Church of Saint Philip Neri,

Pennsburg. PA 18073

March 29, 2009

Rev. Robert A. Roncase, Pastor

Deacon Michael J. Franks, Permanent Deacon

Rev. Edmond J. Speitel, Pastor Emeritus

Rev. John J. Scarcia, Retired Pastor

Rev. Raymond W. Smart, Retired, Resident

Shirley Misiak, Office Manager

Mark J. Meinzer, Business Manager

Catherine E. Faust, Director of Music

Patricia A. Schleeweiss, School Principal

Jeffrey W. Daley, Director of Religious Education

Colleen Daley, Parish Youth Minister

Sister Patricia Kelly, M.S.B.T., Parish Outreach

Rectory Phone 215.679.9275

Rectory Fax 215.679.0386

School Phone 215.679.7481

Religious Education Phone 215.541.3120

Religious Education Fax 215.541.1398

Parish Social Hall Phone 215.679.8116

Parish Outreach Phone 215.679.2282

Neri Center Phone 215-679-6490

Church & Rectory Address:

1325 Klinerd Road

Pennsburg, PA 18073

Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Email Address: spnofc@comcast.net

Website Address: www.spnparish.org

School Address:

6^th & Washington Streets

East Greenville, PA 18041

Hours: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Website Address: www.spnelementary.com

Religious Education Center Address

565 Main Street

East Greenville, PA 18041

Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Neri Center Address

6^th & Washington Streets

East Greenville, PA 18041

ROSARY: Prayed every Saturday after the 8:00

AM Mass.

SCHEDULE OF MASSES

Saturday – Vigil Mass – 5:00 PM

Sunday – 7:30, 9:30, 11:00 AM

Weekdays – In the Chapel

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,

Friday & Saturday – 8:00 AM

Wednesday – 7:00 PM

HOLY DAYS:

8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 7:30 PM

Eve of Holy Days –5:00 PM

CHAPEL OPEN FOR VISITS

The Chapel will be opened Monday thru Saturday

until 7:00 pm for your visits to the Blessed Sacrament.

CONFESSIONS

Saturdays: 4:00 – 4:45 PM

Eve of Holy Days: 4:15 – 4:45 PM

BAPTISMS

Celebrated the 2^nd & 3^rd Sundays of each month.

Please call the Rectory to schedule.

2^nd Sunday Baptisms are held at the

11:00 AM Mass

3^rd Sunday Baptisms are held at 12:30 PM

PRE-JORDAN CLASSES

1^st Monday of every month at 7:30 PM in the

Rectory meeting room.

MARRIAGES

Arrangements should be made at least SIX

MONTHS before the date of the wedding.

NEW PARISHIONERS

Welcome to your new home! Please stop by the rectory between 9:00 am - 3:00 pm to fill out a registration card. We are happy to have you in our parish and want to get to know you.

SHUT-INS

Please call the Parish Outreach Office.

SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING

Please call the Rectory.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Every 1^st Friday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM in the

church, followed by Benediction.

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

If you wish to have a floral arrangement placed in front of the altar, please call the rectory.

OUR PARISH MISSION STATEMENT

WE ARE THE CATHOLIC PARISH COMMUNITY OF ST. PHILIP NERI, ANSWERING CHRIST’S CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP THROUGH WORD, SACRAMENT AND SERVICE.

WE PROCLAIM GOD’S HOPE AND LOVE TO ALL.

FROM THE PARISH OUTREACH OFFICE

By: Sister Patricia Kelly, M.S.B.T.

A column by the Pastor; a column by the Deacon; and now, a column by the Sister. What next?? But wait! Who is this Sister and what does she do?

Let me share a little background…I grew up in Dunmore, PA., a suburb of Scranton, which is called The Friendly City. I was the third child of four children, and the only girl. I attended Catholic grade school, high school, and college. After graduation from Marywood College (now university), I taught public school in New Jersey for four (4) years.

Through a series of circumstances that I believe were directed by our Holy Spirit, I met my Religious Community, the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity; also known as Trinitarian Sisters. We were founded by an American born Priest, Father Thomas Augustine Judge. We were founded to work with the poor, collaborate with the laity, make every Catholic an Apostle, and to glorify our Triune God.

