Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a Catholic; How can I receive one or more of the sacraments?
Saint Mary’s provides a variety of programs to help you fully enter the Catholic Church. If you need one sacrament or several, please call our parish offices at 973-235-1100 to assist you on your journey. We have both adult and children’s programs to meet your needs.
How do I plan a Baptism?
Baptisms are the third Sunday of each month, at 1:30 p.m. Please call at least a month in advance to make arrangements. Baptismal prep classes are held on Saturday, the week before Baptisms (the second Saturday of the month), at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Center.
How do I plan a wedding?
Please call the Parish Center and speak to one of the priests. The Bishops have directed that the normal preparation time is a year or more.
Is there a difference between the Annual Appeal and the Archdiocesan Assessment?
The Annual Appeal is the appeal for the funding of extraordinary matters (seminary, priests retiring, Catholic Charities, etc.) from the Archdiocese. Each parish is given a goal that is determined based on previous years donations. If the goal is exceeded money is returned to the Parish. The amount returned is a percentage of the donations that exceeded the goal and is determined via a certain formula.
The Archdiocesan Assessment is a monthly tax to the Archdiocese that each parish must pay. It is based on 18% of the annual income of the previous year. The proceeds are used to fund the ordinary expenses of the Archdiocese (running the various Archdiocesan Offices and parishes that are unable to make their ordinary expenses). This is a tax and the money not collected during the second collection of the first Sunday of each month must come from Parish funds. Our monthly tax is $13,000 and our typical collection for the Assessment is closer to $3,000. We ask that you help us with this collection on the first Sunday of each month. As always, thank you for your generous donations!
How can I help the St. Mary’s Food Pantry?
The St. Mary’s Food Pantry is always in need of donations. Foodstuffs can be dropped off in the vestibule of the Church after Mass on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. Typical high-need items include canned meat and fish, canned fruits and 100% fruit juice, canned pasta, stew, chili, and other hearty soups, canned tomatoes, vegetables and pasta sauce, pasta, white and brown rice, dried beans, cold cereal, oatmeal and pancake mix, peanut butter and jelly, powdered or evaporated milk, baby food, formula, diapers and pull-ups and paper goods including toliet paper and paper towels. There is a need for low-sugar and low-sodium foods for those with special needs.
If you would prefer to provide a monetary donation rather than purchase an item, you may place a donation in the collection baskets provided it is in an envelope clearly marked St. Mary’s Food Pantry so that we can be sure it gets to the proper location.
If you are interested in volunteering in the food pantry, we are currently looking for people who can help deliver bags of food to the local Senior Citizens’ Complex. Volunteers would meet on the first Wednesday of the month at the St. Mary’s Parish Center and leave at 9 AM and would finish by 10 AM. If you are interested please contact the Pantry Coordinator at 973-235-1100.
As with all donations, we greatly appreciate the resources that you provide!
I’ve seen the Miraculous Medal Novenas mentioned in the Bulletin. What is the Miraculous Medal?
The first Miraculous Medal was struck in 1832. It was based on Mary’s instructions to the young St. Catherine Labouré. Quickly many cures from ailments and conversations became associated with the Medal and Mary’s intercession. It then became popularly known as the Miraculous Medal. St. Mary’s Parish celebrates the Miraculous Medal every Monday at 12:00 NOON prior to the 12:10 PM Mass in the Chapel.