Church
of Saint Philip Neri
Pennsburg, PA 18073
December 20,
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
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ, it is my prayer that this holy season may be a time
of grace and joy for you and your families.
On behalf of everyone in the rectory and our parish Staff, we wish you
all a blessed and joyous Christmas.
You are all remembered in the Christmas Masses,
and may the child of Bethlehem guard and protect you always. Merry Christmas!
Fr. Roncase
DAILY MASS
SCHEDULE –
December 26th
– January 2nd
The daily Masses during Christmas week, Saturday,
December 26th thru Saturday, January 2, 2010, will be celebrated in
Church.
Serving at Mass December
20
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Kathryn
Talbot Ed
Tryon
Bob Talbot
Priest
Linda Benko
Dave Moser
Trudy Moser
7:30 am – Joan
Varallo Pete
Frank
Wally Varallo Ernie
Quatrani
Priest
Michele Martin
Mary R. Giambrone
Mike Heveran
9:30 am – Ken
Mayer Sue
DiMarco
Marilynn Mayer M.
Gehringer
Priest
Deacon
Priest
Jenny Josko
Lester Kemp
Christine Kemp
Josh Hewitt
Lillian Hewitt
Irene Novelli
Bill Orr
11:00am – Priest Adam
Canigiani
Deacon D.
McCausland
Priest
Kevin Charlton
Maryanne Charlton
Amanda Charlton
Tinamarie Evans
Anna Kells
Mary Lavin
Serving at Mass December
24
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Ken
Mayer D.
McCausland
Marilynn Mayer
Fr. Roncase
Deacon Franks
John Nash
Monica Nash
Dina Corrado
8:00 pm – Paul
Moser Michelle
Charlton
Maureen Moser S.
Hunsberger
Fr. Smart
Fr. Roncase
Deacon Franks
Jenny Josko
Midnight – Mary
Ellen Paulk Pete Frank
Rose Andersn Linda
Franks
Fr. Roncase
Deacon Franks
Sandy Shellaway
Tony Shellaway
Sarah Franks
Serving at Mass December
25
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
8:00 am – Pete
D’Amico John
Gilmore
LaRue Emmell Theresa
Gilmore
Barnabite Father
Fr. Roncase
Dawn Ellis
Marianne Peters
10:00 am – Mary
Goodfellow George
Kirkwood
Marci Jaman Mark
Meinzer
Barnabite Father
Deacon Franks
Father Roncase
Bob Schwind
Serving at Mass December
27
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Dianne
Kennedy S.
Hunsberger
Patrick Kennedy
Priest
Deacon
Priest
Linda Franks
Dawn Ellis
John Burke
Alice Swift
Lee Johnson
Janet Kendra
LaRue Emmell
7:30 am – Wally
Varallo Michael
Lynch
Joan Varallo John
Guckin
Priest
Denise Guckin
Paul Moser
Maureen Moser
9:30 am – Mary
Ellen Paulk Matthew
Horvath
Rose Anderson Eileen
Koch
Priest
Marianne Peters
Sharon Shaak
Stephanie Greczek
11:00 am – Jeanne
Hermley M. Gehringer
Bob Hermley
Priest
Marlene Leidy
Sandy Shellaway
Tony Shellaway
DECORATING THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS
We will
be decorating the Church for Christmas on Tuesday evening, December 22nd,
beginning at 6:00 pm. Anyone is welcome
to help! Many hands make for quick
work. Pizza will be provided for dinner.
CHRISTMAS MASSES
Christmas
Eve, December 24th:
5:00 PM
8:00 PM
12:00 Midnight
Christmas
Day, December 25th:
8:00 AM
10:00 AM
HOLY DAY – JANUARY
1st
New Years Day, the Feast of Mary Mother of God is
a Holy Day with the obligation to attend Mass.
