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Pastor Weekly Message For June 5 & 6
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June 5, 2021Jesus is Lord!
Dear: Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Welcome back to Mass! What a joy it is to have all our parishioners gathering again in our beautiful church for Holy Mass. As you know the Bishops of New Jersey have lifted the dispensation to attend Mass that was given from the beginning of the pandemic. Now as Catholics we are obligated to keep the Lord’s Day holy by attending Mass. However, as pastor, it is my hope that we don’t “just” attend Holy Mass out of obligation, but it’s our heart’s desire to come together with brothers and sisters in Christ and join the angelic choir in heavenly praise of our great God and open your hearts to Jesus who is there to feed us and sustain us.
Today the church celebrates the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, commonly known as Corpus Christi. What a great occasion for everyone to return to Mass. I recall how devastating it was for all of us when, because of the pandemic, we could not receive the Blessed Sacrament. I was profoundly moved when the church was locked, and parishioners would sit in their cars in the church parking lot in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that was the Church – the building itself became their tabernacle. But the most incredible experience was distributing the Blessed Sacrament at the very first parking lot Mass to see so many of our parishioners and friends brought to tears at the reception of Holy Communion. If this was just a piece of bread there would have been no emotions, but our dear parishioners knew in their hearts that they were receiving Jesus – body, blood, soul and divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. Today on this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, let us all open our hearts to a deeper encounter with our Eucharistic Lord!
Now that we all have been called back home to Holy Mass, I also want to invite all parishioners to participate in Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at Saint Mary Chapel. Since Ash Wednesday, the Chapel has been open 24/7. Each hour is required to have two people adoring. There are currently 13 hours that have only one person. On the Feast of Corpus Christi, I ask all our parishioners to sign up for one hour a week in Eucharistic Adoration. Please visit our webpage at www.stmarychurchnj.org/adoration.
As we return to normal parish life, I want to call everyone to giving back to the Lord and our community by service. If you like to sing or play an instrument, be part of the music ministry. If you feel called to be a lector, extraordinary minister of the Holy Communion, usher, minister of hospitality or money counter, please call us at the parish office. Let us all “set up” and serve the Lord and His Church.
Have a blessed week!
In Jesus and Mary,
Father Jeff Kegley
Pastor