Church
of Saint Philip Neri
Pennsburg, PA 18073
October 25,
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.
From the Parish
Outreach Desk of:
Sister Patricia
Kelly, M.S.B.T.
In my very
first column, I mentioned that Catholic Social Teaching is the best kept secret
in the Catholic Church. Well, guess
what! Pope Benedict XVI has joined
several previous Popes in making Catholic Social Teaching less of a secret!
Pope
Benedict XVI has written a new encyclical called caritas in Veritate (charity
in Truth). Some excerpts from that
encyclical form this column.
Pope
Benedict XVI understands that the world is in crisis. The role of technology, globalization among countries, the
mismanagement of financial markets, the large migration of people in search of
jobs, the lack of respect for human life, and the exploitation of the earth’s
resources – all of these challenges and much more are cause for the world to
“rediscover fundamental values on which to build a better future.”
Pope
Benedict also understands what the world needs: “The current crisis causes us to re-plan our journey,” the Pope
says. “The crisis thus becomes an
opportunity for discernment, in which to shape a new vision for the future.”
In his
sweeping new encyclical on social and economic justice, Caritas in Veritate
(Charity in Truth), Pope Benedict seeks nothing less that to proclaim a new
vision, based on the social teachings of the Church, which responds to the
needs of the world, and ultimately leads us to God, the Father of Love, and his
Son, Jesus Christ.
Charity-or-Love
lies at the heart of the development of society, and it is the heart of our
Catholic Faith and the Church’s social doctrine. However, too often, love is understood primarily in emotional
terms, and charity becomes sentimentality.
This is why the Pope links charity with truth: Truth frees charity from emotionalism. Truth moves us away from the subjective; allowing us to
understand issues as they really are.
“Practicing
charity in truth helps people to understand that adhering to the values of
Christianity is not merely useful, but essential for building a good society
and for true, integral human development.”
(Pope Benedict XVI)
Truth seeks
to be sought in charity, but charity needs to be practiced in truth.
I leave you
in the warmth of the Trinity
Sister
Patricia Kelly, M.S.B.T.
FIRST FRIDAY
Friday,
November 6th, is the first Friday of November. Mass is in Church at 9:00 am. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Church
from 10:00 am until evening Prayer and Benediction at 7:00 pm.
The sign-up
binder to commit for adoration time can be found in the vestibule under the
crucifix.
Please
commit to spend some time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
ALL SOULS DAY
CEMETERY MASS
All Souls
Day is Monday, November 2nd.
On this day, we remember our loved ones who have departed from us. We
pray that they will be united with God in His eternal kingdom. There are two Masses celebrated on All Souls
Day for our deceased. The 8:00 am Mass
in the Chapel and a 12:10 pm Mass in our Parish Cemetery. Anyone attending the 12:10 pm Mass is
reminded to bring a lawn chair for this Mass.
November is
the month when the Universal Church prays for our departed loved ones. Please remember all the deceased in your
prayers!
WE REMEMBER MASS
We pray for
our parishioners who have died during the past year…We Remember Them.
Mass
remembering them will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 10th at
7:30 pm in Church.
Everyone is
welcome to come and pray with us in this Mass of Remembrance. A reception will follow in our Social Hall.
FR. RONCASE AWAY
Fr. Roncase will be away this week – Monday thru
Friday, October 26th thru October 30th.