Mass times are:
Thursday, December 31st:
5:00
PM Vigil
Friday, January 1st:
8:00
AM
10:00
AM
FOURTH SUNDAY OF
ADVENT
December 20, 2009
Monday, December 21,
Peter Canisius
8:00 am – Joseph
Kulka, Ignatius Sagan,
Francis
McWilliams, & Alexander LeGrand,
(Henry & Rita
Tokarski)
Tuesday, December 22
8:00 am – Helen
& Joseph Swann, (daughter Charlotte)
Wednesday,
December, John Kanty
7:00 pm – John
Virus, (Family)
Thursday,
December, Vigil of Christmas
8:00 am – Noreen
Bauer, (Stephen Gardian)
5:00 pm – Mass in Church – no Intentions
8:00 pm – Mass in Church – no Intentions
Midnight – Mass in Church – no Intentions
Friday, December 25,
Nativity of the Lord/Christmas
8:00 am – Mass in Church – no Intentions
10:00 am – Mass in Church – no Intentions
Saturday, December
26, Stephen
8:00 am – Mass in
Church
Charles Sailer, (Mary Ellen,
Rose & Ray)
5:00 pm – For the
living & deceased members
of the Parish.
HOLY FAMILY OF
JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH
December 27, 2009
7:30 am – Theodore
& Josephine Mikanowicz, (Family)
9:30 am – John
McManus, (Anne Dykie)
11:00 am – Loraine
Escbach, (Tom, Nancy & Sarah)
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 Brinckman, Carla
Kozak, Bill Kulp, Janice Minnich, Al Kornak, Michael Sinisko Jr., Bob McCarty,
Christine Keer, Christine Erb, Jean Kosich, Patrick Malloy, Tom Brogan, William McAffee, Garrett Sterner
& Delia Grim.
For those who have died, and in particular for, Richard
Trumbore, grant them eternal rest and peace.
SUNDAY COLLECTIONS
Due to the Christmas holiday schedule, our Sunday
collections will be posted as follows:
Sunday, December 13th will be
posted in the bulletin dated December 27th.
Sunday, December 20th will be
posted in the bulletin dated January 10th.
Sunday, December 27th will be
posted in the bulletin dated January 10th.
ACTIVITIES -
*BINGO*
No
Bingo next Thursday, December 24th
Have
a Merry Christmas!
See
you in the New Year!
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 Wayne Brinckman, by Edgar & Mary Stauffer, & co-workers of PPL
Corporation
We also
have “Living Memorials” for those
special occasions in life.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS THIS WEEK
Sunday, December 20th
– Children’s Liturgy of the Word – at the 9:30 am Mass
Sunday, December 20th
– Little Church-gym- 9:30 am
Sunday, December 20th
– CYO Sports – gym – 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 20th
– Men’s 30 & Over Basketball – gym – 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Monday, December 21st
– CYO Sports – gym – 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Monday, December 21st
– Charismatic Prayer Group – Chapel – 7:00 pm
Tuesday, December 22nd –
Decorating Church for Christmas – 6:00 pm
Tuesday, December 22nd
– Choir & Cantor Practice – Church – 6:00 pm
Tuesday, December 22nd
– Boy Scouts – gym – 7pm
Tuesday, December 22nd
– CYO Sports – gym – 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, December 23rd
– SPN School Noon dismissal
Wednesday, December 23rd
– No PREP – Religious Ed
Wednesday, December 23rd
– CYO Sports – gym – 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Thursday, December 24th
– No Bingo
Thursday, December 24th
– No School
Thursday, December 24th
– Respect Life Ministry – Food for the Homeless – rectory – 5:15 pm
Thursday, December 24th
– Christmas Eve Masses in Church: 5:00
pm; 8:00 pm; & Midnight
Friday, December 25th
– Christmas Day Masses in Church: 8:00
am; & 10:00 am
Saturday, December 26th
– Mass in Church – 8:00am
Saturday, December 26th
– CYO Sports – gym – 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday, December 27th
– Children’s Liturgy of the Word – at the 9:30 am Mass
Sunday, December 27th
– NO Little Church
Sunday, December 27th
– CYO Sports – gym – 12:00 noon – 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 27th
– Men’s 30 & Over Basketball – gym – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
UPCOMING
MEETINGS
CYO Sports – Monday,
December 28th – gym – 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
New Year’ Eve Party
Set-up – Wednesday, December 30th – in the gym all day
No PREP/Religious Ed –
Wednesday, December 30th
No Bingo – Thursday,
December 31st
Holy Day Vigil Mass –
Thursday, December 31st – in Church at 5:00 pm
New Year’s Eve Parish
Party – Thursday, December 31st – 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
Holy Day Masses in
Church – Friday, January 1st – 8:00 am & 10:00 am
No Adoration – Friday,
January 1st
Energy Committee
Meeting – Saturday, January 2nd – gym -10:00 am
CYO Sports – Saturday,
January 2nd – gym – 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Children’s Liturgy of
the Word – Sunday, January 3rd – at the 9:30 am Mass
Little Church – Sunday,
January 3rd – gym – 9:30am
Youth Ministry – The
EDGE Grade School – Sunday, January 3rd – gym – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm;
Teens Living in Christ – 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
CYO Sports – Sunday,
January 3rd – gym – 12:00 noon – 8:00 pm
Men’s 30 & Over
Basketball – Sunday, January 3rd – gym – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
PREP SCHEDULE
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 – 6pm
April 24th
– First Holy Communion – in Church at 10:00 am
April 28th – last class
May 2010:
May 11th – Marian May Procession – in
Church at 6:30 pm
SCHOOL
NEWS
St.
