April 3, nd Sunday of Easter. Our Mission Statement We Worship ~ We Teach ~ We Care

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1 St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish 5112 Pocono Crest Rd. PO Box O Pocono Pines, PA Parish Office: (570) Web Page: Masses: Saturday ~ 4:00 p.m. Sunday ~ 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Saturday Confessions ~ 3:00 p.m. April 3, nd Sunday of Easter Our Mission Statement We Worship ~ We Teach ~ We Care

2 April 3, nd Sunday of Easter JOINING THE COMPANY OF BELIEVERS What will help you to believe? Today s scripture readings tell of faith and doubt. They offer stories recorded to help you believe, as the passage from John s Gospel (20:31) remarks today. There is an urgency about this. On this Second Sunday of Easter we are challenged to join the company of believers countless men and women who witnessed the power of the apostles faith. There is no doubt that this power comes from Jesus Christ. The second reading, from the book of Revelation, reports John s mystical vision of the Son of Man, who proclaims, Once I was dead, but now I live (Revelation 1:18). The Gospel gathers everyone but Thomas to see the Risen Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit from him. Like Thomas, we who have come along later must have faith so that we can have life. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish Staff Reverend Sean G. Carpenter ~ Pastor Deacon Frank Gisoldi ~ deaconf@ptd.net Deacon Tom Amoroso 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 HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOR If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask God simply to fill you with charity... with it you can accomplish what you desire. ~St. Vincent Ferrer TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION We return to our reflections on the rites of marriage with a brief consideration of reforms from the Council of Trent. When the Protestant Reformation took hold, the fairly recent achievements of the Church in regard to the sacrament of marriage were reviewed with a critical, reforming eye. In general, Protestants returned to an earlier view that marriage was a civil matter, although some said that the civil society had to be in harmony with Christian teaching. In the Catholic Church, the Council of Trent took the question up in 1563, and decided to shore up its teaching on the sacrament of marriage. They identified many threats to this, including secret marriages and easy divorce. So they enacted laws that still govern our practice today: to be valid, marriage consent must be exchanged in the presence of a priest and two witnesses. Ever since Trent, marriages must also be announced three weeks in advance to the community, and recorded in a register. In some places in the world, the banns are still posted in the public square. In the United States, parishes sometimes publish the banns in the bulletin. Anyone who has ever watched a soap opera has seen the standard scene of a minister announcing gravely, If there is anyone here present who sees any reason why these two should not be married... This bit of drama has no place in the Catholic liturgy, but survives among Protestants who broke with us before Trent edited this cliff-hanger out of our public prayer. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. TRUE TEACHERS Believe one who has tried, you shall find a fuller satisfaction in the woods than in books. The trees and the rocks will teach you that which you cannot hear from the masters. St. Bernard of Clairvaux

3 April 2 through April 10th Saturday 4:00 pm Easter Mass Intentions Sunday 8:00 am For the Parishioners 10:30 am Easter Mass Intentions Monday 8:15 am Betty Ann Sowinski by Marion Colvin Tuesday 8:15 am Maryl Hovick by The Rafferty Family Wednesday 8:15 am Joseph Lewis by The Dembinski Family Thursday 8:15 am Margaret Dicks Cammerino by The Gilmartin Family Friday 8:15 am Communion Service Saturday 4:00 pm For The Parishioners Sunday 8:00 am John & Brian Donohue by Mary Howe 10:30 am Tom & Dottie Smith by Tom & Lynnette Smith Caregiving is pro-life! The Church, entrusted with the task of extending Christ s mission in time and space, cannot neglect these two essential tasks: evangelization and the care of the sick in body and in mind. --Pope Benedict XVI, Homily on World Day of the Sick 2010 First Friday Adoration will be held after the Communion Service each month. There will not be an 8:15 Mass when a Funeral Mass is scheduled. Saturday Confessions at 3:00 pm Weekly Collection 03/20/16 $ 5,854. Capital Improvement Fund. $ 145. Lenten Offerings. $ 611. Easter Offerings.. $ 488. Thank You for Your Generosity Saturday: Acts 4:13-21; Mk 16:9-15 Sunday: Acts 5:12-16; Rv 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; Jn 20:19-31 Monday: Is 7:10-14, 8:10; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38 Tuesday: Acts 4:32-37; Jn 3:7b-15 Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26; Jn 3:16-21 Thursday: Acts 5:27-33; Jn 3:31-36 Friday: Acts 5:34-42; Jn 6:1-15 Saturday: Acts 6:1-7; Jn 6:16-21 Sunday: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Rev. 5:11-14 Jn 21:1-19

