Little Flower Church, Berkeley Heights, NJ: Ministries

Ministries

Prayer Chain
Prayer is an integral part of our life here in our faith community. Desiring to assist the other disciples of the Lord in their journey here on earth, we have others in the parish who are a part of a prayer ministry. This human chain of “pray-ers” includes the sick and the homebound for, as St. Paul writes in his first Letter to the Corinthians: “the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” (1 Cor 12: 22) If you need someone or some matter prayed for, please contact the rectory. We will then place that intention on our list for one month. If you wish to remain on the list, please contact the rectory again.

The rectory will contact our leaders in the Prayer Chain who will then contact all of the members on the Prayer Chain to pray for your need. We would be grateful if you inform us as to the result of the prayer. We would like to keep all informed as to the power of prayer.

Post a prayer received to our Prayer Response Space

View Prayer Responses

Ministry Contacts: Marie and John Hack JMHack@lfbhnj.org

Miraculous Medal

                                         Miraculous Medal Novena

The Faith Community of Little Flower will be making a Novena in Honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in November, praying the novena every day for nine days, ending on the feast of St. Catherine Laboure.

Our Catholic faith is twofold - each of us as individuals and building up the community of believers, the Church. We are invited to make a Novena with the community either after mass or as individuals.

                                   Why we make Novenas?
It is a matter of faith, not a magic spell or a “good luck charm”. It is a testimony to faith and the power of trusting in prayer. You are asking for intercession – God’s will be done not ours.

God gave the Saints their special gifts and the graces to help those in need to connect us to God. Because of God, the Saints are allowed to intercede for us. Just as Jesus Christ appointed Peter and the apostles to lead the church, the Saints have been appointed to speak on our behalf. When we call upon the Saints, we are asking them to go to God with our needs - just as we ask a friend to pray for us! Sometimes we do not obtain what we want, but we do acquire what we need!

We are asking the Saints for intercession to go to God on our behalf.   These Saints are interceding for us.

We are not worshipping them. It is like asking the Saints to put in a good word for us!

For the life of St. Catherine Laboure and the meaning of the Miraculous Medal, click on this link http://www.amm.org/catherine.asp

Post a prayer received to our Prayer Response Space
View Prayer Responses

Parish Life

PARISH LIFE MINISTRY

The social events of our parish have been wonderfully received. They have brought young and old together to have fun and become a more integral part of the parish.

Some of this year’s events were/will be: parish picnic, Beefsteak night, After Mass Coffees, Parish bowling night, Wine and Cheese event, pot-luck suppers, Spaghetti dinner.

As part of the Parish Life Ministry, the committee will:

1. Work with other members of the Parish Life Committee in the promotion and implementation of the parish mission statement;

2. Outline social events for the parish for a year’s time;

3. Find and support the leadership of each activity;

4. Work as liaison between the event leadership and the business manager;

5. Participate in the evaluation process of the event;

6. Guide leadership on effective modes of communicating the event.

The time commitment for committee members is two years.

If you have an idea for an event, please contact any of the committee members listed below:

Chairperson Julie Flynn 908.665.0916 flynnfam6@verizon.net

Peggy Cogan
Craig Hill
Peggy House
Maribel Proano 908.755.0601
908.464.3974
908.322.7991
908.790.9495 userpcogan@aol.com
c8252@aol.com
peggyhouse@verizon.net
proanos@verizon.net

IF YOU ARE PLANNING A PARISH LIFE EVENT, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK AND DOWNLOAD THE PARISH LIFE EVENT REQUEST FORM. PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM AND E-MAIL TO US AT parishlife@lfbhnj.org.

UPCOMING PLANNED PARISH EVENTS

After Mass Coffees Jean Marie & Dio Grisi grisi@alcatel-lucent.com

MOMS Group

The Little Flower M.O.M.S Group invites you to
See what we are all about!

The Church of the Little Flower is thrilled at the successful launch of our Ministry of Mothers sharing (M.O.M.S)

Many women have already taken advantage of this wonderful opportunity to come together with a group of women with the goals of:

· Gathering together to form a network of mutual spiritual support.

· Experiencing the benefits of learning, praying and ministering to each other.

· Introducing mothers to opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.

· Networking with other members and leaders throughout the parish.

· Following the overall mission of our church, to continue to grow as a welcoming family of faith.

Who should join?

· Women who currently devote, or have devoted time to the spiritual and physical upbringing of children.

· Women who live with many stressful demands on their time and energy.

· Women who need a place to receive personal and spiritual nurturing and support among peers.

The group will resume in September.

We meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 9 – 11 AM, September through June.

M.O.M.S is open to ALL mothers!

Childcare is available at NO CHARGE!

If you are interested in taking part in this wonderful journey of motherhood with a welcoming family of faith, please contact Christie Barcelona at littleflowermomsgroup@yahoo.com or (908) 464-2195

or Kay Stumbar at 908-464-7444

Click here for the Registration Form

Click here for the MOMS Calendar for 2011-2012

Prayer Shawl

A very special ministry at Little Flower is the Prayer Shawl Ministry. A group of parishioners gather periodically to knit or crochet shawls and pray for healing for those people who receive the shawls. Shawls are given to people who are sick, homebound, in nursing homes and hospitals. Shawls are also made for Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat participants.

Ministry Contact: Mary Ellen Cook

Recently 17 shawls were donated to Rachel's Vineyard and we will have at least 2 more Rachel's Vineyard Retreats this coming year where we supply shawls for those who attend.

The next Prayer Shawl Meeting will be held on Monday, September 26, 2011 in Room 2H in the Parish Center at 1:00 PM. Come with your finished shawls, not finished shawls, or just come alone. It's good for all of us to touch base with one another. If you are interested in making shawls, please join us.

