St. Patrick Parish

Monday- Friday 8 am

Except First Fridays, No 8 am Mass
Mass is at 12 pm every First Friday

* * *

Saturday 5 pm 

Sunday: 7:30 a.m. (no livestream)

Sunday 10 am 

Sunday 5 pm (no livestream)

                   ✞    CONFESSIONS    ✞ 

Monday Evenings in the Church
6:30 pm-7:00 pm

Monday, May 10, 2021 with Fr. Artur
Monday, May 17, 2021 with Fr. Artur


or
by Appointment: 973-635-0625 
phone extensions:

152 Fr. Bob                     156 Fr. Artur
fr.bob@st-pats.org        fr.artur@st-pats.org

To make a one time offertory donation, click here to access our GIVING page on our website.

     The Saint Patrick Parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9 am-1 pm.

First Communion

In the past three weeks the parish has celebrated seven First Communion liturgies with 70 children coming to the Lord’s table for the first time in their lives. These are precious moments for the children as excitement fills the air with these young people enthusiastic about this important stepping stone in the formation of their faith. Last Saturday prior to the last First Communion celebration, a power failure occurred 30 minutes prior to liturgy, which left all in the dark. Fortunately, power was restored in forty-five minutes which brought relief and cheers from all aware that the celebration would not take place in darkness, but with light shining on the smiles that gleamed from the eyes of the children.  

First Communions always lead me into a dialogue homily with the communicants which focuses on a visual aid I provide to grasp their attention. The initial question that I pose to the children is, “Are you excited?” I always receive a firm “yes” in response, which led me to look into the eyes of one boy and ask, “Why are you excited?” His comment stated that it is a new experience for him in life. I smiled at him and said, “Like you I get excited whenever I do something new.” Then I asked, “Do you believe I was excited the first time I drove a car?” his response, “Yes.” Do believe I was excited on my first trip on an airplane?” His response, “Yes!” Then I looked at him and said, “Do you believe I was excited on the day I celebrated my first mass?” His response, “No.” “What makes you say no?” I asked. His comment, “I thought it was a trick question.” It is interaction like this that leaves memorable moments in my life which makes First Communion celebrations unique, joyful, and prayerful aware that these young children are God’s gifts to creation.  

Christopher Walker’s Gathering Song that begins First Communion celebrations is, “We Are the Church.” The lyrics say in song, “We are the church, happy to be the children in God’s family.”  Upon conclusion of the last verse, I remind the assembly that all of us, “young and old” are God’s children in that we are part of his creation. The lyrics also bring to light our oneness as believers in a God who triumphs over social class, economic levels and religious status in that the celebration of Eucharist is never to distinguish between wealthy and poverty-stricken, healthy and ill, employer and laborer in that all are one at the Lord’s table. This oneness attracted Dorothy Day to the Catholic Church as she witnessed rich and poor kneeling side by side at liturgy as she took stock in the belief that Eucharist is more than a private devotion, but a communal act of remembering and worshipping that dictates Catholics to go forth and bring outside of the church building all that is celebrated inside. God calls us to distribute the goods of the earth so that all people may be fed, housed, clothed and rescued from chaos to peace, which plants the reminder to “practice what we preach.”  

My prayer for families of First Communion children is to welcome this new beginning in a child’s life which navigates a child to an endless journey of communion experiences in future years. In a statement on First Communion Celebrations Pope Francis stated, “The Eucharist is more than just a mere feast. It is a way to remember Jesus’ Passover, a mystery that’s central to our salvation. But when we talk about ‘remembering’ that doesn’t mean that it is just a memory, it means that every time we celebrate this Sacrament we become part of the mystery of his passion, death, and resurrection. The Eucharist is the peak of God’s salvation. It is through the Eucharist that it’s possible to be in true communion with the church. That’s why it’s key for children to make their First Communion.”

As the Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension this weekend, Mark’s Gospel calls us to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” On behalf of the parish, I thank Mrs. Karen Hoerrner and her assistants for bringing the Gospel to the young people of St. Patrick Parish who were welcomed at the Lord’s table for the first time in their lives.

In Christ's Love,
Fr. Bob