"At Home in the Catholic Church" - Where do you go when you have questions about God? About the meaning of life? About prayer or sin or Mary or the saints? How do you respond when you are touched by another person's faith or selflessness or goodness? We Catholics have many answer to these questions. "At Home in the Catholic Church" will explore topics pertinent to living our Catholic faith today. Plan to Sign-Up after Mass on September 8-9th and take advantage of the opportunity to have your faith enriched!

Scripture Study - The New Testament Epistles and Acts of the Apostles - Using the popular pamphlet, SCRIPTURE from SCRATCH, parishioners have an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the Acts of the Apostles and the New Testament Epistles. This mini-course will take place in the HTIS Library on four Tuesdays this Fall. Sign-Up Sunday is September 8-9th. (Limit 25 participants)

ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASSES

STEWARDSHIP - A WAY OF LIFE: In the Gospel today, Jesus warns us not to give in hopes of repayment, but to give open-handedly to the poor and needy. That sort of giving mirrors the bountiful giving of God, and Jesus assures us it is blessed indeed!

MISSION CO-OP COLLECTION - THANK YOU for your extraordinary response to Father Thomas Looney's stirring appeal for the Congregation of Holy Cross's missions in Peru. Your contribution to the collection amounted to $5,520.00!! (Contributions are still being accepted.)

And the supplies keep coming in - backpacks, marble notebooks, pencils, pens, rulers, crayons, etc. We have until September 9^th to give the students at St. Rocco's, Newark a head start on the school year. See the list at the back of the church for supply information. Donations can be dropped off at the Rectory (school items as well as donations for uniforms and sweatsuits). In the name of God's little poor ones, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

In 1894 President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a legal holiday, a time to pay tribute to the workers of America. Three years earlier Pope Leo XIII published a landmark encyclical, Rerum Novarum, that championed the rights and dignity of workers. The Pope insisted that they have the right to productive work, just wages and benefits. To achieve these goals, workers also have the right to organize or to join a union.

On this Labor Day, we Americans have much to be grateful for. But our economic strength is not universally shared. The gap in family income continues to widen. The top 5 percent of the population takes a larger share of personal income today than they did 30 years ago (a 16 percent share in 1968, 24 percent in 1996). At the same time the share of income going to people in the middle 60 percent has declined by nearly 10 percent. The decline is even sharper for those in the bottom 20 percent. This trend is one reason for Americans to respect a strong, active, democratic labor movement.

In his encyclical on work (Laborem Exercens), John Paul II envisioned a society in which the singular title of honor would be that of "worker", whether we were doctors, mechanics or CEOs. Work, he said, is not something we do; it stands at the core of our personal identity. The philosopher Paul Riceour believes this may be the most revolutionary insight of our time.

Class lists and calendars have been mailed out, and all religious education classes will begin the week of September 17^th. We are still in need of catechists. If you can help us in this very fulfilling ministry, call 233-7455. The catechist meeting for returning catechists will be held on Monday, September 10^th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the Parish Council Room. The catechist meeting for new catechists will be held on Tuesday, September 11^th, from 7:30 to 10:00 PM in the Parish Council Room.

CYO - All high school students are invited to the first CYO (Christian Youth Organization) meeting on Wednesday, September 12^th from 7:30 to 9:00 PM in the Parish Council Room.

CONFIRMATION NEWS - WANTED: All persons who

• Care for the future and vitality of our Church

• Enjoy the spontaneity and energy of youth

• Have a strong relationship with Jesus

• Understand their baptismal call to evangelize

If you are young, old, married, single and identify with these qualities, Holy Trinity needs you! Please consider giving 1 ½ hrs of your time, six times a year to work with small groups (about 6-8) of confirmation candidates. This can be done either in your home or at the parish. If you are interested, please call Sr. Kathy at 233-7455 or email her at kbssj336@aol.com.

CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES - Letters have been sent to all Level I and II candidates and their parents with information about important and upcoming meetings. If you have not received this mailing, please call the REO ASAP at 233-7455.

HOLY TRINITY SENIOR SOCIAL CLUB - will hold its first meeting on Monday, September 10^th at 1:30 PM in the school gym.

SPECIAL LITURGY ON ALCOHOLISM - Our monthly Mass for all who are touched by the disease of alcoholism will be celebrated at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church, 2032 Westfield Ave, Scotch Plains on Saturday, September 8^th at 12 Noon. Mass will be followed by refreshments and a speaker in the cafeteria. If you or anyone close to you is affected by this insidious disease, please join us to pray for guidance and strength. You won't be sorry you did. We look forward to seeing you there. Call Fr. Don Hummel at 908-322-5192 if you have any questions.

Region III of the North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics - will hold its Annual Fall conference and EXPO, "The Next Generation", on Saturday, September 15^th at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, 32 Elm Avenue, Metuchen from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The donation is $35 and includes lunch. Childcare is available. For information call Ron Mowad at 732-821-4714.

The Catholic Committee on Scouting of the Archdiocese of Newark welcomes all Catholic Scouts, Cubs and Leaders, to join the 2001 Scout Retreat to be held on October 19^th, 20^th & 21^st at Mayapple Hill, Camp Site, West Orange.

The theme this year will be, "Faith Odyssey 2001". Scouts and Cubs will have the opportunity to participate in a Science Fair at the Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, and other activities along with religious events. Boy Scouts are encouraged to camp Friday and Saturday nights. Webelos are welcome to camp over Saturday night, and Cub Scouts will arrive Saturday morning for their program, and leave that same evening. More information about registration fees and hold-a-site fees is available by contacting Gabe Feltz, Director, Catholic Committee on Scouting at 201-998-0088 or 201-226-0755.

MASSES FOR THE WEEK

SATURDAY, September 1st

5:30 pm Anthony Manna - Family

SUNDAY, September 2nd

7:30 am Rena Ruffini - Anna DeMarco

9:00 Deceased Members of Granells Family - Dorothy Demarais

10:30 People of the Parish

12:00 Noon Edgar Boger - Family

MONDAY, September 3^rd, LABOR DAY

9:00 Priest Special Intention

TUESDAY, September 4th

7:00 am Domenico Isolda - Wife

9:00 James Livesey - Bob & Lucille Paulson

WEDNESDAY, September 5th

7:00 am Rena Ruffini - Hudson County Correction Staff

9:00 Cyril & Agnes Whitehead - Family

THURSDAY, September 6th

7:00 am Michael Fox, Jr. - Cascone Family

9:00 Nicola & Maria Sbordone - Mr & Mrs Adolfo DiIorio

FRIDAY, September 7th

7:00 am Ramon Alcala - Family

9:00 Gloria Alayeto - George Alayeto

SATURDAY, September 8th

8:30 am Mary & James Griffith - Nora Griffith

5:30 pm Rosemary Saxton - Sister, Helen Livesey

SUNDAY, September 9th

7:30 am Anna Cashmere - Venezia Family

9:00 Margaret Novalany - Devaney Family

10:30 People of the Parish

12:00 Noon Regina McGinley - Marie Aceto