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!

Wow! It is May already, a month where we honor the Blessed Mother in a special way as our intercessor with her Son. As Mary is the patroness of our parish, let us never fail to shout, “Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us!”

In our Gospel this weekend, it closes with this remarkable promise from Jesus: “whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” Jesus gives us instruction here not only in how to pray, but also in how we ought to live. Prayers are never magic incantations. No one should interpret this instruction from Jesus to mean that we can present ourselves before God and ask for things that may be absurd or harmful, for ourselves or others, and imagine that simply by “name dropping ‘Jesus’” we automatically win a prize.

What this instruction really invites us to understand is that we must belong to Jesus in our lives, and have a true relationship with Him before we can claim ask the Father for something on His behalf. Perhaps think of this command as being designated a “messenger” by Jesus. If we remain connected to Jesus – remember last week’s Gospel of the Vine and the Branches – then He has given us the permission to speak with His Father as one of His own. If we don’t belong to Jesus’ fold – remember the gospel two weeks ago about Jesus as the Good Shepherd – then we would be presenting our request to the Father as a lie.

Yes, of course, we should ask the Father for what we need through the grace, power, and instruction of the Son, Jesus. But don’t do so if our relationship with Jesus is superficial, or we are presenting ourselves to the Father as false disciples. The first step in discipleship is to know Jesus, closely, deeply and intimately, and only then can we authentically speak to the

Father as one of Jesus’ own. And the proof of our connection to Jesus is not the prayer we express to His Father in our moment of need, but the way we live our lives, the actions we take and the words we speak at all times, which must let others see us as Jesus’ disciples, His flock.

- Father Jim

A Special Note: Next Sunday, Mother’s Day, we will host a parish “May Crowning” of the Blessed Mother Statue in front of our church following the 10 AM Mass. Participants at both 10 AM Masses – from the church and from the Family Mass – will be invited to gather in front of the church immediately after Mass to celebrate Mary as our Intercessor with her Son.

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.