Good News for July 9, 2025
- St. Raymond of Penafort
- Jul 9
- 7 min read
In this Issue:
The R-5 Samaritan
~ Anonymous
Years ago, a good Samaritan helped me as I was standing in line to get off the train. I had an infant in my arm, a toddler by the hand, and a folded stroller in tow. A seated passenger, fearing that I would trip, kindly warned me that my shoe was untied. A second man said nothing, but he knelt down and tied the shoe. He trusted that I could handle the baby, the toddler and the equipment, but no way could I tie the shoe.
The good Samaritan is a New Testament hero for what he did. But we can also learn from what he didn’t do: He didn’t stop his journey longer than it took to make sure the man was helped. He gave not his entire fortune, but a couple of coins. He acted not out of duty but out of compassion. And then he got on with his responsibilities, trusting the victim to another.
The Samaritan was part of the solution, not all of it, and he helped without becoming paralyzed by needs bigger than what he could responsibly address.
When I see a need that falls within what I understand as my area of responsibility, I respond well and fully. Where I can’t see myself responding fully and well, I tend to steer clear, wary of being overwhelmed by the magnitude of help the situation seems to require. Being aware of my limitations is a good thing, but it can make me feel like I fall short as a Christian.
Maybe there’s a lesson here today: The world can seem like one big mess of huge, unmet needs. Rather than feeling a failure for the things that we don’t or can’t do, maybe God wants us to take heart in the fact that, every now and then, we have the privilege of being – metaphorically speaking – in the right place and time to see an untied shoe. And that all He’s asking right then is that we bend down and tie it.
Welcome Deacon Michael!
Please join us in giving a warm St. Raymond welcome to Deacon Michael Lewandowski!
Deacon Michael was recently appointed as a permanent deacon, and we are thrilled to have him, his wife Laura, and their two children become part of our church family.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Deacon Michael spent most of his life there and served in the federal government for 35 years. He later answered God’s call to ministry and was ordained a deacon in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
We are deeply grateful to God for bringing Deacon Michael to us. May his presence and ministry be a blessing to our parish community. Be sure to introduce yourself and take a moment to welcome him and his family in the weeks ahead!
LAST CALL for Summer Camp! Sign up by 7/11!
Looking for a fun and faith-filled summer experience for your little one? St. Raymond Summer Camp is the place to be! Space is limited. Click here for more info and to sign up!
Family Movie Night July 19th
Join us Monday, August 4, from 7pm-9 pm
Our last FaceTime with Jesus was wonderful! Don't miss August 4, from 7-9pm. Feel free to invite a friend. Get more details and the full schedule here.
Join Our Tech Ministry Teams
We’re building out our liturgy tech teams and looking for members of our church family to join us! Training will be provided, but we also welcome your ideas and input to help us grow and improve.
We’re asking for a commitment of two weekends per month.
2-Member Teams – Saturday 5pm & Sunday 8am Masses
Soundboard Engineer
Visual Development & Delivery - Looking for artistic individuals to take our worship slides to the next level—using creative design, color, video, and other visual elements. You’ll also manage live slide display during the liturgy.
4-Member Team – Sunday 10am Mass
Soundboard Engineer
Visual Development & Delivery
Video Production via YouTube
Team Leader - Acts as the main point of contact for the team—communicates live with virtual parishioners and coordinates the sound, slides, and video components in real time. Responsible for blending the elements and troubleshooting as needed.
Interested? Contact brandi@saintraymond.net.
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.
You can also scan the QR code to donate.
Please note: We no longer accept Cash App for tithes. 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!
Parish Invitation
Please join us on Sunday, July 20, at the 10 o’clock Mass, at Saint Raymond Church, as we celebrate Gina (Bradley) Collier and Craig Collier’s 25th wedding anniversary with a renewal of their marriage vows. There will be Hospitality following Mass.
