Church of Saint Philip Neri,

Pennsburg, PA 18073

April 26, 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 Desk of:

Sister Patricia Kelly

Parish Outreach to the Counties, a program of Catholic Social Services (C.S.S.) began in Cluster 76 in 2001. Parish Outreach (also called Parish Social Ministry) is an effort to help parishioners to live their Baptismal call to service, be enabling them to serve others in their Parish Faith Community and beyond. This is done through information and referral, advocacy, groups such as Social Ministry Committee; support groups such as Single Parents, Bereavement, Friendly Visitors, H.O.P.E., and Elizabeth Ministries. We don’t have all of these groups now, but we may have in the future.

*Catholic Charities, U.S.A., in their book, entitled Parish Social Ministry; a Vision and a Resource, states: “Parish Social Ministry is the empowerment of the people of God to fulfill the Church’s mission of love, justice, freedom, and peace by community responding, in an organized way, to societal and individual social needs.” (pxxiv, 1985).

Our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.) in their statement Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Church state: “the center of the Church’s social teaching is the life, dignity, and rights of the human person.” Another reference of U.S.C.C.B. is Sharing Catholic Teaching: Challenges and Directions. They say: “We offer these reflections to address the pressing need to educate all Catholics in the Church’s social teaching, and to share the social demands of the Gospel and Catholic tradition more clearly. If Catholic Education and Formation fail to communicate our social tradition, they are not fully Catholic.” (p. 2, paragraph 3). (Underlining is mine)

Parish Outreach is the faith communities’ organized effort to show the love of God to poor, vulnerable and suffering people, and to support the people of the faith community in exercising this love in their everyday lives. Parish Outreach is reinforced and challenged by the celebration of the sacraments and the proclamation of the Word of God.

I’ll be in touch again, next month.

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 $435,000, 60% of our goal thus far.

The Campaign continues for two more months!

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 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

Serving at Mass May 10

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

5:00 pm – Janet Kendra Mark Meinzer

Marci Jaman

Priest

Chuck Rodgers

Maria Rodgers

7:30 am – Mike Heveran Theresa Gilmore

Jim Michels John Gilmore

Priest

John McHale

Paul Moser

Maureen Moser

9:30 am – Mary Ellen Paulk Joe Cassarella

Rose Anderson Larry Concio

Priest

Marianne Peters

Ed Tryon

Alicia Tryon

11:00 am – Maryanne Charlton Michele Charlton

Kevin Charlton Jim Brinckman

Priest

Deacon

Amanda Charlton

Tina Evans

Sarah Franks

Mary Goodfellow

Jeanne Hermley

Bob Hermley

Anna Kells

Marlene Leidy

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.

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, Baby Lucy Littlefield & Gesse Liguoro.

For those who have died, and in particular for, Baby Joshua & Baby Jeremiah Milbourn, grant them eternal rest and peace.

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

April 26, 2009

Monday, April 27

8:00 am- Helen Swann, (Daughter Charlotte)

Tuesday, April 28, Peter Chanel, priest, martyr,

Louis Mary de Montfort, priest

8:00 am – First Aniversary, Father Shuhler

(Tom & Nancy Brogan)

Wednesday, April 29, St. Catherine of Siena

7:00 pm – Royal Bieber

Thursday, April 30, Pius V, pope

8:00 am – Sue Miley, (Eileen Miley)

Friday, May 1, Joseph the Worker

9:00 am – Mass in Church

William Mooney, (Bob & Pat Kanya)

Saturday, May 2

8:00 am – Marianne Huseman, (Richard & Barbara Grochowski)

5:00 pm – For the living & deceased members of the Parish.

Sunday, May 3

7:30 am – All Mothers, (Respect Life Ministry)

9:30 am – Sue Miley, (Husband Ken Miley)

11:00 am–Mary Sailer, (Mary Ellen, Rose, Ray & Matt)

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 Marguerite Reichart, requested by:

Pete & Linda Frank

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 30th – Team #1

All regular games pay $50

FINAL COVER – ALL SPECIAL PAYS: $500

Please note:

BROWN BAGS ARE NEEDED FOR BINGO!

Please drop off at Social Hall on Tuesday’s & Thursday’s between 8:00 am & 12:00 pm.

