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The First Madonna Bible Competition

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:18:57 GMT

Growing in Faith Through the Word of God: First Madonna Bible Competition

The first Madonna Bible Competition, focusing on the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, was held on April 11, 2026. The event brought together parish members in a spirit of learning and fellowship.

There were a total of 16 teams, each consisting of 7 to 10 members. The competition featured three rounds. Round 1 included questions from the 100 Essential Questions for Catholics study booklets. Round 2 challenged participants to memorize Bible verses. Round 3, widely regarded as the most challenging, featured questions prepared by Fr. Silvano.

The event was a wonderful success, greatly enjoyed by all!

Thank You!

A special thank you to our dedicated volunteers, whose efforts ensured everything ran smoothly. We hope this event will continue to inspire a deeper love for Scripture in our parish community, and we eagerly look forward to gathering again for the 2027 competition (which will focus on the Gospels of Luke and John).

The 31st Knights Annual Seminarian Dinner

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:08:35 GMT

A Beautiful Evening of Fellowship: The Knights Annual Seminarian Dinner

This past Saturday, March 14, right in the middle of our Lenten journey, Madonna Parish came together for a truly delightful evening. The Knights of Columbus Annual Seminarian Dinner gave our community a special opportunity to meet, share a meal, and show our loving support for the Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Newark.

It was a night filled with faith, great food, and inspiring stories. Here is a look back at the highlights of the evening:

A Warm Welcome and a Global Feast

The night kicked off with wonderful Welcome and Opening Remarks by Tony Rinaldi , setting a joyful tone for the evening. We were blessed to have Seminarian Marek Chmielewski lead us in grace before we ate.

The community then enjoyed a fantastic buffet dinner that reflected the diversity of our parish, featuring a delicious spread of Korean, Italian, and Cuban food!

Voices Lifted in Song

Music filled the room thanks to the Madonna Choir and the Korean Contemporary Music Team , led by Director Agnes Kim . They performed several moving pieces in English, Korean, and Latin. A truly unforgettable moment was when the Seminarians and Fr. Roberto Ortiz joined the choir to sing a reverent rendition of Salve Regina.

Special Presentations and Generous Gifts

We were honored to have Knights of Columbus State Officers Jim Sweeney, Russ Petrocelli, and John Quaregna in attendance, along with Mayor Paul Kim . They took the stage for some very special presentations:

A Big Surprise: Nine-year-old Julia McElearney was surprised with an award for winning the International Soccer Challenge trophy for her age group. Way to go, Julia!
Supporting Our Future Priests: The Knights of Columbus State and District presented a couple of large donation checks to the Seminarians to help support their education and journey.
A Call to Serve: The Knights also issued a welcoming call for more men to join their ranks to help support the church, our seminarians, and the wider community.

Inspiring Journeys of Faith

To close out the evening, Fr. Roberto Ortiz from the Immaculate Conception Seminary briefly introduced each seminarian and shared some of their background..

Then Seminarian Joseph Grabowski shared the heartfelt story of his calling. He spoke about how, after graduating and working in the secular world for a few years, he finally heard and responded to God's call to become a Catholic priest. His journey is a powerful reminder of how God works in each of our lives.

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and organized this amazing night. Your support means the world to our seminarians as they prepare to serve the Church!

Holy Mass with Cardinal Tobin

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:10:40 GMT

Holy Mass with Cardinal Tobin

We were deeply grateful for the presence of His Eminence, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, and Sister Donna Ciangio on March 1, 2026.

Cardinal Tobin celebrated 2 bilingual Masses. During his homily, he shared his personal witness stories and one of the messages from Jesus’ transfiguration: “ it is good that we are here ” as proclaimed by Peter (Matt 17:4).

Parishioners then gathered for a simple but delicious lunch, which was followed by a Lenten lecture presented by Sister Donna, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Newark. She spoke about Lent being a time for retreat, reflection, and change.

The day was truly full of blessings for the entire parish community as we shared this meaningful time together.

Madonna Parish Social Event: Music under the Stars

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:53:18 GMT

Music Under The Stars

On Sunday, October 5, Madonna families gathered on the parish lawn for a delightful evening of music performed by the 17-member Stardust Big Band .

Parishioners came together as a community to enjoy delicious treats, while dancing to classic tunes from the 1930s and 1940s. The evening could not have been more perfect, falling on the eve of the harvest moon - a time to give thanks for our many blessings.

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us and look forward to seeing even more of you at our next gathering!

Silver Rose: Honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 17:54:27 GMT

Madonna Church Honors Our Lady of Guadalupe

On September 22, 2025, parishioners gathered at Madonna to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe through the Silver Rose program .

