Liturgical Readings - Second Sunday of Advent /USCCB
Reflection:

This Sunday we reflect on Advent readings of hope and God’s timing.  Advent is a perfect time because it is the time for hope. We are being guided by the writers that waiting will give way to hope but we have to wait. In the first reading, Isaiah was instructing the Jewish people who were in exile. The people have lost everything and are feeling defeated and in fear. He tells the people that God will give comfort to his people. “You are my people; the glory of the Lord will be revealed” (The Savior is coming so prepare the way). The people are instructed to wait patiently.

Good morning. Today is the first Sunday of Advent and we begin the path to prepare us for His birth, Christmas.

Our first reading is from the Old Testament honoring God and begging for His return while acknowledging our sinfulness and hardened hearts. I can feel the unwritten weight of this. Sometimes our path seems burdensome and bleak, yet the anticipation of God’s return is so joyous! The author is hopeful and looks to have God find us doing right upon His return. We know the Christmas season is not about gifts and presents, but of love; His love and bringing us into a relationship with God through Jesus. With so many of the current global events and tragedies I find myself questioning things and longing for His return too.

As we enter the Advent season and prepare our hearts for the birth of our Savior, please join SPARK Teen Ministry in our effort to love others as Jesus loves us.  This year we will again be sponsoring our Christmas Toy Drive to benefit the Catholic Family & Community Services-Christmas Blessings Project.  During the weekends of December 2/3 and 9/10, SPARK Teens will be collecting NEW UNWRAPPED toys for children 6 months -17 years old.

This year's children's nativity play will take place live on Christmas Eve at the 3 pm children's mass; the mass will also be live streamed.  Practices will be held on: 

- Sunday Dec. 10th 4:45 PM to 6 PM - Parts/Costumes/Walkthrough

-Monday Dec. 18th 6 pm to 7 pm - Dress Rehearsal with Music

- Sunday Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Mass - Live Nativity Play 3 pm (arrival 2:30 PM in costume)

A Penance service will be held in the church on 12/13/2023 at 7:00pm, with individual confessions
held in the parish office and sacristy afterward. 
 

Purchase gift cards for either gifting purposes or your own Christmas shopping, and support our parish in the process. The parish benefits from a percentage of each card purchased, with no extra costs incurred by you. Choose from a variety of options, including retail and restaurant cards.

To place your order and make payment by credit card, please use the secure link provided below on our website.

We are delighted to announce the return of the St. Elizabeth’s Annual Giving Tree Program. By purchasing gift cards for ShopRite or other leading retailers, you can bring a touch of holiday joy to someone less fortunate this Christmas.

To place your order and make payment by credit card, please use the secure links provided below on our website. Alternatively, you can download the form below, complete it, and issue a check payable to “Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.” Drop off the form and check at the confirmation table, where you'll find a designated box labeled “Christmas Shopping Dollars.” If you prefer to pay in cash, kindly bring your completed form and money directly to the parish office during regular business hours. Your generosity will help make the holiday season brighter for those in need.

Are you friendly and outgoing?
Would you like to help serve your parish?
Being an Usher is a great way to meet people and minister at the same time. We welcome men, women, and Confirmed students to participate in this ministry.

An Usher has the opportunity to impact the lives of new and existing parishioners. They provide the first impression of the church and a reflection of a welcoming church.

Since the stop of our Parish Food Pantry, all your donated food items have gone to support our neighbors using the Mt. Olive and Roxbury Food Pantries.  Thank you to the Knights of Columbus for continuing this ministry by selflessly dropping off our parish donations on a weekly basis.  Our SPARK Teens were able to see first-hand the needs of the MO Food Pantry during our Summer Mission Days.  The stock on shelves and in refrigerators/freezers had severely diminished.  They are in desperate need of basic pantry staples going into the winter season.

As we enter the Advent season and prepare our hearts for the birth of our Savior, please join SPARK Teen Ministry in our effort to love others as Jesus loves us.  This year we will again be sponsoring our Christmas Toy Drive to benefit the Catholic Family & Community Services-Christmas Blessings Project.  During the weekends of December 2/3 and 9/10, SPARK Teens will be collecting NEW UNWRAPPED toys for children 6 months -17 years old.

As the weather turns crisp, let’s open our hearts and share our warmth with neighbors in need.  All parishioners are invited to donate new and gently used winter coats to the TAB/SPARK annual parish-wide Coat Drive, benefiting Jersey Cares.  

Please drop off your coat donations to the designated boxes in the Community Room after Masses or during the week from November 4-12, 2023

Wednesday November 1, 2023 9:00am Mass & 7:00pm Mass

Many thanks to the entire parish family for your generosity towards the BackPack Program! Your outpouring of love is truly a reflection of God’s light shining through you! Our donation drive raised a total of $1295.30.   Proceeds will be used to fund our program for this school year when the SPARK Teens pack backpacks in November and any overflow will go towards funding the program again in April.

Please welcome the newly baptized members of our parish family: Sadie Fredericka & Juliet Mota.

The State of New Jersey has charged all religious organizations with developing a safety plan for their physical plant. Your Parish Advisory Board has begun work on this project with the help of our parishioner, Mike Koroski, who is involved in law enforcement. Over the next few months plans will be developed and reviewed by the PAB. We will then present them to the parish family. The goal of this effort is to continually review the safety of our parish and improve it where possible. At this time the PAB is asking any active or retired police, medical or fire personnel to identify themselves to either Fr. Stan or Suzanne in the parish office, if they would like to be involved in this effort. We look forward to sharing details of this effort with the parish community in the near future.

We are thrilled to have Bishop Joseph Espaillat as the keynote speaker of Embark, our 2023 diocesan youth conference, on Sunday, November 5. Those in grades 8 through 12 are welcome to attend. To Register visit: insidethewalls.org/youth-conference 

Feeling Spooktacularly creative? Ready to join in some fall festivities?  Then SPARK Teen Ministry is the place to be! SPARK Teens invite all St. Elizabeth Ann Seton children to join us for some Halloween Fun on October 14, 2023 at 3:30pm in the Church Community Room.  We will provide the materials; you bring your festive ideas. Together you and the Teens will make some amazing Fall pumpkin creations.

The BackPack Program offers students in Paterson’s Catholic Charities facilities the chance for weekend nourishment.  Many children receive breakfast and lunch at no cost during school hours; for some, these are the only meals of the week.   Through the BackPack Program, a zip-lock bag of food is placed in the backpack of each preschooler every Friday afternoon, providing several weekend meals and snacks for each child and family.