Good News for April 22, 2026
- St. Raymond of Penafort
- 6 minutes ago
- 8 min read
In this Issue:
Walking Through Christ, Not Around Him
~Jennifer Dusza
Saint Mary Catholic Church + Schwenksville, Pa.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear that the “gate” is Jesus Himself: His teachings, His sacraments, His Church. But the temptation to “climb over elsewhere” is real. It is the temptation to craft a faith on our own terms: to follow Christ selectively, to soften His teachings when they feel inconvenient, to justify our behavior rather than convert our hearts. Catholic spirituality insists that discipleship is not self‑designed. The moral life is not a fence we hop but a gate we pass through—deliberately, humbly, obediently.
To enter through the gate means listening to the Word of God even when it cuts against us. It means allowing Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church to shape our conscience rather than bending them to fit our preferences. It means refusing excuses. It means confessing our sins rather than explaining them away. It means trusting that Christ’s commands are not burdens but pathways to freedom.
To enter through the gate is to walk in the way of truth. And Jesus promises that those who enter through Him will be saved. They will find verdant pastures, and they will have life- abundant life! Sometimes it can be tempting to take a shortcut, but the primary person we hurt in this is ourselves. We shortchange ourselves of the glory and the bounty that God wants to bestow upon us. There is a beautiful life of love, grace, and mercy awaiting us. The choice is ours: do we enter through the gate or do we try to climb over elsewhere?
Family Faith Formation & Sacrament Prep
We invite children ages 6–10 and their parents to join us for a series of family sessions focused on growing in faith and preparing for First Penance and First Communion. All families are welcome—whether or not your child has already received the sacraments. This program is required for families planning for First Penance and First Communion in 2027.
What to expect:
Short, family-friendly sessions (just 45 minutes)
Held every other Sunday at 12 PM
Orientation Session
Sunday, May 3 12–12:45 PM in the Chapel
(All interested families are encouraged to attend)
Session Schedule (12:00–12:45 PM)
May 17 & 31
June 14 & 28
July 12 & 26
August 9 & 23
(Off Sept 6 – Labor Day)
Sept 20
Oct 4 & 18
(Off Nov 1)
Nov 15 & 29
Registration opens after the May 3 Orientation Session.
Young Adults, We Want to Hear from You!
All young adults ages 18 to 25 are invited to come hang out, have lunch, and share your thoughts on St. Raymond’s weekly Mass and activities on April 26 after the 10 AM Mass. The meeting will be in the Sister Rosemary Room (rectory basement). Lunch will be provided!
This is your chance to talk about issues, such as:
What you feel is going well and/or missing from Mass
How we can make it more meaningful and exciting
How we can keep you engaged during Mass
What would create enthusiasm for you
How you would use a youth space in the church basement
Your voice matters, and we want to build something together that truly connects with you!
St. Raymond membership is not a requirement for participation. Please register by calling the office at 215-549-3760, or sign up here.
A Night of Smooth Jazz & R&B hosted by The Men of St. Raymond
Fr. Zlock shares the latest construction update
Charitable Initiatives for April, May and June
In the next three months, there will be many opportunities for community outreach through a new plan of volunteering. Here's what's on tap:
We're Partnering with St. Benedict Parish
April
St. Benedict's food pantry is in critical need of:
Canned tomatoes
Tomato sauce
Pasta
Can you make a small contribution of these foods to help our neighbors? Bring them to church and put them in the designated bin in the back by April 25.
May
Volunteers are needed to help give out food at Saint Benedict’s on May 18, 22 and 29. We'll need two people for a standing post, two more for a sitting post, and two additional people who can assist at the blood pressure station (one standing and one sitting).
Provide a Meal in Kensington
June
Saint Raymond will sponsor a pizza dinner complete with water, fruit and dessert for about 200 of our brothers and sisters in Kensington. To contribute towards purchasing a meal, please donate here. Select "Charitable Giving "as the fund.
Help Keep Our Parish Beautiful
Do you enjoy caring for plants? Are you looking for a simple and meaningful way to serve our Church community?
We are urgently seeking volunteers to help water and maintain the plants in front of the Rectory, Church, and Chapel. This is a wonderful opportunity to help preserve the beauty of our parish grounds, and your help is truly needed and appreciated.
If you’re interested, please contact Brandi at 215-549-3760 or email brandi@saintraymond.net. You may also let Jenny, Olive, or Alicia know if you see them at Mass.
Thank you for helping keep our church beautiful!
Donate Your Used Clothing
Baby Bottles for Guiding Star Ministries
Guiding Star Maternity Home is a maternity home in Germantown that supports pregnant women and their children by providing safe housing and life skills for future success. This Mother’s Day (May 10th), please take a donation bottle from the back of the church. Fill it with your contribution and return it on the weekend of May 30–31. Your generosity helps provide care, stability, and opportunity for families in need. Thank you for your support!
Gluten Free Hosts Available
Do you require a gluten-free host due to a gluten intolerance or allergy? If so, please let our pastor or a member of the parish staff know so we can ensure your needs are accommodated at Mass.