Bingo: 74 players – 4/16/09

Kitchen: $ 252.30

Games: 845.20

Total: $1,097.50

Fish Fry $ 758.75 – 4/10/09

Paper Recycling:

March 2009 - $28.73

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

April 20, 2008

Envelopes: $ 8,152.00

Loose 1,632.00

Children 77.00

Total: $ 9,861.00

April 19, 2009

Envelopes: $ 8,371.50

Loose 874.00

Children 60.00

Total: $ 9,305.50

Special Collection:

Parish Improvements - $ 1,953.00

MEETINGS & EVENTS THIS WEEK

Sunday, April 26^th – Parish Breakfast –gym – 7am-12:30pm

Sunday, April 26^th – Little Church – 9:30 am

Sunday, April 26^th – Children’s Liturgy of the Word – during the 9:30 am Mass

Sunday, April 26^th – Men’s 30 & over Basketball – 8:00 pm

Monday, April 27^th – SPN Quilting – gym – 1:00 pm

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

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

Tuesday, April 28^th – Garden Club – Church grounds – 5pm
Tuesday, April 28^th – Choir & Cantor Practice – Church – 6:30 pm

Tuesday, April 28^th – Upper Perk Chamber of Commerce Community & Business Expo – gym – 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Wednesday, April 29^th – PREP (Religious Education) – School – 6:00 pm

Wednesday, April 29^th – Charismatic Prayer Meeting – Chapel – 7:30 pm

Thursday, April 30^th – Bingo – gym – 6:30 pm

Thursday, April 30^th – Cub Scouts – Neri Center – 6:45 pm

Thursday, April 30^th – Capital Campaign Meeting – rectory – 7:30 pm

Friday, May 1^st– First Friday Mass in Church at 9:00 am – Adoration until 7:00 pm Evening Prayer and Benediction.

Friday, May 1^st – SPN Quilting – gym – 1:00 pm

Saturday, May 2^nd – Chicken Barbque – gym – 3:00-7:00 pm

Sunday, May 3^rd – Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Church – during the 9:30 am Mass

Sunday, May 3^rd – Men’s 30 & over basketball – 8:00 pm

UPCOMING MEETINGS

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

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

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

Pastoral Council Meeting – Monday, May 18^th – rectory – 7:00 pm

Friendly Visitors General Meeting – Tuesday, May 19^th – gym – 7:00 pm

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

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.

St. Philip Neri Preschool is having a “May Play Date” on Friday, May 15th from 12:30-2:00 p.m. – Children 4 and under are welcome with their parent or guardian. Please call St. Philip Neri School if you plan on attending - #215-679-7481.

Congratulations to Joshua Williams (7th Grade) and Keira Koch (6th Grade). Both students are the recipients of St. Pius X High Schools Instraurare Award. The recipients of this award, by their actions, exemplify the Christian faith and values taught at home and in our Catholic schools.

Preschool – We celebrated Earth Day. The children learned about caring for our earth, and they enjoyed having the earth face painted on their cheek.

Kindergarten – This week we talked about Earth Day. We talked about different ways we can help the environment such as recycling, planting trees and plants, not littering, and saving energy (turn off lights and water when finished).

1st – In First Grade this week we read a favorite story by Arnold Lobel, “Frog and Toad All Year”. Also we will start in Math, the unit on measurement. The class will have lots of fun measuring different objects around their room.

2nd – The Second Grade went on a field trip to the Kutztown Planetarium for a presentation of the night sky. This culminated their study of the sun, moon, stars and planets.

3rd – This week we will be learning more about Earth Day. Students will be making signs out of recycled cardboard. In Math, students will be learning about fractions. They will be able to divide regions into equal-sized parts.

4th – Fourth Grade students have learned of the contributions made by Pennsylvanians during the Civil War. They have prepared Power Point presentations to reveal their knowledge of concepts and to highlight their favorite parts of our trip to the state capital in Harrisburg.

5th – The students had a presentation about budgeting and saving from UNIVEST Bank. They are also going to the Planetarium at Kutztown University. Next week they will be presenting their science fair projects. The Open House will be Wednesday, April 29th, at the Neri Center.

