Happy Friday, Parish Family!
This weekend, we celebrate the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time and Word of God Sunday. As an added bonus, our parish celebrates its patronage with the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on Tuesday of next week. It's a jam-packed weekend!
Our incredible patron outlines for us in Ephesians chapter 6 how to stand fast against the enemy. He illustrates for us the armor of God:
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17
St. Paul is often depicted with an image of the word of God (a book, a scroll, etc.) and a sword. It is from Ephesians 6 that we hear of "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Let us ask St. Paul to help guide our minds and hearts each time we dive into scripture. Whether we are reading it on our own, sharing passages among family and friends, or entering into the Liturgy of the Word at Mass, we pray for an openness of spirit to what the Lord desires to communicate to us.
Please see below for all of our updates this week.
We are keeping you and your family in our prayers and ask for the intercession of our beloved patron, St. Paul. We look forward to seeing soon!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
The St. Paul Parish Clergy & Staff
This weekend's parish announcements:
- All are reminded that per the Declaration of a State of Emergency in Princeton by Mayor Mark Freda, all are required to wear masks inside the Church and Parish Offices at this time.
- This weekend, St. Paul Parish is hosting a coat drive and a coat giveaway. Please see below for more information and don't forget your coats when you come to Mass weekend!
- In February, our parish will kick off its part in the Synod announced by Pope Francis. We will begin by conducting listening sessions for our parishioners and for members of the broader community. Two questions will be asked to help guide the sessions - the same questions that will be asked in every parish around the world. We ask that you prayerfully consider participating in these listening sessions. Dates will be announced in the next couple of weeks. To learn more about the Synod process, please see below.
Please see this week’s bulletin for more information about these and other parish news.
NB: This video mistakenly states that Sunday of the Word of God is February 23 this year. It is in fact January 23, the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Mask Mandate in Princeton
On Monday, January 10, it was announced that Princeton Mayor Mark Freda has issued a State of Emergency Declaration mandating mask use in all public spaces.
This mandate includes all those visiting or worshiping at St. Paul and applies to both the church building and the various offices and meeting rooms on our campus.
Please note, this mandate began on Thursday, January 13 and remains in effect through Monday, January 31. All those planning to attend daily Mass, visit the parish offices, or have any on-campus meetings will be required to wear a mask. Our staff and volunteers are working hard to ensure that we can implement this policy with ease. We appreciate your cooperation and are grateful for your dedication to keeping our parish family healthy and safe.
This mandate includes all those visiting or worshiping at St. Paul and applies to both the church building and the various offices and meeting rooms on our campus.
Please note, this mandate began on Thursday, January 13 and remains in effect through Monday, January 31. All those planning to attend daily Mass, visit the parish offices, or have any on-campus meetings will be required to wear a mask. Our staff and volunteers are working hard to ensure that we can implement this policy with ease. We appreciate your cooperation and are grateful for your dedication to keeping our parish family healthy and safe.
As our parish prepares for our own participation in the Synod through listening sessions, we ask you to reflect on your own experience of journeying with the Church. Pope Francis calls us all to step away from the argumentative nature that can be pervasive in conversations today. In this way, listening sessions will be an opportunity to listen with care to one another, building understanding and insight. These sessions are not an invitation to debate nor to create or participate in conflict. Again, we ask you to prayerfully consider participating in one of these listening sessions, which we plan to begin at the end of February. To learn more about the Synod process, please see the parish website or page 12 of this week's bulletin.