St. Peter s Church. 21 st Sunday in Ordinary Time August 21, 2016

Transcription

1 21 st Sunday in Ordinary Time August 21, 2016 Mission Statement We, the parishioners of St. Peter s Church, are called to holiness by God as present day disciples of Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are united in service to God to share our faith with one another and our community. May our participation in the Holy Sacraments, our ministries and our devotion to Mary bring glory to God and His Kingdom. Baptisms Parents anticipating the birth of their first child are asked to attend baptismal instructions classes before the birth of their child, if possible. Please contact the Rectory to register. Note: Baptisms cannot be scheduled until all the necessary paperwork is completed. Confirmation Confirmation is administered every year to all 8 th grade students in our Parish CCD program. Children wishing to receive Confirmation must be enrolled and participating in the CCD program for two years before they are eligible to receive the sacrament. Marriages In order to complete the necessary paperwork, couples are asked to contact the Rectory at least one full year in advance of the proposed marriage date. Reconciliation The sacrament is celebrated each Saturday from 4:00 4:45pm and Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:45am 12:00noon in the church and also by appointment. Anointing of the Sick Please contact the Rectory whenever a member of your family has become sick or hospitalized. Please note, because of the new government regulations regarding privacy, hospitals cannot release information without a patient s consent. Monthly Visitations Any parishioner who is homebound and wishes to receive the Eucharist on a monthly basis is asked to contact the Rectory to schedule a visit. Rite of Christian Initiation in Adults (RCIA) The RCIA prepares interested adults for reception into the Catholic Church. The program is adapted to the each person s needs and prepares them for full initiation into the faith. Please contact the rectory to register for the classes. St. Peter s Church 47 Central Avenue, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania Rectory Phone: ~ Fax: Website: ~ stpch@ptd.net Rectory Office Hours Monday through Friday 9:00 2:00pm Parish Staff Pastor: Rev. David Bechtel Dbechtel00@yahoo.com Secretary: Connie Spang stpch@ptd.net Business Manager: Patti Mitchell stpadm@ptd.net Director of Religious Ed.: Maureen Poirier stpreled@ptd.net Maintenance Staff: Connie Spang, Francis Kennedy Schedule of Weekend Masses Saturday Vigil: 5:00pm ~~ Sunday: 8:30am & 11:00am Reconciliation Saturday 4:15 4:45pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 11:45am-12:00noon Emergency Contact In the event of an emergency, please call the rectory at If no answer, please call This is a pager. You will be instructed to enter your phone number and Fr. Bechtel will return your call. Religious Education and Formation Religious Education classes are held for Pre-K 12 th grade. Classes begin in September and conclude in May. Pre-K (ages 3-5) is held during the 8:30am Mass. K-12 th begins at 9:30am and concludes at 10:40am. Confirmation Prep Class meets one Sunday a month from 5:00 6:30pm as scheduled. Pregnancy Support Catholic Social Services (800) Crisis Pregnancy Help line (888) 4-OPTIONS Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center (570) Parish Contact Listing Women s Bible Study Sue Singer St. John Neumann s Prayer Group Christina Simonis Contemplative Spirituality Group Kate Black Cards & Games Patty Kramer Knights of Columbus George Gamble Social Concerns Karen Plumley Parish Rummage Sale Mary Cleveland Funeral Luncheon Group Rectory Church Linens & Decorations Sue Singer Buildings & Grounds Rick Joachim Cemetery Committee Howard Rutledge Fundraising Dinners Rectory Music Ministry Christina Simonis , Marilyn deguzman Marian Miller Samaritan House Daria Guelig Youth Group Maureen Poirier Eucharistic Adoration Mary Cleveland Finance Council Priscilla Walrath Parish Council Rectory Worship Committee Rectory Sunday Communion at Nursing Homes Eileen Evert Prayer Chain Kate Black Order of Secular Carmelite Lori Makos

