St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish

Transcription

1 St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish 5112 Pocono Crest Rd. PO Box O Pocono Pines, PA Parish Office: (570) Web Page: Saturday Confessions ~ 3:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil ~ 4:00 p.m. Sunday Masses ~ 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. March 1, 2015 Second Sunday of Lent Our Mission Statement We of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish believe that we have been gifted with Life, Faith and Discipleship. Empowered by Jesus in Word and Sacrament, we are called to grow in wisdom, grace and fidelity to His Church by following the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.

2 March 1, 2015 Second Sunday of Lent LISTEN AND FOLLOW This is my beloved Son. Listen to him. And listen they did. From that moment on, Peter, James, and John were ardent followers, forsaking everything to follow in their Master s footsteps. Like the psalmist crying, O Lord, I am your servant, the three disciples committed themselves to lives of incredible hardship and indescribable joy. After that day on the mountain, they never again wavered in their chosen vocation. Though our tests may not be as severe as Abraham s and our peak experiences not as dramatic as the Transfiguration, we all face the daily challenges of walking before the Lord in the land of the living. As we follow our varied calls to love and serve, let s be comforted by Paul s reminder to the Romans: If God is for us, who can be against us? Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. OUR LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE will be held on Sunday, March 8th at 3:30 P.M. Several priests will be available for confession. St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish Staff Reverend Sean G. Carpenter ~ Pastor Deacon Frank Gisoldi ~ deaconf@ptd.net Mrs. Lynnette Smith Coordinator of Religious Education/ Pastoral Associate ~ lysmith@ptd.net Marion Colvin Office Manager ~ mcol@ptd.net John Marcinkowski, Jr. Coordinator of Music ~ jjm1105@ptd.net STATIONS OF THE CROSS: This Wednesday after morning mass and at 7 pm in the evening we will pray Mary s Way of the Cross. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Within the tradition of the Christian church, there are differing ways of observing a Lenten fast. For Eastern Catholics and Orthodox, the discipline is close to our understanding of abstinence. Certain foods are eliminated from the diet entirely. The rules are basically monastic rules, and the customs of a monastery table are embraced in the home. The Eastern churches fast even from celebrating the Eucharist from Monday through Friday. We don t count Sundays as fast days, but Eastern Christians fast through the weekends. People are expected to come as close to the ideal as possible, and the Lenten services keep reminding them not to take pride in their fasting, since the devil himself never eats! What s left on the menu? Grains, vegetables, eggs (maybe), and fish. Imagine the joys of the Easter table after such a fast! Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. OUR LENTEN PRACTICES PRAYER: Check our Lenten flyer and the contents of this bulletin for opportunities for communal prayer. Set aside time each day for personal and family prayer. FASTING & ABSTINENCE: The two prescribed days of Fasting are Ash Wednesday & Good Friday. On those days adults (18-59) fast, eating only one full meal and two partial meals; they also refrain from eating between meals. Abstinence prohibits eating any meat or meat products. Dairy products, fish, and sea food are allowed. All Catholics over the age of 14 are required to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent. ALMSGIVING: Give to others by sharing your time, talent, and treasure. Support our Ecumenical Food Pantry by donating food or funds or by helping out at the Pantry at Five Loaf House. Help people in need throughout the world by participating in the Lenten Rice Bowl project sponsored by Catholic Relief Services. Rice Bowls with Prayer and Activity Sheets are available by the exits. We request that at the end of Lent, you use the special envelopes located next to the Rice Bowls to place a check or bills with the amount of money you have saved in the Rice Bowl. Please do not return the Rice Bowl filled with change. (An envelope was also included in the Lenten mailing.)

