Church
of Saint Philip Neri
Pennsburg, PA 18073
August 30,
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: 6th & 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 6th & Washington Streets East Greenville, PA 18041 ROSARY: Prayed in the Chapel Every Saturday after the 8:00 AM Mass Every 2nd Monday at 1:00 PM |
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 2nd & 3rd Sundays of each
month. Please
call the Rectory to schedule. 2nd Sunday
Baptisms are held at the 11:00 AM Mass 3rd Sunday
Baptisms are held at 12:30 PM PRE-JORDAN
CLASSES 1st
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
1st 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
January 1st marks the beginning of another calendar
year. For most businesses and
organizations, July 1st begins a new Fiscal Year; that is true here
also at St. Philip Neri. There is
another major beginning here at the parish; the day following Labor Day. This is another beginning. Everyone is back from vacations, school
begins and we are thrown into another year of activities. As I think back on the past year, I am
always amazed at what has taken place here in the parish with all our
activities. So many Ministries, the
formation of new Ministries, the Thank-You Party, Sunday Breakfasts, Carnival
and Car Show, the construction of the outdoor Stations, the Enthronement of the
St. Philip Neri Relic, Parish Mission; the list goes on and on!
For all you, the family parish of St. Philip Neri have done, I thank
you! One more week of rest, we begin
again.
God Bless and be with us in this coming year of activity.
Praise Be Jesus Christ…Now and Forever!
Fr. Roncase
FIRST FRIDAY MASS
First
Friday is September 4th.
Mass is in Church at 9:00 am, followed by adoration until evening prayer
at 7:00 pm. The sign-up book for
adoration schedule can be found in the Church vestibule beneath the crucifix.
Serving at Mass Sept.
6th
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Anna
Murphy Mark
Meinzer
Gerald Murphy
Deacon
Priest
Jim Quigley
Annemarie Quigley
7:30 am – Paul
Moser Ernie
Quatrani
Maureen Moser Michael
Lynch
Deacon
Priest
Chuck Rodgers
Maria Rodgers
9:30 am – Keith
Greczek Joe
Cassarella
Sharon Shaak Larry
Concio
Priest
Priest
Anthony Pongia
Joan Pongia
11:00 am- Bob
Schwind Adam
Canigiani
Barbara Schwind D.
McCausland
Priest
Priest
Michael Dougherty
Tina Evans
Serving at Mass Sept.
13th
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Bob
Talbot Ed
Tryon
Kathryn Talbot
Priest
Priest
John Burke
Linda Benko
7:30 am – Trish
Dornisch John
Gilmore
Peter D’Amico Theresa
Gilmore
Mike Heveran
Priest
Jim Michels
Dina Corrado
9:30 am – Andrew
Souder Wendy
Benner
Judy Sledgen Terry
Benner
Bill Orr
Priest
Marianne Peters
John McHale
11:00 am – Lindo
DiTondo Eileen
Davis
Doug DiTondo Donna
Tarantino
Deacon
Priest
Sandy Shellaway
Tony Shellaway
TWENTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Monday, August 31
8:00 am – John L. Fitzpatrick, (Hank & Marie)
Tuesday, September 1
8:00 am – Bonnie Mockus, (Gregg & Lee
Gilbert)
Wednesday, September 2
7:00 pm – Clifford Rothenberger,
(Fr. Leo Letterhouse Council #6614)
Thursday, September 3, Gregory the Great
8:00 am – Henry Huseman, (Rich & Barbara
Grochowski)
Friday, September 4
9:00 am – Mass in Church
Joseph Josko, Jr. (Emily Bloch)
Saturday, September 5
8:00
am – In Thanksgiving for Birthright in Pottstown,
(Respect Life Ministry)
5:00 pm – For the living & deceased
members of the Parish.
TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Sunday, September 6
7:30 am – Agnes Hurys, (Ed Hurys)
9:30 am – George Dykie, (Ken & Rita
Latshaw)
11:00 am – Gordon Heckler, (Robert & Diana
Virus)
ROSE/FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS
The floral arrangement on the center
altar is in memory of Andreas Nicolaou,
requested by Leonette Nicolaou.
