SACRAMENTS. Baptism. Anointing of the Sick. Please contact the rectory at anytime for the celebration of this sacrament. Marriage

Transcription

1 Third Sunday of Easter April 10, 2016

2 MONDAY, APRIL 11 FEAST OF STANISLAUS, BISHOP, MARTYR Take a stand Saint Stanislaus was a Polish bishop in 1079 who didn t back down, despite threats and charges of treason from the corrupt and immoral King Boleslaus the Bold. After Stanislaus excommunicated Boleslaus, the king ordered the just bishop s death, and when soldiers refused, Boleslaus did the deed with his own hands. When leaders are out of line, let Stanislaus embolden you against injustice. You might not wield the influence of a bishop, but you can speak up, get involved, write an , vote, protest, or boycott. Small actions can add up to make a big difference. TODAY S READINGS: Acts 6:8-15; John 6:22-29 (273). Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life. TUESDAY, APRIL 12 EASTER WEEKDAY What just happened? A bishop celebrating Confirmation soon after Easter asked the adults in the congregation not the kids Do you know what mystagogia means? Embarrassment. No takers. It means, going deeper into the mysteries. It s the time after Easter when the newly baptized reflect on what just happened at their entrance into the church. It s a good idea for all believers, especially adults, to deepen their faith through spiritual reading. There is much excellent material available. What s the last book on Catholicism you ve read? Perhaps The Francis Effect: A Radical Pope s Challenge to the American Catholic Church, by John Gehring, would be a good one to turn to. TODAY S READINGS: Acts 7:51-8:1a; John 6:30-35 (274). Whoever comes to me will never hunger. (Continued on page 7) Baptism SACRAMENTS Baptisms are normally celebrated on the Third Sunday of every month during or following the 12 noon liturgy. Baptisms may be arranged at other times when necessary. Parent and Godparent preparation occurs two Sunday evenings each month at 5:00 PM at St. Gregory and Our Lady of the Snows rectories. Please call for an appointment. Anointing of the Sick Please contact the rectory at anytime for the celebration of this sacrament. Marriage Arrangements should be made six months prior to the desired wedding date. Please contact Father Lapera. HOSPITAL VISITATION If anyone has a family member, relative or friend in any of the area hospitals and would like them to have a visit, please call the rectory. MUSIC MINISTRY REHEARSALS Spirit Song Ensemble: Wed. 6:00 p.m. Voices of Faith Choir: Wed. 7:15 p.m. Genesis Children s Choir: Wed. 4:00 p.m. or Thurs. 2:45 p.m. WOMEN S GUILD Guild meetings take place the first Thursday of every month from September through May, with the exception of January. Meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the rectory. saintgregoryswomensguild@gmail. com ROSARY GROUP Every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM. Parish Program FAITH FORMATION Our Religious Education program takes place every Sunday Morning at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of Peace School for Grades 1 through 8. Our Kindergarten Class is held in the Early Childhood Center. Holy Cross School System OUR LADY OF PEACE SCHOOL 410 N. Abington Road, Clarks Green, PA Mrs. M. Colleen Jumper, Principal HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL 501 E. Drinker Street, Dunmore, PA Mr. Benjamin D. Tolerico, Principal St. Gregory Early Childhood Program Our programs are held five days a week and take place in the Early Childhood Center. Pre School and Kindergarten programs are registering now PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM in the rectory. FOOD PANTRY Donations may be left near Church entrances or in the cabinet in the hallway near the restroom. See page 5 for a list of items we are collecting this week. ST. JOSEPH S OUTREACH Our parish partners with St. Joseph s school in Uganda. Donations are always welcome in support of student tuition. The Great Fifty Days March 27 May 15 The great fifty days of Easter are not an unwelcome, unrealistic, obligation to party on, even if we don t feel like it, but an invitation to explore more deeply the weather of the heart, to awaken our memory of God s presence and

