Daily Rosary

We welcome all to join us after each 9:00 AM Daily Mass to pray the rosary. We especially need prayer during these troubling times!

Our second reading this weekend, from the First Letter of John begins with these words: “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” These words are so very important to our lives as Followers of Christ. Consider:

What happens when we say “I love you” and follow that with actions which indicate we have ignored the person?

What happens when we say “I am sorry,” and follow that with deeds which indicate that we are continuing the action for which we claimed to be sorry?

In both cases, the actions which follow the words tell the real truth. We cannot claim to love or forgive, or to ask forgiveness, if our actions reflect that the person is not really loved. We have the adage in our language, “Actions speak louder than words,” which can be rooted in this passage from John’s Letter.

Our Gospel then presents the image of Jesus as the vine, and we are the branches; Jesus continues and tells His disciples, you will be pruned and cut back, no matter what! If you are producing no fruit, then you end up cutting yourself off from the vine, even though it may be the vine dresser who does the cutting. If you produce some fruit, then you will not be chopped off completely, but you will be pruned back so that what you produce becomes more productive and sweeter.

The very idea that God will prune us back may upset some readers, but it makes sense. A gardener friend of mine once shared the correct way to transplant bulbs, and he told me, make sure you cut off the flower; that takes so much of the plant’s energy, but by cutting it back and leaving only the green, then all the energy from the roots goes into making the remaining plant healthier.

We all need to be pruned; “free will” may be the greatest gift God offers each of us, but that doesn’t mean we are without sin! Think of sinful decisions we have made as “branching out” to the wrong places. The moment those branches are trimmed back we can direct our energy to the healthy parts of our lives, and we are almost immediately stronger!

My prayer for each of you is that you are willing to let Jesus into your life as the Vine who provides sacred nourishment, and that we have the courage to allow Him to shape us into the perfect disciples he has in mind for you and for me!

- Father Jim

To learn more about the 2024 Annual Catholic Appeal and to donate online, please click here.

Hospice Care Information

On Sunday, October 16th, OLGC offered an information program on Hospice Care and Spirituality at the end of our lives. We had a good turnout of about 35-40 parishioners in attendance. For those who may have missed the information session, below are links to the documents which were shared with the attendees.

Please always remember: if your loved one needs the Sacrament of the Sick, do not hesitate to call us at (856) 425-0181, our parish Emergency Number, and Father Jim or Father Jack will respond immediately to your request.

Advance Directives for Healthcare

USCCB: The witness of the good samaritan

Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services

Faith at Home

These links provides you with the latest one-page resource for families, Faith At Home; it connects to the theme of the upcoming Sunday Liturgy. This resource is updated each week and can be found on the diocesan webpage at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home and en Español at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/fe-en-casa.

May God continue to bless us and keep us close to Him.

Please support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul so that together we can help local families in need. Those needing help should call the SVDP helpline at 856-291-7313.

Local food pantries include:

Live Civilly: St. Matthew's Church, 318 Chester Ave.

First Baptist Church, 19 West Main St., Moorestown

Bethel AME, 512 N. Church St., Moorestown

SVDP also has Thinking of You cards available. A gift can be given to the poor in the name of someone special at your

request. You will be remembered in the prayers and works of the Moorestown Vincentians. We are so very grateful for your

generous ongoing donations.

Respect Life Homily

Deacon Tom Kolon shared a wonderful and informative Catholic perspective on Respect Life, encompassing current events and statistics that spanned from end of life through the very beginning in the womb. You can re-watch his homily on the live streaming or may click here for a written copy to share.

Our Promise to Protect

The Diocese of Trenton is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors. The Diocese has in place a Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, who is available to obtain support for your needs and help you make a formal complaint of abuse.

If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan Abuse Hotline: 1-888-296-2965 or via email at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org.

The Diocese encourages anyone with an allegation to also report that abuse to their local law enforcement agency. The Diocese reports all allegations received to the appropriate county prosecutor’s office.