Church of Saint Philip Neri,

Pennsburg, PA 18073

April 19, 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.

LET US PRAISE CHRIST TOGETHER

Easter blessings to you all.

As the Easter season progresses, we continue to look ahead to celebrations and events happening in the near future. One important Event in May is the celebration of our Patronal Feast, St. Philip Neri. The Feast Day, May 26^th, this year falls on a Tuesday. If you remember last year we received the First Class Relic of Philip Neri, a sliver of bone. This is the reason the shrine in our vestibule has been erected. Two thousand nine also marks the 90^th Anniversary of the Canonical Founding of our Parish. For those reasons, we are planning a major celebration on our Feast Day this year. On Tuesday, May 26^th,we will celebrate an evening Mass at 6:30 pm. Bishop Thomas will be the celebrant for this Mass and he will bless the Shrine and enthrone the Relic on the Shrine. Visiting Priests have been invited to this celebration and Mass, and as of today, we expect at least twelve Priests to concelebrate. Following Mass, there will be a parish dinner in our social hall. Next weekend and for a few following weekends, there will be a Response Form in our Bulletin to return so we can plan on the number to expect for the Parish Dinner. Save the day. I invite everyone to join in welcoming the Relic of Philip Neri into our Church and celebrate Mass with Bishop Thomas!

Praise Be Jesus Christ…Now and forever!

Father Roncase

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 $410,000, 56% of our goal thus far.

The Campaign continues for two more months!

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

Sunday - April 19, 2009

We will celebrate in Church at 3:00 pm with prayers, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Adoration and Benediction.

The Image of TheDivine Mercy

On the first Sunday of Lent, February 22, 1931, Our Lord Jesus Christ is reported to have granted a vision of Himself to Blessed Faustina Kowalska of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in the city of Plock in Poland.

She saw him clothed in an ankle-length white garment. His right hand was raised in blessing; the left was touching His garment at the bosom where, from beneath the garment slightly drawn aside, two large rays were coming forth as though from His heart. The ray to the left of the onlooker was red in color; the ray to the right was pale, that is, colorless, like clear crystal.

After Blessed Faustina had gazed intently at the vision for awhile with emotions of deep reverence and great joy, Jesus gave here these instructions:

Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You! I desire that this image be venerated first in your chapel and (then) throughout the world.

I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over (its) enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory.

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.

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.

Serving at Mass April 26

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

5:00 pm – Bob Talbot Mark Meinzer

Kathryn Talbot

Priest

Deacon

Jim Camarata

Linda Benko

Dianne Kennedy

Patrick Kennedy

Jim Quigley

Annemarie Quigley

Lisa Edleman

Michael Edleman

7:30 am – Paul Moser J. Sakalouckas

Maureen Moser Michael Lynch

Priest

Keith Greczek

Mike Heveran

Jim Michels

9:30 am – Rose Anderson Sue DiMarco

Mary Ellen Paulk M. Gehringer

Priest

Michael Sledgen

Bob Brennan

Eleanor Brennan

11:00 am - Bob Schwind Adam Canigiani

Barbara Schwind Jim Brinckman

Priest

Anita Weilnau

Linda DiTondo

Doug DiTondo

Serving at Mass May 3

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

5:00 pm – Dawn Ellis Bob Ellis

Linda Franks

Priest

Deacon

Mark Meinzer

Pat Meinzer

Janet Kendra

Lee Johnson

Claire Holcombe

LaRue Emmell

John Burke

Linda Benko

7:30 am – Joan Varallo Ernie Quatrani

Wally Varallo John Guckin

Priest

Deacon

Pat Scheerbaum

Michael Duka

Lori Brozena

Dina Corrado

Peter D’Amico

Trish Dornisch

Michele Martin

Denise Guckin

9:30 am - Ken Mayer Terry Benner

Marilynn Mayer Wendy Benner

Priest

John McHale

Irene Novelli

11:00 am – Jeanne Hermley Bob Piccone

Bob Hermley Luke Verna

Priest

Tony Shellaway

Sandy Shellaway

MASS BOOK

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

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.