3 Worship We believe Eucharist is the source & summit of our faith and the center of our parish life and mission! Clergy Convocation Since the priests of the Diocese will be away the week of April 18 through 22, a special mass and communion service schedule is as follows: Monday April 18 7:00 AM & 12:10 PM Mass Tuesday April 19 7:00 AM Mass *12:10 PM Communion Service Wednesday, April 20 *7:00 AM Communion Service 12:10 PM Mass Thursday, April 21 7:00 AM Mass *12:10 PM Communion Service Friday, April 22 7:00 AM & 12:10 PM Mass *Liturgy of the Word and Distribution of Communion outside of Mass Follow Me "Follow me. These are the first words the disciples of Jesus ever heard him address to them. They re also the last two words of today s gospel. But so much has happened since the first time those words were spoken to Peter and the others! At the shore of Galilee, follow me must have sounded like a lark, a young man s game, an adventure with all sorts of wonderful possible outcomes. This teacher might become famous, and they would have been the first graduates of his school. This preacher might wind up being a great leader, and they could assume powerful positions in his coming regime. This healer might be a holy personage in God s plan, and who doesn t want to be at the side of the next Moses? At the very least, it all beat normal life as a fisherman and family man by a nautical mile. So why not follow, and see where it leads? That was 20 chapters, three years, a legend ago. Before miracles that rocked the senses; deep clashes with powerful authorities; terrible signs that made lips quiver and legs wobble. It was before the supper, the arrest, the trial, the cross. Before horrible days and nights spent in hiding. Before the dawn of Easter, whispers of an empty tomb, and the searing ache of hope. Follow me didn t sound so innocent now. It wasn t a game, no mere adventure. It was for keeps. And it would cost everything they had to give. Follow me had a very different ring to it, now that they d seen Jesus hauled away, saw him beaten and abused, saw the lifeless body and gaping wounds. Once you ve stood at the tomb, walking in the footsteps of Jesus doesn t sound like a stroll along a (Continued on page 7) Remembering Our Loved Ones at Mass April 11-April 16 MONDAY 7:00 AM (G) Richard J. Dempsey The Family 12:10 PM (S) Special Intention Trudy Stroney TUESDAY 7:00 AM (G) Clare Fisne Kathy Castelletti 12:10 PM (S) Dorothy Fisher Lardner Family WEDNESDAY 7:00 AM (G) Katie Hennemuth Reap Vonna, Nanci & David 12:10 PM (S) Michael Hoban Kranick Family THURSDAY 7:00 AM (G) Gordon, Burns, Harrington & Morano Families The Family 12:10 PM (S) George Obal Tony Ferraro FRIDAY 7:00 AM (G) Mary Murray M/M Jack Martin 12:10 PM (S) Mary Ayera M/M Larry Wood SATURDAY 5:00 PM (G) Linda Gratz D/M J. McKenna Sunday Readings Gather Hymnal: 1069 The gift of bread and wine this weekend is offered by Joseph & Catherine Janichko in memory of Cecilia Shandry 3

4 Community We believe that our Baptism forms us into a family joined together to love God and one another. Spring Fling! SATURDAY APRIL 30 Please mark your calendars for our next party event on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at Our Lady of Peace School. The theme this year is Flower Power and this event promises to be even better than Mardi Gras last year! Invitations have been mailed out! Please get your reservation in early! Community Table You are invited to attend our very first community table. A social gathering designed to foster fellowship, friendship and parish family. All parish adults welcome! The event will take place on Sunday, April 24 at 1:00 PM at CAMELOT, 17 Johnson Road, Clarks Summit. Please join us for brunch. RSVP required call (570) or judywalsh730@gmail.com. Individual charges incurred paid directly to Camelot. judywalsh730@gmail.com Women s Guild The Women s Guild is having a shower for St. Joseph s Baby Pantry. If you would like to select a tag off the clothes line in the back of the church and return the unwrapped item(s) to the back of the church on Monday, April 25. OLP MUSICAL Our Lady of Peace School Players will proudly present The Wizard of OZ on Friday & Saturday, April 22 & 23 at Clarks Summit Elementary. Tickets may be purchased at the door! Rummage Sale The Waverly Elementary School is holding a Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 16, from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the school. Donated items will be accepted at the school April 11 to the 15 from 3:00 until 6:00 PM in the school lobby. No TV s or computers please! COMMUNITY TEAM WELCOME April activities and sign-up sheets may be found on the Welcome Cart. For more information, please contact Tracy Bannon at tracybannon@stjosephscenter.org Forward in Faith Campus Improvements and Expansion With the spirit of Easter in our hearts, we continue the implementation of our pastoral plan Forward in Faith. At this point, I will engage the Pastoral Council to review with me all the parishioner input pertaining to campus needs and improvements. A vision narrative will be completed and sent to Bishop Bambera seeking his permission to engage professionals over the summer for necessary assessments and initial design plans. Please keep all of this in your Easter prayer. Thank you for all you are doing for me and the Church of St. Gregory. Let us move Forward in Faith with God s Easter Peace! Father John

