October 8, 2023 – The Pastor’s Column Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy, I hope this finds you well. As I was doing the schedule of Masses for the priests, it dawned on me that the days are flying by so quickly. As much as I might want to slow down time, I can’t. We are almost at the end of the year. I realized that time has seemed to move so quickly because of the swirl of parish activities, especially this past month of September. We were busy with preparations for the celebration of our 60th Anniversary, which as you know went so well. Of course, there are more events coming up. Please mark your calendars and be sure to attend our future events. These events and programs are there for you. The upcoming events include: The Flu Shot Clinic, which is today, Sunday. The Healing Night of Music, provided by our music ministry that will take place this Friday. The Men’s Breakfast with a presentation about spirituality in all seasons of life that is scheduled for this coming Saturday. Coffee Chat with a special guest to speak about mental health issues set for next Sunday. Some of our young men and women are going to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday October 29. It will be administered by Bishop Greg Studerus, our Regional Bishop. I ask you to please include these young people in your prayers. They need our spiritual support. Besides praying for them, we also have the responsibility to help them grow in their faith by giving them an example of how to live a good Christian life by the way we live each day. May we be good servants of God who take care of His vineyard and work to produce good fruits. I would like to thank those who participated in our Living Rosary last Friday evening, both the young people and those once young. Thank you Ate Connie Lorenzo and all those who helped facilitate this prayerful evening. God bless you all! Love, Father Marty October 1, 2023 Men’s Breakfast at Our Lady of Mercy, Jersey City We are inviting all the men parishioners to come join us for OLM Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM at the Maria Room. Theme: Answering the Call in All Seasons of Life Speaker: Deacon Michael Giuliano, MD Deacon Michael Giuliano, MD is a husband, father, grandfather. He has worked as a clinical neonatologist for 35 years now. Most recently, he has been the director of the NICU at Hackensack from 2005 to 2019. His other professional passion is teaching. He has worked as a medical educator in parallel with his clinical practice. His journey to the Deaconate has been a bit long starting with an initial invitation from his Pastor back in 2003. After a Cursillo weekend in 2007 and a pilgrim trip to the Holy Land in 2011, he finally said yes to the invitation. Deacon Michael studied at Seton Hall from 2012 to 2016 and was ordained on June 4, 2016. He has been blessed to serve his home parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel since that time. His other primary mission is working with the Sisters of Life. Please RSVP by Sunday, October 8, to reserve your spot. Breakfast will be served. Register here. 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. Gathering to Rejoice Last Sunday, October 1, our Baptismal Team held a Gathering to Rejoice with parents expecting the birth of child. Pictured here with Deacon Meynard are Danielle & Aaron Williams, and Sabrina & Tatum Lorenzo, with their second child, Shay. If you are expecting, let us know by contacting the parish office (201-434-7500). Let us rejoice together. Blessing of Animals at OLM Father Marty and Deacon Edwin celebrated the Blessing of Animals traditionally held near the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. (Previous Week)