Church
of Saint Philip Neri
Pennsburg, PA 18073
January 3,
2010
|
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.
Ask deacon Mike
Happy New Year!
Yes, another year has
come and gone and we find ourselves facing another New Year. For some of us this New Year brings hope and
optimism. For others it is just a
continuation of the old year. But for
others another year means uncertainty, fear and anxiety.
One thing is for
certain, the New Year, as do all New Years, will bring change. Most of us don’t like change. So how we handle that change will, in a
large way, determine the degree of happiness we experience in 2010.
Regardless of your
perspective, there is a reality we must never loose sight of. Jesus is always with us. Rather you are looking forward to what the
New Year brings or dreading the future or somewhere in between, we must never
forget that Jesus promised to be with us always to the end of time. We have all heard this before. However, it would do all of us well to stop
and take a few minutes to think about this as 2010 begins. At this time of year when we make our
resolutions shouldn’t we temper those resolutions with the reality of birth of
the Prince of Peace?
We have just
celebrated the season of peace on earth and good will to men. If we fail to conduct the affairs of our
lives with no awareness of Jesus’ presence with us then what hope do we have,
where is our peace, how can we extend our good will? If we face the challenges of life without relying on the
comforting presence of Jesus with us then those challenges will only seem worse
to us.
All of us face change
and challenge and no doubt they sometimes seem threatening to us. But God sent His Son to be with us to help
us overcome the forces that seem to work against us. God has also given us the gift of faith. Now is the time to put that faith to
work. As we start another chapter in
our lives let us pray that our hearts will open to the awesome realization that
Jesus is with us always.
I would like to begin
2010 by thanking all of you for your presence in my life. When I am with you, I know Jesus’ presence
is around me. Your kindness to me is a
constant reminder of the gentle touch of Jesus. I also want to thank you for your many cards, gifts and good
wishes this past Christmas. You are a
great gift to me.
If you have any
questions concerning our Catholic Church, sacraments or anything related to our
faith please let me know. You can leave
a note in the collection basket or at the rectory. You can also reach me at deaconmikefranks@verizion.net. God bless you and happy New Year. As always, I love you all. Deacon Mike Franks
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
Serving at Mass January
10
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Dawn Ellis Bob Piccone
Trish Dornisch Bob
Ellis
Priest
Priest
Lisa Edleman
Michael Edleman
7:30 am – Joan
Varallo John
Gilmore
Wally Varallo Theresa
Gilmore
Priest
Michele Martin
Maureen Moser
Paul Moser
9:30 am – Lisa
Gurgick Terry
Benner
William Gurgick Wendy
Benner
Priest
Stephanie Greczek
Monica Nash
John Nash
11:00 am – Kevin
Charlton Donna
Tarantino
Maryanne Charlton Adam
Canigiani
Priest
Deacon
Amanda Charlton
Tinamarie Evans
THE EPIPHANY OF
THE LORD
January 3, 2010
Monday, January 4,
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
8:00 am – Adelaide
Yurick, (Christine & Jack Gibble)
Tuesday, January
5, Saint John Neumann
8:00 am – Helen
Stubits, (The Souder Family)
Wednesday, January
6 – Blessed Andre Bessette
7:00 pm – Anna
Dietrich, (Tom & Nancy Brogan)
Thursday, January
7, Saint Raymond of Penefort
8:00 am – For
those enrolled
in our Building Memorial
Society
Friday, January 8
8:00 am – Margaret
McEvoy, (Robin & Guy Piza)
Saturday, January
9
8:00 am – For
Souls in Purgatory
5:00 pm – Charles
Rodenberger,
(Dennis & Mary Ann Krause)
THE BAPTISM OF THE
LORD
January 10, 2010
7:30 am – For the
Living & Deceased members
of the Parish.
9:30 am – Second
Anniversary, Joseph Josko,
(Jenny Josko)
11:00 am – Joseph
Dubiel, (Rich & Barbara Grochowski)
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, 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
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*
Kitchen
opens 5:00 pm – Bingo – 6:30 pm
Working
Thursday – January 7th – Team #1
All
regular games pay $50
FINAL
COVER – ALL SPECIAL PAYS: $500
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.