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, Mary Conover, Barbara Duklis, Olga Durco, Baby Robert John Riegel,
Jr., Kelly Connolly, Robert Rukstalis, Mary Ann Bencie, Frances Cannon, Josh
Frumnecht, Steven Gebhardt, Ann Bowdren, Jack Cahill, Dianna Rynkiewicz, Ethel
Buck, Gary Lester Keller, Betty Risko, Christine Keer, Hilda Stine, Joe Johnson,
Baby Lucy Littlefield, Charlotte Azarovich, George Bradford, Margie Shelley,
Matthew Melcher, Rick DeStefano, Catherine Wlazelek, Debbie Proffit, Mark &
Margaret Clark, Bill Engle, Carrie Desetto, Anthony Bodgon, Jean Miller, Rose
Denyan, Kathrine Kerivel, Herman Adam & Tommy Slattery.
For those who have died, and in particular for Bill
Myers, 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 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month in the
social hall at 1:0 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: 484-824-4364.
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.
SUNDAY COLLECTIONS
August
24, 2008 August 23, 2009
Envelope:
$ 7,949.00 $ 8,667.50
Loose: 926.00 1,080.00
Children: 91.75 44.00
Total: $
8,966.75 $ 9,791.50
Special
collection:
Missionary
Co-op: $ 833.00 8/16/09
Missionary
Co-op: $ 2,070.00 8/23/09
Total: $ 2,903.00
ACTIVITIES -
*BINGO*
Kitchen
opens 5:00 pm – Bingo – 6:30 pm
Working
Thursday – September 3rd – Team #3
All
regular games pay $50
FINAL
COVER – ALL SPECIAL PAYS: $500
Bingo: August 20th – 66 players
Games: $ 151.20
Kitchen: 49.45
Total: $ 200.65
PARISH BREAKFAST
Our parish Breakfast was held on Sunday,
August 23rd. Thank you so much to those
who came out and worked hard to make the Breakfast fun and successful. We
served 506 people with a $2,414.00 profit!
Our next breakfast is Sunday – September 27th.
Save the date and mark your calendars!
BAKED GOODS
NEEDED
Donated baked goods are needed for the weekly Bingo and monthly
Breakfast.
Call Rita: 679-7009 or the rectory office: 679-9275.
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
Patricia Cody, requested by:
Jerry &
Joan Mullaney
We also have
“Living Memorials” for those special
occasions in life.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS THIS WEEK
Sunday, August 30th – Children’s
Liturgy of the Word – at the 9:30 am Mass.
Sunday, August 30th – Men’s 30 &
over Basketball – gym – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Monday, August 31st – Bible Timeline
Study – rectory – 7:00 pm
Monday, August 31st – Blood Drive – gym
– 1:30 – 7:30 pm
Monday, August 31st – Charismatic
Prayer Group – in the Chapel at 7:00 pm
Tuesday, September 1st – SPN Craft
Guild – 1:00 pm
Tuesday, September 1st – Choir &
Cantor Practice – in Church at 6:00 pm
Tuesday, September 1st – Garden Club –
Church grounds – 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Thursday, September 3rd – Bingo – gym – 6:30 pm
Friday, September 4th – First Friday –
Mass in Church at 9:00 am. Adoration – 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, followed by Benediction
– 7:00 pm
Friday, September 4th – Bible Timeline
Study – rectory – 10:00 am
Friday, September 4th – SPN Quilting –
gym – 1pm
Saturday, September 5th – SPN Energy
Committee Meeting – gym – 10:00 am
Sunday, September 6th – Children’s
Liturgy of the Word – at the 9:30 am Mass
Sunday, September 6th – Men’s 30 &
over Basketball – gym – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
UPCOMING MEETINGS
First day
of School – Grades 1thru 8, with noon dismissal – Tuesday, September 8th
Library
Meeting for all Library Aides – Tuesday, September 8th – right after
the start of school
Kindergarten
Parent Meeting – Wednesday, September 9th – Neri Center – 7:00 pm
Home
& School Board Meeting – Wednesday, September 9th – Neri Center
– 7:00 pm
BETA
Program – Wednesday, September 9th – gym – meeting room – 10:00 am
Kindergarten
Visitation – Meeting Teachers – Thursday, September 10th - School –
9am – 11am
Pennsburg
Manor Nursing Home – Thursday, September 10th – 10:00 am
Martha
Ministry Meeting – Thursday, September 10th – rectory – 7:00 pm
Cub Scout
Open House – Thursday, September 10th – Neri Center – 6:45 pm
First day
of Kindergarten – Friday, September 11th
Bible
Timeline Study – Friday, September 11th – rectory – 9:00 am
RCIA –
Organizations, Introductions, Kick-off, Saturday, September 12th –
rectory – 2:00 pm
Knights
of Columbus Meeting – Sunday, September 13th – rectory – 7:30 pm
Elizabeth
Ministry Mom to Mom Connection –
Sunday, September 13th, gym – 12pm – 2:00 pm
Men’s 30
& over Basketball – Sunday, September 13th – gym, 8:00 pm –
10:00 pm
SCHOOL
NEWS
SCHOOL MEETINGS
A brief meeting
will be held on Tuesday, September 8th
for ALL volunteer Library Aides. (Please note date change) We will meet in the School Library
immediately following the start of school.
