St. Philip the Apostle Parish Site Map

All children must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to receiving their First Communion.

Home & Family Program
The next Home & Family Session is March 7, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the auditorium.

Please make arrangements with your teacher(s) if you have missed class to make up your work.

Rainbow Over the Mountain 2007-2008.
Re-registration form for public school students in Grades 1 - 5.

Finding Him by
We celebrate this weekend the Epiphany, the manifestation of God-made-flesh in Jesus to the entire world, represented by the Magi from the East...

A Season, Not a Day by
Most of us, when we were little children, wished that Christmas could last all year...

A Nest for Advent by
When I was young, I learned that the house wren, a common bird around our yards and gardens, was willing and likely to nest in almost any available cavity...

Rebuttal by
I need to reiterate my thanks for a beautiful weekend last weekend in celebration of my anniversary...

Grace and Gratitude by Fr. Paul
The words “grace” and “gratitude” are related in their roots, and that is not surprising...

Bishop Serratelli has announced new assignments for many of our priests this past week. Those announcements include a departure and an arrival at St. Philip’s for Fr. Pawel Szurek and for Fr. Brian Quinn respectively.

Server Schedule by
Click the link below to download/print the current schedule

A Sense of Obligation by
On the 15th we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This year, because it falls on a Monday, the holy day is not obligatory.

With the funding that the parish has already received from a relatively small group of donors for our campaign, Building Faith’s Future, we have begun multiple summer projects.

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Fr. Flanagan's Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska.

Returning from Pilgrimage by P. Manning
My good friend Father Geno Sylva asked me last year to accompany him and a group of young adults on a pilgrimage to Rome the week immediately after Easter...

Dignum et Iustum Est by
As we continue our look at the newly revised Roman Missal, we turn our attention to the people’s prayers and responses before the Eucharistic Prayer...

From the Desk of Fr. Kevin by
This week, we celebrate the Birthday of Christ. It is a special time of the year, when families and friends get together. It is a time when we share greetings with each other and exchange gifts. ..

I know a young man whose family left

Vietnam

during the 1980’s. After his father died, his mother and siblings pooled the resources they could, and with sacrifice and prayer sent the two oldest daughters to America, the land of promise...

To the Holy Land by Fr. Paul
I and a few of your fellow parishioners are departing this week for Jordan and the Holy Land, where we will visit the sacred places that we have heard about, in Old and New Testament readings, all of our lives...

One of the most regal and impressive birds in the world is the mute swan. As an adult, it is pure white, with a knobbed orange bill bordered in black. This stately bird, usually found in pairs, inevitably produces a sense of awe in those who see it silently gliding upon still waters...

Pilgrims and Evangelizers by
Last weekend, with its beautiful weather, saw two beautiful events for the Diocese of Paterson...

This Year in Jerusalem! by
The change in the date of the carnival and the comings and goings of our other parish priests prevented me from securing a sure date for my usual vacation weeks in July.

In Case You Hadn't Heard by
After the Second Vatican Council (1963-1965) the Church’s liturgical rites, including the Mass, were revised...

In Their Midst by
When the Holy Spirit comes, the apostles are not alone, but gathered together as a Church

Program and Policy by
A detailed explanation of St. Philip's Confirmation Preparation Program...

Suggestions for Parents by
The Monthly Sessions are important to the religious socialization of the group. We recognize that we are not isolated in our religious education. We can learn from other families and we have much to give to other families. The Monthly Sessions, therefore, are offered as support for our teaching mission.

This past week, the Star Ledger ran a lengthy article on the Archdiocese of Newark that criticized Archbishop Myers for failing to notify the public about priests involved in allegations, investigations, or credible claims of sexual abuse or misconduct...

Jesus tells the story of two men who went to the temple area to pray. One took up his position and proudly made a show of his religious practice. The other stood off to the side, and prayed privately and out of sight. Jesus praised the latter’s humility...

2012 - '13 Schedule by
All small group sessions are on Sunday mornings and include attendance at Mass.

Home at Saint Philip's by
I have told some of you before that it takes me a long time to sink roots in a place.

And There Was Light by
When people have visited me at St. Philip’s over the last five years, I have generally heard two types of comments.

The Church in the Catacombs by
On our recent parish trip to Italy, our group visited the Catacombs of St. Callistus, on the Appian Way not far from the ancient walls of Rome.

Ordinary Occasions by
When my family was young, our parents would lead us in praying the Rosary around the dinner table during the months of May and October.

Every now and then I get questions from parishioners about the marriage of their adult children.

Like a Bee to Honey by
Before they were appropriated as symbols for other organizations, the bee and the beehive were compared to Catholics and the Catholic Church.

