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With the abundance of caution and the numbers of COVID cases rising in the area, we are suspending communion to the Homebound effective December 15th till the end of December – unless your communion call & you are ok with going. If your homebound wants to speak with a priest – please have them contact the Parish Office 629-6142 x111 and schedule with a Priest. Around the beginning of the New Year, we will re-evaluate the situation and determine new guidelines. Please stay safe and healthy!
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The Social Concerns ministry wants to send out a BIG THANK YOU to the Parish Community for their generosity you all have shown with the Giving Tree this past Christmas! While during the Pandemic, our Parish Family has wanted to help so many families again during Christmas. THANK YOU – THANK YOU – THANK YOU!!!
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*NEWS FROM THE MUSIC MINISTRY**: We are able to have a LIMITED number of choir members in the church. Consequently at the present time there will be NO CHILDREN’S CHOIR or ADULT CHOIR REHEARSALS. Things are changing from day to day, and any updates will be published in the bulletin and on the parish website. Please pray that this COVID19 virus comes to an end so we can fully open our churches. God Bless you and stay safe! Jon Agresta
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“Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while he is near.” – Isaiah 55:6
In these uncertain times, come, spend some time with Our Lord while we still have the opportunity to adore Him. Come and be with Him in our Adoration Chapel, or at our Holy Hour on Wednesday’s from 5-6:15pm in the Church. Also, beginning Thursday, Sept. 3rd and every Thursday thereafter, there will be Eucharistic Adoration immediately following the Betania Prayer Group, in the Church until 6am Friday morning. Thursday commemorates the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper as well as the priesthood and Friday, the Passion of Our Lord. There will be sign-up sheets by the side exit doors each week for those who can spend an hour or more with Our Lord in Adoration.
“So, you could not keep watch with Me for one hour?” – Matthew 26:40
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We look forward to a new Religious Education year. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 856-629-0614, by email at reled@olopp.org or on our website at https://oloppreled.weebly.com
Due to Covid19, we will be teaching remotely this year.
Questions or concerns contact the Religious Education Office”
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Hearing Assistance Available
We are equipped with a hearing assistance system. They are located at the elevators you may use your own earplugs or if your hearing aids have a “T” setting you may use the lanyard. You may sit anywhere in the church including the cry room. For assistance just ask one of the ushers.
LAZARUS MINISTRY
Lazarus Ministry is designed to support families who have lost a loved one. This ministry helps families prepare for the Mass of Resurrection (Funeral Mass) with the readings and symbols that proclaim our faith in the promises of Jesus. They are looking for help!! If you feel you can help with this Ministry, please contact Sally Kingston 856-417-1702.
House of Charity – Bishop’s Annual Appeal
Our goal here at OLOPP is $223,912.00; we have raised $130,545.00 to date, which is from 337 gifts and 58.3%. Please remember all pledges must be paid in order for the Parish to receive back 10%. Please make your sacrificial gift to help continue the mission of the church here in the Diocese of Camden. If you have not made a donation, Pledge Cards are at the entrance of the Church. Thank You! Thank you all for your Generosity. May God Bless YOU!!!
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St. Mary School Registering
Anyone interested in registering their child for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade or for our 3 and 4 year old Preschool Program for the 2016-2017 school year. To register please contact the Advancement Director, Jackie Kern at 856-629-6190 ext. 34 or at advancementoffice@smarys.org. You may also visit our website at www.smarys.org to learn more about St. Mary School.
St. Mary School, Williamstown Open House
St. Mary School will hold an Open House on _VIRTUAL ZOOM_ JANUARY for anyone interested in registering their child for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade and for our 3 and 4 year old Preschool Program for the 2016-2017 school year. Registration will also take place during the Open House. To register for the Open House or for more information please contact Advancement Director, Jackie Kern at 856-629-6190 ext. 34 or at advancementoffice@smarys.org. To learn more about St. Mary School please visit our website at www.smarys.org. St. Mary School is located at 32A Carroll Avenue, Williamstown.
SMS 100 CLUB
St. Mary School would like to invite Our Lady of Peace parishioners, as well as family and friends, who are business owners to participate in our SMS 100 Club. This program enables local businesses to donate a tax-deductible gift of $100 to the St. Mary School Annual Fund. Your business’ generosity will be acknowledged on our website, in our Annual Report, and in a variety of written communication to our school families during the 2018-2019 school year. Your business name will be seen by close to 400 school families as well as hundreds of visitors to our website and recipients of our Annual Report. We welcome our local businesses to take part in this initiative which greatly supports our school. Our goal is to have at least 100 businesses participate in our program.
For more information and the required SMS 100 Club form, please visit our website at http://www.smarys.org. Forms may also be found in the information racks at the entrance of the Church. You may also mail in your payment and business name and contact to St. Mary School, SMS 100 Club, 32A Carroll Ave., Williamstown. NJ 08094. For further information, please contact Jackie Kern in the Advancement Office at advancement@smarys.org or 8560629-6190 ext 34.
CALLED TO SERVICE – AM I CALLED?
Through the Sacrament of Initiation, all Christians are called to holiness and to participate in the churches outreach to the world. Some men received a more specific call to the diaconate, through which they are specially consecrated for Christian service (diakonis).
How do I know if God is calling me to the diaconate? The gradual discovery of the vocation into the diaconate and takes place through prayer and discernment.
A vocation traces its beginnings to one’s ongoing dialogue with God. On the personal level, men considering the diaconate should ask the Holy Spirit to disclose the Father’s will for them, not only through time of personal and liturgical prayer, but also in and through daily lives dedicated to God and neighbor.