Church of Saint Benedict Diocese of Allentown - Bishop John O. Barres, D.D. March 29, 2015 MASS SCHEDULE Daily: Mon. & Thur. 6:30pm Tue.,Wed.,& Fri. 8:00 am Saturday: Vigil: 5:00pm Sunday: 8:00, 9:30, 11:15am Holy Day Vigil: 5:00pm; Day-8:00am & 7:00pm RECTORY PARISH OFFICE 2020 Chestnut Hill Rd, Mohnton, Pa 19540 610-856-1006 Office Hrs. Mon—Friday 9am-5pm Website: www.churchofsaintbenedict.com Email: [email protected] Church of St. Benedict RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PREP (W) 610-856-5146 - (H) LaSalle Academy Office www.lsabear.org Berks Catholic High School www.berkscatholic.org 610-370-0199 610-777-7392 610-374-8361 PARISH STAFF Fr. Philip F. Rodgers ...................................... Pastor Fr. Tom Kuller, S.J…………….Weekend Ministry Valerie Christo .......... Director Religious Education Andrew Angstadt ............................. Music Director Patti Fisher, Psy. D....... Principal LaSalle Academy Jeanie Hauck .................................. Parish Secretary Anne Long ........................................... .Bookkeeper Clara Lush ........................................ Bulletin Editor Rosanne Weidner ................ Rectory Housekeeping Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator: Wendy S. Krisak, M.S., 800-791-9209 Confidential Sister Meg Cole, S.S.J. Safe Environment Coordinator 610-866-0581, Ext. 19 - Fax: 610-867-8702 Allentown Diocese website www.allentowndiocese.org SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Celebrated the 1st Sunday of the month at 12:30pm and the 3rd Sunday at 11:15am mass. Baptism preparation class held 2nd Saturday. Please call the office to schedule a baptism & class. SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY Couples should call the priest at least 6 months before the wedding. A marriage preparation program is offered to every couple. MINISTRY TO THE SICK Please call the parish office if a parishioner is homebound or hospitalized. Sacrament of Anointing is offered anytime. Eucharistic Ministers are available every Sunday. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday from 4:00-4:45pm or by appointment. RCIA Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a program for anyone interested in the Catholic faith or in returning to the Church. If interested or have questions contact Mark Schrum at 610-856-7518. PARISH MISSION STATEMENT We the Parish of St. Benedict, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and our patron St. Benedict, are a vibrant, worshiping and welcoming community of God. The strength of our people is obtained through joyful celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Our commitment is to promote the Gospel of the Lord through our prayers, words, and actions with Jesus as our guiding light. Page Two TODAY’S READINGS Gospel at the Procession with Palms — Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16). First Reading — In spite of my sufferings I am not disgraced. I am not put to shame (Isaiah 50:4-7). Psalm — My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Psalm 22). Second Reading — Christ emptied himself, and God filled this emptiness with exaltation (Philippians 2:6-11). Gospel — The account of Christ’s passion according to Mark (Mark 14:1 — 15:47 [15:1-39]). READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1-3, 13-14; Jn 12:1-11 Tuesday: Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-6, 15, 17; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Wednesday: Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34; Mt 26:14-25 Thursday: Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9; Ps 89:21-22, 25, 27; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21 Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11:2326; Jn 13:1-15 Friday: Is 52:13 — 53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1 — 19:42 Saturday: a) Gn 1:1 — 2:2 [1:1, 26-31a]; Ps 104:1-2, 56, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35; or Ps 33:4-7, 12-13, 20-22; b) Gn 22:1-18 [1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18]; Ps 16: 5, 8-11; c) Ex 14:15 — 15:1; Ex 15:1-6, 17-18; d) Is 54:5-14; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; e) Is 55:1-11; Is 12:2-6; f) Bar 3:9-15, 32 — 4:4; Ps 19:8-11; g) Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28; Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3-4 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 or Ps 51:12-15, 18-19; h) Rom 6:3-11; i) Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Mk 16:1-7 Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 2223; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 