2 21 st Sunday in Ordinary Time August 21, 2016 Date Time Confession Time and Mass Intention Monday 8/22 2 Thes 1:1-5,11-12; Mt 23:13-22 In Memory of Dy Hue Bun (Dy Family) ; Tuesday 8/23 2 Thes 2:1-3,14-17; Mt 23: :30am In Memory of Marie Franks (Connie White) Wednesday 8/24 Rv 21:9-14; Jn 1:45-51 Thursday 8/25 1 Cor 1:1-9; Mt 24:42-51 Friday 8/26 1 Cor 1:17-25; Mt 25:1-13 Saturday 8/27 1 Cor 1:26-31; Mt 25:14-30 Sunday 8/28 Sir 3:17-18,20,28-29; Heb 12:18-19,22-24; Lk 14:1,7-14 4:15-4:45pm 8 5:00pm 8:30am 11:00am In Memory of Jeffrey Roberto (Grab Family) In Memory of Mary Alexander (Ostapowicz Family) In Memory of Tina Janeski (Waclawik Family) In Memory of Paul Beuter (Children) Confession Living and Deceased Members of St. Peter s Church In Memory of Mary Cuda Ditchfield (Kathy Wilcox) This Week s Sanctuary Candle The sanctuary candle is a reminder to us of the presence of Christ reserved in the Tabernacle. This week s candle is offered in memory of Deceased Parishioners of St. Peter s Parish The Week Ahead MONDAY, August 22, 2016 Knights of Columbus Meeting 7:00pm, Parish Center TUESDAY, August 23, 2016 Eucharistic Adoration 8:00am-7:00pm Benediction/Evening Prayer 6:45pm Staff Meeting 8:30am, Rectory AA/Al-Anon 8:00pm, Parish Center THURSDAY, August 25, 2016 Cards & Games 12:00noon, Parish Center St. John Neumann Prayer Group 7:00pm, Parish Center Ministers of the Altar Schedule Weekend of August 28 th 5:00pm Servers: J.Gordon, L.Gordon, J.Grab Lectors: D.Gordon, P.Walrath E. Min.: B.Butler, G.Vargas, G.Brown 8:30am Servers: J.Singer, L.Singer, Z.Singer Lectors: K.Tellgren, D.Beggi E. Min.: A.Singer, T.Gamble, M.Sampson 11:00am Servers: K.Kramer, A.Burge, L.Burge Lectors: M.Stirnaman, L.Nonnenmacher E. Min.: L.Makos, B.Brown, V.Anthony JULY FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS Food Pantry items for July are: Creamy Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly. Place your donations in the box at the entrance of the church anytime throughout the month Never abandon prayer, even when it seems pointless to pray. Pope Welcome to St. Peter s Church! If you are visiting Tioga County this weekend, welcome and thank you for celebrating the Eucharist with us! If you are searching for a Spiritual home, we welcome you to join us in worship and invite you to become part of our church family. Please complete this form and return it to the parish office or drop it in the offertory basket. Request for Parishioner Registration Form Name Phone Address

3 Liturgical Reflection 21 st Sunday in Ordinary Time FIRST READING: Isaiah 66:18-21 Isaiah s inclusive vision of salvation for all nations pictures God gathering nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. Some of God s chosen ones will be sent out to proclaim God s glory to every nation. They shall come to Jerusalem, God s holy mountain, and bring with them as an offering to God all the scattered children of Israel. All will worship the Lord together with clean hands and vessels. God will even take some of the foreigners as priest and Levites, something exclusively reserved only to Israelites. Such radical inclusiveness breaks down all that separates humanity, bringing them all together to know and serve the Lord. Today, we still struggle with how to live out Isaiah s vision of radical inclusiveness. SECOND READING: Hebrews 12:5:7, This reading, continuing directly from last Sunday, encourages the struggling faith community to endure your trials as discipline from the Lord. Quoting Proverbs 3:11-12, the author counsels the community to learn from the Lord s discipline by keeping an eye on Christ. Just as Jesus learned from the struggles that he went through in fidelity to God, so too they are to learn from their faith-filled struggles, for such discipline will later bring with it the peaceful fruit of righteousness. No one seeks out suffering, but when accepted in fidelity to the Lord and worked through, it can become an occasion for drawing closer to God and to one another. GOSPEL: Luke 13:22-30 Jesus, continuing his journey to Jerusalem, responds to an inquiry concerning how many will be saved. First Jesus indirectly responds with the image of the narrow gate, clearly implying the challenge that salvation presents to all. Jesus parable concerning the master, who refuses entrance to those who claimed special relationship with him, sends a clear message that no one should presume to enter God s banquet just because they claim a special, exclusive relationship with God. Entrance is based not on exclusionary privilege or status, but rather on fidelity to God s ways manifested by care and concern for all, along the lines of Isaiah s radical inclusiveness. Jesus warns that many foreigners and those faithful to God s ways will enter and recline at table in God s Kingdom while they will be shut out. The passage concludes with a