Saint Elizabeth Ann
Seton Catholic Church
Three Bridges, NJ +
Diocese of Metuchen
Easter Sunday of the
Resurrection of the Lord
2014
As the Angel asked the
women at the tomb on
Easter morning, “Why do
you seek the Living One among the dead?” [Cf. Luke
24:5] Each year I am more and more proud to say that
I am Pastor or shepherd of this small part of God’s
flock, where Christ is, indeed, alive and well and
active in Word and Sacrament and in the community
that serves each other and others in His holy Name.
Our liturgies, which is our primary purpose, are
second to none; we exemplify the Second Vatican
Council’s call for the “full, conscious active
participation” of all people in the sacred mysteries yet we must still strive to do even better, to get more
knowledgeable about the liturgy, more involved in the
liturgy, and more willing to invite others into our
liturgies! As you read through this annual Easter
Insert, have an open mind and heart, eager to
respond to the Lord’s call to join in our Parish’s
many activities! Happy Easter! Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
Renovations & Other Expenses
Once again, we ‘squeaked in just under the gun!’ In
2013 the sanctuary tiling project was completed just
hours before we entered the Sacred Paschal Triduum
on Holy Thursday; this year the tiling of the center
aisle and front and back areas was finished two days
before the first Palm Sunday procession! We
completed new Township code requirements in time
to avoid fines! As I mentioned in last week’s insert,
new wooden bulletin holders and other trimmings
near all exit doors in the narthex, office area and
Parish Center foyers are in process. Much electrical
work must still be done: we’re getting estimates to
replace - with energy efficient LED lighting - the many
burned out bulbs, ballasts and transformers behind
all our wooden coves around the church nave,
narthex and reredos or back altar wall, around the
main crucifix. And many minor things, which add up,
have reached their life expectancy in our 24-year-old
church and 18-year-old office area. The exterior
doors near the parish office need replacement; we’re
‘losing business’ since people cannot open these
broken doors and assume we’re closed! This
summer the rectory interior will also be painted.
Even God’s house is not exempt from the many
expensive, often unexpected ‘joys’ of owning a
home!
Some Pastors had a special Snow Collection to offset
the high cost of this year’s brutal winter; we spent
over $26,000! Yet God was merciful: with no storms
on a Saturday night or Sunday morning, we lost no
weekly collections! Thanks for being extra-generous
in your regular contributions for winter’s expenses.
Where do we get all the money for all this? From
your generosity! In my Christmas insert I wrote that
if there was 1] no reduction in regular weekly and
special offerings; 2] no reduction in the special
quarterly Debt Reduction Collection which will be
used to lower our mortgage [$14,761.41 per month!]
when our loan is renewed in February 2015; 3] we
meet our Bishop’s Annual Appeal goal of $122,000 [to
date, $136,721.94 has been remitted from pledges of
$142,690.94 - which is from just 423 of our over 1,800
households!] and 4] at least $20,000 [final cost will be
about $28,000] be pledged toward the cost of tiling
the center aisle, we’d go with the project. We
received pledges totaling $28,290.00, ranging from
$2,000.00 to $10.00, of which $22,930.00 has been
remitted by the following:
Albert B. Accettola; Mr. & Mrs. Russell Balunis; Eleanor
Batura; Gene & May Belko; Pearly Besman; Andrew &
Maureen Bielecki; Jim & Susan Bova; Michael & Debbie
Breznak; Ralph & Loretta Broyles; Terri & Phil
Cavagnaro; Cecilia Clenaghan; Gerard & Marguerite
Colonel; Marie & Daniel DiMaria; Thomas & Paula
Donohue; Florence & Steve Dzwonczyk; Gerard & Pat
Enzmann; Mary Lou Findley; Mary Frain; Joe & Linda
Franckowiak; Carol Granrath; Patrick & Alyson
Graziano; Tom & Cara Hegadorn; Paul & Janet Higgins;
Warren & Brunilda Johnson; Cliff & Joan Jorgensen;
Julie Ann & John Juliano; Knights of Columbus #15540;
Matthew & Beverly Kuchar; Tanya & Anthony LaMassa;
Richard & Elaine Lenskold; Ann & Jim Letchford; Tom
& Diane Luceri; Dolly Maltese; Laurie Markowski; Rob &
Denise McGuire; Mary & Charles McLoughlin; Anne &
Bob Moore; Anne & Brian Moore; Linda Moore; Philip C.