4 Parish Life FIRST COMMUNION will be celebrated at the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, May 1. FIRST COMMUNION RETREAT will be held on Saturday, April 9th from 9 am-noon. PLEASE PRAY for our First Communion and Confirmation Candidates and their families. A PRE-JORDAN SESSION (for parents who are seeking baptism for their children) will be held at 7 pm on Tuesday, March 29th. The Diocese of Scranton requires catechesis for parents prior to the baptism of their children; godparents are encouraged but not required to attend. If you are anticipating a baptism in the next several months, please call the Parish Office to register for this session. The next Pre-Jordan will be held in the summer. DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY ~ APRIL 3 As we continue our spiritual journey through the Jubilee Year of Mercy, we encourage you to be watching for opportunities of grace within and beyond our parish. The next opportunity will be next weekend, when the Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed after each Mass. What is Divine Mercy Sunday? Among all of the elements of devotion to The Divine Mercy requested by our Lord through St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, the Feast of Mercy holds first place. The Lord's will with regard to its establishment was already made known in His first revelation to the saint, as recorded in her Diary. In all, there were 14 revelations concerning the desired feast. The Meaning of the Day Clearly, Divine Mercy Sunday is not a new feast established to celebrate St. Faustina's revelations. Indeed, it is not primarily about St. Faustina at all nor is it altogether a new feast! The Second Sunday of Easter was already a solemnity as the Octave Day of Easter; nevertheless, the title "Divine Mercy Sunday" does highlight and amplify the meaning of the day. In this way, it recovers an ancient liturgical tradition, reflected in a teaching attributed to St. Augustine about the Easter Octave, which he called "the days of mercy and pardon," and the Octave Day itself "the compendium of the days of mercy." The Importance of the Image During his homily, John Paul made clear that the Image of The Divine Mercy St. Faustina saw, which is to be venerated on Divine Mercy Sunday, represents the Risen Christ bringing mercy to the world (see Diary 49, 88, 299, 341, 570, 742). Pope John Paul II said: "Jesus shows His hands and His side [to the Apostles]. He points, that is, to the wounds of the Passion, especially the wound in His Heart, the source from which flows the great wave of mercy poured out on humanity. "From that Heart, Sr. Faustina Kowalska, the blessed whom from now on we will call a saint, will see two rays of light shining from that Heart and illuminating the world: The two rays,' Jesus Himself explained to her one day, represent blood and water' (Diary, 299). "Blood and water! We immediately think of the testimony given by the Evangelist John, who, when a soldier on Calvary pierced Christ's side with his spear, sees blood and water flowing from it (see Jn 19:34). Moreover, if the blood recalls the sacrifice of the cross and the gift of the Eucharist, the water, in Johannine symbolism, represents not only Baptism but also the gift of the Holy Spirit" (see Jn 3:5; 4:14; 7:37-39).