typical reversal message, shattering all human ways of thinking and operating, and asserting that God s thoughts are not like our thoughts. Stewardship Sunday Collection for August 14 th : $6, Weekly Goal to Meet Expenses: $5, Difference: $ Year-to-Date Budget Variance: ($ ) Envelopes Mailed 473; Envelopes Used 144 We are grateful to all those who financially sacrifice every week to support our parish and its ministries! Parish Activities and Information ALTAR SERVER TRAINING Training will take place on September 11 th, following the 8:30am Mass (approximately 9:30am) for anyone in Grade 5 or above who is interested in becoming an Altar Server. Please meet in the Church. ******************************************************************** INTERESTED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process by which adults are welcomed into the Catholic Church. It begins with a period of inquiry in which you may ask questions before you make a commitment to become Catholic. The period of inquiry begins in September. Please call the Rectory for more information or to register. Hi my name is Anna Osborn I m from Girl Scout troop Earlier this year I spoke to you about a mission trip to Nicaragua, to finish my gold award project. The gold award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. This past June I traveled to Managua, Nicaragua to finish my gold award. My gold award project was to help a child learn/ fill a backpack. I set a goal of 100 backpacks so children can go to school. Because education is not mandatory in Nicaragua, they have to pay to get an education. I collected enough supplies, reached my goal and surpassed it by filling 241 backpacks. None of this would have been possible without the support of my family, friends and community, and especially my mentor Wendy Albor and my grandfather Joe Canfield. The second part of my gold project was to help with the community swimming pool in Managua. I set up a lifeguard for a year, collected 50 pairs of floaties, 250 swimming suits, helped teach swimming lessons and made the outside of the pool look nicer by clearing away old bushes and planting new trees and flowers. I was not prepared for what I saw in Nicaragua. The poverty there is really bad; we take for granted what we have. I have grown so much from this mission trip, I thank God every day for the roof over my head, the food on my table and clothes on my back. I m thankful for this experience, and I m hoping to get to return to Nicaragua in the future to continue to help make a change in the world. I want to thank all of you for all the prayers that you gave to me and my team. We had a very successful mission trip. I m hoping that our presence in Nicaragua will show the people who live there what it is like to serve them with a loving and Godly heart. My prayers were answered that we raised enough funding to fill the backpacks, help me finish my Gold Award, and return home safe. I m now praying that I will continue to live out the Girl Scout Law as I enter into the next chapter of my life. Thank you again for all your love and support during this time, as the Girl Scouts always say, among many other things, make the world a better place and be a sister to every Girl Scout. Thank you so much, Anna Osborn

4 Neighboring Parish News GOLF SCRAMBEL FUNDRAISER A golf scramble fundraiser will be held on Sunday, September 18 th at River Valley Club in Westfield and benefits St. Thomas and St. Catherine Churches. The shotgun start begins at 11:00am. The cost is $50 for members and $60 for non-members. For more information call St. Thomas Rectory **************************************************************** HOLY CHILD ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC Mark Your Calendars It s time for Holy Child s Annual Parish Picnic taking place on Sunday, August 28, 2016 from 11:30am 2:00pm at St. Mary s Hall. We will be having a cash raffle with a grand prize of $500.00, a Roast Beef Dinner with beverage and dessert will be served for $9.00, and over 30 baskets up for auction. That s The Way It Is! Monday August 15 was the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. Because the Solemnity fell on a Monday it was not a day of obligation. Pope Pius XII defined the doctrine on November 1, He did this after the bishops of the world nearly unanimously agreed that the doctrine should be defined. Mary continues to be a stumbling block to many Protestants. They recoil in abject horror over the respect, reverence and piety Catholics give to her. They