GREETER SCHEDULES

The second quarter schedule is now available. Those with computer capability can go the website; paper copies can be picked up in the small room off of the vestibule.

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, Hilda Stine, Donald Abramo Sr., James Abramo, Christine Erb, Delia Grim & Joe Johnson.

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

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

April 19, 2009

Monday, April 20

8:00 am- Special Intention for Carol Bradley, (Bonnie Ritter)

Tuesday, April 21, Anselm, bishop & doctor

8:00 am – Tony Martello, (Ronald Mikanowicz & family)

Wednesday, April 22

7:00 pm – Kate & Jack Manning, (Tony Bauer)

Thursday, April 23, George, martyr, Adalbert, bishop & martyr

8:00 am – Gordon Heckler, (Janet & Mike Macenka)

Friday, April 24, Fidelis of Sigmaringen

8:00 am – John Poslosky III, (John & Mary Ann Poslosky)

Saturday, April 25

8:00 am – Esther Pizza, (Robin & Guy Piza)

5:00 pm – Anthony DePolo, Jr. (Pop & Mom-mom)

Sunday, April 26

7:30 am – Lila & Paul Smith, (Estate)

9:30 am – James Ehrlich, (Hank & Marie Tokarski)

11:00 am –For the living & deceased members of the Parish.

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 Kathleen Gould, requested by:

Norman & Ruth Sumner

In memory of Adelaide Yurick, requested by:

Ed & Ann Jane Dobry, Nonna Bull-Leister,

Doris & Paul Decker and family, Beverly Farkas, & Charlie & Pat Shaw.

In memory of Eva Shosh, requested by:

Hector & Maryann Sampayo.

In memory of Sandra Koder, requested by:

Dale & Immaculata Barndt

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 23rd – Team #4

All regular games pay $50

FINAL COVER – ALL SPECIAL PAYS: $500

Bingo: 74 players – 04/02/09

Kitchen: $ 252.55

Games: 629.45

Total: $ 882.00

Fish Fry $ 752.54 – 04/03/09

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

Palm Sunday – 3/16/08 Palm Sunday – 04/05

Envelopes: $ 9,832.00 $ 12,017.00

Loose 1,548.00 1,477.00

Children 94.00 74.00

Total: $11,474.00 $ 13,568.00

Easter Flowers – 2009: $982

Easter Sunday – 3/23/08 Easter Sunday – 04/12

Envelopes: $18,574.00 $ 20,506.50

Loose 2,450.00 3,006.00

Children 212.00 101.50

Total: $21,236.00 $ 23,614.00

Easter Flowers 09 total: $ 2,703.00

MEETINGS & EVENTS THIS WEEK

Sunday, April 19^th – Little Church – gym – 9:30 am

Sunday, April 19^th – Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Church – during the 9:30 am Mass

Sunday, April 19^th – Divine Mercy Sunday – Prayers & Adoration in Church – 3:00 pm

Sunday, April 19^th – Youth Ministry – gym – 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Sunday, April 19^th – Knights of Columbus – General Meeting – rectory – 7:30 pm

