Good News for April 8, 2026
- St. Raymond of Penafort
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
In this Issue:
Teaching Little Souls About a Big Mercy
~Linda Davis
Saint Mary Catholic Church + Lancaster, Pa.
As a mother, Divine Mercy Sunday feels more urgent with each passing hour. When I look at the world my children will grow up in, I see so much confusion, division, and open rejection of God. Sin no longer hides quietly- it is often celebrated from all sides. At times, this reality fills me with worry for their future and for their souls. Yet Divine Mercy Sunday reminds me that no darkness in the world is greater than the mercy of Christ.
Jesus told St. Faustina, “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy” (Diary, 300). These words feel written for our times. We search for solutions in politics, technology, and culture, yet true peace can only come when our hearts return to God. As a mother, I feel called not only to teach my children what is right, but to teach them where they can run when they fail -- straight into the merciful Heart of Jesus.
I see daily how sin touches even our small home -- impatience, selfishness, hurt feelings. But I also see how thoroughly mercy heals. When I forgive my children, I glimpse how God forgives me. Jesus reassured St. Faustina, “The flames of mercy are burning Me --clamoring to be spent; I want to pour them out upon souls” (Diary, 1074).
In a world wounded by sin, Divine Mercy Sunday gives me hope. I pray that my children will grow up with the simplest cry written on their hearts: Jesus, I trust in You.
A Sacred Holy Week and a Glorious Easter
Our church family was blessed with the most beautiful and meaningful Holy Week and Easter celebrations. Here's a look back at some of our favorite moments. Want to see more? Follow along on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Fish Fry
Easter Vigil
Cocoa & Community
Easter Sunday
Friends, ages 10-25, we want to hear from you!!
All young people are invited to come hang out, have lunch, and share your thoughts on St. Raymond’s weekly Mass and activities.
Sunday, April 12th -Ages 10–17
Sunday, April 26th-Ages 18–25
Youth Meeting will be in the School Hall. The Young Adults 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. However, the two age brackets must be followed. Please register by calling the office at 215-549-3760, or click the links below.
Youth Meeting Sign Up (ages 10 to 17) - Sign up here.
Young Adults Meeting Sign Up (ages 18 to 25) - Sign up here.
Each meeting will end promptly at 1 pm. So that youth feel comfortable voicing their opinions, sessions will not include parents. They can either wait in the church or rectory dining room or return at 1 pm for pick up. The youth are our future!
Explore the Faith April 19
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.
A Night of Smooth Jazz & R&B hosted by The Men of St. Raymond
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 and pasta. Can you make a small contribution of these foods to help our neighbors? Bring them to church and put them in the designated space in the back by April 25.
On Sunday, April 26, we would appreciate a volunteer or two to transport our donations to St. Benedict following the 10 am Mass. Please let our director of parish outreach, Shabay Bryant, know if you can help. Email her at shabay@saintraymond.net.
May
We have promised to send some volunteers 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).
A sign-up sheet will be available by the first week in May. Deadline to sign up is May 11.
Provide a Meal in Kensington
June
Saint Raymond will sponsor a pizza dinner for our brothers and sisters in Kensington. Details coming soon.
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!
Men's Group Meeting
The Men's Group will meet on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 pm in the church rectory.
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
This 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, March 29, 2026
Collection & Envelopes: $6,896.50
Church Maintenance: $326.00
Easter Flowers: $60.35
Easter Offering: $176.00
Holy Land: $30.00
Rice Bowl: $120.00
Total: $7,608.85
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Collection & Envelopes: $14,991.50
Church Maintenance: $1,220.00
Catholic Relief: $200.00
Holy Land: $488.00
Easter Flowers: $305.00
Easter Offering: $3,646.00
Good Friday: $377.00
Social Ministry: $40.00
School Appeal: $200.00
Rice Bowl: $201.75
Total: $21,669.25
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. So we ask you, please, to honor this request and double-check your phone when you enter church.
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.