claim we have made her into a god and we worship her along with Christ. They correctly note that we have ascribed the attributes of Christ to that of Mary. Consider: Christ is sinless, Mary is sinless. Christ is the mediator between God the Father and man; Mary is the mediator between man and Christ. Christ ascended into heaven, Mary was assumed into heaven. Christ sits at the Father s right hand; Mary sits at the right hand of Christ. Christ is King of heaven; Mary is the Queen of heaven. If you look at some of the devotional prayers given to Mary, we speak of Mary being more merciful than God, a refuge of sinners, one who holds back the angry hand of God, God cannot say no to Mary, etc. Confronted with all of this, the Protestant wonders how it is that we can claim with a straight face that we do not worship Mary, or believe that Mary is not a god or even God. On one level I can understand the Protestant criticism, but on another level I cannot. I readily grant that a cursory reading of Scripture would not lead one to conclude that Mary possesses all the attributes ascribed to her by Catholics. In fact, I even grant that Scripture has very little to say about Mary and her life. Mary is directly referenced a few times in the Gospels, once in the Book of Acts and after that not at all, save, perhaps, Revelation 12. It is for this reason I can partly understand the Protestant criticism. However, Scripture does teach certain truths about the nature of Redemption and the Church. In the eternal life of heaven there is no sin, therefore when Christ completes the work of redemption, the Church will be perfect and sinless. Scripture teaches that the Church is the bride of Christ and is a virgin. (2 Corinthians 11:2) Scripture teaches a bodily resurrection from the dead and life everlasting. Scripture teaches that judgment belongs to God alone. Scripture seems to imply that the Church is the mediatrix of all Grace. What does this have to do with Mary? EVERYTHING! The reason Catholics focus so much on Mary is because she is our destiny. Mary is what we are to become. In her is redemption. Mary mirrors redemption. Mary is what the Church looks like when the promises of Christ are brought to completion. This is why Catholics claim that Mary is our hope. Indeed, when our eyes are focused on Mary we realize what God originally created us to be and what God wills us to become. In meditating on Mary we realize who and what we are as children of God. We see the world for what it truly is, and we see the beauty of humanity as God originally intended. Because the fall of man happened with a man and women working in tandem, so too redemption must parallel the fall with a man and a women working in tandem. (This is why I say that Scripture implies that the Church is mediatrix of all Grace.) Scripture teaches that Christ is the second Adam. If there is a second Adam, there must be a second Eve. The second Eve is Mary/the Church. In meditating on the mystery of the Immaculate Conception, we mediate on what it means to be sinless. We realize what humanity truly is. In meditating on the virginity of Mary, we meditate on our betrothal to none other than Christ. Christ is our head, we are his body. We have no one else we are meant for. We are meant for Christ alone. In meditating on the Assumption of Mary, we reflect on the resurrection of the dead and what that means. In meditating on Mary s mediation, we reflect on the truth that God through the Passion has won the graces of redemption and has entrusted them to the Church. In this way, the Church is the light on the hilltop, the light of Christ, the light that dispels the darkness of sin and evil and draws all nations to Christ. How can the Church operate in this manner without Grace? Mary has no graces now that all Christians will possess when Christ completes the work of redemption. The only difference between Mary and the Church is that Mary is the first Christian to receive the promises of Christ in their fullness. This is because of her unique role in the order of redemption as the God Bearer. Mary also possesses the graces of redemption in a more perfect way given her unique role in the order of redemption. In the end, however, all Christians are to receive the very same graces Mary now has in their fullness. This is why we say that in Mary is redemption, and Mary is our hope. Mary and Christ are two sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other. That's the way it is! The Reverend David Bechtel

