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
Sunday, April 12, 2026 12 Noon
Church & Parish Grounds Click to
Saturday, April 4 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 5 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 Noon
MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS
Saturday, April 4, 2026 - Sunday, April 12, 2026
Saturday, April 4 Holy Saturday
7:30 PM (No 4 PM Mass nor confessions)
Living & Deceased Parishioners & Parish Benefactors
Sunday, April 5—Easter
8 AM
Living & Deceased Parishioners & Parish Benefactors
10 AM
Living & Deceased Parishioners & Parish Benefactors
12 Noon
Living & Deceased Parishioners & Parish Benefactors
Monday, April 6
9 AM
Terisita Blake * Anne Willett
Paula Natale (Living (intentions of)) * Natale Family
Tuesday, April 7
9 AM
James M. Cox * Angela & Tom Kinlin
Lucille Comons * Susan & James Gobat
Wednesday, April 8
9 AM
Loving Family Members * Janet Munger
Anthony Carnevale * Diane Carnevale
Thursday, April 9
9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel
Friday, April 10
9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel
Saturday, April 11
9 AM at Saint Catharine, Holmdel
4 PM
George C. Rimmele * Barbara Saake
Loving Family Members * Janet Munger
Rose Nastri * Jack & Rorie Coppola
Sunday, April 12
8 AM
Josephine Madden * Phyllis & Hugh Murphy
Living Intentions of Katherine Bernardini * Katherine Bernardini
Teresita Blake * Kerry Higgins
10 AM
Living & Deceased Parishioners & Parish Benefactors
Dawn Schwartz * Kerry Brody & Family
Sergio Dos Santos & Maria Ferreira * Dos Santos Family
12 Noon Intentions of Loving Family Members * Janet Munger
Deceased Loving Family Members * Janet Munger
Modestino Lucarelli * Lee & Patty Gesner
Please pray for the following members of
Rev.Msgr. Michael J. Walsh
Kathy Weber
Jack Coppola
Father 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.
LIFELONG CATECHESIS:
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Sunday, April 5—Easter Sunday
Acts 10:34a, 37-43 / Colossians 3:1-4 / John 20:1-9
Monday, April 6
Acts 2:14, 22-33 / Matthew 28:8-15
Tuesday, April 7
Acts 2:36-41 / John 20:11-18
Wednesday, April 8
Acts 3:1-10 / Luke 24:13-35
Thursday, April 9
Acts 3:11-26 / Luke 24:35-48
Friday, April 10
Acts 4:1-12 / John 21:1-14
Saturday, April 11
Acts 4:13-21 / Mark 16:9-15
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 5 to 11
FOR DEEPER REFLECTION
Jesus’ resurrectionand journey.
Question for Children:
When have you seen someone do a good deed for someone else?
Question for Youth:
Jesus’ closest friends had trouble believing that the tomb was empty. Resurrection is surprising. What does Jesus’ resurrection mean in your life?
Question for Adults:
Name one way or time when you experience the presence of the Risen Christ? Is it at meals? With those whom you love? At other times?
WORSHIP & MUSIC
Andrew J. Macirowski - Pastoral Coordinator for Worship & Music / Principal Organist Worship@StMarysColtsNeck.org • Music@StMarysColtsNeck.org
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is the most important and joyful feast in the Catholic Church, celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. According to the Gospels, on the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the tomb, conquering sin and death and opening the gates of eternal life for humanity. The Resurrection is the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation and the foundation of the Christian faith. Without the Resurrection, as St. Paul writes, “our faith is in vain” but with it, hope is made alive.
The celebration of Easter follows the solemn season of Lent and the sacred days of Holy Week, culminating in the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night. During the Vigil, new members are welcomed into the Church through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. The Paschal candle is lit, symbolizing Christ as the Light of the World who dispels darkness and death. Joyful hymns such as the “Gloria” and “Alleluia,” which were absent during Lent, return in celebration as the Church rejoices in the victory of Christ.