Moving Stone by
Philosophers and comedians have posed the skeptical question to us: “If God is omnipotent, can he create a stone that is so heavy that he himself cannot lift it?”

When I impose ashes on the forehead of one of my repentant brothers or sisters at the beginning of Lent, I have always been partial to the accompanying admonition that I remember from my youth: “Remember, you are dust, and unto dust you shall return”...

News from the Pastor by
Here at St. Philip’s, we have had multiple events in the past few weeks that are worthy of mentioning here...

I have learned from married couples that one of the great blessings and challenges of marriage is its intimacy. There is little in life that is more safe and consoling than the physical and spiritual closeness of husband and wife...

The Three by
I was taught in the seminary by the Sulpician Fathers, who were fond of presenting their material in a three-fold division...

Prayers and Practices by
Parents are reminded to pray the traditional prayers of our Church with their children. Listed below are the required PRAYERS AND PRACTICES for each grade level. We also recommend that the children attend our weekly Liturgy of the Word for Children each Saturday evening at the 5:30 P.M. Mass.

Unsung Heroes by
Sharing his thoughts on friendship, the Lebanese poet, artist and thinker Kahlil Gibran said, “When you part from your friend, you grieve not; for that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.”

In Good Conscience by
When Pope Benedict visited Britain in September of 2010 and spoke to politicians in Westminster Hall, he pondered government’s power to compel its citizens against their consciences.

The Signature of God by
“We saw his star at its rising,” said the Magi to King Herod when they arrived in
Jerusalem.

The shepherds who were the first to see the newborn Messiah and Lord did not find him by himself.

Take Another Look by
Last year our Parish Council recommended that I conduct a capital campaign to address pressing physical needs for our parish and grounds.

Boys Town continued by Fr Kevin
Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska is now a National Historical Landmark.

Receiving Holy Communion by
I came across this excerpt about Holy Communion from Catholicism for Dummies by John Trigilio.

A Hint of Lilac by
Next to the old stone smokehouse on my grandparents’ farm in Ironia was a lilac bush...

What Goes Up by
We have heard the saying, and our experience confirms it: “What goes up must come down.”

The Holy Land of Holy Week by
With palms in our hands, we begin each Mass this Passion Sunday weekend with a commemoration of the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem...

Credo; I Believe by
The statement of belief, the Creed, that we recite at Mass traces its origins back to the first ecumenical councils of the Church, held in the city of Nicaea in 325 A.D. and in the city of Constantinople in 381 A.D. ...

Building Faith's Future by
One of the casualties of our rough winter was the snow rail on the east side of the church roof...

New Music Director by
I am pleased to announce that St. Philip’s has a new Director of Music Ministry and Organist, who will be starting in mid-September...

Guidelines for Catholic Voters by Fr. Kevin
Over the past several months, much has been said and written about the Catholic Vote in the upcoming elections.

Eating Beauty by
Saint Francis De Sales, in his Introduction to the Devout Life, speaks of what will happen to us when we receive Holy Communion often: "By adoring and eating beauty, purity and goodness itself in this divine sacrament

If I were a parent of younger children, I would want to send my children to St. Philip’s School.

Where Are The Miracles by
This past week, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Fighting for Something by
A little over a year ago, the famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who also happens to be blind, made a video for a missionary priest friend.

Echoes of September 11 by Fr. Paul
In his famous poem The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo, the English Jesuit priest and poet Gerard Manley Hopkins resounds the hopelessness we experience in the face of death, aging, tragedy and the fading of beauty...

Giving Much by
This past week, like many other weeks, I received two requests from two worthy organizations to conduct a fundraiser

Words to Give Glory by
In the Revised Roman Missal, which we will begin using next Advent, the Gloria is translated to conform more closely to the original Latin...

Thinking with the Church by
In an 2008 article in America, the Jesuit periodical, author Christopher Ruddy wrote affectionately and respectfully of the late Avery Cardinal Dulles, especially for his consistent practice of “thinking with the Church.”

Living in Christ by
There is a small but regular crowd that attends Mass at 7 am every morning at St. Philip’s.

This weekend we begin our parish celebrations of First Holy Communion. How blessed our children are to be receiving the Risen Lord himself, body and blood, soul and divinity, for the first time!

Godly Workers by
Last week our facilities and maintenance coordinator, Carlos Arias, was away for a well-deserved vacation.

The Smallest Seed of History by
The action of God in the world, the sharing of his life and the power of Love, which Jesus labeled “the kingdom of heaven”, was likened by him to a mustard seed.

Year of Faith by
In an act that may have escaped our notice this past October, Pope Benedict XVI announced a special “Year of Faith” that will begin next October 2012

We had our first meeting of our newly formed Faithful Citizens this week, and unexpectedly had a lively debate about whether or not our religious liberty is being threatened by current government policies. I remain convinced that it is, in a way we have not seen before.

