Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton: Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M.
Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton: Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C. M.
Pastor: Reverend Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee
Pastor: Reverend Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee
Pastor Emeritus: Reverend Fr. William J. Bausch
Pastor Emeritus: Reverend Fr. William J. Bausch
Parish Trustees: Linda Dickinson-Pancila & Tom Nathanson
Parish Trustees: Annette Raynor & Roger Zurro
APRIL 19, 2026
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
May Crowning
Saturday, May 2, 2026
4pm mass, followed by crowning of Mary
“Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
Luke 1:28
MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS
Saturday, April 18, 2026 - Sunday, April 26, 2026
Saturday, April 18
9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel
4 PM
Peter Borowski * Family
Mildred Garrymore * Rich Luzzi
John M. Grabowski, Sr. * The Grabowski Family
Sunday, April 19
8 AM
DeStefano/Albruno Families * Franceschetti Family
Carol Kohler * Jay and Joyce Flynn
LaCava & Giannettino Families * Mike & Rosanne LaCava
10 AM
Julianne Longobardi * Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Longobardi
Philomena Iacono * Catherine Rennhack
Terry Blake * St. Mary's Music Ministry
12 Noon
Living & Deceased Parishioners & Parish Benefactors
Loving Family Members * Janet Munger
Modestino Lucarelli * Teresa Cavagnaro
Monday, April 20
9 AM
Modestino Lucaarelli * Aiello Family
Marie Merante * Jane Slattery
Tuesday, April 21
9 AM
Alice Solantay * Phyllis Hurley
† William Styler * Jackie Dubinett
Wednesday, April 22
9 AM
Cindy Boyle * The Aiello Family
† Chrissy Cowan * The McRory and Evankow families
Thursday, April 23
9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel
Friday, April 24
9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel
Saturday, April 25
9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel
4 PM
Living & Deceased Parishioners & Parish Benefactors
Jack Davis * Barbara Saake
Thomas Lopes * Tom and Angela Kinlin
Sunday, April 26
8 AM
Francisca D. Vera * Rita & Michael Duenas
Daniel McManus * The McRory and Evankow families
Bill, Helen and Kathleen Huntley * Huntley Family
10 AM
Ronald Brier * Turkovic Family
Evelyn Rechtenbaugh * St. Mary's Music Ministry
Raymond Shebell, Jr. * Donna & Frank Sikorskas
12 Noon
Patricia Green * The Sans Family
Emilia Constanza Chavez * Catherine Love & Bob Endlicher
Teofilo Barbero * Richard and Maria Gerbino
Please pray for the following members of our parish community who are ill:
Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Walsh
Kathy Weber
Jack Coppola
Fr. William Bausch
Joe Brando
Lori Lettieri
Edward Habrack
To add or remove a family member from the sick list, please email parishbulletin@stmaryscoltsneck.org. Names will be removed from the list after 3 months. Thank for keeping us updated on your loved one’s health.
Emilia Constanza Chavez
LIFELONG CATECHESIS:
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Sunday, April 19 3rd Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14, 22-33/1 Peter 1:17-21/Luke 24:13-35
Monday, April 20
Acts 6:8-15/John 6:22-29
Tuesday, April 21
Acts 7:51 8:1a/John 6:30-35
Wednesday, April 22
Acts 8:1b-8/John 6:35-40
Thursday, April 23
Acts 8:26-40/John 6:44-51
Friday, April 24
Acts 9:1-20/John 6:52-59
Saturday, April 25
1 Peter 5:5b-14/Mark 16:15-20
Please pray for our Military & First Responders
Almighty and eternal God, those who take refuge in you will be glad and forever will shout for joy. Protect these soldiers as they discharge their duties. Protect them with the shield of your strength and keep them safe from all evil and harm. May the power of your love enable them to return home in safety, that with all who love them, they may ever praise you for your loving care. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
AMT Colton Boag, USCG
Col. John Anthony Coppola, US Army
TSgt Stephen Witherow, USAF
LCpl Edward Zarzecki, USMC
Lt. Col. Douglas Coppola, US Army
Lt. Mary Herman, USN
SN Christian Houlihan, USN
LT. Jason Joseph Howe, USN
SPC Michael John Mento, US Army
LTJG Matthew Motola, USN
LCpl Bradley O’Ree, USMC
SPC Nicholas Poskonka, US Army
Captain Richard Savo, US Army
1st Lt. Adam Sjoholm, US Army
Captain Ryan Tanguay, US Army
Week of April 19 to 25
FOR DEEPER REFLECTION
When we share meals, Christ sits among us.