Sunday, April 19^th – Men’s 30 and over Basketball – 8:00 pm

Monday, April 20^th– Liturgy Committee Meeting – rectory – 7:00 pm

Tuesday, April 21^st – SPN Craft Guild – gym – 1:00 pm

Tuesday, April 21^st – Garden Club – Church grounds – 5-7pm

Tuesday, April 21^st – Blue Knights Boys Club – Neri Center – 6:30 pm

Tuesday, April 21^st – Choir & Cantor Practice – Church – 6:30 pm

Tuesday, April 21^st – Boy Scouts – gym – 7:00 pm

Tuesday, April 21^st – Pastoral Council Mtg. – rectory – 7pm

Wednesday, April 22^nd – ALPHA – gym – 10:00 am

Wednesday, April 22^nd – PREP (Religious Ed) – school – 6pm

Wednesday, April 22^nd – 1^st Communion Practice – in Church – 6:15 pm

Wednesday, April 22^nd – Car Show Meeting – rectory – 7pm

Thursday, April 23^rd – Bingo – gym – 6:30 pm

Thursday, April 23^rd – Cub Scouts Meeting – Neri Center – 6:45 pm

Thursday, April 23^rd – Diocesan Capital Campaign Meeting – rectory – 7:30 pm

Friday, April 24^th – SPN Quilting – gym – 1:00 pm

Saturday, April 25^th – Parish Breakfast – set-up – gym – 7am

Saturday, April 25^th – 1^st Communion – Church – 10:00 am

Sunday, April 27^th – Parish Breakfast –gym – 7am-12:30pm

Sunday, April 27^th – Little Church – 9:30 am

Sunday, April 27^th – Children’s Liturgy of the Word – during the 9:30 am Mass

Sunday, April 27^th – Men’s 30 & over Basketball – 8:00 pm

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Carnival Committee Meeting – Monday, April 27^th – 7:00 pm – rectory

H.O.P.E. General Meeting – Monday, April 27^th – gym – 7pm

Pre-Jordan Baptismal Class – Monday, May 4^th – rectory – 7:30 pm

Parish May Procession – Wednesday, May 6^th – Church – 7:00 pm

UPCOMING MEETINGS: (con’t)

Parish 40 Hours Devotion – Thursday, May 7^th beginning with the 8:00 am Mass until Saturday, May 9^th, 5:00 pm Mass. (Parish dinner following)

Knights of Columbus General Meeting – Sunday, May 10^th – rectory – 7:30 pm

Home & School Board Meeting – Wednesday, May 13^th – rectory – 7:00 pm

Knights of Columbus Come-n-Go Bingo – Saturday, May 16^th – gym – 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

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

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.

PARISH NEWS

THANK YOU

Your generosity and thoughtfulness overwhelms me! Thank you for the many, many, cards and gifts that you sent to me on Holy Thursday and Easter. God bless you for all you do for the parish and the kindness you continue to express to me!

Fr. Roncase

St. Philip Neri – East Greenville

Students excel at:

LANSDALE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Our parish recently received notification of the performance of our high school students on the Third Quarter report. We are particularly proud of those who demonstrated academic excellence. Among those earning second honors were the following students from our parish:

Alexander D. Hetzel – ’11 &

Julia C. Young – ‘12

FROM THE PARISH OUTREACH OFFICE

Excerpts from A Place at the Table; a Pastoral Reflection by the Unites States Catholic Bishops.

A Context:

The Need – Poverty is not just about numbers. It is about parents who cannot feed their children in Latin America, or who are unable to bring sick or disabled children to a doctor in the United States. It is about the devastating consequences of addiction and family violence, about AIDS orphans in Africa, and about “no parent families” in the United States. This is not about getting a new car or about how fast you can get on the Internet; rather, this is about having a decent place to live, enough to eat, clean water in your village, and clean air in your community. This is about the virtues we practice in our own lives and the values we promote in public life. And this is about whether there is a place at the table for all in our communities, nation, and world. Poor people are not just statistics; they are sisters and brothers, members of our one human family. But statistics can indicate the magnitude of the problem and the urgency of the task.

- More than half of the world’s population lives on less than two dollars a day. More than 1.2 billion people live on less than one dollar a day.

- Almost 800 million people across the globe, most of them children, live with hunger or malnutrition as a regular fact of life. They live in desperate poverty which means they will die younger than they should, struggle with hunger and disease, and live with little hope and less opportunity for a life of dignity. (p.6)

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.