6th – The Sixth Grade has just begun their new ILA Unit – “Creative Solutions”. The students are working in groups to tackle an issue or problem in the school. They are developing a creative way to solve the problem.

7th – The Seventh Grade has just begun reading “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton. In Social Studies, they are working on an oral presentation and poster that explains part of the Constitution. They are also preparing for a debate between the Federalists and the Republicans.

8th – The Eighth Grade has started studying World War II. They are working on research papers and projects about the time period. We are hoping to interview people who lived through WWII. We will also focus on man’s humanity, man through the Holocaust and Japanese internment camps.

PARISH NEWS

FROM THE PARISH OUTREACH OFFICE

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

The Need (con’t.) Poverty is not limited to the poorest countries. In our own nation, poverty is persistent and pervasive. Clearly, it is experienced in different ways in different places. To be poor in our country is far different from being in poor in sub-Saharas Africa, but poverty still diminishes the lives and undermines the dignity of many families who live in our midst.

In the United States, thirty-four million people live below the official poverty line (i.e. $17,960.00 for a family of four). If all these people lived in one state, its population would be larger than the combined, current population of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South & North Dakota & Arizona. The younger you are in our country, the more likely you are to be poor. More than 15% of our preschoolers are growing up poor. Discrimination, lack of opportunity, and economic injustice make poverty worse, especially for those in racial and ethnic communities and for persons with disabilities.

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.

REMINDER: Our H.O.P.E. Ministry will meet on Monday, April 27^that 7:00 pm in the social hall. Looking forward to seeing everyone there for discussion and sharing. Any NEW VOLUNTEERS interested in the H.O.P.E. Ministry are very welcomed. Questions, call Bob or Kathy Talbot at 215-541-0250 or Sister Patricia Kelly at 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.

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

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 - 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 – 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

“Washington D.C. Trip”

When: Saturday – June 13, 2009

Departure – 7:00 am - Returning – 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 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.

We are no longer accepting donations to the Garage Sale.

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.

ST. PHILIP NERI RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY

On Mother’s Day weekend (May 9^th & 10^th ) after all the Masses, the SPN Respect Life Representatives will be at the exit doors after Mass to accept your donations. Please consider a carnation for your Mom or Grandma. White carnations signify deceased Moms while pink carnations are for those Moms that are still with us. We will also be soliciting donations so that we can continue our efforts to feed and clothe the homeless. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Happy Mother’s Day to all our Mommies! God bless you all!

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

_____________________________________________

Name/phone# 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

We congratulate our newly baptized during the month of April!

Evan W. Budinko, Sean M. Budinko,

Jonathan V.D’Amico, Peyton E. Grove,

Laura K. Herbst, Alexander J. Montes,

Hudson J. Orlandini, Ella E. Rogers,

Beatriz M. Santos, Shane H. Speaker &

Dylan J. Wool

We congratulate and welcome the following adults who were baptized, confirmed and received their First Communion at the Easter Vigil Mass.

Rene DiGrassi, Catlin Siegfried &

Tiffany Spiese

We also congratulate Taylor Horvath who made her Profession of Faith and First Communion at the Easter Vigil Mass.

MAY WE BORROW YOUR OLD PHOTOS?

If anyone in the parish has old photos of the Church, Rectory, or School (i.e. First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Graduation), please call the rectory or email to: gmomdecker@yahoo.com no later than May 5^th. We would like to borrow these for our Feast of St. Philip Neri Celebration on May 26^th. All photos will be copied and returned within two weeks.

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

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; so, please register early.

ALL ARE WELCOME! The cost of the weekend is $195.00 (a $50 deposit is all that is necessary to hold a reservation). Call Dawn Ellis: 679-2160 to register.

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

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Third Sunday of Easter

Graceful you

Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ resurrection appearances include Jesus in the role of “Bible teacher.” The disciples on the road to Emmaus and those in the upper room experienced Jesus in bodily form and also in his role as rabbi. He helped them “connect the dots” of their Jewish tradition so they could see that the resurrection was the fulfillment of all their ancestors had hoped for. Easter helps us locate ourselves in the vast sweep of history, the constant working out of God’s irrepressible good will. God’s grace is not only for figures from biblical times but also for us. You are not included as an afterthought but the intended beneficiary of God’s grace since the beginning of time.

