Church of Saint Philip Neri Pennsburg, PA March 8, 2015

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1 Church of Saint Philip Neri Pennsburg, PA March 8, 2015 Rev. Robert A. Roncase, Pastor Rev. Raymond W. Smart, retired; resident Deacon Michael J. Franks Deacon Mark J. Meinzer, Business Manager Rev. Edmond J. Speitel, Pastor Emeritus Rev. John J. Scarcia, Retired Pastor Shirley Misiak, Office Manager Catherine E. Faust, Director of Music Wendy Benner, Coordinator of PREP/Religious ED Tom Dewees, Director Catholic Family Life Center Diane Cunningham, Adm. Assistant CFLC Anita Fuhs, Youth Minister Sister Patricia Kelly, M.S.B.T., Parish Outreach Parish Phone Numbers: Rectory Youth Ministry Religious Education/PREP Catholic Family Life Center Parish Hall Parish Outreach Neri Center Fax Numbers: Rectory Religious Education/PREP Catholic Family Life Center Church & Rectory Address: 1325 Klinerd Rd; Pennsburg Hours: 9:00 AM 4:00 PM Address: Website Address: Religious Education Office address & hours: 26 E. Sixth Street, East Greenville, PA Monday & Friday: Offices are closed Tuesday & Thursday: 8:00 am 4:00 pm Wednesday: 12:00 pm 8:00 pm address: Neri Center Address 575 Main Street, East Greenville, PA Catholic Family Life Center Address 26 E. Sixth Street, East Greenville, PA address: Website Address: Youth Ministry Office hours: (East Greenville) Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Wednesday: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm address: spnym@comcast.net ROSARY: Prayed in the Chapel Saturday after the 9:00 AM Mass Monday at 1:00 PM EUCHARISTIC ADORATION 1 st Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Chapel, followed by Benediction. FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS For a floral arrangement to be placed at the altar, please call the rectory. SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil Mass 5:00 PM Sunday 7:30, 9:30, 11:00 AM Holy Day Masses as announced WEEKDAY MASS SCHEDULE - St. Anne Chapel The Chapel is open Monday thru Saturday until 7:00 PM for your visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Daily Mass is celebrated in the Chapel attached to the rectory: Monday - 5:00 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 8:00 AM Saturday - 9:00 AM CONFESSIONS Saturdays: 4:00 4:45 PM or: at the Rectory BY APPOINTMENT anytime. BAPTISMS: Please call the Rectory to schedule 2 nd Sunday Baptisms are held at the 11 AM Mass 3 rd Sunday Baptisms are held at 12:30 PM SPONSORS: Sponsors for Baptism and Confirmation need to be at least 16 years of age, to be confirmed, attend Mass weekly, and if married, be in a valid marriage. 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 or call the rectory between 9:00 am - 4:00 pm to fill out a registration card. SHUT-INS Please call the Parish Outreach Office. SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK Please call the Rectory. 059-St. Philip Neri, page 1

2 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. LENTEN COMMUNION SERVICE STATIONS OF THE CROSS Wednesday: February 25 7:00 pm in Church Wednesday: March 4 7:00 pm in Church Wednesday: March 11 7:00 pm in Church Beginning Monday, February 23, 2015, every morning during Lent, there will be a brief Communion Service in St. Anne Chapel at 6:30 am. The Chapel is our daily Mass Chapel attached to the rectory. The service will take place Monday thru Friday at 6:30 am and will take approximately fifteen (15) minutes. It will afford everyone who needs to be at work early the opportunity to receive communion. The Service will be conducted by one of our Deacons. It consists of the Opening Prayer, Scripture Reading from the daily Mass, a brief Homily (two minutes), the Our Father, Communion, the concluding Prayer and Blessing. Depending on scheduling once each week, the 6:30 am Communion Service will be replaced by a 6:30 am Mass. Mass will last approximately twenty (20) minutes. Those attending will be on