St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish 5112 Pocono Crest Rd. PO Box O Pocono Pines, PA 18350 Parish Office: (570) 646-6424 Web Page: http://www.stmaxkolbepoconos.org Mass Schedule: Saturday ~ 4:00 p.m. Sunday ~ 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Saturday Confessions ~ 3:00 p.m. January 14, 2018 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Our Mission Statement We Worship ~ We Teach ~ We Care
January 14, 2018 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time THE LAMB OF GOD Behold the Lamb of God! We hear this phrase every Sunday at Mass, but there s a good chance that many Roman Catholics do not know who in the Bible originally spoke it. The phrase appears only in the Gospel of John, on the lips of John the Baptist, who utters it twice. In today s Gospel reading, John proclaims Jesus as the Lamb of God, and two of John s own disciples then follow Christ. A little bit later Andrew, who heard John and then followed Jesus, brings his brother Simon to be re -named Cephas, or Peter. A careful look at these Bible verses shows us the mission of everyone baptized into the Body of Christ: we must always proclaim our faith in Christ, so that others will follow him. We may not know how the will of God might work through those we bring to Christ; that is not the point. The point is that our ongoing mission as a church is to bring others to Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish Staff Reverend Sean G. Carpenter ~ Pastor Deacon Frank Gisoldi Deacon Tom Amoroso Melissa Laverty Pastoral Associate ~ St.MaxMelissa@outlook.com Coordinator of Religious Education Marion Colvin Office Manager ~ mcol@ptd.net John Marcinkowski, Jr. Coordinator of Music ~ jjm1105@ptd.net CHAINS OF GRACE The chains of grace are so powerful, and yet so sweet, that though they attract our heart, they do not shackle our freedoms. St. Francis de Sales TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Ordinary Time began for us this week. On the old calendar, the feast of the Presentation, still more than two weeks away, was the last day of the Christmas season. Sadly, Bethlehem is hardly a place of peace on earth these days. The ancient Christian community has been largely uprooted by political strife. The Church of the Nativity stands (barely) in remarkable disrepair and disorder in Manger Square. The roof is crumbling, the major doorways are blocked, the wiring is faulty, and the worship life is disrupted by quarrels among Eastern Christians. The church was founded by the Emperor Constantine in 325, destroyed in a Samaritan revolt in 539, and rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian. When the area came under Muslim control in 638, the holiness of the church was respected, and in return Christians allowed Muslims to pray in the south aisle, a right still upheld. Earlier in that century, invading Persians were ordered to destroy all churches, but when they saw the magi carved over the doorway of the Church of the Nativity, they spared it out of respect for their ancestors who bore gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the same city. The Crusaders restored and redecorated the church by the twelfth century, and it is their plan that survives. Down a few stone steps is a stone grotto with a silver star marking the place of Christ s birth: when the star was stolen in 1847 it triggered an international crisis that exploded into the Crimean War. Since 1852, the church has been shared by the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Churches. The Greeks are in charge of the grotto, but don t enjoy the best of friendships with the Armenians. Catholics have the care of the Chapel of the Manger, and avoid the squabbles by a separate entrance to the Franciscan monastery church of St. Catherine. Pray for peace in Bethlehem! Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co.
January 13th through January 21st Saturday 4:00 pm Catherine Hilbert Fischer by Judy Grace St. Max Office Hours Monday - Wednesday 9 am to 4 pm Thursday - 9 am to 12 pm Friday - Closed Sunday 8:00 am 10:30 am For The Parishioners Nicholas Cerra by Joan and Allan Hild Monday 9:15 am Jack Gaido by Kay Gaido Tuesday 9:15 am William Schott by Mary & Dick Miraglia Wed 9:15 am Albert Howe by Mary Howe Thursday 9:15 am Jerome Kalafut by Jean Petersen Friday 9:15 am Communion Service Saturday 4:00 pm Special Intention for Dorota and Jacek Nowak Sunday 8:00 am Ed and Helen Nidweski by Ed and Roseann Nidweski Sunday 10:30 am For The Parishioners Saturday: 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1a; Mk 2:13 17 Sunday: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19; 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Jn 1:35-42 Monday: 1 Sm 15:16-23; Mk 2:18-22 Tuesday: 1 Sm 16:1-13; Mk 2:23-28 Wednesday: 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; Mk 3:1-6 Thursday: 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7; Mk 3:7-12 Friday: 1 Sm 24:3-21; Mk 3:13-19 Saturday: 2 Sm 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27; Mk 3:20-21 Sunday: Jon 3:1-5, 10; Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20 *9:15 am mass will still be celebrated when we have a funeral mass that day. Saturday Confessions - 3 pm First Friday Adoration will be held after the 9:15 am Communion Service each month. Weekly Collection 12/31/17. $ 5,779. Additional Christmas Collection.. 3,152. Solemnity of Mary 1,081. Thanks For Your Generosity