or Mk 16:1-7 or (at an afternoon or evening Mass) Lk 24:13-35 STEWARDSHIP GOSPEL THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Good stewards strive to conform their lives to that of Christ - emptying themselves of all pride and putting themselves at the service of others. Stewardship—Gifts of God SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND will be the special Easter Sunday envelope. PRO-LIFE CORNER Many times truth and justice are compromised by the desire to avoid offending anyone! This applies to those of us who may be afraid to speak the truth about abortion. Let us pray for God’s courage to always speak the truth in defending the culture of life. PARISH CONTACT DIRECTORY All parish groups welcome new members. Please feel free to contact leaders for more information. AD Cursillo - Coleen Bleile - 610-286-7939 Adult Altar Servers - Frank Burns - 610-913-6630 Altar Servers - Carie Leggett - 484-631-5743 Bereavement Ministry - Judy Campion - 610-775-7782 Book Club - Anita Harrison - 610-777-4230 CYO - Steve Chuprinsky - 610-775-1228 Disabilities Coordinator - Brooke Frech - 610-777-7111 Eucharistic Ministers - Tom Henefer - 610-603-9196 Family Life - Wendy Clayton—610-913-7744 Food Pantry - Rosanne Weidner - 610-286-5568 Friendly Visitors - Treesa Schools - 610-207-6644 Gardens - Cecelia Kacmar - 610-856-1394 Greeters - Diane Roulston - 610-775-6550 Knights of Columbus - Gene Raser –610-858-2354 Landings - Robin Ball - 610-856-1402 Lectors - Susan Teaford - 610-286-3013 Liturgical Scheduling - Jim Helms - 610-856-7355 Mothers’ Group - Jaclyn Rhoades - 717-991-6645 Music Ministry—Andrew Angstadt—610-451-5664 Our Lady’s Rosary Makers - Charlene Riccio - 610-913-8561 Parish Nurse—Kathy Meers Parish Outreach - Ellie Albright - 610-763-9528 Pastoral Council - Pam Kubacki—610-777-9653 Picnic Grove Rentals - Jeanie Hauck - 610-856-1006 Prayer Chain & Shawls - Sylvia Firth - 610-286-5714 PREP/Catechists—Valerie Christo—610-856-5146 Prime Timers - Paul Wirkus - 610-913-0910 Property Committee—Steven Keech—484-947-3143 RCIA - Mark Schrum - 610-856-7518 Red Hats - Sylvia Firth - 610-286-5714 Respect Life - Mary Newhams - 610-777-3858 Rosary Group - Jeanie Hauck - 610-856-1006 St. Vincent de Paul - Carol Nygard—484-794-0428 Stewardship Committee—John Bergandino— 610-960-4318 Ushers - John Coccia - 610-404-0712 Vocations Ministry - Sandy Bach - 610-273-7685 Women’s Club - Lillian Meyers - 610-856-1215 Women’s Spirituality Group - Robin Ball - 610-856-1402 Page Three WOMEN’S CLUB will be sponsoring their Annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 29 at 12:30 p.m. ST. BENEDICT’S BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP is for those grieving the death of a loved one. The group offers an opportunity to come together to work through the grieving process with the help and support of others who have experienced this difficult journey. The group meets for five consecutive weeks beginning April 8, 2015 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the rectory meeting room. It is free, non-denominational, open to all. To register or for more information call Judy Campion at 610-775-7782 or the parish office at 610-856-1006. PARISH PRAYER LIST for the sick and infirmed is published in our bulletin 3 Sundays per month. We are happy to receive names and publish them, but we never hear if they are better and up and around. So, with Sunday, March 22 all names have been removed. If you are aware that a person is still in need of prayers for any sickness, please contact the rectory office at 610-8561006 or email [email protected] to reinstate or add new names. Please make sure the person you add to our prayer list is in agreement with this kind gesture. Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of the holiest of Christian weeks. Let us pray for the grace to take up our own cross and to follow Jesus through death to new life. During Lent through your gifts, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was able to bring the mercy of Jesus into the hearts of the poor by assisting families, providing food, gifts and help for utility and rent bills. ROMA 2016 - Did you ever dream of walking into St. Peter’s in Rome, or traveling through Tuscany countryside on your way to Florence, or spending an overnite in the quaint and highly spiritually charged Village of Assisi, and much more, then your should come to an information nite for a trip to Italy led by Father Phil April 19-29. The information meeting will be in our parish hall April 20 at 7:00 p.m. Come see the video and enjoy a special