RETREAT MORNING

The Retreat Morning for Parish Outreach Ministries will be Monday, April 20, 2009, beginning with 8:00 am Mass in the Chapel. It will continue downstairs in the rectory meeting room. The Retreat will end at noon.

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.

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, May 11^th.

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: May 5^th & June 2^nd. 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 - 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.

SILVER SPIRIT SOCIAL

On Sunday, May 3^rd, at 1:00 pm in the parish Social Hall, we invite you to attend a social hour to share ides and thoughts as to where you would like to travel to; whether it be a Dinner Show or a Broadway Show or even a Sports Event. We have collected lots of information to share with you; so please bring your ideas to this meeting and we can see where the bus goes next! Light refreshments will be served.

CASINO TRIP – SATURDAY, AUGUST 8^th

TROPICANO CASINO TRIP

Bus leaves SPN Church Parking lot at 10:00 am!

$5.00 – no Show or coin included

Call Kathy Kulp: 267-923-5173 or

Kathy Talbot: 215-541-0250

CHICKEN BARBQUE & BAKE SALE

St. Philip Neri Social Hall

Saturday – May 2, 2009

3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Cost: $8.00

Eat-in or Take-out

Advanced tickets for sale this weekend – April 18^th & 19, Saturday, April 25^th in Church or Sunday, April 26^th at the Breakfast. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Rita: 215-679-7009, Connie: 610-287-9829 or Joan: 215-234-4813.

BAKED GOODS WILL BE APPRECIATED!

Sponsored by the SPN Craft Guild

ST. PHILIP NERI CHURCH

HOAGIE SALE

CHEESE, ITALIAN or TURKEY

TUESDAY - MAY 12, 2009

12:00 NOON – 6:00 PM

St. Philip Neri Social Hall

COST: $4.00

All orders due by:

Monday – May 4th

Please call:

Rita – 679-7009 or Pat – 679-5675

COME-N-GO BINGO

St. Philip Neri Social Hall

Saturday - May 16, 2009

Doors open at 6:00 pm

Games begin at 6:30 pm

Cost: $.25/game

Menu: hotdogs, bar-b-que & drinks.

If you bring a non-perishable item to benefit Open Line, you play two free games of Bingo!

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus

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” 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#: _________________________________________

PARISH GARAGE SALE

Our Parish Garage Sale will be held from 9:00 am to noon on Wednesday, May 6^th, Saturday, May 9^th, Wednesday, May 13^th, Saturday, May 16^th, Wednesday, May 20^th and Saturday, May 23^rd; and during the Carnival: May 27^th through May 31^st.

DONATIONS are needed; so start gathering those unused items and bring them to the garage behind the church between 9:00 am and 12 noon on the following Saturday’s: April 25^th. Saturday, April 25^th is the final day that garage sale donations will be accepted from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.

NO DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 4/25!

The following items will not be accepted: clothing, computers, exercise equipment, furniture, large appliances, outdated books (i.e. encyclopedias, medical books) televisions or stuffed animals.

PARISH CARNIVAL

WED MAY 27 – SAT MAY 30 6-10 PM

SUNDAY MAY 31 1-6 PM

ADVANCED FOOD TICKETS can be purchased May 2 thru May 24^th at the SCRIP table or at the rectory until May 22^nd. For every $5 purchased, you receive $6 in food tickets.

CARNIVAL SET UP - Help is needed with setting up stands and tents, roping off areas, moving tables and getting the grounds ready for the carnival. If you can help either call Shirley at 215-679-9275 or just come to the church grounds on Sunday, May 24^th at 2 pm.

CHANCES – chances for our grand prize drawing should arrive in the mail. Returns made before May 18, will be placed for a special Early Bird Drawing on this day!

More tickets can be picked up at the rectory.

LAWN SIGNS - Do you have a good place to put up a lawn sign advertising the carnival? If so, please call Dawn at 215-679-2160 or e mail Doris at gmomdecker@yahoo.com. Signs will be available for pick up after Mass the weekend of May 2/3.

