October 14, 2023 – Pastor’s Column Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy, Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! The days seem to be passing by like a blur. That is that feeling I have every Monday when I sit down in front of my computer to start writing this column. I think where did my days go and where am I heading next? For example, we are now in the middle of October and the end of the year is rapidly approaching. It makes me ask myself, what have I done up to this point in my life. Have I been doing well, especially in what Jesus has invited me to be a part of? Brothers and sisters, this is a question for all of us. All of us who come to Mass Sunday after Sunday have heard and responded to Jesus’ invitation to be here. In this weekend’s gospel reading, Jesus’ words are calling on us consider our response to God’s invitation to celebrate the wedding feast of his beloved Son. Yes, we have received God’s invitation, and we need to respond to that invitation. We can’t be like the people in Sunday’s parable who were just too busy to be bothered. We can’t be like the ones who were making excuses for failing to respond to the king’s invitation, or like the ones who set about abusing and “killing” the messengers. Also, we cannot respond to God’s invitation without making some effort to “change.” Remember what happened to the man who arrived inappropriately dressed, the man who was so ill-mannered and disrespectful of his host and the other people in attendance. The invitation is for all of us, but it is not a “come as you are” occasion. We need to clothe ourselves in Christ and in Christian values if we expect to be permitted to stay long enough to enjoy the festivities. Whether we are aware of it or not, the very fact we are in church means we were invited. We may feel we do not deserve to be here, but all we need to do is ask forgiveness for our sinfulness and unworthiness, and God will supply all that we need to enter in and join in the feast. We can leave our “old self” behind and let our “Christ-self” shine with God’s help. So, let us praise God and be grateful to Him! Saying that, please continue to include in your prayers our young people who are going to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on October 29, two Sundays from today. May they be filled with God’s gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. May they grow in appreciation of the gift of the Holy Eucharist by frequently coming here to church, a place where we are always invited to share fellowship with one another and with the Lord! God bless us all! Love, Father Marty October 1, 2023 Synod in Rome Pope Francis has called together the first session of the Synod on Synodality during the month of October. Throughout the month, the Synod will focus on three main themes: Commuion, Participation, and Mission. These three dimensions are profoundly interrelated. They are the vital pillars of a Synodal Church. All of the faithful are asked to pray for Pope Feancis and the Synod delegates from around the world, including Cardinal Tobin, our Archbishop, as they discuss, discern and shape the Church’s understanding of these important topics. Please use the prayer below to pray for the Synod throughout October: PRAYER FOR SYNOD O God, who care for your people with gentleness and rule them with love, hear our prayers this day. Watch over the members of the Synod and endow them with a spirit of wisdom that your people may be led to know your truth and grow in holiness. Thanksgiving Food Drive The OLM Holy Name Society is sponsoring our Annual Parish Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit the food pantry at Mary House located at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish here in Jersey City. We are collecting non-perishable food items like canned goods, rice, shelf-stable milk, peanut butter & jelly, hot & cold cereals, pasta & sauce. Donations may be dropped off at any time at our collection bins in our church’s vestibule. We will make a final collection on Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 9 to 11am at the OLM parking area by the entrance to the Maria Room. Monetary contributions are also accepted. Please make checks payable to “Our Lady of Sorrows” and please write “Food Pantry” on the memo line. World Mission Sunday, October 21 & 22 World Mission Sunday is next weekend, October 21 & 22. The money donated in the collection for World Mission Sunday will go to mission dioceses in those countries where Christianity is not fully rooted, or where Jesus has been denied, persecuted, or ignored. About 1,100 Mission Dioceses and Territories receive a modest annual subsidy from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith that is supported by the World Mission Sunday Appeal. That funding is necessary for many of them to survive, to grow, and to serve the Lord and his people. The United States, our own nation, was once a mission territory until the early 1900s. Today, the mission church includes virtually the entire African continent, the 10,000 islands of Oceania, much of Southeast Asia, and certain parts of Latin America and Eastern Europe, and more. It is a responsibility as well as a privilege for all of us to be able to help our Catholic family in remote places to know the joy of the Gospel and the Sacraments. We encourage you to be generous in the special collection. There is a World Mission Sunday envelope in the packet of church envelopes that you received. Flu Shot CLinic A “Healthy” Success Presy Lorenzo, Rachel Slaiman, and Connie Lorenzo of our Wellness Ministry happily wait to register parishioners at last Sunday’s Flu Vaccine Clinic at OLM The Flu Shot Clinic, which was held here at OLM last Sunday, October 8, was a great success. A total of 56 people, old and young, were vaccinated. This is nearly double the number from the previous year. This increase shows that people are trying to do their part to keep themselves and their loved ones protected from the flu. We would like to thank Toni Park, a pharmacist from Walgreens, for administering the flu vaccine and also the members of our Wellness Ministry for facilitating the flu clinic. Please refer to this bulletin for an upcoming event being sponsored by the OLM Wellness Ministry. (Previous Week)