This weekend, we meet Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth as he continues to teach and confront the leaders whose hearts were closed. Is your heart closed in some way? Ask God's Spirit to move deep within you and begin moving things!
Father Chris preached about our need to be people who NEED THE WORD OF GOD. Listen to the homily and check out these resources to help you grow in dependence on God's Word:
Bible Timeline Podcast - listen for 20-30 minutes a day and you will have the Bible done in a year! You can also get it as an email daily
YouVersion of the Bible App which has amazing Devotionals and Bible Study plans. They have an App to use for Kid's Bible Study too.
Daily Mass Readings with a Reflection emailed to you each day
Free Commentary on much of the Bible - more than you can imagine on some of your favorite books of the Bible
Pope Francis has asked that TODAY be a DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE.
DID YOU READ THIS WEEK'S CHURCH BULLETIN?
NEED INFORMATION ON COVID TESTING AND COVID VACCINES? Please note that vaccines are no longer offered every Friday. Please call the Parish Office for details.
As a community of faith, we hold each other in prayer each day...
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Earl, Hank, Pierre, Joe, Pat, John, Helen, Dolores, Bernita, Marjorie, Horace, Marjorie, Cindy, Patricia, and all who are sick with COVID or struggling with mental illness
FOR THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING: Tony (who lost his wife), Lynette and Linda (who lost their dad), Colleen (who lost her husband) and those grieving a loved one from the violence in our City.
FOR SPECIAL NEEDS: that we choose faith over fear in the midst of the ongoing COVID Pandemic; that we find housing for Feenie, a single mom from Haiti who is pregnant and has two children (she is currently seeking asylum status in USA); for Wazmina and her children as they continue to adjust to life in Philadelphia; for Shonda to find an apartment, for peace in Ukraine
While it got little media coverage, almost 100,000 (including Fr Chris and others from our parish) made it to DC for the March for Life. It was an amazing witness to life!
Retired Pope Benedict has been accused of mishandling abuse cases 40+ years ago when he was a Bishop in Germany. Please pray for the healing of all victims of sexual abuse and that all those who hurt others, especially children, will be brought to justice.
A Black History Month initiative of the City of Philadelphia involves lessons in financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Check this out - and share it with others too!
You can order your FREE at-home COVID Tests from the US Government.
"Trust the Science" (regarding vaccines) may not be the best line to use...checkout what Brother Guy, SJ thinks.
On February 13th we would like to have our Annual Valentine's Brunch for couples but Father Chris needs (1) two couples who will serve as hosts and (2) at least 15 couples who would like to attend in order to make it a good event. Please let him know your thoughts at pastor@saintraymond.net
The MEN of the Parish are encouraged to make a weekend retreat at the Malvern Retreat House on February 26, 27 & 28. Fr Chris will be the presenter of the retreat. Scholarships are available to assist with the retreat. Interested? Please call Atiba at 267-588-8888. There is also a way to participate virtually is you would rather experience the retreat from home.
We will welcome Fr. Steve Thorne back to St. Raymond next weeked to preach at the 10am Mass. He will share about the Archbishop's Commission on Racial Healing.
Tired of Netflix and Amazon Prime? Why not feed your soul with something more? Watch some videos (even movies) on FORMED (our parish has a membership and you can create your own account). Watch classic films on Mary, the Mother of God, and St. Joseph and there are great videos for the little ones too! You can also download audiobooks and ebooks too! Resolve to get good content into your mind in 2022!
Check out CatholicPhilly. You can sign up to receive a weekly email from them as well. Stay informed!
We have a new APP for our parish. Please search for St. Raymond where you get your apps. Or you can text 'straymondapp' to (833) 363-7471, for a quick way to download the app. There are many wonderful features that will be a blessing for you as you experience our Digital Campus. There is another new app available called AMEN. Get it today and use it in your daily life of prayer.
