Newsletter
Thank you to all of our parishioners and friends for your positive feedback regarding our monthly emails. For more information don't forget to visit our website www.stcatharine-stmargaret.org and our social media accounts listed below
Here are just a few things happening in our parish
- Thanksgiving Service Tomorrow
- SCS Athletics Christmas 5K
- Changes to Collection Envelopes for 2020
- Lessons & Carols
- Spotlight VIP
- Giving Tree
- Advent Penance Service
- High School Volunteers Wanted
- New Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Schedule for 2019
- and so much more!!
Trenton Monitor
At the beginning of this month the Trenton Monitor Newspaper officially switched to a monthly magazine.
The parish is no longer sponsoring individual subscriptions to be delivered to parishioners' homes. There will be copies in the churches for free as always. If you would like a copy of the New Trenton Monitor Magazine delivered to your home please purchase a subscription HERE
The parish is no longer sponsoring individual subscriptions to be delivered to parishioners' homes. There will be copies in the churches for free as always. If you would like a copy of the New Trenton Monitor Magazine delivered to your home please purchase a subscription HERE
2020 Collection Envelope Additions
When you receive your envelopes for 2020 you will notice we’ve changed a few things around. Some of the colors are different, please be mindful.
- Diocesan Assessment- this envelope is now GREEN.
- This collection goes toward the Assessment the parish pays to the Diocese each year. This money goes to fund operations at the chancery and to assist other parishes. This is the only income the Diocese has other than the Annual Catholic Appeal. Our Assessment this year is $175,000.
- Social Outreach & Support (lime green border)
- These funds will remain in the parish and go to help those in our community. This will assist us when someone comes in requesting assistance and helps in supporting parishioners in case of fire, illness or another tragedy.
- St. Catharine School (blue border)
- This collection will go directly to offset the Parish’s investment in the school. Tuition does not cover all expenses for the school and the parish subsidizes the School to cover the remainder of the expenses. The 2018-2019 parish subsidy was approximately $540,000.
- Parish Music Ministry (orange border)
- This collection goes toward the Music Ministry in the parish including musicians at weekend liturgy, youth ensemble, choir, etc. The costs average about $2,000 per week for our weekend liturgies.
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Monday, December 2, 2019 at 7pm
St. Margaret Church
Spirituality and the Arts Presents...
The ATLANTIC WIND ENSEMBLE, a forty member concert band, returns to Spring Lake to perform their sacred and secular special Christmas favorites to open the advent and holiday season. Currently under the direction of Dennis Eschbach and Eliot Prowse, the ensemble has been providing musical entertainment to various groups for nearly 30 years.
Everyone is welcome to this very special event where they can sing and join in the festivities of what promises to be an enjoyable time for the entire family!
A free will offering will be taken to benefit the SAM JARMER FAMILY FUND and music ministries. AWE is contributing their services to the Fund. A reception will be held in Duffy Hall following the festival concert. For information Call 732-988-1661 or email michalinemanno@gmail.com.
Next VIRTUS Session is December 6th at 9:30AM at St. Rose in Belmar
Pre-registration is required.
Pre-registration is required.
Sign up HERE
REMINDER
Anyone volunteering with minors or vulnerable adults in the parish or school must complete the Protecting God's Children VIRTUS class and be fingerprinted every four years.
More information can be found on our website HERE
More information can be found on our website HERE
SPOTLIGHT VIP
(Volunteer in Parish)
Each month we will be shining a spotlight on a volunteer in the Parish. Without our volunteers, much of what happens in our parish and community would not be possible.
Aidan Quinn, Dillon Quinn, Gary Fletcher, Brendan Dwyer, PJ Dwyer, Brian Gilbert and Nolan Boehmcke
All of the young gentlemen mentioned above are alumni of St. Catharine School and currently enrolled in either St. Rose High School or Christian Brothers Academy.