Philip Neri School
Honor
Roll
December
2009
|
Grade |
Distinguished Honors |
First Honors |
Second Honors |
|
4 |
|
Rosario
LaSpina Claire
Stoll |
GraceAnne
Shrift Mandy
Shrom Marissa
Wahl Cassidy
Wright |
|
5 |
Danilo
Perez Ashley
Serafin Laura
Vetter |
Nora
Myers |
Thomas
Beck Kate
Ferdock Meghan
McCausland Ian
Stephens |
|
6 |
|
Hannah
Mattaliano Richard
Smith Cooper
Wright |
Hayley
Martin Meaghan
McKiernan |
|
7 |
Keira
Koch Patrick
Souder |
Emily
Beck Nicholas
Camarata Patrick
Vetter |
Allison
McCausland Elizabeth
Mullaney Lauren
Pera Lauren
Serafin Charles
Stoll Morgan
Tielemans |
|
8 |
|
Isabel
Perez Zachary
Washko Joshua
Williams |
|
PARISH NEWS
Needed: A few good men and women to become a
Friendly Visitor and/or a H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Enthusiastically)
Volunteer. A short Orientation Program is required before beginning.
If you can serve God’s people as a
Friendly Visitor or, a H.O.P.E. Volunteer, please call Sister Patricia Kelly,
M.S.B.T. at the Parish Outreach Office: 215-679-2282. If no answer, please speak slowly and leave your name and
number. Please say the number, twice.
MARTHA MINISTRY
Martha Ministry is an associate
ministry of Bereavement. The Martha
Ministers are representatives of St. Philip Neri Faith Community. They offer consolation and support to a bereaved
family at the time of loss of a loved one.
Volunteers (Martha Helpers) will offer food or dessert, if wanted. The Martha Minister will call/visit the
family (if they agree) and will attend the Funeral Mass as the Parish
Representative. Follow-up will
continue, as needed or wanted.
If interested in being a minister or
helper, please contact Kathy Talbot at: 215-541-0250 or Sister Patricia Kelly,
M.S.B.T. at the Parish Outreach Office: 215-679-2282.
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 – January 11th.
PRICE INCREASE:
BUILDING & LIVING MEMORIALS
Due to rising printing costs, the Building and
Living Memorials will increase to $35.00 effective January 1, 2010.
WELCOME COMMITTEE
NEW MEMBERS NEEDED!
If you haven’t been born and raised in the area,
you know how you felt when you first moved into the parish. You don’t know anyone. Did you know that St. Philip Neri Church has
a Welcome Committee? Did you know that
we contact new parishioners soon after they register in the parish and tell
them all about the parish, its activities and groups within the Parish. Our parish is growing; so our Welcome
Committee is growing. We need a few
good men or women, or couples to contact these new families – the more the
merrier! We meet four (4) times a year
to find way to improve our approach to new families. Can we count on you?
For more information, please contact Joan Lampart
at 215-529-5686 or email to jmlampart@verizon.net
(please put SPN Welcome Committee on the Subject Line so I will know it is from
a parishioner.)
QUILTERS NEEDED!
Saint Philip Neri Church Quilting Group is in need
of Quilters. Come join our group and
have fellowship as we quilt.