Italian dessert. Altar flowers this weekend in memory of Robert Focht by parents Rodney & Mary Ann Focht. COVERED STATUES - The current instruction in the Catholic Church regarding the Lenten practice of covering crosses and statues is: beginning on the 5th Sunday of Lent all crosses should be covered until after the Good Friday liturgy. Statues may be covered starting the 5th Sunday of Lent until before the Easter Vigil. So why do we cover statues? The practice of covering statues is that we fast from looking upon the glorious saints during Lent in a spirit of mourning or absence. Much like we fast from festive foods, or wedding banquets, or flowers in church, etc. Until our happy celebration of Easter when we pull out all the stops and create a paradise in church with flowers, candles, and the images of our saints in the anticipated Paschal feast of heaven. BUILDING A CULTURE OF VOCATIONS Family Life can build values integral to a strong vocation - whether to priesthood, religious life or marriage. Teaching your children to value commitment, service and prayer will help them make strong vocation decisions as adults and live out those vocations with success and fulfillment. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Is today “Palm Sunday” or “Passion Sunday”? Though now known officially as Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, confusion is understandable, since before the 1969 reform of the calendar two separate Sundays bore these titles. Passion Sunday was a week before Palm Sunday. To add to the confusion, the Gospel accounts of the Passion of the Lord were not read on Passion Sunday, but on Palm Sunday! On Passion Sunday, the cross and statues were veiled in full purple drapes. The organ had fallen silent at the beginning of Lent, and now the sanctuary bells were replaced by wooden clappers. The introit (opening chant) for the old Mass of Passion Sunday hints at a reason for reform: “Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight against a faithless people” (Psalm 42). This liturgy was laden with references to the “infidelity” of the Jews, a theme that gave rise to inflammatory preaching and, in some places, attacks against the persons and property of the Jewish people. This does not stand as a “treasure” of any sort in our tradition. Our authentic tradition, rather, is the ability to reflect and repent and to seek reconciliation with the Jews, our brothers and sisters in the love and service of God. —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. Page Four LENT AT ST. BENEDICT’S HOLY WEEK AT ST. BENEDICT’S OPERATION RICE BOWL– Throughout our Lenten journey, you are invited to participate in Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl. Please be sure to use the Rice Bowl from your Lenten packet and follow this simple yet powerful Lenten practice. Altar servers will be at the doors of the church each Sunday to receive your Rice Bowl donation. 50% of this collection will go to alleviate hunger in Third World countries, and 50% will assist the work of Kennedy Soup Kitchen in Reading. Monday of Holy Week—Confessions 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mass at 6:30 p.m. VOLUNTEER USHERS NEEDED FOR EASTER WEEK SERVICES: Holy Thursday 7:00 p.m.; Good Friday 3:00 p.m.; Holy Saturday Vigil 8:00 p.m. and Easter Sunday all Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 & 12 noon. If you can help at any of these services, please sign up on the sheets posted on the vestibule bulletin board. HOLY THURSDAY—Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m. Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper will be at 7:00 p.m. Collection this evening will go to the Apostolic Work of our St. Vincent de Paul Society. The foot washing ceremony will take place during the liturgy. A representative group of the parish will participate. Eucharistic Adoration will take place in the church until 11:00 p.m. with Night Prayer at 10:45 p.m. EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS are encouraged to attend the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday and walk in our Eucharistic procession. Please assemble in the parish hall 15 minutes prior to Mass. WASHING OF FEET—The Holy Thursday liturgy invites us to do what Jesus did the night before He died, namely celebrate Eucharist and wash the feet of His disciples. This symbolic act calls us to humble, charitable service toward one another. Twelve or more volunteers are needed to celebrate this Holy Thursday ritual. Parishioners of all ages are welcome to participate. Please sign up in the gathering space by Palm