That gives you an idea of my background. The next questions is: What does Sister do? I am an employee of Catholic Social Services (C.S.S.) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. I have been assigned to do Parish Outreach (also known as Parish Social Ministry) in Cluster 76, of which St. Philip Neri is a member. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of Father Roncase, I have an office in the Rectory building, next to the Chapel. I am usually in the Parish on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Parish Outreach is part of the saving mission of Jesus Christ, which is the saving mission of the Church. It is a Social Service Program that provides education in Catholic Social Teaching, which is Social Justice. Social Justice is the best kept secret in the Catholic Church! And yet, Social Justice is very old; it is the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Moreover, we have many encyclicals from some of our Popes, and documents from our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that deal with Social Justice.

When I write another column, I will tell you more about other parts of Parish Outreach. Meanwhile if you have questions or comments, please call me at the Parish Outreach Office: 215-679-2282. If no answer, speak slowly and leave your name and number. In fact, please say the number twice.

In the love of the Trinity,

Sister Patricia

DIOCESAN CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

The Archdiocesan Capital Campaign continues here at St. Philip Neri. The goal given to us by the Archdiocese is $720,000. To date, we have pledged $386,000; 54% of our goal thus far.

The Campaign continues for two more months!

FIRST FRIDAY MASS

First Friday is April 3^rd. Mass is in Church at 9:00 am, followed by adoration until evening prayer at 6:45 pm; Stations of the Cross following at 7:00 pm. The sign-up book for adoration schedule can be found in the Church vestibule beneath the crucifix.

GRADE SCHOOL STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Note: Time change – Wednesday, April 1^st at 10:00 am in the morning. (moved from 1:00 pm)

PALM SUNDAY MASSES

Masses on Palm Sunday:

Vigil Mass: Saturday, April 4^th – 5:00 pm

Palm Sunday: Sunday, April 5^th – 7:30 am;

9:30 am; 11:30 am

Please note: The 11:00 am Mass on Palm Sunday has been moved to 11:30 am! (It is also moved on Easter Sunday!)

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Holy Thursday, April 9^th: No morning Mass

Mass of the Last Supper: 7:30 pm in Church

(Adoration in the Chapel Thursday evening – 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm)

Good Friday, April 10^th: No Mass

Morning prayer in the Chapel at 8:00 am

Adoration in the Chapel from 8:30 am until 3:00 pm

Veneration of the Cross and Communion at 7:30 pm in Church

Holy Saturday, April 11^th: No morning Mass

Morning prayer in the Chapel at 8:00 am

Decorating Church for Easter – 10:00 am

Blessing of Easter Food in Church at 1:00 pm

Easter Vigil Mass: Church – 8:00 pm

Easter Sunday Masses: April 12^th

7:30 am; 9:30 am; 11:30 am

Daily Masses during Easter Week will be in Church

Confessions for Holy Week:

Wednesday, April 8^th – Church – 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm.

Four priests will be available for the sacrament of reconciliation.

WEDNESDAYS OF LENT

During Lent, there will be two (2) Masses each Wednesday; 12:10 pm in Church and 7:00 pm in the Chapel.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Friday’s at 7:00 pm in Church on February 27^th, March 6^th, 13^th, 20^th, 27^th, and April 3^rd.

Grade School Stations of the Cross on Wednesday, April 1^st, has been moved to 10:00 am in Church.

CONFESSIONS ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS OF LENT

Confessions will be heard on Wednesday evenings of Lent in Church from 7:45 pm – 8:30 pm on Wednesday, March 18^th, April 1^st & 8^th. Confessions are also heard every Saturday in Church from 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm.

MASS BOOK – 2010

The Mass Book for 2010 will open Friday, May 1^st, between 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Each person will be allowed five (5) weekday Masses and two (2) Sunday Masses. If there are any additional masses available in July, you may call the office and make your request. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Adult Confirmation

If you are a baptized Catholic adult who has not been confirmed you may be interested in a program which will be offered at St. Philip to prepare adults for this final Initiation Sacrament. Cardinal Rigali will confirm adults at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul on Pentecost Sunday. Details will be forthcoming in a few weeks.

