Dear Friends,

Happy Easter!  Wishing you and your families joy, peace, and many blessings throughout the Easter Season.

Many thanks to all who volunteered at our March service events! Thanks to your partnership, we donated over 150 bagged lunches to Bridges Outreach and collected a TON of Easter candy to share with the children of the parish.  While the Easter Egg Hunt itself was rained out, we were able to send the Easter Egg Hunt home with families of the parish and Faith Formation students. Despite the rain, your kindness was shining brightly and much appreciated by all! We also continued our Year of Birthday Cheer with the Mount Olive Manor and provided 11 neighbors with beautiful cupcakes, balloons, and cards.  Your generosity is a blessing!

As we rejoice in the glory of the Resurrection, let's open our hearts to the fire of God's love and make a difference with SPARK Teen Ministry.  Together, we will grow spiritually, engage socially, and serve selflessly. See below for ways to get involved!

Mount Olive Manor - Year of Birthday Cheer:  While we are not able to host our traditional birthday parties right now, we are continuing our "Year of Birthday Cheer" project for friends at the Mount Olive Manor. Each month, we will deliver cupcakes, balloons, and cards to all who have birthdays within the month. 

Kindly sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4aabaf2da3fc1-year to sponsor a resident. Please purchase one dozen cupcakes (store-bought only), attach a birthday balloon, and prepare a birthday card. Please note that due to Covid restrictions, only store-bought cupcakes can be accepted at this time. As for cards, please keep generic, addressed to "Dear Friend" and signed from "Your Friends at St. Elizabeth's." 

April's drop-off date is Sunday, April 11; kindly drop off to the Confirmation table by 2pm, if possible.  Confirmation candidates will earn 2 parish hours for their service; after delivery, please submit a ticket online at  https://stelizabethschurch.org/confirmation-service-ticket. 

April Teen Mass and Operation Jersey Cares Outreach:  Our April Teen Mass and Service Project are scheduled for Saturday, 4/17.  This month, we'll support our troops by collecting care package items!  We'll deliver all donated items to Operation Jersey Cares, who in turn will create care packages and send to our currently deployed troops, along with our gratitude and prayers.  Wish list follows below!

• Canned or Instant Coffee
• Coffee Creamer
• Tea Bags/ Hot Chocolate
• Protein Bars
• Beef Jerky/Slim Jims
• Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
• Nuts/Trail Mix
• Pringles
• Plastic Jars of Peanut Butter and Squeezable Jelly
• Individual Packets of Oatmeal
• Canned Soup
• Granola Bars
• Canned Pasta (Chef Boyardee)

Sign-ups are not necessary, but kindly drop off any donations to the Community Room from 2pm-5pm on 4/17.

Teen Mass will begin at 5pm on 4/17 and will be livestreamed for virtual participation. In-person attendance will be allowed on a limited capacity on first come basis; masks and social distancing will be required. Otherwise, tune in live at 5pm on the parish Facebook page or anytime on Sunday on the homepage of our parish website. We will worship and pray together, even if apart! 

Confirmation candidates will earn 3 hours for their service and Teen Mass participation (including virtual!); after participating, please submit a ticket online at  https://stelizabethschurch.org/confirmation-service-ticket. 

Many thanks to all for your support and generosity!  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out any time.  God bless you and yours always!

Peace,
Shannon
 

Shannon Jones
Youth Minister/Confirmation Coordinator
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Youth Ministry
Email: youth@stelizabethschurch.org

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