*In every parish of the Diocese of Trenton, all public Masses and church activities have been suspended until further notice. It is a heart breaking decision, but we have to be responsibile for the safety of all parishioners.  If you are in need of any of our office services, especially mass cards requests please call 609-693-5107 or email us at: info@churchofstpius.org. 

As of this Wednesday May 13, 2020 we are allowed to open our church for private prayer only. You can visit the church between 9am and 12 noon, Monday through Friday. Please follow the social distancing guidelines, and cover your face. Please be aware that there will be no use of public restrooms. Since we are allowed to have only 10 visitors at any given time, please limit your stay, so other parishioners are able to enjoy their moments in church as well.
May God heal us all and keep us safe. As always, I am praying for our parish family and community. Also, all the scheduled mass intentions are being done privately. ~Father Richard.
 
*Our Good Samaritans-Food Pantry is open.
Before coming please call  609-693-6105.

*Confession during coronavirus??? Consider an 'act of perfect contrition' 
Despite some creative efforts by priests to continue to offer the confessions during the pandemic, country-wide lockdowns and stay at home orders mean that Catholics around the world are finding it difficult to seek God’s forgiveness in the confessional. So when Catholics can’t seek God’s mercy in confession, the Church teaches that it is possible to repent in another way: through an “act of perfect contrition.” But what is an act of perfect contrition? The “perfect contrition” is sorrow for one's sins based upon love for God, which includes the firm resolution not to commit them any more. When contrition arises from “a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called ‘perfect,’” the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches. The catechism explains that perfect contrition “remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.”

So, how is an act of perfect contrition done? First is to pray an act of contrition out of love for God. Being sorry out of love for God has often been described as having a desire to be reunited to God because of who he is, because of God's perfect love for us, and because of sorrow for having offended God by sin. There is a common formula for making an act of contrition: “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.”

Second, a Catholic must make a firm commitment to go to confession when that becomes possible. An act of perfect contrition is not a replacement for the sacrament of penance. The sacrament of penance remains the sole, ordinary means for the forgiveness of mortal sins after baptism. Contrition is about conversion, which means turning away from attachment to sin, and turning toward the sacraments.

Pope Francis recently encouraged Catholics confined to their homes to ask God for forgiveness and then to go to confession when they are able. “You do what the Catechism says. It is very clear: if you do not find a priest to hear your confession, speak to God, He is your Father, and tell Him the truth...Promise Him: ‘Later I will confess, but forgive me now.’ And immediately you will return to the grace of God,” Pope Francis said.

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love. Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care. Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another. Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders. Amen.

Volunteer opportunities in our parish right now include:

              Power Point Operators:  We are in need of power point operators at all Masses. Must be 18 or over. For more information, please call the main parish office at 609-693-5107.

                 Health Care :  The Nursing Ministry is looking for volunteers to help with Blood Pressure Screening (once a month) after the 4:00 Mass on Saturdays, and the 10:00 and 12:00 Mass on Sundays. If you can help, please call the office at 609-693-5107.

               Gift Shop Attendants:  We are in need of people who might enjoy working in our Angel Shop on Thursday and Weekends. No experience is necessary. If you can’t make a regular commitment, how about filling in as a sub when there is a need in the gift shop? Please call 609-693-5107.

               Altar Servers: Children who have received their First Holy Communion are qualified to be Altar Servers. Parental or guardian permission is required. Please call 609-693-5107 if interested.

               Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist:  We are in need of Eucharistic Ministers at all Masses. Please call the main office if interested.
               
 

The Diocese of Trenton is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishop's charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in regard to the reporting and investigations of sexual abuse allegations involving minors.

If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the Diocesan Abuse Hotline: 1-888-296-2965 or via email at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org.

The diocese of Trenton reports any allegations of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Anyone with an allegation is also encouraged to provide that information to local law enforcement authorities.