They spend their Tuesday afternoons, or two weeks in the summer, volunteering as teachers for our Religious Education Program. They make their own lesson plans and the students could not be happier to have them as their teachers.
Aidan and Dillon Quinn teach second grade, following the example of their older brother Colin who also taught Religious Education before going off to college. Brendan and PJ Dwyer are currently in their second year of teaching 3rd grade. Brian Gilbert and Gary Fletcher are both in their second year teaching 4th and 6th grade respectively. Nolan Boehmcke taught 4th grade during our Summer Intensive Program.
Having these young men in our classrooms sets a great example not only for their students but for others in our parish. Anyone can volunteer and we are so grateful at these High School students take the time to volunteer with the younger children in our parish.
They spend their Tuesday afternoons, or two weeks in the summer, volunteering as teachers for our Religious Education Program. They make their own lesson plans and the students could not be happier to have them as their teachers.
Aidan and Dillon Quinn teach second grade, following the example of their older brother Colin who also taught Religious Education before going off to college. Brendan and PJ Dwyer are currently in their second year of teaching 3rd grade. Brian Gilbert and Gary Fletcher are both in their second year teaching 4th and 6th grade respectively. Nolan Boehmcke taught 4th grade during our Summer Intensive Program.
Having these young men in our classrooms sets a great example not only for their students but for others in our parish. Anyone can volunteer and we are so grateful at these High School students take the time to volunteer with the younger children in our parish.
The Christmas Giving Tree
Our Christmas “Giving Tree” has tags requesting items of clothing and/or toys for children and adults. The tree will be placed in St. Margaret Church and St. Catharine side chapel during Thanksgiving weekend.
Please take a tag, buy the item and return it to the tree with the tag attached to the outside of the gift. If you would rather not shop, you may make a donation for sneakers or senior citizen gifts.
This year you may also make a donation to be used to assist with tuition for a St. Catharine School student. Please place all monetary gifts in the collection box by the tree with the tag attached to the envelope.
All gifts must be returned by Sunday, December 15th in order for the last distribution to be delivered to the agencies during the week of December 16th so they can be sorted and delivered in time for Christmas.
Please consider helping to sort and bag gifts after the 11:30am Mass at St. Margaret Church on Sunday December 8th and Sunday, December 15 and at St. Catharine Church on Monday, December 9th and Monday, December 16th at 2:00pm.
Please call Maureen O’Reilly at 732-449-8285 if you can help on even one of these dates.
Thank you.
FAITH IN OUR FUTURE PLANNING INITIATIVE—AN UPDATE FROM COHORT 19
The Community Outreach Ministry is seeking leaders within our parish! This vital ministry in the St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish is searching for a leadership group of parishioners who will help research, plan and organize local charitable missions for our parish in 2020. If this speaks to you, please call or text John Natale, Jr. 732-546-6177 for more information.Collection Envelope Change
As a parish, we are currently sending collection envelopes to approximately 3,400 families 5 times per year. However, there are only around 1,600 families financially supporting the parish through collection envelopes and online contributions through Parish Giving.
Beginning in 2020 the parish will only send collection envelopes to those actively financially supporting the parish. By making this change we will save approximately $10,000 annually plus the cost of postage.
If you do not receive envelopes and would like to, please contact the rectory offices. Additionally, if you do receive envelopes and do not want them please let us know.
Beginning in 2020 the parish will only send collection envelopes to those actively financially supporting the parish. By making this change we will save approximately $10,000 annually plus the cost of postage.
If you do not receive envelopes and would like to, please contact the rectory offices. Additionally, if you do receive envelopes and do not want them please let us know.
St. Catharine Classics
Christmas Party!
Sunday, December 8, 2019 from 1-4pm at the Essex and Sussex honoring Fr. Damian Mc Elroy. For information, call Rosemary Heine at 732-449-7815.
Need A Christmas Gift Idea?
