Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage
Please click on the link above to view on formed.
So when he had washed their feet
and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,
he said to them, Do you realize what I have done for you?
You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another’s feet.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I’m sure at this stage everyone has seen the image of the famous last supper picture where Jesus is alone at the table, and all the disciples are joining in using Zoom! I feel a little bit like that tonight, this is the Lord’s supper, and he invites us to gather with him. Indeed, we can’t gather in person, but I hope that virtually and spiritually, we will join Christ tonight.
This evening I’d like to invite you not only to travel spiritually to Saint Catharine’s Church to witness the Lord supper but to travel in our hearts and souls to Jerusalem. Let us go back to that night and walk through the streets. The windows are lit as families gather to celebrate the Passover meal.
We walk up the steps to the upper room to be greeted by Jesus, our host. Before the meal begins, of course, we must wash our hands and head, and we expect some servant will wash our feet. We are shocked to see our Lord and master put a towel around his waist, and kneel at our feet. It’s not supposed to be this way; he is the master; we are the servants.
Peter protests, “You will never wash my feet.” And the Lord explains to him that to share his life, is to allow him to serve us, to cleanse us, and to join him in the life of service to others.
Now it’s your turn, Christ approaches you, he kneels at your feet, he calls you by name and gently washes your feet. Tell him in your heart what do you need to be cleansed from.
From what will he cleanse us? From all the grime and struggle we have picked up, all that has damaged our beauty and dignity. All the hurt and harm which we have caused to ourselves and that caused by others.
Allow Christ to wash away your sins and stubbornness. To cleanse you of fear, judgment, contempt, superiority, despair, cynicism, lost hope.
He invites you to wash the feet of those around. Who will you serve, who needs to be served? Who needs to be reassured, to be loved, to be cherished, to have their dignity restored, to be treated with gentleness?
And now that we’ve had our feet washed by our Lord and master, he invites us to gather around his table.
With Love and Blessings,
Fr Damian
Father Damian will celebrate the
Mass of The Lord's Supper tonight at 7PM.
A recording will be posted on our YouTube channel following mass.
Message From The Bishop
On the advice of public health officials, I am mandating the closing of all Churches and chapels in the Diocese of Trenton to the public, effective at noon, Wednesday, April 1, until further notice.
Out of an abundance of caution and for your own health and safety and that of all the faithful, I ask your strict cooperation.
Thank you,
Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M.
Out of an abundance of caution and for your own health and safety and that of all the faithful, I ask your strict cooperation.
Thank you,
Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M.
Why Holy Thursday
By Father Christopher Dayton, St. Rose, Belmar
Please click on the link above to view the video
A Coronavirus Prayer
Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages "curing every disease and illness." At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.
Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.
Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.
Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.
Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages "curing every disease and illness." Come to our aid now, that we may experience your healing love.
Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.
Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.
Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.
Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.
Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.
Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.
Jesus Christ, heal us.
Watch Father Damian and/or Fr. Will every weekday at 12 Noon, Saturdays at 5PM and Sundays at 10:30AM for mass in St. Catharine Church on live stream HERE
These masses are not open to the public
It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Father John Morley who frequently celebrated mass at our parish for many years.
Condolences can be sent to:
St. Catharine Rectory
215 Essex Avenue
Spring Lake, NJ 07762
We will forward to the family.
Virtual Rosary
Please join Sr. Carole and Sr. Margaret and Sr. Mary on live stream each Monday and Wednesday at 4PM to pray the rosary.
Mailing address:
215 Essex Avenue
Spring Lake, NJ 07762
215 Essex Avenue
Spring Lake, NJ 07762
Venmo: @stcathstmarg
Zelle: 732-904-3850
Zelle: 732-904-3850
This week's collection total was $21,850
Mail/drop off: $11,013
Parish Giving: $9,489
Venmo/Zelle: $1,348
Weekly Collections
Although we are not currently hosting public masses, we are doing our very best to maintain a community for our parishioners and friends.
If you are able, please maintain your contributions to the parish. Donations can be mailed, given electronically, or dropped off in the free standing mailbox outside the rectory offices.
This will help us continue to pay our staff, who continue to work, and maintain vital programs and operations.
