Good News for November 19, 2025
- St. Raymond of Penafort
- 3 minutes ago
- 6 min read
In this Issue:
The Temptation to Bargain with God - and the Call to Trust Instead
~Jennifer Dusza
Saint Mary Church + Schwenksville, Pa.
As a mother, one of the hardest things to do is to watch your children suffer. There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do to take away their pain. I'll never forget the day we found out our son, just three years old, had a tumor and would need surgery. “Lord,” I prayed, “let him be okay. If You allow Him to come through this healthy and whole, I will…” Sixteen years have passed, and while I’ve forgotten the exact bargains I offered God, I know now they came from a place of fear, not faith. My only prayer should have been, “Lord, Your Will be done. Please show me Your Will.”
My initial response wasn’t too far from what the criminal at the crucifixion of Christ said, which to paraphrase was “prove you are God by doing what I say.” I find myself frequently defaulting to focusing on my thoughts, my feelings, and what is happening in my little slice of this world and trying to make God do what I think is best for me. What God realizes that I don’t is that these trying moments allow me to press into Him all the more. In my discomfort, sadness, grief, exhaustion, confusion or whatever else I might be going through He is the ultimate good parent. But He doesn’t just want to stop our temporal suffering, He wants to do what is best to make us spiritually healthy and whole and so His Will is frequently very different from my desires.
The path to holiness for me isn’t to use bargaining prayers, it is to gently redirect my thoughts to gratitude. When I thank God for everything, I can see His Goodness and His help even in my moments of difficulty. I tell my children, “There are no bad times, only difficult times.” And that’s completely true! God is all goodness, so anything that happens to us isn’t “bad,” but because we live in a fallen human world we will always be faced with difficult situations. I have learned to see those difficulties as kisses from Heaven.
Thanksgiving Day Mass November 27 at 9 AM
Join us on November 27 at 9 AM as we come before the Lord in gratitude, praising Him for His countless blessings and merciful love.
Black Catholic History Month
November is Black Catholic History Month, a time to honor the rich legacy, contributions, and spiritual resilience of Black Catholics in the Church. Throughout this month, we’ll be sharing stories, historical highlights, and insights that shine a light on the profound impact of Black Catholic faith and culture.
Many are wondering why it is taking so long for these saints to be canonized. The answer is, each one needs additional miracles attributed to them. This month, do two things to help the venerable and blessed Black Saints on their way to canonization: First, pray! Second, if you are aware of any desperate cases, ask for intercessions.
Question: Think of a time in your life when you needed to "persevere against all odds," requiring you to make a great sacrifice. Were you aware that Jesus was right beside you, urging you on, to His greater glory?
Question: Think of a moment when you felt called to step into leadership or service, even when others doubted you or stood in your way. How did you sense Jesus strengthening your courage, as Venerable Henriette DeLille did, so that you could keep choosing love over fear?
Children's Choir
Our Children’s Choir will return to sing at 5 pm Mass Saturday, November 29. If your child is interested, please bring them to Mass at 4:15 pm. Call the Church Rectory if you have any questions. Thank you for supporting our young parish musicians!
Family Day December 13
To register, click this link or email brandi@saintraymond.net.
Biblical Walk with Mary
Take a Biblical walk with Mary. We meet on Thursdays in person in the Sr. Rosemary Room for six weeks, from November 13 to December 18. Our Blessed Mother wants to be a part of your daily life.
Christmas & New Year Mass Schedule
Christmas Concert December 21
Home for Christmas - December 25
Volunteers are needed to help St. Raymond Church welcome more than 200 guests from homeless shelters across the City of Philadelphia for our annual Home for Christmas event on December 25 from 12-3 PM! Everyone is served a delicious meal, receives items from the Blessing Shop, and shares in the joy of celebrating Jesus’ birthday together.
Many volunteer opportunities are available throughout the coming weeks — and we’d love for you to be part of it. Click here to sign up and be a blessing to our brothers and sisters in need.
Help Needed for Church Clean-Up Day Nov 22
Please help us clean up the church Saturday, November 22nd from 9am-12pm. We need at least 25 people able to lift heavy objects to make quick work of the job. Please come join us: we promise snacks, good company, and lots of teamwork!
Hurricane Melissa Relief Collection
St. Raymond is collecting essential supplies for those affected by Hurricane Melissa through November 30. Boxes are located in the back of the church, or items can be dropped off at the rectory.
Click here to view the list of requested items or make an online donation through Food for the Poor or Catholic Relief Services – Caribbean.
Caring for Friends: "Our Supply is Low!"
Rita Ungaro-Schiavone started Aid for Friends in her home in 1974. Rita began a food program at the Archdiocese, delivering home-cooked meals to homebound people.
Fifty years and one name change later, Caring for Friends has expanded to a network of 10,000 volunteers & 200 food pantries providing food and friendship in five counties.
The parishioners at St. Raymond are generous participants in this program.
At present, supplies in our freezer are very low. If you are able, please pick up some trays this week (in the back of church or at the rectory) and prepare some home-cooked meals to fill our freezer so that needy neighbors will not go hungry.
Local Food Resources
We know that so many of our brothers and sisters are in need of food right now. Please share this list with folks in need. And if you're in a position to donate, please do.
Holiday Office Schedule
The Rectory Office will be closed:
Wednesday, 11/26 (Day Before Thanksgiving)
Wednesday, 12/24 (Christmas Eve)
Thursday, 12/25 (Christmas Day)
Monday, 12/29
Tuesday, 12/30
Wednesday, 12/31 (New Years Eve)
Thursday, 1/1 (New Years Day)
Financial Facts
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Collection & Envelopes: $10,331.00
Church Maintenance: $965.00
Stewardship: $250.00
Thanksgiving Offering: $155.00
Thanksgiving Baskets: $265.00
Total: $11,966.00
Increased Giving Update
Our Increased Offertory Appeal has been warmly received by our parish community. So far, 109 families have increased their support by an impressive $1,545.00 per week. The average increase per family is $14.17, bringing the total weekly offertory commitment from
$10,000 /week to $11,845 /week.
Many have also expressed interest in our Electronic Giving Program. The parish office will be contacting you this week. And if you haven’t yet submitted your commitment, please take a moment to complete it this week. Commitment Cards are also available in the back of the church if needed.
Special Collections
11/15-Maintenance
11/26-Thanksgiving Offering
Facetime With Jesus - December 8
Please note that FaceTime next month is December 8 (the second Monday) at 7 pm.
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.
Gospel Mass at Villanova
Music Festival
Singing Our Way Through Advent: Mary’s Magnificat
A Journey of Scripture, Song & Sacred Reflection
December 2, 2025 10 am to 12:30 pm
Mother Boniface Spiritual Center
3501 Ryan Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19136
Join us for a spiritually rich Advent journey at Mother Boniface Spirituality Center as we explore Mary’s Magnificat (December 2) and the biblical roots of beloved carols (December 9) through music, scripture, and prayerful ritual.
Speakers: Sr. Theresa Ahern, MSBT and Theresa Leonetti O’Connor, M.Div.
Register for one or both sessions, as your schedule allows.
Time: 10am- 12:30pm (Lunch Included)
Cost: $25 per session or $40 for both sessions
To Register: Email asstdirector@msbt.org or call 267-350-1830.
RSVP by November 24, space is limited.
See the latest news from the Archdiocese
See the November Newsletter here.