Dear Brothers and Sisters, October 22, 2017 The Church is missionary by nature; otherwise, she would no longer be the Church of Christ, but one group among many others that soon end up serving their purpose and passing away. So it is important to ask ourselves certain questions about our Christian identity and our responsibility as believers in a world marked by confusion, disappointment and frustration, and torn by numerous fratricidal wars that unjustly target the innocent. What is the basis of our mission? What is the heart of our mission? What are the essential approaches we need to take in carrying out our mission? Mission and the transformative power of the Gospel of Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life The Church s mission, directed to all men and women of good will, is based on the transformative power of the Gospel. The Gospel is Good News filled with contagious joy, for it contains and offers new life: the life of the Risen Christ who, by bestowing his life-giving Spirit, becomes for us the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14:6). He is the Way who invites us to follow him with confidence and courage. In following Jesus as our Way, we experience Truth and receive his Life, which is fullness of communion with God the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. That life sets us free from every kind of selfishness, and is a source of creativity in love. (continued inside)
MON Rom 4:20-25; Lk 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75; Lk 12:13-21 TUE Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21; Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9,10, 17; Lk 12:35-38 WED Rom 6:12-18; Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8; Lk 12:39-48 THU Rom 6:19-23; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Lk 12:49-53 FRI Rom 7:18-25a; Ps 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94; Lk 12:54-59 SAT Eph 2:19-22; Ps 19:2-3, 4-5; Lk 6:12-16 SUN Ex 22:20-26; Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51; 1 Thes 1:5c-10; Mt 22:34-40 ALL SOULS INTENTIONS Remember to list the names of your deceased relatives and friends on your November 2nd All Souls Day envelope. During the month of November, designated Masses will be offered for All Souls Intentions. Your intentions have a separate and special remembrance in all the other Masses celebrated during November. Your All Souls envelopes remain on the altar for the entire month. Envelopes are available in the rear of the church. this week at StEAS MON 23 TUE 24 WED 25 THU 26 FRI 27 SAT 28 SUN 29 8:00 am 5:30 pm 6:30 pm 7:30 am 9:00 am 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 9:30 am 8:30 pm Agape Homeschool 7th Grade Parents Meeting CCD Grades 1,2,3,5,6 Gospel Reflection Groups That Man Is You! Zumba Fitness Trail Life American Heritage Girls RCIA Columbiettes Officers Faith Matters Morning Faith Matters Evening Adult Open Gym Zumba Toning Life in the Spirit (rosary 6:30) Living Waters Choir Rehearsal Teen Open Gym 6:30 am Parish Mission Project Weekend Coats for Kids Collection That Man Is You! Parish Mission Project Weekend Coats for Kids Collection Coffee & Donuts after 9:00 am Mass CCD 8:45 am to 10 am Grade 1 9:00 am to 10 am 3-year-olds to K 10:30 am to 11:45 am Grades 2-4 10:30 am to noon Grades 5 8/Edge 10:00 am 10:30 am 8:00 pm IN YOUR CHARITY, please pray for the repose of the soul of parishioner Patricia Middendorf, wife of William Middendorf. Newman Club SpiritSword Kids Open Gym and Legos Club Let s Play Cards! 14+ Basketball 14+ Floor Hockey SATURDAY OCTOBER 21 VIGIL, 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 5:00 pm Betty Sands SUNDAY OCTOBER 22 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 7:30 am People of the Parish 9:00 am Intentions of Mary O. Kemp 11:00 am Tyler Mangus MONDAY OCTOBER 23 MONDAY IN ORDINARY TIME NO MASS TUESDAY OCTOBER 24 TUESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 6:45 am Morning Prayer 7:00 am Kyran Dormer WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25 WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 8:30 am Rosary 9:00 am Daniel Brown THURSDAY OCTOBER 26 THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 6:45 am Morning Prayer 7:00 am Intentions for health of Nina Becker FRIDAY OCTOBER 27 FRIDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 8:30 am Rosary 9:00 am Intentions of William Freeman SATURDAY OCTOBER 28 3:00 pm Confessions VIGIL, 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME * 5:00 pm Judith Groenenboom SUNDAY OCTOBER 29 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 7:30 am People of the Parish 9:00 am Elvira Murdocca 11:00 am Julie D'Angelo * Adult Choir
