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Beginning Monday, July 1st we will no longer have Mass on Saturday mornings at the St. James Chapel. Wednesday mornings at 9:00am in the St. James Chapel will now be a Eucharistic service, and Friday mornings at 7:30am at St. George Church will also now be a Eucharistic service. Please, pass the word regarding these changes, especially to people who do not come to our Church regularly.

New Jersey Independent Victims Compensation Program opens June 15. As had been announced in February of this year, the Diocese of Trenton – along with the other Roman Catholic dioceses in New Jersey – has established an Independent Victim Compensation Program (IVCP) to compensate those who, as minors, were sexually abused by a priest or deacon of the Diocese. The IVCP will be open to claims beginning June 15. The IVCP is independently administered by experienced victim compensation experts Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille S. Biros. Mr. Feinberg was the plan administrator for the federal 9/11 victim compensation program, as well as the Boston Marathon bombing compensation program. The IVCP will handle the submission, evaluation and resolution of individual claims, and will operate independently of the Diocese or any Church-affiliated institution. The administrators of the IVCP will have complete autonomy to determine the eligibility of a claim with the guidelines of the established Protocol. The amount of compensation for those who make a claim will be determined by the IVCP administrators. All victims – no matter when the abuse occurred – are eligible to participate, and all matters will be handled confidentially. Victims of clergy sexual abuse of a minor can begin the process of utilizing the program by going to www.njdiocesesivcp.com and reviewing the Protocol for submitting a claim. Anyone who was sexually victimized as a minor by a priest or deacon of the Diocese is strongly encouraged to participate in the IVCP. The Diocese also asks that anyone who knows of someone who was abused to pass along this information to the victim so that he or she is aware of the IVCP.

Take "STOCK" in the futrure of our youth and share in their 2019 WorkCamp Trip to Prince George, VA, as they help build and repair homes and spirit! Your support of $25, made out to St. James-Workcamp, received by June 9 will be a great help and very much appreciated. For details: 79marylombardo@gmail.com

The Hopewell Columbiettes are sponsoring two scholarships: $100 award for a female 8th grade Confirmation candidate and $500 award for a graduating high school female. Applications are on-line [click on the title] or contact Michelle Galik: (609) 213-5618 or emnisar@gmail.com. Application deadline is June 3rd. Applicant must be a member of St. James, St. George or St. Alphonsus.

The Hopewell Knights of Columbus are sponsoring two scholarships: $100 award for a male 8th grade Confirmation candidate and $500 award for a graduating high school male. Applications are on-line [click on the title] or contact Todd Kent, (609) 947-6260 or Kent83@comcast.net. Application deadline is June 3rd. Applicant must be a member of St. James, St. George or St. Alphonsus.

We will offer the opportunity to celebrate weekday Mass outdoors this summer. “Mass on the Grass” is a chance for us to invite neighbors, people who have just moved to our area, and those we know who are struggling to connect with Church in their lives, to come and join us for Mass. If you are willing to be the person who gathers people in your back yard, please call Diane at 609-737-012

The Diocese of Trenton Jail & Prison Ministry is in great need of volunteers to visit our incarcerated brothers and sisters, to remind them of God’s great love and mercy for them. [Click on the title for more details and a contact.]

To see a copy of this action alert, and what you can do, click on the title.

On May 4th & 5th, the Respect Life Ministry will be collecting baby items for Choice One Pregnancy Care Center with refreshments to follow each Mass. Invitations will be available starting April 6th inside the entrance of each Church. Gifts can be delivered on the weekends of April 27th & 28th and May 4th & 5th. Sponsored by The Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley and Knights of Columbus Central New Jersey Centennial Chapter.

St. Alphonsus: weeks of June 17th & 24th, 6 – 9pm, Monday – Friday; Grades 3 - 6 OR St. James: weeks of August 12th & 19th, 9am – Noon, Monday – Friday; Grades 3 - 7. If we get enough volunteer teachers, we hope to offer both options. Registration will be available by the end of March.We are looking for volunteers to give their time for one or both weeks. Please CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME to teach/assist in our classes. We need several volunteer teachers to be able to offer both programs. Contact the religious education office for more information on volunteering.

Are you able to Help maintain the garden beds around the parish property or help with Spring clean-up? Many workers make the job much easier! Scheduling is flexible... St. Alphonsus, Lola, 609-466-9681... St. James, Kris, 609-802-2583... St. George, Bob, 609-730-0787

Due to the shortened deadline we’ve been given, we are delaying the implementation of this youth leadership program offered to our parishes until spring, 2020. [Click on the title for more details.]

With 150 new photos on Facebook … it’s a good time to like our newly combined Facebook page for The Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley! [click the picture for the link]

Pennington Presbyterian is challenging the community to give up bottled water for Lent, March 6-April 20, 2019. Please join us in this effort. [For more details, click on the title or the graphic.]

A number of parishioners, volunteers, and parish employees have recently received emails from fake gmail accounts impersonating our parish priests. This is a hoax. Our parish firewall was not breached and no part of our network has been hacked or compromised. Automated “bots” “scrape” the email addresses from our parish websites and construct and send fake emails. Please know that neither Fr. Mike or the parishes of The Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley would never solicit money or information by email.

The Knights of Columbus will be collecting eye glasses and accessories. A drop-off box will be in the vestibule of St. Alphonsus Church through the month of February for your donations. Thank you!

For more information on the upcoming Open House and Information Sessions at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, St. Paul School  Princeton, Stuart Country Day School, St Ann School Lawrenceville, Notre Dame High School, and Holy Ghost Prep Bensalem Pa, click on the graphic or the headline.

The Polish Arts Club of Trenton announces the availability of $1,500 scholarships to qualified high school seniors of Polish descent to assist in their pursuit of a college education. For details and an application, please visit our website www.trentonpolisharts.org or contact your high school guidance counselor. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 20, 2019.

The Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley has a new website! Come and see what Fr. Mike has to say about our three parish families in one faith community, and much more. Visit thecatholiccommunityofhopewellvalley (one word).org. [For more details, click on the title or graphic.]

"I am delighted to serve St. James as the new choir director, upon the legacy of Kristin Hingstman and her predecessors. I have served over two decades as a cantor, choir director, and music director in Kansas (my homeland), Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. I look forward to supporting the liturgy and prayer life of The Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley. Our mission is to draw into a deeper relationship with Christ through sacred music, and to invite you to join our communal song. While I will be present on an interim basis until Christmas, please come say "hello" to me after the 10:00am Mass at St. James on Sunday, November 25, and on December 30. I would love to meet you and learn about the wonderful community of St. James!" - Alicia Brozovich