Question for Children: favorite time to share a meal with your family?
Question for Youth: The disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread. How have you experienced Jesus at Mass, in the breaking of the Eucharistic bread? How have you experienced Jesus at meals and with friends and family?
Question for Adults: Share about great meals you’ve been part of, ones which are still memorable to you.
SAINT OF THE WEEK
Damien, Priest, 1840-1889
Joseph De Veuster was born in Belgium in January 1840. As a boy, Joseph worked on his father’s farm where he learned not only farming skills but carpentry and, from his devout mother, a love for God. All of this knowledge would be put to good use in his later life.
At the age of eighteen, Joseph followed his brother, Pamphile, into the Sacred Heart order. At first thought not to have enough education to study for the priesthood, the young man was designated a brother of the order. At this time he took the name, Damien. So eager was he to become a priest like his brother, Damien persuaded Pamphile to teach him Latin. Noting the rapid progress that he made in his studies of Latin, his superior allowed him to study for the priesthood.
Late in 1863, Pamphile was selected to be among a group of Sacred Heart priests and religious to go to the order’s missions in Hawaii. Weeks before the scheduled sailing, Pamphile came down with typhus. While he would recover, it was not to be before the planned departure date. Damien, not yet ordained, was given permission to sail in the place of his brother. Arriving in Hawaii in the Spring of 1864, Damien, after a short period of study, was ordained a priest and began his missionary work in the islands.
WORSHIP & MUSIC
Andrew J. Macirowski - Pastoral Coordinator for Worship & Music / Principal Organist Worship@StMarysColtsNeck.org • Music@StMarysColtsNeck.org
Easter Flowers
There are several reasons why the church is decorated with flowers and other plants during the various times of the year. During Lent, you probably noticed a lack of any floral arrangement whatsoever. This helps to mark the solemness of that penitential season. Yet, beginning with the celebration of Easter at the Easter Vigil and for the entirety of the Easter Season, spring-time flowers are used to decorate as a symbol of God’s creation.
Lillies, in particular, play a particular role in the arrangements. The trumpet-shaped bloom harkens to the text from the Exsultet, “sound the mighty trumpet of salvation”, and from the letters to the Corinthians, “the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised”. The white color symbolizes purity, hope, and peace. The natural fact the bulb-based plants such as lilies and daffodils tend to bloom around Easter time can also be thought of as a sign of resurrection.
As the season carries on towards Pentecost, the arrangements change. During the 7 weeks of Easter, some of the blooms die off, and are removed from display. Some are replaced with newer plants of different varieties. As Pentecost draws near, blooms of yellow, orange, and red are placed in the sanctuary area, symbolizing the fire of the Holy Spirit. All of these different and additional arrangements are either donated by parishioners, offerings from families who celebrate a wedding or funeral in the church, or sourced from local farms, greenhouses, etc.
“Easter Duty”
The Catholic Church requires of us as baptized Catholics to observe the following:
The obligation, the privilege really, of receiving the Eucharist at least once a year often called “Easter duty” for those in the state of grace should still be fulfilled during the period from the First Sunday of Lent, February 22, 2026 to Trinity Sunday, May 31, 2026. However, the Church’s law does permit this precept to be fulfilled at another time during the year when there is a just cause. A call for vocations to the Priesthood. Coming up April 25 & 26
Saturday, April 25
4:00 PM
Sunday, April 26 8 AM
Sunday, April 26 10 AM
Sunday, April 26 12 Noon
MINISTRY SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 25 & Sunday, April 26
Altar Server Cantor Reader 1 Reader 2 EMHC
Alex Gruneling Anthony Gruenling Bridget Farrow Michele Gruneling Charles Young
Sophia Duarte Suzanna Duarte Carly York Joe Ventura Rita Duenas
Reagan Royal Jacob Barasky Carly York
Mary Ellen Griffin (sub requested) Barbara Schaflin
Jack Schatzle SERVER NEEDED Bridget Farrow READER NEEDED Richard Gerbino
RESTROOMS UPGRADE
Work to upgrade the men’s and women’s restrooms in our church will begin on April 6. This work was originally scheduled to start at the end of January but was postponed due to winter weather and other scheduling conflicts. There are lavatories in the sacristy and by the chapel for use during the work.
