Church of Saint Philip Neri

Pennsburg, PA 18073

June 7, 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.

Ask Deacon Mike

If I were to give my words here a title I think it would be “St. Philip Neri and Me”. That is because I want to share with you something remarkable that happened to me at our 90^th Anniversary Mass and dedication of the 1^st Class Relic Shrine this past Tuesday. We had been preparing for this great event for the past eight months. Many people gave many hours and dollars so that we could come together as a parish to thank God for the many blessings that He has showered upon our parish. Of course the force behind all of this was Fr. Roncase. His vision and determination along with the generosity of so many people made this a reality.

When I arrived at the rectory about 12:30 PM on the day of the big event I found Fr. Roncase and our friend, Fr. Innocence, washing and drying dishes in preparation for the arrival of Bishop Thomas and the other concelebrating priests. The rectory was abuzz with all of the normal activities along with the extra preparations for what would be happening that evening. Fr. Roncase, Fr. Innocence and I went down to the church to go over the ceremonies and make one last check of everything. We then went over to the social hall to check on things there. The big hall was absolutely beautiful. Doris Decker, Dawn Ellis and their helpers had transformed the hall into a gorgeous banquet center. Just to add a little confusion to everything the carnival rides began to arrive around 3:00 PM. We were zigzagging in and out of their paths as we went from rectory to church to social hall and back and forth several more times.

The rest of the afternoon stayed busy right up until the reception for the bishop and priests at the rectory. Mass was scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM. At 6:00 PM I met with the altar servers to go over their assignments for the Mass. As always, the servers did a great job.

About 6:10 PM the other priests and the bishop began coming into the sacristy to vest. I had many people asking last minute questions and needing direction. Fr. Roncase was just as busy at the other end of the sacristy. Suddenly I looked around and everyone was heading to the back of church for the start of Mass. By the time I arrived in the vestibule the procession had formed and we were ready to go. I did not even have time to take a deep breath. Off we went up the center isle. All I remember was seeing a lot of smiling faces as I walked by with the book of the Gospels. Mass proceeded as usual. After communion I sat down at my chair next to the bishop and for the first time I started to really reflect upon what was about to happen.

When the bishop finished the post-Communion prayer we formed a procession to escort the relic of St. Philip Neri to the shrine. The relic is actually a piece of bone from his arm. The authenticity has been confirmed by the Vatican. You can read the formal letter we received (in Latin and translated by Fr. Smart who is the only one of us old enough to have taken Latin beyond high school).

Now here is where my remarkable experience occurred. As deacon of the Mass, it fell to me to carry the relic of St. Philip Neri in the procession. So much had been happening all day. Now suddenly it was Philip and I walking down the isle. I realized that in my hands were some of the remains of one of the greatest saints of our church. Through the grace of God I was allowed to carry an actual piece of his body in procession. I had two thoughts: 1) I have a few things in common with St. Philip. We both like humor. Philip loved the people entrusted to him and I love those entrusted to me. We were both called to serve God’s people. We both found profound joy in our calling. 2) I did not want the procession to end. The walk down the center isle took less than a minute but for me it could have lasted for hours.

I had not anticipated feeling this way. Even when Fr. Roncase told me that I would carry the relic I did not think much about it. But here I was and there Philip was in my hands. As we walked I also knew that none of this was really about Philip and especially not about me. It was about our loving God who calls us all to holiness. It was about Jesus for whom our saints led their lives and to whom they committed their very being. It was about the Holy Spirit who inspired Philip Neri as a young man to give his life to the service of God’s people.

As I handed the relic to Bishop Thomas to place on the marble shrine I felt truly humbled to have had this honor. We walked only a few steps together. But now I can pray with Philip anytime at his shrine and ask God to give me the strength and courage to do His will. Philip is there to remind all of us that holiness is something we all can experience, it is something to which we are all called. St. Philip Neri, pray for us.

God bless you and I love you all.

