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Women’s Cornerstone

Daily Rosary | Divine Mercy Chaplet | Eucharistic Adoration | Stations of the Cross

Men’s Cornerstone

Parish Picnic

Bereavement Ministry

Parish Picnic

Parish Picnic

Red Sample

Parish Picnic

Ed. Ginter
Spring Concert | Christmas Concert | Presentation MTV |
Piano Men

Parish Picnic

Question no. 1: Why is care for the Earth a Christian Responsibility?

Care for the Earth is a Christian responsibility because we believe in a Creator God of “heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.” We believe we are created “in the image and likeness of God,” and that our Creator God looked upon us and all creation saying, “it is good, very good.” We believe that we and all of created reality – each in our own unique way – represent God’s design for good order, fruitfulness, and sustenance of the Earth.

We are not separate from the rest of creation. In fact, insofar as we all come from the same source, we are kin with all created reality. As such, we have a place within the community of creation, of which we are living threads in a web of intricate relationships. As with all of creation, Earth is our home, our household. We depend on its resources; we are blessed with its abundance and fruitfulness; we marvel at its beauty.

We are also becoming increasingly aware of the widespread destruction of our environment due to human behavior, which is impacting th3e very sources and sustainability of life and the beauty of the Earth. We are responsible for the care of God’s Earth, because we take seriously the words of Scripture: “Be fertile and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and all living things that move on earth.”

Earth is our home, our household. We depend on its resources; we are blessed with its abundance and fruitfulness; we marvel at its beauty.

To understand today what these words mean, we have to interpret them in their original historical, cultural, and religious context. The meaning of the word “subdue” is not to destroy the Earth, but to cultivate and to care for it as wise and caring stewards. It is not a license to exploit any creation. Rather, it is a directive to reclaim the Earth for what it was intended, to transform it to its original sanctuary, where God could be properly worshiped.

“Dominion” in its broader biblical context, does not mean domination, as if we control it and can do anything we want with it. On the contrary, to “have dominion” is to be concerned about the continued development of other living creatures. The term speaks of an inherent relational interdependence of humans with the rest of creation. Even the oft-used expression “Responsible Stewardship” does not quite capture the meaning of “dominion,” as do the following words: The root cause of our violence with one another and the increasing destruction of all of created reality is our lack of proper respect for life. Respect for life and for the dignity of the human person extends also to the rest of creation (emphasis added)

– Pope John Paul II

Questions for Discussion:

1. What responsibilities do we have to Mother Earth in light of what the Bible tells us about creation?

2. How do you understand the notion “that we are kin with all created reality?”

3. Please comment on the words of Pope John Paul II (The root cause of our violence with one another and the increasing destruction of all of created reality is our lack of proper respect for life. Respect for life and for the dignity of the human person extends also to the rest of creation (emphasis added)

Archdiocese of Newark Announces Phase 2 Directives Allowing Public Weekday Masses with Restrictions Starting June 15

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R, Archbishop of Newark, announced this week that Phase Two of the Directives for Re-Opening Churches has been approved as part of the ongoing, three-phase reopening process for parishes throughout the Archdiocese.

Please click here to read Fr. Bob Stagg’s pastoral directives on our parish’s reopening plans.

A CALL TO CARE FOR CREATION

An Invitation to the World from Pope Francis to Shape the Future of Our Planet on the fifth anniversary of his Encyclical:
On Care for Our Common Home

What kind of world do we want to leave to those who will come after us, to our children who are growing up now? It is a global campaign on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the encyclical letter on the care of our common home. Pope Francis has renewed his urgent call to respond to the ecological crisis, the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor which cannot continue. Let’s take care of creation, a gift of our good Creator God. Let’s celebrate Care for Creation Week together.

A Brief Commentary
on Pope Francis’ Encyclical:
Care for Our Common Home by Fr. Ed Ciuba

Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. Even more imminently, in terms of our present corona virus pandemic, we can draw some needed values and ideas of how we might better understand and cope with our own ominous situation.

The encyclical covers three major points:

Created life is a network of relationships.

We are incredibly inter-connected with all created reality and with everything and everyone on this planet Earth. We are a web of relationships. The human community and the earth community are related. We depend on one another. As we are related to trees, plants, animals, soil and water, we are also dependent on one another. To the extent that we destroy our earth community, we destroy ourselves. To the extent we violate these relationships, we destroy also the potential for harmony, mutual support, cooperation, and peace that should exist with one another. We can cause disharmony and chaos.

