Concert Recital with Kimberley Mesiti, Soprano 11/8

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You are invited to attend a recital with STA Cantor Kim Mesiti on Wednesday, November 8th at 12:00pm. This will be a 30-minute program featuring classic works by Faure, Debussy, Handel, and Malotte. Kristin Johnson will be her accompanist on piano.

This recital is part of the Cathedral’s “Wednesdays at Noon” series. It will take place at The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart at 89 Ridge Street, Newark, NJ 07104.

If you can’t make it in person, the recital will be livestreamed. Please visit the Cathedral’s Facebook page a few minutes before the concert to access the livestream.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/cathedralbasilicamusic

Please donate a Thanksgiving Turkey to the Soup Kitchen

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The Beyond Cornerstone Ministry is sponsoring a turkey collection for needy families as requested by the Missionary Sisters of Charity of St Augustine’s soup kitchen.

Thanksgiving is a great time to not only be grateful for what we have but to remember those who have less. Times are difficult and the number of those in need has risen.

In addition to the turkeys, the sisters hope to provide bags of food for Thanksgiving dinner for 50 families.

All donations of turkeys will be collected on November 18th between 7:30 and 8:30AM in the parking lot by the handicapped entrance to the church. The donated turkeys will then be delivered directly to the soup kitchen.

Thank you for your continued generosity!

Advent Wreath Activity Sunday, December 3rd

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You are invited to an Advent Wreath Activity on Sunday, December 3rd at 1:00pm in the Parish Center.

Stay and assemble your wreath while enjoying cookies, cocoa, and carols OR grab your wreath kit and assemble it at home.

Cost is $20 payable at the door. Please state whether you want to stay and decorate or grab and go. RSVP to Tracey at traceyhann2@gmail.com.

2023 Ministry Fair in Photos - Thank you to all who participated!

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A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

I take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has helped make this Ministry Fair a reality:

Special thanks to our Coordinator, Mallory M., for all of her efforts in organizing and executing the plans that helped to make this event the huge success that it was; members of the Pastoral Council – Marta Glogowski, Chairperson, Joe Turner, Vice Chairperson, Lorraine McMillan, Secretary- for all of their help in planning, explaining the fair to our parish leaders of ministries, and for planning the various ministry talks at Mass.

Thanks to Donna Salgado and the Hospitality Committee for keeping us well fed during the event. Special thanks to John’s Deli for donating the tray of sandwiches.

Thank you to the Music Ministry for donating the banner!

Thank you to all who purchased T-shirts!

Thank you for all who helped with the setup and cleanup of our 2023 Ministry Fair! Moving tables and chairs in our parish center is no easy feat and your efforts helped to make things go smoothly on Monday morning.

Lastly, thank you to all of our ministry volunteers. May your Stewardship of Time and Talent will be rewarded with many blessings.

There are opportunities for Volunteer Service and Christian Fellowship for people of all ages, abilities, and stages of life at our parish. Click here to find out more!

Deacon Tom's Homily for October 22nd, the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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TODAY’S GOSPEL ENCOUNTER MAY seem like just another debate about taxes, but it’s actually a vicious attack, whose goal is nothing less than crucifixion!

WHENEVER A NEW ROMAN Emperor came into power, one of the first things he did, to assert his authority, was to mint a series of coins with his image on them.

THE MAJORITY OF JEWS considered the very use of these coins blasphemy not only because of their graven image, but because their inscription proclaimed the Emperor a god!

THE TWO JEWISH FACTIONS, mentioned in our Gospel today, are bitter enemies! Despite this, they’ve teamed up to ensnare Jesus in a deadly trap.

IF THEY CAN GET HIM TO ANSWER “Yes” to their question about paying taxes to the Romans, the Pharisees are certain most of the Jews will turn against Him.

IF HE ANSWERS “NO”, THE Herodians, Jews who are collaborators with Rome, will immediately have Jesus arrested for sedition and treason!

THEY’RE SO SURE THEY’VE GOT Him!

BUT JESUS AVOIDS FALLING INTO their trap; instead, He requests to see a coin.

“Whose image is on your coin?” He asks them, and His opponents realize that they’ve been defeated.

WE CAN ALMOST SEE THEIR arrogance evaporate! Not daring to look up, they mumble: “Caesar’s”.

“Then, repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,” Jesus tells them.

THEY’VE ENJOYED THE ROMAN roads, economic prosperity under the Pax Romana, and the freedom from anarchy that civil government provides. So, it’s only right that they pay for them.

THEN JESUS STINGS THEM TO THE core, when He demands: “And repay to God, what belongs to God.”

WHAT DOES “REPAY TO GOD, WHAT belongs to God” mean for us today?

WELL, WHOSE IMAGE IS STAMPED on each one of us?

THE BOOK OF GENESIS TELLS US God created each of us in His own image. We’ve been imprinted with His Spirit who dwells with in us and we carry His image with us wherever we go: to work, to school, to play.

SO, TO REPAY GOD WHAT IS GOD’S means loving Him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.

IN A SENSE, EACH OF US IS GOD’S precious coin. And from all these coins, from all this wealth, a kingdom is being built: the Kingdom of God on earth!