We welcome Mrs. Agnes Bross and thank her for her willingness to serve as the Parish Religious Education Program Director.

Agnes is a graduate of Wildwood Catholic High School (she wouldn’t tell me what year). She went on to receive a Bachelor Degree in Education from William Paterson University. Agnes taught for 17 years in grades K – 7th for the Middle Township School District.

I am confident that many of you already know Agnes as a dedicated member of our parish community. Among the many roles she has undertaken on our behalf, she has served our young people and their families as a catechist since 1994 and as a volunteer to the Vacation Bible School since its inception. Agnes was elected as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council for the Church of the Resurrection and as a member of the Core Team that served both the churches of Saint Casimir and Resurrection. Agnes has been part of the Art & Environment that enhances the liturgical environments of Saint Casimir and Resurrection churches. She volunteers at the Food Pantry. Presently, Agnes is vice – president of the Knights of Columbus Women’s Auxiliary at Church of the Resurrection. Beyond this work for our parish, Agnes is also a member of the Deanery Council which seeks to coordinate the resources, ministries, and effectiveness of the Cape May County parishes. She and her family have been members of our parish since 1981. She resides in Marmora with her husband George and their four children, Ryan, Alex, Rebecca and George.

We need YOUR help!
The following are the top ten reasons to help with Vacation Bible School

10. You’ll get to spend time with the KING of Kings, LORD of Lords, and PRINCE of peace.

9. A man’s home is his castle, in a MANOR of speaking. You’ll help a child build a strong foundation.

8. It’s JOUST so much fun!

7. Kids who come to Bible School ARMOR likely to have a relationship with God.

6. You SHERWOOD help a child’s faith grow.

5. You said sometime you’d get “around to it” . . . maybe you meant “a round TURRET.”

4. God’s THRONE a party . . . And you’re invited!

3. The KNIGHT life is exciting.

2. We already have a castle . . . we don’t need more STONEWALLING.

And the #1 reason . . .
1. We need YOU to make this KINGDOM ROCK!

This year our Parish is a Kingdom of excitement as we visit Kingdom Rock, a special Vacation Bible School (VBS) program created especially for children. Each day our children will sing catchy songs, play teamwork – building games, nibble on snacks, take on Daily Challenge to celebrate God’s love, experience electrifying Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies and make crafts to take home. VBS will be held July 22 – 26 from 9am to 12:15pm and is for students entering K – 5th grades in September. Cost is $25 for 1 child or $35 for a family.

Adult and middle school students can volunteer to help make our Vacation Bible School a big success! Please call Agnes Bross at 390-2203 or the Parish Office 390-0664 to volunteer or to obtain a registration form. You may also download a registration form on our website, www.saintmaxkolbe.com – click on Religious Education.

Monsignor Peter M. Joyce

Mrs. Marie Moran, who has been the Director of Religious Education for the Parish of the Resurrection and subsequently for the Parish of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, has retired. Prior to this work and ministry, Mrs. Moran taught at Saint Augustine Catholic School in Ocean City.

It would be impossible to calculate the number of people who have directly and/or indirectly had their faith life enhanced by Mrs. Moran. By word and example, Mrs. Moran has been an instrument of God’s presence. In considering Mrs. Moran I am reminded of a catechist’s blessing:

Blessed are the catechists
who listen to their students,
especially the ones with repeated questions.
For they possess the ears of Christ.
Blessed are the catechists
who see the needs of their students,
especially the ones unrecognized by others,
For they possess the eyes of Christ.
Blessed are the catechists
who speak kindly to their students,
especially to the ones without positive motivations,
For they possess the mouth of Christ.
Blessed are the catechists
who gently touch their students,
especially the ones who feel the stings of home violence.
For they possess the hands of Christ.
Blessed are the catechists
who think prayerfully of their students,
especially those who don’t know God,
For they possess the mind of Christ.
Blessed are the catechists
who show love to their students,
especially the ones with unlovable traits,
For they possess the heart of Christ.
Blessed are the catechists
who walk patiently with their students,
especially the ones lacking spiritual guidance,
For they possess the feet of Christ.
Blessed are the catechists
who persevere in their faith-sharing ministry,
especially when their efforts seem in vain.
For they possess the healing presence of Christ
And theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

On behalf of all those you have nurtured, we thank you Mrs. Moran for sharing with us the ears, eyes, mouth, hands, mind, heart, feet and healing presence of Christ. May yours be the kingdom of heaven now and always.

