Saint Francis of Assisi Parish
600 Hamilton Street, Norristown, PA 19401
SACRAMENTS AND DEVOTIONS
Baptism: Usually the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month
at 1:15 PM. Pre-Jordan class is the third Monday of odd
- numbered months. Pre-Jordan must be attended by all
parents expecting their first child. Please call the rectory
to schedule your Pre-Jordan.
Marriage: Initial arrangements must be made at least
six months prior to your wedding date. Please call the
rectory and set up an appointment with the pastor.
Communion Calls: Holy Communion is brought by the
deacon and Extraordinary Ministers on a monthly basis
to elderly and ill parishioners who are unable to attend
Mass. Please notify the Rectory to arrange a visit.
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday Evening - 5:30 PM
Sunday - 7:00 AM, 9:30 AM,12:00 and 5:30 PM
Monday thru Saturday - 8:30 AM
Eve of Holydays - 5:30 PM
Holydays of Obligation –8:30 AM, 12:00 and 7:00 PM
(except Christmas and Easter)
CONFESSION SCHEDULE
Saturday: After 8:30 AM Mass & 4:00 PM—5:00 PM
(other times by appointment)
RECTORY OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
(closed between 12:00 and 1:00 PM)
Friday hours until 4:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
New Parishioners—Welcome to SFA! Please call the
Rectory to arrange a time to register in our parish.
Hospitals: Pastoral care for Catholic patients in area
hospitals is shared by the local parishes. When you or a
loved one is admitted please inform the hospital that you
are a Catholic so that you will receive Holy Communion
and the Sacrament of the Sick from the parish responsible for the hospital that day.
Devotions:
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament—Mon 9:00 AM to
4:00 PM. The church is accessible by the handicap door
after the 8:30 AM Mass until 4:00 PM (Sept.-May)
Rosary – Monday thru Saturday at 8:00 AM
Divine Mercy Chaplet—Tues after the 8:30 AM Mass.
Infant of Prague Novena- Wed after the 8:30 AM Mass.
Sacred Heart Devotions—Fri after the 8:30 AM Mass.
Miraculous Medal Novena-Sat after the 8:30 AM Mass.
Visits to the Blessed Sacrament—Tuesday through
Saturday after the 8:30 AM Mass until 4 PM—Stop at
the rectory for the keypad code.
CLERGY AND STAFF
Rev. James E. Goerner, M.Div., Pastor
Deacon James Mahar, Permanent Deacon
Rev. Augustine Esposito, OSA., Weekend Assistant
Rev. Jack Mc Atee, OSA., Weekend Assistant
Mr. Edward Scott, Business Manager
Miss Nancy Sanchez, Coordinator of Religious Education
Miss Bridget Tigue, School Principal
Mrs. Erica Gonzalez, Director, Early Learning Center
Mrs. Elizabeth Nacarelli, Parish Secretary
Mrs. Dolores Landis, Office Manager
BULLETIN DEADLINE – Monday 12 Noon
CONTACT INFORMATION
Rectory: Phone 610-272-0402, Fax 610-272-1794
Email: [email protected] Website: stfrancisnorristown.com
School: Phone 610-272-0501, Fax 610-272-8011
Email: [email protected] Website: sfacatholic.org
Early Learning Center: Phone 610-757-1523, Fax 484-231-8646
Email: [email protected] Website sfacatholic.org/SFELC
Prayer Request Line: 610-757-4070
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
MARCH 8, 2015
Monday, March 9th
Tuesday, March 10th
Wednesday, March 11th
Thursday, March 12th
Friday, March 13th
Saturday, March 14th
Sunday, March 15th
8:30
8:30
8:30
8:30
8:30
8:30
5:30
7:00
9:30
12:00
5:30
Mary Ann DeNardo—Light-Lanigan Family
Luigi and Marie Petrollini—Quinn Family
Prayer Service
Henry Reimer 46th Anniversary—Sister Henry Frances, SSJ
Michele Manjardi Schoettle—Schoettle and Manjardi Families
Fr. Kevin Trautner—Zepeda Family
Arenida Busciacco—Ed and Mary
Margaret Roscioli—Richard Branco
Robert and Anna Gambone—Children
Kenneth Daywalt—Jean Frisco
For the Parishioners
ALTAR SERVERS—MARCH 14/15
5:30 PM Angela Barragan, Manuel Barragan
7:00 AM Luis Martinez, Kyleigh Byrnes
9:30 AM Millie Collins, Camillo Ciccipio
12:00 PM Andrea Lopez, Cesteban Cano
5:30 PM Kyle Pascavage, Jeannie Salvo
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS—MARCH 14/15
5:30 PM Larry Perna, Pat Perna
7:00 AM Anita DiLucia, Chuck Zurek
9:30 AM Ed Scott, Mary Scott
12:00 PM Kathleen McTamney, Maribeth Fedak
5:30 PM Trish Lynch, Charles Hurd
LECTORS—MARCH 14/15
5:30 PM Chris McDonnell
7:00 AM Dave DiLucia
9:30 AM Jon Flannery
12:00 PM SFA Children
5:30 PM Joe Lynch
SUNDAY CONTRIBUTIONS – MARCH 1, 2015
Sunday Collection ………………………….……….. $ 9,704
Sunday Collection One Year Ago.…………………... $ 11,030
Change from Last Year………….………………….- $ 1,326
Change YTD (7/1/14) …………………………...…- $ 35,081
THANK YOU for supporting your parish!