their way to work before 7:00 am. God Bless you on your Lenten Spiritual Journey. PARISH LENTEN CONFESSIONS: Sunday: March 1, 2015: 10:30 am - 10:55 am in Church Sunday: March 8, 2015: 10:30 am - 10:55 am in Church Sunday: March 15, 2015: 10:30 am - 10:55 am in Church Monday: March 16, :00 pm - in the Chapel Sunday: March 22, 2015: 10:30 am - 10:55 am in Church Monday: March 23, :00 pm in the Chapel Monday: March 30, :00 pm in the Chapel Tuesday: March 31, :00 pm - 8:30 pm in Church; NO Service Wednesday: March 18 7:00 pm in Church Wednesday: March 25 7:00 pm in Church Serving at Mass March 15 Extraordinary Ministers Lectors 5:00 pm - Dawn Ellis Linda Franks Claire Holcombe Bob Piccone Priest Deacon Teri Boone Dave Boone 7:30 am - Steve Adelsberger Chris Mullaney Christine Adelsberger Pete Frank Priest Deacon Chuck Rodgers Lori Brozena 9:30 am - Rose Anderson Terry Benner Mary Ellen Paulk Wendy Benner Priest Deacon Cecilia Kirkwood Michelle Martin Joshua Hewitt Lillian Hewitt Dave Moser Trudy Moser Ed Tryon Alicia Tryon 11:00 am - Doug DiTondo Pat Kennedy Linda DiTondo Priest Deacon LaRue Emmell Sharon Shaak PAPAL VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2015 Sunday, September 27, 2015 Six buses have been reserved for this special Event and there are about fifteen seats available. Call or the rectory office if you are interested in reserving a seat. We will provide food (sandwiches, snacks and drinks) that are included in the above prices. This Event will forever be remembered in everyone's mind, the joy of attending a Papal Mass! 059-St. Philip Neri, page 2

3 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT March 8, 2015 Monday, March 9, St. Frances of Rome 6:30 am - Lenten Communion Service in Chapel 5:00 pm - Anna Bogdon, (Stella Rozanski) Tuesday, March 10 6:30 am - Lenten Communion Service in Chapel 8:00 am - Helen & Mike Virus (Estate) Wednesday, March 11 6:30 am - Lenten Communion Service in Chapel 8:00 am - Rita Sagan, (Rita & Henry Tokarski) 7:00 pm - Stations of the Cross in Church Thursday, March 12 6:30 am - Lenten Communion Service in Chapel 8:00 am - Florence & William Lampart, (Ed & Joan Lampart) Friday, March 13 6:30 am - Stephen Feninez, (Stephen Gardian) 8:00 am - Agnes Craig-Bradley, (Joan & Tony Pongia) Saturday, March 14 9:00 am Charles Streeper, (Ray & Rose Anderson) 5:00 pm - Beatrice Breidenbach, (Denise & Jim Breidenbach) FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT March 15, :30 am - Joseph Swann, (Purnell family) 9:30 am - Mary & Joseph A. Kaiser, (Gloria Kaiser) 11:00 am - For all living and deceased Parishioners. For those who have died, and in particular for Joseph Cassarella & Phil Duprey, grant them eternal rest and peace. Due to the circumstances in the Middle East, we will pray for all the Military, but their names will not be published. MARCH 2015: THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE Sunday, March 8 Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 am Mass K.O.C. Meeting 7:30 pm Rectory Little Church 9:30 am Parish Hall Men's Basketball 8:00 pm Parish Hall Youth Ministry Monday March 9 Holy Rosary Hour 1:00 pm Chapel Prayer Shawl Ministry 7:00 pm Neri Center SPN Quilting 1:30 pm Parish Hall Boy Scouts RCIA Tuesday March 10 7:00 pm Parish Hall 7:00 pm Chapel Wednesday March 11 PREP/Religious Education: 6:30 pm SPNCFLC Stations of the Cross 7:00 pm Church Thursday, March 12 Bible Study 7:00 pm Neri Center Men's Basketball 8:00 pm Parish Hall Pennsburg Manor Nursing Home Mass at 2:15 pm WE INVITE YOUR PRAYERS For the sick, those in hospitals, nursing homes, and also for their caregivers. Please pray in particular for: Reverend John J. Scarcia, Florence Anders, Terry Aston, Charlotte Azarovich, Frances Cannon, Dottie Cappelli, Joe Cassarella, Sue Ann Creamer, Helen Crouthamel, Jennifer Diascro, Lois Diephaus, Amy DiGirolamo, Sondra Dykie, Charles Eberle, Karen Freed, Steven Gebhardt, Stephanie Gebhardt, Fran Jacobs, Bob