Deacon Mike Franks

Serving at Mass June 14

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

5:00 pm – Chuck Rodgers Mark Meinzer

Maria Rodgers

Priest

Dave Moser

Trudy Moser

7:30 am – Lori Brozena Michael Lynch

Dina Corrado J. Sakalouckas

Priest

Deacon

Maureen Moser

Paul Moser

Michael Duka

Mike Heveran

Pat Scheerbaum

Jim Michels

Immaculata Barndt

Keith Greczek

9:30 am – Ken Mayer Matt Horvath

Marilynn Mayer Joe Cassarella

Priest

Michael Sledgen

Ed Tryon

Alicia Tryon

11:00 am – Barbara Schwind Eileen Davis

Bob Schwind D. McCausland

Priest

Bill Orr

Sandy Shellaway

Tony Shellaway

Serving at Mass June 21

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

5:00 pm – Dave Boone Bob Ellis

Teri Boone

Dawn Ellis

Priest

Patrick Kennedy

Dianne Kennedy

7:30 am – Joan Varallo Ernie Quatrani

Wally Varallo John Guckin

Denise Guckin

Priest

Anna Murphy

Gerald Murphy

9:30 am – Bob Brennan Terry Benner

Eleanor Brennan Wendy Benner

Priest

Deacon

Priest

Linda Benko

Joan Pongia

Anthony Pongia

Jack Nash

Monica Nash

Irene Novelli

Marianne Peters

11:00 am – Linda DiTondo Luke Verna

Doug DiTondo Michele Charlton

Priest

Deacon

Priest

Sarah Franks

Amanda Charlton

Kevin Charlton

Maryanne Charlton

Tina Evans

Mary Goodfellow

Anna Kells

THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

June 7, 2009

Monday, June 8

8:00 am – Andrew & Anastasia Schultz,

(daughters, Catherine, Olga & Mary)

Tuesday, June 9, Ephrem, deacon & doctor

8:00 am – Ethel Evans, (Charlotte)

Wednesday, June 10

7:00 pm – Annie Yerger,

(Rachael Henry, Irwin Yerger,

Rita & Ken Latshaw)

Thursday, June 11, Barnabas, apostle

8:00 am – Tony Martello, (Stan & Betty Mikanowicz)

Friday, June 12

9:00 am – Parish Grade School Closing Mass in Church

David Nunan, (KOC Council #6614)

Saturday, June 13

8:00 am – Rich Delp. (Judy & Steve Rothenberger)

5:00 pm – Eighth Anniversary, Mary Jane Daley

(Beloved Friend, Betty M. Gery)

Sunday, June 14

7:30 am – For the living & deceased members

of the Parish.

9:30 am – Joseph Josko, (children & grandchildren)

11:00 am – Andrew Mellon, (Barbara, Kathy & Andrea)

FLOWER & ROSE ARRANGEMENTS

The red roses placed on the Blessed Mother and Sacred Heart Altars, are in memory of Helen Stubits, requested by Mary Fran & Bob Young and family.

The floral arrangement on the altar is in loving memory of Charles & Mary Sailer on their Wedding Anniversary, requested by: Children, Grandchildren and Greatgrandchild.

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, 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, Charlotte Azarovich, George Bradford, Margie Shelley, Angelo Gentile, Baby Amelia Lyman, Matthew Melcher, Dolores Misiak, Rick DeStefano & Catherine Wlazelek.

For those who have died, grant them eternal rest and peace.

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 Joe Smith at: 610-754-6316.

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 Anna Dietrich, requested by:

Pete & Linda Frank, Gerald & Joan McMahon,

William & Roberta Keen, William Keen and

Leslie Maiers.

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

ACTIVITIES - *BINGO*

NO BINGO ON THURSDAY – JUNE 11^th

See you next week!

Please note:

BROWN BAGS ARE NEEDED FOR BINGO!

Please drop the bags off at the Social Hall on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s between 8:00 am and 12:00 noon.

SUNDAY COLLECTIONS

June 1, 2008

Envelopes: $ 9,372.00

Loose 1,284.00

Children 65.47

Total: $10,721.47

May 24, 2009

Envelopes: $ 8,797.50

Loose 1,111.00

Children 59.00

Total: $ 9,967.50

MEETINGS AND EVENTS THIS WEEK

Sunday, June 7^th – Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 am Mass in Church.

