Church of Saint Philip Neri

Pennsburg, PA 18073

July 25, 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:

6^th & 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

6^th & Washington Streets

East Greenville, PA 18041

ROSARY: Prayed in the Chapel

Every Saturday after the 8:00 AM Mass

Every 2^nd 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 2^nd & 3^rd Sundays of each month.

Please call the Rectory to schedule.

2^nd Sunday Baptisms are held at the

11:00 AM Mass

3^rd Sunday Baptisms are held at 12:30 PM

PRE-JORDAN CLASSES

1^st Monday of every month at 7:00 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 1^st 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.

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace tells us that the lay faithful are called to a variety of services: Service to the Human Person, Service to Culture, Service to the Economy, and Service in Politics. This last one will be done in two parts.

Service in Politics (Part I):

For the lay faithful, political involvement is a worthy and demanding expression of the Christian Commitment of Service to others. The pursuit of the common good.

- in a spirit of service

- the development of justice……

- respect for the autonomy of earthly realities.

- the principle of subsidiarity

- “promotion of dialogue and peace in the context of solidarity

These are the criteria that must inspire the Christian Laity in their political activity. All believers…..are obligated to respect these guiding principles.

The tasks accompanying the responsibilities in social and political institutions demand a strict and articulated commitment that is able to demonstrate clearly the absolute necessity of the moral dimension in social and political life, through thoughtful contributions to the political debate, planning, and the chosen actions.

Inadequate attention to the moral dimension leads to the dehumanization of life in society and of social and political institutions…..Living and acting in conformity with one’s own conscience on questions of politics…..is the way in which Christians offer their concrete contribution so that, through political life, society will become more just and more consistent with the dignity of the human person.

In the context of the laity’s political commitment, particular attention must be given to preparing believers to exercise the power that will be theirs, especially when they are entrusted with such duties by their fellow citizens in accordance with democratic rules. They must show appreciation for the democratic system in as much that it ensures the participation of citizens in making political choices guarantees to the governed the possibility, both of electing and holding accountable, those who govern them, and replacing them by peaceful means when appropriate.

They must also reject all secret organizations that seek to influence or subvert the functioning of legitimate institutions…..Those who experience political authority must see to it that the energies of all citizens are directed towards the common good; and they are to do so, not in an authoritarian style, but by making use of moral power sustained in freedom.

CHURCH CARILLON

During the past five (5) weeks, there has been an issue with our Church Carillon (Bells). Many times during the day and evening, the Carillon began playing Christmas songs. After many repeated visits by our bell people, it was determined that nothing was wrong with our system. The problem is that someone in the immediate area has installed a new Garage Door Opener or another device that has a remote control. Our neighbors remote is responsible for the ringing of our Church Bells. Because of this, our remote system for our bells has been disabled until a solution can be found.

Serving at Mass July 25

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

5:00 pm – Lisa Edleman Pete Frank

Michael Edleman Ed Tryon

Priest

LaRue Emmell

Claire Holcombe

7:30 am – Lori Brozena Theresa Gilmore

Dina Corrado John Gilmore

Priest

Deacon

Peter D’Amico

Joan Pongia

9:30 am – Mary Ellen Paulk Eileen Koch

Rose Anderson Joe Cassarella

Priest

Sharon Shaak

Judy Sledgen

Andrew Souder

11:00 am – Maryanne Charlton Eileen Davis

Kevin Charlton D. Tarantino

Priest

Amanda Charlton

Linda DiTondo

Doug DiTondo

Serving at Mass August 1

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

5:00 pm – Marci Jaman Larry Concio

Lee Johnson Pete Frank

Priest

Deacon

Dianne Kennedy

Pat Kennedy

7:30 am - Michael Duka Michael Lynch

Mary R. Giambrone Mark Meinzer

Priest

Deacon

Mike Heveran

Michelle Martin

9:30 am – Mary Souder Ed Tryon

Alicia Tryon Matt Horvath

Priest

Christine Adelsberger

Stephan Adelsberger

11:00 am – Jeanne Hermley Luke Verna

Bob Hermley Sue DiMarco

Priest

DJ Williams

Sandy Williams

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

July 25, 2010

Monday, July 26, Saint Joachim & Saint Anne,

Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

8:00 am – Dorothy Goodfellow,

(Friendly Visitors Group of SPN)

Tuesday, July 27

8:00 am – John Dykie, (Bruce & Jean Gerhart)