Serving at Mass October
25th
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Dave Boone Pete Frank
Teri Boone
Priest
Priest
Mark Meinzer
Pat Meinzer
7:30 am – Jim Michels Theresa Gilmore
Trish Dornisch John
Gilmore
Priest
Deacon
Pat Scheerbaum
Immaculata Barndt
Wally Varallo
Joan Varallo
Lori Brozena
Peter D’Amico
Paul Moser
Maureen Moser
9:30 am – Alicia Tryon M. Gehringer
Ed Tryon Matt
Horvath
Priest
Andy Souder
Mary Godshall
Jeff Daley
11:00 am – Bob Schwind Bob Piccone
Barbara Schwind Eileen
Davis
Priest
Anita Weilnau
Mary Lavin
Marlene Leidy
Serving at Mass November
1st
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Dawn Ellis Bob Ellis
Linda Benko
Priest
Deacon
Trudy Moser
Dave Moser
Lisa Edleman
Michael Edleman
Bob Talbot
Kathryn Talbot
Dianne Kennedy
Patrick Kennedy
7:30 am – Chuck Rodgers Pete Frank
Maria Rodgers Michael
Lynch
Priest
Deacon
Mary R. Giambrone
Dina Corrado
Mike Heveran
Michael Duka
Gerald Murphy
Anna Murphy
Keith Greczek
John McHale
9:30 am – Lillian Hewitt J. Sakaloucaks
Joshua Hewitt Joe
Cassarella
Priest
Priest
Bill Gurgick
Lisa Gurgick
11:00 am – DJ Williams Luke Verna
Sandy Williams Adam
Canigiani
Priest
Priest
Sandy Shellaway
Tony Shellaway
THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Monday, October 26
8:00 am – Clifford Rothenberger,
(Nancy Rothenberger & Family)
Tuesday, October 27
8:00 am – Helen & Joseph Swann, (Daughter
Charlotte)
Wednesday, October 28, Simon & Jude,
apostles
7:00 pm – Noreen Bauer, (Paul & Maureen
Moser)
Thursday, October 29
8:00 am – Gerard J. Schneider, (Bob &
Marianne Peters)
Friday, October 30
8:00 am – Lila & Paul Smith, (Estate)
Saturday, October 31
8:00
am – Mary Sailer,
(Mary Ellen, Rose, Ray, Tracey, Eric, Amy, RJ,
Tom, Tyler & Matt)
5:00 pm – For the living & deceased
members
of the Parish.
THIRTY FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Sunday, November 1, All Saints
7:30 am – Tenth Anniversary, Michael Sinisko
(Viola Sinisko)
9:30 am – George Dykie, (Mark Romano)
11:00 am – Peggy Mokriski, (John Mokriski)
ROSE/FLORAL ARRANGEMENT
The red roses placed on the Blessed
Mother and Sacred Heart Altars are in honor of Clifford & Connie Marks
on their Fifty-First Wedding Anniversary.
*********************************************************
The floral arrangement on the altar is
in honor of Clifford & Connie Marks
on their Fifty-First Wedding Anniversary.
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, Baby Robert John Riegel Jr., Robert Rukstalis, Kathy Rukstalis, Mary
Ann Bencie, Frances Cannon, Dianna
Rynkiewicz, Ethel Buck, Gary Lester Keller, Baby Lucy Littlefield, Charlotte
Azarovich, George Bradford, Margie Shelley, Matthew Melcher, Rick DeStefano,
Catherine Wlazelek, Mark & Margaret Clark, Bill Engle, Carrie Desetto,
Anthony Bodgon, Kathrine Kerivel, Herman Adam, Tommy Slattery, Ruth Wunder,
Baby Olivia Enriquez, Elizabeth & Wayne Brinckman, Jim Quigley, Carla
Kozak, Bill Kulp, Janice Minnich, Al Kornak, Michael Sinisko, Jr. & Bob
McCarty.
For those who have died, grant them eternal rest and peace.
SUNDAY COLLECTIONS
October 19, 2009 October
18, 2009
Envelope: $
8,127.00 $
8,086.50
Loose: 1,557.00
1,807.00
Children: 62.00 71.00
Total: $
10,153.50 $ 9,894.50
Special collection:
World Mission Sunday –
Society for the Propagation of the Faith
$ 2,555.00
ACTIVITIES -
*BINGO*
Kitchen
opens 5:00 pm – Bingo – 6:30 pm
Working
Thursday – October 29th – Team #3
All
regular games pay $50
FINAL
COVER – ALL SPECIAL PAYS: $500
Bingo: October 15th – 50 players
Games: $ 32.00
Kitchen: 36.00
Total: $ 68.00
Paper Recycling -
September:
$ 7.42
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 Robert Smith, Sr. requested by:
Isabelle
Killough, Lois Brownell, and
Bernadette
Bardolf and family.