Easter is not just a historical remembrance but a living reality. The Resurrection calls believers to new life in Christ, encouraging them to turn away from sin and embrace grace. It is a reminder that suffering and death do not have the final word love and life do. Easter Sunday begins a fifty-day season of rejoicing known as Eastertide, which concludes with Pentecost, and is a time to reflect on the profound hope and renewal that flow from the empty tomb.
2026HolyWeekandEaster
Holy Thursday, April 2
7 pm Mass of the Lord's Supper
Eucharistic Procession from the Church to the Chapel of Repose following Mass. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament continues in the Chapel of Repose until 10:00 pm.
Good Friday, April 3
10:30 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel of Repose
12:00 pm Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion in the Church 3:00 pm Outdoor Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday, April 4
9:00 am Prayer Service/ Blessing of Food - Chapel
NO Penance & Reconciliation
7:30 pm Solemn Vigil of the Lord’s Resurrection
* no 4:00 pm Mass or Confessions
Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection, Sunday, April 5, 2026
8:00am, 10:00am & 12:00pm Masses
Worship
Aids
Click to view & download
HOLY THURSDAY Mass of the Lord’s Supper
GOOD FRIDAY
The Passion our Lord, Jesus Christ
GOOD FRIDAY Stations of the Cross
HOLY SATURDAY Morning Prayer
HOLY SATURDAY
The Paschal Vigil in the Holy Night
EASTER SUNDAY The Resurrection of the Lord
Saturday, April 11
7:30 PM
Sunday, April 12
8 AM
Sunday, April 12
10 AM
Sunday, April 12
12 Noon
MINISTRY SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 11 & Sunday, April 12
Altar Server Cantor Reader 1 Reader 2 EMHC
Jonathan Stubbs
Eva Tomasetti
Sophia Duarte
Suzanne Duarte
Tesya Yaninas
RJ Vaina
Jack Schatzle
Julianna Dukes
Carly York
Jennifer Stubbs
Mary Ellen Griffin
Carly York
Kevin Swan Rita Duenas
Emily Santangelo, Organ Host
Louise Habrack, Tabernacle Host
Jane Slattery, Tabernacle Host
Martha Cowles, Alternate
Justine Buzzetta, Organ Host
Marsha Grigoli, Tabernacle Host
Joyce Flynn, Tabernacle Host
Gina Shute, Alternate
Martha-Jean Rosiello, Organ Host
Richard Gerbino, Tabernacle Host
Carly York Julia Cullen Matt Yaninas
Carly York
Charles Young 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 is a lavatory in the sacristy 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.
Fran Vaina, Tabernacle Host
Maureen Geiger, Alternate
Patricia Gesner, Organ Host
Richard Gerbino, Tabernacle Host
Lee Gesner, Tabernacle Host
Nick Turkovic, Alternate
12 April 2026 12 Noon
&
FAITH FORMATION
Julia Cullen — Pastoral Coordinator of Faith Formation / Religious Education
Happy Easter, Alleluia, He is risen! The RE department sends blessings for a joyful Easter to all.
Religious Education resumes for FHC:1&2 and CF:A,B,C,D on April 7th . Please note, the last session is on April 21, 2026. For details on the last few sessions for CP, please see next page. We hope to see all RE families at our annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 12, 2026, the Easter bunny is sure to make an appearance!
Fall Registration/Re-Registration opened on April 1, 2026, and will remain open until the end of May. This is for all RE learners from both elementary RE and Confirmation Prep. Click here for registration!
2 April 2026
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper INT 7 PM Church
3 April 2026
Good Friday
12 Noon: Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion INT
3 PM: Outdoor Stations of the Cross INT
4 April 2026
Morning Prayer & Blessing of Food 9 AM Chapel
Easter Vigil INT 7:30 PM Church
7 April 2026
RE Classes Resume
12 April 2026
Easter Egg Hunt INT
12 Noon, Parish Grounds Click to RSVP
21 April 2026
Last Day of RE Class
26 April 2026
Spring Movie Day
2 May 2026
RELIGIOUS
ED RESOURCES
RE Calendar
RE Handbook
Intergenerational List/Descriptions
Intergenerational Recording Sheet
Confirmation Prep Schedule
Fall RE Schedule 2025-2026
Blessing Bag Outreach 9:30 am
May Crowning 3 pm Madonna Hall INT
First Holy Communion Lottery 4 PM mass with parent meeting in Church to follow
RE REGISTRATION
Fall registration is open!