5 Diocese of Scranton News THE YEAR OF MERCY OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING HEALING IN THE AREA OF FAILED MARRIAGES When marriages fail, Catholics may be unclear about their relationship to the Church. "I am civilly divorced and not sure whether I can continue to receive the Eucharist or be a part of the parish community." "I am not sure about the status of my marriage. It would be helpful to talk to someone who could explain it to me." "My spouse and I would like to explore having our marriage blessed in the Church." I don't know what an annulment really is and why I would want one. Also, I heard they are expensive." Do any of these voices sound like you or someone you know? In the Diocese of Scranton, the annulment process is now more "user friendly" than you might expect, and there is no longer a processing fee. Please contact your pastor or the Tribunal Office ( ) to begin a conversation. It is possible to get clear answers to these questions and to renew your connection with the Church. Jubilee Year of Mercy This Holy Year will conclude on Sunday, November 20 th, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe and living face of the Father's mercy. I think we too are the people who, on the one hand, want to listen to Jesus, but on the other hand, at times, like to find a stick to beat others with, to condemn others. And Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I think - and I say it with humility - that this is the Lord's most powerful message: mercy. Pope Francis Notice Regarding Reporting Sexual Abuse of a Minor It is the policy of the Diocese of Scranton to report any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to law enforcement. If you are a victim of sexual abuse committed by a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton, you are encouraged to immediately report the matter to law enforcement. If any priest, deacon, religious, lay employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton has cause or reason to suspect that a minor has been subjected to any form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, the matter will be reported to law enforcement. In accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania s Child Protective Services Laws, reports of suspected child abuse should also be made immediately by phone to the 24-HourChild Abuse hotline (ChildLine) at or electronically at It is also the policy of the Diocese to adhere to all civil and state regulations. To this end, the Diocese is equally committed to adhering to the norms of the Code of Canon Law and to upholding the tenets of the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes supporting victims of sexual abuse in their pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being. As such, information regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor should also be reported to the Victim Assistance Coordinator, Joseph DeVizia at ( ) or to Diocesan officials, including the Vicar General, Monsignor Thomas M. Muldowney, V.G., at ( ). News From the Vatican JESUS' COMPASSION IS A CALL TO SERVICE, NOT A VAGUE SENTIMENT VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Jesus' compassion toward people in need is not a vague sentiment, but a calling for Christians to bring that same compassion to others, Pope Francis said. By miraculously feeding thousands of people, Jesus made an act "of faith and prayer" that "shows the full strength of his will to be close to us and to save us." The pope reflected on the Gospel reading of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Jesus, he noted, "does not have a cold heart," but rather is moved by those who follow him and "feels bound to this crowd." However, the pope noted that Jesus is not only concerned with feeding the hungry crowd, but also invites his disciples to take part in feeding them. "The Lord goes out to meet the needs of men and women and wants to make each one of us concretely share in his compassion," the pope said. Jesus' blessing of the loaves before their distribution, he continued, is also repeated in the Last Supper and continues today in the celebration of the Eucharist. In living this communion with Jesus, Christians are called not "to remain passive and estranged" but to relate with men and women by offering "a concrete sign of Christ's mercy and attention," the pope said. "While we are nourished by Christ, the Eucharist we celebrate transforms us, little by little, into the body of Christ and spiritual food for our brothers and sisters," he said. The miracle of