God the Father desires this existential transformation of his sons and daughters, a transformation that finds expression in worship in spirit and truth (cf. Jn 4:23-24), through a life guided by the Holy Spirit in imitation of Jesus the Son to the glory of God the Father. The glory of God is the living man (Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses IV, 20, 7). The preaching of the Gospel thus becomes a vital and effective word that accomplishes what it proclaims (cf. Is 55:10-11): Jesus Christ, who constantly takes flesh in every human situation (cf. Jn 1:14). Mission and the kairos of Christ The Church s mission, then, is not to spread a religious ideology, much less to propose a lofty ethical teaching. Many movements throughout the world inspire high ideals or ways to live a meaningful life. Through the mission of the Church, Jesus Christ himself continues to evangelize and act; her mission thus makes present in history the kairos, the favorable time of salvation. Through the proclamation of the Gospel, the risen Jesus becomes our contemporary, so that those who welcome him with faith and love can experience the transforming power of his Spirit, who makes humanity and creation fruitful, even as the rain does with the earth. His resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has permeated this world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible force (Evangelii Gaudium, 276). Let us never forget that being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a Person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction (Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 1). The Gospel is a Person who continually offers himself and constantly invites those who receive him with humble and religious faith to share his life by an effective participation in the paschal mystery of his death and resurrection. Through Baptism, the Gospel becomes a source of new life, freed of the dominion of sin, enlightened and transformed by the Holy Spirit. Through Confirmation, it becomes a fortifying anointing that, through the same Spirit, points out new ways and strategies for witness and accompaniment. Through the Eucharist, it becomes food for new life, a medicine of immortality (Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Ephesios, 20, 2). Carrying out our mission with Mary, Mother of Evangelization Dear brothers and sisters, in carrying out our mission, let us draw inspiration from Mary, Mother of Evangelization. Moved by the Spirit, she welcomed the Word of life in the depths of her humble faith. May the Virgin Mother help us to say our own yes, conscious of the urgent need to make the Good News of Jesus resound in our time. May she obtain for us renewed zeal in bringing to everyone the Good News of the life that is victorious over death. May she intercede for us so that we can acquire the holy audacity needed to discover new ways to bring the gift of salvation to every man and woman. (Excerpt: Pope Francis, 4 June 2017. See entire text at bit.ly/worldmissionsunday)
PASTORALPLAN.STEAS.NET That s the web address to get to our twoquestion (important two questions!) survey that will help guide our pastoral planning process how can our parish help you strengthen your faith and then live your faith in the world? What an opportunity to share your thoughts and advice! Join the nearly 40 parishioners who have responded online, or who have contacted coordinator Tim Danko to share their ideas one-to-one or in a group setting. Tim s email is pastoralplan@steas.net. REMEMBER OUR REGULAR SUPPORT OF THE MINSTRIES OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH You can make an offering at any time in the collection slots in the narthex or at Hertzler Road, but we make a special effort on the last weekend of each month. In October, that s the 28th & 29th. A MANDATORY MEETING FOR THE PARENTS OF 7TH GRADERS will be held in the Bayley Room on Monday, October 23, from 5:30-6:30 pm. At least one parent must attend. Contact: LaDawnna Clancy, lclancy@steas.net, 717-697-3545. COATS FOR KIDS TEENS & ADULTS, TOO! The Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes, who sponsor our fall "Coats for Kids" collection, have received word from the Saint Samuel Center that clothing needs this year go beyond our usual focus of newborn to size 12 coats. We have a special need this year for sizes 12-14 and 16-18, and Adult sizes Small and Medium. Drop off coats at the parish until November 5. Let s keep our neighbors warm! FAITH MATTERS MORNING JOIN US! On Wednesday, October 25, at 9:30 am in the Bayley Room, we continue our Scripture study of the Gospel of John. This week, we will study how Jesus meets us where we are, as we are, in whatever state of life and sinfulness we may find ourselves, through the segment entitled, The Samaritan Woman, and the Second Sign at Cana. We will learn the meaning of living water, and we will focus on the lesson that Jesus provides us regarding the meaning of worship and conversion. Finally, we will examine the Scriptures for insight into the gulf that exists between satisfaction of the flesh, and satisfaction of the soul. Questions? Contact Mel Lee, melmolee@reagan.com. