faq's - frequently asked questions
This section is created so you can have question and answers to some common queries about the parish or topics. If there is a question not here or answer, please contact us.
How do I contact the parish office?
Contact us by calling, emailing us, fax or writing and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you.
| mailing address | 250 South Route 73 |
| phone | (609) 561.6116 |
| fax | (866) 825.4766 |
| parishbj23@verizon.net | |
| website | blessedjohn23.org |
How do I register to be a member of the parish?
Call the Office and a Registration Form will be sent to you. (coming soon online form)
What is my responsibility as a member?
Individuals and families are considered members of the parish if they are formally registered, are active and contributing to the mission and needs of our church community. By “registered” is meant that we have an updated record of the individual’s or family’s membership in the parish. To register, simply fill out a registration form available from the parish office. By “active” is meant that the individual or family attends Mass weekly and on holy days, and participates in other parish activities according to need, desire, interest and availability. By “contributing” is meant that the individual or family supports the parish financially through the use of contribution envelopes, and/or offers their time and talents to the parish in service to its needs.
Individuals and families who are not registered, active and contributing will find it difficult to obtain some parish services, such as a letter of eligibility if asked to be a Godparent at baptism or sponsor for Confirmation. Additional fees are levied for other services such as baptisms, weddings, enrollment in the regional school and, starting next September enrollment in the religious education program (“CCD”).
How do I get to Blessed John XXIII Parish?
From the North
take the
Atlantic City Expressway to exit 33. Make a left on
Williamstown-Winslow Road (at end of exit ramp) and then another left at
Route 73 (at the traffic light). St. Lucy's church is approx. 3 miles
on the right. Sacred Heart Church is approximately 5 miles on the
left.
From the South and shore
points,
take the Atlantic City Expressway to exit 31 which merges onto
Route 73 Northbound. St. Lucy's church is approx. 4 miles on the right.
Sacred Heart Church is approximately 6 miles on the left.
How do I schedule an appointment with a priest?
Call the office during business hours. Leave your name, telephone number and the BEST time to call. The priest will get back to you asap.
How do I purchase a Mass Card?
Come into the Parish Office during business hours or call.
How do I purchase a memorial candle?
We remind you of the opportunity to purchase a candle in memory of a loved one (living or deceased), or special intention. The candles normally burn for seven days. There will be a new intention each week, provided we have a request.
The intention and name of the person requesting the intention will be published in the bulletin. These memorials can be purchased in advance. The donation for these candles will be: The Sanctuary Lamp, $10, Sacred Heart, Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph and Saint Lucy, all $5. If you are interested, please contact the office.
What do I need to do with the church for planning my wedding?
Call the Parish Office to have the information sent to you. The information includes: procedures to follow and a Pre-Cana booklet. Or, click here to preview the guidelines.
What can I do to have my marriage recognized by the Catholic Church?
Call the Parish Office and leave your name, telephone number and best to call for
one of the priest.
How do I schedule my child(ren) for Baptism?
Come to the Parish Office during business hours
[8:30-12N and 1:00-4:30PM
to register for the Baptism Preparation Class.
What do I need to do to become a sponsor?
Godparents (Baptism) and Sponsors (Confirmation)
Before you ask someone to be a Godparent or sponsor, or before accepting this honor, please consider the following:
Godparents and Sponsors are persons of faith who so exemplify what it means to be a member of the Church that they inspire (or hope to inspire) the one they are sponsoring and will support that person in his/her journey of faith. To be considered eligible, certain conditions must be met, which is why the Church insists that a certificate of eligibility, obtained from the prospective Godparent/ sponsor’s home parish, be provided prior to the celebration of the sacrament.
The applicant must be formally registered in a parish. If we don’t know you, how can we testify that you are eligible? Furthermore, the applicant should make his/her own request. While there may be legitimate extenuating circumstances, ordinarily parish staffs are suspicious about the seriousness of an applicant’s intentions if someone else is making the request for them.
Applicants must be fully initiated, practicing members of the Church, at least 16 years of age. That is, they have received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation and regularly attend Mass. The pastor can dispense from the age minimum, provided that the applicant meets these sacramental requirements.
Where we run into the most difficulties is if the applicant is married. We cannot issue a certificate of eligibility to a married person if the marriage is not valid in the Catholic Church. For a marriage to be valid a sanctioned Catholic priest must have performed it or, if celebrated outside the Church, with a formal dispensation granted by the local Bishop. Civil marriages or those performed by non-Catholic religious officials without a formal dispensation are not valid in the Church.
For the applicant in an invalid marriage to receive a certificate of eligibility, the marriage must first be convalidated by a renewal of vows before a sanctioned priest and two witnesses. If either spouse had a prior marriage that ended in divorce, regardless of where that first marriage took place, the Church must formally annul the prior marriage before a convalidation can be celebrated.
I know someone homebound. How can they receive the sacraments?
Call the Parish Office with the name, address and phone number and contact person.