Morgante; Thomas & Lisa O'Connell; Ronald & Maryann
Pack; Ann Padovani; Patricia Petrelli; Tim & Lisa Quinn;
Patricia Ramachandran; The Ricigliano Family;
Kathleen Rutar; Mr. & Mrs. Howard Savery; Dorothy
Scarpa; The Schuler Family; Rev. Thomas J. Serafin;
Patricia Sheeto; John Slevin; The Smola Family; Jennie
& Mike Stanbro; Diana Stipo; Gloria & Clarence Stone;
Diane Tillack; Paul J. & Sandra E. Tubito; Greg &
Melissa Urban; Walter & Kathy Urban; Ricky & Maria
Uy; Mary & Jerry Vecchio; Teresa Walten; Inge Wieland;
John Williams & Eileen Wysocki; Jim & Jeri Williamson;
Bob & Karen Wright.
The other special addition to our worship space is
the new Stations of the Cross slated [as of this writing]
to be installed by Good Friday evening’s Stations of
the Cross Service with the Three Bridges Reformed
Church. These new Stations, which will be fully
explained in the future, were donated by Larry &
Anita Wuest; Frank Renda [2 Stations]; Loretta
Butkus; Judy Hendricks; Irene Kinahan; Maria
DeSapio; Margaret Thau; Rick & Jeanmarie Dool;
Rusty & Linda Williams; Pat & Aly Graziano; James &
Charlene Wilson; Tom & Kathy Joyal and Sharon
Holderbaum. They were commissioned as a way for
our Parish to honor the soon-to-be Pope Saint John
Paul II, who founded our Diocese of Metuchen in
1981, which, in turn, created our Parish in 1984. He is
slated to be canonized on April 27, the Second
Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, along with
Pope Saint John XXIII. May these two holy men
intercede for us from their place in heaven; may we
one day join with them and all the Angels and Saints
in eternal glory!
May God bless all who paid for our new floor and new
Stations, and all who support the Bishop’s Annual
Appeal, and all the many anonymous donors who,
week after week, support this great Parish, our
Diocese of Metuchen, and the Church Universal.
If you wish to contribute to the fund for flooring and
other church renovations, designate your check
‘Restricted Gift’ for capital improvements. All are on
the ‘honor system’ that this ‘Restricted Gift’ is ‘above
and beyond’ your usual contributions to the weekly
offering, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and our Debt
Reduction Second Collections. Contact the Parish
Office for more information, and may God bless you
for your generosity!
Rev. Thomas J. Serafin, Pastor
The RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
If you want to become a
Roman Catholic or complete
your Initiation into the Church,
the RCIA is for you! Through
weekly
sessions,
nonChristian adults are prepared
for Baptism, Confirmation and
First Eucharist, and nonCatholic
Christians
are
prepared for Confirmation and
First Eucharist, which takes place at the Easter Vigil
Mass. For more information, contact Diane Luceri
at the Parish Office. Adult Catholics needing
Confirmation should also contact Diane Luceri at the
Parish Office.
New Memorial Site for the Faithful Departed
Outside the Daily Mass Chapel
Years ago we began the custom of placing the
photographs of those for whom the Order of
Christian Funerals was celebrated by Saint Elizabeth
Ann Seton Church on the shelf near our Parish
Prayer Book for one month. Sometimes there were
so many photos there - as many as seven - we ran
out of room! With the help of our great Liturgical
Environment Committee, we have been setting up a
new place for these memorials: in the Narthex, just
outside the Daily Mass Chapel. When it is completed,
the photos of the twelve most recently deceased will
adorn the wall outside the chapel. So on your way
into and out of the church or chapel, remember to
pray for our deceased sisters and brothers. Light a
candle for them - and ask them to pray for you!
Annual Parish Picnic
Circle one:
Sunday, September 14
Bread & Wine
Mark your calendars; reserve the date for our annual
parish picnic to be held on our parish grounds.
Complementary tickets will be available near the end
of the summer. Start praying now for good weather!
Lamp before the Blessed Sacrament
‘Open Forum’ with the Pastor
Lamp before the Mother Seton Shrine
Lamp before the Saint Jude Shrine
Tuesday, May 20 at 7:30 PM - Rev. Thomas J. Serafin
What do you want to know about our Faith, but are
afraid to ask? Submit question[s], preferably signed,
via parishoffice@easeton.net or on a note in the
collection basket; Fr. Tom will try to explain all things
with truth and his ‘uncharacteristic’ humor and wit.