Wednesday, July 28

7:00 pm – Special Intention for Eileen Sunderland

Thursday, July 29, Saint Martha

8:00 am – For Souls in Purgatory

Friday, July 30, Saint Peter Chrysologus

8:00 am – William Engle, (Mann-Slonaker Funeral Home)

Saturday, July 31, Saint Ignatius of Loyola

8:00 am – Anthony Bogdon, (Tony & Barbara Parestis)

5:00 pm – Anna Mae Malasky,

(Clark & Barbara Robinson)

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

August 1, 2010

Sunday, August 1

7:30 am – John Heveran, (The Heveran Family)

9:30 am – John Dykie, (Stan & Betty Mikanowicz)

11:00 am – For the living & deceased members

of the Parish.

ROSE/FLORAL ARRANGEMENT

The Red Rose placed on the Sacred Heart Altar is in memory of Dennis M. Krause, requested by His parents.

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, Robert Rukstalis, Frances Cannon, Ethel Buck, Gary Lester Keller, Baby Lucy Littlefield, Charlotte Azarovich, George Bradford, Rick DeStefano, Tommy Slattery, Baby Olivia Enriquez, Adam Canigiani, Jr., Jo Maturo, Elsie Connelly, Theresa Homan, Colleen McMillar, Anthony Bonanno, David Campbell, Grace Guckin, Tony Interrante, Steven Gebhardt, John Culbertson, (Father of Ellen Abramo), Evelyn Dixon Mildred Moyer, Helga Camasso, Tom Brogan, Stephanie Dykie, Keith Hotz, Lily Morgitan, John Brazuk, Paul Fronheiser, Irene Maggs, Pat Scheerbaum, Mary Blaszczyk, Thomas Zappala, Peter Szczybek & Lori DiMarco.

For those who have died, and in particular for Beverly Latshaw & Theresa Dellaquilla, grant them eternal rest and peace.

SUNDAY COLLECTIONS

July 19, 2009 July 18, 2010

Envelopes: $ 7,293.50 $ 8,309.00

Loose: 1,233.00 1,327.00

Children’s: 44.00 55.00

Total: $ 8,570.50 $ 9,691.00

Give a St. Philip Neri Memorial Gift!

For a donation of $35 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 Theresa Dellaquilla, requested by:

Joseph Pulli and Luanne Pulli.

In memory of Beverly Latshaw, requested by:

Pete & Linda Frank.

We also have “Living Memorials” for those special occasions in life.

WEEKLY BINGO

Please note: Brown paper bags are needed for Bingo. If you have any to spare, please drop them off at the Social Hall on Tuesday’s or Thursday’s between 8:30 am & 12:00 pm.

ACTIVITIES - *BINGO*

Kitchen opens 5:00 pm – Bingo – 6:30 pm

Working Thursday – July 29th – Team #2

All regular games pay $50

FINAL COVER – ALL SPECIAL PAYS: $500

Bingo: July 15 – 73 players

Games: $ 468.00

Kitchen: 58.00

Total: $ 526.00

BAKED GOODS NEEDED

Baked goods are needed for our weekly Bingo and monthly Breakfast. Soups are also needed for weekly Bingo.

If anyone is interested in donating baked goods or soups, please call Rita at: 215-679-7009.

JULY & AUGUST:

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday – July 25th

Parish Breakfast 7:00 am Gym

Men’s 30 & Over Basketball 8:00 pm Gym

Monday, July 26th

Charismatic Prayer Group 7:00 pm Chapel

Tuesday, July 27th

Choir & Cantor Practice 6:00 pm Church

Garden Club – Church Grounds 5:00 pm

Wednesday, July 28th

NO ACTIVITIES PLANNED – FREE DAY

Thursday, July 29th

Bingo 6:30 pm Gym

Friday, July 30th

NO ACTIVITIES PLANNED – FREE DAY

Saturday, July 31st

NO ACTIVITIES PLANNED – FREE DAY

Sunday, August 1st

Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 am Mass

Men’s 30 & Over Basketball 8:00 pm Gym

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Pre-Jordan – Baptismal Class – Monday, August 2^nd – Rectory – 7:00 pm

Charismatic Prayer Group – Monday, August 2^nd – Chapel – 7:00 pm

Choir & Cantor Practice – Tuesday, August 3^rd – Church – 6:00 pm

Garden Club – Tuesday, August 3^rd – Church Grounds – 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