If you are interested please contact the parish office and leave your name and phone number. Please mention that you are interested in the Adult Confirmation Program. Deacon Mike Franks will contact you with further information.

Watch the bulletin for further announcements concerning this important program.

Serving at Mass April 5

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

5:00 pm – Lisa Edleman Bob Ellis

Michael Edleman

Deacon

Priest

Mark Meinzer

Pat Meinzer

Janet Kendra

Lee Johnson

Tina Evans

Catherine Cahill

Trudy Moser

Dave Moser

7:30 am – Denise Guckin Michael Lynch

Mike Heveran John Guckin

Deacon

Priest

Jim Michels

Pat Scheerbaum

Joan Varallo

Wally Varallo

Paul Moser

Maureen Moser

Anthony Pongia

Joan Pongia

9:30 am – Colleen Daley M. Gehringer

Priest J. Sakalouckas

Priest

Judy Sledgen

Michael Dougherty

11:30 am – Tina Evans Luke Verna

Anna Kells Bob Piccone

Priest

Bob Hermley

Jeanne Hermley

Holy Week: Easter Triduum

Holy Thursday – April 9

7:30 pm - Lori Brozena Wendy Benner

Linda Franks Eileen Davis

Priest

Deacon

LaRue Emmell

Mary Goodfellow

Alice Swift

Mary Weber

Marci Jaman

Pat Kennedy

Mark Meinzer

Pat Meinzer

Good Friday – April 10

7:30 pm – Dawn Ellis Bob Ellis

Mary Souder Adam Canigiani

Priest

Deacon

Bob Brennan

Eleanor Brennan

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil

8:00 pm – John Nash Pete Frank

Monica Nash Mark Meinzer

Pat Kennedy M. Gehringer

Sarah Franks Matt Horvath

Pat Meinzer

Linda Franks

Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord

7:30 am – Dave Moser Theresa Gilmore

Trudy Moser John Gilmore

Priest

Deacon

Mike Duka

Immaculata Barndt

9:30 am – Ken Mayer Joe Cassarella

Marilynn Mayer Terry Benner

Priest

Deacon

Marci Jaman

Andrew Souder

11:30 am – DJ Williams Eileen Davis

Sandy Williams Jim Brinckman

Priest

Mary Lavin

Sandy Shellaway

Tony Shellaway

Extraordinary Ministers are still needed for the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil. If you would like to serve, please email to: spnlm@verizon.net or spnofc@comcast.net.

LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE

Second Quarter 2009

Liturgical Ministers who do not have computers or web capability, paper copies are now available in the back of the church for pick up. Please be sure to pick up your copy.

WE INVITE YOUR PRAYERS

For the sick, those in hospitals, nursing homes, and also for their caregivers.

Please pray in particular for:

Rev. John J. Scarcia, Jack Conlen, Mary Conover, Barbara Duklis, Olga Durco, Betty Watkins, Baby Robert John Riegel, Jr., Kelly Connolly, Jennie Virus, Robert Rukstalis, Mary Ann Bencie, Frances Cannon, Josh Frumnecht, Steven Gebhardt, Ann Bowdren, Jack Cahill, Dianna Rynkiewicz, Ethel Buck, Gary Lester Keller, Mary R. Giambrone, Michael Andrusko, Betty Risko, Christine Keer. Anna Rickert, Robert Joseph Drelick, Pat Scheerbaum, George Bradford, James Abramo, Darrell Goslin, Gene & Jenna Parsons & Hilda Stine.

For those who have died, and in particular for Adelaide Yurick, grant them eternal rest and peace.

CHAPEL OPEN FOR VISITS

Our chapel is open Monday thru Saturday from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm for visits to the Blessed Sacrament.

MASS BOOK

The 2009 Mass Book is now filled for Mass Intentions. Unannounced Masses are always available.

