DIOCESAN EVENTS

Chrism Mass, 4 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. Details to follow and will be posted on diometuchen.org

FOCCUS Facilitator Training – Marriage Prep, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., sponsored by the diocesan Office of Family Life, the in-person program will be held at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway. Deacon Greg Caruso, a certified FOCCUS presenter in the diocese will conduct this session. Participants attending this training will learn how to administer and interpret the new 4th Edition of the FOCCUS pre-marital inventory tool. The registration fee for this training session is $100 (includes the new 4th Edition FOCCUS manual and lunch). If you already have this manual you may bring it to the session and your registration fee will be $50.00 (includes lunch). If you have any questions or concerns, please contact amarshall@diometuchen.org or call 732-562-1543.

Diocesan Reflection Day for Black Catholics, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m St. Matthias Church, Somerset, sponsored by the diocesan Office of Multicultural Ministries. The day will include lifting in prayer six Catholic African American candidates to sainthood: Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA; Venerable Henriette Delille, SSF; Servant of God Julia Greely; Servant of God Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, OSP; Venerable Pierre Toussaint; and Venerable Father Augustus Tolton. The day will also be a preparation for the National Black Catholic Congress in July 2023 and will include prayer and praise, personal reflection, group listening and reflection. Guided by the Holy Spirit, it will culminate in the collective wisdom of the people of God. Our diocesan delegates will take the pastoral concerns as well as the vision and prophetic call to action expressed at this gathering to the National Congress. For more information contact Sister Miriam Perez, coordinator for Multicultural Ministries at mperez@ diometuchen.org or call 732-529-7933. To register, visit: https://diometuchen.org/2023nbc

NJ Catholic Youth Rally at Six Flags Great Adventure, 9 a.m to 8 p.m. The NJ Catholic Youth Rally is a day-long event that gathers teens from across the state of New Jersey for a day of fun, fellowship, Mass, and more held at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. The day starts with a dynamic opening ceremony hosted by the Diocese of Metuchen. Teens then get the day to enjoy the park and all the rides. The day concludes in the Batman Stunt Arena with a Mass. Open to all Jr. High, High School & Young Adult Ministry, Scouting Parish/School Athletic Programs, and families! For more information and to register, visit: https://www.diometuchen.org/youth-rally

Life-Giving Wounds Retreat for Adult Children of Divorce or Separation, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Shrine of St. Joseph, Stirling. This retreat is a unique opportunity for young adults (18+) and adults with divorced or separated parents to reflect intentionally on the wounds caused by their family’s breakdown, together with others who know this pain and are knowledgeable, compassionate retreat leaders. General Admission is $75, Student Admission is $25. To register visit: www. diometuchen.org/familylife. If you have any questions, please contact: cdaverso@diometuchen. org or amarshall@diometuchen.org

Diocesan Programs

Eucharistic Adorers Wanted

Now that the pandemic is over, Bishop Checchio would like to offer Eucharistic adoration at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Monday through Friday, from 9:00-11:45 a.m. As St. Pope John Paul II noted. “The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic adoration.” Anyone who is interested in signing up should contact Angela Marshall at amarshall@diometuchen.org

Catechism in a Year for Women

This virtual Women's Group will meet each week on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. on Zoom for discussion of Fr. Mike Schmitz's "Catechism in a Year" podcast which began on January 8. For details, contact Cristina at cdaverso@diometuchen.org

"The Chosen" Study Series

All young adult engaged and married couples are invited to join in a virtual study series based on the hit series, "The Chosen." A different episode will be discussed each meeting and virtual watch parties will be planned sporadically. Meetings take place every other Monday evening at 7 p.m. on Zoom. For details or to join, please contact Cristina D'AversoCollins at cdaverso@diometuchen.org.

Blue Rosary Guild

The Office of Family Life is pleased to announce the creation of the Blue Rosary Guild. The purpose of the Guild is for community members of all ages to make pocket Rosaries for law enforcement officers, providing them with support and spiritual strength and promoting devotion to the Rosary among all the faithful. All materials and instructions will be provided and a Zoom virtual tutorial will also be scheduled. Anyone interested should contact Cristina D'Averso-Collins, Director of the Office of Family Life

Around The Diocese

Holy Hour

SELLING YOUR HOME?

Willing to buy your home or townhouse in as-is condition. Quick 30 day cash closing. I’m a Licensed realtor in the State of NJ. Eugene “George” Pantozzi 908-392-2677 (call or text) georgepantozzi@hotmail.com

WINDOW & DOOR SCREEN REPAIRS

Installation of Fiberglass screens for your doors and windows. Pick-up and drop off services available. George & Sons: (908) 392-2677

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks an Editor-in-Chief to assist with the production of the monthly periodical. The ideal candidate will be responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the conception, design, production, and distribution of The Catholic Spirit. A background in communications and public relations is preferred. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.

Advertising Sales Representative

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks an Advertising Sales Representative to assist with the sale of advertising space. The ideal candidate will be responsible for initiating, developing, and closing sales of print media advertising in The Catholic Spirit by creating and building effective client relationships with area businesses and organizations. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - GRAPHIC DESIGNER

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks a Graphic Designer to assist with the layout and design of its publication. The ideal candidate will have Adobe InDesign and Photoshop experience in a PC environment, be familiar with all aspects of electronic publishing, be well-organized and reliable, and have a proven track record of meeting deadlines. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.

Parish Catechetical Leader

Saint Joseph Parish, Hillsborough, NJ is seeking a Parish Catechetical Leader who is caring, engaging, organized, and passionate about passing on the Catholic faith. Our active parish community strives to create a welcoming environment for all who seek to deepen their faith. In this role, you will partner with parish families, staff, and ministries to oversee the planning, evaluation, and management of religious education and faith formation for children in grades 1-8. You will also provide support for adult religious education and formation initiatives, including the OCIA program. If you're interested in this opportunity, visit http://sjmillstone.com/employment for more information. Submit your resume and cover letter to bobf@sjmillstone.com. We can't wait to hear from you!

For classified rates, or to book your ad, call Tiffany at (732) 243-4581

Fundraiser

April 22, 6:30 p.m. -- As part of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish’s 100th anniversary celebration, a Speakeasy will be presented at the parish, 390 County Road 523, Whitehouse Station. Nancy Colleti and Judy Palmer will perform popular songs from the 20th century. The event is hosted by the Anniversary Committee and the Knights of Columbus Council 6930. Tickets are $30 per person. Beverages included. 1920s period attire, optional. For tickets, e-mail anniversary@ollwhs.org, or call Roman Hnidj at (908) 256-9760 or romanhnidj@verizon. net.

Bereavement Ministry

April 13, 1:30 p.m. -- Those who have recently lost a loved one are welcome to meetings of “Journey through Grief” support group at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish Center, Middlesex. The spring session will meet every Thursday for six consecutive weeks. Registration is required. Forms are available near the entrances to the church and in the parish office.

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