Good News for March 18, 2026
- St. Raymond of Penafort
- 23 hours ago
- 7 min read
In this Issue:
A Prayer from St. Patrick
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
Kids in Ghana Say Thank You!
Kindergartners and primary-grade students at the Maurice Brown School are sporting 107 pairs of new shoes, collected by St. Raymond and brought to Ghana by parishioner Daniel Adongo. He puts on his wings as the Shoe Fairy each year when he makes an annual visit to his native country.
Congratulations to the Happy Couple!
Donny and Patricia Odey were all smiles at Mass last week. They were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. May God bless them!
Explore the Faith April 19
These sessions are open for all people, Catholic or non-Catholic, who simply wish to learn more about Catholicism and enter into deeper conversations about the Church.
Confessions for Lent
Volunteer to Have Your Feet Washed on Holy Thursday
“The washing of the feet (John 13:1-17) is a profound Christian act symbolizing humility, servant leadership, and spiritual cleansing. Jesus washed his disciples' feet to model sacrificial love, teaching that true greatness lies in serving others, not being served. It highlights the need for daily spiritual cleansing and symbolizes unity.”
Would you like to volunteer on Holy Thursday, April 2nd at 7pm for washing of the feet? If so, please contact Brandi at 215-549-3760.
Holy Week
Good Friday Fish Fry
The beloved St. Raymond Fish Fry is back April 3 from 12-7 pm! Platters start at $20 each. Get all the details and pre-order at this link!
Fellowship after the Easter Vigil April 4
All ages are welcome to join us for cocoa at our latest event run by the Events Committee.
Wanted: Plastic Eggs and Candy for Easter
Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Easter, April 5th, after 10 am Mass, for ages 12
and under. We are asking for plastic eggs and candy donations -- individual wrapped candy only, and no peanuts. Please drop off in the box in the back of the Church or the Church Rectory during the week between 9:30-4:30 pm. Your kindness is greatly appreciated!!
You're Invited to go Roller Skating March 22
The Confirmation class is having a skate day, and anyone who wants to join the rollers is welcome! It will be held on Sunday, March 22, from 12:30 to 3:30 pm at Philly SkatPlex.
Entry fee and skate rentals are not covered by the parish. But we're providing pizza and drinks. Roll on!
A Night of Smooth Jazz & R&B hosted by The Men of St. Raymond
Volunteer for the Fish Fry
We’re seeking volunteers to help serve food and clean up in the school hall. We’ll have three shifts:
11:30-2:30 pm
2:30-5:30 pm
5:30-7:30 pm
Please sign up for a shift at this link, and we’ll be in touch with more details.
Help Us Veil the Statues for Lent
A liturgical tradition of the Catholic church is to cover "or Veil" the statues in the church for the Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent until the end of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday.
We have not done this at St Raymond, or at least for a long time. If you have a talent with textures and cloth and are interested in making covers for the statues, please contact Fr. Zlock at czlock@saintraymond.net or call him at 215-549-3760.
If you know someone who is a handy woodworker, let Father know. The presentation looks better if the cloth hangs from a wooden beam and is not just draped over the statues. We would need someone to craft those. Thank you for your consideration!
Help Keep Our Parish Beautiful
Do you enjoy caring for plants? Are you looking for a simple and meaningful way to serve our Church community?
We are urgently seeking volunteers to help water and maintain the plants in front of the Rectory, Church, and Chapel. This is a wonderful opportunity to help preserve the beauty of our parish grounds, and your help is truly needed and appreciated.
If you’re interested, please contact Brandi at 215-549-3760 or email brandi@saintraymond.net. You may also let Jenny, Olive, or Alicia know if you see them at Mass.
Thank you for helping keep our church beautiful!
We Are One Body Interparish Meeting
After a beautiful "standing room only" gathering at St Raymond of Penafort on Jan 10 (before winter weather grounded us for months), New Encounters is looking forward to its next gathering this Saturday, March 21 (11 to 2 PM including lunch) in West Phila, and very much hope to see you there. Read on for details about (1) location, parking, carpools, (2) registration (3) theme for the day: Sankofa!
1- WE ARE ONE BODY: is an interparish community of parishes hosted quarterly by New Encounters: Catholics Confronting Racism in partnership with the Archbishop's Commission on Racial Healing. Parish groups come to these meetings from across the Archdiocese, all of us committed to responding to Archbishop Nelson Pérez' 2023 pastoral letter on racism. He specifically calls on PARISHES to do their part to heal racism and its impact, intentional or not.
NEXT MEETING: SATURDAY MARCH 21, 2026
at the Newman Center at SS Agatha & James, 111 S 38th St.