CCD CLASSES AT ST. MAX September-May, Pre-K/K-Grade 12 Sundays, 9-10:15 a.m.: Grades 1-5 Sundays, 10:25-11:30 a.m.: Pre-K/K Sundays, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Grades 6-8 Youth Group (Grades 9-12): Schedule Varies If you still need to register your child, forms are available in the Parish Office and by the upstairs exits. You may also print out a form from the parish website StMaxKolbePoconos.org. CCD CANCELLATION PROCEDURES In the case of inclement weather, please listen to Radio Stations: WSBG (93.5 FM); Magic 93 (93 FM) WVPO (840 AM); WARM (590 AM) TV Stations: WNEP (Channel 16); WYOU (Channel 22); WBRE (Channel 28) or Blue Ridge (TV13). You can also call the parish office to check. SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR CATHOLICS COMING HOME Have you been away from the Catholic Church for awhile? Are you wondering how to get reconnected? Are you an adult who missed celebrating your First Communion or Confirmation? Were you married outside the Church and would like to explore arranging a sacramental celebration of your marriage? Do you need an annulment? Are you seeing Baptism for your child? Do you have older children who have not had any religious formation and/or have not celebrated the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion or Confirmation? We welcome you where you are and would like to work with you and your family as we journey in fait together. For more information, contact Father Sean or Melissa Laverty in the parish office about meeting to discuss how we can help address your spiritual needs. Parish Life COMMUNION TO THE HOMEBOUND If illness or chronic health problems prevent you or a loved one from attending Mass on the weekend, there are Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist who are able to bring Communion to you. If you have a temporary or ongoing need for this outreach, contact Diane Lake, Coordinator of Extraordinary Ministers, at dianemlake@live.com, or by calling the parish office. SAVE THE DATE! FIRST LENTEN BUFFET Friday, February 16, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Featuring a variety of pastas including whole wheat and gluten free and a variety of homemade sauces, fish, mac and cheese, baked shells, soup, salad bar, bread and more! Take-outs are available. More information coming soon. SCRIPTURE SHARING Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. in the parish hall. All are welcome to join us as we reflect on the Scriptures for the upcoming weekend. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM In order to understand and appreciate the Sacrament of Baptism, expectant parents are required to attend Baptism preparation. A call to the parish office approximately four months before your child is due will make the scheduling of your pre-baptism session easier and give you ample time to prepare for this Sacrament of Initiation to the life of grace. For more information, contact Melissa Laverty in the parish office. EXTRAORDINARY MINISTER OF COMMUNION TRAINING The Diocese of Scranton Office for Parish Life will offer a training session for new Extraordinary Ministers of Communion on Saturday, January 27, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 330 Wyoming Ave., Scranton. Candidates should have the approval of their pastor prior to signing up. There is no fee for the training and lunch will be provided. To register, call the Office for Parish Life at 570-207-2213.
Parish Life Parish Life at St. Max Monday, Jan. 15th - Martin Luther King Day The Office will be closed 6:30 pm -Parish Pastoral Council Meets Tues., Jan. 16th: ~Scripture Sharing - 10 am ~Women s Cornerstone - 6:30 pm ~Prayer Shawl Meets - 6:30 pm (weather permitting) Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you. 1 Corinthians 6:19a Ministry Skills Workshop Save the Date for the new series of 2018 Ministry Skills Workshops, starting February 3rd. "'Rules and Regs : An Exploration of Canon Law, and Administrative Strategies for Ministry" will be presented by Father Jeffrey Tudgay and Catherine Butel on Sat., February 3, 2018, from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Divine Mercy Parish, 312 Mercy St. in Scranton. All parish ministers are welcome to attend! Meetings are the 1st & 3rd Mondays of the month @ 7 pm in the parish hall. ~ http://knights13752.webs.com/ ~Facebook at KnightsofColumbus Pocono Pines Prayers for Military and Government Service HA Valerie Novak ~ Sr. Airman Charlie Maldanado Jake Yuskaitis ~ Staff Sgt. William D. Olsen Alston Smart, Jr. ~ Eugene Maslar, Jr 1st Lt. Mark Gaido ~ Lt. JG Michael Huf Airman Patrick Alminde Seaman Nicole Beckman ~ Cpl. John P. Bramley Lt. Col. Christopher Yuskaitis Lt. Joseph V. Yuskaitis, Jr. - Major Thomas M. Smith 2nd Class Petty Officer DC2, Jeffrey Royall Sgt. Amber Keppol ~ Sgt. Andrew Malave Sgt. Matthew Ponce ~ MK1 Katie Stodnick Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Week of January 14th Sanctuary Light Available for $20. for two weeks Bread and Wine For The Unborn Altar Flowers Available for $100 for one week
