Dear brothers and sisters,

An amazing event is about to happen this weekend in the Church. Pope Francis is about to canonize Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, the foundress of the Missionaries of Charity. I am so excited because this is a contemporary saint who lived during our lives and made an amazing impact on our world. Her loving example of service was such a great witness of what faith in action can accomplish. Also, she was actually in our diocese in June of 1995 after Bishop Reiss invited her and the Missionaries of Charity to serve in our Diocese. Since 1999 we have had at least five Missionaries of Charity serving in Asbury Park.

Faithful from throughout the Diocese are invited to join Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for a Mass of Thanksgiving to commemorate the canonization of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta on September 4th at 11 a.m., in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, a worship site of Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park. Bishop O’Connell will be principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass and all are invited to attend. Expected to be present in the congregation are the Missionaries of Charity who serve in Asbury Park. Blessed Teresa was the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, a religious order community whose members devote their lives and ministries to serving the poor. Blessed Teresa will be elevated to sainthood earlier that day by Pope Francis during a Mass at the Vatican in Rome. The canonization date was announced months after the Holy Father approved a second miracle for Blessed Teresa, who was known as the “Saint of the Gutters” and a Nobel Prize recipient, recognizing her for her work among the poorest of the poor including the impoverished and dying in Kolkata, India.

Peace,

Fr. Mike

Parish Picnic Tickets are available for purchase in the gathering space following all weekend Masses. We ask that you make every effort to sell your 50/50 Raffle Tickets. If you have not received a ticket book, please call the Office 732 922-4242 x10 and one will be sent out. All tickets (sold and unsold) should be retuned to the Parish Office as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support of Holy Innocents Parish!