THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME NOVEMBER 16, 2014

THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
NOVEMBER 16, 2014
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2014
5:30 P.M.
Marie & Edward Kulak
Intentions of Ted Luciani
Fred Kressaty
John Murphy
Ann Dietz
Intentions of Charlie Tenga
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014
7:30 A.M.
Fred Kressaty
Edward & Doris Bacigalupo
10:00 A.M.
Mary Luciani
Adoracion Asuncion Glorioso
Alfredo Calimlim – 2nd Anniversary
12:00 P.M.
Fred Kressaty
Leonorfo Katada
Jose R. Gonzalez
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014
8:00 A.M.
Nunzio DiLaura
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
8:00 A.M.
Ronald J. Kilgallen
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014
8:00 A.M.
Jarod Fisher
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014
8:00 A.M.
Theresa Casazza
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2014
5:30 P.M.
Deceased members of the Danowski Family
Marie & Edward Kulak
Jerome Campo
Fred Kressaty
Frank & Josephine Falciglia
James Vollaro
Anna Daloisio
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014
7:30 A.M.
Ann Marie Hivish
10:00 A.M.
Charlie Trovato
Mary Luciani
Joseph Colella
Domenick Bello
12:00 P.M.
Fred Kressaty
Leonorfo Katada
Delores Gammero
Blaise Shirazi – 3rd Anniversary
Frank & Bella Oriole
Anthony & Helen Merle
Pray daily for the safety of our servicemen and women serving
their country.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Flora Assidio Mary Carton Grace Reid
Nina Margossian Dorothy Fila Laurie Roth
Nick Wolkiewicz Stacey Caropreso Lori McPartland
Nick Spina Jimmy Bailey Gladys Sledge
Infant Michael Soojian Elliot Marcano
Margaret Puzio Baby Juliet Sinisi
Carmela Fusco Baby Ryder Sasso Frances De Maria
Jennifer Ambramson
Margherita Davis
Deacon Charlie Tenga
Dorothy King
DECEASED: Our Deceased Loved Ones
SICK:
CHURCH MEMORIALS
Church Tabernacle Candle in memory of Richard Dinmore
requested by Vi Heller.
WEEKLY OFFERING
Sunday - $5,563.00
Thank you for your continued support.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
“Well done, my good and fruitful
servant…”
Matt 25:14-30
“Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has
given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of
life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for
his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not
owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to
dispose of” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2280).
The First Reading, from the Book of Proverbs is
grounded in words of wisdom. The image we are given of a
worthy wife and mother is immersed in this metaphor about
wisdom and living in fear of the Lord. Not fear as one who is
frightened or paralyzed, but the wisdom of one who lives in
awe of the wondrous power and majesty of God – the God
who offers that love to us.
The Hebrew adjective used for “worthy” is hayil, and
was used to describe the kind of valor and strength found in
armies. That is the kind of courage it takes to enter into this
kind of relationship with God. This description of a worthy
wife and mother is grounded in a particular cultural time and
is not meant as a rationale for only women to act in this way.
Rather, it calls us to ground ourselves in this kind of awe and
the courage of being in relationship with the Lord. The
passage is no excuse for sexism anywhere – not in families,
societies, cultures, or religions.
In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew, we hear
another story about readiness and being prepared. It’s a
familiar story, but it’s worth paying attention to the details. A
man entrusts three servants with exorbitant sums of money
(we believe one talent equaled fifteen years’ worth of laborers’
wages) and leaves town. He entrusts each one with abundance
according to each one’s ability. Two invest theirs and add to
the amount, and one digs a hole and buries it. We see how the
master responds to all three: there is swift affirmation and
judgment, and no excuses are considered right for the third
servant’s inaction.
What are we to make of this parable, especially in
light of Paul’s admonition to walk in God’s light alert and
follow the ways of the Lord? The master trusts the servants,
and God entrusts us with the word – everything animate and
inanimate. God trusts us to be good stewards and to continue
the work Jesus Christ laid out for his disciples.