SPN Craft Guild – Tuesday, August 3^rd – Gym Meeting Room – 1:00 pm

FREE DAY – NO ACTIVITIES PLANNED – Wednesday, August 4^th

Bingo – Thursday, August 5^th – Gym – 6:30 pm

First Friday Mass – Friday, August 6^th – Church – 9:00 am; Adoration in Church – 10 am – 7 pm

SPN Quilting – Friday, August 6^th – Gym Meeting Room – 1:00 pm

Energy Committee Meeting – Saturday, August 7^th – Social Hall Meeting Room – 10:00 am

Knights of Columbus Meeting – Sunday, August 8^th – Rectory – 7:30 pm

Men’s 30 & Over Basketball – Sunday, August 8^th – Gym – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

SCHOOL NEWS

Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to provide your son or daughter with a Catholic School education at St. Philip Neri School!

Our school provides a safe, nurturing value-centered learning environment for students in Preschool through Eighth Grade. If you forgot to register your child/children, now is the time to do so as we need to prepare for the upcoming 2010-11 school year! Please call the school office at: 215.679.7481 if you need a School Registration Form or for any inquiries you may have. School begins on Tuesday, September 7th for Grades 1 to 8, September 10th for Kindergarten, September 13th for Pre K-4s, and September 14th for Pre K-3’s.

Please check our website: www.spnelementary.com for any information about the upcoming school year.

PARISH NEWS

MASS TIME CHANGE – WEDNESDAY’S

Effective January 1, 2011, the Chapel Masses on Wednesday’s will be at 5:00 pm instead of 7:00 pm.

RCIA: We will resume our parish RCIA process in September. Anyone who wishes to join the Catholic Church or learn more about the Catholic faith is invited to join us on Thursday evenings. If you would like further information please call the rectory and leave your name and phone number. Deacon Mike Franks will contact you. Watch the bulletin for more information in the coming weeks.

PARISH COUNSELING AVAILABLE

Confidential, professional counseling can be provided through our Parish Outreach Office.

The types/kinds of counseling that can be done are: Relationship Counseling; Marriage Counseling; Situational Counseling; and Project Rachel Counseling (for women who have had an abortion).

Call for an appointment: 215-679-2282. If no answer, leave your first name and number. Say the number, twice.

SAINT PHILIP NERI ROSARY PRAYER GROUP

Our Lady of the Rosary Prayer Group at St. Philip Neri, will now meet every Monday at 1:00 pm in the Chapel. If there are any questions, please call Kathy Kulp at: 267.923.5173.

PARISH LIBRARY -

BOOK SEASON HAS ARRIVED!!

The St Philip Neri bookcases are being filled. We are looking for gently used or new books. They must be pertaining to our Catholic faith. We are looking for CD's or DVD's as well, movies or music. We can use the large print editions, too. Please drop off your books at the rectory during business hours. If you don't have any books to donate please consider a contribution to be made "In Memory Of" and we will purchase the requested book and place a memorial marker inside of it.

SAINT PHILIP NERI CRAFT GUILD

The St. Philip Neri Craft Guild will not meet in July; the next Meeting will be Tuesday, August 3^rd – 1:00 pm.

GARDEN CLUB – HELP NEEDED

Our Garden Club of St. Philip Neri Church needs your help to maintain the Church grounds, Flower Beds, watering, weeding, etc.

The Garden Club meets every Tuesday evening from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on the Church grounds; BUT, you are most welcome to come over any day of the week and a time that best meets your schedule. Any questions, please call Lee Johnson: 679-6309.

SAINT PHILIP NERI VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Due to a LACK OF ENROLLMENT, the Vacation Bible School scheduled to take place at the Social Hall from Monday, August 2^nd thru Friday, August 6^th, has been CANCELLED.

If there are any questions, please call Jeff Daley at: 215.541.3120 or 215.541.1716.

PARISH OUTREACH OFFICE

H.O.P.E. PROGRAM

During the week of July 26^th, if you have a H.O.P.E. need, please call Joan Devlin: 679.0114.

This is for the week of July 26^th only.

ELIZABETH MINISTRY

Note: Don’t forget about the Mother’s Market that is being held on Saturday, September 11^th from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm. See the announcement in today’s Bulletin.