We also
have “Living Memorials” for those
special occasions in life.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS THIS WEEK
Sunday, October 25th – Parish Breakfast
– gym – 7:00 am -12:30 pm
Sunday, October 25th – Children’s
Liturgy of the Word – at the 9:30 am Mass
Sunday, October 25th – Little Church –
in the gym – 9:30 am
Sunday, October 25th – Youth Ministry –
World Youth Day in Malvern, PA – day of prayer and fun
Sunday, October 25th – Men’s 30 &
over Basketball – gym – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Monday, October 26th – H.O.P.E. General
Meeting – in the gym – 7:00 pm
Monday, October 26th – SPN Pre-Cana –
at the Neri Center – 7:30 pm
Monday, October 26th – Charismatic
Prayer Group – Chapel – 7:00 pm
Monday, October 26th – SPN Quilting –
gym – 1:00 pm
Tuesday, October 27th – Choir &
Cantor Practice – Church – 6:00 pm
Tuesday, October 27th – Boy Scouts –
gym – 7:00 pm
Wednesday, October 28th – PREP –
Religious Ed - School – 6:00 pm
Wednesday, October 28th – BETA Program
– Rectory Meeting Room – 10:00 am
Wednesday, October 28th – SPN
Cheerleader & Mascot sign-ups – gym - 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday, October 29th – Bingo – gym –
6:30 pm
Thursday, October 29th – Cub Scouts –
in the School – 6:45 pm
Friday, October 30th – SPN Quilting –
gym – 1:00 pm
Saturday, October 31st – Knights of
Columbus – Hall set-up for Communion Breakfast – 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 1st – Knights of
Columbus Communion Breakfast & Mass – 9:30 am
Sunday, November 1st – Children’s
Liturgy of the Word – at the 9:30 am Mass
Sunday, November 1st – Little Church –
gym – 9:30am
Sunday, November 1st – Men’s 30 &
Over Basketball – gym – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
UPCOMING MEETINGS
All Souls Cemetery Mass – Monday, November 2nd
– 12:10 pm at Holy Cross Cemetery
SPN Pre-Cana – Monday, November 2nd –
at the Neri Center – 7:30 pm
Pre-Jordan – Monday, November 2nd –
Rectory Meeting Room at 7:30 pm
Charismatic Prayer Group – Monday, November 2nd
– Chapel – 7:00 pm
Choir & Cantor Practice – Tuesday, November 3rd
– Church – 6:00 pm
PREP – Religious Ed – Wednesday, November 4th
– School – 6:00 pm
BETA Program – Wednesday, November 4th
– Rectory Meeting Room – 10:00 am
Little Flowers Girl Club – Thursday, November 5th
– at the School Library – 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Cub Scouts – Thursday, November 5th –
in the School – 6:45 pm
First Friday – Friday, November 6th –
Mass in Church at 9:00 am; Adoration in Church – 10am – 7pm
SPN Energy Committee Meeting – Saturday, November
7th – gym – 10:00 am
Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Sunday, November
8th – at the 9:30 am Mass
Little Church – Sunday, November 8th-gym-9:30am
Knights of Columbus General Meeting – Sunday,
November 8th – Rectory – 7:30 pm
Parish Youth Ministry – Sunday, November 8th
– The EDGE in the gym – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm; Teens Living In Christ – High School
– 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Men’s 30 & Over Basketball – Sunday, November
8th – gym – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
PREP SCHEDULE
October
2009:
October
28th – classes
November
2009:
November
4th – classes
November
11th – classes
November
18th – classes
November
25th – NO CLASSES
December
2009:
December
2nd – classes
December
9th – classes
December
16th – PREP Advent Prayer Service – Social in Gym at 7:00 pm
December
23rd – NO CLASSES
December
30th – NO CLASSES
January
2010:
January
6th – classes resume – Happy New Year
January
13th – classes
January
20th – classes
January
20th – First Communion Parent Meeting – 6:10 pm – MANDATORY
MEETING
January
25th – First Penance Prayer Service –
7:00
pm in Church
January
27th – First Penance Prayer Service –
(SNOW
DATE)
February
2010:
February
3rd – Classes
February
3rd – First Communion Parent Meeting – 6:10 pm – Mandatory Meeting (SNOW
DATE)
February
10th – classes
February
17th – NO CLASSES
February
24th – classes
March
2010:
March
3rd – classes
March
10th – classes
March
17th – classes
March
23rd – First Communion Retreat – Social Hall/Church
March
24th – classes
March
31st – classes
April
2010:
April
4th – Easter Sunday
April
7th – classes
April
14th – classes
April
21st – classes
April
22nd – First Communion Practice – Church – 6:00 pm
April
24th – First Holy Communion – Church – 10am
April
28th – last class
May
2010:
May
11th – Marian May Procession – Church – 7pm
SCHOOL
NEWS
Preschool – The children learned
the “Little Miss Muffet” nursery rhyme and they made spider webs with marbles
and paint. We talked about evaporation
in science.