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

March 29, 2009

Monday, March 30

8:00 am – Lila & Paul Smith (Estate)

Tuesday, March 31

8:00 am – Gordon Heckler, (Jim & Ann Michels)

Wednesday, April 1

12:10 pm – Mass in Church

Cheryl Blake, (Tony & Barbara Parestis)

7:00 pm – Frances Kline, (Joan Wieder)

Thursday, April 2, Francis of Paola, hermit

8:00 am – Joseph Rudzenski, (Ronald & Robert Budnicki)

Friday, April 3

9:00 am – Mass in Church

Eugene Cressman, (Wife & children)

7:00 pm – Stations of the Cross - Church

Saturday, April 4

8:00 am – William Pearson, (Pat & Eileen Cahill)

5:00 pm – Earl Leister, (Dennis & Maryann Krause)

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – April 5

7:30 am – For the living & deceased members of the Parish.

9:30 am – Liam Williamson, (Dan & Erin Williamson)

11:30 am – James Goodfellow, (Mary Goodfellow)

ROSE/FLORAL ARRANGEMENT

The red roses placed on the Blessed Mother Altar are in loving memory of Jonathan Robinson, requested by his parents, Bill & Cindy Robinson.

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS

Knights of Columbus – Fr. Leo J. Letterhouse Council #6614 meets every second Sunday of the month in the Council Meeting Room at the rectory. Consider joining us by calling Duke Doherty at 215-679-0660.

St. Philip Neri Craft Guild meets the first and third Tuesday of each month in the Social Hall Meeting Room from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. For more information, please call Connie Marks: 610-287-9829.

Boy Scouts – Tuesday evenings in Social Hall from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Join our Boy Scouts by calling Mark Walther at: 610-754-6541.

Cub Scouts – Thursday evenings in the Neri Center – East Greenville. Join our Cub Scouts by calling Alicia Tryon at: 215-679-4193 or email to: Cubpack591@yahoo.com.

CYO Sports – For more information, please contact Kevin Loose at: 215-679-5481.

Parish Youth Ministry – For more information, please contact Colleen Daley at: 215-541-1716.

BUILDING MEMORIALS

Give a St. Philip Neri Memorial Gift!

For a donation of $25 or more, there is a beautiful folder recording the gift and donor to be presented to the family. A Mass is offered each month.

In memory of Frances Piotrowski, requested by,

Thomas & Betty Streeper.

We also have “Living Memorials” for those special occasions in life.

ACTIVITIES - *BINGO*

Kitchen opens 5:00 pm – Bingo – 6:30 pm

Working Thursday – April 2nd – Team #1

All regular games pay $50

FINAL COVER – ALL SPECIAL PAYS: $500

Bingo: 03/19/09 – 69 players

Kitchen: $ 409.75

Games: 299.05

Total: $ 708.80

Fish Fry: $ 906.95

Breakfast: $2,233.33 – 520 served

Attention: Volunteers needed at Bingo once or twice a month to sell the Nevada Pull-tab tickets on Thursday evenings from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Call Shirley at the rectory office if interested.

SUNDAY COLLECTIONS

March 22, 2009

Envelopes: $ 9,796.00

Loose: 1,092.00

Children: 78.00

Total: $10,966.00

Special collection:

Churches in Central & Eastern Europe: $877.00

MEETINGS AND EVENTS THIS WEEK

Sunday, March 29^th – Little Church – gym – 9:30am

Sunday, March 29^th – Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Church – during the 9:30 am Mass

Sunday, March 29^th – Men’s 30 and over Basketball – 8pm

Monday, March 30^th – Safe Environent Workshop – Neri Center – 6:30 pm

Monday, March 30^th– Carnival Committee Meeting – rectory – 7:00 pm

Tuesday, March 31^st – 1^st Communion Retreat Day – Church & gym – 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Tuesday, March 31^st – Cantor & Choir Practice – Church -6:30 pm

Tuesday, March 31^st – Boy Scouts – gym – 7:00 pm

Wednesday, April 1^st – Grade School Stations of the Cross – Church – 10:0 am

Wednesday, April 1^st – ALPHA – gym – 10:00 am

Wednesday, April 1^st – PREP (Religious Education) – school – 6:00 pm

Wednesday, April 1^st – Lenten Confessions – Church – 7:45 pm – 8:30 pm

Thursday, April 2^nd – Pennsburg Nursing Home Mass – 10am

Thursday, April 2^nd – Bingo – gym – 6:30 pm

Thursday, April 2^nd – RCIA – rectory – 7:00 pm

Thursday, April 2^nd – Diocesan Capital Campaign Meeting – rectory -7:30 pm

Friday, April 3^rd – 1^st Friday – Mass in Church at 9:00 am – Adoration until Evening Prayer – 6:45 pm