5 Parish Life Week of April 3rd - April 9th Sanctuary Light In Thanksgiving by St. Max Prayer Group Bread and Wine For The Unborn Children Altar Flowers Available for $100. for one week Parish Life Reminder: Our Activities Committee is sponsoring a Ladies Luncheon April in Paris at Lake Naomi Club on April 23rd at 12:00 PM. The luncheon will feature French Cuisine and a French themed program. The cost is $ For more information, please check the flyer in the narthex or contact Joan Hild at ST. MAX PRAYER GROUP The group will meet in the parish hall to share in prayer, song, praise, a video and thanks for all the gifts that the Lord has given to us. Everyone is welcome to join us each Saturday at 2 pm., downstairs in the parish hall. The meeting ends prior to the 4 pm Mass. Call or Peggy at for more information. Those In Need of Prayer Kyle Brennan ~ Amy Hatlee Jack Carey ~ Claire Abbazio Flo Butler ~ Kevin Kret Michael James ~ Gerry Boyle Betty Lou Torpey ~ Beverly Lewis Deacon Frank - Timothy Yuskaitis Fr. Tom McLaughlin ~ Fr. Urban Charles Knopp ~ Brodie Direnzo Temi Miller Inge Menapace - Vance Coover ~ Gloria Ski Msgr. Jerry Sherba ~ Richard Snell ~ Noah Direnzo Duncan Van Dusen ~ Joe Miller ~ Antonia Lucia Caroline Bruno ~ Haydee Melendez ~ Joe Filocco Ron Heisler- Lt. Joseph V. Yuskaitis, Jr. Paul Fulton ~ Joseph McKenna ~ Bobbie Morin Bern Dukert ~ Dolores Puglia Bill Gleason ~ Fr. Kevin Mulhern COMMUNION TO THE HOMEBOUND If illness or health problems prevent you from attending Mass, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist are able to bring Communion to you. If this need exists, please contact Diane Lake or her at dianemlake@live.com. Sat 4/02 Sun 4/03 Mon 4/04 Tues 4/05 Wed 4/06 Thur 4/07 Sat 4/09 Sun 4/10 at St. Max. 2:00 pm - St. Max Prayer Group Noon - Confirmation Parent Meeting 7 pm - K of C Meeting 9:30 am - Scripture Study 6 pm - Social Concerns 7 pm - Prayer Shawl 7 pm Women s Cornerstone 7 pm Liturgy Committee 7 pm Choir Practice Family Promise Collection 9-12 Noon First Communion Retreat 2 pm - St. Max Prayer Group 5 pm - Valor Dinner Family Promise Collection

6 Parish Life Parish Life MARK YOUR CALENDARS! April 9: K of C Dinner to benefit VALOR April 20: Holy Family Icon Prayer Event April 23: April in Paris Ladies Luncheon May 1: First Communion at 10:30 am May 4: Confirmation at 5 pm (Vigil of Ascension) May 7: Memorial Mass - Cay 10 am May 7/8: Baby Shower for Shepherd s Maternity/PRC May 8: May Crowning at 10:30 Mass June 4: Bus Trip to Paper Mill Playhouse June 11 & 12: Little Bethlehem Christians Sale June 26: FREE Community Dinner July 18-22: Vacation Bible School Aug. 13: Parish Pilgrimage ~ Holy Door at Cathedral Aug. 21: Parish Picnic at Township Park Aug. 27/28: CCD Book Sale Fundraiser Aug. 29-September 2: Stuff the Truck Clothing Drive October 8 & 9: St. Max Craft Fair Is You Light Growing Dim? Our light can be increased as we live in relationship with the light of the world. In John 8:12, Jesus says: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness (NRSV). In Jesus light, we find that the light in our own life is increased. St. Paul told how Christ s light should affect us: In the Lord you are light. Live as children of light (Eph. 5:8). Meetings are held the 1st & 3rd Mondays of the 7 pm ~ ~Facebook at KnightsofColumbus Pocono Pines or ~ Twitter@ kofc13752mail. BE A MAN CONFERENCE, APRIL 23rd King s College Scandlon Stadium 149 N. Main Street, Wilkes Barre, PA Registration Fee: $35.00 (includes lunch, coffee) Students: $15.00 PRIESTS AND DEACONS FREE To register, go to dioceseofscranton.org. Speakers include Dr. Scott Hahn and Msgr. Charles Pope and featuring Michael McGlinn. Travel to Poland with Father Sean Carpenter PLEASE JOIN US ON A PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND - October Warsaw, Niepokalanow Monastery, Swinice Warckie, Jasna Góra Monastery, Black Madonna, Wadowice, Krakow, Auschwitz, Zakopane PRAYERS FOR MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT SERVICE Major Thomas M. Smith ~ Airman Joshua Ponce Seaman Nicole Beckman ~ Cpl. John P. Bramley Lt. Col. Christopher Yuskaitis Lt. Joseph V. Yuskaitis, Jr. ~ Alston Smart Jr. 3rd Class Petty Officer DC3 Jeffrey Royall Cpl. Nhelmar DePerro ~ Spec 4 Amber Keppol Pvt. Matthew Ponce ~ Alston Smart Jr. Jake Yuskaitis ~ Staff Sgt. William D. Olsen MK1 Katie Stodnick ~ Eugene Maslar, Jr. 2nd Lt. Mark Gaido ~ Ensign Michael Huf HA Valerie Novak Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. ~AMEN Call the Parish office if you would like more information about the trip. St. Max Prayer Shawl meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month- 7 pm Our Lady of the Lake Hall Next meeting: April 7th