Kanya, Janet Keeley, Ed Lampart, Mara Maginnis,Dottie Mccaa, John McArdle, Annie Moran, Rosalie Nelson, Bernard Nichols, Sophie Nunan, Emil Ondra, Tom Paul, Virginia Piechocki, Sister Ann Regis. M.S.B.T, Anthony Sammartino, Mary Schmidt, Alexis Semler, Beverly Slifer, Sean Stefanowicz, Evelyn Steffenino, Anna Tedesco, Bill Tersine, Kathleen Tew, Susan Tew, Margaret Tocci, Christine Troll, Ralph UpDegrove, Martin Waldenberger, Ian Walker, Sarah Werkley, & Larry Wood. 059-St. Philip Neri, page 3 Friday March 13 Bible Study 9:00 am Neri Center Frontier Girls 6:30 pm Parish Hall Parish Lenten Fish Fry Luncheon: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Parish Hall Parish Lenten Fish Fry Dinner: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm Parish Hall Saturday March 14 K.O.C. Come-n-Go Bingo 6:00 pm Parish Hall Sunday March 15 Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 am Mass Little Church 9:30 am Parish Hall Men's Basketball 8:00 pm Parish Hall UPCOMING MEETINGS Holy Rosary Hour - Monday, March 16 at 1:00 pm in the Chapel Lenten Confessions in Chapel - Monday, March 16 at 6pm Boy Scouts - Tuesday, March 17-7:00 pm - Parish Hall Historical Committee Meeting - Tuesday, March 17 at 7:00 pm in the Catholic Family Life Center

4 RCIA - Tuesday, March 17-7:00 pm - Chapel SPN Craft Guild - Tuesday, March 17-1:00 pm in the Parish Hall PREP/Religious Education - Wednesday, March 18-6:30 pm at SPNCFLC Bible Study - Thursday, March 19-7:00 pm in the Neri Center Men's Basketball - Thursday, March 19-8:00 pm in Parish Hall Bible Study - Friday, March 20-9:00 am - Neri Center Frontier Girls - Friday, March 20-6:30 pm in Parish Hall Parish Lenten Fish Fry (Lunch) - Friday, March 20-11:00 am - 2:00 pm in Parish Hall Parish Lenten Fish Fry (Dinner) - Friday, March 20-4:30 pm - 6:30 pm in Parish Hall Charismatic Prayer Group - Saturday, March 21-10:00 am in the Chapel Parish Breakfast setup -Saturday, March 21-7:00 am in Parish Hall Parish Breakfast - Sunday, March 22-7:00 am - 12:30 pm in the Parish Hall Children's Liturgy of the Word - Sunday, March 22 at the 9:30 am Mass Little Church - Sunday, March 22-9:30 am - Parish Hall Men's Basketball - Sunday, March 22-8:00 pm - Parish Hall PARISH NEWS CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS Any parishioner requesting a copy of their contribution statement for 2014, is asked to call the rectory office between 10am-4:30 pm or to spnofc@comcast.net. Saint Philip Neri Parish Council Members-at- Large welcome any questions or comments you may have. Names/ addresses: Tony Bauer: ajbauer337@gmail.com Ed Felix: ef4405@desales.edu SUNDAY COLLECTIONS March 2, 2014 March 1, 2015 Envelopes: $ 5, $ 7, Online: 1, , Loose: , Children's: Total $ 7, $10, Special Second Collections: March 2015 For those who do not receive Sunday collection envelopes or if you are an On-Line giver, the following second collections are: Church in Africa; Latin America; Easter Flowers; Palm Sunday; Rice Bowl Offering & Sharing Our Blessings 100th Anniversary. ONLINE GIVING Go green with St. Philip Neri Church by signing up for Online Giving. You have the option to keep receiving your regular offering envelope packets if you wish. ( PARISH OUTREACH H.O.P.E. NOTICE Anyone needing a H.O.P.E. ride for the first two weeks of March, please call Sister Patricia at H.O.P.E. There will be a H.O.P.E. Meeting on Wednesday, March 18 at 1:30 pm in the Rectory Meeting Room. Please call: only if you are NOT coming. SPN SENIOR CLUB Attention Seniors age 60 and over...march 25, 2015 is the first meeting of the SPN Senior Club. Mark the date! Matthew Fuhs: matthew.fuhs@comcast.net Dave Klauder: stickman@enter.net Theresa Walker: cheg1978@comcast.net 059-St. Philip Neri, page 4 We will meet from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in the Parish Hall. There will be lunch and an activity. We will ask for a $2.00 donation for lunch. WATCH THE BULLETIN for more information.