Intention name:________________________________
Four Day & Annual Memorial Candles
at the Marian Shrine
Intention [circle one]:
To light a four-day candle, place $2.00 in the hopper
to the right of the shrine to activate the system; then
push a candle which remains lit for four days.
Some candles are lit for one year and include the
name[s] of the intention and requestor. These annual
candle intentions may be for the living or the dead,
the newborn, newlyweds, the sick or dying, those
serving in the military, or for any valid reason! A
donation of $250 is requested; contact the Parish
Office for more information or to memorialize an
annual candle.
Memorializing the Sanctuary Lamp
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine Lamp
Saint Jude Shrine Lamp or the Bread & Wine
To memorialize the candle that burns continually
before the Blessed Sacrament, our patroness
Elizabeth Ann Seton or Saint Jude, or the Bread &
Wine, complete the following form and return it to the
parish office via the collection basket or mail. Circle
which candle or the Bread & Wine option you wish
memorialized, the intention name[s] and purpose,
preferred date, your name and phone number.
Please print clearly and attach the requested
donation: $25. The intention and requestor’s name
are printed in the bulletin the week of that intention.
Date for intention;
the week runs Saturday to Saturday
_________________________________________________
Birth
Baptism
____ th Wedding Anniversary
Special Intention
Graduation
Military Service
Deceased
Other: ___________________________________________
Requestor’s name: _____________________________
Phone: _______________________________________
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Every Catholic household should have a copy of The
Catechism of the Catholic Church [and a Bible, too!]
The Catechism offers a wonderful compendium of
official Church teaching on a variety of issues: our
Faith, the Creed, Sacraments, Commandments,
Prayer, etc. To get a copy: order from an on-line site
or visit any bookstore - even secular shops carry the
Catechism, visit or contact one of the two local
Catholic religious shops in our area: St. Michael
Shop [20 Commerce St. - Flemington - 908-782-9599]
or Trinity Church Goods [44 West Somerset St. Raritan - 908-722-4788], or contact our RF Office at
908-284-2929 and we can order it for you! Or go
online to any Catholic website and order it yourself!
And to more fully understand it, enroll in an Adult
Faith Formation session!
Baptismal Preparation Class
Expectant parents should register during pregnancy
for the Pre-Baptism Class; godparents are strongly
encouraged to attend the session, all are welcome.
Upon registration a Baptismal Policy Booklet is sent
to you; read it before attending the class or choosing
godparents who must fulfill all requirements. We
strictly follow Church law to determine the eligibility
of godparents and sponsors!
Vocations
Those who feel called by God to parish ministry as
liturgical ministers: altar server, choir member,
usher, reader, Eucharistic minister, Lazarus or
bereavement ministry, Catechists: Religious
Formation, sacramental preparation instructor, teen
ministry leader; Social Ministry: Men’s or Women’s
Spiritual Group, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Soup
Kitchen, etc. or to Ordained/Professed Ministry:
religious brother/sister, deacon or priest - should
speak to a priest, deacon or religious sister. Every
Catholic is obligated to pray for Vocations! For more
information call 732-562-1990 or log on to the
Diocesan
Vocation
Director’s
website:
www.diometuchen.org.
Godparent [Sponsor] Requirements
Canon [Church] law states a godparent [sponsor] must:
* be a Baptized and Confirmed Roman Catholic who
attends weekly Mass and receives Eucharist
* be at least 16 years of age [exceptions possible]
* NOT be one of the parents
* lead a moral life in keeping with Church teaching,
and be a good Catholic role model
* if married, be married according to Church law
* be a registered member of their own current parish
from which they obtain an eligibility certificate
NOTE: We can only give eligibility certificates to
those who are registered in our parish!
Since only one Catholic godparent is required, a
baptized member of another Christian church [but
not a Roman Catholic] may serve as a Christian
Witness. Since godparents renew their baptismal
promises during the Rite of Baptism, a non-baptized
person cannot serve in this role.
Get Involved: It’s Your Baptismal Duty!
Baptism washes us clean of sin, makes us heirs to
the Kingdom, children of God, sisters and brothers of
Jesus and each other; it opens the doors to all the
other sacraments, to a life of grace, and ultimately
the gates of heaven. But all this is a bit self-centered,
isn’t it? God also expects something from all who
receive the gift of Baptism; we are obligated to:
Attend Mass regularly and actively
Celebrate the other Sacraments, Rites & Rituals
Encourage others to join and support the Church
Support the parish with your time, talent and treasure
Give witness to Gospel Values at home, work, school
Offer your services via the Church’s Ministries
Encourage Vocations to Priesthood & all ministries
Support and Pray for those who serve us now
Are you fulfilling all your Baptismal Promises?
