As we celebrate the wonderful gift of our fathers this weekend, we also pause to honor St. Joseph who was the foster father of Jesus. We pray for our dads and seek to offer great encouragement this weekend (and always). Here are some online resources to help dads be great. Please bring dad to Mass this weekend for a blessing and a special gift!
Did you read last week's BULLETIN? Please plan to worship with us this weekend on Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 8 am or 10 am. Worshipping in person is safe for you, please be with us! You are welcome to worship from the front lawn at the 10 am Mass. Father Chris has a VIDEO MESSAGE for the Parish Family as we move into a new "phase" with the rest of our City and State. In addition, please read our new plan as COVID-related restrictions during this new season. The church is safe...join us and bring the family!
Are you praying for our young disciples? They need the prayers of our entire Church Family…not just their parents and grandparents. Let’s cover them in prayer as they persevere in a difficult school year (and their parents as well). Please continue to share these CHILDREN’S LITURGY reflections with our young disciples so that they are formed in the ways of Christ! Please share this TEACHING FROM LISA ELDRIDGE and please download the worksheet as well. THE CHILDREN'S LITURGY OF THE WORD WILL RETURN TO IN-PERSON GATHERINGS (IN THE CHURCH BASEMENT) IN THE MONTH OF JULY AT THE 10 AM MASS.
VAN DRIVER: We would like to restore our van service for Church Members who need a ride to the 10 am Mass. No experience needed, just a decent driving record and desire to serve for a few hours one Sunday month. Please call Brandi in the Church Office or email her at brandi@saintraymond.net. WE NEED ONE MORE PERSON TO COMMIT - COUL;D IT BE YOU?
BETHANY MINISTRY TEAM: Assist us in welcoming people to Church at all Masses and keeping things smooth during Mass. You will serve once a month (this replaces Restore, Ushers & Greeters). Call Minta in the Parish Office or email her at minta@saintraymond.net to sign up or get more info.
NURSING HOME MINISTRY: Assist in bringing the love of Jesus (and Holy Communion) to local nursing homes. The opportunities vary regarding the day of the week and time of the day so please be in touch with Deacon Bill at deacon@saintraymond.net and he will assist you in coming to understand what God desires for you!
GARDENING: our flower beds around the property need some loving attention throughout the summer? Could you help Father Chris keep them looking good? Give him a call! Please plan to be with us at the Cathedral as we celebrate the amazing life of Venerable Father Tolton. If you need a ride, do not hesitate to contact Fr Chris at pastor@saintraymond.net WE NEED ONE MORE PERSON - COULD IT BE YOU?
Father Steve Thorne has been reassigned from St. Martin de Porres. He will be finishing his Doctoral Degree in Education and assisting the Archbishop with Racial Recognition in our diocese. The new Pastor is Fr Addis, who has been serving as Parochial Vicar at the parish. Pray for the parish family in their time of transition.
The US Bishops met virtually this week for their summer meeting. Some of the conversation had to do with how the Church ought to handle politicians and other public figures who are Catholic but hold positions that are contrary to the Catholic Faith (recall that when we say AMEN to "Body of Christ" we are saying that YES I believe it is the Body of Christ, YES I desire to live in charity with other members of the Body of Christ, and YES I believe what Christ and the Church teach regarding the beliefs and practices of the Body of Christ) when it comes to their receiving Holy Communion. To deny the Eucharist to a person is very serious. Read more here...
The US Supreme Court rendered a favorable decision for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia this week regarding our providing Foster Care to children in Philadelphia. The City denied the Church this opportunity, which we have been doing for decades, because the Catholic Church does not place foster children with same sex couples. Same sex couples who desire to be foster parents could still provide this service, but through agencies in Philadelphia other than Catholic Charities. The decision, which was UNANIMOUS (rare these days) states that the City of Philadelphia violated the 1st Amendment (free expression of religion). Please read more here...
The Archdiocese provides news on the local, national and international Church through its website CatholicPhilly. You can sign up to receive a weekly email from them as well. Stay informed!
This summer, Father Chris invites you to join him for a conversation with a small group of parishioners. It is called: Recovering Acts 4, 32: Becoming one in mind and heart. Christians agree that we need to share what we have with those in need. We agree that we need to love each other, even when it is very tough. But being of one mind - believing the same things - is where many get stuck. Join me for five conversations on our Church’s Belief Statements as we strive to recover the unity and zeal of the early Church. Our Belief Statements can be found at www.saintraymond.net > About > Our Beliefs. Our topics will be as follows: Session 1: Do we need a Church? Does the Church you attend matter? Session 2: Why do we “need” a Pope, Bishops and a male only priesthood? Session 3: Are the sacraments still relevant in 2021? Session 4: Appreciating beliefs on Chastity, Marriage and Getting High. Session 5: How Mary & the Saints guide us in living a fully human life. We will offer three different sessions (all starting the week of July 5th): Tuesday Night from 7 to 8:30pm which will be LIVE; Wednesday Morning from 8:30 to 10:00am which will be LIVE; and Thursday Night from 7 to 8:30pm which will be via ZOOM. Each group will be limited to 7-9 people and I will be assisted by a member of the staff. Please think about it, check your calendar, and please SIGN UP TO SAVE YOUR SPOT at the table!
Sister Lynn Marie Ralph, SBS - who serves in the Office of Black Catholic for the Archdiocese - is putting a database together for the Office for Black Catholics. Sister would like to invite you to submit your email and/or cell phone number so that updated information can be sent out to you coming from the office. Please indicate what parish you belong to as well. Email sister at: sr.lralph@archphila.org
On Sunday, June 20th at the 10 am Mass we will commemorate Juneteenth as a Church Family. THERE WILL BE HOSPITALITY AFTER MASS AS WELL ON THE FRONT STEPS OF THE CHURCH. Need to understand Juneteenth a bit more? Try this VIDEO. Praise God for the gift of freedom and may we continue to work for the freedom, protection, and rights of call citizens, from the moment of conception until natural death! We pray...
We pray, O Lord, for change.
Jesus you revealed God through your wise words and loving deeds,
and we encounter you still today in the faces of those whom society
has pushed to the margins.
Guide us, through the love you revealed,
to establish the justice you proclaimed,
that all peoples might dwell in harmony and peace,
united by that one love that binds us to each other, and to you.
And most of all, Lord, change our routine worship and work into genuine encounter with you and our better selves so that our lives will be changed for the good of all.
Amen
Prayer adapted from Racial Healing and Liturgical Resources.