ELIZABETH MINISTRY UPDATE

Are you pregnant and getting close to delivery? Or the parent of a newborn or toddler(s)? Are you overjoyed, exasperated, blessed, exhausted, lonely, or in need of solitude all in one day? Are you a mom looking for camaraderie, a friendly ear to listen, or another mom to laugh with? We are here for you. The Elizabeth Ministry is a community of women and mothers who have experienced many of the same joys and challenges you are facing and we want to support each other by being a willing listeners and extending our empathy. Just call me, LaRue Emmell at 215-679-3086 or send an email to lemmell2@comcast.net and I will pair you up with another mom who has gone through the same thing. Or, better yet, come to the Mom-to-Mom Connection to “meet and greet” other young moms and socialize for a couple of hours. We will be getting together on Sunday afternoon, August 29, 2010 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM in the Social Hall meeting room to talk about some of the challenges of motherhood.

PARISH HISTORICAL COMMITTEE MEETING

When: Tuesday, July 27^th – 7:00 pm

Where: The Old Rectory

565 Main Street

East Greenville

If you would like to be part of this committee or have any questions, please call Shirley at the rectory office: 215.679.9275, email Doris at:

gmomdecker@yahoo.com or just come to the meeting.

END OF SUMMER BOOK DISCUSSION

Tuesday – August 24^th – 7:00 pm

St. Philip Neri Rectory Meeting Room

“MY LIFE WITH THE SAINTS”

By: Martin James, SJ.

A Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of 2006. “An outstanding and often hilarious memoir of one man’s interaction with the saints of the Roman Catholic tradition”.

Winner of a 2007 Christopher Award for books that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit”.

Books will be ordered and available at a later date for purchase. The cost to you is $20.00

For more information, please call Madeleine Gehringer at: 215-679-0737 or call the rectory office at: 215-679-9275.

Do you know about the Gospel of Matthew?

The Parish Bible Study group invites you to join in for the 2^nd part of a 24 week-study of Matthew’s writings. The program has been broken into three (3) eight (8) week sessions. Study materials will be available. It won’t be hard to catch up if you would like to join us.

Each week we will watch a video on a specific lesson, discuss the portions of Matthew’s Gospel that apply. Through the discussion we will have a better understanding of what Matthew’s message means to us. This study is part of The Great Adventure series.

There are morning and evening sessions – Wednesday evenings or Friday mornings.

First evening class is Wednesday, August 11^th at 7:00 pm and the first morning class is Friday, August 13^that 9:00 am. All sessions are in the Library/conference room in the Rectory.

The cost for study materials is $35.00. Checks should be made payable to St. Philip Neri Church. For those who are first time members of Bible Study, please register before August 1 2010.

To register, contact Joan Lampart, 215-529-5686 or email jmlampart@verizon.net (please put Bible Study on subject line).

CASINO TRIP – UPDATE

The departure time for the Casino Trip on Saturday, July 31^st has been changed. Due to the Saturday morning shore traffic, everyone needs to be at the SPN parking lot for 9:30 am.

BLOOD DRIVE

It is once again that time of year for our yearly Red Cross Blood Drive. Here is your chance to donate a vital source for life.

Please join us on Monday, August 30th anytime between 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm in our air conditioned Parish Social Hall. Refreshments served upon completion of your donation.

For more information on an appointment, or any questions you may have, please call Pete Frank: 215-679-6942.

MOTHER’S MARKET

The Elizabeth Ministry of St. Philip Neri is looking for anyone interested in selling gently used baby and children’s equipment, clothing, or toys at their MOTHER’S MARKET that will be held on Saturday, September 11^th from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm in the St. Philip Neri Social Hall.

Tables will cost $10 each. If interested, please call Kathy at: ElizMinnfo@yahoo.com or 215.541.9180.

SAVE THE DATE: Friday, October 8

Fourth Annual

St. Philip Neri Golf Outing

Macoby Run Golf Course,

Green Lane, PA

18 Hole 4-golfer Scramble,

1:00 pm

Shotgun Start

Food, Beer, Prizes

$70 per golfer

To register your foursome or to volunteer, contact:

Andrew Souder, 215-804-0845

or, email to Andrew@rafind.com

ONLINE GIVING

St. Philip Neri now offers Online Giving! Online Giving is an option for all who wish to financially support St. Philip Neri Parish and its efforts.

Online Giving can be used on its own or in cooperation with regular offering envelopes. If you would like to still receive envelope packets but also want to give online, you have the option to do so.

Online Giving at St. Philip Neri is a secure process monitored by Our Sunday Visitor. Click the ICON below to access a list of FAQ’S for more information and to begin donating online:

St. Philip Neri Grade School Tuition Assistance

Did you know that Tuition Assistance is available for your child to attend St. Philip Neri Grade School? Tuition Assistance is available to those showing a real need. Address your request to:

St. Philip Neri Tuition Assistance Program

1325 Klinerd Rd. – Pennsburg, PA 18073

You will receive a letter asking for some information and you will be notified of any decision before the school year starts.