If we wait for further instructions or for Jesus’
Second Coming to be certain, we will have wasted our time –
it will be the same as wasting fifteen years’ wages. If we go on
living as if we had one more day to act as God bids, even if we
live as if we have another hour or another minute, we do not
understand the urgency of the Good News.
We are exhorted to act now, be resourceful, and use
our lives and all that we have been given. We should not be
hesitant about the Good News of God’s loving kindness. We
must tell the world the Good News of the amazing, abundant
gifts we have been given. We must live freely and fully alert
every moment to God’s astonishing, saving love.
St. Francis of Assisi Church
Fiscal Update
July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014
I share with you a report on the fiscal standing of St.
Francis of Assisi Church, for the time period of July 1, 2013 –
June 30, 2014. This brief overview provides a transparent
accounting of our fiscal management. This is a snapshot
picture not a detailed annual report that a large corporation
would produce.
The biggest event in our Parish this past year was the
closing of our St. Francis of Assisi School at the end of the
2013-2014 academic year. Seeing that we did not have excess
funds to pay for the second half of the school year, we took
out a loan from the Diocese of Paterson in the amount of
$95,000 so that we could meet our financial obligations to the
school. One of the biggest factors involved with the decision
was a sixteen-year steady decline in enrollment.
Unfortunately, we had to raise the tuition which put our school
out of reach for many families. Based on an enrollment of less
than ninety students for this year, the difficult decision to close
was made.
Now for some good news…Our 53rd Annual
Carnival was a great success! After expenses, we netted a
profit of $55,000. This year, Carnival funds are being used to
help with much needed deferred maintenance projects as I
wrote about in previous bulletins. Also, our Religious
Education program is thriving. We have over two-hundred
children who are here on Monday afternoons or Sunday nights
learning about our faith.
An area where we need everyone to pitch in is
fundraising. In the past, the major fundraisers were run by the
School to benefit the School. Fundraisers now take place to
help with Parish expenses so we need everyone to support the
Craft Fair, the Calendar Raffle, the Grocery Store Gift Cards,
etc. We also need volunteers to help out with certain activities
like selling the Calendar Raffles and the Grocery Store Gift
Cards.
As far as future spending goes, we will strike a
balance between building our bank account back up, catching
up on much needed maintenance, and paying off the school
loan to the Diocese (current balance owed is $85,000). We
need everyone to pitch in to bring us back to good fiscal
health. This means keeping up with donations to the weekly
collection along with keeping up with pledge payments to the
Partners in Faith Campaign and the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.
Statement of Operations
St. Francis of Assisi Church
Income
Collections
Donations/Bequests
National Collections
Program Fees
Total
$350,837
$ 56,271
$ 41,101
$ 39,817
$488,026
Expenses
Salaries/Benefits $167,010
Operating Costs
Operations
$ 37,744
Office
$ 36,362
Facilities
$ 67,105
Diocesan Assessment
$ 42,202
Total
$350,423
Surplus/(Deficit) $137,603
Subsidy to School
($213,000)
Net Surplus/(Deficit)
($75,397)
May God bless our future and give continued
fruitfulness to this work and all the works of our hands and
hearts.
Fall Craft & Vendor Fair
&
Calendar Raffle
This Sunday we have our annual Fall Craft and
Vendor Fair and we kick off our next Calendar Raffle. Please
support the Craft Fair by attending on Sunday, November 16,
from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and bring some friends with you.
We need the Calendar Raffle to be a success so please
purchase one or more tickets. Loyal readers of this Bulletin
know that we usually end up with repeat winners. The
Calendar Raffle tickets also make excellent stocking stuffers.
If you have had to buy wrapping paper or candy to support
your co-workers’ children or your neighbors’ children, here is
your chance for payback. Please consider taking a packet of
ten tickets to sell. Thanks for your continued support of our
fundraisers and our Parish.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. David Pickens
Pastor
St. Francis Religious Education News
Let Us Share Our Thoughtfulness with Others!
9th Grade Service Project
Our ninth graders will be collecting items for the Wanaque
Food Pantry from November 1 through November 23.