We also
have “Living Memorials” for those
special occasions in life.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS THIS WEEK
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
Monday, January 4th
– School begins
Monday, January 4th
– Pre-Jordan – at the rectory – 7:30 pm
Monday, January 4th
– Charismatic Prayer Group – in the Chapel – 7:00 pm
Monday, January 4th
– CYO Sports – in the gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Tuesday, January 5th
– Choir & Cantor Practice – in Church – 6:00 pm
Tuesday, January 5th
– SPN Craft Guild – gym – Meeting Room – 1:00 pm
Tuesday, January 5th
– Boy Scouts – in the gym – 7:00 pm
Tuesday, January 5th
– CYO Sports – in the gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Wednesday, January 6th
– PREP – Religious Ed – in the school at 6:00 pm
Wednesday, January 6th
– CYO Sports – in the gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Thursday, January 7th
– Bingo – gym – 6:30 pm
Thursday, January 7th
– Little Flowers Girl Club – School Library – 6:30 pm
Thursday, January 7th
– Cub Scouts – in the School – 6:45 pm
Friday, January 8th
– SPN Quilting – gym – 1pm
Friday, January 8th
– CYO Sports – in the gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Saturday, January 9th
– Knights of Columbus Come-n-Go Bingo – gym – 6:00 pm -10:00 pm
Saturday, January 9th
– CYO Sports – in the gym – 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Sunday, January 10th
– Children’s Liturgy of the Word – 9:30 am Mass
Sunday, January 10th
– Little Church – in the gym – 9:30 am
Sunday, January 10th
– Knights of Columbus Meeting – rectory – 7:30 pm
Sunday, January 10th
–Men’s 30 & Over Basketball – in the gym – 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
UPCOMING
MEETINGS
Car Show Committee
Meeting – Monday, January 11th – rectory – 7:00 pm
Pastoral Council
Meeting – Monday, January 11th – rectory – 7:00 pm
SPN Quilting – Monday,
January 11th – gym – Meeting Room – 1:00 pm
CYO Sports – Monday,
January 11th – in the gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Choir & Cantor
Practice – Tuesday, January 12th – in the Church – 6:00 pm
Boy Scouts – Tuesday,
January 12th – in the gym – 7:00 pm
CYO Sports – Tuesday,
January 12th – in the gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Home & School Board
Meeting – Wednesday, January 13th – rectory – 7:00 pm
PREP Religious ED –
Wednesday, January 13th – School – 6:00 pm
CYO Sports – Wednesday,
January 13th – in the gym – 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Pennsburg Manor Nursing
Home Mass – Thursday, January 14th – 10:00 am
Cub Scouts – Thursday,
January 14th – in the School – 6:45 pm
Cub Scouts Overnight
Camping Activity – Friday, January 15th – in the gym – 6:00 pm until
– 6:00 pm Saturday night in the gym
Cub Scouts Overnight
Camping Activity – Saturday, January 16th in the gym until 6:00 pm
Children’s Liturgy of
the Word – Sunday. January 17th – at the 9:30 am Mass
Little Church – Sunday,
January 17th – in the gym – 9:30 am
CYO Sports – Sunday,
January 17th – in the gym – 12:00 noon – 8:00 pm
Men’s 30 & Over
Basketball – Sunday, January 17th – in the 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
Students
at St. Philip Neri Grade School,
Celebrate
Christmas Around the World
Students at St. Philip Neri School packed
their passports and traveled from country to country exploring the customs of
Christmas around the world.
Kindergarten – Kindergarten
learned all about Christmas in England.
We learned about Father Christmas, the special dinner that is eaten, and
we made Christmas crackers which contain a small treat for everyone.
1st – Italy was first
grade’s country. The students passed
out delicious meatballs to our guest.
Our guest also learned about Befana and decorated mosaic stars.
2nd – Many of our
Christmas traditions came from Germany such as lighted Christmas trees
decorated with tinsel and ornaments, singing “Silent Night” and “O’Christmas
Tree” and making and eating gingerbread houses and cookies. One German tradition that is different than
ours is that on Christmas Eve the children believe the Christkind or Christ
Child delivers the gifts.
3rd – We had a laden
table that contained candles and the bread they normally eat in Ireland. The bread has caraway seeds and raisins in
it. We made a craft which was a candle
to put in the window. This signifies
the lighting of the way for Mary and Joseph.
4th – Students dressed as St. Lucia and star boys greeted
visitors to "Sweden." After hearing about Swedish Christmas
customs, travelers enjoyed foods from the country, including porridge and St.