Guidelines for:

TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Minimal Criteria

1. Tuition Assistance will apply only to students in grades K-8 who are enrolled at Saint Philip Neri Elementary School.

2. Parent or legal guardian must be a registered parishioner of St. Philip Neri Parish.

3. Must demonstrate financial need, subject to review and approval of Tuition Committee.

4. Must be active and volunteer in parish activities.

5. Tuition Assistance will be applied towards tuition as credit.

CEMETERY MEMORIAL TREES

Memorial Trees are available for purchase to be planted throughout our Parish Cemetery “Holy Cross”. The cost is $425; this covers the price of the tree, its planting and the Memorial Plaque.

Shade and Evergreen Trees will be planted throughout the cemetery where space is available. To purchase a Memorial Tree, please call the rectory.

ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS

The priests of tomorrow are in our midst.

They are members of this parish.

They are members of our own families.

Encourage Vocations, pray for the gift.

www.HeedTheCall.org.

Are you Deaf or know someone who is Deaf?

Contact:

CATHOLIC DEAF APOSTOLATE

Masses in ASL and Interpreted Masses

Religious Education/

Preparation for Sacraments

Adult Faith Formation and Socials

Summer Camp for Deaf Children

Interpreters for Catholic Events

PCPDDEAF@adphila.org

215-587-3913 (V) (TTY)

267-507-1215 (VP)

Google: Deaf Apostolate Phila

FROM THE OFFICE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

Bookmark the website of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at: www.archphila.org and visit it everyday.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

You can change the future – by becoming a Foster Parent!

Foster families provide temporary homes to children of all ages, races, and religions whose families are in crisis.

The love, service and example of Catholic Social Services foster parents have a lasting and positive effect on the children whose lives they touch.

For information on how you can become a foster parent, please call 215-587-3960!

For Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse

A NEW SUPPORT GROUP

Facilitated by: Network of Victim Assistance of Bucks County (NOVA). Call if you are looking for a safe place to talk with others. Adult men and women, who were sexually abused as children by Clergy, regardless of where the abuse occurred, are invited to attend. There is no fee for the group. Funding is provided through the Victim Assistance Program of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

For more information or to enroll, please call NOVA directly at: 1.800.675.6900.

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.

Please write or call:

The Tribunal

222 N. 17^th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

215-587-3750

AREA PARISH NEWS

SAINT MARY SCHOOL ALUMNI

St. Mary School in Schwenksville is looking for its Alumni. St. Mary School opened in the fall of 1961 and is now approaching its Fiftieth Year Anniversary.

In honor of this milestone, we are compiling a St. Mary School Alumni database.

If you or someone you know attended St. Mary School and would like to be included in this database, please send your name, address, phone number and email contact information to smsalumni@smsk-8.org or call 610 287-8156 with
that information.

AREA NEWS

MARRIAGE RETROUVAILLE

Retrouvaille is a Catholic based program to help marriages that are stressed or in trouble. Retrouvaille has helped countless married couples in all stages of disillusionment or misery in their marriage.

Retrouvaille can help your marriage too. The next program will be at St. Joseph in the Hills – Malvern Retreat Center, on August 13, 14 & 15. All calls are confidential.

For more information, please call 800-470-2230, 215-766-3944, or visit our website: www.HelpOurMarriage.com.

The Pope John Paul II High School Cheerleaders will be holding carwashes on the following dates and locations:

Saturday, July 31 from 10am-3pm @ Shell Gas Station-Park Avenue & Ridge Pike, Lower Providence

Saturday, August 7th 10am-3pm @ Sunoco Gas Station-Ridge & Swamp Pike, Limerick

Sunday, August 15th 10am-3pm @ Shell Gas Station, Park Avenue & Ridge Pike, Lower Providence

Saturday, September 11 10am-3pm @ Sunoco Gas Station-Ridge & Swamp Pike, Limerick

Any questions, please call: Ms. Meghan Callen, Director of Admissions – Pope John Paul II High School – 610.275.8862 or email to: mcallen@pjphs.org.

MERCY FITZGERALD HOSPITAL

PLANNING SCHOOL OF NURSING REUNION

Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital is planning a Reunion for all classes of the Thomas Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital School of Nursing on Sunday, September 19^th. The hospital is collecting updated contact information for all alumnae.

