Church
of Saint Philip Neri
Pennsburg, PA 18073
December 27,
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 OFFICE OF
Sister Patricia Kelly,
M.S.B.T.
“CHRISTMAS! Never was there such a word!
The mystery of the Incarnation gave us that word....No word can gather
and fix the thought of multitudes and generations as the word, Christmas. Christmas!
No word makes heave and earth so akin.” (Father Thomas A. Judge, C.M., 1928)
The verbs in the above
paragraph are all in the present tense.
That’s because Christmas is NOT over! Jesus Christ is to be born in our hearts every day! What kind of Christmas should we have every
day to have Christ be born in our hearts?
To answer that, we have to look at what Jesus teaches us to do.
While on earth, Jesus taught us to call God, our Father. He taught us to seek the Kingdom of Heaven, first,
and everything else will be added. He
taught us to love our enemies; do good to those who hate us; to do for others
what He has done for us.
Humanly speaking, it is not easy to have Jesus born in our hearts every
day. But we are more than human
- we are also spiritual. Developing our
spiritual lives enables us to have Jesus born in our hearts every day. As I said - Christmas is NOT over!
Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in his encyclical Charity in Truth
(Caritas in Veritate) speaks of developing a life style that preserves the
environment. Some of what he said about
development is related to having Jesus born in our hearts, every day by deepening
our spiritual lives.
The Pope said “in the face of the enormous problems surrounding the
development of peoples, which almost makes us yield to discouragement, we turn
to Christ. If we are open to God,
we are open to our fellow men and women.
That is why, at its heart, development is a spiritual issue, and for
this reason we must focus on the spiritual life. We must trust in God, experience ‘spiritual fellowship in
Christ,’ and rely on God’s providence and mercy, love and
forgiveness, self-denial, acceptance of others, justice and peace.”
Do
you enjoy Christmas - the celebration of Emanuel with us; the birth of
Christ? Then let Him be born again and
again and again.
I leave you in the warmth of
the Trinity
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
December
31,
Serving at Mass January
1
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
Octave of Christmas:
The Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of God
5:00 pm – Kathryn
Talbot Wendy
Benner
Bob Talbot Terry
Benner
Priest
Deacon
Mark Meinzer
Pat Meinzer
8:00 am – Jim
Michels Pete
Frank
Immaculata Barndt
Priest
Lori Brozena
Peter D’Amico
Michael Duka
10:00 am – Lillian
Hewitt Joe Cassarella
Joshua Hewitt
Priest
Jeff Daley
Eleanor Brennan
Bob Brennan
Serving at Mass January
3
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Dave
Boone Mark
Meinzer
Teri Boone Ernie
Quatrani
Priest
Deacon
Marci Jaman
Catherine Cahill
7:30 am – Pat
Scheerbaum Michael
Lynch
Mike Heveran Pete
Frank
Priest
Deacon
Mary R. Giambrone
Dina Corrado
9:30 am – Ed Tryon Susan DiMarco
Alicia Tryon M.
Gehringer
Priest
Priest
Mary Weber
Michael Dougherty
11:00 am – Mary
Goodfellow Eileen Davis
Priest Luke
Verna
Priest
Linda DiTondo
Doug DiTondo
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
HOLY FAMILY OF
JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH
December 27, 2009
Monday, December 28,
Holy Innocents
8:00 am – Mass in
Church, 13th Anniversary, Anna Nagle
(Anderson & Rohl Families)
Tuesday, December 29,
Thomas Becket
8:00 am – Mass in
Church, Anna & Andrew Kotch,
(Catherine Cressman)
Wednesday,
December 30
7:00 pm – Lila
& Paul Smith, (Estate)
Thursday, December
31, Sylvester I
8:00 am – Mass in
Church,
Stanley Piontkowski, (Joe & Stella
Cias)
5:00 pm – Mass in
Church – Edward Hurys, (Ed Hurys)
Friday, January 1,Blessed
Virgin Mary, Mother of God
8:00 am – Mass in
Church –
Stephen & Anne Cichocki,
(Catherine Wlazelek)
10:00 am – Mass in
Church
55th Anniversary,
Joseph Grochowski,
(Rich & Barbara
Grochowski)
Saturday, January
2, St. Basil & St. Gregory
8:00 am – Mass in
Church,
Mary Rose Slemmer (Ann &
Walter Schmidt)
5:00 pm – For the
living & deceased members
of the Parish.
