Featured Ministry: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

 

The reception of Holy Eucharist is the most intimate act a faithful Catholic can enter into with Our Lord. Truly it is Christ Himself who is received when one receives Holy Communion. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are graced with the privilege of sharing Christ’s Body and Blood with others. This ministry must, therefore, be regarded with the utmost dignity and reverence. Ministers should possess sufficient maturity and make sure to not call attention to themselves or to distract from the flow of the celebration.  All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine.

Extraordinary ministers connect the Church to the home or hospital, when needed.  When we return to our pews after receiving Communion, we see those that gather at the altar to be handed the Eucharist by the priest for distribution to those that are unable to attend Mass because of health issues or other circumstances. After Mass, when we leave the church and begin our Sunday activities, these individuals carry the most Holy Eucharist out into the community – to homes, nursing homes and hospitals.

They are indeed extraordinary – both in terms of their roles in the distribution of the Eucharist at Mass, as well as outside of the Church – however, that is not why they are called as such. The Extraordinary Minister is called extraordinary in order to distinguish him or her from the ordinary minister of Holy Communion, who is a bishop, priest, or deacon (Code of Canon Law, c. 910)

Many have witnessed the blessing of their services to the Church. For those who are sick or home bound,  it is heartwarming and comforting to see a familiar face walk into the room. The visit, the prayers and the Eucharist are truly gifts for them.

Will you answer God’s call to be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs)?  Please prayerfully consider a call to become a Minister of Holy Communion for our Parish Community.  Several of our parishioners  who have served us over many years have retired in one way or another.  The time commitment is what you can offer and the value is priceless.  Here’s a brief testimony for one of our EMHC’s, “My heart feels a sense of grace and peace when I am sharing Christ with another person.”  All confirmed Catholics are eligible. Act now if you are feeling our Lord calling you!  Please contact Lou Monticchio (strawbed@mac.com) to find out more!

>To join Extraordinary Ministry click here for more information.

 

 


Elderberry Club Activities

Friday, Feb. 2, 1 pm. Our next meeting will feature a knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and entertaining speaker from Starr Tours. The doors of the Parish Center will open at 1 pm. Lunch—assorted sandwiches/wraps—will be available for $6. Coffee, tea, cold drinks and a dessert snack will also be available. Anyone interested is welcome to stay for five games of Bingo after the meeting. If you have not already placed your lunch order, call President Nancy Rhodes at 609-303-8670.

ATTENTION ALL AGES! Save the date Saturday, April 13, 7 – 10 pm. for our club fundraiser—an evening of Country Line Dancing with Jeremy Duncan—which will be held in the Parish Center. Bring the family, tell your friends, or just strap on your cowboy boots and join us for a fun evening. Tickets will go on sale in February.

The Elderberry Club is a Parish social club open to men and women age 55 or older. It is not necessary to be a member of the Parish or a resident of Hamilton. Meetings are held monthly, usually on the first Friday of the month, September through June. NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! If you would like more information, contact President, Nancy Rhodes at 609-306-8670 or membership chair, Kathy Wooley at 609-571-6698.


 

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Parish Pilgrimage click here

Click here to view our Parish Synod Report

 


Click here to view the entire 5 Things PDF.



Health Ministry — February

February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America.
Major risk factors include physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and
being overweight. Try to include some physical activity in your daily routine. Learn how a
healthy diet can help to control heart disease risk factors. For information, see HeartTruth.gov.


The stigma around mental health and treatment has long existed, even though this has started to change. People hesitate to seek help for fear of being judged. Simple logic dictates that if we are hurt, we must seek help. This applies to our physical and mental well-being. Help is available.

You can contact the Hamilton Township Health Department at 609-890-3884 for referrals to appropriate resources. Additionally, Catholic Charities Serves those in need and can be reached at 1-800-360-7711 or CatholicCharitiesTrenton.org.

 



Rosary Altar Society

Sunday, November 19th is the Annual Parish Communion Breakfast. We welcome all
parishioners and visitors, as well as children to attend. Tickets will be available after each Mass
the weekends of November 4th -5th and 11th -12th. For more information contact
Chris Secrist at 609-213-8427.
The Rosary Altar Society will hold a special ceremony and admit all new members. Any member
who has not been installed is encouraged to participate in this beautiful installation ceremony.
Please contact Joan Zahler at 609-203-6399 for inclusion. Any member that needs a ride should
reach out to an officer for assistance.



Click below to view videos from our Mission 2022 with Fr. Cedric.

 

 



Click here to view entire Compendium

 




Summary Report
Building On Our Past Securing Our Future

Our results from the Building on Our Past, Securing Our Future Program were encouraging. Almost 28% of the parishioners who gave to the Sunday offertory in the last year made a commitment for the next year.

Good and faithful stewards of God’s creation, thank you! God bless you and your family! In the service of the Lord, Fr. Gene P Daguplo

>Click here to view report.

 

 




Know someone needing assistance with food, housing, drug addiction, mental health, domestic violence or immigration? Contact Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton CatholicCharitiesTrenton.org.



Please take a few minutes to enjoy the three videos below.

From left to right: Fr. Gene’s 60TH Birthday and Installation, Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Ireland 2018 and Did you know, about St. Raphael – Holy Angels.


Saintly Stories


“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15


St. Raphael School Open Registration

 


  • Daily exposure to Catholic faith and values reinforcement system