PLEASE REMEMBER to use your weekly envelope so you
are credited for your donation.
PLEASE REMEMBER to include St. Francis Parish in your
estate planning and your will.
PLEASE REMEMBER if you are away your weekly contribution may be mailed directly to the parish office.
BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS (PRE JORDAN)
The next class in English will be held on Monday, March 16,
2015 at 7:00 PM. The next class in Spanish will be held on
Monday, April 20, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Pre Jordan classes are
held in the Parish Meeting House Room 1. Please contact
the rectory to register.
PARISH CALENDAR OF EVENTS
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT EVERY
MONDAY BEGINNING FROM 9 AM TO 4 PM
Monday
4:00 Teen PREP (R)
7:00 Ladies (MH1,K)
Thursday Continued
6:30 Cub Scouts (S)
7:00 Legion of Mary (R)
7:00 First Penance (C)
Tuesday
4:00 RCIA Teens (R)
7:00 RCIA (MH2)
Friday
Grandparent’s Tea (G)
6:30 Exposition (C)
7:00 Stations of the Cross (C)
Wednesday
6:30 Choir (C)
6:30 Girl Scouts (S)
Saturday
9-3 Ladies Candy Prep (MHK)
Thursday
1:00 Stations of the Cross (C)
6:00 Ladies Candy Prep (MHK)
Sunday
10:30 PREP (S)
PLEASE NOTE: IF SCHOOL IS CLOSED or IF SCHOOL
HAS EARLY DISMISSAL BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER,
or IF THE SUNDAY PREP (CCD) PROGRAM IS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, THEN ALL
SCHOOL RELATED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELLED FOR THAT DAY.
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK
The sick list will be updated monthly. We
will be glad to keep the name of your loved
one on the list for one month. If you want to
extend a request for prayers beyond that time,
please call the Rectory to let us know so we do
not remove your loved one’s name from the
list. Please remember only the names of the
seriously ill should be placed on our sick list.
Meriann Black
Joe Byrnes
Michael Cantello
Ann Chapman
Jack Char
Vince DeCarlo
Anthony DelBono
Joseph DeNoble
Fr. Dominick Finn
David Grigsby
Debbie Lucchese
John Maguire
Donna Marushak
Charlotte Mateja
Bethann McElroy
Edward O’Brien
Blanche Petko
Antonio Santos
Kathleen Stephens
Joseph Steuer
Sissy Undercuffler
Paul Wright
Page001-031
March 9, 2015—Third Sunday of Lent
Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson
Good housekeeping (certainly not the magazine of that title) is
in reality more work than it may seem to those not charged
with doing it. Even the less industrious among us (read “lazy”
or “careless”) come to a point where a dirty mess is just that
and has to be cleaned up. Dust and dirt must go, and chaos
must be put into order. Not only is the effort a necessary bow
to one’s self-respect, but also to the harmony needed for a
stress-free relationship with others.
Of course, Jesus our Lord is so much more than a sanitation
expert. Nor does He come across as “Jesus meek and mild” in
this famous scene read to us today. We find ourselves hearing
it at the midpoint of Lent when we aim to rid our souls of any
accumulated “dirt” of sin. We clean ourselves up for the approaching feast of Easter. We seek to authenticate our baptism.
