August 22, 2021: 21st Sunday In Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners,
I hope you are all well and I want to use this bulletin message as an opportunity to keep you updated on what we’ve been doing over the summer.
A few weeks ago, we installed speed bumps both in the driveway as well as in the church parking lot. The purpose of this was simply to keep our parish and school children safe and for everyone to recognize that they need to drive through the property slowly.
Over the past few weeks, the parish staff has been involved in a massive cleanup and junk removal. We have been cleaning out old spaces, closets, offices, file cabinets, etc., to make sure that our working storage areas are neat, clean, and easy to find what we need. Later this week we will be having all the junk removed professionally and we look forward to a neat and clean church and office space.
Either later this week or next week, a few dead trees and shrubs will be removed from the property both near the church and the rectory. We are using this as an opportunity to continue to beautify the property.
In order to keep everyone safe, especially during the wet, cold, and snowy months, the ramp on the side of the church that leads to the main doors is going to be neatened, resurfaced, and repainted. This is to make sure that it is not slippery and that the rubberized surface is safe. This work will be done over the next couple of weeks.
Finally, the old roof of the school will be replaced with a new roof. Because of that, our parking lot will have a couple of dumpsters positioned in it for when the old roof is removed and taken away. These dumpsters will probably be in our lot at least this weekend if not for the next two. I ask you for your patience in parking around them and I am sorry for the inconvenience. I'm sure you all realize that the best time to get all this work done is in the summer when many people are away, and the contractors and their work are less intrusive. We expect that the church and its environs will look as beautiful as ever when we warmly welcome everyone back, especially during September and October.
Thank you for your patience with all of this and I know you all realize that this is all intended to keep everyone safe as well as to continue to beautify our campus.
Please continue to enjoy this great time of year of relaxing and vacationing so that we are ready and energized for the busy time that we all anticipate come September.
Blessings to all,
Rev. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
August 8, 2021: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners:
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and that it is restful and relaxing for you all and your families. It is important that we do relax these days because September promises to be a very busy time as we all hope to return to normal.
The topics of this week’s reading are two that are particularly appropriate—judging others and food. The Old Testament reading begins with Elijah calling out to the Lord that he is not better than anyone else and please take his life. After a brief nap, an angel wakes him up and ordered him to eat and drink. Trying to continue down the path of his unworthiness, Elijah lays down again but the angel gives him no peace, waking him up and ordering him to eat and drink so he could get on his way.
In the second reading, St. Paul tells us we need to get rid of all the unkind thoughts and feelings we have about others and live the way God intended us to live—with kindness, compassion and forgiveness.
Finally in the gospel Jesus encounters some of the people who knew his past. How could he be the “bread that came down from heaven”? After all, Jesus is the son of a lowly carpenter and his wife. How can he be ‘the bread of life” that will save everyone from death?
Summer, and probably this summer more than ever, we are outdoors mingling with not just family and friends, but people we don’t know at all. How easy it is to sit on the beach and criticize people. ‘She really shouldn’t wear a two piece bathing suit.’ ‘Somebody should tell that guy that Speedos are for those is great physical shape.’ ‘Why aren’t they watching that kid?’ ‘Don’t they read? There’s no food allowed on this beach.’ Instead of spending our time deciding what people should wear, how they manage their children, and whether or not they are obeying the rules, why not take in the beauty of our surroundings? Instead of judging others (or sometimes ourselves), let’s remember how lucky we are to be so close to the shore as so much of Jesus’ life and parables are centered around water. Rather than put our focus on others, take some time to think about how much we are loved by God who has given us such a beautiful place that refreshes us both physically and spiritually? And when we do leave the beach, let’s bring the renewed spirit and relaxed body not just to the dinner table with family and friends, but to the table of the Lord where we can be filled with the food of kindness, compassion and forgiveness that receiving the Body of Christ brings to all of us.
Please continue to pray for our Parish and for the success of our return to church, as well as God’s blessings and the safety of all this summer.
Prayers and blessings,
Fr. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
August 1, 2021: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners:
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and that it is restful and relaxing for you all and your families. It is important that we do relax these days because September promises to be a very busy time as we all hope to return to normal.
One of the things that I ask you to be aware of is that once summer is over, we have a number of celebrations and events that are being scheduled. For instance, the Mass of the Feast of St. Cassian will be on September 26th at the noon Mass. Fr. Tom Nicastro, administrator of St. Mary’s Church, Nutley, will be the main celebrant and homilist. Fr. Nicastro is excited to be celebrating our great saint’s liturgical feast and loves the history of saints, especially from the early Church. I am happy that he will be coming to celebrate with us. Unfortunately, we will not be able to have the regular events that we usually do, but I am hoping that we will have a small get-together in the lower church and on the back patio.
Other events worth noting are the “Welcome Back” weeks of October 10 through November 7 where all the faithful are encouraged to not only make their return to church, but also to jumpstart the “new church year.” Each of the 10:30 Masses during the weeks of that span will have a different musical theme: Welcome Back, Joy in the Lord, Traditional Spiritual, Thanksgiving for God’s Blessings on our Parish, and the Solemnity of Mass. Mr. Powers, our musicians, and the staff have already begun planning the music and the themes and will undoubtedly be a wonderful way of emphasizing the joy of returning to church, but also to build momentum for us to not only return to normal, but to be even better than ever in our ministries, activities, and building the Kingdom of God. I look forward to those celebrations.
