Good News for June 4, 2025

St. Raymond of Penafort
Jun 4
5 min read

In this Issue:

This Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost - the “birthday” of the Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. Fifty days after Easter, the disciples, once frightened and unsure, were transformed into bold witnesses of Christ, proclaiming the Good News in many tongues to people from all nations.

The Holy Spirit is God’s own breath dwelling within us - animating, guiding, and strengthening us. Through Baptism and Confirmation, each of us has received this same Spirit, poured out in abundance. Pentecost reminds us that we are never alone in our mission as followers of Jesus. The Church was not left orphaned; it was given life, purpose, and direction through the Spirit.

Pentecost is a continuing invitation to openness and renewal. The Spirit still blows where it will - sometimes gently, sometimes like a rushing wind - calling us to move beyond our comfort zones, to speak truth, to work for justice, and to build bridges of understanding in a divided world.

FaceTime with Jesus

Our first Facetime with Jesus was wonderful! So many people of all ages showed up to spend time with our Lord, and we enjoyed some great fellowship around the fire afterward! Please plan to join us next month on July 7.

Get more details and the full schedule here.

Next up!

We're hosting a Phillies Watch Party on June 21st at 7:15pm! Bring the family, friends, your favorite food, drink and some chairs, and join us as we cheer on the Phillies together! Spread the word!

Congratulations, Graduates!

Cap and Gown Season is upon us, and it’s time to honor our students.

These graduates will be blessed on the weekend of June 7/8:

Christopher Supplee Fordham University

Ason Hammond Howard Community College

Sean Bradley LaSalle University

Donovan Bradley LaSalle College High School

Paris Rose Hope Church School

Dajae Ledbetter Hope Church School

Veronica McMillan Roosevelt Elementary School

Please Welcome our New Secretary!

This week, Shelley Gandy began working part-time in the office at St Raymond. Her schedule is Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am-1pm.

Sign Up for Summer Camp by July 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!

How the Refugee Empowerment Support Team (REST) got Started

For the past seven years, many people in our pews have been quietly acting on the Biblical call to “welcome the stranger” in our land. They are members (or former members) of St. Raymond's Refugee Empowerment Support Team called REST. Last week, each of those volunteers received a letter from the original team leader, Dan McVay. Here's what he had to say:

Today marks 7 years since the Ingabire family arrived from Congo. In June of 2017 we were all getting ready to welcome the entire Ingabire family, all 7 of them, and only a few weeks before the arrival date we learned that only Irene was going to come, with the hope of the remainder of the family coming at another time in the near future. Irene moved into the rectory with Fr. Chris and shortly after got a job at Iovine Brothers. I remember Irene wanting to take some of that money he earned with his first paycheck and send it to his family in Brazzaville. He missed them dearly and would often talk about what life was like in the camp with his family (first through the Google translate and then with the help of the many French-speaking parishioners). We then welcomed Espoire that December and the two of them moved into their apartment in February 2018.

I remember we got word sometime in April that the rest of Irene's family would be arriving in late May. The team mobilized as we always do and started working on acquiring a house, furniture, bedding and all the basic needs that the family would need when they arrived.

We were fortunate enough to have Mary Bell on our team who had a nice three-bedroom house on Furley Street that worked out perfectly. I recall a few days before the family was set to arrive a few people cleaned, set up the beds, stocked the pantry and did everything needed to welcome the family to their new home. What made it even better was having Irene and Espoire there, helping get everything ready.

The evening of May 29, 2018, a small group of REST volunteers waited for the staff from Bethany Christian Services to pick up the family from the airport. We had a meal prepared by Joyce and Bernard Omulo -- a home-cooked meal from their native Kenya (much better than the KFC we had for Irene and Espoire when they arrived!)

As you can see in the pictures, it was a very happy reunion that night. It was also a birthday celebration for Irene and Fils. I remember watching Telesphore that night; you could see how proud he was of his family and thankful that his family was safe.

So many great things have happened in these last 7 years with the Ingabires, and we have all been blessed to have them in our lives. I continue to be so grateful for this ministry and the opportunity to welcome the stranger and walk alongside some of the most amazing people from all over the world.

I pray this note finds you all doing well and look forward to many more years of walking along side refugees as they make a new life here in Philadelphia.

Peace,

Dan McVay

If you're interested in joining the REST ministry, please email rest@saintraymond.net.

Do you have a child in grades 6th-8th? Please contact Brandi to get them involved in our Middle School Youth Ministry: brandi@saintraymond.net or 215-549-3760.

Parents of 5th-8th Graders: We’ve Got Something for Your Kids.

Looking for a safe, fun, and meaningful way for your child to connect with others and explore life, faith, and purpose? St. Raymond Church invites 5th-8th graders to join us every 4th Sunday for real conversations, great company, and free food!

When: Next meeting is THIS SUNDAY, June 8 and again on Sunday, June 22.

Time: 11:45 am - 1:45 pm

Where: St. Raymond Church

Each session unpacks a big topic designed to spark discussion and help kids think deeply about who they are and what they believe—in a welcoming and fun environment!

All are welcome: Register here.

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, June 1, 2025

Budgetary Goal: $13,500.00

Collection & Envelopes: $10,949.75

Monthly Church Maintenance: $370.00

REST: $305.00

Catholic Home Missions: $5.00

Social Ministry: $5.00

Total: $11,634.75

Special Collections

June 8-Maintenace

Donate to Support St. Raymond Church

Support St. Raymond 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!

Registration is Open!

Registration is now open for the 10th annual Catholic Women's Conference on Saturday, October 18, 2025. We invite you to join us as we explore the beauty of our feminine genius, and we encourage you to bring a friend. An early sellout is expected.

Through the generosity of the Martin de Porres Foundation, the registration fee will be covered. Anyone interested should contact mintabrown@saintraymond.net.