More information on electronic giving can be found HERE or by contacting Lisa Cole at
732-449-5765x169 or
Lcole@stcatharine-stmargaret.org
We're Updating Our Census
In the next few weeks all off our parishioners will be contacted by a member of staff to update their information on file.
We will be collecting the following information:
- Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Names and Ages of Family Members
The last time we did a large update was in 2010.
If you have any questions please contact the rectory.
God's peace be with you during this difficult time. I know many of you are suffering from fear and anxiety amidst the Coronavirus pandemic and the economic repercussions it has caused. One of the great sadnesses for me personally is being separated from you - my flock - during this societal lockdown. Not being able to fully care for your spiritual needs leaves us, priests, feeling empty and anxious.
Thankfully, a small blessing has found its way to our parish. TAN Books, a Catholic publisher based in North Carolina and someone we have done business with in the past, has graciously offered to supply us with a host of books covering various spiritual topics, and perfect to keep your Faith strong and engaged during this difficult time, all at a discounted rate of 30% off.
Additionally, 30% of all sales from our parish will be sent back to us as a donation.
Simply go to their website, www.tanbooks.com, and use the code CATH07762 at checkout to receive the discount. This is a great way to make a donation to our parish and receive something of great spiritual value in return.
Here are some of the books and topics recommended during this time:
For Spiritual Communion and the Eucharist
Kids Books
Books for a Holy Easter
Essentials to grow in Holiness.
Thankfully, a small blessing has found its way to our parish. TAN Books, a Catholic publisher based in North Carolina and someone we have done business with in the past, has graciously offered to supply us with a host of books covering various spiritual topics, and perfect to keep your Faith strong and engaged during this difficult time, all at a discounted rate of 30% off.
Additionally, 30% of all sales from our parish will be sent back to us as a donation.
Simply go to their website, www.tanbooks.com, and use the code CATH07762 at checkout to receive the discount. This is a great way to make a donation to our parish and receive something of great spiritual value in return.
Here are some of the books and topics recommended during this time:
For Spiritual Communion and the Eucharist
Kids Books
Books for a Holy Easter
Essentials to grow in Holiness.
I know this is only a small gift, but we hope you will find these and all their other titles to be valuable resources that will deepen your faith and comfort you during a very difficult time.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa at Lcole@stcatharine-stmargaret.org or 732-449-5765 x169
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa at Lcole@stcatharine-stmargaret.org or 732-449-5765 x169
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Damian
Good morning, my friends!
Welcome to Holy Week as we prepare our hearts and minds for the triumph of Easter Sunday! I hope that you, your spouse, your family, your parishioners, and your friends will use Defining Moments during Holy Week to allow God to reveal Himself in your circumstances in this particular time.
In the hope that you will continue (or start) to dig into Scripture daily, I again divided each lesson into 5 days this week—giving you just enough material per day to hit reset in your mind and to focus on God. This week's content is slightly different. Monday and Tuesday we'll read the gospels from the daily Mass texts. Wednesday and Thursday, we'll go off-road a bit and look at the Old Testament background to the Last Supper. This will greatly enhance our understanding of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, which will be the focus of Good Friday.
How will you end your Lenten journey? What does God want to reveal to you this week? My challenge to you this week is: To more deeply feast on the Word daily so that you may experience an explosion of God's grace in your life.
Join me LIVE on Facebook and Instagram this Saturday, April 11, at 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT to unpack what you've learned during the study this week.
I encourage you to share Defining Moments with anyone you feel would benefit from a deeper dive into Scripture!
Growing with you on the journey,
Lisa Brenninkmeyer
Lisa Brenninkmeyer
Send Us A Family Picture
As I'm sure you can imagine, saying mass in an empty church isn't that easy. We want all of you to be with our priests at mass.
Please send in a family picture (at least 8x10) and we'll put them on the pews for mass. Printing it on regular paper is perfect, we just want you with us.
Pictures can be mailed to the rectory at 215 Essex Avenue Spring Lake, NJ 07762 or dropped in the mailbox outside.
Get Social With Us
We are constantly posting updates while we are maintaining a virtual office.
Please visit us on our social media accounts
Facebook- www.facebook.com/stcatharinestmargaret
Instagram- @stcatharine_stmargaret
Twitter- @stcathstmarg