If you are coming to the church to pray next week, please use the side entrances. Thank you for your patience as we complete this muchneeded improvement to our facilities.
OH-Emily Santangelo
TH-Nick Turkovic
TH-Susan Murphy
ALT-Liz Turkovic
OH-Gina Shute
TH-Mike LaCava
TH-Rosanne LaCava
ALT-Marsh Grigoli
OH-Joseph Burtone
TH-Martha-Jean Rosiello
TH-Maureen Geiger
ALT-Dawn Burtone
OH-Tom Nathanson
TH-Dolores Lembo
TH-Michal Kalisz
ALT-Ron Gabbard
ABBREVIATED MASS SCHEDULE
Memorial Day Weekend
Saturday, May 23
Mass at 4 PM
Sunday, May 24
Mass at 10 AM
GROTTO CANDLES
The Grotto Candles are available for your prayer intentions. Offering is $3.00 per candle
FAITH FORMATION
Julia Cullen — Pastoral Coordinator of Faith Formation / Religious Education
Many thanks to all who helped out with set-up, clean-up, donated candy/ baked goods and filled easter eggs. These events come together because of the dedication and commitment of all. pictures to come
Links are live for Spring movie day on April 26 and May Crowning on May 2. Please RSVP using the links in the RE calendar. As a reminder, all INTERGENERATIONAL recording sheets are due on May 8, 2026, for all children in elementary RE.
Fall registration/reregistration is opened and will remain so until May 30, 2026. This is for all Religious Education learners enrolling in both elementary RE and Confirmation Prep. elementary RE and Confirmation Prep. Click here to register
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CALENDAR
21 April 2026
Last Day of RE Class: FHC-1&2, CF-A,B,C,D
26 April 2026
Spring Movie Day Click to RSVP INT
2 May 2026
Blessing Bag Outreach 9:30 am—see page 7 for details
May Crowning 3 pm Madonna Hall INT Click to RSVP
First Holy Communion Lottery 4 PM mass- parent meeting follows in church
3 May 2026
Bible Project– CP-1, 1pm
Confirmation Interviews-CP-2, 3pm see below for more details
RELIGIOUS ED RESOURCES
RE Calendar RE Handbook
Intergenerational List/Descriptions
Intergenerational Recording Sheet
Confirmation Prep Schedule
Fall RE Schedule 2025-2026
3 May 2026
INTergenerational recording sheets due link in the Religious Ed Resource box
CP-2 Confirmation Interviews
Sunday, 3 May 2026
Please report to the spiritual Center at your assigned time bases on last name. All
Confirmation paperwork is due at this time.
3:00 pm A-D 3:20 pm E-K
3:40 pm L-P 4:00 pm R-Z
CONFIRMATION PREP
Session #15:
April 19, 2026- virtual & April 21, 2026 on campus
Session #16:
May 2, 2026-Spring Service Project Blessing Bag Outreach, 9:30am on the sidewalk by the spiritual center
Session #17:
May 3, 2026- Bible project presentation and group picture: 1pm in Madonna Hall; Confirmation Interviews begin at 3pm
We are pleased to announce the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation
We are pleased to announce the celebration of the Sacrament of First Holy Communion
Congratulations to our newly initiated who came into Full Communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil.
Being a registered and active member of a parish is an important part of living out our Catholic faith in community. The Parish of St. Mary considers someone an active member when they: Attend Mass regularly
Participate in the life of the parish
Juniper Barasky
Rachelle Deyo
And financially support the parish as they are able. We also encourage adult children over the age of 25 to register separately as parishioners, even if they continue to live in the same household. This helps them take personal responsibility for their faith journey and stay connected to the life of the Church. Non-residents are encouraged to register in the parish where they reside or attend Mass regularly.
