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St. James the Greater &
St. Thomas the Apostle

 in Montague & Sandyston, NJ

  • Church Bulletin
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  • Home
  • About
      • The Patron Saints of Our Parishes
      • Parish History
      • Virtual Tour
      • Staff
      • Contact Us / Directions
  • Faith Formation
      • Ways to Grow in Faith
      • Today's Readings
      • Religious Education
      • Youth Group at OLQP
      • RCIA
      • Sacraments
      • Devotions
  • Organizations
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Columbiettes
      • Legion of Mary
  • Liturgy / Sacraments
      • Mass Times
      • Sacrament of Baptism
      • Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation
      • Sacrament of First Eucharist
      • Sacrament of Matrimony
      • Sacrament of Confirmation
      • Anointing of the Sick
  • Online Giving
      • St. James
      • St. Thomas
  • Alerts, Upcoming Events & News
      • Important Info
      • Church Bulletin
      • News
      • Photo Album
      • Fundraisers
      • Events
    • We welcome you to our parishes in the
      northwest corner of Sussex County, New Jersey.

    •  

      St. James the Greater

      75 River Road, Montague, NJ 07827
      Map and Directions
      Picture
       

      St. Thomas the Apostle

      210 Route 206 N, Sandyston, NJ 07826
      Map and Directions

    • Our church welcomes those visiting our area
      to join with us at Mass.


                        Please  check our Church Bulletin [link is above - upper right]                   for  timely  info and any other upcoming parish or area events.

      2022 - 2023 Religious Education program classes : 
      Grades 4, 5 & 6 –  Tues.  ; Grades 1, 2 & 3 – Wed. ;
      Conf. I & II – Sun.
      Current class dates for each are in the Parish Bulletin.


                         The Sacraments of Christian Initiation for those students who                           will receive First Holy Eucharist and Confirmation,
      builds on the grace that each child first received at Baptism. 
      It requires 2 years of preparation -
      usually  in 1st & 2nd grade, and again in 7th & 8th grade. 

      The grades in-between are the added stepping stones to help
      assure that each child may more fully grasp and understand their faith
      and should not be skipped.


       
      Children's Liturgy of the Word

        C.L.O.W.  is offered at St. Thomas the Apostle's Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass. 
      The next CLOW is on Feb. 5th.


       Students should continue attending at either the 4:30 Sat. Vigil,
       or a Sunday Mass each weekend. 

                        Mrs. Flexer welcomes Confirmation Candidates (from grades 7 & 8)                      and Confirmed teens to consider assisting as Lector, and/or Hospitality Minister for our 2023  C.L.O.W. schedule. 

                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------           
                                                                       Consider this in 2023!
               We wou ld like to make you aware of an opportunity to grow in your faith and learn more about the Catholic Church’s teachings -  on your own time. 
           On January 1st, Ascension launched its   Catechism in a Year podcast. Thats consists of daily 15-20 minute episodes of  Fr. Mike Schmitz reading through the entire-
      Catechism of the Catholic Church
      o­ffering insights and guidance.                                                                    One can still easily catch up.  Consider giving it a try! 
            The Catechism explains & discusses all the fundamental teachings of our faith in a prayerful, engaging and approachable way. Having it in podcast form makes it easily accessible via a  computer or smartphone/tablet - which you can listen at home, or while walking, driving - at a time you choose.
           We invite you to consider joining other taking on this faith journey.  
      Info is online to sign up for FREE at both Ascension Press’s website & on their FB page. C
      heck out the The Catechism in a Year YouTube Channel - the only place to watch, listen and / or read along with every word of the podcast. 
      The Bible In a Year  remains accessible and all 365 individual episodes remain online.               
                       
          ********************************************************************
          We continue to provide hand sanitizer.
       Feel free to wear a facial mask, if you choose or need to for personal  health reasons. 
      For everyone's continued safety, those wishing to receive Communion on the tongue  -  please approach at the end of all processing forward to receive in the hand.

      -----------------------------------------------------
      Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
      The R.C.I.A. sessions are mainly for adults - for faith sharing and instruction. The sessions run approximately one to one and 1/2 hours and would be held at the convenience of all participants. There is no cost for this program. 
      Parishioners can invite others to become Baptized Catholics. 
        If anyone is already baptized, do not delay being fully initiated - if for some reason you did not receive any of these Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation
      - of the Catholic Church.

      Anyone interested - please check the Church Bulletin  [shown top Right] and contact the Parish.
    • Alternate ways to view Mass

            We offer this list of links  to online Masses or ones televised,  for those who still cannot legitimately attend in person - as noted Per the Bishops of NJ - below. 
            All others should be attending a Sat. Vigil or a Sunday Mass offered each weekend to fulfill your Sunday Mass obligation if there is no illness or genuine extenuating circumstance. 
                                                                       Per the Bishops of NJ

      The dispensation from the obligation to participate in Sunday Eucharist was lifted on the Vigil of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ,   
      June 5th, 2021  for all of those in good health.
      {  No one had been dispensed from observing their Sunday obligation.  }

       "A person with a cough or fever of any kind should not take part in Mass in-person."

         "All who are healthy and who do not regularly come in contact with those who have serious underlying  medical conditions are encouraged to take part in Mass in-person."             
       
      " Those who are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus,
      i.e. those sixty (60) years of age and over, and especially those with one or several underlying medical conditions, or those directly responsible for the care of those most susceptible - who may therefore not feel comfortable returning at this time, should continue to follow Mass at home via live streams or televised options until restrictions are removed."