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to help with Coffee & Donuts on Sunday mornings. Contact Michelle Denk (denkermom@live.com) or stop by on Sunday morning to sign up. FAITH MATTERS EVENING After this I had a vision of an open door to heaven, writes Saint John in Revelation Chapter 4. Many people through the ages have interpreted this vision for their own purposes, or from their own perspective but what is God s true message for us in this perhaps most-misunderstood book of the Bible? Deacon Hall continues his intensive series Wednesday, October 25, at 7 pm in the Bayley Room. Even if you have not been there for the first chapters, all are welcome to pick up the series at any time. Contacts: Deacon David L. Hall, 717-471-3388, deaconhall@steas.net, or Donna Nebistinsky, 717-697-6929, donna@steas.net. SPONSOR OF THE WEEK We wish to thank MECHANICSBURG DENTAL ASSOCIATES for sponsoring an ad in our weekly bulletin.
SUPPORT OUR PARISH WITH YOUR CHRISTMAS DECORATING! This year, we are offering beautiful, sturdy poinsettias as a holiday fundraiser to benefit the parish. These poinsettias make great gifts as well as beautiful decorations for your own home or office. Orders will be taken November 4 & 5 in Menniti Hall and at Connections Corner in the narthex. See reverse of this page for order form. Please pay at the time of the order. BEING AN INVOLVED PARISHIONER of a new parish is something that I ll never forget and always remember. I began my involvement as a member of the Building Committee. We knew that starting with only a piece of land would be a difficult task. We made an early decision that we could not afford to hire a firm to assist us in fundraising, so we did it ourselves. John Healey and Tom Garvey made sure that we obtained an excellent facility (church and what is now Menniti Hall) construction-wise. I was an original member of the Finance Committee and was an original cantor. My wife Rachel and I were original members of the choir. Pick up will be Friday, December 8, through Sunday, December 10, after all Holy Day (Immaculate Conception) and weekend Masses. Order deadline is November 14. Volunteers are welcome! To lend a hand, or if you have questions, please contact Michele Denk, 717-877-7525, Denkermom@live.com. MAINTENANCE POSITION Trinity High School has a fulltime, day-shift maintenance/ custodial position for a qualified candidate with basic electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and cleaning skills, an independent learner, and works well with our staff. Candidate must be willing to perform occasional weekend work throughout the school year. Candidate must also be able to climb ladders, use lifts, and lift/carry items in excess of 50 pounds. This 12-month position comes with benefits. Interested persons should send a resume with references to John Cominsky, Principal, Trinity High School, 3601 Simpson Ferry Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011. All candidates must also fulfill all Diocesan Youth Protection requirements. Bob Burk, second from right in back row, was one of the parish s first cantors. We did not have a maintenance staff, so many of us pitched in t0 do various jobs. I did the plumbing work in the Menniti Hall kitchen, and the children and I came up every weekend to make sure there were adequate paper towels and toilet tissue in the bathrooms. For two years we had daily Masses in our first rectory on Holly Drive, and weekend Masses at Saint Peter Lutheran Church. One of our parishioners built a platform which we put up and took down for each weekend Mass. We had choir practice on Friday nights, since our music director, John Devorick, was still a student at West Chester University for a few years. There were far too many dedicated individuals, deeply involved in those early years, to mention individually, and unfortunately too many have passed away or moved, but the parish should always remember those who dedicated themselves to founding Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Bob Burk