Good News for August 27, 2025
- St. Raymond of Penafort
- Aug 27
- 6 min read
In this Issue:
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!
Reflecting on Humility
~ Stan Sienkiewicz + Saint Albert the Great, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.
Jesus’ warning against taking the place of honor lest we be asked to move to a lower one, initially unsettled me. He adds, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” The first reading from Sirach also spoke about humility. While it offered a deeper insight, the word itself bothered me.
The dictionary defines humility as “freedom from pride or arrogance.” Well, that seems different from how humility is often viewed. Too frequently, being humble or meek is seen as weakness; I’ve probably shared that view myself.
Yet, Jesus says, “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Matthew 11:29). If Christ himself identifies with meekness and humility, how could those traits be anything but noble?
Another Scripture passage helped me better understand the Gospel’s message. Saint Paul asks, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). How often have I been reminded that my talents and gifts come from God? Taking the highest seat, then, assumes I earned my place myself, when in truth everything I have has been given to me by the Father.
Finally, I turned to prayer as it often brings clarity. I recalled these words from the Consecration to Saint Joseph by Saint Peter Julian Eymard:
For me, everything lies in that self-abnegation like our Lord in His hidden life, making the world forget me by my silence and my practice of virtue. I consecrate myself to you as my guide and model in all my duties so that I may learn to fulfill them with meekness and humility: with meekness toward my brethren, my neighbor, and all with whom I come in contact; with humility toward myself and simplicity before God.
This prayer brought everything together for me. True humility isn’t about shrinking back. It’s about seeing clearly who we are, who God is, and where our place is in relation to Him.
Back to School BBQ Fun
Thanks to everyone who made our annual Back to School BBQ a blast! The students, teachers and staff are ready for a great year!
Share Your Feedback - Healing the Whole Person Series Coming to St. Raymond this Fall
We are excited to announce that we'll be bringing the Healing the Whole Person Series to St. Raymond this fall. We're aiming for an October start, and sessions will be held weekly.
Please let us know your preference on when you'd like to see this session offered by completing the survey below.
When would you prefer to attend a session on healing?
Saturday mornings between 9-11 am
Monday evenings between 7-9 pm
I'm ok with either day
Prayer Team - August 31st, after 10 AM Mass
New Program for First Penance & Communion Starts This Fall
We're excited to announce that beginning this fall, St Raymond is launching a new sacrament preparation program! We recently selected a new curriculum from Ascension Press called Renew and Receive. We are busy working to flesh out the details of the program.
As we prepare, we need to know how many families wish to have their child(ren) receive First Penance/Communion this year. If you have a child whom you want to receive First Penance/Communion this year, please email sgandy@saintraymond.net as soon as possible.
We also need adults who are willing to help prepare our young people to receive the sacraments. We are not looking for catechists or professional teachers. We're looking for people of faith, who wish to share that and have a heart for young people] While there are challenges in not having a dedicated catechist or Director of Religious Education on staff, we believe there is also a real opportunity here. There is great richness and depth within our parish, and we must be the village that raises our children in the faith.
If you are interested in helping prepare our young people to receive their sacraments - or if you know of someone else who might be interested - please email sgandy@saintraymond.net.
Please note: the safety and protection of young people is an integral part of this ministry. If you are feeling a call to join in this exciting and fruitful ministry, it is critical that you are aware of - and in compliance with - policies, procedures and laws concerning child protection. Please contact Brandi Whitehead (brandi@saintraymond.net), Shelley Gandy (sgandy@saintraymond.net) or call them at 215-549-3760 if you have questions.
Follow-up Sacrament Meeting - September 7
If your child will be receiving First Penance, First Communion, or Confirmation, and you did not join us at the first session on August 24, please join us for the follow-up Information Session on Sunday, September 7 at 11:30 am in the Sister Rosemary Room. There is a $30 non-refundable fee for materials that can be paid at the meeting or dropped off at the Church Rectory.