If you are unable to
attend, please contact Agnes O’Connor at: 267-923-8635 or via email at: aoc73156@hotmail.com.
Parents
and parishioners: If you are interested in volunteering for
any of these positions, please complete the Volunteer Form included in this
Bulletin and return it to the rectory or email Agnes O’Connor at: aoc73156@hotmail.com. Thank you!
HOME
ROOM PARENTS:
6th Grade
LIBRARY
AIDES:
Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday (AM only)
Check books in or out, shelve returned books
LUNCH
MONITORS: 11:20 am – 12:40 pm
Monday, Grades K-3; Grades 4-8
Wednesday, Grades 4-8
Thursday, Grades 4-8
Friday, Grades 4-8
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
PREP SCHEDULE
- September-October 2009:
NO PREP classes on September 9th
September
16th – First night of classes –
All
grades – 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
September
16th- classes
September
23rd – classes
September
30th – classes
October 4th
– Little Church begins – 9:30 am – gym
October 7th
– Marion Prayer Service – Church
(School
& PREP)
October
14th – classes
October
14th – First Penance Parent Meeting –
6:10
pm – mandatory Meeting – Neri Center
October
21st – classes
October
28th – classes
PARISH NEWS
RCIA NEWS
Our parish RCIA (Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults) will begin the 2009-2010 instructional year on Saturday,
September 12th. 2:00 pm at the rectory. The topic of discussion is:
Organization, Introductions, Kick-off. If
you or someone you know would like more information about the Catholic Church
or are interested in becoming a Catholic please call the rectory at (215)
679-9275. Your name will be given to
Deacon Mike Franks who will then contact you with more information. If you were baptized Catholic but never
received the other sacraments or if you are a Catholic who has been away from
the Church or would like to develop a deeper understanding of the faith then
the RCIA is for you, too.
If anyone would like to be a member of
our teaching and facilitating team or possibly be a sponsor we would love to
have you join us. Just let Deacon Mike
Franks know.
OUR PARISH GRADE SCHOOL
“Our parish/regional school admits students of
any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges,
programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at
our school. Similar policies apply to
the school staff.
Our school does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in the administration of its
educational policies, its admission policies, or in any school-administered
program.”
SPN ROSARY SOCIETY
Come and pray the Rosary every 2nd
Monday of each month at 1:00 pm in the Chapel.
Our next prayer gathering is Monday,
September 14th.
FROM THE PARISH OUTREACH OFFICE
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 mission of Elizabeth
Ministry is to support women of childbearing age. We support women
emotionally and spiritually through various means.
One of the means is
the Mom to Mom Connection. On Sunday, September 13 from Noon to
2:00 p.m., treat yourself to two hours of companionship with each other in
the Social Hall meeting room. (see page six (6) of bulletin for more
details)
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
The Fall Bereavement Support Group will begin
on Tuesday evening, September 29th at 7:00 pm in the Parish Outreach
Office. This Bereavement Support Group
will meet every Tuesday evening from September 29th thru November 10th. We will end meetings by participating in the
Remembrance Mass, in Church, on November 10th. Mass will be followed by refreshments in the
Parish Hall Meeting room.
Please come to the Bereavement Support Group;
let God heal you of your loss, and let God use you to help others through their
loss.
If you want to register, please phone the
Parish Outreach Office at 215-679-2282, by September 22nd.
If no answer, please leave a message, but
please speak s-l-o-w-l-y.
COMING SOON – MARTHA MINISTRY
This Ministry is a sub ministry of the
Bereavement Ministry. The Martha Ministers
are representatives of St. Philip Neri Faith Community to offer consolation and
support to the bereaved family at their time of loss. Volunteers (Martha Helpers) will offer food or cake if needed and
the Martha Ministers will call/visit the family and attend the funeral as the
Parish Representative. Follow-up will
continue as needed.
If interested in being a Minister or a Helper,
please attend a Martha Ministry Meeting on Thursday, September 10th,
at 7:00 pm in the Meeting Room of the Rectory.
BLOOD
DRIVE
It is once again that time of year for
our yearly Red Cross Blood Drive. Here
is your chance to donate a vital source for life.