Kirsten Lawson
Lucianna Manza
Angelica Weber
If you're interested in becoming a registered member of our parish, or need help with the process, we’d love to assist you. Please visit our parish website for more information or contact the parish office, we're here to help!
FULL Admission Ticket ($70):
Includes: Admission to Six Flags Great Adventure, Opening Ceremony, Mega meal food voucher (a drink, meal and a snack) to be used anywhere in the park, and Sunday Liturgy. FREE Parking Vouchers for your group (upon request) Must be requested by Wednesday, May 13th.
For Season Pass Holders:
Season Pass holders can enter the Park with their pass anytime during the event, including entering early for the Opening Presentation and joining us for Mass in the evening.
Important Dates:
May 13th 2026: LAST DAY to request a Free Parking Voucher to be mailed
May 15th 2026: LAST DAY to Pre-order admission tickets and food vouchers. (you can walk up and purchase tickets the day of the event but it may take you longer to get into the park).
For more information:
Dan Waddington - 609-403-7140 | Laura Cortes 609-4037182
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the Church's process of welcoming newcomers into full communion with the Catholic Church. As you enter the Church, the parish community and the OCIA Program will walk with you on your journey of faith.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
DIOCESE OF TRENTON
701 LAWRENCEVILLE ROAD
POST OFFICE BOX 5147
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08638-0147
The Diocese of Trenton has been blessed with hundreds of wonderful priests throughout the last two centuries. To continue these blessings, I am announcing a Called By Name campaign for next weekend, April 25 & 26. Fittingly, that weekend is also Good Shepherd Weekend.
As your Bishop, I am asking you to prayerfully reflect on anyone that you may have encountered in the parish, at home, or even yourself, who you think may have a vocational call to the priesthood. Throughout the Diocese next weekend, our priests will be preaching on vocations and the call to the priesthood. Cards will be distributed throughout the pews and churches which will enable you to nominate or recommend a young man, with his contact information, whom you think might be called to the priesthood.
After gathering all the submitted names and contact information, the Vocations Office will reach out to them and invite them to a special day of prayer and reflection on June 12, the Solemn Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to open their hearts and minds to God’s potential call to the priesthood. This initiative is near and dear to my own heart. While I was President of Catholic University, this campaign proved to be effective in leading many young men to enter the seminary and eventually to be ordained. I invite you to prayerfully participate in this holy effort.
Sincerely Yours In Christ,
Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M., J.C.D. Bishop of Trenton
MyDearParishioners:
Quo vadis...
This coming weekend we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter. Jesus was busy on his resurrection day! No wonder the early Church from the very beginning chose the first day of the week for breaking bread—celebrating Eucharist. This is why, for us, Eucharist—“breaking of bread”—is so pivotal; here we encounter the risen Jesus, share in his meal, and become ourselves the risen presence for others. Here we engage the dying and rising that is the pattern of our everyday living. Here we promise to allow ourownbodiestobebrokensothatothers mighthavenewlife.
We continue our journey through the liturgical season of Easter. The music and environment for our liturgy reflect this reality. We maintain the seasonal music and mass part settings. The Easter Season is a time when the Universal Church celebrates in a very deliberate way the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation,andEucharist.
Many thanks to all those who arranged and participated in the Easter Egg Hunt last Sunday. It was a beautiful day to celebratetheresurrectionof theLord.
The work on the lavatory and closet is nearing completion. The fixtures were 22 years old and needed a bit of refreshing. The parish patrimony committee made the selections. I am grateful to two bona fide families who generously gave $50,000.00 from each family to purchase the porcelain floor tile for the remaining
areas of the church building. This guarantees that they are from the same production lot. These materials are being stored at LATEREM by our parishioner Tom Baszak. The wall tile and fixtures were funded through the budget for capitalimprovements.
We will install the tile on the sanctuary floor during the month of August 2026. The remaining floor throughout the nave of the church has not been scheduled yet. The removal and storage of pews and later reinstallation, removal of existing tile, scraping the concrete slab, application of leveling compound, new tiles and baseboards will require +/$200,000.00. I hope we might get this done at some point in 2027. God provides! More updates to come. Thank you for your cooperation, understanding and generosity.
