October 22, 2023 – From the Pastor Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy, Greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ! This past week was another busy one here at OLM. The Music Ministry concert, “A Healing Night of Music” that took place this past Friday, October 13, was awesome. Thanks to Liam Barredo and Krystelle Pring who put their hearts and hard work into putting it together. The singers, musicians, and choir did very well in their performances. It was great to watch them and to listen to their different voices as they sang songs that touched our souls. Each song was piercing and penetrating our hearts. It felt like we went on a spiritual retreat and at the same time were entertained. Kudos to the OLM Music Ministry. The next day, Saturday morning, forty gentlemen gathered in the Maria Room for a day of spiritual nourishment. This “Men’s Breakfast” started with a light breakfast prepared and served by some ladies of our parish. Then we listened to Reverend Deacon Michael Giuliano, MD, as he gave an excellent talk entitled “Answering God’s Call in All Seasons of Life.” It was, and I am sure those gentlemen who attended would agree, another mini retreat. I left the Maria Room feeling spiritually energized and boosted. Deacon Michael’s talk helped us do some introspection and to consider where we are in our spiritual journey. He urged us to make more frequent use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to increase our prayer. He also commissioned the men to be sources of great encouragement to other people. In the name of our parish community, I thank the team who helped prepare and facilitate the event. In the afternoon of the same day, I had a wedding. I congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Ingrid (Paredes) Lu! We pray that God will shower their new life as husband and wife with children and abundant blessings. In the name of the whole church, I thank Richard and Ingrid for bravely coming to church to ask God to bless their marriage covenant in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. We pray that there will be more young people who will do the same as they did. Last Sunday, October 15, Dr. Trinidad Palmiery gave a talk on mental health issues at the OLM Coffee Chat. It was enlightening to learn how to cope with the reality of mental health concerns, especially in dealing with small and growing children. It is not easy to bring up children nowadays with so many voices attempting to influence them. Dr. Palmiery did a very good job in addressing the parents’ questions and issues that were gathered by the team at the last Coffee Chat. Thanks to all those who helped Jeng Villa, our Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation, to run our coffee chat, to prepare the refreshments, and to set up the Maria Room . Next Sunday, October 29, twenty-six young people will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Greg Studerus. I ask you to please continue to include these confirmation candidates in your prayers. May they really come to know and love God more deeply. Also, keep praying for one another. Thank you! God bless us all! Love, Father Marty Wedding at Our Parish Last Saturday, October 14, Father Marty , our pastor, presided at the wedding of Richard Lu and Ingrid Paredes 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. 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. Men’s Breakfast at OLM Pictured below are the men of our parish who attended the Men’s Breakfast, last Saturday, October 14, in the Maria Room. They enjoyed a fine breakfast and listened as Deacon Michael Giuliano, MD spoke about the challenge of answering God’s call in all the seasons of life. (Previous Week)