Obviously, Our Lord’s contemporaries had largely lost respect
for their Temple. They had gotten mired in the details of
prayer preparation. Money makers saw their opportunity in
this deviation. Almost forgotten amid the commotion of commerce was the very purpose of the Temple: worship of God.
Someone had to make a course correction. That task fell to no
less than the very Son of God.
During Lent we are free from all the distractions that plague
Advent. Recall how only three short months ago we inevitably
got caught up in the hustle and bustle that works against remembering what Christmas is all about. It is true that we see
that there is less secular intrusion into Easter. That is not to
say that bunnies, chicks and eggs don’t mar the scene. It is
more politically correct to talk of spring rather than resurrection. So we face the same old problem of internal “noise” that
comes with living a fast-paced life in modern America. But in
His strong words, Jesus makes a credible case for the fact that
we are “temples” of the Holy Spirit.
It is well to recall whatever Ash Wednesday resolution we
made to pray more. Not to “say prayers” but to pray. That is
the best way to gain insight and perspective about this adventure we call “life.” Meanwhile, we can all benefit from some
good housekeeping of the soul, and here is a story to think
about.
Once upon a time on a kayaking trip in the Apostle Islands in
northern Wisconsin, a man and his wife were talking to their
tour guide as they ate lunch on a remote beach. The husband
mentioned how unusual it was to have no television, no newspapers, and no internet. “In fact,” he said, “it’s going to be
strange to return home and find out what’s happening in the
real world.” No one spoke for a few minutes. Then, without
taking his eyes from the horizon, the guide commented, “I
assume that’s what you came here for.”
SPECIAL LITURGIES
See the purple insert that was in the Feb. 15 th bulletin
for a list of dates and times for Stations of the Cross
and Confessions during Lent.
First Penance – Mar 12 @ 7:00 PM
Family Mass – Mar 15 @ Noon
First Communion – April 19 @ Noon
Confirmation – April 26 @ Noon
May Procession – May 3 @ Noon
SAVE THE DATE
Please check the upcoming bulletins for more
details about these events.
Irish Potatoes –Mar 14 & 15 after Mass
Palm Sale – Mar 27 – 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Palm Sale – Mar 28 – 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Easter Egg Hunt – April 4 – 11:00 AM
Spring Carnival – April 28 – May 2
SFA Summer Camp -2015
When: June 15th-Aug. 21st
Time: 8am to 5pm (Monday-Friday)
Ages: 6-12yrs
Cost: $160/wk per child
Includes: meals, weekly themes, field trips, on site activities
Early Registration Fee: $80/child until April 20 th (non refundable)
Regular Registration $100/child (non refundable)
Contact information: 610-757-1523 or [email protected]
MARIAN DAY
The Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Legion of Mary invites
all to the 22nd Annual Marian Day on Saturday, March 21
from 9:00am—4:00pm. Fr. Frederick Miller (from the College
Seminary of the Immaculate Conception at St. Andrew’s Hall)
will present “Saint Louis Marie de Montfort: Priest and
Preacher of The True Devotion to Mary.” The day includes a
morning and afternoon presentation, Mass, lunch and an afternoon Holy Hour. The event will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood. The cost is only $10. For
more information or to RSVP visit www.scs.edu or call
610.785.6270.
FAMILY REGISTER
We are glad to welcome into our parish community:
Sandra Billups and Family
Jean Manga and Family
Page 2—031
Spring Silk Flowers Needed
It is that time of year where the preparations for St. Francis’ Palm Sale will be starting. Once again we are asking
for your continued support in donating new spring silk
flowers to be used to decorate the crosses that we sell. If
you can’t get out to purchase flowers but want to contribute, cash donations would be greatly appreciated. Items
can be dropped off during business hours at the rectory.
Thank you for your continued support in making St. Francis a thriving parish for all of us. God bless!
Deaf Apostolate Spring Events: On Friday evening April
17, 2015 the Deaf Apostolate will host an ASL interpreters
workshop on interpreting the Eucharistic Prayer. This workshop is for experienced interpreters. On Saturday, April 18 th
there will be a Retreat for Deaf Adults and Teens at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Both the workshop and retreat will be directed by Father Mike Depcik,
OSFS, a deaf priest serving in the Diocese of Detroit. Parents
of children who are deaf can also register for the summer or
fall religious education program by contacting Sr. Kathleen
Schipani. Email [email protected] or call 215-5873913 for registration information.