5 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 Stella Swierzewski; requested by: Gary & Elaine Tarantino; Joey & Sandy Tarantino; Debbie & Charlie Wahl; Gary & Gisela Reinhart; Kathy & Dennis Mocrette; James & Laurie Dallas. In memory of Michael Goc; requested by: York Catholic High School In memory of Joseph Cassarella; requested by: Anne Dykie; Pete & Linda Frank. We also have "Living Memorials" for those special occasions in life. LENTEN FISH FRY ST. PHILIP NERI PARISH HALL EAT-IN OR TAKE-OUT EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT February 18 - April 3-11:00 AM 2:00 PM Orders taken during Fry Hours: 5 EVENING EAT IN or TAKE-OUT DATES: March 13, 20, & 27-4:30 pm 6:30 pm CAR SHOW COMMITTEE MEETING There is a Car Show Committee Meeting on Tuesday, March 10 at 7:00 pm in the Rectory Meeting Room. RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY There is a Respect Life Ministry Meeting on Monday, March 23 at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall Meeting Rooms. (note new date & location of this meeting). If you would like to be part of this Ministry, call Mark Nunan at: HISTORICAL COMMITTEE MEETING There will be a Historical Committee Meeting on Tuesday, March 17 at the Catholic Family Life Center, East Greenville. Newcomers are welcome! Call Eileen: or Doris: if you are interested. COME-N-GO BINGO St. Philip Neri Parish Hall Saturday March 14, 2015 Doors open at 6:00 pm Games begin at 6:30 pm Cost: $.25/game Menu: hotdogs, barbeque & drinks. If you bring a non-perishable item to benefit Open Link, you play two free games of Bingo! Sponsored by: Knights of Columbus Council 6614 EASTER EGG HUNT Ages 1 to 11 years at: St. Philip Neri Parish Church grounds Saturday March 28 10:00 AM SHARP! RAIN or SHINE! sponsored by: Knights of Columbus A reminder to all parents: You are responsible to bring and pick up your children. ST. PHILIP NERI CHURCH HOAGIE SALE CHEESE, HAM, ITALIAN or TURKEY TUESDAY April 7 12:00 PM 6:00 PM COST: $5.00 Place orders no later than: Wednesday, April 1 Call Rita: or Pat: St. Philip Neri, page 5

6 SPN CATHOLIC FAMILY CENTER On Monday, March 9 at 7:00 pm, Dr. Joshua Schulz (DeSales University) and his wife Christine will be presenting "Creating the Future" one of the catechetical themes in preparation for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia from September The Schulz's are teachers in the Diocese of Allentown Marriage PREP Program. The presentation will include discussion on "raising your children Catholic" and "bringing your Children to Mass". Register online at: or call Tom Dewees at: NEW MEMBERS AT LARGE With grateful appreciation, the Parish Council wishes to thank all of the parishioners who submitted their names for consideration to serve on Parish Council. We are truly blessed as a Parish, to have such a large number of very qualified individuals willing to devote their time and talent to the service of the Parish and our Church. THANK YOU. We are pleased to announce the following parishioners who have been elected to Parish Council. Please join us in congratulating and extending our welcome and blessings as they assume their positions as new At-Large Members of Council: Anthony Bauer, Marlene Leidy & Ed Tryon ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood Is God calling you to be a Priest? CATHOLIC PHILLY.COM Stay informed, educated and inspired by visiting Catholic.Philly.com every day. Discover Catholic news, photos, videos and columns on Catholic life and spirituality. Help CatholicPhilly.com spread the Good News by becoming our fan on Facebook and following us on Twitter. World Meeting of Families - Philadelphia 2015 Mark your family calendar for the 8th World Meeting of Families! Philadelphia is proud to welcome families from around the world to this event on September 22-27, Families can look forward to speakers, celebrations, activities for kids, and prayer, all of which will bring renewal and transformation for you, your loved ones, and the world. Visit the official World Meeting of Families website at: WorldMeeting2015.org & "Light a Candle" with your intentions. Designate your United Way gift to help make it possible! The World Meeting of Families Philadelphia 2015 code is Like us on Facebook at "World Meeting of Families 2015" & follow us on WMF2015. World Meeting of Families - Philadelphia 2015 Registration for the World Meeting of Families is now open! To register for the World Meeting, September 22-25, 2015 or to learn more, visit WorldMeeting2015.org and go the "Register" page. Protecting God's Children For Adults Awareness Sessions Spring 2015: St. Stanislaus in Lansdale at 6:30 pm Nazareth Academy Grade School Phila. 6:00 pm St. Martin of Tours Phila. 6:00 pm St. Timothy Phila. 6:30 pm Archdiocesan Pastoral Center Phila. 6:30 pm Mary, Mother of the Redeemer N.Wales 6:30 pm St. Elizabeth Uwchlan 7:00 pm SS Simon & Jude West Chester 6:30 pm Archdiocesan Pastoral Center Phila 6:30 pm Sessions are approximaly 2.5 hours in length. To register: Those with internet access should visit the Virtus website: all others can call: St. Philip Neri, page 6

