Our New Exterior Christmas Banner

A new banner announcing the season of Christmas and our Christmas Mass schedule is hung over the front entrance to our church building where the Advent banner was displayed. Along with the Advent banner, our Christmas banner is also offered to God’s glory and in loving memory of Joanna and Jeremiah DiMeola by their children.

The beautiful 3 by 5 foot vinyl banner proclaims Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah and lists the times of the Pasterka – Shepherd’s Mass – for Christmas Eve and the Mass for Christmas Day. From our banner Isaiah proclaims:

…. unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given ….

The Christmas Season at Heart of Jesus

CHRISTMAS EVE, Saturday, December 24
Pasterka – Mass of the Shepherds
Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord
9:40 PM Carol Sing: Echo Choir and congregation
10:00 PM Holy Mass

CHRISTMAS DAY, Sunday, December 25
Nativity of our Lord
10:00 AM Holy Mass of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour

Solemnity of the Circumcision of our Lord, Sunday, January 1
9:30 AM Holy Mass

Solemnity of the Epiphany (Three Kings observed), Sunday, January 8
9:30 AM Holy Mass
The blessing and distribution of charcoal and incense will be done for the Feast of Three Kings – Epiphany

Advent Preparations

Our Parish Advent Tree: This year during the season of Advent, the Advent tee will be set in the narthex as we prepare for the season of sharing and giving. Through the Advent Tree, each of us will have the opportunity to share with others in our community who have basic needs to address. The object of our donating will be the Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation which distributes needed items to the people they serve in Bayonne.

Lamplighter Christmas Greetings: Please begin submitting your holiday greetings to parishioners and readers of our Lamplighter Newsletter. As before, the page size per greeting is quarter-page – $5, half-page – $10, and full page – $20. As before, you can submit a greeting text and illustration if you like.

Christmas Floral Memorials: Poinsettias can be donated for this Christmas season as memorial offerings. Please contact any Parish Committee member with your memorial floral designation; or contact the rectory by mail, telephone at 201-858-4320, or by E-mail; or leave your memorial designation request in the offering plate. The poinsettias are $20 per pot.

New Jersey Seniorate Corpus Christi Observance

The annual Corus Christi Seniorate observance will be held on Sunday, June 26th at 4pm hosted by Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Passaic, NJ

The observance begins with Holy Mass and procession for all Seniorate parishioners. All our parishioners are encouraged to attend this afternoon’s Corpus Christi ceremonies. Light refreshments will follow afterwards in the social hall for all in attendance.

Vocal recital, June 25th

A vocal recital of Polish composers and other great composers will be offered by Dayle Vander Sande, the recently selected Marshal of the Bayonne Contingency of the New York City Pulaski Day Parade, 2011 on Saturday, June 25th at 2pm.

Mr. Vander Sande is also the organist at Mt. Carmel Church, Bayonne, who is offering his services as a vocal performer in this recital to benefit the work of the Pulaski Day Parade Contingency of Bayonne. We at Heart of Jesus Church are very happy to offer the setting for this fund raising event and excellent concert by which we, together with our friends and neighbors, will be enriched that afternoon.

Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance: price – $15; a reduced student rate is also available.

Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord — Easter Sunday, April 24th

9:30 AM Liturgy of the Resurrection followed by Holy Mass

The special floral adornments at the high altar is offered by Thomas Grodkiewicz to the glory of God the Father who raised from the dead His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The floral piece in the narthex if offered to the glory of God and in loving memory of John Liberasky and Celia Nowicki by Father Bernie and Barbara Nowicki.

After Mass, an Easter Egg hunt will take place for the children who are present this morning. Please call Barbara Busch at 732-303-0357 to let her know your children, grandchildren or the children of the friends who might accompany you to worship today will be present to join in the hunt. Beverly Wunderlich will join Barb in preparing the details for the annual Hunt.

Also following today’s Mass, a light Swięconka buffet will be offered in the social hall. All parishioners and friends present for worship on this glorious day are invited to remain a while to gather there before returning home.

Holy Saturday, April 23rd

12:00 PM Easter Vigil Service followed by the traditional Slavonic blessing of Easter foodstuffs.

Good Friday, April 22nd

12:00 PM Holy Hour
1:00 PM The Way of the Cross
2:00 PM Mass of the Pre-Sanctified with adoration of the Cross and procession

The Host offered at this Mass was consecrated the night before at Mass on Holy Thursday; hence the name – Mass of the Pre- Sanctified or pre-consecrated

2:45 PM Opening of the symbolic grave of Christ
7:30 PM The Rite of Tenebre

The service of worship known as Tenebre means shadows or darkness, and has its origin in the second century after the resurrection and ascension of Christ. However, its recognizable form as presented this evening comes from the Middles Ages. The service is drawn from the Offices of Matins and Lauds, which are apart of eady Christian worship. The prayers and psalms which comprise the service were arranged to fit the last three days of Holy Week.

In the Middle Ages, Tenebre was celebrated in darkness. Gradually the service evolved into candles being lit and extinguished one by one until only one remained. Symbolically, the last candle is Christ, ffidthe others being extinguished represent his followers dropping away as his death draws near; darkness prevails and the symbolism of Christ’s torture ensues.

Our Church’s approach to Tenebre is owed to its orgarizer, Bishop Franciszek Hodur, who inserted the Lamentations of the Polish National Catholic Church. The emphasis of the service, therefore, centers on the return of wayward and straying people to Christ.

Feast of the Institution of the Holy Eucharist — Holy Thursday, April 21st

April 21st at 7:30 PM Holy Mass marking the first Mass instituted at our Lord’s Last Supper.

On this day, Christ instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper which is the first Mass. He prepared the Meal that would, through the ages, unite his members with himself. The laity together with the priest should partake of the one Meal as a sign that we are all apartof the one family in Christ Jesus.

On this night, we are, as it were, gathered with the disciples to receive from Jesus the great gift of his own Flesh and Blood for the first time.
“The love of Christ has gathered us together; let us love the loving God, and love each other with loving hearts.”

Christmas Holy Mass Schedule

We will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with the traditional Holy Mass of the Shepherds at 10 p.m. on Friday, December 24th. The singing of Christmas carols in Polish and English will precede the service beginning at 9:40 p.m.

On Saturday, the Holy Mass of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour will be celebrated at 10 a.m.