We have a limited supply of beautiful etched glass ornaments for sale at the Rectory and in the office at St. Catharine School. One is of St. Margaret Church, one is of St. Catharine’s Dome, and one of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish Family that includes St. Margaret Church, St. Catharine’s Dome, and St. Catharine School. $10 each or 3 for $25.
Are you a St. Catharine School Alumni?
Would you like to receive news and information on upcoming Alumni events?
Please email your name and year to scsptaalumni@gmail.com.
Do you know a Distinguished Graduate from St. Catharine School? Someone who is a role model for children who has shared their God-given gifts to make a significant contribution to society and/or the Catholic Church, which reflects on the education the individual received from Catholic elementary school? Please share your nominee(s) with us by April 1, 2020, at scsptaalumni@gmail.com. Proud to be a Laker!!!
The Center in Asbury Park
WINTER HAT & GLOVE DRIVE
We will also be collecting Men and Women’s NEW Hats and Gloves on December 21/22.
These people are our brothers and sisters in need. Please help them.
Seeds of Service (SOS)
CLOTHING DRIVE!!!
SOS is collecting donations of clothing, shoes, bedding, stuffed animals, and accessories for families in need.
All donations can be dropped off at
725 Mantoloking Rd., Brick, NJ 08723.
If you are local and have more than 10 bags of clothing,
please call (732) 746-3456 to set a pick-up.
Donations are being collected up until Dec. 7, 2019.
Annual Catholic Appeal
Each year we as a parish participate in the Annual Catholic Appeal. Traditionally, our goal has been to raise $175,000. We have always been very proud to say that we are one of the few parishes to not only meet our goal but vastly exceed it each year.
This year we are sad to say that we are $50,000 short of our goal.
This year we are sad to say that we are $50,000 short of our goal.
Please watch the attached video and consider donating to the Annual Catholic Appeal. None of your donation will go to fund the child abuse settlements, it all goes to help our diocese run each and every day,
Donate or find more information on the Diocese of Trenton website HERE
Goal: $175,000
Pledges: $$135,051
Funds Collected: $124,976
Pledges: $$135,051
Funds Collected: $124,976
Contact Rick Cambron at the rectory at 732-449-5765 x111 or RBC@stcatharine-stmargaret.org for more information
DRIVERS NEEDED
We are looking for more drivers to take parishioners to the doctor or therapy. If you could assist us with this ministry, please call Sr. Margaret Tierney at 732-449-5765, x124.
Must be Safe Environment Compliant, have valid license and care insurance.
Eucharistic Adoration
St. Catharine- St. Margaret Parish is honored to have this powerful devotion in
St. Catharine Chapel every Wednesday from 8:30AM to 4:00PM
The Priest or Deacon removes the sacred host from the tabernacle and places it on the altar for adoration. During this time parishioners may come at any time (for any length of time) to pray or meditate in the presence of our Lord.
At 4PM, Adoration concludes and Benediction takes place and the Host is placed back into the tabernacle. Because we believe in the living presence of Jesus in the consecrated Host, the Blessed Sacrament should not be left unattended at any time. We ask that worshipers sign in while visiting the Blessed Sacrament so we are able to monitor the number of people in attendance and so that we know whether the Blessed Sacrament was left alone. Please feel free to use the booklets provided to guide your prayer and meditation if you need it
“Know someone who needs assistance with food, housing, addiction recovery, mental health, domestic violence or immigration? Contact Charities Diocese of Trenton: www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org.”
Cohort 19 News
A New Cohort website has been created, GatheredAsOne.com
Here you will be able to see mass times, events and news from all five of the parishes in Cohort 19
Get Social With Us
You may have noticed a more concerted effort in the parish's social media department during the past few months. The parish technology team definitely appreciates all the support, follows and likes you have given. If you don't already follow us, we can be found on
Facebook- www.facebook.com/stcatharinestmargaret
Instagram- @stcatharine_stmargaret
Twitter- @stcathstmarg
Instagram- @stcatharine_stmargaret
Twitter- @stcathstmarg
