St. Rose to host mission

FREEHOLD - St. Rose of Lima Church, 16 McLean St., will host a parish mission in various Freehold venues April 22-25.

"Our hope in planning this event is to provide an experience that will lead to an intergenerational deepening of faith for our whole community. We believe the programs we have arranged will deliver just that," said Sister Claire McNichol, pastoral associate at the church.

According to a press release, the four-day mission will be the collective result of plans conceived by the church's three faith development groups, representing religious education for children, youth ministry and adult faith formation. Everyone is encouraged to attend all or any part of the mission.

"Hungering for Jesus" will offer opportunities to strengthen commitment to Jesus¿ mission through prayer, learning, faith sharing, music and celebration. The nightly themes of social justice, longing, sharing and effecting change will be explored with guidance from Aidan Rooney and Sean Sanford from the Vincentian Renewal Center in Princeton.

In addition to daily, focused mission presentations, highlights of the four-day mission will be a young-adult gathering at the Cornerstone Caffe, a "Hunger Banquet" and closing "Prophetic Celebration of the Eucharist." A schedule of events is as follows:

+ "Jesus Wants Justice," evening prayer and mission presentation, light refreshments, April 22, 7:30 p.m., St. Rose Chapel.

+ "A Hungry Heart" mission presentation, "Patterns of Prayer," light refreshments, April 23, 7:30 p.m., St. Rose Chapel.

+ Young-adult gathering, music and conversation, April 23, 9 p.m., Cornerstone Caffe, corner of Main and South streets.

+ "Sharing Our Hungers," hunger banquet and mission presentation, April 24, 6 p.m., St. Rose School cafeteria.

+ Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, April 24, 7:30 p.m., St. Rose Chapel.

+ "Seeds of Change," Mass and presentation on Marian spirituality, April 25, 8:30 a.m., St. Rose Church.

+ "An Offering of Letters," April 25, 6:30 p.m., St. Rose School cafeteria.

+ "Prophetic Celebration of the Eucharist," light refreshments follow, April 25, 7:30 p.m., St. Rose Chapel.

For more information, consult the parish Internet Web site at www.stroseoflima.com or call (732) 462-7828.