After over ten years of being Pastor here, I think you all recognize how much I dislike dealing with various campaigns. Recall a couple of months ago, I encouraged everyone to give to this year’s Annual Appeal and that if we reached our Parish goal in collected monies before June 30th, we would receive a 2% reduction in next year’s assessment rate. At the same time, the Appeal would be helping those who are on the margins of society. I am happy to announce that we did reach our goal before June 30 and we will receive that reduction, which amounts to a savings of about $15,000! Even better news is that everything contributed above our goal of $83,000 will be returned to the Parish this year. In short, if you have not yet contributed to the Annual Appeal and would like to, 100% of your donation will come back to St. Cassian Parish. I thank those of you who have given and have helped us reach our goal and thank you to those who will still contribute.
Lastly, this weekend, Fr. Gil Noriega, a Franciscan Missionary will speak at all our Masses and talk to us about the important work that missionaries do in spreading the Gospel and building the Kingdom of God. Fr. Noriega will be available after all the Masses as well in case anyone has questions for him and the work the Franciscans do.
Please continue to pray for our Parish and for the success of our return to church, as well as God’s blessings and the safety of all this summer.
Prayers and blessings,
Fr. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
July 25, 2021: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners:
Sunny, hot, humid days and pop-up thunderstorms let us know that summer in New Jersey has arrived in full force. But unlike last year, this summer we are able to ‘beat the heat’ somewhat by escaping to the shore or perhaps even the mountains. Best of all, we are able to make our escape with family and friends in person. What a gift to be able to get away, rest and enjoy their company!
In this week’s gospel we hear the familiar story about Jesus’ concern that the thousands of people that followed him didn’t have anything to eat. Can you imagine if you were one of the disciples hearing Andrew say, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish….” Granted he followed up with “...but what good are these for so many?” We all know that the story ends well with everyone having more than enough to eat and even leftovers to take with them for another day and the people in the crowd realizing that Jesus was much more than another man. But who would even begin to think of feeding all those people with so little food?
In reflecting on this week’s gospel and the tremendous impact the sharing of five loaves of bread and two fish had on a thousands of people, let’s remember how different life was this time year and how the willingness of so many to give of their time, talents and moral support had such a positive impact on thousands in need and changed all of us forever. So, as you are enjoying yourselves this summer (and I hope you are) don’t forget to share a kind word, overlook something that usually annoys you or perhaps even give up a parking space to someone with a car full of kids.
It is great continuing to seeso many new faces as well as familiar facesback each weekend. I’m looking forward to fall when we will celebrate together the reopening of our church and all churches in the Archdiocese. In the mean time, enjoy your summer and have fun!
Blessings,
Fr. Marc
Rev. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
July 18, 2021: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners:
Last month we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate some of the long-time employees who were retiring from St. Cassian Parish. Included in that group was Mrs. Regina Sammon, our Director of Religious Education (DRE) here at the parish for some 20-plus years. Mrs. Sammon’s departure left a great void in the Parish staff and Religious Ed program, but in the last months I have been searching for her replacement and a few weeks ago I found her. Miss Mary Flanagan will be replacing her and will be the new DRE. I warmly welcome her to the Parish, the program and I introduce her to you all.
Miss Flanagan has vast educational and parochial volunteer experience. She has helped her own parish and its catechetical program before coming to St. Cassian. She also comes with a great technological background, which no doubt will help our Parish office and religious education program. So, welcome Mary Flanagan, and with the Parish's support, I am sure you will do well!
Over the past few weeks, some people have asked me about when we will begin to return to the way we did things “pre-pandemic,” like use the “cry room,” sing from the red Worship hymnals, take up the collection by hand, have the children’s Liturgy of the Word, and return to the regular daily Mass schedule. These are all very good questions. My intention is that come September, we will be back to our regular liturgical and church practices.
During the summer we will continue to use the weekly Mass program for the music, as opposed to our Worship hymnals. The hymnals will be kept in the cry room until then, and the cry room will reopen after Labor Day. Our Mass schedule will remain what it is now, with Masses at 8:15 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday mornings, also until after Labor Day. The other days of the week, the Church building will be open for quiet prayer from 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Again, we will return to our regular daily Mass schedule after Labor Day with the one exception: Because it is nearly impossible to have a steady substitute priest for Monday Masses, we will not continue the Monday morning Mass here at our Parish. Many who attend daily Masses now, know the times of daily Masses in the neighboring parishes and I encourage you to attend Mass there. Please know, however, that while the Church has not and will not be open for Mass some of the days of the week, all Mass intentions have been satisfied and will continue to be. Throughout the beginning of the pandemic to now, every Mass intention has been celebrated, even if it was done privately.
Separately, the Parish Council has been working on many events and activities for the full re-opening and return to Church for September and the fall months. These activities will continue throughout the year, but I just want everyone to be aware that we are excited about the great return to Church that we will see come the fall. Stay turned to hear more details about the re-opening and return that we are prepping for; it will be exciting, for sure.
As we get into the full swing of summer and vacations and time away, I want to wish you all a very happy and healthy summertime and may it be a time of relaxing your body and mind and recharging your spirit.
Blessings,
Fr. Marc A. Vicari,
Pastor
