Welcome to our Religious Education parents.  We're working on improving communication by using Flocknote.  Mary Ann Dempkowski will start using Flocknote to update parents once we make sure everyone is signed-up.

     I've been sending out parish updates like this on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Today's update is longer than I would like.

     Our old church is used by the Lakehurst Historical Society.  They've been closed since the lockdown but will be opening soon.  They're looking for help and will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, September 9th at 7 PM at the Lakehurst Community Center (the old firehouse across from our old church).  See the article.  See the Lakehurst Historical Society page.  See Lakehurst Historical Museum.  I'd be thrilled to see a couple of our parishioners volunteer to help the Lakehurst Historical Society.

     In the last several days our parish has seen new life.  We heard from two couples wanting to get married.  We scheduled meetings for the Pastoral Council, Finance Council, and staff.  Many new requests have been made.  There seems to be a growing desire to get back to a more active life.

     We've also had three funerals come in after an unusually quiet August.  One funeral will be for Bob Keneipp, a long time trustee and member of the Finance Council.  He was very active in our social concerns committee.  He and his wife Eileen have been parishioners for more than half a century.  Please pray for them, all those who have died recently, and for their families.

     We've also received several bequests including three just now.  They have made up for the lower collections we've had during the pandemic.  I'll write more about finances next month with an annual report.

     In light of the new September activity, we're cutting back on scheduled confession times to Mondays from 2 to 4 PM and 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the rectory window.  I will be there on Labor Day.

     Governor Murphy recently said that NJ is well into phase 3 of reopening after the lockdown.  The last phase will occur once most people have received a vaccine.

     In looking at OCHD.org and COVIDActNow.org, I'm happy to see the progress that New Jersey is making.  I'm concerned about Ocean County being the only orange county in NJ.  We're trending up for cases, deaths, hospitalizations, and ICU hospitalizations.  The numbers are low, but I've noticed that most Ocean County deaths are among Manchester residents.  On average for the last week, one Manchester resident has died every other day from COVID-19.  Again, that's a low number.  But it's enough for us to continue to take precautions to keep our vulnerable parishioners safe while we see our healthier parishioners become more active.

     We have Sunday Mass inside our church on Saturday at 4 PM and 6 PM and Sunday at 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 Noon, and 2 PM.  The most popular Masses have been the 4, 10, and 12.  We sometimes have to lock the door as Mass is about to begin because of reaching capacity.  We have room at the 6, 8, and 2.

God love you,

Fr. Jim