St. Catherine of Siena

All activities and groups are cancelled until further notice

Parish Office:
Phone: 973-334-7131
Fax: 973-334-3202
ParishOffice@StCatherine-ml.org

Fr. Jared Brogan, Pastor
Phone: 973-334-7131
jbrogan@StCatherine-ml.org

Fr. Michal Rybinski, Parochial Vicar
Phone: 973-334-7131
frmichal@StCatherine-ml.org

Religious Education:
Phone: 973-334-5257
ReligiousEducation@StCatherine-ml.org

Dear St. Catherine of Siena Family,

If you are like me, you are losing track of what day it is.  Today is Friday.  Happy Friday!  Once again, I would like to thank everyone for continuing to support St. Catherine’s by dropping off or mailing in your envelopes or by electronic giving Click here for online giving.  Whereas our expenses have gone down slightly, most expenses remain.  Thank you for your support!

As we end another week allow me to remind you of a few things.  This weekend we will begin to have two Sunday Masses available on  St Catherine's YouTube Channel.  The first will be at 5:30pm on Saturday (Fr. Michal) and the second at 11:30am on Sunday (Fr. Jared).  Daily Mass will be celebrated (Monday-Saturday) at noon, beginning Monday, March 30.  Other videos will be posted on the page so please check regularly.  You are invited to subscribe to the channel. 

One of the silver linings of this experience is the outpouring of kindness and generosity by so many. If you need any assistance with shopping or preparing meals, please let me know.  I will put you in touch with individuals who have offered assistance. 

Next week, more information will be provided regarding Holy Week.  As for now, let us continue to pray for one another.  Dona nobis pacem. 

May the Lord give you his peace.
-Fr. Jared
 

Dear St. Catherine of Siena Family,

We are coming to the end of our first week of social distancing including not being able to celebrate the Sacraments publicly.  Additional safety measures have been put in place by Bishop Serratelli.  All Baptisms will be deferred except in the case of urgent necessity.  The same is true for the Anointing of the Sick.  First Communions and Confirmations will also be deferred. All Funeral Masses will be discontinued until further notice.  A graveside service (Rite of Committal) with no more than eight persons may be celebrated.  A public memorial Mass can be scheduled for a later date when all restrictions have been lifted.

Mass Online

This Saturday, the Sunday Mass from St. Catherine’s will become available online.  This link:
 St Catherine's YouTube Channel
will bring you to St. Catherine’s YouTube page.  There you will see Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 22, 2020.   Each Saturday afternoon at 5:30pm this page will be updated and you will be able to access the Mass for that Sunday.  All previous Masses will be accessible as well.   

For Daily Mass, there are several options.  EWTN plays Mass daily at 8am, 12pm, and 7pm.  Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire website will also have Mass that can be accessed here:
 Word On Fire Daily Mass
As you watch the Mass, you are invited to make a spiritual communion as you are not able to receive the Eucharist.

Act of Spiritual Communion 
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come spiritually into my heart.  I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.  Never permit me to be separated from You.  Amen.

Prayer of Pope Francis for Protection and Help
 O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You…know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of those of us who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.
 
Church Hours
The church will remain open as of now from 10am-6pm seven days a week with the exception of Wednesdays when the church will open at 11am.  Each evening the church is disinfected.  You are invited to spend time in quiet prayer during these hours. 
 
Nourish.NJ (formally The Community Soup Kitchen)
Due to the increased concerns regarding COVID-19, nourish.NJ will be suspending sit-down meals and free farmer's markets. Instead, they will provide bagged lunches free to pick-up for anyone who needs it. Those will be distributed from 11:30am-1:00pm at the Church of the Redeemer, Morristown every day except Saturdays, when they will be distributed at St. Peter's in Morristown. There is a group of parishioners who volunteer on a regular basis.  During this time, nourish.NJ will not require volunteer servers. If you are interested in making a financial contribution, you can do so through the nourish.NJ website (nourishnj.org). If you have any questions, please contact parishioners Carol Kennedy (cckenn11@aol.com) or Jim Gregorek (jimgregorek@optonline.net).

Let us pray for one another!
Peace,
Fr. Jared

Welcome to St. Catherine of Siena Church!  St. Catherine’s has been the spiritual home for the Mountain Lakes, Boonton Township, Boonton, Denville, Parsippany,and Rockaway communities and beyond since 1957.  Generations of families have worshipped and continue to worship here.  It is the place where we grow together spiritually, in service, and socially.  We encounter the living God in the person of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We experience the Lord sacramentally and in the lives of one another.  St. Catherine’s is a place of welcome in which hospitality is offered to all, whether you are a first-time visitor or as a member of our community.  We welcome all of you who seek the Lord.  We are blessed by your presence.  We span different generations, but all seeking to build an experience of Church that is genuinely welcoming, mission oriented, and Christ-centered.  Whatever brings you to St. Catherine’s, please know that you are always welcome. May the Lord give you his peace!
- Father Jared  Brogan

Text and Email Phishing Scam Alert

A growing number of parishes are reporting that emails have been received by their parishioners, allegedly from their pastor or a member of the parish staff, asking people to purchase gift cards or send money to help the poor. This is a total scam – and unfortunately is being seen around the country. Priests or representationvs of the Church will never contact you by text or email to ask for any "favors" or for donations of cash or gift cards.

PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO SUCH MESSAGES!
 

The Diocese of Paterson has a policy that instructs all of its personnel to NEVER follow any email or text requests for any type of transfer of funds, purchases or sending any form of money for any purpose.  

Any fraud attempts and scam activity should always be reported to local law enforcement.