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    • St. James
    • St. Thomas
|||

St. James the Greater &
St. Thomas the Apostle

 in Montague & Sandyston, NJ

  • Church Bulletin
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  • Home
  • Our Parishes
      • Pastor's Message & Mission Statement
      • The Patron Saints of Our Parishes
      • Parish History
      • Virtual Tour
      • Staff
      • Photos
      • Contact Us / Directions
      • HubSpot
      • Diocesan Links
  • Faith Formation
      • Weekly Bible Study
      • Ways to Grow in Faith
      • Religious Education
      • Sacraments
      • OCIA [formerly RCIA]
      • Youth Group at OLQP
      • Devotions
      • Today's Readings
  • Liturgy / Sacraments
      • Mass Times
      • Sacrament of Baptism
      • Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation
      • Sacrament of First Eucharist
      • Sacrament of Confirmation
      • Sacrament of Matrimony
      • Anointing of the Sick
  • Organizations /Ministries
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Columbiettes
      • Legion of Mary
    • Ministries
      • Liturgical & Service
      • Prayer Shawl Ministry
  • Info & News, Events, Fundraisers
      • Church Bulletin
      • Important Info
      • News
      • Fundraisers
      • Events
  • Online Giving
      • St. James
      • St. Thomas
    • We welcome you to our parishes in the
       northwest corner of Sussex County, New Jersey.

    • Designated Jubilee 2025 Site

      St. James the Greater

      75 River Road, Montague, NJ 07827
      Map and Directions

      St. Thomas the Apostle

      210 Route 206 N, Sandyston, NJ 07826
      Map and Directions
    •    Father Wayne's    Easter Letter  

             

      + + +


      Our church invites those visiting our area
      to come join with us at Mass.

      + + +

          St. James the Greater is one of the 5 Designated Jubilee sites          within the Paterson Diocese.
               Pilgrims are welcome, throughout the Jubilee year in 2025,                  on the 2nd Friday of every month for a Mass at 3:00pm -            followed by Confession and Adoration until 4:30pm.
      Bishop Sweeney's letter about JUBILEE 2025

       For a Printable Tri-fold with Info about the Pilgrimage sites & Indulgences - Click Here
      In honor of this Jubilee Year of Hope, and in recognition of the designation of 
      St. James the Greater Church as a Holy Site for the Diocese of Paterson, 
      Father Wayne will be offering One Hour of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Saturday mornings after the 8:00AM Mass, from 8:30 to 9:30AM. Confession will also be made available after the Mass.
      An abundance of Graces and a Plenary Indulgence may be obtained through your participation in this sacred offering.  

      We need to be sure that there is coverage for this. 
      Please consider being an Adorer during this time.
               
      +++
      Our Music Ministry will be incorporating this hymn:
      Click  image to access  a LYRIC VIDEO (Guitar & Piano)

      Click: Pope Francis' DECREE ON THE GRANTING OF THE INDULGENCE DURING THE ORDINARY JUBILEE YEAR 2025
      One can gain one indulgence each day for the remission of temporal punishment.
      +++

      May Devotion: Blessed Virgin Mary 

      May we be assisted, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, by the worshipful intercession of Thy glorious Mother, the ever-Virgin Mary; that we, who have been enriched by her perpetual blessings, may be delivered from all dangers, and through her loving kindness made to be of one heart and mind: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. Excerpt from Roman Missal
         -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Please drop into the Collection Basket, or leave at the parish office,
       the revised 
      Parish Census Form  to help us update our records for accuracy in 2025,  noting any changes. 
      _________________________________________________________________________________
        Religious Education program
       
       
      The Sacraments of Christian Initiation - for students who will receive their First Holy Eucharist and Confirmation, build on the grace each child first receives at Baptism.         Reception of those two sacraments requires two specific years of preparation for each Sacrament, usually 1st & 2nd grades, and again 7th & 8th grades. 
      All children entering school & 1st grade in Sept. should be enrolled for that year's term.   Each grade in between is a necessary stepping stone, to help assure that each child will more fully grasp and understand their faith, and cannot be skipped.
             Children should remain enrolled yearly until confirmed.
      +++
      Children's Liturgy of the Word

      C.L.O.W.  is held on certain Sundays at St. Thomas the Apostle - during the  school season, & is held during the Gospel/Homily portion of a Sunday
                         9:30 AM Mass in the months that Religious Education classes are held.              
      Check Church Bulletin [top R corner] for the specific dates.

      All students should attend either  St. Thomas' 4:30 PM Sat. Vigil, 
           or Sunday Mass at either St. James or St. Thomas,
                  or  if away, than at another Catholic Church
      , every weekend year-round.         
         Mrs. Flexer welcomes  Confirmation Candidates (from grades 7 & 8) and Confirmed teens    to consider assisting as Lector, and/or as Hospitality Minister for  C.L.O.W. ,  or  in any other Liturgical Ministry.     

                  +++                

                                 Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
        {Formerly known as RCIA}  
         
        
        If anyone is already baptized, there is no reason to delay being fully initiated. If you are over 18 and for any reason did not receive any of these  Sacraments of the Catholic Church:  Baptism,  Eucharist,  Confirmation  -  please contact the Parish, if you desire to now receive them.
       More info is under OCIA on the Faith Formation sub-page  - see navigation bar above.  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
      Nine Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
      ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

            MUSIC MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT   "He who sings prays twice."

            You can listen to the Mass Settings on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube and downloadable on the Oregon Catholic Press website, our music publisher.  www.OCP.ORG.

                                                 Do join in singing with the choir and musicians !
          Any questions, please contact or speak directly with Lou Casper, Musician Director. 