3 February 28th through March 8th Saturday 4:00 pm Eugene Gartner by Wife Joan Gartner Sunday 8:00 am Blessings for Bishop Kopacz by the Family of St. Max 10:30 am For The Parishioners Monday 8:15 am Carl Hirt by Gloria Ski Tuesday 8:15 am Sarah Caltrider by Rusty Gravatt Wednesday 8:15 am Jack Gaido by Kay Gaido Thursday 8:15 am Walter Frazier by Steve & Celia Robedda Friday 9:30 am Communion Service Saturday 4:00 pm Peter Nowak by Mirek & Joan Ciesluk Sunday 8:00 am For The Parishioners 10:30 am Alice Lewis by Rene Ponce Every child conceived by in vitro fertilization is truly deserving of respect and love: Each is a human person, regardless of the manner of conception. The problem is that the way they are brought into the world does not live up to their dignity. Life Matters: Reproductive Technologies Respect Life Program, USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities ( All are invited to join us for Morning Prayer at 8 a.m. preceding the 8:15 Daily Mass. Saturday Confessions at 3:00 pm In the case of inclement weather conditions: * ~if school is cancelled, Mass will be cancelled. ~if school is delayed, Mass will be delayed. ~if school is cancelled on a Friday, Communion Service will also be cancelled. There will not be an 8:15 Mass when a Funeral Mass is scheduled. *Delays & cancellations are for the Pocono Mtn. School District. Announcements are made on local TV and radio stations. Total Expenditures for y/e 06/30/13.$378,000. Avg. weekly cost of Operation $ 7,269. Collection w.e. 02/15/15 $ 3,546. (Deficit)/ surplus.. $ (3,723.) Thank You for Your Generosity. Saturday: Dt 26:16-19; Mt 5:43-48 Sunday: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Monday: Dn 9:4b-10; Lk 6:36-38 Tuesday: Is 1:10, 16-20; Mt 23:1-12 Wednesday: Jer 18:18-20; Mt 20:17-28 Thursday: Jer 17:5-10; Lk 16:19-31 Friday: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Mt 21:33-43, Saturday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20; Lk 15:1-3, Sunday: Ex 20:1-17 [1-3, 7-8, 12-17]; 1 Cor 1:22-25; Jn 2:13-25

4 CONFIRMATION RETREAT will be held on Wednesday, March 4th at the Villa of Our Lady. Please pray for our Confirmation Candidates as they gather this week to spiritually prepare for the celebration of Confirmation at the 4 P.M. Mass on Saturday, May 2nd. Bishop Joseph C. Bambera will preside. OUR LENTEN ENRICHMENT SERIES will feature the Eucharist series by Fr. Robert Baron. Mark your calendars now to set aside some time for this opportunity to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist. Sessions will continue twice each week: Tuesday mornings at 11 am (after Scripture Sharing) on March 3,10, 17, and 24; Wednesday evenings at 7:30 (after Stations of the Cross) on March 4, 11, 18, and 25. We are planning to share a meal at the Wednesday evening sessions. All are invited to join us for a Simple Soup Supper as we come together to reflect on the spiritual nourishment we receive in the Eucharist. We would like to offer two selections of soup for each evening; if you are willing to make a pot of soup for one of the above dates, please contact Lynnette Smith at or lysmith@ptd.net. OUR SCRIPTURE SHARING GROUP will meet downstairs in the hall on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. during Lent. All are welcome to join us as we prepare for the upcoming weekend celebration of the Eucharist. The group process includes time to quietly reflect on each reading, to gain insights from several Scripture commentaries, and an option to share personal insights about how the Word of God is speaking to us personally in the context of our daily lives. When the Pocono Mtn. School District is delayed for one hour, Scripture Sharing will begin at 10 a.m. With a 2 hour delay, Scripture will begin at 11 a.m. When school is cancelled due to inclement weather, there will be no Scripture Sharing. THE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP meets in the hall at 9:30 A.M. on the second Wednesday of each month. Anyone who has experienced a loss due to death, divorce, or separation, is encouraged to attend this ecumenical group. The next meeting will be March 11th. CANDY SALE FUNDRAISER CONTINUES! Purchases can be made at the Lenten Buffets on March 6 and 20 and also after weekend Masses through March 22. You can also call Lynnette ( ) or her at lysmith@ptd.net to arrange a time to purchase and pick up candy. Selections (while the supply lasts) include Chocolate Covered Cream Eggs (butter cream, coconut, and peanut butter), Carrots, Lilies, Last Supper Bars, Chocolate Covered Oreos, Large & Small Crosses. The candy has been made with love and generously donated by JoAnn Pahler Berger. Proceeds of the sale will benefit our Religious Education and Continuing Faith Formation program and activities. PARTICIPANTS AND SUPPORT CREW NEEDED FOR THE LIVING STATIONS This prayerful presentation is a wonderful way to begin our Holy Week Celebration. We need teens, adults, and children to be members of the cast; roles are all non-speaking parts. We also need support staff to help with sets and scenery, lighting, music, and wardrobe. Will you offer you time and talent this Lenten Season to serve your Parish Family by taking part in the Living Stations? If so, please contact Lynnette in the Parish Office and plan to attend practice after the 10:30 Mass on Sunday. If you are unable to be part of the cast or support staff, please plan to attend the Living Stations and join us in prayer on Palm Sunday evening. The Light Is On For You All Mondays of Lent from 5:30-7:00 pm. Our Parish, and all the parishes in the Diocese of Scranton will be open for individual confessions. In keeping with the spirit of the Pastoral Letter, Wounded and Loved, Regathering the Scattered, inviting Catholics to experience Christ s healing love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a major initiative in the Diocese this year.

