we as a nation transition power more smoothly now than we did in either of the past two presidential elections. Read more.

The month of November is set aside by the Church as the period when we remember the poor souls. I want to encourage everyone to offer at least one Rosary this month for the intentions of the faithful departed, especially those of your own families, the members of our parish, and in a particular way for those who have no one to pray for them. We will celebrate our annual All Souls Mass for those buried from our parish over the past year on Tuesday, November 19th at 7:00 pm. All members of the parish are invited to attend. Read more.

We have just come through a most beautiful stretch of fall weather, but we certainly need some rain. We are on target for the least amount of rain in any October since they have been keeping records. Praying for rain is not a bad thing to do. There is even a Votive Mass for rain in the Roman Missal. Read more.

This weekend we observe World Mission Sunday. We join Catholics throughout the world in supporting the mission activity of the Church in those places where the church is young, growing, perhaps facing some specific challenges. The support of the missions through the Annual World Mission Appeal helps to support those churches in their mission, and to continue to fulfill the mandate of the Lord to “preach theGospel to the ends of the earth.” Read more.

We are certainly enjoying some beautiful autumnal weather here, much in contrast to our neighbors to the South who have been overwhelmed by two devastating hurricanes over the past two weeks. We not only continue our prayers for the suffering but are also compelled by our desire to do something. Because the easiest way to offer assistance is through the local community, it is best to support the local church in the devastated areas. Catholic Charities USA can get money and supplies on the ground quickly, but so do the local dioceses directly affected by the storms. Check the websites of any diocese in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, or elsewhere to contribute to them directly. Read more.

As I write this letter I am on a bus making the short journey from Rome to Assisi. Of course, by the time you read this letter, I will be back in Holmdel. First, let me apologize for the absence of a letter in last week’s bulletin. I was remiss and did not get it submitted on time. Read more.

Prayer for Priests

On Monday evening I am departing for a 10-day pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi with Father JM Patilla and about two dozen pilgrims. We will remember you all at the many churches and shrines that we will be visiting.

It feels like Autumn wants to come early this year, yet we know that Summer will still keep its grip on us. Read more.

Happy Labor Day weekend -- the official “end of summer” at the Jersey Shore. We had to take the long stretch to get to where we are, but school is set and ready to open. Last Tuesday we welcomed our faculty and school staff back to the building, and they are now ready to embark on the new school year. We have 524 students this year, up from the 445 of last year’s opening. Read more.