September 7, 2003 Vol. 31, No. 36
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THIS WEEK
Monday, Sept. 8 ---- NO MASS SCHEDULED ----
Tuesday, Sept. 9 ---- NO MASS SCHEDULED ----
Wednesday, Sept. 10 ---- NO MASS SCHEDULED ----
Thursday, Sept. 11 ---- NO MASS SCHEDULED ----
Friday, Sept. 12 ---- NO MASS SCHEDULED ----
Saturday, Sept. 13.....5:00PM.....Victor Kordyl.....Tom & Fran Ridge and Family
7:00PM.....Carrie Banik.....Marie Stager & Family
Sunday, Sept. 14.....8:30AM.....MASS FOR THE PEOPLE OF ST. PETER/SACRED HEART
Triumph of the Holy Cross.....11:00AM.....Bertha Topf.....Husband, Henry
Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Fear Not
“Be strong, fear not! Here is your God.” (Isaiah 35:4-7)
THE uncontrollable forces of nature cause uncontrollable fear. If we cannot overcome them, they can make us fear the future. A natural disaster can cause destruction and harm. If we cannot control it, we fear it could happen again, and the fear can be crippling, as serious as disaster.
We experience fear when we do not understand the sources of infirmity, or when we cannot control the future.
God spoke through Isaiah to Israel, “Fear not.” The blind, the deaf, the lame and the mute suffer uncontrollable infirmities. But God is stronger than disability, and God is coming to save.
The desert yielded no water. It offered no chance for crops to grow or life to thrive. But God is stronger than death, and God is coming to save.
In moments of fear, it may help to remember the source of our strength. God is the author of creation. God is our destiny in redemption. All creation suffers weakness, and imperfection causes fear. But creation is not equal to the Creator. The Creator knows no weakness. The Creator knows no fear.
The fear we feel need not overpower us. The one who made us, sustains us and calls us home gives us strength when we are weak. (Written by Paul Turner @ 2002 Archdiocese of Chicago, Liturgy Training Publications; 1-800-933-1800; www.ltp.org.)
Please pray for Fr. Manarchuck as he is on retreat this week. In case of an emergency, contact the Parish Office during regular office hours. After hours, please contact Fr. Leonard at Holy Child (662-3568) or Fr. Clarke in Blossburg (638-3241).
BAPTISM! Last Sunday during the 11:00AM Mass, Hope Elizabeth Sampson, daughter of Matthew and Mary Beth (Lasko) Sampson, was received into our Christian faith community through the waters of Baptism.
NOTE TO ALL PARISHIONERS – 911 EMERGENCY RE-ADDRESSING! All parishioners are asked to make a note of their address change on their offering envelope or contact the Parish Office as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.
SUNDAY MORNING CHILD CARE! Child care is provided Sunday during the 8:30AM Mass in the Adult Education Room of the Parish Center. Volunteers are still very much needed. Please contact Jacquie Heim (Rectory: 570-724-3371) or the Parish Office (Rectory: 570-724-3371) if you are able to help.
ATTENTION CONFIRMATION STUDENTS! Students in need of service hours are asked to meet on Wed., Sept. 10th at 6:30PM in the Parish Center to assist with the assembly of parent folders for the beginning of the Catechetical Year. Parents are asked to pick up their student(s) by 8:30PM that evening. Please contact Mrs. Henneman (Rectory: 570-724-3371) if you are able to help.
OPENING OF THE CATECHETICAL YEAR NEXT SUNDAY!
All families of religious education students in Pre-School through Grade 8 are asked to attend the 8:30AM Mass next Sun., Sept. 14th. Following Mass, students will be dismissed with their teachers. Parents will be asked to remain in the church for an informational session.
Parents are asked to pre-register new students and those entering Pre-School and Kindergarten by using the form provided below.
PRE-SCHOOL CLASSES for children of ages 3-5 are held during the 8:30AM Mass in the Parish Center.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GRADES K-8 – Classes are held Sunday’s from 9:30AM – 10:40AM in the Parish Center.
LIFELINE – “Whoever envisioned that the banner of ‘equal rights’ would be unfurled over the abortion clinic? Who expected that we would ever think of a mother and a child as having separate interests, as rivals in a dispute over power, much less enshrine the idea into law?” (Governor Robert P. Casey) PREGNANCY HOTLINE – 1-800-848-LOVE (5683)
DATES TO REMEMBER THIS WEEK!
Eucharistic Adoration – Wednesday’s beginning at 8:00AM and concluding at 8:00PM.
The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary - Thursday evening’s at 7:00PM in the Church.
Wellsboro & Mansfield Charismatic Prayer Group - Thurs., Sept. 11, 7:30PM, Parish Center.
Is there someone in need of prayers or would you consider praying for others? Contact Kate Black at 724-3047 or [email protected].
MOTHER’S PRAYER GROUP will resume meeting this Friday, Sept. 12th at 10:00AM in the Adult Education Room of the Parish Center. At this first meeting we will discuss when and how often to meet as well as suggestions for meeting ‘content’. Mothers of all ages are welcome. Please bring your children. Questions? Mary Grab (724-6606).