the loaves and fishes, Pope Francis stressed, is a reminder of the church's two-fold mission to "feed the people and keep them united; that is, to be at the service of life and communion." Christians, he stressed, are called to be "a visible sign of the mercy of God, who does not wish to leave anyone in loneliness and in need." "We believers who receive this bread are compelled by Jesus to bring this service to others with the same compassion of Jesus. This is the path," the pope said. Pro-Life News WORD OF LIFE A political society endures when it seeks, as a vocation, to satisfy common needs by stimulating the growth of all its members, especially those in situations of greater vulnerability or risk. Pope Francis ******************************************************************** PRIESTS FOR LIFE Quite often I even wake up in the morning thinking painfully of the undeniably selfish act I did over 11 years ago - STILL! I know I overrode in my core being my conscience and my Fatherhood instinct. No two ways about it: I acted - no, I was a coward. My action, despite my confession and repentance before my Creator - continues to rob much of the joy from my life. I would do anything to reverse that fateful mistake. ~ Testimony of a Dad after abortion

6 Please patronize our sponsors and thank them for their support. Their advertising helps to make our bulletin possible. Connect with us: bakertilly.com Two Waln Street Wellsboro, PA If Diane T. Young, Residential Appraiser 10 Patt Road Wellsboro, PA Akiko s Not Your Florist, She Should Be Shop24/7 at Akiko, Clark & Joe Hewitt 25 Main Street Wellsboro, PA Games Imagination Fun Your proprietors Julian and Anja Stam Consider it all joy! James 1:2 A Gift in Your Will Ready to purchase a new, used, or certified pre-owned vehicle? Please Call or Visit Peter Flisock Ext. 109 ~ w ww.coleandburdford.com We hope you'll consider including a gift to St. Peter s Church in your will or living trust. Called a charitable bequest, just a few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed. Share this sample bequest language for St. Peter s Church with your estate planning attorney: "I, [name], of [city, state, zip], give, devise and bequeath to St. Peter s Church, Wellsboro [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose." Parish Prayer List Nettie Mays, Nan Bowser, Rebecca Kreider, Bill Jacobson, Trish Knowlton, Sheldon Moon, Helene Carpenter, Angela Shirley, Joe Heminhaus, Jr., Jasmine Williams, Judy Nagel, Sue Evert, Valerie Tobin, Michael Farrington, Debbie Adleman, Darlene Brennan, Shirley Mekos Broughton, Cynthia Gordon, Tim Christman, Michelle Lawrence, Ann Porter, Tucker Gromosiak, Meghan Henneman, Joyce Bowe, Donna Brennan, Peggy Zona, Natasha Rymarczuk, Bob Erway, Mary Mekos, Mary Cramner, Bob Black, Maci Lynn Perry, Martha Desch, Pam Robbins, Leon Herb, Deb Finestone, Nick Cavagnaro, Antoinette Davis, Kay Evans, Anna Marie Mimlitsch, Sean Rice, Jonathan Hardman, Sylvia Darrow, Lola Moore, Edwin Rosa, Carol Johns, Joan Kilmer, Stephen Hurd, Stephanie Hemighauf, Suzie Alexander, Larry Sasani, Kathy Barnes, Wendy Doan-Newcomb, Michele Bush, Ashley Johns, Syler Sullivan, Adrienne Gilbert, Rita Grinnan, Bob Murphy, Richard Wheeler, Carolyn Antoniw, Sylvia Smith, Jean Thurman, Robbie Butler, Susan Cleveland, Lynn Bower, Dominic Bianco, Tom Mohr, Carol Weatherby, Carol Shine, Teresa Pavlock, Jerry Pierce, Joann Black, Gabriel, Melissa & Daniel Espinoza, Lori Lopaz, Patricia Quattrone, Larry Jackson, Katie Seip, Lisa Jones, Grace Bickham, Edward Collins, Floyd Williammee, Renee Kennedy, Gay Furlong, Elsa DiBernardo, Fran Rose, Christine Palmer, June Sherman, Kathy Smith, Beverly Heck, Tim Bogaczyk, Beth Valdez, Virginia Shaefer, Charles Barrett, Joe Engel, Tony Dooley, Connie Kenderdine, Darleen Kohler, Callie Cavanaugh, Victoria Salerno, Wanda Trynovich, Tim Cunningham, Tony Pranses, Bob Snyder, Don Brooks, Kathy Macensky, Paul Beuter, Craig West, Avery Trescott, Jerry Eckert, Michael Liebner, Cole Selerno, and Margaret Miller. Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them, O Lord and Let the Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them. Patti Radocaj, Carol Sulewski Lord, this we know, no matter how difficult life may be at this time, we know you will not stop loving us and will always hold us in the palm of your hand. We are reaching to you, Lord, to hold us, comfort us, and heal us. Lord, this we know, you are faithful in your love for us today and forever. You are with us, and we are with you. Amen.