Sunday, June 7^th – Men’s 30 and over Basketball – gym – 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Monday, June 8^th – No School – Grades 1-4

Monday, June 8^th – Field Day – Grades 5-8

Monday, June 8^th – SPN Quilting – gym – Meeting Room B – 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Tuesday, June 9^th – No School – Grades 5-8

Tuesday, June 9^th – Field Day – Grades 1-4

Tuesday, June 9^th – Garden Club – Church grounds – 5-7pm

Tuesday, June 9^th – Adult Choir & Cantor Practice – Church – 6:30 pm

Tuesday, June 9^th – Boy Scouts – gym – 7:00 pm

Tuesday, June 9^th – Welcome Committee Meeting – Rectory – 7:00 pm

Wednesday, June 10^th – ALPHA – gym – Meeting Room -9am

Thursday, June 11^th – Pennsburg Nursing Home Mass – at 10:00 am

Thursday, June 11^th – Parish Grade School – Eighth Grade Graduation in Church at 7:00 pm.

Thursday, June 11^th – Grade School – noon dismissal

Thursday, June 11^th – NO Bingo

Friday, June 12^th – Parish Grade School Closing Mass – at 9:00 am in Church – 10:30 am dismissal.

Friday, June 12^th – SPN Quilting – gym – Meeting Room – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Sunday, June 14^th – Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 am Mass

Sunday, June 14^th – New Altar Server’s Commissioning and Thank you for the graduating Altar Servers in Church - at the 9:30 am Mass.

Sunday, June 14^th – Knights of Columbus General Meeting – rectory – 7:30 pm

Sunday, June 14^th – Men’s 30 & over Basketball – gym – 8:00 pm

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Elizabeth Ministry Meeting – Tuesday – June 16^th – Neri Center – 7:00 pm

Cub Parent Meeting – Wednesday, June 17^th – Neri Center – 6:00 pm

Home & School Board Meeting – Wednesday, June 17^th – Rectory – 7:00 pm

Pastoral Council Meeting – Thursday, June 18^th – Rectory – 7:00 pm

SCHOOL NEWS

St. Philip Neri Grade School News

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, 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. Hurry, as we need to prepare for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year!

School begins on September 8th for Grades 1 to 8, September 11th for Kindergarten, September 14th for Pre K-4s, and September 15th for Pre K-3’s.

PARISH NEWS

Congratulations to our newly baptized in May!

Alex M. Bender Nicholas P. Leese

Jodie M. Butler Ashley E. Loy

Sadie L. Frankenfield Brooke L. Sullivan

Grayson R. Hedrick Nathaniel G. Willett

Congratulations to:

St. Philip Neri St. Pius X Graduates!

Michele P. Charlton Jessica L. Lazarski

Colette M. Faust Allison M. Masciangelo

Grace A. Guckin John T. Nash, Jr.

Bridget M. Keeney

PARISH YOUTH MINISTRY

Congratulations to our EDGE Graduates!

They will enter the High School Ministry Program in the fall.

Tia Camarata Danielle Marinelli

Rhiannon Domalewski Joey Marinelli

Melissa Gibbons Jackie Smith

Christopher Hillegass Regina Souder

Austin Jaman Catherine Stoll

Sarah Johnson Brandon Undorfer

Starla Lata EJ Wahl

Mia Lowe Taylor Walters

ALL Youth Fifth (5^th) thru Eleventh (11^th) Grade

Come and Celebrate:

~ the end of our best year of growth in Youth Ministry.

~ the graduation of 16 of our Youth from the EDGE.

~ the beginning of our High School Youth Ministry Program.

Any youth and their families are welcome to come, have a BBQ and play a game.

Sunday, June 7^th

6:00 pm SHARP!

SPN Social Hall

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

The youth group of the Parish are so thrilled, with the support of their parishioners! The Car Wash made $630 bucks! This will help with travel expenses for their Retreat. It was so much fun, and the youth really worked hard. Stay tuned…Father Roncase wants us to do it again!