R.C.I.A. INQUIRY SESSIONS – The Inquiry Sessions will begin Mon., Sept. 15th and are held Monday evenings at 7:00PM in the Parish Center. These sessions are for people of other faiths who have an interest in the Catholic faith and for adult Catholics seeking First Communion and/or Confirmation. This phase of the R.C.I.A. process does not require any commitment. If you are interested, please contact Fr. Manarchuck or the Parish Office (724-3371).
SEASON V OF RENEW will commence the week of Oct. 5th and end the week of Nov. 9th. The final season’s theme is “Renewing for the 21st Century” Facilitators are asked to contact the parish office to confirm participation and order books for their group this week! A Facilitator Training Session has also been scheduled for all facilitators on Mon., Sept. 22, at 7:00PM at Holy Child Church in Mansfield.
“COPING WITH LOSS” – ‘Death of a loved one,…Personal illness,…Broken relationships,…Loss of position,…’ Sponsored by Holy Child Parish Health Ministry. Tues., Sept. 16th at 7:00PM in Holy Child Hall, Mansfield. Speaker - Dr. J. Morris Smith. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.
HOLY CHILD CHURCH CELEBRATES 50 YEARS (1953-2003)! On Wed., Sept. 17th, parishioners of Holy Child will celebrate 50 years as a parish. Mass will be celebrated at 7:00PM that evening by Most Rev. John M. Dougherty, Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton. All are welcome.
2003 PENNSYLVANIA PRO-LIFE CONVENTION: “Changing Hearts and Minds”, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, will take place Sept. 27 & 28 at the Scranton Hilton and Conference Center. For information contact the Diocesan Director of Social Concerns at 570-207-2213, ext. 1014.
ANY STUDENT 13 OR OLDER who is interested in going to the Youth Track at the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Convention in Scranton on September 27th, needs to contact Mary Nance (662-2561). We must have registration in soon. $20.00/person (includes lunch). The parish will pay the full fee for all those attending. Transportation will be provided.
MIDDLE SCHOOL (7th & 8th Grade) UP & OVER RETREAT AT FATIMA CENTER, DALTON, PA - SEPT. 19TH – SEPT. 21ST. This is a weekend retreat that is packed with activities intended to foster self-confidence and team work. Cost: $50.00 (parish will pay $25.00 of the fee). Completed registration and check payable to St. Peter’s in the amount of $25.00 should be turned into the parish office no later than Sept. 12th. Plans are to leave St. Peter’s on Fri., Sept. 19 at 4:30PM and return approximately 3:00PM on Sun., Sept. 21. Questions? Zac Cerrone (724-4139) or Mary Nance (662-2561).
DEATH PENALTY FACTS – AMERICA! Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976 in America: 820 people have been executed; 81% of these executions have occurred in the Southern states; 35% alone in Texas; 8% have occurred in one Texas county (Houston). The death penalty is applied in our country in an arbitrary manner and violates our belief in uniform justice. (Facts taken from The Atlantic Monthly, March 2003.)
PA Abolitionists United Against The Death Penalty are circulating petitions requesting Governor Rendell to enact a moratorium against the death penalty and to appoint a commission to study the fairness of the death penalty as it is applied in Pennsylvania. St. Peter/Sacred Heart parishioners will have the opportunity to sign a petition after all the Masses the weekend of Sept. 27-28.
ADOPT-A-PARISH UPDATE! A check in the amount of $1,136.00 has been sent to Bishop Boyle for the care and development of our sister parish, St. Margaret Mary in Lionel Town, Jamaica. This represents our total contributions for the months of July and August. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of this project.
CONGRATULATIONS! Winners of the Antrim Catholic Cemetery Raffle were: 1st Prize: Prairie Star Quilt – Gloria Schmitt, Liverpool, N; 2nd Prize: $50.00 – Norman Mordue, Syracuse, NY. A special thank you to everyone who contributed to a very successful raffle.
Please continue to remember in your prayers all the men and women serving our country in the armed forces.
Please pray for our sick and their caregivers.
LAST WEEK’S COLLECTION (August 30 & 31, 2003): Of 319 envelopes mailed, 153 families used envelopes and the following was contributed - $3,229.00 to Weekly Offering plus loose change and currency of $689.50 for a Total Weekly Offering of $3,918.50; Add’l Assumption of Mary, $11.00; Religious Education Envelope, $195.00; Building Fund, $20.00; Adopt-A-Parish Program, $30.00; Donation, $2,400.00; Votive Receipts, $35.00.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – PRE-REGISTRATION FORM FOR PRE-SCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN & NEW STUDENTS
(Please complete, detach, and place in the collection)
Student's Name(s)____________________________________________________________________ Grade ____________
___________________________________________________________________________________ Grade _____________
Parent’s Name & Address _______________________________________________________Phone ____________________