5 OUR ROSARY MAKERS would like to extend an invitation to anyone willing to help provide rosaries to various groups. Donations are needed to purchase materials & ship the rosaries, and/or by actually making the rosaries. The work can be done at home at your convenience. If you can share your time, talent, or treasure to help foster this Marian devotion, please call Diane at or CRAFT FAIR SCHEDULED Our Annual Craft Fair will be held downstairs in the Parish Hall on Columbus Weekend, October 10th & 11th. To have a successful fundraising event, many skillful hands are needed! We encourage crafters to begin working now to create items we can sell at the Craft Fair. Wherever your talent lies knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, embroidery, painting, pottery, ceramics, creating greeting cards, etc. we invite you to share it with our Parish Family. For more information, please call Ellen ( ) or Gail ( ). Those In Need of Prayer Kevin Kret ~ Ron Heisler Betty Lou Torpey- Gundi Veritas Fr. Tom McLaughlin Brodie Direnzo ~ Fr. Urban ~ Inge Menapace Msgr. Jerry Sherba ~ Richard Snell Duncan Van Dusen ~ Michael James Joan Harrigan ~ Antonia Lucia ~ Joe Miller Joan Rafferty ~ Temi Miller ~ Bob Brinkerhoff Caroline Bruno - Rene Ponce ~ Haydee Melendez COMMUNION TO THE HOMEBOUND If illness or chronic health problems prevents you from attending Mass on the weekend, there are several Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist who are able to bring Communion to you. If you have a temporary or ongoing need for this outreach, please contact our Coordinator of Extraordinary Ministers, Diane Lake ( ; dianemlake@live.com.) The next meeting is March 7 pm For more information call Steve Glinane at ~ ~Facebook at KnightsofColumbus Pocono Pines or ~ Twitter@ kofc13752mail. NEXT LENTEN BUFFET Friday - March 6th ~ 4:30 to 7 pm Buffet features a variety of pastas, including whole wheat and gluten free; a variety of homemade sauces; fish; mac & cheese; baked shells; nightly specials; soup; and extensive salad bar; bread; hot and cold beverages; many homemade desserts. ~ Take-outs are available. ~ Hall is handicap accessible. Adults $10, Senior Citizens $9, Children 5-12 $4, and under 5 eat free. Snow date: Friday, March 13th. If you would like to help set-up, clean-up, prepare dishes, donate bread and items for the salad bar please call Stewardship of Time & Talent SOUP MAKERS NEEDED! If you have a great soup recipe and are willing to provide soup for Lenten parish activities, please call or to volunteer. For Simple Soup Suppers on Wednesdays, soups can contain meat or can be vegetarian. For the Lenten Buffets held on Fridays, the soups must be meatless. Please contact Lynnette ( ; lysmith@ptd.net) if you can provide soup for the Wednesday sessions. Call Mary miraglia@ptd.net) if you can supply soup for one of the Lenten dinners. THE LAZARUS LUNCHEON COMMITTEE provides a meal for families after a funeral Mass celebrated in our parish. Volunteers set up and clean up and also prepare salads, side dishes, entrees and desserts for the meal. This ministry of compassion helps to provide families with a welcoming environment to share a meal as well as memories of their loved one. If you would like to be a Lazarus Cook or helper, please contact or at lysmith@ptd.net.