THE EPIPHANY OF
THE LORD
January 3, 2010
7:30 am – June
Gardian, (Stephen Gardian)
9:30 am – Joan
Lonergan, (Souder Family)
11:00 am – Robert
Preston, (Jerry & Joan Mullaney)
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 & Robert Engler.
For those who have died, grant them eternal rest and peace.
SUNDAY COLLECTIONS
December 14, 2008 December
13, 2009
Envelope:
$ 9,435.76 $
8,189.00
Loose:
1,909.00 633.00
Children: 66.85 59.00
Total: $11,411.61 $ 8,881.00
Christmas Flowers:
$ 627.00
Special collection: Retirement Fund:
$
2,308.00
SUNDAY COLLECTIONS
Due to the Christmas holiday schedule, our Sunday
collections will be posted as follows:
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 31st
Have
a Happy New Year!
Bingo –
December 10th
Players: 75
Games: $ 698.15
Kitchen: 213.85
Total: $ 912.00
Please note:
Baked goods are needed for Weekly Bingo and Monthly Breakfasts. If anyone would like to donate baked goods,
please call Rita at 215-679-7009.
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, requested by:
Dorothy
Krazek and family, Margaret Undercoffler, Joe & Sue Hracho, Denise and Mark
Cunningham,
& Don
and Marge Lammers.
In memory
of Henry Douglas, requested by:
Wife,
Dorothy Douglas.
We also
have “Living Memorials” for those
special occasions in life.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS THIS WEEK
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
Monday, December 28th
– CYO Sports – gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Wednesday, December 30th
– New Year’s Eve Party set-up in gym all day
Wednesday, December 30th
– No PREP
Thursday, December 31st
– No Bingo
Thursday, December 31st
– Holy Day Vigil Mass – in Church at 5:00 pm
Thursday, December 31st
– New Year’s Eve Parish Party – gym – 9:00 pm to 1:00 am
Friday, January 1st
– Holy Day Masses in Church: 8:00 am
& 10:00 am; no Adoration.
Saturday, January 2nd
– Energy Committee Meeting – gym – 10:00 am
Saturday, January 2nd
– CYO Sports – gym – 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sunday, January 3rd
– Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 am Mass
Sunday, January 3rd
– Little Church – gym-9:30am
Sunday, January 3rd
– Youth Ministry – gym – EDGE Grade School – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm; Teens Living in
Christ – High School – 7:30pm-9:00pm
Sunday, January 3rd
– CYO Sports – gym – 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm
Sunday, January 3rd
– Men’s 30 & Over Basketball – gym – 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
UPCOMING
MEETINGS
Pre-Jordan – Monday,
January 4th – at the rectory – 7:30 pm
Charismatic Prayer
Group – Monday, January 4th – in the Chapel – 7:00 pm
School begins – Monday,
January 4th
CYO Sports – Monday,
January 4th – gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Choir & Cantor
Practice – Tuesday, January 5th – at the Church – 6:00 pm
SPN Craft Guild –
Tuesday, January 5th – in the gym and Meeting Room – 1:00 pm
Boy Scouts – Tuesday,
January 5th – gym – 7:00 pm
CYO Sports – Tuesday,
January 5th – gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
PREP/Religious Ed –
Wednesday, January 6th – at the School – 6:00 pm
CYO Sports – Wednesday,
January 6th – gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Bingo – Thursday,
January 7th – gym – 6:30 pm
Cub Scouts – Thursday,
January 7th – at the School – 6:45 pm
Little Flowers Girl
Club – Thursday, January 7th – School – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
SPN Quilting – Friday,
January 8th – gym and Meeting Room – 1:00 pm
CYO Sports – Friday,
January 8th – gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Knights of Columbus
Come-n-Go Bingo – Saturday, January 10th – gym – 6:00 pm
CYO Sports – Saturday,
January 9th – gym – 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Children’s Liturgy of
the Word – Sunday, January 10th – at the 9:30 am Mass
Little Church – Sunday,
January 10th –gym- 9:30 am
Knights of Columbus
Meeting – Sunday, January 10th – at the rectory – 7:30 pm
Men’s 30 & Over
Basketball – Sunday, January 10th – gym – 8:00 pm to 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 –
Church-6:30 pm
SCHOOL
NEWS
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
LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE
The
1st Quarter 2010 Liturgical Ministers Schedule is also available on
the parish website. Paper copies are
available in the small room off the vestibule for those who do not have
internet access.