If anyone is interested, please call:
Connie:
610-287-9829
Rita: 215-679-7009
or
Joan: 215-234-4813
BOY
SCOUT TROOP 591 PRESENTS
THE POLAR EXPRESS
ON THE BIG SCREEN AT
THE GRAND THEATRE, EAST
GREENVILLE
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Movie starts at 4:15 pm
Admission $5 per person
All proceeds from
admission go to Troop 591. Please come
out with the family
enjoy a great Holiday
movie,
and support the Boy
Scouts of Troop 591!
COME-N-GO BINGO
St. Philip Neri Social Hall
Saturday – January 9, 2010
Doors open at 6:00 pm
Games begin at 6:30 pm
Cost: $.25/game
Menu: hotdogs, bar-b-que
& drinks
If you bring a non-perishable item to benefit Open Line, you play
two free games of bingo!
Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus
FREE THROW CONTEST
St. Philip Neri Social Hall
Monday – January 18, 2010
Registrations begin at 6:30 pm.
This
contest is for boys and girls ages ten (10) years old thru fourteen (14) years
old.
Questions? Call Bernie at:
215-679-8275
Sponsored by: The Knights of Columbus
PARISH YOUTH
MINISTRY
Christmas Poinsettias - The Youth Group will once again be selling Christmas Poinsettias
this weekend after Masses.
Meeting - Our next
meeting will be January 3rd.
The past few weeks have been very busy – assisting at Open Line,
Thanksgiving Mass, meetings and such.
If you feel called to a deeper level of your faith, please join us right
after the New Year.
Thank you – On
behalf of all the Youth members of the parish, we just want to thank the St.
Philip’s family for supporting us throughout the year. Our bi-weekly meetings have yielded thirty
or more teens excited to learn more about their faith and put it into
action. May God bless you all during
this Season of Advent and always.
MARCH FOR LIFE
Join Father
Roncase as he leads our parish on the “March for Life” in Washington, D.C. on Friday,
January 22, 2010. The bus will leave
from St. Philip Neri parking lot after the 7:30 am Mass. Cost is $28 per person (includes dinner and
metro pass). $20 per student (dinner
and metro pass inclusive also)
On this, the
37th Anniversary of the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision which legalized
abortion, we ask you to join THOUSANDS from across our great land, in our
nation’s capitol to discourage our new president from fulfilling his campaign
promises, to abolish all existing laws that protect unborn children. We will park at RFK Stadium.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!
Sponsored by
St. Philip Neri
Call the
rectory office for more information, to make payment and to reserve your seat!
ST. PHILIP NERI, EAST GREENVILLE
Students excel at:
St. Pius X High School
Our parish
recently received notification of the performance of our high school students
on the First Quarter Report. We are
particularly proud of those who demonstrated academic excellence.
Students who
achieved First Honors include: Bryan Washko’11, Katrina Faust’12, Regina
Souder’13 & Eric Wahl ’13.
Among those
earning Second Honors were the
following students from our parish: Ellen Knauff ’11, Alessandra Lowe ’11 Matthew Davis ’12, Emily
Guckin ’12, Joseph Williams ’12, Christopher Hillegass ’13, Austin Jaman
’13, Starla Lata ’13, Emilia Lowe ’13, & Jacqueline Smith
NEWLY
REGISTERED FAMILIES
October &
November 2009
We welcome the following new
parishioners into our parish Family here at St. Philip Neri!
The Brown Family The Kilker Family
The Clancy Family The Smith Family
The DiPinto Family The Undercoffler Family
The Garry Family TheWarmington Family
The Gavinski Family The Willing Family
The Argueta Family
The Highleyman Family
The Laylon Family
The Smith Family
OUR PARISH BULLETIN NEEDS YOUR HELP!
It is provided free of
charge to our Parish and provides important revenues!
Please consider having
your business, service, or professional practice recommended to all our Parish
families.
Please call Jim Finnen this week:
Cell Phone: 610-653-2145
Home Phone: 610-838-2238
This is one of the few
inexpensive, local advertising opportunities left in our area and our Parish
thanks you!
ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS
Office of the
Cardinal
December 25,
2009
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with you!
The words of the Prophet Isaiah resound at the Vigil of Christmas, “For
Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet”
(Isaiah 62:1). The Church proclaims
with renewed joy and vigor the birth of her Savior, the dawn of our salvation. With
profound conviction, the Church announces to the men and women of our age the
light and hope which can be found only in this Child who was born so humbly in
a stable.