Parish Life Wedding Anniversary Celebration His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, and the Office for Parish Life wish to invite couples celebrating their 25 th or 50 th Wedding Anniversary in 2018 to a Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, June 10. The event includes a 2:30 PM mass at St. Peter s Cathedral, followed by a reception. Requests for an invitation, with a mailing address, should be made through your pastor before March 12. Please call the parish office to register. Parish Life Immaculata Prayer Group Join the Prayer Group on Saturdays at 2 pm Prayer - Song - Praise If you would like more information, please call Diane -570-646-4707, or Peggy -570-646-1623. There can be no rainbow unless it has rained. Theresa Spicci ~ George Ondrajka Jay Crandall ~ Daniella Maldanado Betty Colburn ~ Amy Hatlee ~ Leslie Fox Kathleen Chambers ~ Claire Abbazio Fr. Paul Mullen ~ Joan Harrigan Darrin Rockefeller ~ Kevin Kret ~ Bobbie Morin Temi Miller ~ Bill Gleason ~ Nancy Gordon Kyle Brennan ~ Joseph McKenna ~ Louis Siroco Margaret Broderick ~Cecilia McIlvenny ~ Fr. Urban Frank Ware ~ Richard Snell ~ Fran Yuskaitis Michael F. Romano ~ Kim Maria Giganti ~ Lou Larson Msgr. Jerry Sherba ~ Sr. Marietta ~ Lurita Soprano Samson Colborn ~ Antonia Lucia ~ Violet Sloat David Mancuso ~ Paul Fulton ~ Deacon Frank Antoinette Gisoldi ~ Vivian Kanopp ~ John Schriever Lisa Champney ~ Rosa Santos ~ Bob Ruezinsky Jan 28-Feb. 3rd Celebrate Catholic Schools Week by attending one of our Catholic School Open Houses! You are invited to come experience our communities of faith and academic excellence. From Pre-Kindergarten through 12 th grade, our students live their faith, challenge their minds, serve their communities, and build lifelong friendships. For specifics about the Open Houses or for more information about our Diocesan Catholic Schools, including tuition assistance opportunities, please visit www.dioceseofscranton.org/catholicschools..your Father...caused the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.. ~Matthew 5:45 Footprints by Margaret Fishback Powers The Monroe Country Area Agency on Aging The Area Agency on aging provides a variety of services to Monroe County residents age 60 and older. Services include: Information & Referral, Transportation, Senior Centers, Pre-Admission Screening, Legal Advice, Ombudsman Service, Medical Assistance Waiver, Apprise, Primetime Health, Home Delivered Meals, Protective Services, Personal Care, Care Management, Family Caregiver s Support Program, Friendly visitor, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. For more information about these and other community services, call 570-420-3735 or 1-800-498-0330.
Around The Diocese Catch Our Spirit Celebrate Our Catholic Schools As families register their students for the upcoming school year, consider becoming an Academic Angel! Your contribution is an investment in a child s future the outcomes speak for themselves. Our schools offer an instructional environment that challenges the mind, while inspiring and strengthening the spirit. Please consider supporting our students for the 2018-19 school year. You can designate the gift as a memorial or as an honor for someone special; you can also select a particular school to receive your gift, or allow us to allocate it to the area with the greatest need. Contributions can be sent to the Diocese of Scranton Scholarship Foundation, 300 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton PA 18503. Spiritual Highlights of Italy Join Fr. Sean Oct. 8-17, 2018 ~ $2,689./pp Call Marge McCauley @ 570-486-4231 March for Life - Bus Trip To Washington, D.C. January 19, 2018. Bus leaves from Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville at 5:45 am; return approximately 9:30 pm. Cost is $25 & includes a buffet dinner. Additional info, is available. Contact Tom @570-646-8174. Lehigh Valley-Pocono Health Network Hospice Volunteers Needed If you would like to make a difference in someone s life, and in your own, then this volunteer opportunity may be for you! They are also seeking Veterans for Vet to Vet Program; Sewing Enthusiasts for the Memory Bear Program and Certified Massage & Reiki Therapists. Training is provided free of charge. Contact Tammy Hiestand, @ 272-762-3826 Around The Diocese DIOCESE OF SCRANTON CELEBRATES 150th ANNIVERSARY WITH A PONTIFICAL MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PETER Sunday, March 4th @ 3 pm The Main Celebrant will be Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia Homilist Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton We encourage everyone to use the hashtag #DoS150 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram when posting about events related to the 150th Anniversary Year. 9 DAYS FOR LIFE PRAYER ~ PRAYERS ~ PILGRIMAGE JANUARY 18-26 9 Day for Life is a digital pilgrimage of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person s life. A multi-faceted novena highlighting a different intention each day provides reflections, bonus information, and suggested actions. Join and learn more at www.9daysforlife.com Ecumenical / Interfaith FOOD PANTRY NEWS Location: Five Loaf House 133 Fire House Rd., Pocono Pines Next Distribution date - Feb. 12th & 13th Monday - 8:30-11:00; 12:00-2:00; 4:00-5:00 Tuesday - 8:30-11 am Food Donations are accepted on Mon/Tues only, from 9 am -11 am, or call 570-646-7456. Furniture Donations and Baby items are no longer accepted. For donations of Household Essentials, e.g. dishes, cookware, utensils, dishes, small appliances, towels, pillows, lamps - please call Elaine Madere @ 732-995-3370 or email her at elaine-madere@yahoo.com ~Thank You St. Maximilian Parish greatly appreciates the support of the advertisers allowing our congregation to receive this bulletin at no cost to the church. While we appreciate their support, we are not liable for any of their actions, fees, or services.