      Go to our Alerts at top right for more info on alternative sources
      to view Mass online or via your TV, and other related info.

      P.S. Don’t keep  ‘social distance’  from the Lord !
      During the season when assorted respiratory bugs normally circulate
      - one can still mask, and take standard precautions.


       Mass options online :  
       St. Patrick's Cathedral      
       Catholic TV 
        EWTN

    • Parish info - current procedures:


        1.   Those who should or wish to - please feel free to wear a face mask.                      Hand sanitizers remain available in the Gathering Space for anyone's use on entering the building.   

        2.  Holy Communion remains being given in the hand.  Paterson Diocesan
      protocol advises:
         "Those who wish to receive Holy Communion on the tongue ..  come up and receive at the conclusion of the Communion Procession."                                                                                                                                   Our pastor, Father Wayne Varga,  requests all continue to adhere to this request.  

            Do not attend in person if experiencing respiratory symptoms { as Flu, RSV, & Covid have  similar symptoms}  or if you should isolate/ quarantine due to known COVID exposure.
      =================================================================

      The parishes of St. James and of St. Thomas accept Online Giving.
      Please click the  logo above to sign up for either parish.

      Thank You for your continued support!  
      Diocesan Assessments  * &  Special Collection * dates  listed. 
      Please indicate which * collection &   date  you are donating towards - via an added notation.


                    New Parishioner Information             
          We welcome you and ask that you fill out a registration form.
      One can be obtained at church, via our Parish Office, or a download: 
      St. Thomas or  St. James

        When a Catholic is asked to be Godparent or Sponsor, 
      a letter from the pastor of their home parish is requested. 
      That letter can only be legitimately provided to a registered member of a parish.   
       


      Please do call the Parish Office 973-948-2296 [Ext. 11]
      to schedule Confession with the pastor
      or for any specific requests.

      +++++++++++++++++++++++++
      Our Parish Food Pantry is currently accessible 
      most weekdays til about 2:30pm via the Parish Office.
      Please call first to be certain someone there can assist you.

      If you don't get to speak directly with someone,  do leave a message with your name and a phone # so that you can be responded to.   Someone will call you back . 

      REMINDER

      Do NOT reply to the any email supposedly sent by the pastor or any staff member.  There have been  SCAM  texts/email that  were "supposedly"  sent by either Fr. Wayne or Mrs. Flexer and occured at different times;  the "Reply To:" addresses were not being directed back to their correct email address but to a totally  unrelated account being used by a scammer. 
      Law enforcement was given the info - and warns that such
       are part of active phishing emails that show crooks continue to try to access personal info or to get someone to send them gift cards, etc.  via email.
      Before you might respond to such - contact the parish first.

    • Mass  Schedule

      • Saturday Vigil 4:30 PM EnglishEnglishEN at St. Thomas the Apostle
      • Sunday 8:00 AM EnglishEnglishEN at St. James the Greater 9:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN at St. Thomas the Apostle 11:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN at St. James the Greater
      • MonWed Fri 9:00 AM EnglishEnglishEN at St. Thomas the Apostle
      • Saturday 8:00 AM EnglishEnglishEN at St. James the Greater
    • Wintry Weather alerts

      For Weekday Masses - if either the Sandyston-Walpack or Montague Elementary School Districts [when in session] call for a delay or closure.. do not venture out.   We cannot assure that the long driveway or sidewalks will be sufficiently cleared at St. Thomas.
         All other times, use your best judgment.

      If known early enough and when conditions warrant concern on weekends,  or during school vacation/holidays, we shall try to post any cancellation here and also to our Facebook page - as long as power & internet is working.   

    • Confession  

      • Saturday: 4:00 PM to 4:20 PM at St. Thomas the Apostle
    • NOTE:
          The Sacrament of Reconciliation is always also available by Appt. 

    • Parish Staff

      • Rev. Wayne Varga
        Pastor
        973-948-2296 Ext 11
      • Mr. Wayne von Doehren
        Deacon
      • Mrs. Mary Flexer
        CRE
        973-948-7004
      • Mrs. Rosemarie Briegel
        Parish Secretary
        973-948-2296 Ext 10
    •  FORMED   

         Click : FORMED to sign up for   your own direct account under   our parish subscription:                 St. James the Greater and  St. Thomas the Apostle.

    • Religious Education for Children      (CCD)

      Religious Education / Youth Office and Classes are located at 
      122 Layton-Hainesville Road, Sandyston, NJ 07826
      Map and Directions

       Msgr. Gacquin Youth
      Religious Education Center


      CCD Office Phone:  973-948-7004
      (All mail should be sent to the parish office  address -  noted at the bottom of this page.)

    •  See www.ithirstinitiative.org
      For those Interested in Assisting Those Suffering from Addiction:

    • Pregnancy Assistance & Adoption Services

      Call 1-800-395-HELP  or 
      Tri-State Pregnancy 570-491-5151

       Good Counsel: 1.800.723.8331 
                      for pregnant mothers in need                any time, any place.
       www.goodcounselhomes.org

      Adoption@Catholic Charities

      +++

      Post Abortion Healing  

      Project Rachel    
      973-777-8818, ext. 272

      Lumina: Hope and Healing After Abortion:   1.877.LUMINA1 (877.586.4621)

      www.postabortionhelp.org
Parish Offices:   210 Route 206 North,   Sandyston, NJ 07826
Monday through Friday   8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
 Office: 973-948-2296                    Fax: 973-948-4634
EMAIL : stjamesthomas@aol.com

Rectory: 973-293-7582 
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