7 Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow a day at a time. SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2015 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT; FIRST SCRUTINY OF THE ELECT Lord, you search me and you know me Psalm 139 could be called the Scrutiny Psalm: Lord, you know when I sit and stand; you understand me. The Latin root of scrutiny means to search or to investigate. It s the spiritual version of what happens at the airport security gate: surrender your baggage, empty your pockets, and take off your shoes. As our Elect members near the end of their preparation for Easter s sacraments, we pray that they search their hearts before embracing the way of Christ. They invite the Spirit s gentle but penetrating investigation. Lent invites all of us to do the same! TODAY S READINGS: Year A: Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42 (28). God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth. MONDAY, MARCH 9 life, and it just might surprise you on the upside. TODAY S READINGS: 2 Kings 5:1-15b; Luke 4:24-30 (237). Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. TUESDAY, MARCH 10 LENTEN WEEKDAY Forgive one more time always God s math can be tricky. How many times must I forgive my brother? Peter asks, Seven times? Jesus response is short and sweet: How about seventy-seven times. Time and again Jesus calls his followers to forgive. There is no end to this call; it is an echo of God s infinite mercy. You are never beyond God s goodness and love. All that God asks in return is that you have a contrite heart and humble spirit. That may not seem like a lot, but by God s calculations the willingness to seek and an openness to share love is worth everything. TODAY S READINGS: Daniel 3:25, 34-43; Matthew 18:21-35 (238). Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you? FEAST OF FRANCES OF ROME, RELIGIOUS God has other plans People often don t recognize holiness in their midst. It happened to Jesus, of course, and to many saints who were pressured to live conventional, secular lives. Saint Frances of Rome was among the many forced by family to marry instead of taking religious vows. But she discovered her true calling within the role of reluctant matriarch by using her resources to help the poor. Like Frances, you might not immediately recognize God s will shaping your 059-St. Philip Neri, page 7 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 LENTEN WEEKDAY Memory is our saving grace Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel calls remembering a noble and necessary act. No commandment, he wrote in his 1986 Nobel Lecture, figures so frequently, so insistently, in the Bible. It is incumbent upon us to remember the good we have received, and the evil we have suffered. And for Christians, the sum and summit of our memory comes with

8 bread broken and shared around the table of the Lord. That is where we remember all that has been offered to us and all that we must give in return. TODAY S READINGS: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Matthew 5:17-19 (239). However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen. THURSDAY, MARCH 12 LENTEN WEEKDAY Touched by God Aside from being the bedrock document of both Christian and Jewish faith, the Bible makes for great literature filled with sweeping epics, unforgettable characters, and the gamut of human experience and emotion. One of its more poetic images is that of the finger of God, which is used in the Book of Exodus to indicate the means by which the Ten Commandments were written on the stone tablets given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Jesus uses the phrase in reference to the power to cast out a demon. The image suggests that the smallest part of God is mighty enough to accomplish great things. Imagine what even a small amount of God can accomplish in your own life! TODAY S READINGS: Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23 (240). If it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. required on Fridays, may