Parish Information Joining the Parish New Parishioners are always welcome. Census forms can be found in the vestibule of the churches. Simply fill one out and drop it in the collection basket. Planning a Baptism The birth of a child brings joy to the family. Through Baptism, that child is joined to the family of God, which brings great joy to the church. Parents seeking Baptism are asked to contact the parish office. contemplating marriage are asked to contact the parish office and set up an appointment with Fr. Ken before making any other plans for their wedding. This appointment should take place at least one year before the contemplated date. Our Parish Intercessory Prayer Group provides prayers for anyone in need throughout the parish. Mary Ann Magda is the Coordinator and can be reached at 570-655-1218. Outreach to the Homebound Sr. Madonna SSCM, assisted by our dedicated EMOCs, provides Sacramental care to the elderly, homebound and hospitalized. If you, or someone you know, are homebound or in need of a pastoral visit, please contact Sr. Madonna. Anointing of the Sick The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may take place at any time, especially if one is seriously ill. Please contact the parish office to set up a time for Fr. Ken to visit. Funeral Preparations The loss of a loved one is a particularly difficult time for those who are bereaved. Our parish community collaborates with local funeral directors in assisting families during their time of grief. Bequests to the Parish Please Remember St. Andre Bessette Parish with Memorial gifts at the time of death or with a bequest in your will. Make a return to the Lord for all the good He has given you. Summer Raffle In order to make this the best summer raffle ever, we are in need of donors for our prizes. Normally, we take the prize money out of our proceeds but this year we thought we would take a page from the fund raising efforts of neighboring churches and ask for donations from our parishioners. Monetary donations may be made in amounts of $50 or $100, $250 or $500, or even $1000. They may be made by individuals or families and may be made in memory of loved ones. Those who donate will have their names printed on the ticket and any advertisements that we post. All donations must be in by June19th. Tickets will be available for sale by July 4th The Raffle will take place on Labor Day. We thank you in advance for considering this option in assisting your parish in its fundraising efforts. Congratulations Graduates - The Summer Raffle Committee Thank you to all who supported The Carnation Sale The Baby Bottle Collection and St. Joseph s Baby Pantry May God reward your generosity. Karen Hilenski James Rushton Matthew Shorts Speaking of Raffles.. The Sisters of Sts. Cyril and Methodius are once more selling raffle tickets for their summer raffle which will be held on August 15. Tickets may be purchased in the vestibule of the church or from any of the sisters. They will be on sale through the month of June in our parish. Mercy Mission Our parish will be participating in a special project during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. Please consult the article in the bulletin and put mercy into action. The members of the American Legion Auxiliary wish to express their thanks for the support they received last weekend during their Craft and Poppy sale in the vestibule. Your donations will go to support the work of the auxiliary in providing for the needs of disabled veterans. The efforts of the auxiliary in this regard are heroic because their resources are scarce. For other ways to assist the disabled vets, contact Val Snitko or any member of the Auxiliary.
Mercy defines something of God s love, but it also directs us in how to love. Mercy is a moral virtue a habit of right action that Christians are called to do. Not only is mercy a theological fact and a call to action, but it can also become a disposition of soul. Someone who is merciful is generous in forgiving others and in attending to their physical and spiritual needs. Our God is merciful. Jesus pours out to us his Divine Mercy. How are we to respond to this high call of mercy? As Nike s advertisers tell us: It s what you do! The Bible advertises this as well: But as for you, brethren, do not weary of doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:13) For Catholics, mercy is a call to action: to assist those in physical or spiritual want. We are instructed specifically in works to perform for the body of Christ the Corporal Works of Mercy (from the Latin corpus, meaning body) as well as the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Corporal Works of Mercy Feed the hungry Give drink to the thirsty Clothe the naked Shelter the homeless Visit the sick Visit the imprisoned Bury the dead The Spiritual Works of Mercy Admonish the sinner Instruct the ignorant Counsel the doubtful Comfort the sorrowful Bear wrongs patiently Forgive all injuries Pray for the living and the dead See, you already practice every single Corporal Act of Mercy in your daily life and in the seasons of your year! Does that mean you should not reach beyond the needs of your family or parish? Of course not. However, if you are in a season of your life when you are scrambling just to care for your own family, know that what you do in the ordinary flow of your days is very good. And what you model and encourage in your children and in others children you may teach is a way of teaching the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. But as for you, brethren, do not weary of doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:13) St. Thomas reminds us that that the habits we form become part of us. Striving in virtue enables us to form our will with the right habits. As we perform Acts of Mercy we grow in Grace and become more merciful in our countenance. God s Mercy is sufficient, but how we cooperate with His Grace the fruits we yield both reflects and forms us in God s Goodness. Notice the Corporal Works of Mercy you perform daily without even noticing. Notice generous acts in your children. Growing in awareness of virtue enables us to pay attention and strive in virtue. It s what you do. For we are the Body of Christ. SPECIAL PARISH ACTIVITY You may notice that in front of our altar