(Enter thru glass door near the corner of 38th & Sansom)
10:30 Doors open for coffee & conversation
11 to 2 PM Program including LUNCH
Parking: On the street (38th, Sansom, Chestnut)-- not usually a problem on the weekend. Or in the garage at 38th & Sansom. Reimbursement for parking is available on request to Mary Laver.
For carpooling from St. Raymond, contact Bonnie Dalzell at 215-823-9910.
2- REGISTRATION helps us plan set-up and lunch. Please click on this "blue box": REGISTER HERE
Or contact Mary Laver: 610-324-9388 mary.sweetland.laver@gmail.com
3- THEME: SANKOFA! March 2026 marks our 2nd anniversary of these quarterly interparish gatherings. A good time to CELEBRATE the community we're building together, LOOK BACK at what brings us together ("why we come"), and LOOK AHEAD at our hopes and suggested changes for coming years.
Career Day at St. Raymond School
St. Raymond School’s Career Day will take place on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Speakers include Football player Philly Brown for the Carolina Panthers, Kevin Satterthwaite from Urban Affairs Coalition, Dana Lawrence, CRNA Nursing, Local Union 98 IBEW Electrical Workers, Inspector Goodson from Phila Police Department, Steven OI Wells Director of operations for SEPTA.
This special event is proudly sponsored by the St. Raymond Men’s Group and will provide students with an opportunity to learn about various careers and hear from professionals in our community. We look forward to an engaging and inspiring afternoon for all participants.
If interested to participate, please call the Church Rectory.
Financial Facts
The recent inclement weather has impacted Mass attendance and our weekly collection. Your safety and comfort have been included in our prayers. Please be sure to make up any missed contributions.
Sunday, March 16, 2026
Collection & Envelopes: $11,620.51
Church Maintenance: $600.00
Easter Flowers: $323.00
Easter Offering: $50.00
Holy Land: $30.00
Rice Bowl: $125.00
Social Ministry: $40.00
Total: $12,788.51
Special Collections
3/8 = Rice Bowl
3/15 = Easter Flowers
3/15 = Maintenance
Rice Bowls
This Lent, our parish is participating in Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl. As we pray, fast, and give alms, we are invited to place spare change in our Rice Bowls to support families experiencing hunger around the world and in our local community.
Rice Bowls are available in the back of the Church. Please return them by Holy Week. Thank you for your generosity and prayerful support.
Exciting News
Father Edward Town, the parochial vicar at St. Monica Parish in South Philadelphia has now become one of Catholic Relief Services’ biggest champions in Philadelphia and across the United States. Read all about it here.
Tax Statements are Available
As you prepare your taxes, Brandi in our Parish Office is happy to provide a statement for your 2025 Giving. Please call her at 215-549-3760 or email her at brandi@saintraymond.net. Statements can be picked up, emailed or mailed (mindful of delays in Postal Service at times).
Join our Daily Call to Prayer
Catholic Call to Prayer. Please Call TOLL FREE 1-877-309-2073, Enter Code 319-414-445#. 6:30 am (Monday to Friday): This call lasts 5-7 minutes and can have an amazing impact at the start your day, reflecting on God’s WORD!!
Noon Call to Prayer. Same number, Monday to Friday at NOON. We will pray the Angelus, reflect on the 1st reading from Daily Mass, say intercessory prayer for those in need and beg God to draw us all nearer to Him.
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.
Catholic Charities Appeal
Did you know that 1 in 5 people across the Greater Philadelphia area rely on the Catholic
Charities Appeal for help and hope each year?
They are our neighbors, and they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are seeking comfort, support, and dignity in the face of challenges many of us cannot imagine. Your generosity touches their lives in profound ways because you embody Christ’s compassionate love and mercy by coming to their aid.
Your contributions go toward:
· Social Services
· Evangelization
· Special Education
· Mission Parishes
· Sick and Retired Priests
Catholic Charities envelopes are in the back of church. Please make your check payable to Catholic Charities and mail the envelope directly to the Archdiocese.
Spring Training is Happening Soon - Sign Up!
An Invitation to All Married Couples
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 8:30am-1:00pm
St. Helena’s Church (Empress Room)
1489 Dekalb Pike, Blue Bell
Come with your spouse or fiancé and listen to an engaging Catholic speaker who will inspire you to live out your marriage with greater fervor, love and joy. Meet other like-minded couples. Continental breakfast and lunch are included.
For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/MarriagesofGrace2026.
Charismatic Renewal Conference
See the latest news from the Archdiocese
See the March Newsletter here.