FHC-1&2, CF-A,B,C & D, and CP-1&2
Click here to register
CONFIRMATION PREP UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Session #15: April 19 & April 21
Session #16: May 2: Spring Service Project Blessing Bag Outreach, 9:30am on the sidewalk by the spiritual center
Session #17: May 3
Bible project presentation and group picture: 1pm in Madonna Hall; Confirmation Interviews begin at 3pm for last names beginning with A-D, 3:20pm E -K, 3:40pm L-P, 4pm R-Z.
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
Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 10am mass
Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 10am mass
Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 4pm mass
PASTORAL CARE & OUTREACH
Rosemarie Farrow Pastoral Coordinator of Pastoral Care & Outreach
Please keep our OCIA Candidates in your prayers as they prepare to complete their Christian Initiation on Holy Saturday:
Juniper Barasky
Rachelle Deyo
Kirsten Lawson
Lucianna Manza
Angelica Weber
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Are you looking to grow in your faith, make new friends and get involved in your Catholic community?
You are invited to connect with youth ministry groups at our neighboring parishes! These vibrant communities offer great opportunities for prayer, service, and fun!
Click to learn more about a youth group at the neighboring parish of your choice:
•The Church of St. Catharine, Holmdel
•St. Gabriel’s Parish, Marlboro
•Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold
•Church of St. Leo the Great, Lincroft
“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 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.
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.
Quo vadis...
My Dear Parishioners: Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection…Easter Sunday. The movie “Love Story” long ago declared that, “Love means never having to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ ” The whole history of salvation that we celebrate especially during these three days of the Easter Triduum says exactly the opposite: love not only nudges us, but demands that we say “I’m sorry.” It is the only way we can be faithful to the gift of life and love that God gives and that we celebrate during these holy days. The mystery that we celebrate during these days is a witness to God’s great desire to bring us to reconciliation. These days are a singular opportunity to be reconciled with God and each other and no other action so completely captures the meaning of what we are celebrating. Sinfulness, divisions, disharmony for which we need to seek reconciliation is not something new on the horizon. Already in the early Church, we find examples that all was not perfect in the Christian communities and Scripture already attests to how the Church dealt with it. We are admonished, for example, to gentleness when dealing with each other’s faults (see Gal 6:1), but we are also admonished to be honest with each other. As difficult as this may be, this is the dying to self that living the paschal mystery entails and the only way to new, resurrected life.
The Church also has ritualized reconciliation. Since reconciliation has to do with our identity as body of Christ and the common life of God we share, baptism first reconciles us to God by making us God’s daughter or son and puts us in relationship with each other as members of the body of Christ. Eucharist completes our Christian initiation and is the sacrament of reconciliation par excellence because it is the sacrament where the body of Christ is nourished and its unity strengthened. For small offenses that harm the body of Christ that is the Church, celebrating Eucharist reconciles us to one another as we share together at God’s table. Coming together to that very table is a sign that we wish unity and peace with one another; indeed, this is one of the symbolic meanings of the Communion procession itself. It didn’t take long in our Church’s history to recognize that the
ideal of peace and unity at the very heart of the Church’s life would be disrupted by scandalous, sinful acts of members of the community. It was thought that some kind of public penance would be necessary to witness to the individual’s sincerity of repentance and desire for reconciliation with God and the community. Out of this the Sacrament of Penance developed and is another ritual means given us by the Church to redirect ourselves to God and heal the divisions among us; well celebrated, this sacrament can effect a profound change of the whole person. Whether reconciliation is brought about by the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, or Penance, at stake is always the unity of the Church. These visible signs remind us that we cannot take our harmful actions for granted but must always admit when we weaken or break our relationship with God and others and strive to restore the unity that is at the very heart of who we are. Reconciliation is, therefore, the work of salvation because it is concerned with how we are one with God and each other. During these holy days we celebrate Jesus’ self-giving so that we might be reconciled, be one in Christ. In this we learn how we ought to live, being reconciled with one another, so that our unity is preserved and brings God glory and praise. During the Easter Season the church proclaims: “O Death, where is your victory? O Death (Sheol) where is your sting?”