FROM THE PARISH OUTREACH OFFICE
Elizabeth Ministry is based on Mary’s visit to
her cousin Elizabeth (Luke: 39-55). With Jesus in her womb she hastened to
Elizabeth’s home so she could share her joy and awe at the power of God. Elizabeth’s pure and simple response must
have brought great comfort to her. The
Elizabeth Ministry hopes to support women in our parish who are expecting a
child or have recently given birth, too.
We seek to emulate Mary, our Mother, by sharing with other women in the
joys, challenges and sorrows of the childbearing years. If you or someone you know is expecting a
child or has given birth, please call us to share in your joy and receive
support in the challenges of motherhood.
We are willing listeners and can provide caring companionship, as Mary
offered to Elizabeth. Call the rectory at (215)679-9275 or LaRue Emmell at
(215)679-3086.
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.
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.)
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
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!
PARISH YOUTH
MINISTRY
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.
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.
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
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!
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
PA CareerLink and PerkUp Present Career Transition
Workshops at:
UPPER PERKIOMEN
VALLEY LIBRARY
350 Main Street, Red Hill
Career Link will offer
Workshops for UNEMPLOYED and UNDEREMPLOYED.
Unemployed? Underemployed?
Need new job skills?
Maybe Careerlinks can help, at NO COST
Registration is
required.
Contact Michele Fillippo at: 215-679-3336
or email to:
PA CAREERLINK AND
PERKUP CAREER
TRANSITION WORKSHOPS
Week of January 11th & 18th
9:30 am – 10:00 am – CareerLink Orientation (1/13/10)
10:00 am -12:00 noon – Transferable Skills (1/13/10)
12:30 pm- 2:30 pm – Job Search (1/13/10)
10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Resume Writing (1/14/10)
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Interviewing Skills (l/14/10)
9:30 am – 10:00 am – CareerLink Orientation (1/20/10)
10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Transferable Skills (1/20/10)
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Job Search (1/20/10)
10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Resume Writing (1/22/10)
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Interviewing Skills (1/22/10)
CONTRIBUTION
STATEMENTS - 2009
Any parishioner wishing to receive a copy of their
2009 Contribution Statement, is asked to please call the rectory office:
215-679-9275. Copies will be mailed
upon request only.
PARISH BREAKFAST
Our next parish Breakfast is Sunday, January 24,
2010 from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm in the parish Hall. Please save the date!
PRICE INCREASE:
BUILDING & LIVING MEMORIALS
Due to rising printing costs, the Building and
Living Memorials will increase to $35.00 effective January 1, 2010.
THANK YOU!
The Home & School Association of St. Philip
Neri Elementary Grade School would like to thank everyone who came out and
helped with the Christmas Craft Show that was held on November 27th
& 28th and the Breakfast with Santa held on December 6th. Without your help, we could have never
pulled this together! Again, we THANK
YOU!
SPN RECTORY
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The rectory offices will be closed on the
following dates for the New Year Holiday:
Wednesday – December 30th, Thursday –
December 31st & Friday – January 1st. Offices reopen on Monday – January 4th.
ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS
ST. CHARLES BORROMEO SEMINARY COURSES
Is God calling you
to a deeper knowledge of Himself? 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
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!
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
AREA PARISH NEWS
BINGO
Saint Aloysius Church
in Begley Hall
Beech & Penn Streets –
Pottstown, PA
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 27, 2009
Third day in
the Octave of Christmas; Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
The worth of waiting
Waiting patiently is not a talent
many of us have. Our tendency is to fill the waiting with all kinds of things
to help us forget that we are waiting. Sometimes activity is good, but it can
also be a distraction that keeps us from being present to God. When you find
yourself in a situation calling for you to wait, consider embracing this quiet,
sometimes uncomfortable space. The saying of Catholic sisters, “She also serves
who sits and waits,” reminds us that patient waiting can be a gift to
our spirit and others.