Living and Blessed Mother by
This past Mother’s Day, I was on the road with one of my sisters, my twin brother, and one of his sons.

The Donkey Detail by
The four evangelists who recount Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week carefully record minor details.

Wrapping Gifts in Advent by
With Advent suddenly upon us, I am already checking my calendar and schedule for available blocks of time to shop, and blocks of time to wrap gifts.

A husband and wife I know often find themselves in little disputes about minor things. One of them is convinced that all of their arguments reduce to a basic difference in their outlook. “One of us,” this person says, “presumes the worst—in people, in situations, in life! And the other of us assumes the best!”...

In Our Parish by Fr. Kevin
During the past week, the readings spoke of God's great generosity, so overwhelming that we find it hard to describe in human terms.

Mission Accomplished? by
After what have been, for me, five graceful years at St. Philip’s and seven graceful years as Vicar for Education, Bishop Serratelli has asked me to take a new assignment

What the Shepherds Found by
It is a good thing that the angel who announced the birth of the Savior to the shepherds at Bethlehem warned them what they were going to see

Chant, An Acquired Taste by
As children, many of us couldn’t have imagined eating some of the “exotic” foods or special “delicacies” our parents seemed to enjoy...

All Things New by
In one of the last chapters of the Book of Revelation, Jesus, “the one who sits on the throne,” says, “Behold, I make all things new.”

Making Saints by Fr. Paul
This week we received an announcement the our Diocese of Paterson will celebrate the Beatification of Pope John Paul II with a special Mass of Thanksgiving at Holy Rosary Church in Passaic on May 1, 2011 at 6 pm...

Where We First Find Him by
Last week’s Gospel reminded us of John the Baptist’s role in recognizing and identifying Jesus for others...

The Year of Faith by Fr. Kevin
Early next month on October 11th, we begin "A Year of Faith", which is a call for all of us to renew our commitment to our Catholic Faith.

Relief and Encouragement by
It has become our custom, as we end the liturgical year, to inform the parish of our financial status for the fiscal year that ended the previous June.

Belonging to a Parish by
We will often get calls at St. Philip’s from couples who would like to be married here or from parents who would like to have a child baptized here...

What We Will Be Saying by
Many of us are well aware that the Roman Missal, the liturgical book that we use to celebrate Mass, has been revised, translated into English, and approved by the Holy See for use in the

United States

...

Bill of Duties by
Mohandas Gandhi, the great practitioner of non-violent resistance and the father of Indian independence, is credited with...

Faithful Citizens by
The recent controversy caused by the medical coverage mandate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has motivated some of our parishioners to become proactive in advocating for the moral and social principles articulated by our Church.

Basic Prayer by
A while ago at daily Mass we heard Jesus’ teaching on prayer from Matthew’s Gospel.

Dust as Reality Check by
A number of years ago, author and editor David Mills wrote an excellent article entitled “The Dust of Adam.”

“Vivere Christus est” (“To live is Christ”) is a Latin phrase from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians...

May a Name for Mary by
In his poem May Magnificat, Gerard Manley Hopkins asks, “What is Spring?”

Be Grateful, At Least for Two Things by
I don’t remember how or why, but in doing some research on the internet I came across a song recorded by Dolly Parton...

This Old House by Fr. Paul
Not long ago, I visited a husband and wife who live in the house in which he grew up...

The Great Big Answer by Fr. Paul
I am writing on Easter Monday, after a busy and soul-stirring Holy Week...

As a Seed to a Flower by Fr. Paul
This weekend, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, which is a fact hard to grasp and appreciate, and certainly hard to prove.

Spreading Their Cloaks by
Most of us Catholics who are regular church-goers may not have always felt that we knew the Bible as well as others...

This coming week, the Church will celebrate two feast days—St. Patrick’s Day on March 17^th and St. Joseph’s Day on March 19^th.

The Catholic thinker and author, G. K. Chesterton once stated: “You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”

Lenten List by
Sometimes people will ask me for suggestions of things to give up or things to do for the season of Lent.

The Most Radical Legislation Ever Proposed by
All of us priests received a letter from Bishop Serratelli this week concerning the Freedom of Choice Act. I want to share with you some of its important contents.

Even if you don’t know her, chances are that you have enjoyed her hospitality or personal touch at St. Philip’s. Mary Fiori, a long-time parishioner and tireless volunteer, has put her loving hand to many an event in our parish.

Why Not Why Catholic? by
Do you long for a deeper appreciation of the beliefs, richness, and joy of our Catholic faith? To really understand the power of God’s Word in our lives? To find ways to link our faith with our everyday life? I know I do, and so do many others.