Good News for September 3, 2025
- St. Raymond of Penafort
- Sep 3
- 7 min read
In this Issue:
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!
Are We Followers or Disciples?
~ Matthew Gambino + Saint Teresa of Avila Parish, Norristown, Pa.
What Christians don’t imagine themselves among the “great crowds traveling with Jesus,” following him everywhere? Followers yes, but perhaps not disciples.
Discipleship isn’t only about listening, like an entertaining podcast in our ears as we go where we please. Discipleship is demanding. Today, Jesus tells us what it takes.
Unless we radically change our way of being, unless our whole mind and heart is converted (metanoia, in the Greek), we cannot be Jesus’ disciple.
Our Lord shocks his hearers by saying we must “hate” our family and even our own life. I can’t imagine hating a stranger, let alone my beloved wife, children, parents and siblings.
The point Jesus makes is that no concern and no relationship should come before my relationship with him, and that I am called to love the Lord with my whole mind, my whole spirit, my whole soul.
Not only must God be first in my heart, but my head as well.
If I am going to erect a metaphorical “tower,” a tribute to my wealth built to be seen by all, I ought to “calculate” the cost at the start or be seen as a fool.
Or if I am going to prepare a show of my power like a “king marching into battle,” I ought to “decide” that I might not be as mighty as I think I am, and opt for peace instead of war.
Wrapping up the lesson, Jesus warns us to “renounce all (our) possessions” – not only the shiny trinkets but also those interior signs of pride and insecurity we cling to – and to keep God first in our lives and our relationships.
Only by this radical conversion effected by divine grace in our open hearts can we “carry (our) own cross” and follow Jesus by the narrow way.
Share Your Feedback - Healing the Whole Person Series Coming to St. Raymond this Fall
We are excited to announce that we'll be bringing the Healing the Whole Person Series to St. Raymond this fall. We're aiming for an October start, and sessions will be held weekly.
Please let us know your preference on when you'd like to see this session offered by completing the survey below.
When would you prefer to attend a session on healing?
Saturday mornings between 9-11 am
Monday evenings between 7-9 pm
I'm ok with either day
Ask Me Anything Hike - Saturday, Sept 6 at 9 AM
Fr. Zlock's Bibles, Boots & Backpacks hikes are back! Join him for a hike and then a stop at High Point Cafe for coffee & snacks on Saturday morning. This time the theme will be "Ask Me Anything". Fr. Zlock will do his best to answer your burning questions about God, faith, the church, hiking, you name it!
Get all the details here.
St. Raymond Students & Parishioners Enjoy Eagles Training Camp
New Program for First Penance & Communion Starts This Fall
We're excited to announce that beginning this fall, St Raymond is launching a new sacrament preparation program! We recently selected a new curriculum from Ascension Press called Renew and Receive.
As we prepare, we need to know how many families wish to have their child(ren) receive First Penance/Communion this year. If you have a child whom you want to receive First Penance/Communion this year, please email sgandy@saintraymond.net as soon as possible.
We also need adults who are willing to help prepare our young people to receive the sacraments. We are not looking for catechists or professional teachers. We're looking for people of faith, who wish to share that and have a heart for young people] While there are challenges in not having a dedicated catechist or Director of Religious Education on staff, we believe there is also a real opportunity here. There is great richness and depth within our parish, and we must be the village that raises our children in the faith.
If you are interested in helping prepare our young people to receive their sacraments - or if you know of someone else who might be interested - please email sgandy@saintraymond.net.
Please note: the safety and protection of young people is an integral part of this ministry. If you are feeling a call to join in this exciting and fruitful ministry, it is critical that you are aware of - and in compliance with - policies, procedures and laws concerning child protection. Please contact Brandi Whitehead (brandi@saintraymond.net), Shelley Gandy (sgandy@saintraymond.net) or call them at 215-549-3760 if you have questions.
Follow-up Sacrament Meeting - September 7
If your child will be receiving First Penance, First Communion, or Confirmation, and you did not join us at the first session on August 24, please join us for the follow-up Information Session on Sunday, September 7 at 11:30 am in the Sister Rosemary Room. There is a $30 non-refundable fee for materials that can be paid at the meeting or dropped off at the Church Rectory.
Special Catechetical Blessing
On Sunday, September 14 at the 10 am Mass, all catechists and disciples of children will be invited to come forward to receive a special blessing as they begin their ministry of forming young hearts in faith.
FaceTime with Jesus - September 8
Our next FaceTime with Jesus will be September 8, from 7-9 pm. Get more details and the full schedule here.
Anointing Mass - October 12
An anointing Mass will be held at the 5pm, 8am & 10 am Masses on Saturday & Sunday, October 11 & 12. Parishioners who are facing surgery, or have chronic illnesses or other serious health issues are encouraged to register by contacting Brandi at brandi@saintraymond.net, calling the Rectory or signing up in the back of Church.
Save the Date for Trunk or Treat!
Our Second Annual Trunk or Treat is back! Get all the details and sign up here.
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 homecooked 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 homecooked meals to fill our freezer so that needy neighbors will not go hungry.
Funeral for Norma Lewis
The funeral for Norma Lewis will be held on Friday, September 5 at 10 am. There will be no viewing. May she and all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Funeral for Mario Ciabarra
The funeral for Mario Cibarra will be held on Monday, September 8 at 10 am. There will be a viewing, beginning at 9:15 am. May he and all the faithful departed rest in peace.
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, August 31, 2025
Budgetary Goal: $13,500.00
Collection & Envelopes: $8,839.10
Monthly Church Maintenance: $204.00
REST: $5.00
Mission Appeal: $40.00
Total: $9,088.10
Special Collections
9/7-Black and Native Missions
9/21-Maintenace
Noah Bus Trip with Holy Cross Parish
Are You Being Called to the Deaconate?
Free Tickets for AbbeyFest
St. Raymond has free tickets for anyone who wants to attend AbbeyFest. Email Brandi at brandi@saintraymond.net to claim yours.
Educating in Christ with Dr. Gerard O’Shea and Sr. Mary Michael Fox, O.P.
This webinar may interest anyone who is helping children in their faith formation at home, in the parish, in a Catholic School, or as a parishioner who wants to support that good work. The follow up questions and online foundational workshops might also be a help, while for some people those foundational workshops might lead to a commitment to learning how to put the method into practice as a teacher in a Catholic Parish School or IMS.
Anyone who would like to talk more about this can contact Betsy Puntel by emailing her at jmjbetsy@gmail.com
Catholic Women's Conference
This event sells out each year, so sign up soon!
The 10th annual Catholic Women's Conference will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Through the generosity of the Martin de Porres Foundation, the registration fee will be covered. Bus transportation to/from St Raymond will also be available. Anyone interested should contact mintabrown@saintraymond.net.
Introductory Training in Missionary Discipleship
Black Catholic Formation Program
Ecumenical Service for the Jubilee Year Commemoration of the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea
The battle was raging. The Arian heresy had gripped large swaths of the Church, leading many to deny the divinity of Christ. But at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the Holy Spirit, working through the Council Fathers, definitively affirmed the Church’s inerrant faith in Jesus Christ, Second Person of the Trinity, consubstantial with the Father.
Seventeen hundred years later, Christians from across the region are invited to gather as we offer our gratitude to God for His self-revelation in Jesus Christ and for the Council of Nicaea that affirmed and protected the essential truth that Jesus is God. The celebration includes:
Proclamation of the Word of God
Reflections offered by ecumenical leaders
Litany of Thanksgiving with citations from the Council of Nicaea
Sung Nicene Creed in English, Latin and Greek
Sisters of Saint Joseph Pilgrimage of Hope