7 Parish Life Our St. Maximilian Pascal Candle was donated In Thanksgiving. Next Weekend - April 9th & 10th Essentials Collection for Family Promise Family Promise is in need of the following items: Paper Towels; 150 oz. Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent; Large Kitchen Dishwashing Liquid; Saran Wrap; Aluminum Foil; Tall Kitchen trash bags with draw string; Ziploc bags Quart, Gallon and Jumbo sizes; Forever Stamps for mailing; Computer paper 20 lb., 96 Bright, Letter size 8 ½ x 11 Upcoming Events Sponsored by Social Concerns Save these Dates Around the Diocese VOLUNTEERS NEEDED at The Villa of Our Lady in Mt. Pocono. Volunteers are needed to help with lunch and dinner on Fridays, Saturdays, & Sunday breakfast. This is a great opportunity for adults, Confirmation Candidates, and members of Parish Groups. For more information call the Villa of Our Lady Retreat House ( ) ask for Sister Maria. MEN S MALVERN RETREAT May Any part or all of this weekend. Who has time to pray? The frantic pace of life leaves us little time to deal with the things of real value in our lives. Is it time for your spiritual transformation? We all need to grow our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This weekend retreat can be your time and place to learn to pray at a deeper level. All men and boys are invited. For details call Bill Vockroth at or VOCKROTH@PTD.NET NEED A MARRIAGE ANNULMENT? As of Dec. 8, 2015, the first day of the Year of Mercy, Catholics seeking marriage annulments will no longer pay a fee to cover the administrative costs of annulment cases. If you have questions or need assistance, call the parish & speak with Fr. Sean. Mother s Day Weekend Baby Shower for Shepherd s Maternity House & Pregnancy Resource Center of the Poconos. Their wish list will be published at a later date. July 3 rd American Red Cross Blood Drive (Blood Drive Time will be announced at later date.) Weekend of July 9 & 10 the quarterly Essentials Collection for Family Promise (Watch future bulletins for wish list.) Weekend of August 13 & 14 Women s Resouce s of Monroe County Collection (More to follow) August 30 th thru Labor Day Stuff the Truck Clothing Drive for Friends of the Poor During the entire week, a truck will be in the back parking lot to accept your donations. (More information will be available in the summer.) Ecumenical / Interfaith FOOD PANTRY NEWS Location: Five Loaf House: 133 Firehouse Road Telephone: DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE: Monday, April 13th & Tuesday, April 14th If there is any question as to whether the pantry is open during inclement weather, please call The safety of our volunteers as well as our clients is our top priority! Food & clothing donations are accepted Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 9 am to 11 am. Clothing/Household goods will be given away on Thursday of distribution week form 8 am to 11 am. If weather is bad and the schools are delayed or closed then we will not have a clothing/household distribution day that month. Winter clothing only will be accepted for February. Spring clothing will be accepted in March. If you have questions - call the pantry. Thank You to the Community! For making it possible to keep our doors open and the needy on Top of the Mountain fed!