Click on the image to read a thank you note from Mary Ellen Cook.

Ministry to the Sick

Our priests regularly visit the sick of our parish in local hospitals and celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick with our sick and homebound parishioners. Our deacons provide Communion Services on Saturdays in the local nursing homes.

Parish Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion to local nursing homes and those parishioners confined to their homes. They also assist at Overlook Hospital. Other parishioners make friendly visits to our parish sick and shut-ins.

We are anxious to help anyone who cannot celebrate Mass with us in church because of illness, age or handicap. If you or a member of your family wishes to receive Communion, the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Anointing of the Sick at home, please call the Parish Office. Also, notify us of any hospitalization.

PRIVACY LAWS OF HOSPITALS
Due to privacy laws of the hospitals, we no longer are informed of parishioners from our parish who are admitted. For this reason, please notify the parish when someone from your family is admitted to the hospital.

Ministry Contacts:
Kay Stumbar 908.464.7444 / kstumbar@lfbhnj.org
Linda Nelson 908.464.1585 / lnelson@lfbhnj.org

Rosary Society

The Rosary Society, one of the oldest Catholic confraternities for women, was established at Little Flower Church in October of 1953. It has as its primary purpose to give praise and honor to the Blessed Virgin Mary by praying the rosary for the spiritual benefit of its members, for peace in the world and for the protection of the unborn.

The Rosarians sponsor such parish events as the Paschal Supper, the May Crowning and Living Rosary. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month in the Pastoral Center Cafeteria.

Ministry Contact: Kathleen Parziale

Rosary Society Meetings
    Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 10:00 AM in the
    Parish Center Cafeteria.

Bereavement

The Mission Statement of the Bereavement Ministry

To serve the parish as well as support individuals and families who
grieve the death of a loved one in and through a ministry of prayer,
presence, education and empowerment.

The bereavement ministry at Church of the Little Flower cares for those who have lost a loved one through death in a few different ways. A sympathy card is sent at the time of death and a remembrance card is sent periodically throughout the year to bereaved family contacts. A gift bag is delivered to the bereaved contacts that contain; booklets to help with their grieving, a card for reflection, a spiritual CD that can help lift their spirit, and a support group brochure about the next eight week session. Volunteers in the ministry help with mailings and phone calls. They also give support to planning and enhancing the Mass of Remembrance on All Souls Day in November and the Blue Christmas Service in December. If you are interested in learning more about the ministry and/or to become a member, please contact: Rose Marie Campano at 908-464-6373 or rmcampano@comcast.net.

A bereavement support group was established in 2010 facilitated by two social workers, Jeanne Marie Mirabella and Liz Migneco. They provided a supportive, caring environment in a group setting that can help people process their grief that has not yet healed.

____________________________________________________________________

Bereavement Support Group Meeting on Thursdays

The Bereavement Ministry of Church of the Little Flower, Berkeley Heights will offer a winter support group that begins on February 9 from 1-2:30 PM and will run for eight Thursdays ending on March 29. The group will meet in Room 2-H of the Pastoral Center, 110 Roosevelt Avenue, Berkeley Heights. We invite members and non-members of Little Flower to attend. All are welcomed. Registration is necessary. For more information contact Rose Marie Campano at rmcampano@comcast.net or the Rectory Office at 908-464-1585.

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Bereavement Ministry Support Group/Healing the Grieving Heart:
The Journey after the Death of a Loved One

Name: ___________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________

Telephone: _______________________________________________

E-mail:___________________________________________________

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Respect Life Committee

The purpose of the Respect Life Committee, together with the Archdiocese of Newark and the universal Church, is to raise consciousness, educate and motivate all persons to a reverence for all human life from the moment of conception to natural death and to witness against the "culture of death" that pervades our world. The committee meets once a month. (2nd thursday of a month).

ST. GIANNA - www.stgiannaphysicians.org/ - worthy to visit!

In implementing the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently issued guidelines requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception and sterilization as "preventive services" for women. On August 3, HHS published an interim final rule that references these guidelines, and allows HRSA to implement a very narrow and inadequate religious exemption. This action poses an unprecedented threat to the religious freedom of individuals and institutions.

Public comment perion on this interim final rules ends September 30, 2011. We urge you to take action and let your comments be heard before September 30. Click the following link to view the Action Alert from the NCHLA HHS Mandate

Please click the following link to read the letter USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Dolan has written to President Obama. It is very well written, and we are reminded to pray for Archbishop Dolan and all our bishops: Defense of Marriage

HOUSE TO VOTE ON PROTECT LIFE ACT

It is anticipated that during the week of October 11, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Protect Life Act, H.R. 358. Congress will observe the Columbus Day holiday on Monday, October 10, but will be in session Tuesday and the remainder of the week.

An NCHLA Action Alert can be found at: nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=286. Representatives should be urged to vote for H.R. 358 and to oppose any hostile weakening amendments.

The Protect Life Act would bring the new health care reform law into line with policies on abortion and conscience rights existing in other federal health programs.

More information on the Protect Life Act can be found in NCHLA’s latest Legislative Report at: nchla.org/legissectiondisplay.asp?ID=814.

A HOLY HOUR FOR LIFE - based upon Reflections of Blessed John Paul II - click the link for the text of the Holy Hour

Important links:
Dignitas Personae and the Right to Life
National Committee for a Human Life Amendment
The Conference of Catholic Bishops have launched a Health Care Reform website @ www.usccb.org/healthcare.
Pro-Life Activities - Press Release - October 8, 2009

Ministry Contact: Fr. Marek - frmarek@lfbhnj.org