THIS WEEKEND IS THE LAST WEEKEND we are collecting NEW CHILDREN's SHOES that will be sent to Ghana. The effort is led by a parishioner, Daniel Adongo. Your goodness in providing strong shoes for children is appreciated. There is a donation box in Church.
We mourn the passing of Awilda Justiniano who died Sunday. Her funeral will be Saturday, Jan. 29th at 11 am at St Raymond. Pray for her dear husband Tony.
We mourn the passing of Cleo Benton who died last week. His funeral will be Saturday, Feb. 5th at 10:30 am at St. Raymond. Pray for his sister and daughters.
JOIN US THIS WEDNESDAY!!! Our Life Groups had a wonderful time watching Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4 during Advent. Join us on January 26, and February 2, 9 at 1 pm or 7 pm in the Rectory Basement. It will be a small crowd at each session (less than 12) but the conversation will be amazing! If you want to watch the episodes at home, use this website.
Jesus wants you to be his disciple in 2022 (and every other year). At times we struggle with what this means. In 2022 we are offering SAINT RAYMOND GOES OUT to train more people in being Missionary Disciples of Jesus. In just 10 - 45 minute sessions over the year, you will be invited to walk more and more as a disciple. Interested? Want to learn more? Contact Richara at richara@saintraymond.net Check out the flier (and invite a friend to join you)...
Last year, Pope Francis called for the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The “theme” for the Synod is: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” The Holy Father formally began this process last October in Rome and the process is unfolding (at different rates of speed) in Diocese across the world. The word “Synod” comes from a Greek word that means, “to be on the journey together.” All of us by virtue of our Christian baptism are on a path together. It is important that as we continue the journey that we first, open ourselves to the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit affords the possibility of conversion for each and every one of us. That same Spirit changed the hearts of those first followers of Jesus from fear to faith. We are all in need of conversion and we all need the Holy Spirit. Fr. Chris is not sure what the process will “look like” in Philadelphia. However, the Parish Staff are exploring ways to gather your hopes for the Church (especially our parish) in the next year, three years, and beyond. Throughout this process, we invite you to pray to the Holy Spirit so that this journey of Catholics throughout the world will yield a deeper sense of communion, participation, and mission in our lives. In addition, as we journey together, we invite you to listen not only to the Holy Spirit but also to voices of others. Pope Francis wants the experience of this Synod to be one that is always rooted in dialogue. While we have much to share, there is also even more for us to learn especially when we step back and attentively and prayerfully listen to others whose experience of the Church may be similar to ours but also may be very different. The 2nd reading from St. Paul this weekend reminds us that we need to insights, gifts, and desires of each Christian worshipping with us. The framework of the Synodal journey involves a host of questions for us to ponder in our dialogue. We will be offering opportunities at St. Raymond to share your answers to these questions in Lenten Life Groups, through electronic surveys and by writing thoughts on a piece of paper and putting them in the suggestion box in the back of Church. Stay tuned…
The Cenacle is a new resource of the pro-life community to serve families in Frankford. The Cenacle is a joint venture between the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia (Fr. Chris is the Chair of their Board) and Catholic Social Services. They are currently serving 150 women, many of whom are "abortion-vulnerable" (would choose abortion without the practical resources and friendship being offered by The Cenacle). A group of St. Raymond parishioners scraped wallpaper months ago to prepare the beautiful space. Others have donated baby clothes and diapers. Come tour the space and be filled with awe of the work God's people are doing!
The life of Servant of God Father Augustine Tolton is inspiring to everyone who learns it! One of the ways people can encounter the amazing story of his life is through a "one-man" play that has been touring the nation for years. Many from our parish saw the play a few years ago at LaSalle University. The play is coming back! Join us Sunday, February 27th at 7 pm at Our Mother of Consolation Church in Chestnut Hill. Our parish will offer 100 complimentary tickets. Details to come. Interested in more information or helping to promote the play at St. Raymond? Contact Cynthia Brown at cynthiaarlenebrown@gmail.com
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