November 7, 2021: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners: This month of November is a time when we see a change in seasons, as we go from the warmer days of the fall to the chilly days that begin to hint at winter. In the Church, we bring the season of Ordinary Time to a conclusion, as we transition at the end of the month to the Advent Season and preparation for the December holidays.
November is also the time when we begin to think about “heavenly” things as well. All Saints Day is a celebration of the holy men and women whom we know are with God in heaven, after leading lives of virtue and holiness. We aim to imitate them, and we also seek their intercession. This is one reason why emphasize them, and why our second leg of the “St. Cassian Olympics” is all about Saints. Saints Trivia will be on November 14, after the 9:00 am Mass.
During this month, too, we remember the Souls that have gone before us and we pray for them. All Souls Day and the novena (nine days) of All Souls is when we pray that any souls that might not yet be with God in Heaven, will be with Him. There is no greater gift we can give our loved ones who have died than to pray for them and ask the Lord to bring them to their eternal reward. Just about every time we priests offer a Mass; it is with the intention of the repose of the soul of someone who has died. This is what we especially pray for these days and if you would like to have a Mass offered with the intention of a loved one, please call the Parish Office. Your loved ones will thank you (from Heaven).
This week brings to conclusion the “Vine and Branches” initiative of emphasizing and encouraging everyone to return to Church. It has been a wonderful past few weeks, seeing people return to Mass and seeing so many children back is great. It leads perfectly into the bigger rush towards the holidays. The push for the big “return” does not end this week, though, as our intention was to not only get the Parish reengaged, but also to promote programs that will continue in the future such as Bible studies, our Advent Lecture Series, and many and various Parish activities.
Finally, I want to thank everyone for taking part in the St. Cassian Raffle. While we did not reach our goal of selling all 300 tickets, we sold about half that many and it raised about $7,500 for the Parish which is very helpful. Congratulations to our winners: First prize: Maria and Ozzie Llanes; Second prize: Tom Johnson; Third prize: Mary Ann Ford. Thank you all for your generosity.
Prayers and blessings,
Rev. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
October 31, 2021: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners:
I pray this finds you well and dry after a long week of rainy weather. Thankfully, it was not as bad as some of the recent storms that we have had to endure.
These past three weeks of Masses have been so wonderful for a few reasons. It is great seeing so many new faces and families and I would love to catch up with each to personally introduce myself. It is also wonderful seeing the second graders and eighth graders at Mass and paying such great attention to the liturgy. At the same time, I am happy that families are also attending with their children-candidates. Attending Mass together and receiving the Sacraments as a family is so important for the families, but also for our Parish and the Church Universal. Families are the building blocks of society, and holy families are the building blocks of our Parish. I encourage all families to come and celebrate the Mass as a family; it is the most important thing a family can do together.
Over the past few weeks, we have been delighted by the music at the Masses. “Welcome Back;” “Thanksgiving;” “Joy;” have been the liturgical/music themes the past couple of weeks. This week we will joyfully highlight “American Traditional Spiritual” music, singing some moving Southern songs and hymns. I promise that it will be exciting, especially at the 10:30 am Mass with the choir. I wouldn’t miss it! Finally, next week, we conclude our five-week celebration of different themes with the appropriate theme of “Thanksgiving,” as we will praise God with prayers and songs of thanksgiving for His mercy in keeping us safe during these trying pandemic days. What a great way to say, “Thank you,” to the Lord for saving us.
I want to congratulate brothers Ellis and Adrian K for finishing first in “leg one” of the St. Cassian Olympics! They worked as a team and scored the most correct answers, and therefore, sit atop our closely contested St. Cassian Olympics Leaderboard. On November 14th, we will see if they add to their lead or if someone overtakes them when we have our Saints Trivia Contest. Googling answers will not be permitted, so be sure to study up on your saints! The timing with be perfect, too, because all throughout November, we especially recognize the holy men and women in Heaven (All Saints Day, Nov. 1) and we also pray for those who still need our prayerful help, as we pray for them on All Souls Day (Nov. 2).Learning about and studying the lives of the saints is a wonderful way (especially for families together) to become familiar with people who lived holy lives and also to recognize God’s love and mercy in our lives and the lives of Saints in Heaven with God. Study up!
Finally, this is the week, that after the last Mass, we are pulling the winner for the St. Cassian Raffle. There are still tickets available and we will be selling them right up until the winner is selected, so please make sure you either have your cash or check in order to purchase a ticket if you have not already. Please realize that as of now, this is the only planned fundraiser for the Parish, so this raffle will be helpful for the programs and operations of the Parish. And if you have already bought one, thank you and good luck.