Congratulations to our new Catholics…those who have been received into the church through profession of faith, the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Thanks goes out to all those who have prepared our facilities for the Rites of Holy Week and those who helped us clean the buildings, furniture, vessels and vestments; to those who are preparing the Annual Easter Egg Hunt next Sunday; to all of our Liturgical Music Personnel, Choir members, cantors, instrumentalists. We are very blessed with a dedicated Parish Staff and scores and scores of loyal parishioners to provide the services which characterize our parish. THANKS TO ALL. Have a great week. Let us remember one another in prayer. Jesus Christ is Risen! He is Truly Risen! Happy Easter! Father Jeff
TEMPORAL ADMINISTRATION & STEWARDSHIP
Edwin A. Sevillano— Pastoral Associate for Temporal Administration & Stewardship
TemporalAdmin@StMarysColtsNeck.org
Sacrificial Stewardship
Contributions
11,203
8,619
Thank you for your generosity!
Parking head-in on the grass
It is so wonderful that we are blessed with many parishioner families & visitors to our parish during this sacred season. Please be reminded that all staff, ministry volunteers & choir members should park head-in on the grass around the parish campus. Visitors are invited to do the same for additional parking especially during Palm Sunday and Easter Masses.
Ending Hunger with CRS Rice Bowl
As our CRS Rice Bowl journey comes to an end, may the Eucharist continue to transform our lives and help us respond to God’s call to serve our global family. Let us commit to sharing the joy of the Resurrection with people in our local community and around the world.
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 by April 12. Click here to donate online
Thank you for supporting Catholic Relief Services.
Please Remember Our Parish this Easter
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. Kindly use the Easter envelope your received in the mail for your offering and drop it in the collection box as you come to celebrate our Easter liturgies. 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
Trenton Diocesan Spiritual Center and Retreat House 84 Walnford Road • Allentown, NJ 08501 www.FHOP.org * 609-877-0509 * FHOP@verizon.net
PRAYING WITH OUR EXPERIENCES Thursday, April 9 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Often the content of our prayer is the life of Jesus. Other times, we can use the events of our own life as the content of our prayer and our meeting place with God. As we pray, we become aware of God's presence and how God uses every event of our daily life for our good and the good of others. God doesn’t waste anything! Everything is a gift! You will receive Joseph Schmidt’s book, Praying Our Experiences. Donation: $35, includes lunch and book. Zoom: $20
A GLIMPSE OF ST. TERESA OF AVILA Monday, April 13 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
St. Teresa has a way of talking us into keeping God first! Enjoying her maxims and touring her Interior Castle provide a short and reliable way to let her do that for you!. Let's enjoy them together! She will add some spark to your Easter season. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $25, includes lunch. Zoom: $20
WHAT’S YOUR DECISION? MAKING CHOICES WITH CONFIDENCE AND CLARITY Tuesday, April 14 9:30 AM –1:00 PM
We all have important decisions to make, decisions that radically alter our lives. Without a sound process in place for making key decisions, we are likely to question whether our final decision was a good decision and is what God truly desires for us. Decision making is complex at best. Having the Ignatian discernment process at hand for when you need it will clear your path to peaceful assurance that you are in fact doing the will of God. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $30, includes materials and lunch. Zoom: $20
IN PERSON ONLY PERSONAL RETREAT DAY Wednesday, April 15 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 togeth- er. Please bring a bag lunch. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction.
DESIDERATA: THE PEACE OF THE RISEN CHRIST Friday, April 17 9:30 AM – Noon
We will spend the morning unpacking this ancient prayer as our participation in the mystery of Christ’s Resurrection with his gift of peace to us all. You will receive a framed copy of the prayer to enhance your celebration of these 50 days of Easter. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $30, with materials. Zoom $20