Friday, April 3^rd – Lenten Fish Fry – gym – 11am – 2pm

Friday, April 3^rd– Stations of the Cross – Church – 7:00 pm

Saturday, April 4^th – GardenClub Spring Clean-up – Church grounds – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Saturday, April4th – Knights of Columbus Easter Egg Hunt – Church grounds – 10:00 am

Sunday, April 5^th – Little Church – gym – 9:30 am

Sunday, April 5^th – Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Church – during the 9:30 am Mass.

Sunday, April 5^th – Youth Ministry – gym – 5:00 pm

Sunday, April 5^th- Men’s 30 & over basketball – 8:00 pm

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Pre-Jordan Baptismal Class – Monday, April 6^th – rectory – 7:30 pm

Garden Club – Cleaning Church grounds – Tuesday, April 7^th – 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Holy Week Confessions – Wednesday, April 8^th – Church – 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Decorating Church for Easter – Saturday, April 11^th – 10:00 am – everyone welcome.

Home & School Board Meeting – April 15^th – 7pm - rectory

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

March 31 – First Communion Retreat –

Social Hall/Church

April 1 – class

April 8 – no class

April 12 – Easter

April 15 – class

April 22 – class

April 22 – First Communion Practice –

Church – 6:15 pm

April 25 – First Holy Communion

April 29 – Last class

May 6 – Marian May Procession

SCHOOL NEWS

Preschool – We celebrated Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s fortieth birthday. The children were thrilled to make their very own hungry caterpillars. They learned about the life cycle of the caterpillar. They enjoyed reading many of Eric Carle’s colorful and playful books.

Kindergarten – This week the Kindergarten continued to talk about Lent. They related a seed to Jesus, in that he died to give us new life.

1st – This week First Grade will learn about seeds. We will also be planting flower seeds and take care of them as they grow.

2nd – The Second Grader children are reading the story, “Anthony Reynoso: Born to Rope.” It is a non-fiction, personal narrative about a young boy, Anthony Reynoso, who learns how to rope and ride as a charro, a Mexican cowboy. The class is comparing Anthony’s Mexican American traditions with their own.

3rd – This week we started geometry. Students made shapes out of clay and were able to identify the face, edge and vertices. In Science, students were able to learn more about mining by taking out the chocolate chips in cookies. Students could see how mining affects the earth.

4th – Students designed a Polygon Paradise garden in conjunction with our study of Geometry. We are using manipulatives to count the number of faces, edges and vertices. We’ve begun our study of the 8 Beatitudes, Jesus’ path to happiness. We’ve read about St. Francis of Assisi as a great example of being poor in spirit.

5th – We want to congratulate our students who participated in the Montgomery County Science and Research Competition: Philip Myers, Patrick Vetter, Keira Koch, Emily Beck and Nicholas Camarata. Elizabeth Mullaney, Morgan Tielemans and Patrick Souder all received Honorable Mention. Excellent job representing our school!

6th – The Sixth Grade students will be finishing their first novel of the Literature Circles. All of the students did a fantastic job. The students are so excited! They are working on a play:

The Skill of Pericles.

7th – The Seventh Grade students just finished a Stations of the Cross project in which they had to take on the role of a reporter at the scene as the events happened. They are currently writing about a setting for a science fiction story. In Math, they are learning about geometry.

8th – The Eighth Grade is learning about World War I in Social Studies. You may hear them humming the WWI tune “Over There”. In Religion, we are learning of the heresies of the early Church and how Church doctrine was formed. We are also participating in Stations of the Cross as a class and using a version specifically designed for teens.

SCHOOL REGISTRATION – 2009 - 2010

Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to provide your son or daughter with a Catholic School education at St. Philip Neri School! Our school provides a safe, nurturing value-centered learning environment for students in Preschool through Eighth Grade. The Hop Ahead Preschool has a program Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 year olds and Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for 4 year olds from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Our Kindergarten program is a full day program along with our First through Eighth Grade which begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:25 p.m.

An after school program, C.A.R.E.S., is also available for students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade.

