• Home
  • About
    • The Patron Saints of Our Parishes
    • Parish History
    • Virtual Tour
    • Staff
    • Contact Us / Directions
      • Links
  • Faith Formation
    • Ways to Grow in Faith
    • Today's Readings
    • Religious Education
    • Youth Group at OLQP
    • RCIA
    • Sacraments
    • Devotions
  • Organizations
    • Knights of Columbus
      • KofC Members
    • Columbiettes
    • Legion of Mary
  • Liturgy / Sacraments
    • Mass Times
    • Holy Week Schedule
    • 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
      • Resources
      • Live-streams have ended
    • Church Bulletin
    • News
    • Photo Album
    • Fundraisers
    • Events
      • Parish & Area
|||

St. James the Greater &
St. Thomas the Apostle

 in Montague & Sandyston, NJ

  • Church Bulletin
  • Holy Week Schedule
Facebook
Search
  • 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
      • Holy Week Schedule
      • 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 other upcoming parish or area events:

      DURING LENT
               Added Monday evenings 7-8:30 PM - Sacrament of Reconciliation. 
      available each Monday of Lent til March 27th,  throughout the Diocese.
      For our 2 churches - March 27th is only at St. Thomas the Apostle.

      Due to our need to alternate, an evening  was added on and will be offered at
      St. James the Greater on April 3rd.
           Please don't wait til the last date.  Best to come out early.
      No scheduled weekend confessions offered on Holy Sat.
         Note  right-hand column:  Confessions during Lent.

      Guide to Confession

      On Friday's -  at St. Thomas:
      9a.m. Daily Mass -
      followed by Eucharistic Adoration til Noon -  concluding with Stations of the Cross at 12PM as the closing prayers for Adoration.
      +++
      7p.m.  Ecumenical Lenten Service - rotates between the three churches:
      March 31st - Minisink Reformed Church

      Check out our Events sub-page for a number of parish events.
      +  +  +
      Bishop Sweeney will be presiding over Confirmation - calling down the Holy Spirit upon our young people on Friday, March 31st at St. Thomas the Apostle. Pray that our young people may receive and allow the Holy Spirit
      to inspire them while they continue to mature in their faith.


      2022 - 2023 Religious Education program classes : 
      Grades 4, 5 & 6 –  Tues.    Grades 1, 2 & 3 – Wed. 
      Conf. I & II – Sundays
      Current class dates for each grade level 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 two 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.  will be offered at St. Thomas the Apostle's Sunday               9:30 a.m. Mass on April 2nd.
       Students should continue attending either the 4:30 Sat. Vigil,
       or a Sunday Mass each weekend. 

                        Mrs. Flexer welcomes Confirmation Candidates (from grades 7 & 8)                      and any Confirmed teens to consider assisting as Lector, and/or as
      Hospitality Minister for  C.L.O.W.  or in another Liturgical Ministry.
      +++

      Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
        If anyone is already baptized, there is no reason to 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.

                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------           
                                                                             Consider this in 2023!

                                                        Lent 2023 : Resources on HALLOW

                                                                                    also


           We'd 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. 
          Jan. 1st, Ascension launched its new Catechism in a Year podcast - consisting of daily/ individual 15-20 minute episodes of Fr. Mike Schmitz reading and o­ffering insights and guidance on the entire  
      Catechism of the Catholic Church
      One can easily catch up.  Consider giving it a try! 
        Our 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  a smartphone / tablet. You can listen at home, or while walking, driving - at a time you choose.
        Info is online to sign up 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 - 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  -  
      our 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." 
    • 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 now 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. 

      P.S. Don’t keep  ‘social distance’  from the Lord !
       Mass options online for those ill or unable to attend in person:  
       St. Patrick's Cathedral      
       Catholic TV 
        EWTN

    • The parishes of St. James and of St. Thomas accept Online Giving.
      Please click on the logo above to sign up for either parish.
      Diocesan Assessments  * &  Special Collection * dates  listed. 
      Please indicate which * collection &  date  donation is towards - via a notation.

      Thank You for your continued support!  


                    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 have been sufficiently cleared at St. Thomas. 

      At all other times, use your best judgment.
      If known early enough - when conditions warrant concern on weekends  or during school vacation/holidays, we try to post a cancellation here and to our Facebook page -  long as power & internet are working.   

    • Confession  

      • Saturday: 4:00 PM to 4:20 PM at St. Thomas the Apostle
    • Confessions During Lent is again available each Monday of Lent,  from 7 p.m. til 8:30 p.m.,  throughout the Diocese.

      Reconciliation is at the heart of the Lenten Season.    At our parishes, the alternating schedule will be:
                     {Weather permitting}

      Feb. 27   St. Thomas                        Mar. 6   St. James
      Mar. 13   St. Thomas                       Mar. 20  St. James
      Mar. 27  St. Thomas       Apr. 3      St. James

      NOTE:
       The Sacrament of Reconciliation is always also available by Appt. 

      Lent calls us to repent, perform acts of charity and acts of service, and explore songs and music practices that are unique to the Liturgical Season. 
      Click the image/link for OCP's music collections, prayer resources, playlists, etc.:
      11491_Lent_1200x627.jpg

      Our Music Ministry will present     “Lenten Taizé Prayer”     weather-permitting

      Monday,  March 13   and
      Monday,  March 27 
       
      at 7:30 PM at St. Thomas -  offered in conjunction with the time being offered for Confessions.
    • 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 on FORMED to sign up for your own direct account under  our parish 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

      Mail should be sent to the parish office address noted at the bottom of this page.

      Map and Directions

        CCD Office Phone:                                       973-948-7004

    •  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 Homes: 1 -800-723-8331 
                      For 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 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 
Login
powered by eCatholic®