is a large empty glass container You may also have noticed when you entered the church that there is a box of hearts on the table in the back. We ask that you take one heart (or several) and write on each heart one act of mercy (corporal or spiritual) that you did this week. There is much to explore in these works. This article provides both an introduction and an encouragement. You may not realize how many ways you practice the works of mercy in your everyday lives at home, at school, at work and in your parish. Take a fresh look. Many focus on making extraordinary efforts, and we look to the saints of old and those we know who volunteer long hours at the soup kitchen, write generous checks to support the works of others, do prison ministry, work at a homeless shelter, visit patients at the local hospital and nursing home weekly. There are so many in need, and it can seem overwhelming to live up to such heroic examples. But take a minute to see all that you already do Do you offer food to your family and practice hospitality to others? Do you provide clothing to your family, buy gifts of clothing, and donate clothes to the poor? To you welcome others to stay in your home, including family, friends, and your children s friends? Do you bring meals to those who are sick or who ve had a new baby? Do you nurse your own family members back to health when they are ill? If someone in your family feels angry or depressed, do you try to break down the bars they erect to hold others away? Do you go to funerals for those who have died, and make sure your deceased relatives have a Mass and follow Catholic teachings on how to bury the dead? Place this heart in the special basket provided. This basket will be presented during the offering of the gifts and the hearts will be poured into the empty flask. It is our hope that the flask will be filled (or even overflowing) as we approach the feast of Christ the King in November. Every Sunday, you can take as many hearts as you need, write your works of mercy on them and put them in the basket. Through this action, may we all become more aware, not only of the good deeds we already do, but also of the many occasions that arise each day to do good for others.
ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCILS The Parish Social Justice Council will meet in the Fr. Murgas Conference Room June 9 at 6:00 p.m. The Development Committee will meet on MONDAY, June 13th at 6:30 pm in the Fr. Murgas Conference Room. The Pastoral Council will meet on Thursday, June 16th in the Parish Office Meeting Room. This will be the first meeting for new members of the parish council. The Liturgical Council will meet on Tuesday, June 21 at 7 p.m. in the Fr. Murgas Conference Room The Finance Council will meet on Thursday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fr. Murgas Conference Room. All members of the Finance Council are asked to plan to attend. PARISH COMMITTEES The Young at Heart Committee will not meet in June. The next scheduled meeting is July 20th at 1 p.m. in the Fr. Murgas Conference Room Loaves & Fishes Food for June Peanut Butter Parish Calendar Items are due this weekend. We ask all committees to have their calendar requests into Mary at the Office by Monday of this week. The calendar committee would like to finalize the schedule and have the calendar ready for the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1. Looking Ahead Our parish Why/ Because committee has begun plans to revive the RENEW process in our parish by calling together small groups of parishioners who will form intentional meeting times in their homes on in Fr. Zolcinski hall in order to deepen their understanding of living active Catholic lives in response to the Scriptures, particularly the Gospel. There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, June 15th at 6 p.m. in Fr. Zolcinski Hall. This one-hour meeting will provide an overview of the process in general and the particular elements that ordinarily compose each Faith Sharing Session. The agenda allows for participant input, questions, and clarification. This is an informational night only. There will be no commitment made at this time and no one will pressure you to register. This is simply the first step in reviving the RENEW process in our parish. Anyone interested in this process is welcome to attend this informational meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15th. During the summer months there will be an opportunity for followup informational meetings which will focus on the formation of the Faith sharing groups. Special Collection Next Weekend Next weekend our parish will welcome VINCE GALLAGHER who will speak to us on behalf of the needs of HANDS TOGETHER a Catholic Mission Outreach that assists the people of Haiti. The church in Haiti is struggling to bring God s love to the many hurting people in Haiti. In Haiti there are 10.9 million people in an area smaller in size than the State of Maryland. 70% of these cannot read, and 85% live below poverty level. In slum areas 4 out of 5 children do not reach the age of 5, and nationally, 1 in 3 children suffer from chronic malnutrition. The devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010 came in the midst of several hurricanes that hit the island heavily in 2004, 2008, and again in 2010. These disastrous events left Haiti severely damaged and in desperate need of our prayers and our support. Hands Together runs free schools, medical clinics, and nutrition programs in Cite Soleil, providing 25,000 daily school meals and helping thousands who struggle to survive. Their work among the violence and savage poverty there is founded upon the Catholic Social Teaching of the dignity of the human person and a preferential option for the poor. Hands together embraces a clear ethic of life vast on Catholic teaching that proclaims God s infinite and absolute love for each of us. About 1/3 of Hands Together s mission work supports educational, health, charity, and developmental projects in the Diocese of Gonaives and Cap Haitien where more than 1 million live in abject poverty. There will be a second collection next Sunday for the Diocesan Mission Cooperative. Monies collected in this collection are shared among all the mission groups making appeal in the diocese this summer.