Please join us on Monday, August 31st
anytime between 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm in our air conditioned Parish Social Hall. Refreshments served upon completion of your
donation.
For more information on an appointment,
please call Pete Frank: 215-679-6942.
BETA BEGINS
When: Wednesday, September 9th
Where:
SPN Social Hall Meeting Room
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 noon
ALL ARE WELCOME!
For more information
please call:
Sue DiMarco:
215-679-7193
ST.
PHILIP NERI CHURCH
HOAGIE SALE
CHEESE,
ITALIAN or TURKEY
Tuesday
– September 15th
(please
note date change)
12:00
NOON – 6:00 PM
St.
Philip Neri Social Hall
COST: $4.00
All
orders due by:
Tuesday
– September 8th
Please
call:
Rita: 679-7009 or Pat: 679-5675
Moms, Mark
Your Calendars!!!
Sunday,
Sept. 13
Elizabeth
Ministry’s 3rd Mom-Mom Connection
12 noon
to 2:00 PM
Social
Hall Meeting Room
Topic: Joys
and Challenges of Motherhood
Chat, Chew and Chonversation
Questions????
Call Maggie Narducci at 215-679-6297
or
LaRue Emmell at 215-679-3086
ST. PHILIP
NERI PARISH PICNIC
Sunday –
September 20th
2:00 pm –
8:00 pm
HOMEMADE
CANDY is the baking contest Theme for this year. Four (4) judges are needed.
Please call Shirley at the rectory: 215-679-9275 or send an email to: spnofc@comcast.net if you would like to be
a judge.
Advance
sale Food Tickets are available now
thru September 13th at the SCRIP table and at the rectory.
Save the date and see you at the picnic!
PARISH PICNIC TEE
SHIRTS
Our 4th Annual Parish Picnic Tee Shirts
are available for sale beginning today at the Masses:
Children’s
sizes: $7.00
Adult
sizes: $8.00 & $9.00
There is a limited supply of the 4th
Annual Tee Shirts…so get them as soon as possible!
SAVE THE DATE!
Friday, October 9
Third Annual St. Philip Neri Golf Outing
Macoby Run Golf
Course,
Green Lane, PA
18 Hole 4-golfer
Scramble,
1:00 pm Shotgun Start
Food, Beer, Prizes, $60 per golfer
To
register your foursome or to volunteer, contact: Andrew Souder, 215-804-0845;
or andrew@rafind.com
SAFE ENVIRONMENT
WORKSHOP
Wednesday, September
23, 2009
The Neri Center
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
or
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
You MUST register on or before Monday, September 14th, 2009 to attend
this class. You can register by
completing the attached form or by calling Agnes O'Connor at 267-823-8635. Forms can be sent to school or dropped off
at the Rectory.
Please remember that you MUST have a current Safe Environment
Certificate to volunteer at our school.
If you are unable to attend this session you can obtain a complete list
of sessions at Virtus.org or by contacting Agnes O'Connor at 267-923-8635 or
via email at aoc73156@hotmail.com
Thank You!
----------------------------------------------------------------
________________________________________________
Name Phone #
________________________________________________
Parish
Please check one:
□
I
will attend from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
□
I will attend from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
CASINO TRIP
Enjoy a visit to the Tropicana Resort & Casino
in Atlantic City with Silver Spirits and have a great time!
October 31, 2009 at 10:00 am from St. Philip Neri
Church Parking Lot.
Cost: $30.00/person (includes
gratuity)
Package includes:
*$25.00 in slot play for all passengers
*Motorcoach transportation
*Pick-up and return to St. Philip Neri Church
Please contact:
Kathy Talbot: 215-541-0250 or:
Kathy Kulp: 267-923-5173
***Payment confirms your reservation***
OUTLET STORES SHOPPING & CHRISTMAS SHOW
Tuesday, November 17, 2009, a trip to Rockvale
Outlets for a morning of shopping and lunch on our own; then we are off to the
American Music Theatre to see a Christmas Show that will delight everyone!
The cost to you is $65.00.
For more details/information, call Kathy Talbot:
215-541-0250 or Kathy Kulp: 267-923-5173.
BLUE
KNIGHTS CATHOLIC CLUB
The Blue Knights Catholic Club is a boys' club aimed at teaching
the truths of the Catholic faith to boys through Scripture, saints'
biographies, sports/games, crafts and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
This program developed by Major Dan McGuire maps out nine virtues for boys ages
5 and up in the first year, and then follows up with three years covering nine
catechetical lessons each. The boys keep track of their progress by earning
badges that form shields to proudly display on their Crusader breastplates.
