Festivals Galore!

Holy day/holiday. An abundant meal. Joy and merrymaking.
We adopt "festival" when we gather in an extraordinary way.

Here are some ways to make your weekend extra-ordinary.

Thurs 9/25: Cafe Iguana, Fundraiser for Delaware Opportunities Inc. Support efforts to rebuild flood-devastated homes in Delaware County NY. Info on calendar.

Thurs 9/25-Sun 9/29: Reel Jersey Film Festival, Rutherford
Attend Friday evening's Weird NJ Party and Midnight Show; get a free ticket for Saturday!

Sun 9/28:

St Thomas More Picnic, Fairfield
Last of the cluster picnics; Eucharistic Feast outdoors at Noon; BBQ on the great lawn follows.

Morristown Festival on the Green
Hang with our friends from Morris Catholic Young Adults; Booth 56 on South Park St.

Genesis Farm Festival at St Al's, Caldwell
Support the Dominican Sisters and their care for Creation. 2-5PM.

TOT New York Style
Join our friends at St Paul the Apostle NYC for Fr Ron Franco's look at the lessons of St Paul brought to the political scene. At PJ Clarke's, Lincoln Square @ 6:30 PM.

Word. Life. Mission.

It's Catechetical Sunday!

This weekend we acknowledge those "who serve our parishes by bringing the Word of God into the hearts of others."

All our parishes have dedicated catechists preparing our youngest community members to receive sacraments, better understand the teachings of our Catholic faith and to experience faith in community.

Do you believe that sharing your faith with others is important? Do you have a natural ability to teach or share information and ideas? Are you willing to learn more about your own faith as you prepare to teach others?

If so, consider being a catechist!

All the parishes in our cluster seek new catechists or those who want to learn the ropes by teaming up with another catechist or being an aide.

In particular, OLBS needs day program catechists for its after school program held on Monday and Tuesday. Contact Cathy Gibbons (olbscg@verizon.net) for more information. Being a catechist is also a great way for college students in educational disciplines to experience a classroom setting or to round out their schedules with community service.

Our cluster parishes also seek volunteers in their faith formation efforts. Please contact the catechetical directors for further information:

Bill Schutte: Notre Dame (ndparish@aol.com)
Cabrina Kinslow: STM (stmparish@verizon.net)
Sr Justine Pinto and Ed Karpinski: St. Al's (info@staloysiuscaldwell.org)

Remember

Let us take some time today to be reverent as we remember the events of September 11, 2001.

In NYC, the memorial service begins at 8:40 AM and includes the reading of the names of those who died. I take time to remember Jack Charles Aron, Luigi Calvi, John Griffin, Fr. Mychal Judge and Simon Weiser.

In West Essex, all communities are invited to gather at the 9/11 Memorial Monument at Verona Town Square on Bloomfield Avenue at 7PM for a period of silent remembrance and tribute. Everyone will then walk together for an Interfaith Taize Prayer Service at Our Lady of the Lake Church.

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum site has information on how you can add your name and message to the structural beams as well as an ongoing compendium of 9/11 stories and tributes.

Mass and...PICNICS!

Our communities call us to gather at the Table of the Lord...and then to enjoy each other's company at festive picnic tables!

Although the 7PM Sunday Mass at STM resumes this weekend, we will resume our "Mass and..." on the first Sunday of October so everyone may savor this time as part of their parish communities.

Sunday, 9/7: Notre Dame kicks off the Picnic Season with an outdoor Mass on the front lawn at Noon. The Picnic follows 'round back with something for everybody.

Sunday, 9/14: St Al's Picnic starts at 1PM -- following the Noon Mass. You'll need a ticket: $5/pp or $15/family. Lots of family fun!

Sunday, 9/28: The month ends with STM's outdoor Mass on their great lawn, followed by a picnic. Last year the quintessential Italian ices from Lyndhurst Pastry Shop were a great treat. Can't promise for this year, but show up and find out!