Be assured of my prayers for all of you,
Rev. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
October 24, 2021: Financial Summary for Fiscal Year 2021
Dear Parishioners:
This week I take the opportunity to publish the Financial Summary of Operations for Fiscal Year 2021 here at St. Cassian Parish. This year, while there was tremendous difficulty because of the pandemic, there is good news and bad news. I would like to use this bulletin message to highlight both and to make a few points about the Parish’s finances. The bottom line is that we operated at a nearly $68,000 deficit. I believe that it could have been much worse, and I expect it to get much better for next year.
The good news from this summary is that our Expenses have remained nearly identical to last year, and substantially lower than the fiscal year two years ago. This is a great achievement, especially since no individual expense is less costly now than two years ago, as you all know. Salaries, supplies, utilities, employee benefits, etc., are all more expensive than ever. For the most part, these are all necessary expenses, as opposed to discretionary ones. However, our staff, Financial and Parish Councils, accountant, and Trustees have all been very helpful in advising as to how we can reduce costs and I believe that we will continue to lower many of the expenses that we can, and next year we will reduce them even further.
The pandemic was obviously difficult for everyone as well as the Parish, as for much of the year we did not have many attendees at Mass. I am very grateful for those of you who did attend frequently and continued to make your contributions to the Parish in person or from home. While the numbers of parishioners at Mass was much lower, our heating, maintaining, and providing for the church, rectory, and entire campus did not reduce. Thank you for recognizing this and continuing to support the needs of the Parish.
For the past few weeks, especially since the middle of September, we have seen a great increase in people coming to church, but it is still a far cry from the years prior to Covid. While I look forward to an increase in Mass attendance and the usual “bump” in collections, I am happier because people are returning to church more regularly, and that is important for the spiritual growth of our Parish which is our most important work and goal.
There is more good news, too. This past year, not only did we reach our Annual Appeal goal, we exceeded it, and are even continuing to see contributions trickle in. This is important because we receive a rebate for what we achieve over our goal. And, again, and more importantly, by donating to the Annual Appeal, we are able to help those who are most in need, as well as those most affected by the devastation of the pandemic.
While the pandemic meant a great decrease in the number of event and services of the Parish, all the Sacraments continued to be celebrated and we had some wonderful celebrations. During this past fiscal year (July 2020 to June 2021), our Parish celebrated 35 Baptisms, 123 First Holy Communions, 153 Confirmations, one Marriage (as several were changed to different dates), and 25 Funerals/Memorial Masses. Confessions were heard throughout the year as they usually are, except they were celebrated in the open church building. Obviously, these most sacred moments, the Sacraments were uninterrupted.
I am excited how we are returning to Mass and the Parish events are returning as well: there are Bible studies, an upcoming Advent Lecture series, and various other social and spiritual events occurring and being planned, especially as they are part of our Vine and Branches initiative. All these are signs of our Parish’s vitality.
As we continue to plan for the next year and future years, it is important that everyone realizes, that, identical to the way everyone’s expenses at home increase, the Parish is no different. I do not want to continue to use Parish savings to fund our regular operations which is what occurred the last couple of years. You can all relate to this, as you certainly try to maintain your household the same way. It is obviously more financially “healthy” for our Revenues to take care of our Expenses, and this is my goal each year.
There are a few ways that I believe we as a Parish can make this happen: we plan on a 5 to 7% increase in Expenses each year, so I ask everyone to prayerfully discern if you are able to increase your giving by that same 5 to 7% just to cover increases. Also, so many of you have been giving to the Building and Maintenance Fund, which is very helpful, as this giving is “assessment-free” and is used for the B+M needs at St. Cassian Parish. Finally, each week I have “wish list” items listed in the bulletin as the Legacy Fund. This fund is used for immediate or future needs of the Parish, as well as some pastoral projects or events. This fund is also assessment-free.
While these past few years have been financially difficult ones, we have not missed out on the most important moments of our Parishioners’ lives, especially sacramentally and pastorally. We will continue these. At the same time, I ask for your help and consideration in helping our Revenues cover our Expenses in order to maintain the financial health of St. Cassian Parish.
I am, as always, very grateful for your choice in being Parishioners and I assure you of my continued prayers, especially that the Lord will continue to bless you and keep you safe.
In Christ,
Rev. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
October 17, 2021: 29th Sunday In Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners:
Last week at Mass we had beautiful celebrations at Mass, focused on the joy or returning to Mass and our liturgical and musical theme of the liturgies was one of “Welcome.” Certainly, there was no mistaking what we were emphasizing. As I have mentioned, as we journey through the next few weeks, each week will have a certain emphasis and this upcoming weekend will highlight the theme of “Thanksgiving.” Not the holiday, but the feeling of gratitude. And gratitude in the basic way: thankfulness toward God for His blessings, thanks for our Parish, our Patron saint, our return to church, and especially gratitude for our health and the health of our loved ones and fellow Parishioners. God has been good to us in many ways, so it is certainly appropriate that we recognize His divine goodness, especially as we have been protected from the virus all around us during these past 18 or so months. While all Masses are themed on thanksgiving (as the very word Eucharist means “meal of thanksgiving”), it is appropriate that we reinforce this idea, especially as we gather and celebrate the Eucharist. Like last week, this week and the proceeding weeks, I believe that you all will thoroughly enjoy both the musical selections as well as the opportunity to say “thank you” to the Lord.