Contact the parish office to learn how to get involved!
Is God remembered in your will?
While concern for our own needs and the needs of
others may keep us from tithing a full 10% now, most
should be able to reach this goal in their will. Will
God and your parish be remembered when you are
gone … in your will?
Homebound Parishioners
Contact the parish office to have the Most Holy
Eucharist brought to the sick or homebound, or to
have a loved one, neighbor or friend visited by a
parish minister.
Marriage Preparation
Marriage plans should be made at least one year
before the wedding; couples should make NO other
plans until they meet with a Priest or Deacon. Call
the parish office for a Marriage Policy Handbook and
Pre-Cana Conference or Engaged Encounter info.
The Diocese of Metuchen Celebrates
the Canonization of Pope Saint John XXIII
and Pope Saint John Paul II
Is your child, grandchild or neighbor’s child
registered for Religious Formation classes?
Call the RF Office at 908-284-2929.
Those with children in Kindergarten now
should register them NOW for
st
1 Grade Religious Formation Classes!
Are You in Our Database?
Concert
Featuring the Brass Ensemble from The Catholic
University of America, Dr. Andrew N. Allphin, Director
with Thomas A. DeLessio, Organist, and Cathedral
Youth Choir:
Sunday, April 27, 2014: 6 PM
Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen
Diocesan Mass
Most Rev. Paul G. Bootkoski, Bishop of Metuchen
Principal Celebrant
Monday, April 28, 2014: 7 PM
Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen
Lecture: “Saints of Our Time:
John XXIII and John Paul II”
presented by Rev. Msgr. William Benwell, JCL
Vicar General, Diocese of Metuchen
Thursday, May 1, 2014: 7 to 9 PM
St. John Neumann Pastoral Center
Piscataway, NJ
For more information, please visit
diometuchen.org/canonization-celebrations or
contact the diocesan Office of Worship: 732-562-1990
All Roman Catholics living within our boundaries - or
who regularly attend Mass here - should officially
register; if you did NOT receive an Easter mailing you
are probably NOT registered! Obtain a registration
form from a priest or deacon after Mass or at the
parish office or from our website. We strongly
encourage you to register, even if you do not plan to
use envelopes, so you can be on our mailing list.
Only registered members, who fulfill all other
canonical [Church Law] requirements, can obtain a
Sponsor [Godparent] Certificate, letter of
recommendation or other documentation.
Even computers suffer the sad effects of the Original
Sin which brought imperfection and disorder into the
world. A few months ago the diocesan-based
ParishSoft system, which enables the Diocese of
Metuchen to merge with our parish records crashed.
Some of you were ‘kicked out’ of the Parish; others
were ‘merged’ with different spouses and children
and moved to a new address; a few were double
registered, and some salutations were omitted. Our
Pastor even lost his title ‘Reverend’ [At least it did
not transfer him!] We believe most things were
corrected before you knew about it, but to be sure …
If you do not receive the biannual parish mailing,
which is usually sent two weeks before Christmas
and Easter, you may not be properly registered - or
registered at all! If you are among the ‘unchosen’
ones - please contact the Parish Office or go online
to our parish website listed below to register; please
indicate if you are re-registering due to being
dropped. Please accept our apologies for any
confusion, deletions or other errors.
www.parishesonline.com/seasthreebridges
Family Name (Last Name)
Family Address
Street
City
Phone (Home)
List 1st names (and last names if
different from family name) of all
members in family unit residing at
the address. A separate census
record is to be completed by
grandparants, in-laws, aunts, uncles,
or other non-related individuals
residing at this address. List head of
household 1st; children oldest to
youngest.
Date___________________
____________
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Census (Please Print All Information)
, New Jersey
ZIP
Maiden Name
Male or
Female
Date of Birth
(mm/dd/yy)
E-Mail Address
Marital Status
Single
Widowed
(If Married, did marriage
take place in a Catholic
Church?)
Married
Divorced
Baptized
Yes / No
First
Communion
Yes / No
Confirmation
Yes / No
Religion
Special Needs
Visually Impared
Hearing Impaired
Shut-In
Other
First Name, Middle initial
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
A. Occupation / Grade (if student)
B. Occupation / Grade
C. Occupation / Grade
D. Occupation / Grade