Lucia buns. Each child made a paper Swedish heart to be hung on their
tree to remember their trip.
5th – The fifth grade
shared how Christmas is celebrated in Poland.
They shared information about the “Wigilia” and the “Oplatek”. The also shared samples of cheese, cherry
and potato pierogies. They also had
kolaczki and piernicyki – yummy!
6th – We transformed our
classroom into a Mexican Christmas. We
shared Mexican Wedding Cookies and hot chocolate with our visitors.
7th – We celebrated the
French traditions of Christmas. After
passing through customs, tourists were shown an information powerpoint
presentation. Then they left a shoe by
the fireplace for Pere’ Noel to fill.
They learned about the importance of the Creche (manger scene) and
feasted on mini yule logs in our French Café.
8th – The students
celebrated a Polynesian Christmas complete with beach attire and hula
dancers. The students enjoyed our
tropical vacation away from the snow and were surprised that Santa arrived by
canoe. One thing we did learn is that
all over the world we celebrate the birth of our Lord by attending Mass and
enjoying time with family and friends.
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.)
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
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.
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
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!
THANK YOU FROM
SISTER JANESCH,
FOR THE MISSION
COLLECTION
Dear Father
Roncase,
I would
like to express my gratitude for the opportunity you gave me to share in the
liturgies at your parish and the joy of meeting so many of the
parishioners. The kind assistance you
all have given our missionary endeavors is much appreciated, especially by
those serving in the developing nations.
You have
been open to our needs. Your gracious
response will be reciprocated by the prayers of our sisters who have received
the name of your parish as a specific prayer Intention.
May we all
pray for each other so that “all the world will know God’s tremendous love for
them.”
Gratefully,
Sister
Michele Marth, MSC &
Sister
Marie Janesch
THANK YOU FROM,
CATHOLIC SOCIAL
SERVICES
Dear Father
Roncase,
On behalf
of the clients we serve, the Catholic Social Services gratefully acknowledges
your parish’s very generous donation of baby items to our Agency. We especially wish to thank LaRue Emmell and
the Elizabeth Ministry who coordinated this donation and delivered the items to
our office.
These very
much needed baby items will be distributed to the families who attend our
parenting groups. We have three
parenting groups that meet on a weekly basis.
Diapers, baby clothes, etc. are always requested by these families. They
are very grateful to receive these items.
With the
continued support of St. Philip Neri Parish, Catholic Social Services is able
to fulfill our mission to help the needy.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
Peteraf, M.A.
Program
Manager
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!
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)
ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS
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
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
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.
]
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!
AREA PARISH NEWS
BINGO
Saint Aloysius Church – Begley Hall
Beech & Penn Streets – Pottstown, PA
ALL CASH
Every Monday at 6:30 pm
Large JACKPOTS!
AREA NEWS
APEX LEARNING
PROGRAM –
SAT REVIEW COURSE
Classes
meet Monday and Wednesday beginning Wednesday, January 20th at St.
Pius X High School from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm or 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Classes will end Wednesday, March 10th.
SAT Test is Saturday, March 13th.
Parent Orientation Meeting will be held Thursday, January 14th,
at 7:00 pm in the school Library. Cost for the Course is $325.(this includes
all materials). Any questions and to
register, please call: 610-326-8990,
ext. 37.
MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR.
Community Day of
Service
~Sharing a Meal~
Students
will prepare and serve a meal at New Goshenhoppen UCC for adult members of
several area Churches on Monday, January 18 at 12pm. Come and support our youth in the spirit of service! If you would like to attend, contact New
Goshenhoppen UCC by January 10th at 215-679-2041.
Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen
and grow—a day at a time.
Sunday,
January 3, 2010
Solemnity of
the Epiphany of the Lord
Home sweet home
There’s something sweet about
arrivals, whether our destination is an exotic vacation spot or the grateful
landing at home in a familiar bed. Travel can be exciting or tedious, but in
either case the end of the road has its merits in terms of creature comforts,
and just maybe the embrace of a friend. We can sympathize with the joy and
relief of the Magi when their star-guide finally came to a halt over Bethlehem.
In the spirit of Epiphany make your home a welcoming place and open your heart
to receive each spiritual traveler.