Kindergarten – This week we read
“The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid of Anything.
We created our own scarecrow just like the one
in the book and acted out the story!
1st – First grade is busy
learning how to add and subtract in Math.
The children are using different methods to help
them solve the problems, such as number lines to count ahead or backwards.
First Grade will also use drills to help them
remember their addition and subtraction facts.
2nd – The Second and Third
Grade children had a wonderful time tasting a wide variety of fruits and
vegetables at our October Fest.
Each student brought in a different food for
everyone to taste as part of learning about good nutrition.
3rd – This week we were
able to create craters on the moon by denting milk cartons.
Students are also going on a field trip to the
Franklin Institute to experience the Galactic Adventure at the Franklin
Institute.
4th – We’ve learned about
the regions of PA, their landforms and important crops of each area.
We’re creating colorful graphic organizers to
keep all of the information clear.
We had a great afternoon of jump roping on
Tuesday to earn money for our library.
5th – We are busy working
on preparing a Saint report for their class.
They are also taking a trip to the Franklin
Institute with grades 3 & 4.
6th – We are finishing our
Unit 1 stories. The students have put
their Personal Best into all they have done.
7th – We are reading a
screenplay of an episode of “The Twilight Zone” called “The Monsters are Due on
Maple Street.”
In Social Studies we are presenting our News
Casts on the Age of Exploration.
8th – The 7th and 8th Grade
Religion class had the opportunity to hear a presentation on the land of Israel
and life during the time of Jesus from our former SPN graduate, Allison
Davis. Allison has a degree in archeology
and has made several trips to Israel to
work on digs. The students were
fascinated by her presentation.
PARISH NEWS
MASS GREETER S NEEDED
We are in need of Greeters at Saturday and Sunday Masses. Greeters arrive at Mass 15 minutes before
the start of Mass; greet parishioners at the door; help take care of any
special needs; and distribute Bulletins at the conclusion of Mass.
If you can be a Greeter on a regular basis or as a substitute, please
call Dawn at: 215-679-2160; Shirley at the rectory: 215-679-9275 or email Doris
at: gmomdecker@yahoo.com.
THE PARISH
HISTORICAL COMMITTEE
A new
committee is being formed to catalog and record the Events in our parish. One phase of our task will be to review and
catalog the many photos and newspaper articles we already have. We hope to interview many of our long-time
parishioners and record all future parish Events. There will be a minimal number of meetings; the majority of work
will be done at home.
If you have
any questions or would like to be part of this committee, please call Shirley
at 215-679-9275, or email Doris at: gmomdecker@yahoo.com.
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 – November 9th.
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.
REMINDER: General H.O.P.E.
Meeting is on Monday, October 26th, 7:00 pm in the SPN Social
Hall. Please try to attend.
ELIZABETH MINISTRY
The mission of Elizabeth
Ministry is to support women of childbearing age. We support women
emotionally and spiritually through various means.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
COMMUNION BREAKFAST
Sunday – November 1st
After the 9:30 am Mass
St. Philip Neri Social Hall
Ticket prices:
Adults/ $8.00
Children ages 8-13/$4.00
Children under 7 – FREE!