If you would like any additional information on our school or would like to register your child for the 2009-2010 school year, please call the school office at 215-679-7481. When registering your child for Preschool, please have a copy of your child’s immunization records. If registering for Grades K through 8, please have the following at registration: original birth certificate, copy of baptismal certificate, and current immunization record as required by the State of PA at the time of registration. School begins on September 8, for Grades 1 to 8.

FROM THE PARISH OUTREACH OFFICE

FRIENDLY VISITOR UPDATE

A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. Sirach 6:14. Are you willing to be of service to one of God’s people by lending a listening ear and making small conversation in order to lift spirits? You would be developing a valuable friendship with another parishioner who is lonely and homebound. The rewards are immeasurable.

Call Shirley at the rectory: 215-679-9275, or Sister Patricia Kelly at the Outreach Office: 215-679-2282. Speak slowly, please.

H.O.P.E.

The H.O.P.E. Ministry is part of Outreach and services our Church Community. H.O.P.E. provides FREE transportation for medical appointments, errands, respite care, light housekeeping and to mass. Our volunteers are parishioners who are willing to serve and answer your needs.

Please call Kathy or Bob Talbot –Coordinators - at: 215-541-0250 or the Outreach Office: 215-679-2282.

ELIZABETH MINISTRY UPDATE

Sharing our love through positive action; an Elizabeth Minister makes a commitment to celebrate new life, to support families with young children, to encourage those trying to become new parents and to comfort those in crisis and death circumstances. The role of Elizabeth Ministers is not to do the extraordinary, but to engage the ordinary with an extraordinary degree of love.

Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 14, 2009, in the Neri Center at 7:00 pm. Come meet us.

HOSPITAL VISITS

Please call the rectory to request a visit when you or a family member is hospitalized.

Due to the Privacy Act, a request to have a priest or the hospital minister visit and/or bring Holy Communion can be made only by you or a family member.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

The Parish Outreach Office will offer a Bereavement Support Group beginning on Tuesday morning, April 14, 2009 and ending on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. It will be from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.

This is the first time a support group has been offered during the day.

Please join us to help others in their journey through grief, and let others help you through yours.

If our Lord is calling you to meet him in our Bereavement Support Group, call Sister Patricia Kelly, M.S.B.T. at the Parish Outreach Office.

If no answer, please speak slowly, and say your phone number twice.

Please call on or before Tuesday, April 7, 2009.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM:

The Parish Outreach Office:

If you are having extreme difficulty paying for your prescriptions, I have the phone numbers of several pharmaceutical companies that will give them to you FREE, if you qualify.

If interested, please call Sister Patricia Kelly, M.S.B.T. at the Parish Outreach Office at: 215-679-2282. If no answer, please speak slowly and leave your name and phone number.

CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP

Every Wednesday at 7:30 pm in the Chapel following the 7:00 pm Mass. Come to grow closer to God and experience the power of the Holy Spirit through prayer, praise, song, scripture reading, teaching, witnessing, and use of the charisms.

Discover the love of God in a more profound way.

Call Rich at: 610-323-1127.

SPN ROSARY SOCIETY

We have just begun a Rosary Society here at St. Philip Neri. Come and pray the Rosary every 2^nd Monday of each month at 1:00 pm in the Chapel. Our next prayer gathering is Monday, April 13th at 1:00 pm.

LITTLE FLOWER GIRLS CLUB

Little Flowers Girls’ Club is a catholic program for girl’s ages 5-10 based on learning catholic virtues through the lives of catholic saints, scripture, and the catechism of the Catholic Church. The Little Flowers meet at the Neri Center, on the First Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm - April 7th, May 5th, & June 2nd.

For more information, call Dana Orr at: 215-679-8223.

BLUE KNIGHTS

Blue Knights Catholic Boys Club will meet at the Neri Center on Tuesday evenings – once a month from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm - March 31^st, April 21^st, May 19^th & June 30^th.This program maps out virtues for boys ages 5 and up.

For more information, call Bill Orr: 215-679-8223.

OUR PARISH BULLETIN NEEDS YOUR HELP!

It is free and provides important revenues to our parish.

Please have your Business, Service or Practice recommend to all our parish families with an AD supporting our Bulletin.