              The congregation should sing along with the choir per hymn #'s as listed on the board, 
       unless otherwise directed, or it the Meditative piece - to listen to, offered after Communion.

             =================================================================

            Please check our Church Bulletin  [link is  above - top right]  for all timely info about both upcoming parish or area events & also  peek at our Upcoming Events sub-page for Parish events.
    •   We now have aHubSpot account, via the Diocese, to facilitate important parish communications - e.g., cancellation of a Mass or event due to weather, or urgent / important notifications.

      Click the above button to access that sign-up form and further info.
      If any parishioner uses HubSpot for work - please let the Parish Office know 
      if you can assist us,  as we continue to transition into this new format .  
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       

      The parishes of St. James & of St. Thomas do accept Online Giving.
      Please click on the logo above to sign up to donate to either parish.
      2025 Diocesan Assessments  * &  Special Collection * dates are listed. 
      Please indicate which * collection your donation is towards - via a notation.
      Thank You for your continued support!  


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

      St. Thomas  /  St. James

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

      Parish Food Pantry at St. Thomas is ONLY accessible 
      Tuesday's between 10- 11 AM
      .

          
      Individuals are limited to 2 filled bags. Pantry Volunteers are on-hand to assist you.


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

    • Alternate ways to view Mass

            We offer this list of links  to online Masses or ones televised,  for those who  cannot legitimately attend in person - especially if ill or fully homebound.   
            All others should be attending either a weekly Sat. Vigil or a Sunday Mass 
       to fulfill the Sunday Mass obligation
       - if there is no illness, or a genuine extenuating circumstance.                                                                                                                                       { No one is ever dispensed from observing their Sunday obligation. }    

        Go to the menu above & at top right see Info & News  - check "Important Info". 

            Per the Bishops of NJ   -  As of the 2023 Vigil of Corpus Christi,  all were again welcomed to receive from the chalice. Of course, those with colds are still asked to refrain.  {Currently - due to  colds, RSV, etc. this may be temporarily suspended.}  Receiving from the chalice is always optional, but it offers the full experience of the Last Supper of Jesus.   Those only receiving the Precious Body  are asked to then bow towards the Minister with the Precious Blood to show respect, as continuing back to their pew. 
         
      It remains an alternate for those who cannot receive the normal gluten host. 
      Should anyone, as a Celiac, need to take Communion via a low gluten host - that   must be made known to the pastor in advance, as those hosts are then placed in a separate  pyx and offered only by the presider.     
      We continue to make hand sanitizer available.                                                                      Feel free to wear a facial mask,  if you choose or need to for any reason.    
       
      For everyone's continued safety,  those wishing to receive Communion on the tongue  - per Paterson Diocesan protocol : 
        "
      Those who wish to receive Holy Communion on the tongue .. are to come up to receive at the conclusion of the Communion Procession." 

       Options online for those ill or unable to attend in person:  

      Catholic Faith Network + St. Patrick Cathedral 
      Catholic TV 
        EWTN

    • 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
    • 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
    • Confession  schedule:

      • Sat: 4:00 PM to 4:20 PM at St. Thomas the Apostle
    • Let this Sacrament bring you healing and hope.    

        The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also always available by appointment and is also being offered at St. James during Jubilee 2025,  on the 2nd Friday of each month, following the 3PM Mass til 4:30PM.  And Sat. mornings,  after the 8AM Mass til 9:30AM.

    • FORMED

       Offers diverse Catholic movies, audio books, podcasts, shows, and more.

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

    •  Religious Ed    for Children         (CCD)

               Msgr. Gacquin Youth &
           Religious Education Center          
      (REC) Religious Education Office

      122  Layton-Hainesville Rd. 
       Sandyston,
       NJ 07826


              All mail is to be sent to the parish office address noted at the bottom    of this page.

      Map and Directions

      CCD Office Phone:                                          973-948-7004

    • Eucharistic Revival Blog

      • Jubilee: Don’t Miss this Moment of Miracle and Grace
        yesterday
        On May 9, 2024, Pope Francis announced to the world that 2025 would be a Jubilee year for the Catholic Church worldwide.
      • We’re on Our Way Home—3 Practices for Living as a Pilgrim
        yesterday
        During ministry, there are numerous moments when I need to step back and remember this reality. A pilgrimage is not about comfort; it is about growth.
      • Essential Step to Experience....
        Essential Step to Experience....
        yesterday
        Before we met, my husband and I had each come to love God, and we made a commitment to following Jesus Christ.
    •      Interested in Assisting those 
                Suffering from Addiction ?
        
                       www.ithirstinitiative.org


      2/13/24 NCR article titled "Aiding     the Addicted: Healing Hearts and Souls   Through Spiritual Accompaniment " tells  about the iTHIRST Initiative. 

      "The Road To Hope" Book Review 

    • Pregnancy Assistance & Adoption Services

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


      Good Counsel Homes: 
      1 -800-723-8331
       

         Serving pregnant mothers in need -     any time & any place.
       www.goodcounselhomes.org

      Adoption@Catholic Charities
      Walking with Moms in Need
      +++

      Post-Abortion Healing:  

      Project Rachel    
      973-777-8818, ext. 272
      hopeafterabortion.com
      www.rachelsvineyard.org

      Lumina: Hope and Healing After Abortion:   1.877.LUMINA1 (877.586.4621)         www.postabortionhelp.org    FB:  LuminaHopeandHealingAfterAbortion/
Parish Office:   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 : [email protected]         { [email protected] is being phased out of use. }

Rectory: 973-293-7582 
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