PRAY FOR OUR DEACON CANDIDATES – Stephen Broussard and Dennis McCormack are both away on retreat as they prepare to be ordained as Deacons for the Archdiocese of New York on October 31. Please continue to pray for them.

WEDNESDAY ADORATION – Adoration on this Wednesday will be from 4:00 – 6:30 pm. There will be a Confirmation Rehearsal at 7:00 pm. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

CONFIRMATION THIS SATURDAY – Bishop Dominick will offer the Sacrament of Confirmation this Saturday at 10:30 am. Please remember that this is not open to the public. Tickets have been issued as seating is limited. Please pray for our Confirmandi.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES RESUME THIS WEEK – We are grateful to all the catechists who have volunteered to teach our children this year. Due to the pandemic, all classes are online for now.  A Religious Ed Technology Fund has been established to assist this effort. Visit our parish WeShare page - https://stcolumbahj.weshareonline.org/ - to make a donation, or just mail it to the parish. Please pray for all our students as we begin another year of learning and grace.

TRI-PARISH LIFE CHAIN – A peaceful reminder of the sanctity of life. It will take place Saturday, October 10 from 10:00 am to 12 noon along Rt. 82 in front of St. Columba Church. Come for a few minutes or more: pray, wear a mask, and stay 6 ft apart. Signs will be provided.

AMERICA NEEDS FATIMA ROSARY RALLY – Right after the Life Chain, on Saturday, October 10 at 12:00 noon, we will join parishes across the country to pray the Rosary for America. We will beg God and Our Lady to save America from today’s chaos, immorality, and social upheaval. In 2019 there were 21,145 public rallies. This year St. Columba will join this effort. This is a Public Rosary so we will stay right on Rt 82 in front of the church. We are giving witness to our faith. Bring a Rosary. If you forget or do not have one, we will have a Rosary for you! Wear a mask and keep social distance. Thanks!

GOD SQUAD YOUTH GROUP – MESSAGE FROM FATHER CONNOLLY - Fr. Michael and I have missed you all a great deal and are so happy to have begun to see you again at the parish! I think it is about time we get the band back together, with the use of our outdoor space, social distancing, etc. I think we can safely begin to get together again. So, we would like to invite you to a 'Fall BBQ" on October 4th at 4pm in our backyard here behind the Rectory. This will just be a chance for us to be together again as well as to begin a bit of planning for what we might like to try to do together this year. Please join us! Let us know by Wednesday, September 30th if you'll be coming - email – rectory@stcolumbaonline.org so we can plan and have enough food. As always, be assured of our prayers. Please pray for us, too!

GODPARENT/SPONSOR REMINDER – During the pandemic we ARE NOT issuing these certificates in person after Mass. You are asked to call the church office and you will be put in touch with a priest who will handle this over the phone. Thanks!

CHURCH FINANCES – As we finish up the fiscal year report, our accountant indicates that we ended the fiscal year with at least a $30,000 deficit. A deficit is also projected for 2020-2021. Indications are that the collection is down about $1,000 per week which is the cause of the deficit. Appropriate actions now need to be taken to deal with our financial situation. Meetings are being held, and soon we will call the Finance Council together to help us make decisions. We are most grateful for the many parishioners who are keeping up with your church contributions. You keep your parish going, together with all your prayers and your participation. God bless you!

CARDINAL’S APPEAL as of September 18

Goal - $139,000.00

Pledge - $95,159.00

Number of Gifts – 405

Average Gift - $234.96

Any gift, large or small, is deeply appreciated!

RENEW AND REBUILD as of September 18

Goal - $1,709,000.00

Pledged - $1,758,846.92

Paid - $1,108,513.03

Many thank for keeping up with your pledge!