Dear Parish Family,
I hope and pray that this new year has found you healthy, happy, and holy! The priests of the parish are praying for you daily. I thank you so much for having been so respectful and courteous of each other throughout this very challenging pandemic. We have led the charge in being safe, conscientious, and considerate of health and sanitization efforts. I have received many compliments from both parishioners and visitors regarding our initiatives. I encourage you to continue being compassionate to one another by observing social distancing and being sure to sanitize regularly while wearing your masks when possible.
Because we find ourselves in a safer environment, I can joyfully announce that we will begin distributing hard copy bulletins once again. The bulletin will be a monthly update rather than the weekly bulletin we are familiar with. We shall do this for two reasons. The amount of activity in our parish is minimal and reduced due to the pandemic—the amount of information we need to convey changes almost daily. I am strongly encouraging you to stay active on our Facebook page and our website.
It is also now permissible for us to slowly re-introduce our altar server program! I am very encouraged to have received these permissions, and I am looking forward to once again having their tremendous assistance. This will begin in Lent.
Because of the outstanding efforts made by our maintenance team, we also have found a way to add another Mass to our schedule! We will soon introduce a noon Mass. In doing so, we will accommodate more people in our church while keeping social distancing. The needs are significant in our parish, but we must continue to do our very best to ensure each other‘s health. with that, I ask you to please stay home and not physically attend the liturgy if you in any way feel uncomfortable or are uncomfortable with those around you. If you are seated near or are in contact with one who is making you uncomfortable, I would kindly request that you consider staying home for your own peace of mind and well-being. The Bishop has given us dispensation, and so we can do this without any fear of spiritual consequence.
Once again thank you so much for your incredible compassion and dedication to keeping our parish family healthy and safe!
Magno Cum Gaudio,
Father Brian Patrick Woodrow
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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 31, 2021
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Mark 1:21-28: “What is this?
A new teaching with authority.”
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Celebrate Catholic Schools Week
January 31 ~ February 6
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National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2021 is January 31 – February 6.
The theme for the National Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members, but due to COVID-19, the celebration will take on a different look this year. Our schools focus on the value Catholic education through the teachings of Jesus Christ provide to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation. This week let us pray in a special way for our school communities as they continue to provide quality education in very difficult times.
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Feast of Saint Blaise
Blessing of the Throat
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Wednesday, February 3 is the
Feast of St. Blaise
St. Blaise is the patron saint of throat ailments. The Feast of St. Blaise is February 3, 2021.
The Blessing of the Throats is a traditional ritual wherein a special blessing against all illnesses and throat ailments is conferred upon the Catholic Faithful, through the intercession of St. Blaise.
Saint Dominic Parish will celebrate the Feast of Saint Blaise at the 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Masses on February 3rd and at all weekend Masses on February 6th & 7th. The usual custom of approaching the priest individually is abrogated this year due to COVID-19. The Blessing of the Throats will be conferred by the Priest, from the Altar, at the end of each Mass.
If you are uncomfortable attending Mass in person, Saint Dominic Parish live-streams the 10:30 A.M. Mass each Sunday on the Parish YouTube channel. Please visit the parish website for more details.
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Pro-Life News
"Answers to Key Ethical Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines"
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Weekly Eucharistic Adoration |
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Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
St. Dominic's Parish is blessed to announce weekly Eucharistic Adoration. Adoration will be held every Friday in the Church at
11:00 AM and will continue until 4:00 PM.
“Let us take time, in the course of the week, in passing, to go in and spend a moment with the Lord who is so near. This is what is lovely about Catholic churches, that within them there is, as it were, always worship, because the Eucharistic Presence of the Lord Jesus dwells always within them. Without adoration, there is no transformation of the world.”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
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Join Father Marian for the ... |
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9:00 PM - The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be celebrated in reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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Following the Mass - Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Rosary, Prayer, and Confession
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12 Midnight - The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be celebrated in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
For more information, contact Fr. Marian (484) 368-4636.
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Ash Wednesday, February 17 |
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The Catholic season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 17) and lasts until the Triduum (April 1-4); Evening of Holy Thursday - Evening of Easter Sunday.
The observance of Lent is a period of fasting, prayer, and penitence that lasts a total of forty (40) days and serves to prepare the Catholic Faithful for the celebration of Easter Sunday. The time frame of forty (40) days is significant as it represents the forty days of fasting and temptation that Jesus experienced in the desert.
Ashes will be distributed during Mass at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM
Please be aware that instead of the normal tradition of the Priest, Deacon, or lay person forming a cross on the each individual's forehead, to avoid physical contact, ashes will be distributed through the Roman Tradition of sprinkling the Ashes over the head of the individuals. This special and scared tradition greatly symbolizes the internal call for repentance through which we turn ourselves to Almighty God.
Please note that Ash Wednesday is NOT a holyday of obligation and there is NO prescribed requirement to receive ashes (it is a visual reminder of our need for repentance). This year, for health reasons, we ask that you prudently consider whether to attend.
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2020 Parish Donation Requests |
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If you wish to have your 2020 church donations for tax purposes, please drop a request in the collection box in the Candle Room or call the Rectory Office at 732-840-1410. We will send you your parish contributions for 2020. |
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Please continue to visit our website (www.stdominicsparish.com). The website is an important communication for our parishioners to keep
up-to-date on parish news and announcements.
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