Upcoming Advent Events!

Blessing of Penance

Confession each Saturday, 3:30-4:30 in the Chapel

Advent Confessions will be on Saturday, December 16^th from 10:30am until 11:30am

The Festival of Lessons and Carols is a service of Scripture and song that dates to the late 19th century. In this service, we listen to nine Scripture lessons which recount: the Fall, the promise of a Messiah, the Incarnation, and the Great Commission to preach the Good News.

Each lesson is followed by a carol or other song that reflects on the lesson’s message and a brief prayer.

Children's Liturgy of the Word

Bring the Baby Jesus to Mass

Families, bring the Baby Jesus from your Nativity to Mass for a special blessing this weekend!

Generous Ciboria Donation

Through the generosity of the Dzema Family, we have received 6 new ciboria in memory of their mother, Florence Dzema. A ciborium is a sacred vessel used to hold the consecrated Body of Christ for the distribution of Holy Communion. 

After the death of his mother, Doug asked what St Catharine’s Parish needed that his family could purchase in memory of his mother. The purchase of new ciboria was a perfect gift that would last many years in memory of his mother, Florence.

Because these vessels are the receptacles of the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, they will be blessed at the 12 Noon Mass on Sunday, December 17.

St. Catharine's Holmdel

Christmas Eve Mass: 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 10:00 pm

Christmas Day Mass: 10:00 am, 12:00 pm

St. Mary's Colts Neck

Christmas Eve Mass: 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 10:00 pm

Christmas Day Mass: 11:00 am

Youth Ministry Updates

Thank you to all who supported our plant sale! Your generous support helps to fund future events that build the faith of the next generation.

Bishop's Annual Appeal

A big THANK YOU to those who have made a gift to get our parish to 92 percent of our goal of $155,000! St. Catharine's still has a large number of parishioners who donated to last year's appeal but have not yet donated this year. 

We really need your help to reach our goal by year-end! If you would like to make a gift to help our parish reach goal, please fill out a pledge card available in the parish office - every gift helps! 

Note that we are at the point whereby if St. Catharine's ACA raises another $12,500 to meet our goal, we will receive a rebate from the Diocese of $23,250 - but only if we meet our goal! Gifts to the 2023 appeal are being accepted until 12/31/2023. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Buus at 732-946-8615 or e-mail to w2od@aol.com

End of Year Gift

Please Remember St. Catharine!

As we plan our end of year benevolence of financial contributions to various charitable organizations, please remember St. Catharine!

We are deeply rooted in tradition and focused on the future. As a parish community, we look forward to the future with excitement, anticipation, and determination to overcome challenges, while continuing to serve the existing and coming generations. Since St. Catharine has served as a vital part of our lives, please prayerfully consider a year-end gift to our church. This generosity will help the Church of St. Catharine continue to serve and touch the lives of our parishioners and the community.

December Baptisms

December Baptisms

December 10th, 2023

Anjolie Lucille Margarella

Thomas George Butler

Sophie Estelle Clark

Cameron Kathleen Daniel

Santino Christopher Mattina

Welcome to the youngest members of the

Church of St. Catharine

born to new life through Baptism!

Our community rejoices with you

and receives you with great joy!

Deacon Mike's Retirement Message

My Dear Friends,

I hope all of you and your loved ones are well and in good spirits. Well, after 14 years of serving you, the good people of St. Catharine, as a deacon I have decided to retire from active diaconate ministry. My last day of active service will be December 31st.

This decision did not come lightly, but is something I've been contemplating for a while. Recent events however have made me realize both the importance of spending more quality time with my family and the need for me to alter my spiritual journey.

I have truly been blessed to have found my spiritual home at St. Catharine's 30+ years ago when my family moved from Staten Island. I was similarly blessed to have been asked by our former Pastor, Msgr. Rebeck to consider the diaconate some 20 years ago. At first, I thought he was joking but later realized he didn't joke very often.

Over the years, as a community of faith, we been through a lot together, experiencing many joyous and some not so joyous moments. While serving at Mass, marriages, baptisms, wakes, funerals and prayer services was great joys for me...simply being around you in the Gathering space before and after mass and community events and getting to know you...learning from you...and being a small part of your lives...are the things I will always treasure.

l'd like to thank Bishop O'Connell and Bishop Smith before him for allowing me to serve in the Diocese of Trenton and at St. Catharine's, Msgrs. Rebeck and Vaughan for their guidance and support, Fr. Pat for putting up with me for the past four years, our visiting priests for their support of our parish, Deacon Tom and all the Deacons at St. Catharine's over the years for their deep faith, dedication, support and for being great teammates and of course, the terrific office staff.

But I'd like to offer my very special thanks to all of you, my sisters and brothers in faith, for all that you have done for and given to me over the years, for your prayers, for listening to my jokes (there's a special place for you in heaven for doing that) and for being such faith-filled, compassionate, kind and loving Christians.

Although l am retiring from active service, I'm not moving. So the good, news (or bad news, depending on how you look at it) is that my wife Kathy and I will remain active parishioners. As such, I look forward to seeing you at Mass and in the community.

Peace and love to all,

Deacon Mike

Chat with Father Mike

• Struggling with a life event and in need of spiritual assistance?
• Want to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance outside the normal Confession times?
• Trying to find your way back to engagement with the Church?
• Discerning vocation?
• Looking to complete your Sacraments of Initiation and wish to chat about the journey?
• Questions about marriage annulment or marriage convalidation?

St. Catharine is offering the opportunity for parishioners to chat with a priest who is only indirectly engaged with the parish. If interested, please contact Fr. Mike Walsh by phone 732-780-2666 x205 or email frmike.walsh@stmaryscoltsneck.org

St. Leo’s Religious Store

Standing Together for Life

Weekly Sacrificial Stewardship for 11/29/2023 – 12/5/2023