This Week s Finances Income May 29, 2016 In Church Mailed In Loose 222.00 Sunday Offering 3,748.00 768.00 Easter Ascension 20.00 Easter Flowers Dues 76.00 63.00 Debt Reduction 6.00 20.00 Initial Offering TOTAL PARISH COLLECTION $4,052.00 $871.00 Our Weekly goal for our Total Parish Collection is $7,500.00. This will ensure the financial stability of our parish. Diocesan and Other Collections These are charitable collections that go directly to the Diocese and do not impact our operating budget. Clergy Collection 10.00 Peter s Pence 5.00 35.00 Expenses May 26-June 1, 2016 Administration 5,726.49 Parish Assessment School Assessment Clergy Residence Liturgy 1,312.40 Religious Education 229.14 Social Justice Operation & Maintenance 2,845.27 Parish Debt Insurance Taxes Diocesan Collections TOTAL EXPENSES THIS WEEK $10,113.30 Your Gift to God May 28-29, 2016 >$100.00 2 $100.00 3 $76-99 1 $75 0 $51-74 2 $50 10 $26-49 14 $25 11 $21-24 1 $20 38 $16-19 0 $15 16 $11-14 2 $10 84 $6-9 9 $5 65 < $5 23 Total Used 271 TOTAL DIOCESAN COLLECTIONS TOTAL SUNDAY COLLECTION $5.00 $45.00 $4,057.00 $916.00 Other Income This income is in addition to our regular income and contributes toward the operating budget. Candles 50.35 Perquisites Rent Miscellaneous TOTAL OTHER INCOME TOTAL INCOME GENERAL FUND THIS WEEK $50.35 $5,023.35 + General Fund Recapitulation General Fund Previous Balance + Income this week - Expenses this week Balance Forward $15,487.19 5,023.35-10,113.30 $10,397.24 Mass Attendance People May 28-29, 2016 In-Church Collection Average Offering per person 4:00 p.m. 112 1,920.00 17.14 5:30 p.m. 65 555.00 8.54 8:00 a.m. 98 837.00 8.54 11:00 a.m. 61 745.00 12.21 Total 336 4,057.00 12.07 Monthly Diocesan Bills (July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016) Title Amount Billed Amount Paid Balance Parish Assessment 34,730.42 34,730.42 Assessment for Schools 59,434.83 59,434.83 Insurance 22,720.00 17,844.48 4,875.52 Votive Offerings In Memory of Offered by Clergy Pension 6,600.00 6,600.00 Clergy Medical (BC/BS) 14,663.00 14,663.00 Post Retirement Fund 5,200.00 5,200.00 Sanctuary Lamp Bread and Wine Clergy Care and Wellness Fund (In addition to the Monthly Collection) 9,732.00 9,732.00 BALANCE 153,080.25 132,407.36 4,875.52
Amoris Laetitia Pope Francis Chapter 2: The Experiences and Challenges of Families The Current Reality of the Family (continued) 35. As Christians, we can hardly stop advocating marriage simply to avoid countering contemporary sensibilities, or out of a desire to be fashionable or a sense of helplessness in the face of human and moral failings. We would be depriving the world of values that we can and must offer. It is true that there is no sense in simply decrying these present-day evils, as if this could change things. Nor is it helpful to try to impose rules by sheer authority. What we need is a more responsible and generous effort to present the reasons and motivations for choosing marriage and the family, and in this way help men and women better to respond to the grace that God offers them. 36. We also need to be humble and realistic, acknowledging that at times the way we present our Christian beliefs and treat other people has helped contribute to today s problematic situation. We need a healthy dose of self criticism. Then, too, we often present marriage in such a way that its unitive meaning, its call to grow in love and its ideal of mutual assistance are overshadowed by an almost exclusive insistence on the duty of procreation. Nor have we always provided solid guidance to young married couples, understanding their timetables, their way of thinking, and their concrete concerns. At times we have also proposed a far too abstract and almost artificial theological ideal of marriage, far removed from the concrete situations and practical possibilities of real families. This excessive idealization, especially when we have failed to inspire trust in God s grace, has not helped to make marriage more desirable and attractive, but quite the opposite. 