now be substituted by prayer and works most of the year. But the tradition of no meat on Fridays is still in place during Lent. It s a reminder of the sacrifice of Christ on Good Friday, uniting you with Christ s sacrifice through your abstinence. And (as anyone who has attended a church fish fry can attest!) it also unites you with other Catholics in a sense of community and solidarity. TODAY S READINGS: Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34 (241). You are not far from the kingdom of God. SATURDAY, MARCH 14 LENTEN WEEKDAY What drives you? Lent is a season that allows for the opportunity to examine what motivates and drives you. As you strip down your life, what do you find? On what or on whom are you most reliant? Do your desires direct you toward God or away? The answers you give can be humbling in the truest sense of the word revealing not only who you are but also who is God in your life. Such knowledge is a gift and a challenge. Pay attention to your responses and listen for the options God might be offering you. TODAY S READINGS: Hosea 6:1-6; Luke 18:9-14 (242). O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity. FRIDAY, MARCH 13 LENTEN WEEKDAY; DAY OF ABSTINENCE Give up and gain All Fridays of the year are days of penance for Catholics, and abstinence from meat, once 059-St. Philip Neri, page 8

9 OFFICE FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION 222 North 17th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Telephone (215) Fax (215) Monthly Themes Bulletin Reflection March 2015: Creating the Future To prepare for the World Meeting of Families and Pope Francis s visit, we are studying a catechesis on family life called Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive. Each month, our parish is reflecting on one chapter. Previous monthly reflections are online at PhillyEvang.org/wmof. You can order the catechesis as a paperback or e-book, and learn more about September s big event, at WorldMeeting2015.org. Chapter 5: Creating the Future Sexual intimacy between a man and a woman raises the possibility of children. There are many other honorable relationships which include degrees of commitment and affection, but marriage has a unique mission: to integrate the fertility of male and female with the fidelity of God s covenant. Catholic parenting relies on the same rationale as sacramental marriage: love in the shape of service, sacrifice, trust, and openness to God s will. If and when a marriage is blessed with children, love orients parents to their children s education and spiritual formation. Jesus said to his disciples Let the children come unto me, and it is the responsibility of all Catholic adults to shepherd children into a relationship with God and the people of God. The whole parish should be involved in supporting marriages, families and children. We build the future of our society child by child, family by family. Vatican II called the family a domestic church, and the little church of the family takes its orientation from the faith and mission of the larger Church. It is a mother s and a father s responsibility to be with children at home and in church, and to pray together regularly. Children will learn the faith only when they are taught. The way a family responds to adversity, or gathers for meals, or makes financial decisions and sets priorities - these and many other aspects of home economics shape the values and identities of our children. Love is our mission because even in the middle of our humble daily routines, Catholics live with a bold and glorious purpose. - Christopher C. Roberts, catechism editor Did you know? Archdiocese of Philadelphia schools will be closed Wed, Sept 23-Fri, Sept 25 to enable our school families to attend WMOF together! Families can register at WorldMeeting2015.org. 059-St. Philip Neri, page 1

10 SPRING CLEANUP ON CHURCH GROUNDS Saturday, April 11 Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Coffee & donuts will be provided Once again we are getting ready to clean up the Church grounds around the Church to make them beautiful! In order for this to happen, we need your help for just a few hours. Questions...call Lee Johnson at: regarding the cleanup; what we do or how you can be of help. If you enjoy the outdoors and like to garden, please join our group as we are looking for new members. The club works on the grounds on Wednesday's (April - October) from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm weather pending. If you cannot make it on Wednesday's, feel free to come on another day. 059-St. Philip Neri, page 2