Today’s readings: Isaiah 60:1-6;
Ephesians
3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12
“When they
saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.”
Monday,
January 4
Feast of
Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious
Individuality flowers in the universal church
Two hundred years ago Elizabeth
Ann Seton founded the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph’s, the first new
community for religious women to be established in the United States. Pope Paul
VI said at her canonization as the U.S.’s first native-born saint: “Saint
Elizabeth Ann Seton is an American. All of us say this with special joy, and
with the intention of honoring the land and the nation from which she sprang
forth as the first flower in the calendar of the saints.” Today we celebrate
being part of a universal church that nevertheless honors specific cultures and
peoples.
Today’s readings: 1 John 3:22-4:6;
Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
“They brought
to him all who were sick.”
Tuesday,
January 5
Feast of John
Neumann, bishop
Dream the impossible
One of the most remarkable
features of Saint John Neumann’s life (1811-1860) is that he was able to become
a priest in the first place. By the time he decided to join the priesthood, there
was a surplus of clergy—not only in his native Bohemia but all over Europe.
Every inquiry elicited the same response: All ordinations were suspended for
the foreseeable future. Undaunted, Neumann wrote to the bishop of New York, who
agreed to ordain him. He had to travel halfway across the world to achieve his
dream, but he did it. God does not give us dreams we cannot achieve. What dream
have you put off because it seemed “impossible”? Today is the day to reconsider
taking that first step.
Today’s readings: 1 John 4:7-10;
Mark 6:34-44
“As he went
ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them . . . and he began
to teach them many things.”
Wednesday,
January 6
Christmas
weekday
Believing is seeing
“No one has ever seen God,” the
First Letter of John says. If that’s so then how can people know what God is
like and what God wants us of us? The answer is fairly simple. While we may
have to wait until after our earthly pilgrimage to know God fully, we can see
God now. God is love, scripture says. In the love we show others, and
others show us, God is present right in front of us. The Christmas and Epiphany
celebrations have amply demonstrated God’s original love for us. How about
returning the favor?
Today’s readings: 1 John 4:11-18;
Mark 6:45-52
“If we love
one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
Thursday,
January 7
Feast of
Raymond of Peńafort, priest
Love: The secret weapon
Today’s saint, Raymond of Peńafort
(1175-1275), lived during a time when much of Spain was under Muslim rule.
Rather than take up arms against them, Raymond learned to speak Arabic and used
his resources to build schools for Arab children. He even got his buddy, Thomas
Aquinas, to write a book explaining the Christian faith to Muslims. He believed
that love was greater than military might—he couldn’t have been too far off
because he lived to be 100!
Today’s readings: 1 John 4:19-5:4;
Luke 4:14-22a
“Whatever is
begotten by God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the
world, our faith.”
Friday,
January 8
Christmas
weekday
Keep your Christmas present
It is two weeks since Christmas.
You remember Christmas—“May your days be merry and bright” and all that. Too
often we think of “getting through the holidays” rather than savoring, like
fine wine, the implications of “God with us.” Our attitude often resembles the
routine of the classroom: data traveling from the notes of the professor to the
notes of the student without having spent time in the mind of either one. What
Christmas celebrates is nothing less than the most radical moment in human
history: the leap from the divine to the human, piercing the veil, God taking
root in skin and bone and changing our destiny forever. The lights may be
packed away, the gifts exchanged, but that’s trivia. How have I been changed by
these days? In his first letter John evokes “water, blood, and Spirit,” a
triple, shattering testimony to Jesus as Son of God and to our own eternal life
because of him. We need time to take that in.
Today’s readings: 1 John 5:5-13;
Luke 5:12-16
“There are
three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood.”
Saturday,
January 9
Christmas
weekday
Look for signs of life
It seems odd to continue
celebrating the Christmas season and newborn Jesus when at Mass we hear
proclaimed Jesus’ deeds and mission and we celebrate his death and
resurrection. What was the church thinking when it extended the Christmas
season so long? Two words: new life. Christmas is not only a time to
remember the occasion of Jesus’ birth; it is also a time to immerse ourselves
in God’s call to each of us to new life. Over and over again in this season we
have opportunities in scripture, in liturgies, and in the ordinary goings-on of
our life to experience and witness to this new life. Be on the look out!
Today’s readings: 1 John 5:14-21;
John 3:22-30
“We know that
the Son of God has come.”