Our Website is Back Up

Our servers are back to normal, and www.stalscaldwell.org is back up and running! Sorry for the inconvenience!

Our Website is Currently Down

Please note that our website, http://www.stalscaldwell.org, is currently experiencing some server difficulties.  This means that the site is inaccessible.  We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, and we hope to have our site back up soon.  We will keep you updated on Facebook, Twitter, and right here on our blog.  Thank you for your patience.  

Dear Parishioners, from Ed Karpinski

Dear Parishioners,

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is the only one we should follow, the only one we should trust blindly. Others who have authority in our lives might be good shepherds, but none of them are to be followed blindly, not even the best of them. We respect the positions of bishops, parish pastors, employers, teachers, parents, etc., but all make mistakes, all sin, all have incomplete understandings of the situations for which they’re responsible. We must use the Holy Spirit’s gift of discernment in each case so that we don’t behave like dumb sheep inadvertently cooperating with decisions that grieve our heavenly Father. Only Jesus can be blindly trusted. Only Jesus is perfect and knows all, understands all, and never sins. Only Jesus can successfully make the right decisions all the time and lead us through the various situations of life without inadvertently cooperating with evil. Only Jesus can discern and implement a plan that’s best for every person who’s affected by the plan. Only Jesus can lead us closer and closer to heaven while guiding us through the pitfalls and dangers of the journey. This is truly a Good Shepard, one that always looks for our best interests at heart. And it is only Jesus who can smile at our blunders when we stray from his plans, because he knows that we still really do love him and want to do what’s right. He knows how to implement a new plan that will steer us back into safe pastures. He compassionately holds onto us so that we don’t wriggle away from the Father’s hand forever. Whenever we distrust anyone – ourselves, included – we can safely trust that no matter what happens, Jesus is always there, steadfastly guiding us and re-guiding us after we stray. Because we really do love him and want to do what’s right, he is securing our safety, redeeming our mistakes, making good come from bad when we repent of our sins, and of course always making sure that we’ll get home to heaven. To be good sheep, all we have to do is cooperate with his guidance! Let’s follow His Way, and not be “baaaaad” sheep.

God bless you and your family!

In Christian service,
Ed Karpinski
Pastoral Associate, Faith Formation

West Essex Ministerial Association Issues Statement on Gun Regulation

The West Essex Ministerial Association (WEMA) issued a statement on Thursday, outlining the stance that local churches, including Saint Aloysius, have taken in regards to gun regulation.  

PRESS RELEASE

As the West Essex Ministerial Association, we hosted an Interfaith Service of Remembrance for the Victims of Newtown, Connecticut. Our responsibility to the local community does not cease with prayer; our social conscience as religious leaders obliges us to endorse the following joint statement:

• Enhanced regulation of guns by state or federal law will promote the saving of lives and the promoting of loving relationship within a healthy community.
• Enhanced regulation of guns by law places the highest priority upon preventing the loss of life.
• Enhanced regulation of guns by law accepts the fact that media saturated gun violence diminishes the dignity of the human person.
• Enhanced regulation of guns by law acknowledges a dire need within a society prone to suicide by guns and accidental death by guns.
• Enhanced regulation of guns by law is mandated for a society in love with its children and their healthy, safe upbringing.

Our statement is in memory of those children and teachers who died in Newtown, Conn. May our activism to regulate gun by law be a tribute to their innocence and a sign of ongoing solidarity with their grieving families especially their bereaved parents.

Undersigned:

Fr. Anthony J. Randazzo

Rev. Laurin C. McArthur

Rev. Rick Sommers

Rev. Jeff Markay

Rev. Don Brown

Rabbi Alan Silverstein

Joy McDonald

Sr. Barbara Moore, OP

Rev. Hee Duk Lee

Sr. Carol Jaruszewski, RSM

Sr. Pat Crowley

Edward J. Karpinski

Sr. Justine Pinto, OP

Sr. Alice Uhl, OP

Agnes Egan Fr.

Ken Herbster

Fr. Own Hendry

Bill Schutte

The April 14th Bulletin is now online!

The April 14, 2013 bulletin is now online!  This week, the bulletin includes important information including registration information for the Vocation Breakfast, the Saint Aloysius Book Club, the Catholic High School Expo, and the Anointing Mass for the sick and elderly.  Be sure to check it out!  Find the bulletin at www.stalscaldwell.org/bulletin.  Also, you can find updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages!  On Facebook, find us at www.facebook.com/StAlsCaldwell, and on Twitter, at www.twitter.com/StAlsCaldwell (@StAlsCaldwell).

The April 7th Bulletin is now online!

 

The April 7th, 2013 Saint Aloysius Bulletin is now online at www.stalscaldwell.org/bulletin!  This week’s bulletin includes important information, including the Knights of Columbus Vocations Breakfast, an update on Faith Quest, the Trinity Academy production of the Wizard of Oz, and the 2013 Anointing of the Sick and Elderly.  Check it out!  While you are on our website, check out our social media page!  Visit www.stalscaldwell.org/social-media or visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/StAlsCaldwell or our Twitter page: www.twitter.com/StAlsCaldwell!