5 Service We recognize God s call to serve our parish family and neighbors near and far. cider for humans and water bowls and treats for pets) after the Pet Blessing to be scheduled in October. New Ministry SERVICE TEAM The Service Team has a complete list of service connected opportunities. If you are interested in learning more, please c o n t a c t J u l i e a t julie.nastasi@gmail. com. HANDS READY TO SERVE In honor of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi (Tuesday, October 4, 2016) we are organizing a Church of St. Gregory Pet Group. Heavenly Paws The group will help to collect food and supplies for the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter. The group will participate in a parish pet event at the shelter. The group will organize a donation to support a St. Gregory Adopt-A-Cage. The goal is $ (one animal for a whole year) The group will organize Puppy Picnic (hotdogs and This is pawsitively going to be a dog-gone great fun group to belong to. If you don t mind going to the dogs, please Carol Hughes at carolmariehughes@gmail.com, to become a member of our pack. Talent Show The Holy Cross System Student Advisory Board will be hosting a Talent Show fundraiser on Sunday, April 17 at 3:00 PM at Holy Cross High School. Students from All Saints Academy, LaSalle Academy, St. Clare/St. Paul School, St. Mary s School and Our Lady of Peace School will perform a variety of acts. Admission is free; vote for your favorite act by making a donation at the conclusion of the performance. The act which raises the most money will win the Audience Choice Award. All proceeds will support scholarships for students in the Holy Cross System. Come and support our talented students! This week we are collecting Tuna, Chicken, Salmon This donation will be delivered to Leahy Family Clinic. Thank You! Weekly Offering We are very grateful for your Sunday offering on the weekend of April 3, 2016 $11, Additional EASTER $2, Care & Education $ Give Online Consider scheduling a recurring contribution today. It s very convenient. You will no longer need to write out checks and prepare envelopes every week. Even when travel or other circumstances prevent you from attending services, your electronic contributions will continue to be received on an uninterrupted basis. Finance Council Bill Burkavage John Devine Veronica Dende Paul Gerega Deacon Bob Yvonne Cronkey Father John 5

6 Word We cherish our relationship with Jesus and strive to make the gospel relevant to our daily lives! Jubilee Year of Mercy April 10, 2016 Third Sunday of Easter How appropriate today s Gospel for this Jubilee Year of Mercy, both because of the breakfast Jesus provides ( a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread ) and the number of fish in Peter s net ( one hundred fifty-three ) (John 21:11 12). Of the fish, Saint Augustine suggests that the roasted fish is the suffering Christ. Saint Gregory the Great adds that Christ lowered himself to swim in the water of our humanity; to be caught in the net of our death; to be roasted in his Passion on the fire of suffering. Saint Jerome claims that one hundred fifty-three represents the full number of known species of fish, signifying that the Church s net has room for all our widely diverse humanity, securing our unity-indiversity in the hands of Peter and his successors. Having received God s mercy as the beating heart of the Gospel, may the Church we pattern [our] behavior after the Son of God who went out to everyone without exception (Misericordiae Vultus, 12). Peter Scagnelli, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. Papal quotes Copyright 2015, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. Abington Catholic Youth Ministry Regular meetings are held every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Gathering Room of Our Lady of the Snows. All high school students are welcome to attend anytime. High School Faith Formation meetings are held the First and Third Sunday of the Month at 6:00 p.m. in the Gathering Room at Our Lady of the Snows. Faith Information Religious Education Schedule: Classes will resume this Sunday, April 3 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Peace School. Confirmation Practices: Friday, May 20, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM for students in the Confirmation Class and Sunday, May 22, at 4:00 PM for students and sponsors. Both practices will take place in the Church. Confirmation Retreat: The Confirmation Class will make their retreat on Thursday, May 5 at the Jesuit Retreat Center at Chapman Lake. Please keep our candidates in your prayers. First Eucharist Practices: For those receiving Saturday, May 7: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, May 4, 5 & 6, 4:30 until 6:00 PM. For those receiving Saturday, May 14: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, May 11,12 & 13, 4:30 until 6:00 PM. First Communion Retreat: The First Communion Class will make their retreat on Wednesday, April 13 at St. Gabriel s Monastery from 8:30 AM until 2:30 PM. Please keep the class in your prayers. WORD TEAM To know more about the Word Commision, please contact Patti Staples at thstapes@com cast.net. LIFELONG CATECHESIS