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Our guest speaker will be Father John Ames, Deputy
Secretary, Office of Catechetical Formation.
He is responsible for the Religious Education of the Youth of the
Archdiocese.
Tickets are now available for purchase at all
Masses. Please be sure to stop by the
SCRIP Table and purchase your tickets!
ST.
PHILIP NERI CHURCH
HOAGIE
SALE
CHEESE,
ITALIAN or TURKEY
TUESDAY
– NOVEMBER 10, 2009
12:00
NOON – 6:00 PM
St.
Philip Neri Social Hall
COST: $4.00
All
orders due by:
Monday
– November 2nd
Please
call:
Rita:
679-7009 or Pat: 679-5675
ST. PHILIP NERI CHURCH
PORK & SAUERKRAUT SUPPER
SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, November
14th
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Tickets may be purchased at all Masses beginning
this weekend thru November 8th and also at our parish Breakfast, this Sunday,
October 25th! The prices
are:
Adults - $8.00
Children 4-10 -
$4.00
Under 4 – FREE
TAKE-OUT - $9.00
CYO SPORTS NEWS –
NEW CANDIDATES NEEDED
2010-2011 BASKETBALL SEASON
The
following positions will be available for the 2010-2011 season:
Athletic
Director
President
Vice
President
Treasurer
Snack
Stand Coordinator
(newly
created position)
If anyone
is interested in any of these positions, please call Kevin Loose at:
215-679-5481 as soon as possible.
PARISH NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
SAVE THE DATE!
THURSDAY EVENING – DECEMBER 31st
8:00 PM TO 1:00 AM
Dinner dance for those 21 years of age & older!
Single person: $50 (note price increase)
Couples: $100 (note price increase)
Tickets will be available soon!
INFORMATION –
IMPORTANT
Do you need help in obtaining low-cost prescription medications? Contact the RX Support Program to obtain
assistance. The phone number is: 1-877-747-7257.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
LIHEAP=Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program Applications will be available for first
time requestors at Open Line on November 2, 2009. If a family has had LIHEAP previously, an
application will be sent directly to the home.
Note: There will be a few LIHEAP applications in
the Parish Outreach Office. Call
215-679-2282. Speak slowly if leaving a
message.
NEWLY REGISTERED FAMILIES
September 2009
We welcome the following new parishioners into
our parish Family here at St. Philip Neri!
The Carpenter Family The Munford Family
The Olson Family The Seimes Family
REMEMBRANCE MASS
Holy Mother Church has designated
November to be the month of the Holy Souls.
Our Annual Remembrance Mass is celebrated on the second Tuesday of
November. This year it will be November
10, 2009.
At the Remembrance Mass, we remember by
name, each person who has died within the past ten (10) months. As the name is called, a family member of
the deceased goes up to the sanctuary and receives a candle in memory of their
loved one.
Each family who has lost a loved one
has already received an invitation to this Mass with a Response Card. We ask that the Response Card be returned on
or before Wednesday, October 28th.
Although certain families have been invited, ALL ARE WELCOME.
Mass will be in the Church at 7:30
pm. Following Mass, there will be light
refreshments served in the meeting room of the Social Hall.
GO
FALCONS!!!
Calling all cheerleaders and mascots!!
All
boys and girls, grades 4-8, signups for Saint Philip Neri cheerleaders &
mascots are here! Registrations will take place at the Saint Philip Neri Social
Hall on Wednesday, October 28th from 7pm-8pm.
Registration
fee is $20.00 per squad member. If there are any questions, or cannot attend
that evening, please don‘t hesitate to call.
Head
coach: Kim Kline:
215-679-5895
Asst.
coach: Kelly Libor:
267-475-5306
Asst.
coach: Judy Gerhardt:
610-965-3129
LITTLE FLOWER
GIRLS CLUB
Little
Flower Girls Club is a Catholic Program for girls ages 5 and up based on
learning Catholic virtues through the lives of Catholic Saints, Scripture and
the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The next
meeting is November 5th in the SPN School Library from 6:30 pm –
8:00 pm. Questions, please email joycepatrick@comcast.net.