Lenten Concert at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
The Seminarians of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary invite
you to continue your Lenten journey with them through scripture and song. The 5th annual Lenten Concert will be held on
Sunday, March 15 at 4:00 pm. The event is free and open to
the public. Saint Charles is located at the corner of City Avenue and Wynnewood Road in Wynnewood. For more information, visit www.scs.edu.
FOOTSTEPS TO THE CROSS
Bethany Music Ministry will present Footsteps to the Cross on
Palm Sunday, March 29 at 7:30 pm, Saint Titus Church, East
Norriton. Footsteps is a prayerful meditation focusing on the
final hours of Christ as told through Scripture, narration and
music. It is a powerful look at the Way of the Cross and what
is means in our contemporary world. All are welcome!
02/23/2015
02/24/2015
02/25/2015
02/26/2015
02/27/2015
02/28/2015
LOTTERY WINNERS
#481
Patricia McNamee
#912
Not Sold
#344
SFA (donated by parishioner)
#108
George Ludwick
#797
Dee Landis
#313
Not Sold
FLAME OF LOVE LENTEN RETREAT
Flame of Love Lenten Retreat will take place on Saturday,
March 21 at Archbishop Prendergast High School Auditorium
on Lansdowne Ave. & Garrett Rd. in Drexel Hill, PA. There
is no cost, but you must pre-register so they can order lunches!
Register by phone or fax 610-622-1215. Schedule: 8:30—
Welcome; 9:00 to 11:00—three speakers; 11:30—Concluding
Mass. Speakers are Fr. James Otto, Chuck Webster and Tony
Mullen. All are welcome—just call ahead!
The Saint Francis of Assisi School
Canticle Where Service, Faith, &
Academics Come Together
WE VALUE . . .
CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Cheerleading News
Recently, the SFA Cheerleaders participated in two
competitions. On Sunday, February 15th, the squad competed at Pope John Paul II High School where they
placed 3rd in the All Dance competition. One of our 8th
Grade students, Madelyn Skaw, placed 1st in the All
American competition. On Saturday, February 28 th, the
SFA Cheerleaders competed in the All Catholic competition at Cardinal O’Hara High School. Again, our cheerleaders placed 3rd in the All Dance competition. One of
our 8th Grade students, Maeve Riehman, received Honorable Mention for her All American routine. Thank you
to the Cheerleading coaches, Michele Montanez and
Dawn Roberto, for their work with the girls the past
several years.
Congratulations, girls! We’re very proud of you!
Monday, March 9th
 3rd Trimester Begins
 Book Fair in the Gym
 Grandparents’ Tea RSVPs due
 Band Lessons 3rd - 8th Grades
 FUN Program visits Pre-K - 2nd Grade
 8th Grade Parent/Guardian Meeting 6:30 PM
Tuesday, March 10th
 Book Fair in the Gym
 Pretzel Orders due
 Garden Club 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Wednesday, March 11th
 Book Fair in the Gym (1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 6th Grades)
 Pretzel Day
 Bowling Club @ Facenda Whitaker 2:40 – 5:00 PM
 Chick-fil-A SFA Spirit Night 5:00 – 7:30 PM at
East Norriton Chick-fil-A
Thursday, March 12th
 Book Fair in the Gym (Pre-K , K, 4th, 5th, 7t, & 8th
Grades)
 Stations of the Cross 1:00 PM in Church
 Cub Scout Meeting 6:30 PM
 First Reconciliation 7:00 PM in Church
Friday, March 13th
 Book Fair in the Gym
 Grandparents’ Tea 9:00 – 10:15 AM in the Gym
 Lunch in classrooms
 Grandparents’ Tea 12:45 – 2:00 PM in the Gym
Sunday, March 15th - 4th Sunday of Lent
 Family Mass @ Noon – All are welcome!