37. We have long thought that simply by stressing doctrinal, bioethical, and moral issues, without encouraging an openness to grace, we were providing sufficient support to families, strengthening the marriage bond and giving meaning to marital life. We find it difficult to present marriage more as a dynamic path to personal development and fulfilment than as a life-long burden. We also find it hard to make room for the consciences of the faithful, who very often respond as best they can to the Gospel amid their limitations, and are capable of carrying out their own discernment in complex situations. We have been called to form consciences, not to replace them. 38. We must be grateful that most people do value family relationships that are permanent and marked by mutual respect. They appreciate the Church s efforts to offer guidance and counselling in areas related to growth in love, overcoming conflict and raising children. Many are touched by the power of grace experienced in sacramental Reconciliation and in the Eucharist, grace that helps them face the challenges of marriage and family. In some countries, especially in various parts of Africa, secularism has not weakened certain traditional values, and marriages forge a strong bond between two wider families, with clearly defined structures for dealing with problems and conflicts. Nowadays we are grateful too for the witness of marriages that have not only proved lasting, but also fruitful and loving. All these factors can inspire a positive and welcoming pastoral approach capable of helping couples to grow in appreciation of the demands of the Gospel. Yet we have too often been on the defensive, wasting pastoral energy on denouncing a decadent world without being proactive in proposing ways of finding true happiness. Many people feel that the Church's message on marriage and the family does not clearly reflect the preaching and attitudes of Jesus, who set forth a demanding ideal yet never failed to show compassion and closeness to the frailty of individuals like the Samaritan woman or the woman caught in adultery.
AGNUS DAY The Lectionary Comic Strip by Pastor James Weitzman Tenth Week in Ordinary Time June 6 12, 2016 Day and Date Time Intention Offered by Events of the Week Monday, June 6 St. Norbert Tuesday, June 7 Weekday Wednesday, June 8 Weekday 9:00 a.m. NO Morning Mass Scheduled 8:00 a.m. Thomas Gola Family 8:00 a.m. John Dinis Helen Blizman Thursday, June 9 St. Ephrem the Deacon 8:00 a.m. Richard Shurmanek Ruth & Frank Pascucci Friday, June 10 Weeldau Saturday, June 11 St. Barnabas, Apostle 8:00 a.m. Josephine Danishanko Ann & Tom Jones NO Morning Mass Scheduled Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:30 p.m. Choir Noon 5 pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 5 pm Vespers and Benediction 6 pm SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL Confessions 3 p.m Vigil 1 4:00 p.m. Bernard Gryskevicz Family Vigil 2 5:30 p.m. Delores Walkowiak Donna & Stanley Owca Sunday 8:00 a.m. Mary & Joseph Chupka John Hilla & Edward Mission Cooperative Hands Together Collection Sunday 11:00 a.m. Parishioners Pastor Liturgical Ministries June 11-12, 2016 Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00 p.m. A.J. Kondracki Ann Bergold John Bergold 5:30 p.m. Michael Boris Diane Gregor Mimi Tosh 8 a.m. Nicholas Kreidler Christian Krupsha John Benz 11 a.m. James Rushton Sandy Snyder Elaine Snyder