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!

Today becomes such an interesting day to write about: it would ordinarily be the 7th Sunday of Easter … except almost two years ago the Bishops of New Jersey made the change as they followed most of our country and world to celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord on this Sunday, instead of the traditional “Ascension Thursday” which would be forty days after Easter.

It is also Mother’s Day here in the United States. That traditional, secular feast has its origins in the early 1900s, and by 1914 was declared a national holiday by President Woodrow Wilson. May as a month dedicated to the Blessed Mother, however, has much older origins, dating from the 13th century, and through the work of the Jesuits, was observed throughout the world by the 1700s.

The Blessed Mother – The Ascension of her Son – our own Mothers … bringing these three themes into one thought is my challenge with this note, but I will try and keep my own musings simple:

The Blessed Mother served as a sacred instrument to bring her Son, Jesus Christ, into the world through His Incarnation. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus held Mary, his Mother, in high regard, equal to the Apostles in so many ways. She stood at the foot of her Son’s Cross, as so many earthly mothers stand at the side of their children when they are suffering or sick, and she guided Him to his public ministry, just as so many earthly mothers have guided us to pursue our hopes and dreams. Her presence with the Apostles in the Upper Room after Jesus’ death is documented in our Gospels, and we believe that she encouraged them in their ministry, especially living out her earthly life in the care of Saint John, the Beloved Disciple. In all that she does, Mary directs us to her Son.

Jesus gave us to Mary, and Mary to us through the Beloved Disciple as He hung on the Cross dying; that tells us the importance of Mary’s role as our intercessor in heaven, and how much we should see her as a model for following her Son with our lives.

As we celebrate our earthly Mothers this day, both living and gone on to heaven, let us give thanks to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose Heavenly Motherhood unites us to each other, and to her Son. Perhaps offer a simple “Hail Mary,” prayed from your hearts, for your own mothers today; placing them in the protective intercession of our Blessed Mother could be the best Mother’s Day gift you can offer!

- 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.