Page 3—031
PARISH ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Aid For Friends
Lynn Trombetta
Altar Servers (Schedule) Lillian Aguilar
Bereavement Committee Fr. James Goerner
Cantors
Michael Maresca
Carnival Committee
Tom O’Donnell
Choir—Adult
Michael Maresca
Contemporary Music Group
Cub Scouts
Frank Zarrilli
Deaf Apostolate
Fr. Anthony Russo
Eucharistic Adoration Group Liz Nacarelli
Extraordinary Ministers
Mary Anders
Evangelization Group
Adel Herge
Finance Council
Fr. James Goerner
Girl Scouts
Alysia DiRado Harte
Greeters
John Bilella
Ladies of St. Francis
Linda Steppe
Lectors
Mary Anders
Legion of Mary
Virginia Chernick
Liturgy Committee
Fr. James Goerner
Men of St. Francis
Charles Wood
Musicians
Michael Maresca
Pastoral Council
Fr. James Goerner
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Kay Boyce
Pre-Jordan
Nancy Sanchez
Prayer Line Volunteers
Nancy DeKok
P.R.E.P. (C.C.D.)
Nancy Sanchez
Pro-Life Group
Joseph Aquilani, Jr.
RCIA
Nancy Sanchez
Senior Citizens
Ann Filon
St. Vincent dePaul
Tony Antunes
Ushers
John Bilella
215-464-2224
717-514-7035
610-272-0402
610-539-7597
610-476-3050
610-539-7597
484-326-8212
215-423-9547
610-272-0402
610-635-9476
610-547-5935
610-272-0402
610-350-6762
610-279-1058
610-539-7917
610-635-9476
610-630-6950
610-272-0402
267-438-2572
610-539-7597
610-272-0402
484-322-5466
610-272-0402
610-277-1344
610-272-0402
610-539-0592
610-272-0402
610-539-5055
610-272-0402
610-279-1058
PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS
Millie Cooper, Nancy DeKok, Rev. James E. Goerner, Deacon Jim
Mahar, Kay McDonald, Lillian O’Donnell, Patricia Perna, Nancy Sanchez, Linda Steppe, Bridget Tigue
BOOK CLUB
“Love is our Mission:
The Family Fully Alive”
You are cordially invited to be part of a Discussion Group
with our Evangelization team on the book “Love is our
Mission: The Family fully Alive.” This book is “a catechesis on family life, prepared by the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia and the Pontifical Council for the Family.” This book was prepared specifically in anticipation
of the Eighth World Meeting of Families, which will take
place in Philadelphia this September.
In the book’s presentation we are reminded that each family is a “domestic church”, a small cell of the universal
Church. YOUR family matters! Join us as we explore the
contents of such chapters as “Created for Joy” and “The
Mission of Love” with one another. As we look at the latter chapter, we will come to a new understanding of how
God wants to work through us and our families to show
God’s love to each other and to a fallen world. God is at
work to heal us and our families in our brokenness. As
wounded healers, then, we go forth, commissioned, to
bring that healing to a fallen world.
The Book Club meetings will take place on three consecutive Thursdays: March 12, 19, and 26, from 7:00-8:20 in
the Meetinghouse. Please come prepared the first night
with the first three chapters read. Books can be obtained at
the rectory during normal rectory hours. The cost of the
book is $8.00.
FINANCE COUNCIL MEMBERS
Patricia Bader, Jim Busciacco, Rev. James E. Goerner, Patricia
Perna, Felicia Riehman, Mary Anne Serosky, Edward Shaw, Edward Scott, Mark Stuart
If you would like a statement of your 2014 donations,
please fill out this coupon and place it in the collection basket, mail, or drop off at the rectory.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
MOM Heart of the Home Spring Day of Renewal
____________________________________________
Name
March 21, 2015 • 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sts. Simon and Jude Meehan Center, West Chester
____________________________________________
Address
Calling all moms, grandmothers, step-mothers, and other
women of nurturing nature. Do yourself a favor…Spend the
day with us! Give yourself this one day out of 365 to slow
down and replenish your spirit. Deepen your relationship with
God and Mary, Our Mother by sharing the day with other
women like yourselves! The day includes times of reflection
with our amazing, inspirational morning and afternoon speakers, Kathy McCarthy and Sandi Tronoski. Visit our website to
print a registration form and to read more about what this day
has to offer.
____________________________________________
City, State and Zip Code
____________________________________________
Phone Number
 Mail statement to name & address above
 Call when ready and I will pick statement up
Questions? Call 610-269-6470 or visit
http://www.mom-heartofthehome.org/events.
Page 4-031