This celebration of the birth of the Lord places before us the
opportunity to recognize with ever deeper faith the mystery of the Father’s
love fully revealed in the gift of His Son and the call to love God and
neighbor in response to this gift. In
the face of our weaknesses and sinfulness, it is Christ who gives us hope by
making known the mercy of God and who calls us to show that mercy to others. Amidst
war and the economic uncertainties faced by our nation, it is Christ who
strengthens us to face these challenges with courage as to shed light upon the
darkness which so often marks our world.
I ask the Lord to deepen your faith that it may bear fruit in charity and
hope, renewing your desire to live every more fully the mystery which we
celebrate.
Sincerely in Christ,
Cardinal Justin Rigali
ST. CHARLES
BORROMEO SEMINARY COURSES
Is God calling you
to a deeper knowledge of Himself? Take
a theology class at one of the best seminaries in the country, right here in
our own Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
This spring, consider a class on the Theology of Liturgical Music and
its Pastoral Applications, John Paul II and the New Evangelization, Johannine
Literature, or the Cathechism of the Catholic Church: Pillars II and IV. Can’t travel to the Seminary each week? Consider an online course on Catholics and
the Economy. A study of Caritas in
Veritate, the Synoptic Gospels, or the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Pillars II and IV. Registration deadline is January 11th. Classes start January 25th. Register today at www.StudyCatholicTheology,com.
TV MASS
2010 Sunday
Missals -
Now available
The
Archdiocesan office for Communications has copies of the 2010 Sunday Missal
available for homebound parishioners who view the television Mass on WPVI-TV,
every Sunday at 5:30 am.
If you or
someone you know is interested in receiving a missal free of charge (donations
are accepted; a postage paid envelope is included) please contact the Office
for Communications at 215-587-3747 or
communof@adphila.org
ARCHDIOCESAN BOY CHOIR OF PHILADELPHIA
Presents: For the Birth of
Christ –
A Concert of Christmas Music
this Sunday – December 20th
- 3:00 pm
St. Colman Church – Ardmore, PA
Freewill donations accepted at the door
DO YOU KNOW YOUR
TRIBUNAL?
The
Tribunal is a group of specially qualified priests, sisters, and lay persons
whose responsibility is to come to the help of people who have experienced
divorce.
When a
divorce occurs, the Catholic Church always seeks to balance two realities. One is the unbreakableness of the bond of
marriage. This is God’s law. It cannot be broken by human
intervention. On the other hand, the
Church is concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people involved. Was this a true marriage? Even though a Catholic marriage was
celebrated, was there perhaps some weakness in the consent of the parties
involved? The annulment procedure
addresses this problem without affixing blame on either party.
If you are
divorced or married outside the Catholic Church, please telephone the Tribunal
Office. Have no fear. All interviews
are private.
The Tribunal
222 N. 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19101
215-587-3750
CATHOLIC SOCIAL
SERVICES
Catholic
Social Services is looking for single or married adults to become foster
parents to children of all ages and races.
There is a special need for families who can provide care to Teenagers –
a population that needs love, guidance, and support as they move into
adulthood.
To learn
about becoming a foster parent, please call us at 215-587-3960!
The Tribunal
222 N. 17th
Street
Philadelphia, PA
19101
215-587-3750
AREA PARISH NEWS
BINGO
Saint Aloysius – Begley Hall
Beech & Penn Streets – Pottstown
ALL CASH
Every Monday at 6:30 pm
Large JACKPOTS!
Call Martha or Chet: 610-323-6263
Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen
and grow—a day at a time.
Sunday,
December 20, 2009
Fourth Sunday
of Advent
A little means a lot
Most of our lives are made up not
of big, dramatic events but little, ordinary ones—many of which seem hard to
connect to faith. The things of everyday life, though, can lead you to holiness
if you do them with an awareness of the presence of God. God is revealed in the
small as well as the great. Bethlehem was a small town, but a prophecy had said
it would be the birthplace of a king. A mustard seed is the smallest of seeds,
yet it grows into a large bush, Jesus said; faith the size of a mustard seed
can move mountains and uproot trees. Little things, even the least, hold the
power of big things. Unleash the power of the little in your life.