Sunday. PREPARATION OF THE CHURCH FOR EASTER— Volunteers are needed Friday, April 3 at 8:00 p.m. to help decorate the church for Easter. ALL are welcome! BLESSING OF EASTER FOOD—This Eastern European tradition will consist of a scripture reading and solemn blessing of food prepared for the Easter meal. All are invited to bring a covered basket filled with representative foods to be served at your Easter table (traditionally Easter eggs, meats, butters, cakes) to the church for blessing on Holy Saturday at 9:00 a.m. EASTER HOLY WATER is blest at the Easter Vigil and is available for anyone to take home any time during the Easter Season. Parishioners are invited to take some Easter Holy Water home in containers provided, or you may bring your own container to fill from the receptacles. Tuesday of Holy Week— Mass at 12 noon Wednesday of Holy Week Mass at 8:00 a.m. Father Phil will attend Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Catharine in Allentown at 10:30 a.m. People of the Diocese are welcome to attend. GOOD FRIDAY—Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m. Confessions will be heard from 12 noon—1:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion will take place at 3:00 p.m. Veneration of the Cross will take place during this service. Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m. All Catholics are reminded that this is a day of fast and abstinence. HOLY SATURDAY—Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m. While no sacraments are celebrated on this day to call to mind the stillness of Christ’s tomb, there will also be the Blessing of Easter Food at 9:00 a.m. GREAT EASTER VIGIL- will be celebrated on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. with organ and choir. In the dark of nite we gather to welcome Christ our Light. Weather permitting we will gather outside at the Easter fire. (Parents with small children be advised this Mass is about 2 hours.) There is NO Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass. EASTER SUNDAY: Please note the time changes for Easter Sunday Masses: 7:30 AM 9:00 AM 10:30 AM 12:00 NOON Page Five The Sanctuary Lamp burns this week in memory of Robert Focht by parents, Rodney & Mary Ann Focht. THIS WEEK AT ST. BENEDICT’S Tuesday 03/31 6:00 PM Holy Week Movie in the social hall 7:00 PM RCIA meets in the rectory meeting room Thursday 8:00 PM 04/02 AA meeting in the rectory mtg room Friday 04/03 8:00 PM Preparation of the church for Easter Sunday 04/05 10:30 Mass with Children‘s Liturgy of the Word—Leader: Michelle Riehl 7:00 PM Al-Anon meeting in the rectory meeting room COMING EVENTS….. 04/06 04/07 04/08 04/11 04/12 04/12 04/19 04/20 K of C General meeting Women’s Club monthly meeting Bereavement meeting Garden Clean-up Hospitality Sunday K of C 3rd Degree Ceremony Teen Mission trip meeting Rome Trip information meeting PARISH DIRECTORIES are now available in he gathering area. If you had your picture taken for the directory, please pick up your copy of the directory. THE SANCTUARY LAMP burns to remind us of the sacramental presence of Jesus Christ. You may have the sanctuary lamp memorialized for either a sick person or a deceased lived on or any special intention for a weekly donation of $10.00. Please call the parish office to reserve a specific date. Please pray for a priest each day: 03/29: Father Walter Downs 03/30: Father Anthony Drouncheck 03/31: Father Ladislaus Dudek 04/01: His Holiness Pope Francis 04/02: Pope Emeritus Benedict 04/03: Bishop of Allentown John Barres 04/04: Bishop Emeritus of Allentown Edward Cullen Monday 03/30 Monday of Holy Week 5:30-6:30 PM Confessions 6:30 PM Kenneth Lee Hassinger by The William Ward Family Tuesday 03/31 Tuesday of Holy Week 12 Noon Ron Ney, Sr. by Pete & Theresa Nelson Wednesday 04/01 Wednesday of Holy Week 8:00 AM Anthony Bukowski by Irene Didyoung Thursday 04/02 Holy Thursday 9:00 AM Morning Prayer 7:00 PM Deceased Priests of the Allentown Diocese Adoration til 11 pm with Night Prayer at 10:45 pm Friday 04/03 Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion 9:00 AM Morning Prayer 12 Noon-1:00 PM Confessions 3:00 PM Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion 7:00 PM Stations of the Cross Saturday 04/04 Holy Saturday 9:00 AM Morning Prayer and Blessing of Easter Food Sunday 04/05 Easter Sunday 8:00 PM (Saturday Vigil) RCIA Candidates 7:30 AM Ed Reidel by Helen, Tim & Robinn Reidel 9:00 AM Rev. Robert C. Quinn by St. Benedict Prime Timers 10:30 AM Adolph & Dorothy Wilke by the Thomas Wilke Family 12 Noon Robert Focht by Joanne & Phil
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