ITALIAN HOLIDAY
TRIP
If anyone
would be interested in a visit to the eternal city of Rome and travel to Assisi
as well as Padre Pio’s home church, and end our visit in Venice around late
Fall of 2010, please call Kathy at: 267-923-5173. Our stay would be between eight to ten days.
ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS
Letter from Our Cardinal
October 19, 2009
Dear Faithful of the Archdiocese,
I have been
asked by an organization called The King’s Men to endorse a national initiative
to raise awareness of the terrible evil of pornography that has become a plague
in our society.
This effort
is being sponsored by a number of community and religious organizations to
enlist the help of all people of good will in combating this spreading vice in
our communities.
The week of
October 25 – November 1 has been designated as Pornography Awareness Week.
One tool
being used to raise awareness of this immoral activity is to ask individuals to
wear a white ribbon in support of this anti-pornography campaign. Another is to ask people to write to their
governmental leaders seeking their support in crafting and enforcing state
obscenity laws.
Recognizing
the damage that has been done to marriages, families and individuals as a
result of the widespread dissemination of pornography in recent times, I ask
you to encourage our faithful people to join in this crusade against
pornography.
Sincerely
yours in Christ,
Cardinal
Justin Rigali
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
CATHOLIC LIFE CONGRESS 2009
Saturday, November 14th
Archbishop Carroll High School
Celebration of the Eucharist:
The Most Reverend Robert P. Maginnis
Keynote Address: Joseph
Paprocki
Presentacion principal: Marta McGlade
Download the
registration at:
:www.archdiocese-phl.org/evangelization/clg.htm.
For information
call: 215-587-5667.
AREA PARISH NEWS
SOCIETY OF ST.
VINCENT DE PAUL
The Society
of St. Vincent de Paul will be at St. Eleanor Church, 647 Locust Street,
Collegeville on November 7th & 8th, from 9:00 am –
2:00 pm to collect donations of usable men’s, women’s, and children’s
clothing. They will also be accepting
small household goods (beds and bath linens, pots, pans, dishes, cooking
utensils, toys, books, small appliances in good working order). You are invited to take all donations to the
society’s trailer in the parking lot of the location noted above. Tax receipts are available upon
request.
The Society
also offers pick-up service for furniture/large appliances and vehicle
donations.
AREA NEWS
ST. MARY’S
CONFIRMATION PREP
c/o Tom Dewees
WILL YOU TAKE THE
CHALLENGE?
Father
Chuck’s Challenge is committed to building homes and providing the basics of
life for the needy of Nicaragua. In
this “Year of the Priest”, St. Mary’s Confirmation PREP, Schwenksville, is
taking up the challenge of helping to “shelter the homeless” by sponsoring a
two (2) mile WALK FOR THE POOR on Saturday, November 7th at Upper
Salford Park in Salfordville beginning at 10:00 am.
Please
consider this an invitation to join our students and families as a walker or a
sponsor. For an information packet,
please contact Tom Dewees at 610-287-8317 or by email at: s880hydros@aol.com. Pre-registration is required.
Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen
and grow—a day at a time.
Sunday,
October 25, 2009
Thirtieth
Sunday in Ordinary Time
Do you see what I see?
Two tourists are sitting in a
small, ancient church in Wales at twilight when a girl of about 12 enters
holding the hand of a boy who must be her younger brother. As the two make
their way forward, the girl gently guides the boy’s hand along the rough stone
wall. They stop at a statue of Mary to trace her face and feel the cold marble
folds of her gown. At that altar the girl places her brother’s hands around the
candlesticks; he feels the tabernacle, and the crucifix. Then they leave. As
the door closes behind them, one tourist remarks to the other, “Isn’t it a pity
that boy couldn’t see how beautiful this church is?” Her companion replies,
“Are you kidding? He saw more than either of us.”
Today’s readings: Jeremiah 31:7-9; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52
“I want to
see.”