Today’s readings: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2:1-5a; Luke 24:35-48

“If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Monday, April 27

Easter weekday

Read the signs

When we speak of “signs,” we mean that a sign will point us to something larger that we do not see. When Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread to feed a large crowd, he intended the loaves to be a sign of eternal life. But many in the crowd believed the bread to be just bread; that he could feed them all with five loaves was all the miracle they needed. When we become infatuated by the surface of life, we can easily miss the deeper meaning to which it points. Today try to imagine that deeper meaning.

Today’s readings: Acts 6:8-15; John 6:22-29

“Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”

Tuesday, April 28

Feast of Louis Mary de Montfort, priest

Sincerely and completely yours

Louis de Montfort (1673-1716) was a French priest remembered both as a champion of the poorest of the poor and for his strong devotion to Mary. Centuries later, his writings influenced four popes (Leo XIII, Pius X, Pius XII, and John Paul II), and he is now considered a candidate to be named a doctor of the church, a rare distinction. Pope John Paul II said that reading the saint’s work True Devotion to Mary was a “decisive turning point” in his life, and he chose Louis’ personal motto Totus tuus (“completely yours”) as his own motto while a bishop. Try to bring some of Louis’ passion and complete commitment to your own faith and devotion—who knows, future popes might number among your admirers!

Today’s readings: Acts 7:51-8:1a; John 6:30-35

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry.”

Wednesday, April 29

Feast of Catherine of Siena, virgin, doctor of the church

A saint of struggle

She may be from 14th-century Italy, but Saint Catherine of Siena could probably relate to many people today. Just as many of us do, she lived in an atmosphere of political turmoil, struggles in the church, and economic hardship. Catherine struggled with how to make sense of the world around her and a call from God that was burning within her. She surrendered to the call and cultivated her relationship with God in everything she did: tending those who were sick, praying in mystical union with God, writing letters of spiritual counsel and encouragement, suffering the agony of physical and emotional pain, engaging in ecclesial and political affairs in order to bring about reconciliation. Ask Saint Catherine to be your companion as you negotiate life’s sometimes-rocky paths.

Today’s readings: Acts 8:1b-8; John 6:35-40

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.”

Thursday, April 30

Feast of Pius V, pope

A leader to follow

Like Pope Paul VI 400 years later, Pope Pius V was called to implement the directives of a church council, in his case the Council of Trent that took place in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. Pius V, a devout fellow with a spare lifestyle drawn from years as a Dominican friar, met the challenge by continuing to live simply, avoiding any luxuries of papal life, and working extremely hard. He offers inspiration to leaders today to dedicate themselves to their tasks for the good of the people they serve, rather than for their own power, wealth, and glory.

Today’s readings: Acts 8:26-40; John 6:44-51

“It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.”

Friday, May 1

Feast of Joseph the Worker

Get to work!

The Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker may have been instituted partly for political reasons (to counteract dreaded communist influence), but the feast’s recognition of the dignity and sanctity of labor has deep roots in Christian tradition. Unfortunately our high-tech culture no longer values manual labor as much as it should. E. F. Schumacher, in his book Small Is Beautiful, suggests that a “great part of the modern neurosis may be due to this very fact: for the human being . . . enjoys nothing more than to be creatively, usefully, productively engaged with both his hands and his brains.” Today, in honor of Saint Joseph, plant a seed, make dinner from scratch, or fix something that’s broken.

Today’s readings: Genesis 1:26-2:3 or Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-34; Matthew 13:54-58

“Is not this the carpenter’s son?”

Saturday, May 2

Feast of Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the church

Reasons to believe

The struggles of the church to define itself in its early centuries are easily forgotten, but those battles were waged with passion and conviction. Heresies such as Arianism changed the faith of individuals and even helped shape political history. Athanasius’ vigorous defense of the divinity of Christ and the Trinity cost him dearly, not only in his theological thinking but also in popularity and even personal safety. Christians today easily acknowledge the divinity of Christ without realizing the full implications of such a belief. It is important we regularly ask ourselves not only what we believe but why—and avoid easy answers in the process.

Today’s readings: Acts 9:31-42;

John 6:60-69

“For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”