Anointing of the Sick
On the weekend of May 30th and May 31st the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be administered at the Saturday 5:00 PM and Sunday, 8:00 AM 10:00 AM Masses. Parishioners who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness (cancer, diabetes, arthritis, lupus, diseases of the heart, lung & kidney etc.) undergoing treatment for another disease/illness, or living at a very advanced age are encouraged to receive this Sacrament. If you qualify and desire to be anointed, sign-up sheets are available on the desk in the rear of the church, or you must call the rectory no later than May 28th. No names will be accepted after this date. Should you have any questions please call the Church Rectory at 215-549-3760.
Congrats Graduates
Cap and Gown Season is upon us, and it’s time to honor our students. Please call Brandi in the rectory office 215-549-3760 and tell her the names of your graduates and their academic achievements (high school, bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, other). She will keep a list and when graduation time arrives, Good News will offer accolades!
Prayer Team Help Needed
Are you comfortable having a conversation with God? St Raymond’s Prayer Team is seeking volunteers to pray for and with others. The monthly Prayer Team Partners gather on the first weekend of the month after each Mass to hear and respond to prayer needs. The primary requirements are a love of Christ and love of your neighbor. We will help you with the rest. To learn more or to volunteer, please email Deacon Michael or call him at 215-549-3760.
FaceTime with Jesus May 4
Explore the Faith Sunday, May 17
These sessions are open for all people, Catholic or non-Catholic, who simply wish to learn more about Catholicism and enter into deeper conversations about the Church.
Join a Hub Life Session April-June
As the Trust & Hope Initiative continues to raise awareness of all the good work being done to renew the church, opportunities for you to be involved through Hub Life Sessions, post-Easter, are available for you to RSVP.
To continue and deepen our conversation about the pastoral vision and this next chapter in the Church of Philadelphia, you are invited to the next round of conversations, which are designed to discuss areas of interest that emerged from your questions and desires:
Hub Life Sessions
What is the purpose: To dive deeper into areas of interest from participants’ feedback and how that topic intersects with building a culture of missionary discipleship. Hear briefly about the developments in that area of ministry, participate in a focused conversation related to that topic in small groups, and learn of some next steps/ways to get involved following the session.
Who is invited: You, a family member, friends and neighbors, those who have particular interest in a Hub Life topic.
Where and when will it take place: Sessions will be hosted regionally on weeknights and Saturday mornings.
Click here to go to an updated list of Hub Life Sessions that are upcoming in April through June 2026. Additional sessions and new themes are added regularly!
Financial Facts
The past winter's unusually bad weather has impacted Mass attendance and our weekly collection. Your safety and comfort have been included in our prayers. Please be sure to make up any missed contributions.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Collection & Envelopes: $9,210.50
Church Maintenance: $1,370.00
Holy Land: $52.00
Easter Offering: $80.00
REST: $75.00
Social Ministry: $10.00
Total: $10,797.50
Special Collections
4/3 = Holy Land Sanctuaries
4/5 = Easter
New Phone # for Catholic Call to Prayer
Due to technical difficulties with Catholic Call to Prayer, we have had to update the phone number and access code. Please use the new information provided. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience.
You can dial in using your phone.
Phone Number: +1 (872) 240-3412
Access Code: 190-748-589
This call lasts 5-7 minutes and can have an amazing impact at the start your day, reflecting on God’s WORD!!
Noon Call to Prayer. Same number, Monday to Friday at NOON. We will pray the Angelus, reflect on the 1st reading from Daily Mass, say intercessory prayer for those in need and beg God to draw us all nearer to Him.
Cell Phone Reminder
Once again, we need to remind everyone to silence their cell phones during Mass. Unexpected electronic sounds lead others to lose their focus during a time that all hold sacred. We ask you, please, to honor this request and double-check your phone when you enter church.
Care for Creation - You're Invited!
You are welcome to attend a morning with Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, on Saturday, May 2 from 9am - 12:30pm at Mount Saint Joseph Convent Auditorium at 9701 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118. Brother Mickey will share his art to celebrate our shared Care for Creation in “Sisters of the Earth: A Celebration of the Feminine Divine in our Midst.” Please RSVP by the end of this week, if possible, as space is limited. Email justice@ssjphila.org to RSVP.
West Catholic Alumni Invites You To
37th Annual Burrs at the Beach
Keenan’s Pub North Wildwood
Sunday June 28th, 2026, 1 pm to 6 pm
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
For Information and /or Tickets Please contact:
Joe Garttmeir 484-437-3739 mag1201@verizon.net
Tom McGinn 610-461-6141 mcginn81@comcast.net
Marie O’Conner 484-350-1001 pmadoconnor@verizon.net
Missionary Discipleship Training
An Invitation to All Married Couples
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 8:30am-1:00pm
St. Helena’s Church (Empress Room)
1489 Dekalb Pike, Blue Bell
Come with your spouse or fiancé and listen to an engaging Catholic speaker who will inspire you to live out your marriage with greater fervor, love and joy. Meet other like-minded couples. Continental breakfast and lunch are included.
For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/MarriagesofGrace2026.
Charismatic Renewal Conference
See the latest news from the Archdiocese
See the March Newsletter here.