Monignor Peter M. Joyce

Last week as we celebrated Memorial Day weekend, I could not help but consider how we recognize how important it is to remember and be remembered. This week, as we celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Our Lord and are given Our Lord’s words, “Do this in remembrance of me… . (1 Cor 11:24 inter al), my thoughts turned to the Remembrance of the Eucharist

What is remembrance and why is it important? In effect, to “remember” is to have present in your mind what God has done for you so that you’re grateful, to have it so present to you, so that you are different. God has saved us, made us his children, and opened heaven for us. Yet, our minds are very weak and we too easily let this slip from our conscious thoughts. Thus, the summons to “remembrance” that is so common in the Eucharistic liturgy, is a summons to our minds to be open to, and powerfully aware of what the Lord has done for us, “Don’t just stand or kneel there, forgetting, let this be present to you as a living and conscious reality, that changes you!”

Are you a mouse or a (wo)man? So here comes a question. Back in my seminary days we were all given the example of a mouse who runs across the altar and takes a consecrated host and runs off and eats it. And we were asked, “Does he eat the body of Christ?” Yes! For the Eucharist has a reality unto itself. “But does he receive a sacrament?” No! A mouse has no mind. It eats the very Body of Christ but to no avail for it has no conscious awareness or appreciation of what (whom) it eats. And so here comes the next question – Are you a mouse or a (wo)man?

How do you receive Holy Communion? Do you go up mindlessly, shuffling along in the Communion line in a mechanistic way? Or do you go up powerfully aware of He, whom you are about to receive? Do you remember, do you have vividly present to your mind what the Lord has done for you? Are you grateful and amazed at what he has done and what he offers? Or are you just like a mouse having something mindlessly put into your mouth?

Some people put more faith in Tylenol than they do the Eucharist. Why? Because when they take Tylenol they actually expect something to happen, for the pain to go away, and for there to be relief and healing. But when it comes to Holy Communion, they expect next to nothing. To them, it’s just a ritual, time to go up and get the wafer, (pardon the expression).

Really?! Nothing? How can this be? At some level it can be no better than a mouse eating a host. We are receiving the Lord of all creation, yet most expect little.

This week the Church says, “Remember!” “Have present to your mind all that the Lord has done for you and what he is about to do. Let this reality of the Lord’s presence be alive in your mind so that it changes you and makes you profoundly grateful and joyful. Become the One you receive!”

Monsignor Peter M. Joyce

On this Solemnity of the Body of Christ we are summoned to deepen our faith in the Lord, present in the Eucharist, and acting through his Sacraments. Routine may have dulling effects, but it cannot be so that we receive the Lord of glory each Sunday in any way that would be called mindless.

Ask the Lord to anoint your mind so that you remember and never forget.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about . . . In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own town to register. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem . . . To be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child . . . (Luke 2:1-6).

When Caesar took up his census, a Savior was identified. My hope for our parish census is a little more humble in scope. I write here in The View in case you did not receive from me a recent letter in this regard.

Since my arrival to our parish family I have discovered that in some instances our parish census records (including registration, sacramental and contribution information) are inconsistent, and in many cases, obsolete. I am attempting to rectify this. The reasons for an accurate census are many. I believe that a few of the more pertinent reasons are the following:

An accurate census:

Ensures that sacramental record keeping is clear, consistent and available to you at your request.

Ensures that you will receive timely and necessary information that impacts your faith life expression in our parish. I desire that if you request a response from me and/or the office staff that you can be assured it will be prompt and accurate.

Ensures that your rights and privileges as members of Christ’s Faithful, as well as my obligations to you are protected (i.e., the sacraments, instruction in the faith and in particular the faith development of your children).

Ensures that all tax deductible gifts are properly recorded and transmitted in receipt to you. Furthermore, I do not want to exacerbate the wounds of death, transitions in relationships and the movement of family members in my communications with you. I do intend to always respond to your requests for information with the most recent and accurate data.

To accomplish this task, I ask you to complete the census form (one per household) that you received in the mail and return it directly to the parish office in person or through the mail or in the weekly collection basket. If you have not received this census form, I ask you to contact the parish office at (609)390-0664.

I recognize that you may have been asked to provide this information previously but I believe this to be the simplest and least intrusive way to update and clarify our parish data. Again, I consider this to be an important element of my pastoral obligation to you.

While Caesar’s census identified The Son of God, it is my hope that our census properly notes you, a beloved child of God.

Monsignor Peter M. Joyce