The Silver Rose program, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, honors Our Lady of Guadalupe and promotes a culture of life throughout North America. Each year, silver roses begin their journey in Canada, travel through the United States, and conclude at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. This meaningful pilgrimage, which began in 1960, honors the miraculous roses Our Lady gave to St. Juan Diego in 1531, and unites parishes in prayer for the respect for all human life, from conception to natural death.

The rose was brought to Madonna by Knights John Antonacci and Patrick O’Donnell. Knight Paul Mladjenovic offered a short presentation and led the rosary, and Father Bill concluded with a blessing. Parishioners joined in prayer and had the opportunity to venerate the Silver Rose.

2025 Madonna Bazaar

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:43:53 GMT

First Madonna Church Bazaar

Madonna Church held their first Bazaar on Sunday June 22 from 10 AM to 3 PM.

At 7 AM, parish volunteers, older and younger, male and female, Korean and English speaking, worked tirelessly together on everything from setting up the canopy tents for the various food and goods stalls, bringing out tables and chairs, to bringing all the supplies and setting up the sound system for performances.

Then there was light rain and even some lightning and loud booming thunder. Fortunately this cleared up, and the rest of the day was a great summer day, filled with delicious Korean food, multiple performances, and interesting goods for sale.

Below are some photos from the Bazaar.

Unveiling God's Infinite Love

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:56:07 GMT

June and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

A Month Dedicated to Divine Love

As we step into June, our Church invites us to turn our hearts toward a profound and tender devotion: the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus . This month-long focus is a beautiful opportunity to contemplate the very essence of God's boundless love for humanity, a love so immense it led to the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation.

The Symbol of Christ's Enduring Love

The image of the Sacred Heart, often depicted as pierced and burning, powerfully communicates both the depth of Christ's suffering and the intensity of His enduring love for us. It's a poignant reminder of His humanity and His constant, abiding presence in our lives. As St. Margaret Mary Alacoque , a great promoter of this devotion, heard from Jesus Himself, " Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love. "

Responding to Love with Love

This devotion calls us to respond to such incredible love with our own, striving to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. It encourages us to deeper intimacy with Christ, recognizing that His heart beats with unending mercy and compassion for each of us.

Embrace the Devotion This June

Let us embrace this month by reflecting on this divine love. Consider incorporating the beautiful prayers to the Sacred Heart into your daily routine, or perhaps even beginning the First Friday devotion as a tangible expression of your love and gratitude. May our hearts be ever more conformed to His, brimming with charity and overflowing with His divine grace.

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Lord Jesus, let my heart never rest until it finds You, who are its center, its love, and its happiness. By the wound in Your heart pardon the sins that I have committed whether out of malice or out of evil desires. Place my weak heart in Your own divine Heart, continually under Your protection and guidance, so that I may persevere in doing good and in fleeing evil until my last breath. Amen.

- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Other Prayers

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

This consecration is also by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

This novena prayer was recited every day by Padre Pio for all those who asked for prayers.

Fr. Serio Lenten Lecture 2025

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:54:27 GMT

Fr. John Serio

Salesian Lenten mission

To further cultivate a stronger spiritual life , through prayer and reflection, Fr. Serio gave a series of Lenten Mission Lectures on March 29 and March 30, in the Main Church .

Rev. John J. Serio was ordained in 1982. He serves as the director of Mary Help of Christian Center in Tampa, Florida. Mary Help of Christian is a Salesian center that aims to serve the young and the poor.

The three lectures were well attended, attracting an audience that covered generations from Traditionalists and Baby Boomers all the way through Gen Z teens and young adults.

Highlights

Below are some of the highlights of the Lectures:

God's unconditional and individual love for us
various ways to pray, including the Ignatian Examen of Consciousness prayer
the comforting message that God eagerly awaits our return to confession, be it after a month or thirty years.

madonna-church-fort-lee-03-1309

The First Madonna Bible Competition

Growing in Faith Through the Word of God: First Madonna Bible Competition

Thank You!

The 31st Knights Annual Seminarian Dinner

A Beautiful Evening of Fellowship: The Knights Annual Seminarian Dinner

A Warm Welcome and a Global Feast

Voices Lifted in Song

Special Presentations and Generous Gifts

Inspiring Journeys of Faith

Thank You!

Holy Mass with Cardinal Tobin

Holy Mass with Cardinal Tobin

Madonna Parish Social Event: Music under the Stars

Music Under The Stars

Silver Rose: Honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe

Madonna Church Honors Our Lady of Guadalupe

2025 Madonna Bazaar

First Madonna Church Bazaar

Unveiling God's Infinite Love

June and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

A Month Dedicated to Divine Love

The Symbol of Christ's Enduring Love

Responding to Love with Love

Embrace the Devotion This June

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Other Prayers

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Fr. Serio Lenten Lecture 2025

Salesian Lenten mission

To further cultivate a stronger spiritual life , through prayer and reflection, Fr. Serio gave a series of Lenten Mission Lectures on March 29 and March 30, in the Main Church .

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