Contact Director of Development Lindsay Warren at 610.237.5058 or lwarren1@mercyhealth.org with your information by July 30^th.

Formal invitations will be mailed shortly afterwards. RSVP date on the invitation is Friday, September 10^th.

Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Let’s hear it for parents

In 1994 President Clinton signed a congressional resolution setting aside the fourth Sunday of July as Parents’ Day for “recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children.” Embracing this day is easy for those of us who have or had loving parents, but for those of us who didn’t experience great parenting, we may find it hard to feel uplifted. Surely, however, we can all celebrate the fact that we have a perfect divine parent who has loved us unconditionally and cared for us unceasingly since before we were born.

Today’s readings: Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13

“If you then . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Monday, July 26

Feast of Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A little goes a long way

A kind word can transform a day. One encouraging adult can redeem a childhood of negativity. An award can reroute a career path. Often it doesn’t take much to make a huge difference, just as a pinch of yeast can make a bowl of flour rise into loaves. Not all of us can influence world affairs—but we can each do our part to lessen fear, increase hope, demand justice, call for peace. After all, Joachim and Anne were only two people raising a little girl in an irrelevant place. Yet what they did changed human history.

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 13:1-11; Matthew 13:31-35

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with . . . flour until all of it was leavened.”

Tuesday, July 27

Your thoughts are calling

Jesus never wastes words in the gospels, but we know he wants to make absolutely sure we are paying attention when he concludes his comments with “whoever has ears ought to hear.” Jesus knows that we humans have a tendency to tune in and out of our surroundings. Sometimes we are so captivated by our thoughts—last night’s conversation, an endlessly repeating song fragment, the stories we continually tell ourselves about the past and future—that although we believe we’re listening, and have every intention of listening, we aren’t really listening. Make the decision today to pay attention to your thoughts. Are you tuned in or out of your surroundings most of the time? What are you missing?

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 14:17-22; Matthew 13:36-43

“ ‘Let anyone with ears listen!’ ”

Wednesday, July 28

Hunt for a lasting treasure

Have you ever heard stories of people who spend considerable amounts of time and money in pursuit of a dream—restoring a beautiful home, starting a business or charity, doing something they truly enjoy? Those were the kinds of undertakings Jesus used in some of his parables, except he drew on the activities of his time: a person who buries a treasure in a field and then sells all he has to buy the field; a merchant who finds a fine pearl and sells all he has to buy it. As with his other parables, Jesus used “likes”—the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field; it is like something we would give a lot to have. Think about the things you are willing to make sacrifices for. Is the kingdom of God like one of them?

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21; Matthew 13:44-46

“On finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Thursday, July 29

Feast of Martha

Remember Martha’s message of hope

Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. Martha has come down to us as the original “Type A” personality, the busy one in Luke’s gospel who has trouble sitting still when Jesus visits. But she also was a woman of great courage and faith in the face of loss. We can take inspiration from her simple, strong profession of faith in the gospel. Even in the face of her great grief at having lost her brother, she was unshaken in her faith that Jesus was the “resurrection and the life.” When a death leaves us feeling devastated, Martha’s witness can bring us strength and hope.

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 18:1-6;

John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42

“I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Friday, July 30

Not exactly what they had in mind

When the prophet Jeremiah stood up to speak in the Temple, he attracted a crowd. And when Jesus taught in the synagogue of Nazareth, the people were amazed—at first. In both cases, however, things turned hostile pretty fast. Those around Jesus could not believe one of their own could speak and act with such authority. For Jeremiah it got even worse: His audience wanted to kill him. The message of faith may not always be what we want to hear, but we are called, nonetheless, to listen and follow God’s word in all its forms.

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 26:1-9;

Matthew 13:54-58

“Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power?”

Saturday, July 31

Feast of Ignatius of Loyola, priest

The priceless gift of yourself

“Teach us to give and not to count the cost.” These words of Saint Ignatius Loyola summarize the call of the gospel to give of ourselves entirely to God and to living the gospel. That doesn’t mean we should all choose religious life or become martyrs—though some of us will be called to those vocations. To give ourselves entirely to living the gospel is to be mindful that each moment gives glory to God. Wonder how to do that? Think about parents of young children. They are excellent models of living Ignatius’ words. Children are always pulling on their parents’ shirttails, needing help as they grow in love and understanding. Parents constantly give—and give again and again—not counting the cost. May all of us do the same.

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24; Matthew 14:1-12

“For in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”