It was so nice to see more of our school-aged children back and especially with their parents. The CCD program and Sacramental preparation years always seem to bring the youth back and bring more life to the Parish. This week in particular, we will celebrate the very brief ritual of the Rite of Enrollment that the Confirmation class will take part in. It is the Confirmation Candidates’ opportunity to take ownership of their preparation for the Sacrament. We pray with them this week at the 9:00 am Mass that they will be serious about their preparation, and that we will support them as a Parish with our prayers and efforts. All sacraments are important, of course, but Confirmation is significant because it is celebrated, not just for the good of those who are to receive it (and the fulness of the Holy Spirit), but also for the Parish and all the Church Universal. The Sacrament of Confirmation is important for our Parish of St. Cassian. God bless our Confirmation candidates.
Next week’s bulletin will include our Financial Disclosure for the close of Fiscal Year 2021 which ended on June 30, 2021. The bulletin will include a breakdown of the Revenues and Expenses as well as a summary of the activities of the Parish during this past year. Speaking of finances, last week I mentioned it and I do again this week: while we have reached and exceeded our Annual Appeal goal this year, so Parish families have still not contributed to it. The Appeal is a wonderful and important way that we are able to help the neediest and most marginalized communities in Northern New Jersey. If you have not yet contributed to it, please prayerfully consider doing so. Envelopes are in the back of the church.
Finally, please recall that we are in the midst of our St. Cassian Parish Raffle. We are only selling 300 tickets at $100 each ticket and the raffle winners will be drawn on October 31 after the noon Mass. I implore you all to purchase a ticket to help support the Parish and at the same time, giving yourself an opportunity to win a pretty nice prize! This is the main fundraiser for the Parish this year (there may be others, but this is the big one!). Some of you have said that you would like to purchase one but did not have the cash or check on you, so please be prepared this weekend with either of those payment options. Also, please know that we will be pursuing using other methods of payment for future fundraisers.
In the spirit of thanksgiving, I want to once again thank you all for choosing to be Parishioners in the wonderful Parish of St. Cassian.
With gratitude and blessings,
Rev. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
October 10, 2021: 28th Sunday In Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners:
Over the past few weeks and months, I have made it a point to welcome those of you who have returned to Mass and take part in the life of the Parish. Again, I want to welcome you all back and let you know how exciting it is to see so many returning to Mass. School is back in session and so is our CCD program, so there is a feel of excitement and newness about the church year.
I had mentioned this in a bulletin message a while back, but I wanted to mention it again that during these next five weeks, we will be emphasizing the joy of returning to church. These five Sundays there will be a special theme within the Mass, highlighting this joy. This week’s liturgical and musical theme will be, unsurprisingly, “Welcome Back to Church!” Mr. Powers, our Music Director has selected music to reinforce this theme of “Welcome.” The following four weeks will either emphasize a particular theme or it will have a particular “flavor” to make returning to Mass (even more) enjoyable. Please pay special attention to these themes, as I believe it will be a fun and pleasant way to enter into the sense of returning and welcoming. Each week the theme will be different, and the Parish Choir will continue to sing at the 10:30 Mass each week. I am really looking forward to these weeks.
Also, we will be having a fun monthly event that families and individuals of all ages will be able to take part in: The St. Cassian Olympics. Because this is an Olympic year, we thought it would be nice to have some events that will be fun for the Parish to take part in. Next week, October 17th, after the 9:00 am Mass, but before the 10:30 Mass, there will be a Scavenger Hunt in the church for those who want to take part in it. It is the opportunity for parishioners to have a way to learn more about our church building. November and December will have events also, and after the three events, we will have a winner (and a prize) based on the most “correct answers” in the competition. Good luck to all our St. Cassian Olympians!
Finally, I wanted to mention that, while we proudly reached our Annual Appeal goal for this year of $82,300, some have still not contributed to the Appeal. I mention this because all parishes were told that if they reach their Annual Appeal goal and the donations are received by June 30th, we will receive a 2% reduction in our annual assessments. While 2% might not sound like much, it means a savings of about $17,000! We will receive this reduction and all money received after June 30 will be returned to the Parish. Please realize that if you not yet contributed to the Annual Appeal, your contribution would come back to St. Cassian Parish in its entirety. There is much that our Parish can do with the $17,000 and all money that is subsequently returned to us. If you still have not contributed to the Annual Appeal, please consider doing it, as it will be a great help to the Parish, your Parish.
I really look forward to the next few weeks, as there is much going on. I especially look forward to seeing everyone coming back to be welcomed in prayer and song.
Blessings,
Rev. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