Also, our two jewelry sales and flower sales were huge successes. Thank you so much for helping out the Youth of our parish. Our budget is solely made on fundraising; so please know how grateful we are!

Please save your empty printer cartridges and bring them to Church. These get recycled and we get a cut from them.

St. Philip Neri Grade School Tuition Assistance

Did you know that Tuition Assistance is available for your child to attend St. Philip Neri Grade School?

Tuition Assistance is available to those showing a real need. Address your request to:

St. Philip Neri Tuition Assistance Program

1325 Klinerd Road

Pennsburg, PA 18073

You will receive a letter asking for some information and you will be notified of any decision before the school year starts.

Guidelines for:

TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Minimal Criteria

1. Tuition Assistance will apply only to students in grades K-8 who are enrolled at Saint Philip Neri Elementary School.

2. Parent or legal guardian must be a registered parishioner of St. Philip Neri Parish.

3. Must demonstrate financial need, subject to review and approval of Tuition Committee.

4. Must be active and volunteer in parish activities.

5. Tuition Assistance will be applied towards tuition as credit.

PARISH CARNIVAL

Thank you all for your support of our parish Carnival. A huge thank-you to the Committee for the many months of work; our parish volunteers who set-up the Carnival; worked the many nights and all those who packed everything up so quickly.

When all our income and expenses are calculated, we will have a report for you in the Bulletin!

Congratulations to our CHANCE Ticket Winners!

1st Prize: $ 2,000 - John & Georgine Heibeck

2^nd Prize: 500 - Sue Cimorelli

3^rd Prize: 200 - George Kirkwood

4^th Prize: 200 - Shaun Snyder

5^th Prize: 100 - Betty Fronheiser

Home & School Drawing for the Wii Fitness Program was won by Doris Decker.

NEWLY REGISTERED FAMILIES

May 2009

We welcome the following new parishioners into our parish family here at St. Philip Neri!

The Codella Family The Saggiomo Family

The Grourke Family The Semler Family

The Gryn Family The Smith Family

The Gulutz Family

CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP

Every Monday at 7:00 pm in the Chapel. 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.

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

The Elizabeth Ministry was formed in the St. Philip Neri Parish in January, 2008. This international ministry has its roots in the scripture story of the Visitation when Our Blessed Mother Mary visited her pregnant cousin, Elizabeth.

Our mission is to reach out to mothers of very young children to support each other emotionally and spiritually during this challenging period of our childbearing years. We do this through email, phone, play groups, visits with each other and quarterly meetings.

Our next meeting is Tuesday, June 16 beginning at 7:00 PM in the Neri Center. Won’t you consider joining us for companionship and conversation? If you have any questions, please call LaRue Emmell at 215-679-3086 or email: lemmell2@comcast.net.

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.

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, June 8th.

PARISH CARNIVAL TEE SHIRTS & LAWN SIGNS

Please return ALL parish Carnival Tee Shirts and Lawn Signs to the rectory or to the Church (in the small room) so we can pack them away for next year’s Event.

ST. PHILIP NERI CHURCH

HOAGIE SALE

CHEESE, ITALIAN or TURKEY

TUESDAY – JULY 7, 2009

12:00 NOON – 6:00 PM

St. Philip Neri Social Hall

COST: $4.00

All orders due by:

Monday – June 29th

Please call:

Rita – 679-7009 or Pat – 679-5675

TROPICANO CASINO TRIP

Saturday – August 8th

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

MARKET DAY

There is still time to order MARKET DAY and receive a FREE bottle of MARKET DAY Grilling
Sauce with a minimum order of $35. Every purchase you make helps us reach our goal, so order all your favorite MARKET DAY foods today. Order online at www.marketday.com until 11:00 pm on June 10^th.

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!

OUR PARISH BULLETIN NEEDS YOUR HELP!

It is free and provides important revenues to our Parish.

Please have your business, service or practice recommended to all our parish families with an Ad supporting our Bulletin. Please call Jim Finnen this week:

Cell phone – 610-653-2145 or

Home phone – 610-838-2238

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

ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS

SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO SEMINARY

Thinking about a summer conference or spiritual retreat? Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is offering a new summer program that combines learning the faith with spiritual reflection.

