Dear Friends,

I am writing to you tonight to inform you of two important updates that will effect our parish over the coming weeks. 

Out of concern for the safety and health of our people, Bishop Checchio has  suspended  all public celebrations of Mass in the Diocese of Metuchen beginning no later than March 18 and to end no earlier than April 3, at which time the circumstances will be re-evaluated. Mass will be celebrated as scheduled tomorrow, March 17, 2020, at both 7:30am and 12:15pm in the church.  The public celebration of the Eucharist will be suspended beginning on Wednesday, March 18 and will continue until we are directed otherwise. This means no Daily or Sunday Masses will be celebrated at St. Peter's for the time being. Please be mindful that the Bishop has dispensed the faithful of the Diocese of Metuchen from their obligation to participate in Sunday Mass until the weekend of April 4-5. So, let your conscience be at peace in knowing that, given the public health crisis we are facing, there is no sin in being unable to participate in Mass these next two to three weeks. 

Be assured, however, that our priests will offer Mass in private for you and your intentions during these anxious times and will fulfill the Mass intentions requested between March 18 and April 3. The church will be open during the weekdays and on Sundays, so I encourage you to spend quiet time with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament if you can.  The Eucharist is the source and summit of our life as Christians. The suspension of public Masses is an extraordinary, but necessary, measure to protect our community from exposure to the virus.  

Lastly, out of the same concern for the safety and health of our people, I am  canceling  Forty Hours Devotion, scheduled to begin this Sunday, March 22 at 6pm and end on Tuesday March 24 at 7:30pm. 

I will be writing you to again in the next few days with other updates. However, to stay current on news and information in our parish, please go to our website  stpeternewbrunswick.org or "like" us on Facebook at "St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish"

Let us continue to pray for one another and seek Our Lady's protection and intercession for the sick and their care-givers. 

Servus

Msgr. Joseph G. Celano, VE
Pastor