GOOD SHEPHERD

AMERICAN NATIONAL CATHOLIC CHURCH

1890 WHITESVILLE RD, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08755
GOODSHEPHERDANCC@GMAIL.COM
732-279-6837

WWW.GOODSHEPHERDANCC.ORG
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GOODSHEPHERDANCC
WWW.THEANCC.ORG

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

Mass Schedule
Saturday 5PM
Sunday 8AM & 10AM
Served by:

Fr. Drew Miller

Pastor

Sr. Donna Lombardi, FCM

Pastoral Associate
Parish Administrator

Karen Suter
Secretary

Joe Lombardi
Music Director

Mike & Fran Krol

Parish Council Leaders

An All Inclusive Independent Catholic Community,

Dedicated to Making the World a Better Place
 February 18, 2018

5 pm Phyllis Wenslaukas (healing)

8 am William Dickenson EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP -

RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS
10 am In Memory of
Robin Lechleiter
12/17/60—2/17/17
When I was a teenager, the experience of
Catholic retreat basically changed my life. I
wasn't lost or hurting, but the 3 days placed me
on a path that led to where I am today.
Certainly, my experiences of faith before and
after that weekend also played a role in the
person I have become. However, the power of
God I felt in that short period of time had such a
profound effect on me it became a type of lens
through which I then came to see the rest of my
life.
Sometimes we need to get away from it all to
realize what really matters in life. We step back
and see things more clearly. When we are fully
in the world it is hard to get past the busyness
and constant noise of modern existence.
Distractions are all around us and our attention
span can be so limited when it comes to truth.
This Lent, find the time to slow down, to get
Please keep our Confirmation away from it all, and to rest in the peaceful arms
Candidates in your prayers! of God. Go to the desert and work on
surrendering all you are, and have, and will be
to Jesus. Reflect on the many gifts you have
Amber Bertalan been given and discern the best ways to
Devin Carman cultivate those for God's glory. As this season
Elizabeth Rasp begins, be mindful of the fact that this time will
Kaylee Selph never come again. There might be a Lenten
season next year, but God is calling you now.
Ava Costello

Our Mission: To create a sense of home in an atmosphere of belonging,

as we share the Good News of Jesus Christ, …
using words when necessary.

FAMILY FAITH FORMATION
Sharing the Gospel
In today's Gospel, Jesus spent forty days in the
desert. Jesus stayed close to God, and he followed
God's directions every day of his life. When Satan
came to test Jesus he was ready. Jesus passed
every test beautifully. He said "No" to temptation.
When you write spelling words over and over, it is
easier to remember them. If you are learning a
new language, it helps to make flash cards to prac-
tice with. Once you memorize all your words, tak-
ing the test is pretty easy. The more you read the
Bible and do what God asks in his word, the easier
it will be for you to pass Satan's tests, too.
Prayer
God, help me to stay close to you so that I am
ready for my tests.
Something to Draw
Draw a picture of Jesus helping you remember Bi-
ble verses.
Mission for the Week
Memorize Proverbs 1:3, "You will learn what is
right and honest and fair." Practice writing it and
saying it every day, until you know this verse by
heart.
GOSPEL MEDITATION -
ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING
OF SCRIPTURE
February 18, 2018 1st Sunday of Lent
Why do we always go to the desert? We see this
example in Scripture time and time again. The
Israelites wandered in the desert. King David and
prophets were driven into the wilderness. And
now Jesus is in the same place. Lent after Lent,
we too are invited into a barren, desolate place.
Why do we always go to the desert?
Throughout Scripture, the desert is a place of test-
ing. It's also a place of hiding and withdrawal. In
the Old Testament, David fled into the wilderness
to hide from Saul, Elijah from Jezebel, and Jonah
from God! In other words, the desert is a place of
"retreat." In Christian circles, we use the word to
describe a spiritual weekend away. But its mean-
ing comes from warfare, as we well know. To re-
treat means to draw back, to separate oneself
from the fighting. Of course, a military retreat
brings its own kind of "battle" - the internal assess-
ment of why the fighting went so poorly.
As we enter into this Lenten season, we are invit-
ed to retreat into the desert with Jesus. Attending
a day or weekend of reflection is a wonderful
spiritual practice. This "desert spirituality," howev-
er, can fill all forty days. We can fulfill our Lenten
resolutions with a purpose - writing daily notes to
family and friends can inspire new gratitude, eve-
ry time we pass up that specific food item can
be cause for intercession for deeper sufferings
and privations of others.
The Gospel tells us that "the Spirit drove him out
into the desert." In other words, God wants us to
be here. What feels uncomfortable is actually
part of our spiritual journey. To be stretched, to
be challenged, to confront our own areas of
weakness - these things are essential in our walk
with God. This Lent, will you go to the desert?
 Mother Lange
A local non-profit community restaurant that
1784-1882 serves an in-need and paying customer. If you
are unable to donate you may volunteer in
Mother Mary Lange was the exchange for your family’s meal. Paying
foundress and first Superior customers pay $20 donation per person to
General of the Oblate Sisters cover the cost of a meal and help to defray the
of Providence (1829-1832), the cost of someone else’s meal who has
first congregation of African volunteered as payment.
American women religious in the history of the
Catholic Church. On July 2, 1829, Elizabeth and Two locations: Toms River and Red Bank
three other women professed their vows and
Additional information and hours of operation
became the Oblate Sisters of Providence. This
can be found via their website:
congregation would educate and evangelize
www.jbjsoulkitchen.org
African Americans. They educated youth and or their Facebook page: JBJ Soul Kitchen
provided a home for orphans. Slaves who had
been freed were educated and at times
admitted into the congregation. They nursed
the terminally ill during the cholera epidemic
of 1832, sheltered the elderly, and even served
as domestics at St. Mary’s Seminary. She was
born Elizabeth Lange, a native of the
Lenten Bible Study
Caribbean, believed to be Cuban born of Hai-
tian descent. By 1813 Providence directed her
Come join us as we read the scriptural account of
to Baltimore, Maryland where a large commu-
nity of French speaking Catholics from Haiti was each Station of the Cross and discuss.
established. Mother Mary Lange practiced faith
to an extraordinary degree. In fact, it was her We will examine two Stations per week.
deep faith which enabled her to persevere
against all odds, in close union with Jesus, she Friday evenings from 7 to 9
lived through disappointment and opposition
until God called her home in 1882 at the St. Old Monmouth
Frances Convent in Baltimore, Maryland. Easter Candy Sale

Orders must be returned by

March 9th with a check made payable to: Good
Shepherd ANCC, stapled to the order sheet
Additional order sheets available via
email :GoodShepherdANCC.tr@gmail.com

Candy will be available for pick-up during the

weekend of March 24th / 25th (Palm Sunday)

Any questions? Contact Mike Krol @ 201-913-6484