Each year also has its own colored cape (blue, green, red, or gold) to mark
your Blue Knight's advancement through the program.
If you are interested in this program, please contact Bill Orr at
215-679-8223 or dana@goodnews4health.net
FAMILY RETREAT
Are you
looking for an opportunity for your family to take a vacation with God? At a Malvern Family Retreat, you will
experience activities focused on fun and spiritual growth for all ages!
For more
information, contact Bill & Dana Orr: 215-679-8223 or dana@goodnews4health.net.
ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS
RESPECT LIFE BULLETIN BRIEFS
“Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself,
your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he (or she) is your Christian neighbor,
he (or she) is holy almost the same way, for in him (or her) also Christ…the
glorifier and the glorified…is truly hidden.
(C.W. Lewis, The Weight of Glory”)
GOVERNMENT HEALTH
CARE
While this
legislation is still in draft form, the request for action at the local level
is imperative. What we do know is that
we must take action now to share our thoughts and beliefs with our national
legislators in time for them to consider incorporating these points when
deliberations resume in September. We
need to ensure that the new legislation preserves freedom of conscience for
health care professionals and does not violate the right to life by allocating
tax revenues for abortions.
Please
contact Senator Casey and Spector along with your representative in congress
and strongly encourage them with an insistent plea to uphold the dignity and
sanctity of life with this new legislation.
To contact
your representatives and senators directly, please go to www.nchla.org and click on Action Alerts where
you will be able to find the names of your US Representatives and Senators.
The message
is simple: “Support genuine health care
reform that respects the life and dignity of all. A fair and just health care reform bill must exclude
mandated coverage for abortion, and uphold longstanding laws that restrict
abortion funding and protect conscience rights.”
If you have
any questions, the Respect Life Office is readily available to assist you. They can be reached at 215-587-5661.
Thank you for your
support of this vital issue.
AREA PARISH NEWS
Protecting God’s
Children Awareness Session
Blessed Teresa of
Calcutta will be hosting a Protecting God’s Children Awareness Session on
October 14th at 6:00 pm. To
pre-register, go to www.virtus.org. or
call Maureen Mochwart at: 610-287-2525 ext. 104.
Calix is coming to
Saint Eleanor
What is Calix?
The Calix
Society is men and women suffering
from addiction, helping each other get through the next 24 hours. Using the principles of twelve-step recovery
and Catholic spirituality, Calix can
help you recover from addictions to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex or
work. Whatever your addiction, let the
Calix Society help.
THROUGH FAITH AND CHARITY, RECOVER YOUR HOPE!!!
First meeting: September 27th –
8:00 pm at the Vianney Hall (lower level of St. Eleanor Rectory).
For more
information, call Joe: 215-872-5570, Eileen: 484-368-2633 or Pat: 484-685-8769.
AREA NEWS
PALLIATIVE
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Grandview
Hospital will offer a Palliative Care Volunteer Training Session this fall for
their new “Transitions In Care” Program.
“Transitions In Care” is for patients experiencing serious illness who
may be receiving disease treatment but who also desire management of symptoms
and assistance with advance healthcare planning. Time commitment would be approximately two hours weekly. The three-day training will include the
mission and concept of palliative care and the practical knowledge needed to
assist patients and their families in their homes. For more information or to register for training, please call
Joanne Day, RN at: 215-453-4149. The
deadline for registration is September 15, 2009.
ST. LUKE’S
HOSPITAL – QUAKERTOWN
GRAND OPENING
CELEBRATION OF:
The New St.
Luke’s Upper Perk Outpatient Center at 663 and Geryville Pike on Saturday,
October 10th and Sunday, October 11th from 10:00 am until
4:00 pm. Free screenings, tour of facility, and many fun, family focused
activities such as a pumpkin patch and face painting will be featured. Services include a family practice, walk in
lab testing, radiology, physical therapy and more. The Center is open as of August 24, 2009.
BINGO VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED
We are in need of Bingo Volunteers for
BOTH the kitchen, and working the floor, checking winning Bingo cards.
You only work one each month on
Thursday evenings. We have 4 teams for
both the kitchen and floor and are in need of help on each team.
CAN
YOU HELP?
