St. James the Greater & 

St. Thomas the Apostle    

Msgr. Gacquin Youth
Religious Education Center

Religious Education/Youth Office and Classes 
are at the Msgr. Gacquin Youth Religious Education Center.
(All mail should be sent to parish office
as noted at the bottom of this page)
Phone: 973-948-7004 

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

Project Rachel   973-777-8818, ext. 272
Lumina: Hope and Healing After Abortion:  1.877.LUMINA1 (877.586.4621)
www.postabortionhelp.org

SCAM ALERT from Father Wayne:

  This is to warn you not to accept any text messages, supposedly from me, asking you for cash or gift cards for   "Corona-virus victims." 
Please know that this is a complete fraud.
   This scheme has also been attempted at neighboring parishes, and does not originate through the Church.  I would never request money in this way.  I don't even know how to send a text !
    Be assured that, if apprehended, I would insist that the perpetrator be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

To view the July 11th and July 18th Confirmation Masses, 
and the July 25th First  Holy Communion,
 please access our Parish Channel on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1MjdM9eHGLFppDqTaOu5eQ/videos?view=2&flow=grid

       Our Live-streams are posted simultaneously on this page,                                  on our Parish Facebook page.                                                 It can be viewed when it first goes LIVE                         directly on the Parish YouTube Channel:  
    Parishes of Saint Thomas and Saint James.

          There is a delay of  live-streams transferring over as UPLOADS.    Please choose ALL VIDEOS or LIVE-STREAMS
 if you do not see the most recent video.
  *  *  *  *
                           Our congratulations & welcome to                               Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, D.D,
 ordained & installed July 1st as the eighth Bishop of Paterson. 

Our thanks to Bishop Arthur Serratelli for his guidance over
 the past 16 years.  We wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement.

1. Our Churches can only accommodate to 25 % of capacity - the current NJ Limit of 100 exceeds that and we are required to go with the lower #.
 It is by first come, first enter.
Sat. Vigil Mass and Masses at St. James have not reached capacity as of 7/26
Once capacity is reached -  others sadly have to be turned away for now.
  
Sunday's only, the 9:30 AM Mass Live-Stream is shown in the Fr. Lewis Center &  those who cannot be accomodated inside the church can be seated in the Hall to view the live-stream and receive Holy Communion with the other parishioners. 

One can also opt to attend a Daily Mass, when normally a lower # attend.

            2. All over the age of 2 must wear face masks to enter the church.                   Masks MUST remain on, and cover one's nose and mouth.
There is hand sanitizer toapply as you enter
- or bring your own and apply it before or on entry.

3. All must maintain a Social Distance of 6 ft. apart at all times, also when lining up for Communion.  (Immediate household members only excepted.)
Designated pews are blocked off and seating is socially distanced.

4 The Missalettes and Hymn books are removed,
as those cannot be kept disinfected.
Singing is currently not permitted (to control the spread of germs.)

5. Holy Communion can only be given into the hand.

                       6. There should be no congregating before or after Mass                             - from your car to the church, at entry, or on dismissal.

 7. Restrooms are available, but be used only if absolutely necessary. 

Anyone with a cough or fever is asked to please stay home.

Those over 60 who remain most at risk or with any underlying health conditions are encouraged to continue to watch a Mass on TV or
                 the live-stream of our 9:30 AM Sunday Mass at St. Thomas.                  
    We continue to offer this way to participate in Mass  
each Sunday during COVID restrictions. 

          The dispensation from the obligation to participate in Sunday and Holy Day Masses                remains in effect until further notice. For this reason, those who wish to attend Sunday                        and are unable to do so because of the limited access to the church                      may choose to attend Mass on another day.

 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 follow Mass at home via live stream or television until all restrictions are removed.

One is not dispensed from their Sunday obligation
to observe a Mass on TV or online,
or to set time aside for prayer, or to read the Bible.
             ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                           The Parish Office is once again open.
Social distancing & facial masks required to enter the building.

     Please call the office 973-948-2296 to schedule Confession      or for any other requests.

Our Parish Food Pantry is currently By Appt. only.
Call 973-948-6092 and leave a message.
Someone will call you back with a specific pick-up appointment time. 

Go to Alerts & Coronavirus for info on alternatives
to view a Mass online or on TV, other related resources.

P.S. Don’t keep your ‘social distance’ from the Lord !

       We welcome you to our parishes in the northwest corner     
                            of Sussex County, New Jersey.

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

     Thank You for your support - particularly during this time when some
may not access the church, as we also continue to have bills to pay.  

FYI  You can sign up to give a weekly regular Sunday offering & include donations to offset our Diocesan Assessments. Those can be scheduled by date in advance
         [weekly offerings can be set automatically] or one can do a single monthly offering.     

     We welcome you and ask that you fill out a registration form which can be found in the vestibule of the Church or can be obtained via our Parish Office. 
      When a Catholic is asked to be a Godparent or Sponsor, a letter from the pastor of their parish is requested. That letter can only be legitimately provided to someone who is a registered member of a parish.