Today’s readings: Micah 5:1-4a;
Hebrews
10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
“But you, O
Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you
shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel.”
Monday,
December 21
Feast of Peter Canisius, priest, doctor
of the church
How to get things done
Have you noticed there are only
four more shopping days left till Christmas? Better get moving or there won’t
be enough time to put up the decorations, finish addressing the Christmas
cards, get the food prepared, and clean up the house for the guests. Maybe you
need to beg the intercession of today’s saint, Peter Canisius (1521-1597), who
is known as the patron saint of getting things done. He used to say, “If you
have too much to do, with God’s help you will find time to do it all.” Hey,
it’s worth a try. Otherwise, you might need to call on Saint Jude, patron of
hopeless causes!
Today’s readings: Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-45
“Blessed is
she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by
the Lord.”
Tuesday,
December 22
Advent weekday
Leap and be lifted
In these final few days before
Christmas it’s good to remember just what happened in the coming of Jesus: God
reached into our humanity and lifted us into life with God. Mary knew that. In
her song known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-56), from the Latin
translation of its opening words, “My soul magnifies the Lord,” she celebrates
how the Lord had “looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely,
from now on all generations will call me blessed.” Exalted—lifted up—she
exulted: rejoiced, literally “leaped up” in joy to praise what God had done for
her and all people. So do a little exulting today: Start or end your day with
Mary’s words of praise and gratitude.
Today’s readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28;
Luke 1:46-56
“He has . . .
lifted up the lowly.”
Wednesday,
December 23
Feast of John of Kanty, priest
Absorb evil
If John of Kanty in 15th-century
Poland could have known he would one day be venerated as a saint, he would have
been astonished and embarrassed. Although he was a brilliant scripture scholar,
he was also a very humble parish priest who had enemies. Even when treated
unfairly for years, he could accept unjust blame and criticism without
flinching because he believed that he could protect his parishioners and defeat
the power of evil by absorbing it into himself. Some say that is what Jesus did
in relation to death—evil’s ultimate weapon: He took it into himself, and there
defeated it. In a culture of blame like our own, the ability to defuse violence
and anger is a rare gift but one we should cultivate more than seeking revenge
or proving ourselves right when wronged.
Today’s readings: Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Luke 1:57-66
“See, I am
sending my messenger to prepare the way before me.”
Thursday,
December 24
Advent weekday
Praise the son
Perhaps you’ve heard the notion of
the “father wound,” the emotional pain—often accompanied by real-life
consequences—suffered by a man who does not receive support and approval from
his father. Studies suggest that nearly every man in prison will describe his
relationship with his biological father in negative terms. John the Baptist had
no such problem, judging by the wonderful words of praise his father Zechariah
showered upon him at his birth. As we prepare to commemorate and celebrate the
birth of the Savior, take a moment to reach out with words of encouragement and
support to a son—your own or someone else’s. He could use a word of blessing.
Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Luke 1:67-79
“And you,
child, will be called the prophet of the Most High.”
Friday, December
25
Solemnity of
the Nativity of the Lord
Unwrap the first of eight gifts
Children carry the hope of
Christmas in them through Advent’s long weeks. They’re full of wonder at the
pageantry of the season: colored lights and decorations, carols and stories,
Santa Claus and all those lovely wrapped boxes under the tree. When Christmas
morning dawns, they can’t contain themselves. We might ask ourselves: What have
we been waiting for? The church has a gift for all of us: an Octave of joy,
eight days to unpack the wonder of this season. Today, unwrap the gift of compassion.
If you need some, take some. And then give the rest away. Merry Christmas.
Today’s readings: Isaiah 9:1-6;
Titus
2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14
“The people
who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”
Saturday,
December 26
Second day in
the Octave of Christmas; Feast of Stephen, first martyr
Don’t blame the messenger
Saint Stephen was stoned to death
by people who—to put it mildly—did not want to hear what he was saying. His
opponents had refused to accept Jesus, and they were infuriated when Stephen
reminded them that their ancestors also had rejected God’s messengers and
prophets. None of us likes our “dirty laundry” aired in public, but, as
philosopher George Santayana put it, “Those who do not learn from the past are
doomed to repeat it.” Accept the gift of wisdom today and learn from
your mistakes.
Today’s readings: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22
“When they
heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen.”