7 (Continued from page 2) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 FEAST OF MARTIN I, POPE, MARTYR Provide refuge Pope Francis has called on every parish, religious community, monastery, and sanctuary to take in one refugee family fleeing the Middle East. As you support this effort in your own locale, remember the plight of Pope Martin I, who was driven into exile and subjected to great suffering that eventually killed him all for refusing to capitulate to a Byzantine emperor. Pope Pius VII later wrote of the virtually abandoned Martin, Without the assistance offered by the pious generosity of individuals, he would not have had food for himself and his few attendants. You can help those in situations like Martin s today. TODAY S READINGS: Acts 8:1b- 8; John 6:35-40 (275). I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger. THURSDAY, APRIL 14 EASTER WEEKDAY Death, where is your sting? Though the denial of death is widespread in a youth-oriented culture, we ve all tasted its bitterness in the loss of those we love. The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes the Easter point: Jesus, the Son of God, also himself suffered the death that is part of the human condition. Yet, despite his anguish as he faced death, he accepted it... [and] the obedience of Jesus has transformed the curse of death into a blessing because it is a participation in the death of the Lord, so that [we] can also share his Resurrection. Easter does not happen only to Jesus. TODAY S READINGS: Acts 8:26-40; John 6:44-51 (276). Whoever believes has eternal life. FRIDAY, APRIL 15 EASTER WEEKDAY Fine-tune your faith When we recite the Nicene Creed our Catholic belief expressed in a profession of faith we say that Jesus Christ is consubstantial with the Father. Before the English translation of the liturgy of the Mass was modified in 2011, we used to say one in being with the Father. While not everyone appreciated the change, consubstantial captures the original Latin term for same substance. The change is an opportunity to reflect on what exactly the words you say mean. Keep working to deepen your understanding of your belief. TODAY S READINGS: Acts 9:1-20; John 6:52-59 (277). He began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Michele Musheno Paul Mullisky Theresa Robinson Scott Pettinato Marjorie Barlow Jim Fleming Community Tracy Bannon Saul Rigau Lisa Rigau Delia Coppola Yvonne Cronkey Bridget Walsh Bill Durdach Danelle Hogan Molly Johnson Pam Jones Mary Griffin Judy Walsh Joe Hogan* PASTORAL COUNCIL Joe Hogan Bill Donovan Jane Farr Dan Haggerty Donald Broderick Ted Tomaszewski COORDINATING TEAMS Word Ruth Fried Bob Barry Jack Rubano Connie Sheils Patti Staples David Coppola Fr. John Ted Tomaszewski* Mary Ann Morgan Zoe Haggerty Logan Lombardo Deacon Bob Fr. John Gemma Chuff Service Julie Nastasi Carol Strauch John Devine Kate Sebring Chrissy Jacoby Matthew Newton Susan Scanland Judy Burkavage Meg Hambrose John Hambrose Deacon Bob Jane Farr* (Continued from page 3) sandy beach. Even with the full knowledge of Easter under your belt, you couldn t fall in step behind this man with the same jaunty air. Jesus asks Peter for his love three times. But not just words of love: Jesus asks for a devotion that translates into specific deeds of leadership, service, and care. He asks for the absolute surrender Peter thought he was giving the first time before he read the fine print on the contract. Now when Peter answers, his response will be more meaningful. Not unlike the renewal of vows taken by couples married for 25 years, or 50. The first exchange was mostly bravado and romance: of course, together forever, you and me! When two people say those words to each other after a quarter century or more, forever is better perceived, and together is more clearly defined. If Jesus asks us to follow today, after all this time, how many would get up right now and do it? Alice Camille 7

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