These past weeks I have heard so many compliments from parishioners, visitors and potential future parishioners. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the preparation of the church building, the Sacred Music are frequently complimented. It is the steady work of manyparishionersandstaff.Thankyou!
We will publish the final tally for our 2026 Easter Collection in the coming weeks. Please make your gift as soon as possible using the Easter Envelope that has been mailed to all of our registered parishioners listed in our parish census or online. Have a great week. Let us remember one another in prayer. Peace. FatherJeff
TEMPORAL ADMINISTRATION & STEWARDSHIP
Edwin A. Sevillano— Pastoral Associate for Temporal Administration & Stewardship
TemporalAdmin@StMarysColtsNeck.org
SHARING OUR TREASURE
BULIDING FUND
COLLECTION
$5,766
Monthly payment: $7,996 Difference funded with general fund monies
Thank You!
Together, we changed lives this Lent through CRS Rice Bowl. THANK YOU for being a part of this effort! Don’t forget to turn in your CRS Rice Bowl offerings by April 12.
Please count your offerings collected during Lent in the Rice Bowl provided. Count the total offering, write a check to St Mary Parish for the total amount indicating CRS Rice Bowl in the memo line and drop it in the offerings box as soon as possible. Click here to donate online
Thank you for supporting Catholic Relief Services.
Please Remember Our Parish this Easter Season
Our 2026 Easter Collection is a major annual collection to support our parish. It helps to fund capital projects as well as our regular operational expenses. If you haven’t made an Ester offering yet, kindly use the Easter envelope your received in the mail and drop it in the collection box as soon as you are able. Alternatively, you may make an offering electronically at our online giving system HERE
Thank you for your generosity and HAPPY EASTER!
Offerings at Francis House of Prayer
Celebrating 100 years of retreat ministry in Long Branch, NJ
San Alfonso Retreat House 755 Ocean Avenue
Long Branch, New Jersey 07740
"COME TO THE WATER" RELAX & RENEW WEEK
JULY 19 - 24
We invite you for a week of rest and renewal at San Alfonso.
Design your own schedule with time for quiet prayer, daily Mass, and various optional activities.
Note: This retreat is open to all; women and men, clergy, and religious sisters.
To Register, click HERE.
Trenton Diocesan Spiritual Center and Retreat House 84 Walnford Road • Allentown, NJ 08501 www.FHOP.org * 609-877-0509 * FHOP@verizon.net
IN PERSON ONLY: CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY Tuesday, April 22 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Pray with the words of Pope Francis, St. Hildegard of Bingen and St. Francis to set the tone for the morning. We will enjoy the natural beauty of Francis House and the surrounding woods for your meeting places with God Donation: $25, includes materials and lunch.
WOMEN DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH Friday, April 24 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Are you looking for inspiration and hope in 2026? Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, Thérèse of Lisieux and Hildegard have much to offer in our challenging times. What heroic women of hope! They prove by their lives that we, as Christians, can live in confident hope, despite the circumstances in which we find ourselves. We will use Women of Hope by Terry Polakovic as our guide. Led by Terry Ginther. Donation: $25, includes materials & lunch. Zoom: $20
IN PERSON ONLY: GOD’S EVER-PRESENT LOVE IN MOTION Monday, April 27 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
We all yearn to be aware of the presence of God in our daily lives, no matter where we are or what we are doing. God invites you to come as you are. We will experience His ever-present love through Centering Prayer, music, and movement. Come feel your heartbeat and let the Spirit move you! Led by Bernadette Citarella. Donation: $25, includes lunch.
MUSIC FOR THE SOUL: OPENING TO GOD Wednesday, April 29 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Join us as we open our ears, minds, hearts, and souls to God through the beauty of music. Through Tony Alonso’s and David Kauffman’s music, we will explore the compassion and call of God. We will listen to, pray on, and share how God touches our very souls through word and music. Spending time in silence and praying with music and Scripture can lead us to the depths of our being. Come and be nourished. Donation: $25. Zoom, $20
IN PERSON ONLY: PERSONAL RETREAT DAY Wednesday, May 13 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Come to Francis House for silence, personal prayer and optional spiritual direction. The day begins and ends with a brief prayer together. Please bring a bag lunch. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction.
