The Rosary and Prayer Ministry of St. Thérèse the Little Flower of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Mountain Lakes, N.J. on Oct. 11 honored the feast day of St. Therese during a devotional event with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney in the parish church. The popular saint is also known as St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
The event featured prayer, music, the Knights of Columbus, bagpipers, five vocalists, organist, a harpist and a patriotic finale to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States this year.
Despite the inclement weather, more than 200 people clergy, religious and laity attended the event, which began with a processional by Bishop Sweeney; Father Michael J. Parisi, pastor of the parish and vicar general of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.; Deacon James Gillespie opened the ceremony at St. Catherine’s; and the Knights of Columbus Color Corps processed with the Bishop.
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Music featured at the event included Highland Cathedral, Panis Angelicus, the St. Thérèse Hymn, Walk With Us, Dear St. Thérèse, Let there Be Peace on Earth, Be Still My Soul, I Believe, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Lady of Knock, and Ava Maria.
The bagpipers were Bill McEvoy and Paul O’Sullivan. David de la Mora, St. Catherine’s choir director, on piano and vocalist; Lou Scarpa, a trustee at Assumption College for Sisters in Denville, an organist; Kathleen Donahue, harpist and music director at St. Mary’s in Denville; her husband Michael Donahue, vocalist; Barbara Bailey and Deborah Tobia, vocalists and parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena Church. In honor of Deborah’s devotion to our blessed saint, she wrote and composed the St. Therese Hymn which she sang.
During the patriotic finale, cub scouts from Pack 99, Boy Scouts, soldiers from Picatinny Arsenal held the American flag which was 10 feet wide. Jonathan Morales, was the vocalist who performed the Patriotic Finale with songs, such as America The Beautiful, God Bless America, Glory, Glory Hallelujah and the entire congregation recited The Pledge of Allegiance.
Bishop Sweeney concluded by a closing blessing with the Relic of St. Therese. Closing remarks by Carol Bsarany who leads the St. Thérèse Ministry. A reception followed in the parish gym.
The St. Thérèse prayer group meets at St. Catherine’s on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. from May through December. Members pray the Novena to St. Thérèse, a prayer for our nation, the Memorare, and the rosary. Participants are asked to bring a rosary. The group will provide prayer materials.
Two events left for this year are Tuesday, Nov. 17 healing service with Father Edward Rama, pastor of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Wharton, N.J., at 1 p.m.; the Christmas concert featuring two vocalists and an organist on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. This will be our last prayer service for this year. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 4th, 2027.
St. Thérèse was a Discalced Carmelite nun in France who died at 24 on Sept. 30, 1897.
While the St. Thérèse Ministry meets at St. Catherine’s, the Shrine of St. Thérèse at 54 Rock Lane in Boonton about a mile away is open year-round. Hours for the Shrine are 8 a.m. To 6 p.m. The faithful can continue to visit and light a candle.
The shrine represents the gratitude of its founder, Achille Arci. He made a promise to her in the 1920s after he was cured of an illness. Today, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J., owns and cares for the shrine.
For further information please call Carol Bsarany at 973-271-9252.