Please call Jim Finnen at your earliest convenience on his cell phone or home phone number:

Cell phone: 610-653-2145

Home phone: 610-838-2238

It is one of the few, inexpensive local advertising opportunities left in our area and your parish thanks you!

CHICKEN BARBQUE & BAKE SALE

St. Philip Neri Social Hall

Saturday – May 2, 2009

3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Advanced tickets available for purchase by calling Rita: 215-679-7009, Connie: 610-287-9829 or Joan: 215-234-4813.

FLYER Insert to follow in the next week or so.

Sponsored by the SPN Craft Guild

SILVER SPIRITS TRAVEL CLUB

“Washington D.C. Trip”

When: Saturday – June 13, 2009

Departure – 7:00 am

Return – approximately 10:30 pm

Price - $60/person

ITINERARY:

7:00 am – depart from SPN Church parking lot. Brief rest stop enroute.

11:00 am – Canal boat ride on “The Georgetown”

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – free time for browsing; lunch on own.

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm- guided tour of Basilica of the National Shrine with free time after tour to browse gift shop.

4:15 – 6:00 pm- visit National Zoological Park in DC. Fast food stop enroute home.

Please complete the form below. All payments are to be made to “Silver Spirit Travel Club” and are due by May 11^th. (checks will be the only form of payment accepted)

For additional information or questions, please call Kathy Kulp at: 267-923-5173 or Kathy Talbot at: 215-541-0250.

Name(s) _________________________________________

Phone#: _________________________________________

ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS

OFFICE FOR CHILD AND YOUTH PROTECTION

Protecting God’s Children for Adults Awareness Sessions. Unless otherwise indicated, all sessions begin at 7:00 pm and are approximately 2.5 hours.

Spring 2009:

4/16/09 - St. Maria Goretti – Hatfield

Wedding Anniversary Masses at the Cathedral:

The annual Wedding Anniversary Masses with Cardinal Justin Rigali will be on Sunday, May 3^rd in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. There are two Masses: 11:00 am for couples celebrating 50 or more years of marriage from Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties; and 2:30 pm, for couples celebrating 50 or more years of marriage from Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties, and couples celebrating 25 or more years of marriage from all counties. For those with disabilities, an access ramp is on the parking lot side of the Cathedral. Please contact the Family Life Office at: 215-587-3516 if someone will need special help.

What is God asking of me?

How do I want to spend the rest of my life?

Am I called to be a Religious Sister?

Am I willing to give up my life to Christ?

If you have ever asked yourself these questions, if you would like to explore your calling in life…

Come and join other young women between 18 and 35 who share your questions for a weekend of:

Liturgy, Communal & Private Prayer, Eucharistic Adoration,

Presentations on Consecrated Life,

Q&A Sessions, Relaxation & Fun!

April 3-5, 2009

Friday – 7:00 pm – Sunday – 1:00 pm

Mother Boniface Spirituality Center

Philadelphia, PA

For more information, please call Sister Olivia or Sister Mary Kay, MSBT: 215-335-7534 or email to: voc@msbt.org

Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity

Our purpose is to glorify the Triune God

AREA NEWS

WOMEN’S RETREAT

Malvern Retreat House – Malvern, PA

“MEETING JESUS: One is never the Same”

If you are looking for a special “time out” with God, this is your opportunity to renew your personal relationship with God, self and others!

A women’s retreat will be held on May 15^th thru May 17^th at the Family Life Center. The Family Life Center can accommodate 96 women; therefore, it is important to register early. ALL ARE WELCOME! MARK YOUR CALENDAR. The cost of the weekend is $195.00 (a $50 deposit is all that is necessary to hold a reservation). If you wish to register for the weekend of if you have any questions, please contact Dawn Ellis at: 215-679-2160.

LANSDALE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

Registration for 2009:

LC continues to accept registrations to the Class of 2013 as well as transfer students. Please call Mrs. Kris Cope, Admissions Director at: 215-362-6160 or visit our website:

www.lansdalecatholic.com/admission_faq.htm.

Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Fifth Sunday of Lent

The ultimate give-up

It just seems so unfair that we have to start giving up the things of this life to get the things of eternal life. But that’s the deal. With every life comes one and only one guarantee: that it will end in death. Thus the invitation is to get on board now with the whole business of giving up so that we might leave this world empty-handed, not clinging to what is passing away. It’s the practice of letting go now that will prepare us for the final let-go. The Lord is concerned only with our welfare, our ultimate well-being. And he shows us the way. He is the way.

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33

“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.”

Monday, March 30

Lenten weekday

Withhold your judgment

Think of how many times you judge people in a day. Sure, there are places for legitimate criticism of others. But we’re talking here about the kind of things you would never say directly to the person, but to others, behind their backs. The problem with such judgment is that no one’s innocent: We all have our own shortcomings—and they are frequently the ones we see in others. The Jesus-perspective on all this says only those who have no faults can fault others. That means none of us. Leave judging to the one in the best position to do it: God.

Today’s readings: Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; John 8:1-11

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Tuesday, March 31

Lenten weekday

Help is at hand

Most of us do not approach God with God-sized requests. We almost always ask for too little, which is another way of saying we think a problem is so big that it’s too much even for God. But just because we cannot in our wildest dreams imagine the solution to the problem we are currently experiencing doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Nothing is too much for God to handle or rectify or resolve. Ask God to help you find a job, or for guidance on how to help a friend, or for a solution to whatever your problem is. Then let God do God’s thing, which is to surprise and delight us with his mighty works.

Today’s readings: Numbers 21:4-9;

John 8:21-30

“We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us.”

Wednesday, April 1

Lenten weekday; April Fool’s Day

Blessed insurance

When Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” he was vigorously rejected by those who believed themselves to be free already. “Whaddya mean ‘will be’ free?” After all, they were among God’s chosen. How could they “become” what they already were? It’s called assumption, and as teachers like to demonstrate on the blackboard, to assume “makes an ASS out of U and ME.” Why? Because in assuming that we have God down pat, we close ourselves off from the possibility of growing, of being surprised by God. Jesus’ opponents could not abide his message because it did not fit with what they assumed about God, the Messiah, or how to live. One who is not willing—every day—to allow God to “make all things new” is a fool, on April 1 or any other day.

Today’s readings: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; John 8:31-42

“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here.”

Thursday, April 2

Feast of Francis of Paola, hermit

Playing with fire

Fire makes life possible. From the fire of the sun to the fires that keep homes warm, we would certainly be out in the cold without it. As we know, though, fire can also destroy. A legend about Saint Francis of Paola (1416-1507), sometimes known as “The Fire-Handler,” says he could handle fire without harm to himself. He didn’t flaunt this gift like a magic trick but put it to the use of the people in his village: walking into a burning kiln to fix it, reaching into a forge to retrieve a piece of red-hot iron for a blacksmith. Each of us has the choice to use our abilities and powers to help or harm. Which way will your fires burn?

Today’s readings: Genesis 17:3-9;

John 8:51-59

“As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.”

Friday, April 3

Lenten weekday

Put poverty reduction on your to-do list

In 2000 leaders from 189 nations, including the United States, signed on to eight Millennium Development Goals, designed to significantly reduce global poverty and disease by 2015. Despite some significant success, particularly in the area of debt cancellation, 1 billion people around the world still live on less than a dollar a day, and one person in seven goes to bed hungry. We must hold ourselves and our governments accountable for working toward the reduction of poverty. For Christians the mission is even more critical because bringing good news to the poor is a specific imperative of discipleship. For more information on the Millennium Development Goals, go to www.endpoverty2015.org.

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13;

John 10:31-42

“Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!”

Saturday, April 4

Lenten weekday

Homecomings

Think of all the leaving and returning people do. Every day you probably leave home for some reason and come home at some point. Young people leave to start lives of their own. Relatives gather for holidays and other celebrations. Babies arrive in the world while other folks depart it. In scripture’s story of the people of God, there’s a lot of leaving and coming back as well. The Israelites scatter only to regather on a number of occasions. Even Jesus splits the scene a few times when the opposition to him heats up. We are entering the last days of Lent, a season of returning to God. Whatever you have done or not done, it’s never too late to come back to your true home.

Today’s readings: Ezekiel 37:21-28;

John 11:45-56

“My dwelling shall be with them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”