Ways to Learn About and Donate to the Apostles of Jesus
Last Sunday, a number of parishioners asked our staff how they could find out more about our guest Fr. Augustine’s Mission, the Apostles of Jesus. One way is to visit their web site at www.apostlesofjesus.com/. There, you can also make an electronic donation. In addition, copies of the Mission’s brochure will be near the entrance this weekend. If you choose, you can also mail a contribution to:
Apostles of Jesus
829 Main Street
Northampton, PA 18067
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, July 6, 2025
Budgetary Goal: $13,500.00
Collection & Envelopes: $9,437.00
Monthly Church Maintenance: $794.00
REST: $150.00
Campaign Human Development: $277.00
Mission Appeal: $30.00
Total: $10,688.00
Special Collections
7/6- Campaign for Human Development Mission
7/27- Maintenance
Trust and Hope Update from Archbishop Perez
June 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am deeply grateful to the thousands and thousands of you who accepted my invitation to take part in conversations about the Church of Philadelphia and the path we will walk toward a vibrant future. Your presence, candor, and heartfelt sentiments moved me deeply, and it was clear the Holy Spirit was working through you. What I Heard from You Your voices revealed both honest struggles and vibrant hope. While some shared difficult experiences of hurt and frustration with our Church that were difficult but necessary for me to hear, many others expressed hope and enthusiasm for this new era in our Church’s life. The themes that you brought forward most frequently are outlined below.
Reaching out to Everyone: You echoed my sense of urgency and sadness that 83% of baptized Catholics are not engaged with our Church. At the same time, you emphasized the importance of supporting those who have remained faithful while also evangelizing those who have never encountered the person of Christ and his compassionate love through the Catholic Church.
Understanding why People are Away: Many of you courageously reminded me of the many reasons that people either distanced themselves from the Church or felt pushed away through stories about your faith journeys and those of your loved ones. We must continue to listen with open hearts and true Christian charity in order to bring them closer to Christ.
Ensuring Accountability: You emphasized the need for transparency, accountability structures for Missionary Hubs, and addressing potential resistance to this new model. You also raised important questions about sustainable funding and the need to endow this missionary initiative for the good of the long-term growth and sustainability of the Church.
Supporting Existing Ministries: My heart was filled with joy to hear wonderful witness stories about initiatives already flourishing in our Church. These great works must continue! I’m especially grateful for testimony from lay and consecrated women about their essential leadership and desire to expand their impact.
Practical Implementation: Your insightful questions about how this plan affects existing processes will be answered through pilot missionary hubs launching this year. Please join me in praying for our pioneer parishes as they begin this journey!
Fostering Collaboration: Many of you expressed desire for greater collaboration and resource sharing among parishes to build stronger community and mutual support. Our communities have diverse gifts, and we needn’t duplicate efforts. This plan aims to empower each community to leverage its unique strengths.
Moving Forward Together Over the next six months, we will launch our pilot Missionary Hubs, appoint Parish Life Directors, and begin discerning the first wave of Hubs. We will also ensure every parish leader can engage with insights from our recent parish survey and explore sustainable funding for our missionary focus. I look forward to continuing our conversation through smaller leadership gatherings and comprehensive digital outreach efforts. Please watch for my next update on the first anniversary of my pastoral letter this January.
Let us remember Christ’s mandate and promise: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world.” – Matthew 28: 19-20. May we all continue to accept the invitation to trust and hope in our Lord and to pray for one another.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez
Archbishop of Philadelphia
Bishop McDevitt 50th Reunion Celebration
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 Time:: 5:00-9:00 PM
Location: Sandy Run Country Club 200 E. Valley Green Road Oreland, PA 19075
Cost: $75.00 per person Includes: Buffet Dinner (cash bar)
Dress Code: Country Club Casual
RSVP by October 1 by mailing your check (payable to Mary Pat Wilkinson) to:
Mary Pat Wilkinson P.0. Box 5 Lafayette Hill, PA 19444
Also accepting Zelle – Mpwilk0211@aol.com
Please include your contact information with your payment and maiden names for the ladies
Let’s reconnect and celebrate 50 years of memories, laughter and Lancer Pride
Any questions contact:
Mary Pat Wilkinson - mpwilk0211@aol.com
Audrey Brabson Durkin - abd328@gmail.com
Registration is Open!
Registration is now open for the 10th annual Catholic Women's Conference on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Through the generosity of the Martin de Porres Foundation, the registration fee will be covered. Anyone interested should contact mintabrown@saintraymond.net.
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