Most ecological crises have human roots.

Modern technology has brought us enormous benefits as well as power. If we don’t use our power wisely, it can become greed. Power has to be accompanied by human responsibility, ethical values and conscience. Our responsibility over Mother Earth is not dominion, but responsible stewardship. As responsible stewards, we can’t interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention to the consequences of such interference in other areas. Could this not have responsible applications in indiscriminate molecular and genetic manipulations? Could this possibly come into play, as we still search for the origins of the corona virus? Was it a mistake, an accident, or, God forbid deliberate? Are we in certain cases overstepping our boundaries? As indicated in point 1, we are “kin;” we have responsibilities to one another.

We are summoned to profound interior conversion.

The ecological crisis which is become increasingly apparent, as well as the Covid 19 virus which we are presently experiencing is a call to profound interior conversion. What personal values do we want to guide us as we push on into an uncertain future? If we can overcome realities like greed, a compulsive consumerism, unrestrained self-centeredness, an unwillingness to accept limits, we will never be able to experience the profound peace with ourselves, the world around us, and the God who loves us and in whom we place our trust.

During this week we can enter more deeply into these topics in discussion with people from around the world.

“Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.” (James 1: 22-25)

NOTICE FROM FR. BOB AND PRESENTATION STAFF ON CHURCH RE-OPENING

This week, the Archdiocese has offered parishes the opportunity for parishioners to enter the church for private prayer beginning on May 17, subject to strict guidelines and protocols. While we miss you all very much, we are greatly concerned about the health and safety of our parishioners. In consultation with our staff, we unanimously agreed that opening our church at this time, when our Governors have continued stay at home recommendations, would put too many people at risk. We do not have the resources on hand yet (i.e. hand sanitizers) to provide healthy indoor protocols at this time.

During the course of the many long weeks of the Coronavirus pandemic, we have seen many families take advantage of the numerous ways you can use our parish campus to help you find comfort in prayer and want to remind you of the many opportunities available to you.

We have a beautiful labyrinth on our property which offers an ancient practice for spiritual centering, contemplation and prayer.

The Eucharist is present in our tabernacle and available for prayer from outside. This gives us an opportunity for the prayer of adoration of our gracious Lord.

Mary’s Grotto is located in front of the southern cross window, with places to sit and pray to our Blessed Mother to strengthen those who are discouraged, comfort those who are sorrowful and intercede in prayers for our families.

In the rear of the church building, we have a stairway to a path up the hill behind the soccer field, to pray the stations of the cross. This is a powerful way to contemplate and enter into the mystery of Jesus’ gift of himself to us.

At the top of this walkway is a grotto to St. Francis. Here we can pray to the patron saint of Catholic Action and care for creation. St. Francis’ prayer for peace is comforting and encouraging during this challenging period.

Rest assured that we are doing all we can to prepare for re-opening our church when it is safe for all of us. We are resourcing wipes and are on a long waiting list for sanitizers.

In the meantime, we join you in online prayer each day:

at our 9AM Daily Mass with Fr. JC,
our Weekend Mass with both of our priests,
our Daily Reflection with Fr. Bob
and with daily praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and 7:30PM Rosary LIVE! with Therese.

While the church is not opened yet, we are reaching out and calling all of our parishioners to check up on you. We have volunteers to help anyone with a need for someone to pick up shopping or medications. You have been very generous in keeping our food pantry stocked. It is being used by families in need and we are contributing to our soup kitchens in Harlem and Newark.

God bless you all and keep you safe and healthy,
Fr. Bob and the Presentation parish staff

Statement of Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. on the death of George Floyd and the national protests

The people of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark join with Catholic dioceses across the United States as well as all people of good will in condemning the senseless and brutal murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. We extend our deep sorrow to his family and friends, who face soul-sapping grief because of his terrible death.

We offer heartfelt prayer for the people of Minneapolis and St. Paul, expressing special solidarity with our beloved brother, Archbishop Bernard Hebda and the people he serves.