Monday,
October 26
Free at last
On the surface today’s gospel is
about the healing of a woman whose physical freedom and range of motion had
been severely restricted for 18 years because of a crippling disease. Yet it is
also about the healing all of us require, for who among us has not entered
adulthood “wounded” at some level that restricts our spiritual freedom? Jesus
frames his activity in terms of “setting free” one who was in bondage. Most of
us would gladly get in line for that kind of healing. The good news is, we
don’t have to wait in line—Jesus is ready to perform such healing acts right
now. Ask and you shall receive.
Today’s readings: Romans 8:12-17;
Luke 13:10-17
“Ought not this woman . . . be set free from
this bondage?”
Tuesday,
October 27
Hope in the unseen
The mustard seed is small even for
seeds, too small perhaps for birds to see as they fly. Yet this is the seed
that Jesus picks out to represent his kingdom. The seed that birds cannot see
eventually becomes a home for them. In the full-grown tree the birds will not
consider how their place of rest came to be from an invisible seed. Our
situation is much different from the birds’, however, for in our lives our place
of rest, our hope must be in that mustard seed. Saint Paul wrote to the early
Christians: “Hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But
if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Today take
rest in the invisible.
Today’s readings: Romans 8:18-25;
Luke 13:18-21
“What is the
kingdom of God like? . . . It is like a mustard seed that someone took and
sowed in the garden.”
Wednesday,
October 28
Feast of Simon and Jude, apostles
Take the hard road
We assume the apostles must have
been solid, holy people because Jesus handpicked them to be part of his inner
circle of friends and disciples. But the gospels present quite a different
picture. These were ordinary people who weren’t always clear about Jesus’
message, who occasionally turned their back on Jesus even when he was most in
need, and who struggled with their own faith. The apostles’ relationship with
Jesus as well as their faith was a work in progress that ultimately brought
them closer to God. Like the apostles, we, too, encounter struggles in our
relationship with Jesus and our faith. Allow your struggles and missteps to
become another positive step in getting to know God more deeply.
Today’s readings: Ephesians 2:19-22;
Luke 6:12-16
“You are no
longer strangers and aliens, but . . . also members of the household of God.”
Thursday,
October 29
Degrees of separation
For those times when God seems
distant or absent, when people move through their day and don’t see signs of
God anywhere, it’s easy to forget that God is behind it all. Yet even a world
that feels more haunted rather than filled with God’s presence is still beloved
creation—the expression of God’s overflowing love. A number of spiritual
masters have suggested the practice of seeing God in all things. After all, if
God really did create everything, it must be possible to find a string in every
moment that leads back to the divine. Saint Paul, for one, was sure nothing in
the universe could separate people from God. And why not? It all comes from the
one who made it.
Today’s readings: Romans 8:31b-39;
Luke 13:31-35
“For I am
convinced that neither . . . height, nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord.”
Friday,
October 30
Dining with “the enemy”
Despite his differences with the
Pharisees, Jesus never stopped communicating with them, even going so far as to
dine with them. And if they were not particularly open to his message, they at
least were impressed enough to invite him to dinner and hear him out. In an age
where public differences of opinion, played out as they are in front of the
ever-present media, seem to descend to the level of insult and demonization,
you can share a meal with someone with whom you disagree. Though you may not
settle all your differences in a meal (or ever), you can agree to disagree on
some matters—and perhaps still agree on a favorite dessert!
Today’s readings: Romans 9:1-5;
Luke 14:1-6
“Jesus was
going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal.”
Saturday,
October 31
Feast of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
Have a seat!
Please sit down. Anywhere’s fine.
Just be forewarned: Where you sit now affects your place for all eternity.
Here’s the fine print of our existence we all too often disregard: Our comfort
and our neighbor’s discomfort are inextricably linked. The disciples who hoped
to sit on either side of Jesus were invited to drink from a bitter cup first.
Young Mary of Nazareth may have perceived that when she agreed to take one of
the lowest places in history: that of the unmarried pregnant teenager. The
church tells us she’s now enthroned as Queen of Heaven. Where would you like to
sit?
Today’s readings: Romans 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29; Luke 14:1, 7-11
“Go and sit down at the lowest
place, so that . . . your host may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.”