6 Around The Diocese Week of March 1, 2015 Tabernacle Light Available for $20 for two weeks Bread and Wine Available for $25. for one week No Flowers during Lent THE PRAYER GARDEN The expansion of the garden continues with Stations of the Cross. There are several still available and the donation is $ If you have any questions please call Mike Kummer at YOUTH GROUP - COMING SOON For more information, contact THANK YOU to all who participated in the Souperbowl of Caring last month. $550 and 5 baskets of food were collected to help our Top O the Mountain Ecumenical Food Pantry. PRAYERS FOR MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT SERVICE Major Thomas M. Smith - Hanscom AFB, MA Airman Joshua Ponce - Caldwell AFB, Texas Seaman Nicole Beckman, San Diego, CA Lt. Col. Christopher Yuskaitis - Italy Lt. Joseph V. Yuskaitis, Jr. - Fort Lee, VA Cpl. John P. Bramley - Camp Pendleton, CA 3rd Class Petty Officer DC3 Jeffrey Royall - USCG -VA Pvt. Nhelmar DePerro - Camp Le Jeune, NC Spec 4 Amber Keppol - Camp Zama, Japan Pvt. Matthew Ponce - Fort Bragg, NC Alston Smart Jr., USN, Middle East Jake Yuskaitis - USMC -Camp Le Jeune, NC Staff Sgt. William D. Olsen, Nellis AFB, NV DEPLOYED CIVILIAN PERSONNEL Eugene Maslar, Jr.-Bagram, Afghanistan Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. ~AMEN This list of names will be refreshed at the end of each month. You may have names placed back on the list by calling the office. ~Thank You. DIOCESAN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ON JUNE 7, 2015 Every year, the diocese holds a Wedding Anniversary Celebration in Saint Peter s Cathedral for couples celebrating 25 and 50 years of marriage. During the Anniversary Mass couples will renew their wedding vows. To obtain an invitation to the Wedding Anniversary Celebration held during the year of your twenty-fifth or fiftieth wedding anniversary, give your name and an April mailing address to your pastor. by Even if you cannot attend you will receive a commemorative packet following the celebration. Are you celebrating a 25th or 50th Wedding Anniversary this year? If so, there is still time to register to participate in the Diocesan celebration. Please call the Parish Office as soon as possible. LOVE IS OUR MISSION: THE FAMILY FULLY ALIVE A Year Long Celebration of Marriage & Family Looking for ways to strengthen your marriage and family life? Check our Diocesan Website ( go to and Mass Times; click on Marriage & Family; then click Family Support and Enrichment. Under the photo of the family is a link to a short video Five Ways to a Stronger Family. Scroll down to the graphic with the title The Family = The Domestic Church. click on English or Spanish to view another video clip. Another great link for families: PREPARING FOR POPE FRANCIS VISIT For the Diocese of Scranton, Bishop Bambera has asked all of the faithful to consider the questions prepared by the Vatican and, if you are interested in participating, complete the on-line survey. The Bishop s letter and a link to the online survey can be found on the home page of the diocesan Ecumenical / Interfaith THE ECUMENICAL FOOD PANTRY, is located at Five Loaf House on 133 Firehouse Road in Pocono Pines. Next distribution will be Monday, March 9th and Tuesday, March 10th. Monday pick-up time is 9:30 to noon and Tuesday pick-up is 8:30 to 11 am. In case of winter bad weather, they will do their best to be open. If you question if we are open, please call first ~