Today’s readings: Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14 or 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52
“Clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
Monday,
December 28
Fourth day in
the Octave of Christmas; Feast of the Holy Innocents
Try a little kindness
One look at the daily news reminds
us: It’s a cold, cruel world out there. Innocence is slaughtered every day, not
only that one dreadful time when Herod set out to murder babies. The harshness
of the world can make us tough, self-protecting, and cold at the center: “Not
my job. Not my problem.” But the violence of our generation really is
our problem, and the job of responding to it can only be ours. We have one
great weapon in the war against cruelty. Today, unwrap the gift of kindness.
Use it liberally, especially on those who “trespass against you.”
Today’s readings: 1 John 1:5-2:2;
Matthew 2:13-18
"A voice was heard in Ramah .
. . Rachel weeping for her children.”
Tuesday,
December 29
Fifth day in
the Octave of Christmas
Your attention, please!
“Be attentive,” the theologian
Bernard Lonergan used to say, to which he added: “Be intelligent. Be
reasonable. Be responsible.” Do those and you will have understanding. In this
Christmas season, think of the attentiveness of Simeon. He was a devout and
righteous man who stayed in the Temple waiting for the salvation of the people.
When Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to Jerusalem, Simeon recognized
the savior immediately. Because of his humble faith, Simeon’s eyes were opened
by the Holy Spirit. Signs of God’s presence are around you, too. Ask the Spirit
to help you see them with the gift of attentiveness.
Today’s readings: 1 John 2:3-11;
Luke 2:22-35
“My eyes have
seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.”
Wednesday, December
30
Sixth day in
the Octave of Christmas
Give a little
When it comes to the virtue of
generosity, it’s easy to believe that wealthy people are the only ones who can
afford to be generous while the rest of us are just getting by from week to
week. But consider this: Generosity is a state of mind; it doesn’t depend on
the size of your bank account. To offer someone the gift of a genuine smile, a
hug, or a few minutes of attentive listening doesn’t cost a cent. When you are
generous in these simple ways, two things happen: You learn that you have
something to offer (which sometimes is a surprise), and the recipient learns
that he or she is worthy of the gift. Make it a point to give and receive the
gift of generosity today, and see what happens.
Today’s readings: 1 John 2:12-17;
Luke 2:36-40
“Yet the
world and its desire are passing away. But those who do the will of God live
forever.”
Thursday,
December 31
Seventh day in
the Octave of Christmas
Some friendly advice
The seventh day of Christmas is
also New Year’s Eve when many of us will find ourselves singing “Auld lang
syne,” which speaks of days long gone and the healing and joy one experiences
in remembering one’s most intimate friends and the moments that have sealed
those friendships. Companionship has marked the way of Christ from the day
Jesus first invited James and John, Peter and Andrew to be not only followers
but friends. Your own journey in Christ’s footsteps has undoubtedly been graced
by those who have walked with you. Say their names. Right now. Picture them,
call them, write to them, pray for them today. Give the gift of companionship.
Today’s readings: 1 John 2:18-21;
John 1:1-18
“The Word
became flesh and lived among us.”
Friday,
January 1, 2010
Eighth day in
the Octave of Christmas; World Day of Prayer for Peace
Warm to the idea of protecting creation
Within a couple of decades the
Arctic ice cap may disappear entirely in summer months because of global
warming, experts warn. The theme of today’s World Day of Prayer for Peace is
therefore quite timely: “If you want to cultivate peace, protect the creation.”
Citing the many environmental challenges, a Vatican statement cautions that “if
the human family is unable to face these new challenges with a renewed sense of
social justice and equity, and of international solidarity, we run the risk of
sowing seeds of violence among peoples, and between current generations and
those to come.” Pray for the gift of peace through the work you do to
protect God’s creation the whole year long.
Today’s readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21
“The Lord
bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be
gracious to you.”
Saturday,
January 2
Feast of Basil
the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops, doctors of the church
Share in a God-sized love
“God is on earth,” said Saint
Basil the Great—whom we celebrate today along with his friend Saint Gregory
Nazianzen—in a fourth-century homily. “God is among us,” Basil said, “not now
as a lawgiver . . . but as one gently and kindly conversing in a human body
with his fellow men and women. God is in the flesh.” Perhaps a no more amazing
thing could be said. God not only created human beings but wanted to be one of
them so as to invite them into God’s life. That’s says a lot about the God we
believe in—one who loves generously. Shouldn’t we do the same?
Today’s readings: 1 John 2:22-28;
John 1:19-28
“Among you stands one whom you do
not know, the one who is coming after me.”