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Sunday,
August 30, 2009
Twenty-second
Sunday in Ordinary Time
What is evil in your sight, I have done
Saying something mean about a
stranger across the room because of her appearance. Treating a janitor like the
invisible man, or dismissing a category of people as somehow subhuman or
unworthy. How many times have we done these things and not recognized the root
of sin in them? Even thinking badly of others affects our capacity to love
them—and love is the aim of the Christian life. In loving one another we love
God. What happens to our relationship with God when we disdain one another is
ugly to imagine. Think love, and loving acts will follow.
Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15,
21-23
“For it is
from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come.”
Monday,
August 31
A message for all of us
When Jesus returned to Nazareth
and spoke prophetically, his hometown people rejected him. That foreshadowed
the reception he would receive from his own people in general. It is a pattern
repeated many times in history, from the time of the Jewish prophets who
suffered repudiation right through to our own era, when figures such as Martin
Luther King Jr. and Dorothy Day encountered stiff resistance to their prophetic
message. It does us well to give folks a second hearing if we find ourselves
made uncomfortable by their message. It may be the one we need to hear most.
Today’s readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Luke 4:16-30
“When they
heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.”
Tuesday,
September 1
Way to go! Great job!
What does encouragement look like?
A smile, a pat on the back, a kind word, an affirmation of effort or
accomplishment. Encouragement is not hard physical labor! But at times it might
as well be. Sometimes it just feels too hard to overcome inertia or leftover
anger to reach out to another—especially when that other has not given us
confidence when we needed it. Fortunately, though, encouragement carries its
own special energy. It is like a perpetual-motion machine that is capable of
reenergizing itself with the slightest nod. What’s more, it feels really good!
Consider this: What would our days look like if we spent our time finding ways
to offer encouragement to other people?
Today’s readings: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11; Luke 4:31-37
“Therefore
encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.”
Wednesday,
September 2
The miracle of healing
Love and affection expressed in
tender words and gentle actions engender hope in the human heart. And hope is
the foundation of all healing. There’s nothing magical about the process. Our
bodies are designed to be healed. Injury and illness are always followed by
healing and wholeness. The process may be short and complete or long, painful,
and only partially successful. And once in every lifetime, healing ends in
death, which, given what we believe, isn’t so bad after all. The first words of
healing are: “You’re going to be all right.” The final words: “Your sins are
forgiven; your life is eternal.” This good news, these words and gestures of
hope always begin the miracle of healing.
Today’s readings: Colossians 1:1-8;
Luke 4:38-44
“He laid his
hands on each of them and cured them.”
Thursday,
September 3
When the Good News was new
The biblical scholar Jerome Neyrey
once wrote of the early church: “We can never appreciate what it must have been
like to be catechized into the gospel of Jesus, told that in baptism we die
with him and rise with him. Powerful gifts of spirit and faith would flow and
people would sense how close God was to them.” It may indeed be hard today to
envision what it was like when the Christian faith was new, when it was unheard
of that people could actually find new life in the defeat of death, that the
power of God was so close you could feel it because Jesus had made it so. At
times we can feel spiritually or emotionally or even physically dead. But when
that happens we can also imagine how refreshing and exciting faith can be and
how much hope it can give.
Today’s readings: Colossians 1:9-14:
Luke 5:1-11
“May you be
made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power.”
Friday,
September 4
A time for joy
From the moment you hit the
reception hall until the happy couple drives away, tin cans rattling and
tissue-paper flowers fluttering, it’s party time. Hors d’oeuvres piled high on
plates make the rounds, and sparkling beverages are liberally poured. The food
never stops coming, from the first salad to the final slice of much-decorated
cake. Music fills the hall and dancers demonstrate how each generation once cut
the rug. Cameras capture the joy of the hour with each flash. That is what
celebration looks like. Jesus says every hour is worth celebrating, for those
who believe.
Today’s readings: Colossians 1:15-20;
Luke 5:33-39
“You cannot
make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?”
Saturday,
September 5
Sabbath-keeping
Many people think Jesus condemned
strict observance of the sabbath when it came at the expense of life and
well-being. And that’s true. You’d recover your animal if it fell down a well
on the sabbath, wouldn’t you? You’d gather grain to feed yourself? In today’s
terms, you’d get your car towed if it broke down on a Sunday or go grocery
shopping if you were out of food, right? Of course you would. Jesus was making
a larger point about how the kingdom of God comes ahead of observances, and how
compassion for human need trumps the rules. Try putting the kingdom of God and
showing some kindness ahead of everything else, and you’ll make a sabbath of
your life each day.
Today’s readings: Colossians 1:21-23;
Luke 6:1-5
“The Son of
Man is lord of the sabbath.”