FaceTime with Jesus
Our next FaceTime with Jesus will be September 8, from 7-9 pm. After an hour of adoration and quiet prayer with soft music in the background, we'll gather for fellowship around a bonfire with full hearts, to share our stories, hopes and prayers. Get more details and the full schedule here.
Save the Date for Trunk or Treat!
Our Second Annual Trunk or Treat is back! Get all the details and sign up here.
Vacation Giving
We can't begin to say how important your summer giving is to the financial stability of St. Raymond parish. The ideal way to support St. Raymond is with online giving! You can make a one-time or recurring gift by clicking DONATE HERE. Prefer to give on your phone? Text straymond to 833-363-7471 and follow the simple instructions.
Please note: You can give via Venmo (@StRaymond-PenafortPhilly), PushPay, Parish Giving, or Envelopes. To request envelopes, email Brandi at brandi@straymond.net. Thank you for your generosity!
Donate Shoes for the Children of Ghana
This Sunday, August 31 is the deadline!
Caring for Friends: "Our Supply is Low!"
Rita Ungaro-Schiavone started Aid for Friends in her home in 1974. Rita began a food program at the Archdiocese, delivering homecooked meals to homebound people.
Fifty years and one name change later, Caring for Friends has expanded to a network of 10,000 volunteers & 200 food pantries providing food and friendship in five counties.
The parishioners at St. Raymond are generous participants in this program.
At present, supplies in our freezer are very low. If you are able, please pick up some trays this week (in the back of church or at the rectory) and prepare some homecooked meals to fill our freezer so that needy neighbors will not go hungry.
Happy Labor Day!
Our pastor, deacon, members of the St. Raymond staff and Good News team, wish you a happy, safe Labor Day. We remind you that the rectory will be closed on Monday, September 1; it will reopen on Tuesday.
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.
Financial Facts
We thank those parishioners who, recognizing God’s gifts to them, make their response in our weekly collection. Your continued support is vital, necessary, and deeply appreciated.
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Budgetary Goal: $13,500.00
Collection & Envelopes: $7,630.00
Monthly Church Maintenance: $909.00
REST: $50.00
Campaign for Human Development: $3.00
Social Ministry: $40.00
Catholic Relief: $10.00
Total: $8,642.00
Special Collections
8/17 = Mission Appeal
8/10- Maintenance
Educating in Christ with Dr. Gerard O’Shea and Sr. Mary Michael Fox, O.P.
This webinar may interest anyone who is helping children in their faith formation at home, in the parish, in a Catholic School, or as a parishioner who wants to support that good work. The follow up questions and online foundational workshops might also be a help, while for some people those foundational workshops might lead to a commitment to learning how to put the method into practice as a teacher in a Catholic Parish School or IMS.
Anyone who would like to talk more about this can contact Betsy Puntel by emailing her at jmjbetsy@gmail.com
Catholic Women's Conference
This event sells out each year, so sign up soon!
The 10th annual Catholic Women's Conference will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Through the generosity of the Martin de Porres Foundation, the registration fee will be covered. Bus transportation to/from St Raymond will also be available. Anyone interested should contact mintabrown@saintraymond.net.
Introductory Training in Missionary Discipleship
Black Catholic Formation Program
Ecumenical Service for the Jubilee Year Commemoration of the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea
The battle was raging. The Arian heresy had gripped large swaths of the Church, leading many to deny the divinity of Christ. But at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the Holy Spirit, working through the Council Fathers, definitively affirmed the Church’s inerrant faith in Jesus Christ, Second Person of the Trinity, consubstantial with the Father.
Seventeen hundred years later, Christians from across the region are invited to gather as we offer our gratitude to God for His self-revelation in Jesus Christ and for the Council of Nicaea that affirmed and protected the essential truth that Jesus is God. The celebration includes:
Proclamation of the Word of God
Reflections offered by ecumenical leaders
Litany of Thanksgiving with citations from the Council of Nicaea
Sung Nicene Creed in English, Latin and Greek
Sisters of Saint Joseph Pilgrimage of Hope