RIDE BRACELETS - We will be selling discount bracelets for carnival rides on (3) three days this year. Wednesday, May 27^th,Thursday May 28^th, and Sunday, May 31st. Cost of the bracelet per day is $15.00. Individual ride tickets will also be available.

Discount Dorney Park Tickets

It's that time of year again! Dorney Park opens for its regular season beginning May 23, 2009 and ending on September 7, 2009. From now until May 1, 2009 you can pre-order and pre-pay for your tickets. The tickets are good for any one regular season admission to both Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom. The gate price this year will be $39.99 but we are able to offer them to you at a cost of $21.50 per ticket. That's a savings of $18.49 per ticket. Order forms are available anywhere that SCRIP is sold: at school, after each Mass, and at Religious Education Classes or by calling Agnes O'Connor at 267-923-8635. If paying by check, please make your check payable to St. Philip Neri SCRIP program. A limited number of tickets for direct sell will be available on a first come, first serve basis. To guarantee you get your discount tickets, we strongly suggest that you pre-order and pre-pay. Once purchased, tickets cannot be returned. Discount tickets are sold to our parishioners as a courtesy. This IS NOT a fund raising event. Junior/Senior tickets are not discounted therefore they must be purchased at the gate for $19.99 each. Juniors are defined as age 3 or older and under 48 inches in shoes. Seniors are defined as anyone age 62 or older. Everyone else must have a regular season ticket.

Please detach and return, with payment, anywhere that SCRIP is sold and no later than May 1, 2009.

Dorney Park Ticket Order Form

Yes, I would like to purchase discount Regular Season Dorney Park Tickets.

Number of tickets: ____________________ X’s $21.50 = $_______________________

_____________________________________________ (please print) Date

_____________________________________________

Phone Number Check #

Please tell us how you would like your tickets returned to you: (please circle your choice)

Pick up at Mass SCRIP Table

Send home thru School or

Pick up at Rectory

MARKET DAY

There is still time to order MARKET DAY and save $10 on cookies & milk. Simply purchase 3 boxes of cookie dough to automatically receive $5.00 off your order AND receive a $5.00 coupon on your receipt good towards your next purchase of Nesquik Low Fat Milk. Don’t forget; April orders also help you qualify for the MARKET DAY Frequent Buyer Program!

Order online at marketday.com until NOON on April 22^nd. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help, call Lisa Vetter: 215-538-2308.

We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at our MARKET DAY SALE!

(Please see our FLYER on page 11 of the Bulletin!)

AREA NEWS

A DAY AT THE PARK –

COMMUNITY & BUSINESS EXPO

St. Philip Neri Social Hall

1325 Klinerd Road, Pennsburg, PA 18073

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

“Smokey the Bear” from 4:30-6:30pm

Free Admission & Open to the Public

Bring your used ink cartridges and old cell phones to recycle.

To reserve your space, please call the Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce at 215.679.3336;

The largest Expo serving the Greater Upper Perkiomen Community!

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, (Friday thru Sunday) 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).

Call Dawn Ellis 215-679-2160 to register.

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

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Second Sunday of Easter

A little doubt can do you good

If you ever are in a “Thomas state of mind”—doubting your faith, doubting God’s love, doubting our hope for redemption—consider all the great Christians who have gone before you who have experienced similar doubts: Mother Teresa, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, Saint Thomas Aquinas, to name but a few. Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith. In one of its forms, doubt is a recurring stage of faith. As we grow, change, and experience setbacks, our certainty may be shaken. Doubt sets in and forces us to review, update, and strengthen our core beliefs. Don’t be afraid to confront your doubts today.

Today’s readings: Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31

“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Monday, April 20

Easter weekday

Are you born again?