The murder of George Floyd, which is simply the latest instance of a person of color dying at the hands of those sworn to protect the community, has provoked justified anger and peaceful protest across the United States. Rage, as well as shameful exploitation of this tragedy, have spawned
inexcusable violence in cities throughout this nation. As we witness the asphyxiation of our country, many of us cry in anguish: why?

How we answer the question is crucial because we will then know what to pray for and how we must act. No one comes to Jesus with the lame request of wanting to feel better. They name the evil and ask for relief. We need to turn to the Lord of the Universe, for the malice we name cannot be eradicated by our unaided efforts.

The necessity of naming the evil of racism humiliates us, since so many events in our lifetime, let alone the history of our nation, have compelled us to shamefully recognize the national sin that obliges African Americans to endure unique and relentless humiliation, indignity, and unequal opportunity. Our tolerance of racism as well as collective deafness to the cry of those so grievously offended and the conscious and unconscionable promotion of divisions in this nation has encouraged the heinous evil of racism to propagate.

Certainly, tolerance of tribalistic factions in the United States, especially in our political forum, promotes a savage law of the jungle and an immoral ethos of “might makes right”. Violent rhetoric, selfishness and even the crude appropriation of religious symbols conspire to produce a malevolent miasma in which the sin of racism may flourish unchecked. Our society will make no progress in addressing the evil of racism without the will to leave behind the purveyors of polarization.

The Archdiocese of Newark must renew our commitment to making the dream of peace built on justice and racial equality a reality for all our sisters and brothers, here in northern New Jersey as well as throughout the United States. Since this is our goal, we embrace gratefully the prophetic
words of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

In great sorrow, but also with profound hope, we turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and ask for her protection and care during these troubled times. This young woman sang of One whose mercy is from age to age to those who fear him…who has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart… who has thrown down the rulers from their thrones, but lifted up the lowly (Luke 1, 50-52). May she inspire us with courage to do the work of justice and to eliminate—once and for all—all hatred, bigotry and violence from our hearts, our homes and our communities.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.

For more information about this topic,
click here for our Justice & Peace Ministry Page.

Summer Living Room Film Festival 2020 | The Chosen, Final Episode is Sept. 2

We are showing “The Chosen,” an 8-episode series, on Wednesdays at 7:30pm through September 2. All men and women are invited to join us each week for a viewing of an episode followed by group discussion. Please register below in order to receive the Zoom link.

Week One | The First Day

Creator of Life:

The Earth is full of Your creatures, and by Your wisdom you made them all. At Your word, the Earth brought forth plants, yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind, the waters teemed with swarms of living creatures of every kind, and the world was filled with every kind of winged bird, walking animal, and creatures that creep upon the ground.

Mountains, plains, rocks, and rivers shelter diverse communities, and through the changing seasons Your Spirit renews the cycles of life.

During this Season of Creation, open our eyes to see the precious diversity that is all around us… We praise and thank you especially for the vastness of the oceans that reveal your beauty, power, and peace. Inspire us with ways to protect and keep the oceans healthy. Enlighten our minds to appreciate the delicate balance maintained by each creature. Inspire us to conserve the precious habitats that nurture this web of life.

In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

“A World to Care For”

(Excerpts from Fr. Ed Ciuba’s
“Creation at the Crossroads”)
_______

GENESIS 1:27-31

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Pope Francis begins his encyclical Laudato Si… with words from the “Canticle of the Sun,” composed by his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi: “Praise be to you my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.” The next line of the encyclical speaks to our own time: “This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her.” The challenge of protecting and caring for Mother Earth, our common home, is at the center of Pope Francis’ message.

We humans are inflicting serious damage on our planet by exploiting its resources; polluting its water, air, and soil; and endangering its life-supporting systems. We are destroying the divine gift described by the author of the book of Genesis: valuable forests, wetlands, and other ecologically sensitive areas. We are killing off countless forms of life that took millions of years to evolve. Conservative estimates indicate that in the last quarter of the 20th century, 10% of all living species became extinct. For these reasons, Pope Francis in his encyclical calls upon all people of faith and good conscience to come together in dialogue about how this pattern of behavior can be reversed.

“The urgent challenge to protect our common home include a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development… The Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home…

I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.”

~ Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 13-14

What aspects of the created world do you personally find to be “very good”? Why?

Spend time outdoors in prayer in a favorite spot. Share what came out of prayer, and how that experiences connected you to God’s invitation to care for Creation.