Summer academic retreats begin in July. To learn more and download a registration form, visit www.StudyCatholicTheology.com. Undergraduate certificates and a Master of Arts in Theology program also available.

Apply now for summer session.

RESPECT LIFE BULLETIN BRIEFS

Trinity Sunday – “The teaching that the Church ceaselessly does not change with the passing of time: human life is beautiful and should be lived to the full, even when it is weak and enveloped in the mystery of suffering.”

(Pope Benedict XVI, February 11, 2009).

ST. JOE’S UNIVERSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL CAMP

Saint Joseph’s University Women’s Basketball is having two great weeks of Basketball Camp at the Academy of Notre Dame in Villanova – June 15^th to June 19 and June 22^nd to June 26^th. Camp will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for girls ages 9-17.

Our Junior Hawk Camp is from 9:00 am to 11:45 am for boys and girls ages 5-8. Skills and drills, stations, competitions, games and much more will be held each day! We are also having an overnight team camp June 20^th to June 21^st on the SJU Maguire Camp for Girls – 7^th to 12^th grades, ages 12-18. All grade school, high school, travel, & AAU teams welcome! Five game guarantee!

For more SJU information, please call Kathy MacDonald in the SJU Women’s Basketball office at: 610-660-1710 or email to: kmacdona@sju.edu or Katie Gardler at: stjoe21@comcast.net.

AREA PARISH NEWS

PART-TIME POSITION

St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Parish in Stowe, is looking for someone to be its next Coordinator of Religious Education.

All who are interested in this part-time position are asked to call 610-326-5127.

AREA NEWS

Montgomery County Health Department’s

2009 RABIES CLINICS

Date Place Time

June 13 Collegeville

Community Park 9am-11am

June 20 Harleysville

Senior Center 9am-11am

June 27 Burnside

Oakland Park 9am – 11am

Animals must be leashed or in an approved Carrier.

***DOGS, CATS & FERRETS***

$10/SHOT – 3 YEAR SHOT

FATIMA DAY IN DOYLESTOWN

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa located at 654 Ferry Road, Doylestown, invites you to come and pray with us for peace in the world! Join us on the 13^th of every month from now until October at 7:00 pm.

We begin with Holy Mass followed by a candlelight procession, Holy Rosary recited in different languages and Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Your prayers and presence are needed!

For more information, please call the Shrine at: 215-345-0600.

APEX LEARNING SUMMER PROGRAMS

Sponsored by St. Pius X High School

All classes start June 30 to July 30

Math and Reading – Grades K-6

Math, reading & study skills – Grades 7-8

Classes held Tuesday & Thursday as follows:

9:00 am – 10:30 am or 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

SAT Review Class Tuesday & Thursday:

9:00 am – 11:00 am

Registration will be held on Wednesday, June 24^th, 9:00 am St. Pius X High School.

For more information or pre-registration, contact Mrs. Sedlock at: 610-326-8990 x37.

INSIDE THE STAGE DOOR

A Saint John Chrysostom Children’s Theater Camp

Boys and Girls, ages 6-14

July 13-17, 2009

9am –2:30 pm

Daily voice, dance and acting sessions

Learn about stage makeup, auditions, and back stage work.

Be a part of a “cast” and a performance at the end of the week.

Have fun and meet new friends!

$160 per camper if registered by June 16^th/$180 if registered after June 16th

Director of Inside the Stage Door, Missy Piffath is a teacher & director at Archbishop John Carroll High School. For more info contact Missy Piffath @ mpiffath@comcast.net

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

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Three to go

The sign of the cross is surely the most known and practiced symbol and gesture in Christianity. But when we cross ourselves and say the accompanying prayer, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” what are we saying, exactly? The short answer is that God is one being in three persons. And that means? One way to understand the Trinity is that God is at the same time beyond us, within us, and among us. But when you start thinking about that, you realize there is no short answer. As a matter of fact Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote 15 volumes on the subject! The Trinity is a foundation of Christian truth. It is also a profound mystery well worth contemplating today.

Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20

“Go therefore and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Monday, June 8

Take a letter

Saint Paul begins his Second Letter to the Corinthians with a blessing from Jewish tradition to the “God of all consolation.” His letter is designed to encourage and uplift the struggling early church in Corinth and help it overcome disputes and crises that had embroiled it. The letter is considered Paul’s most personal—revealing him to be at varying times encouraging, stern, frustrated with his intended audience. It is a complicated letter, but scholars say it is well worth the effort to gain a fuller understanding of this complex man who profoundly shaped Christian tradition. As we wind up the Year of Saint Paul this month, spend some time reading it.

Today’s readings: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7; Matthew 5:1-12

“Blessed be . . . the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation.”

Tuesday, June 9

Feast of Ephrem of Syria, deacon, doctor of the church

Stealing from God’s bounty

Although very ancient, originating in the fourth century, Saint Ephrem’s works reflect a very modern spirituality. He saw the interconnectedness of all created things, giving rise to the sense that he was a “saint of ecology.” And his view of women made him an early champion of the role of women in the church. Saint Paul’s understanding of Christ as never “yes and no” but always “yes” is reflected in Ephrem’s Hymns on Faith: “The boldness of our love is pleasing to you, O Lord, just as it pleased you that we should steal from your bounty.” We pilfer from God’s bounty of love when we place the care of people and the planet ahead of the rigors of order.

Today’s readings: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22; Matthew 5:13-16

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you . . . was not ‘Yes and No’; but in him it is always ‘Yes.’ ”

Wednesday, June 10

Don’t say “can’t”

The preferred translation is “thou shalt not.” But any way you say it, can’t is a killer word. Saint Paul goes so far as to call the Ten Commandments the “ministry of death”—not to disrespect Moses but to point out that law’s natural effect is to set mortal limits. Law is the stop sign that halts us in our tracks, the big no beyond which we fear to go. Unlike the Law, which came in glory on Sinai, Jesus came in humility. And his law of love is the great yes that casts out fear and sets us free.

Today’s readings: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11; Matthew 5:17-19

“The ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stone tablets, came in glory.”

Thursday, June 11

Feast of Barnabas, apostle

Take a chance on faith

It requires both faith and generosity to vouch for another, especially when that person has a less-than-stellar track record. Barnabas was an outsider to the 12 apostles and worked hard to prove himself as a devout and talented orator. Consider then the bravery it took for Barnabas to come to the apostles with their former persecutor Saul of Tarsus and attempt to persuade them that this man, too, ought to be welcomed. In an act of pure faith Barnabas stood beside Saul as a sponsor and thereby united his name with this baffling newcomer. To say the least, this generosity was repaid by the man who would become Saint Paul.

Today’s readings: Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3; Matthew 5:20-26

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Friday, June 12

Death does not become us

The beauty and spirit of each life is held in an earthen vessel that begins decaying the minute it’s exposed to air, like some ancient artifact unsealed from a tomb. But Saint Paul, who grappled with the age-old questions of mortality, reassures us that despite our inexorable, and seemingly inglorious, march toward death, those who follow Jesus are actually sharing in the life of Christ. So that with each breath we take, we are infused with the eternal power of the Spirit. That is why we live in hope rather than despair; why we thrive despite the worst afflictions.

Today’s readings: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 5:27-32

“For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Saturday, June 13

Feast of Anthony of Padua, priest, doctor of the church

Help me find—myself

As saints go, Anthony is surely among the most popular. Across Italy he is simply il santo, “the saint.” But one wonders what the saints think about us when, to their holy chagrin, they are remembered not for their lives of faith but only for what we hope to get from them. Poet Donna Pucciani portrays Saint Anthony as not a little weary of doing our finding for us. In her poem, the saint wonders, “How do you tell them, it’s the letting go, not the gathering?” The next time I misplace keys or wallet, umbrella or sunglasses, I might consider what’s truly missing in my life and hear Anthony wonder, “How do you tell them, it’s the letting go, not the gathering. . . . Better to collect oneself / than all the objects in the world.”

Today’s readings: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Matthew 5:33-37

“We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us.”