Extremely Need: Non-Perishable Food
Soups, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, tuna, chili, pasta,
sauces, drinks, coffee, tea, condiments, canned food items,
boxes of food items.
Other Needs: Non-Food Items
Shampoo, conditioner, soap, paper products, first aid items,
and baby formula: Enfamil, Similac, Good Start, and diapers.
PLEASE help our ninth graders help others by donating!
Please bring donations to our Religious Education Classes.
For Parishioners: there will be boxes in the Narthex.
Thank you St. Francis Community for your help and support!
“Help us who have received so freely from you to give as
freely in our turn, and so have the pleasure of giving as well
as the happiness of receiving.”
Calendar Raffle Sweepstakes Time
90 Opportunities to Win with each Ticket
Prizes Total $5000
Since tickets may win more than once, each $10.00 donation
gives you 90 chances to win. All proceeds from this fundraiser
will help defray the cost of building maintenance.
Every day is a chance to win a great prize. A winner will be
chosen for each day from December 25th through March 24th.
Check the special days for bigger prize money!
All parishioners are asked to support this fundraiser for the
parish and to sell at least 10 raffle tickets. Packages of 10
tickets will be available after all the masses. You can also pick
up
packages
from
the
rectory.
Individual tickets will also be available for sale after all
masses beginning Saturday, November 15th through Sunday,
Dec. 21st. Tickets may also be purchased at the rectory or by
contacting
the
chairperson
below.
Please show your support and help our parish!
Erika Reid
Calendar Raffle Chairperson
973-628-7917
eareid@optonline.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ST. FRANCIS ANNUAL PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sponsored by St. Francis Ladies Guild
Monday, December 1st at 6:30 P.M.
At “Il Palazzo Restaurant”, 600 Ringwood Avenue, Wanaque
Featuring a Buffet Menu:
Italian Brushetta Display and Fancy Cheese Platter
Assorted Thin Crust Pizza and Stromboli Breads
Penne with Vodka Sauce
Chicken Marsala, Sliced Flank Steak
Tender Veal and Peppers
Eggplant Rollatini
Tilapia
String beans
Roasted Red Potatoes
Fresh Baked Dinner Rolls
Mixed Garden Salad
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Pastries & Cookies
Unlimited Soda, Coffee, and Tea
Price: $30.00 all included per person
Any questions please call Carol Funcheon at 973-835-3803.
RSVP deadline is November 26th. (Firm)
Please return below reservation to rectory attn:
Carol Funcheon
Christmas Party Reservation
Name_____________________________________________
Phone Number______________________________________
Amount Enclosed____________________________________
Preferred Seating____________________________________
“SOUP’S ON”
Saturday, November 22, 2014
following 5:30 P.M. Mass
SOUP AND SANDWICH SUPPER
(sponsored by St. Francis Ladies Guild)
Come join us for a bowl of steaming homemade
soup, sandwich, dessert,
and some “warm” hospitality!
Only ……$10.00 – adults
$5.00 – children 12 years and under
For reservations call the rectory at 973-835-0480
Thank You
Thank you to the Parish for donating to my Eagle Scout
project. With all the money donated I have enough to buy all
the supplies I require. The parish did an amazing job with
donations. We raised $1,581 this weekend. I greatly appreciate
the support from the parish. You guys are the reason this
project will be able to happen. Thank you again!
Sincerely,
Freddy Ackerly
LAKELAND NURSING HOME SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014
Pat Demarest & Mary Oliveira
LECTORS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2014
5:30 P.M.
Giovanna Vollaro
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014
7:30 A.M.
Jay Markot
10:00 A.M
Gil Boroski
12 NOON
Mike Durkin
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2014
5:30 P.M.
Karen Cisco & Lynn Magnini
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014
7:30 A.M.
Sue Raoul & Mary Kearns
10:00 A.M.
Jackie & Annie Rivera
12 NOON
Tony Mazza & John Arendas
ALTAR SERVERS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2014
5:30 P.M.
Open
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014
7:30 A.M.
Victoria Sheridan
10:00 A.M.
Samantha & Stephanie Reilly
12 NOON
Alana Beshaw & Timothy Kenny