Have you ever been asked if you are born-again by other Christians? Just what does that mean? The King James Version of the Bible, on which many fundamentalist Christians rely, uses the term “born again” to translate the phrase in the gospel passage for today. The old Catholic Douay-Rheims did, too. But the Greek word can also mean “born from above.” That’s why the character Nicodemus in today’s story misunderstands it. To be “born again” means to experience new life “from above,” a life free from the fear of sin and death, because in baptism we receive eternal life and the forgiveness of our sins. Remember that the next time you proclaim, “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead.”

Today’s readings: Acts 4:23-31; John 3:1-8

“Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ ”

Tuesday, April 21

Feast of Anselm, bishop, doctor of the church

Know what you believe and believe what you know

The centuries have witnessed the seesaw struggle between faith and reason. Some have been all for faith without the need to think too much, while others have seen knowledge to be enough on its own. One of those level heads who recognized that reason and faith can coexist and actually complement each other was Anselm, an archbishop of Canterbury who lived from 1033-1109. He famously described his way of doing theology as “faith seeking understanding.” How, this way of putting it asks, can you believe if you have nothing to believe? At the same time, how can you put what you know in some kind of faith perspective? Faith and the ability to think are gifts of God. Use them both for the glory of God and the good of others.

Today’s readings: Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15

“If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?”

Wednesday, April 22

Easter weekday

Released for good behavior

Would you risk prison and possible death for the sake of your beliefs? The question was anything but abstract for early believers in the risen Christ. Even before they had to contend with Roman persecution, these early “Jewish Christians” had to face the wrath of the Sadducees, an aristocratic priestly group that did not believe in the possibility of resurrection. The Sadducees disappeared from the scene soon after the second Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D., but nearly 2,000 years later the witness of the courageous early followers of Christ lives on.

Today’s readings: Acts 5:17-26; John 3:16-21

“Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

Thursday, April 23

Feast of George, martyr

Stories as good as gold

The story of Saint George, soldier, dragon-slayer, and martyr, is one of many fantastic tales about the lives of saints recorded in an immensely popular 13th-century book called The Golden Legend. What was the appeal of such obviously fictional tales, and why have they persisted to this day? These stories offered medieval readers vivid portraits of human life. They provided a summary of world history and geography for folks who rarely traveled beyond their farm or village. The tales were full of strange adventures and wonderful miracles and were as exciting to read as any romantic novel of the time. They also offered wisdom and a model of life to inspire and guide—all reasons for us to enjoy these stories, too.

Today’s readings: Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36

“He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.”

Friday, April 24

Feast of Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest, martyr

The defense never rests in the trials of the poor

One of the principal reasons people often give for turning off to organized religion is the long history of doctrinal disputes within and between traditions that have led to misunderstandings, violence, even wars. Fidelis of Sigmaringen was martyred in 1622 in such a dispute between Catholics and Calvinists during the tumultuous years of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation in Switzerland. What we can admire most in Sigmaringen, however, is not the way he died but the way he lived. After studying law, his great concern for the poor earned him the surname of “counselor and advocate for the poor.” Bring a similar perspective to your own line of work or vocation.

Today’s readings: Acts 5:34-42; John 6:1-15

“As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.”

Saturday, April 25

Feast of Mark, evangelist

Gospel walking

According to tradition the Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark, an early disciple who traveled with Peter, Paul, and Barnabas to help spread the Good News. Not the most eloquent writer, Mark wrote in simple “street” language yet with vivid action scenes, giving us a compelling portrait of Jesus actively taking hold of his role as the Messiah, the anointed one who has come to save the world. Mark shows us that, like us, the ordinary men and women who were early disciples didn’t always “get” Jesus or his mission. Yet they persevered and came to a deeper understanding of Jesus through his death and resurrection. Walk with Mark as he tells the story of Jesus and get to know the Messiah who is active in your life.

Today’s readings: 1 Peter 5:5b-14; Mark 16:15-20

“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”