1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

COVER SHEET
Church Name:
St. Alphonsus Catholic Church
33 Conwell Drive
Maple Glen, PA 19002
Bulletin Number:
020800
E-Mail Address:
church_bulletin@stalphonsus.com
Contact Person:
Valerie Barbour
Software:
Microsoft Publisher 2010
Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard
Windows XP Professional
Printer:
Sharp MX2610N
Transmission Time:
12:00 Noon Wednesday
Number of pages sent:
9
Sunday Date
of Publication:
March 3, 2013
THANK YOU,
VALERIE BARBOUR-FEATHER
(215) 646-4600
THERE IS AN INSERT: 020800 INSERT 3-3-2013
St. Alphonsus Parish
March 3, 2013
Third Sunday of Lent
More than forty-five years serving the people of God
Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Owens, Pastor
Rev. Quan M. Trinh, Parochial Vicar
Rev. Joseph B. Smits CICM, Weekend Asst.
Deacon Peter H. Burghart
Rev. Wilfred F. Maloney, Pastor Emeritus
RECTORY— (215) 646-4600 FAX— (215) 646-0180
Kathy Morris, Parish Services Director
Nick D’Amico, Parish Business Manager
MUSIC MINISTRY — (215) 654-0129
Mary Lou Lewcun, Music Director
CHOIR — (215) 542-8319
Frank Stieber, Director
Kathleen Dilts, Principal
David Hayden, Vice Principal
www.olmcatholicschool.com
P.R.E.P. — (215) 643-7938
Linda Tonelli, Director of Religious Education
YOUTH MINISTRY—devlinsuzie@gmail.com
Suzie Devlin, Youth Coordinator
PARISH PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
Joseph Carmean
OUR LADY OF MERCY
REGIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL
A joint ministry of St. Alphonsus,
St. Anthony of Padua & St. Catherine of Siena Parishes
29 Conwell Drive Maple Glen, PA 19002
Located on the campus of
St. Alphonsus Parish
(215) 646-0150
MASS SCHEDULE (IN CHURCH)
Saturday Vigil: 5 PM
Sunday: 8 AM, 10:15 AM and 12:00 Noon
DAILY MASS SCHEDULE (IN CHAPEL)
Monday through Friday: 6:30 AM and 9:00 AM
Saturday: 9:00 AM
PARISH OFFICE HOURS
(Located in the Rectory)
Monday through Friday: 9 AM to 12:30 PM and 1 PM to 4 PM
Saturday (Mass Cards only) 10 AM to 2 PM
Sunday (Mass Cards only) 9 AM to Noon
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
(In Chapel)
Saturday : After 9 AM Mass; 3:45 PM to 4:45 PM
A proper examination of conscience and the prayers of the rite are
available in the Chapel.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
The Sacrament of Baptism celebrated on the 2nd & 4th Sundays of
the month at 1:15 PM in the church. Parents are expected to attend
a Pre-Jordan class prior to the baptism. Please call the Rectory to
arrange the baptism ceremony and/or to register for Pre-Jordan
class.
SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Those hospitalized, seriously ill or anticipating a hospital procedure are welcome to celebrate the Anointing of the Sick after the
last daily Mass on any weekday. Please contact the Rectory to
indicate your intention to receive the sacrament.
SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
Couples contemplating marriage must contact one of the priests at
least six months in advance to make an appointment to discuss
marriage plans and preparation.
33 Conwell Drive
Maple Glen PA 19002
Parish Website:
www.stalphonsusparish.com
Parish E-Mail Address:
church_bulletin@stalphonsus.com
Phone (215) 646-4600
Fax (215) 646-0180
Mass Intentions for the Week
Saturday, March 2:
9:00 AM: Special Intentions of Valerie Barbour
Feather
5:00 PM:
Rita Devlin—The McKibbin Family
Sunday, March 3:
8:00 AM
John Leonard—The Family
10:15 AM
Barbara Cavanaugh (20th Ann.) - Her
Family
12:00 PM
For the People of the Parish
Monday, March 4:
6:30 AM:
Jack Killion—Joe & Ceil Young
9:00 AM:
Marie Grizzard—George & Carol
Longo
Tuesday, March 5:
6:30 AM:
Wilhelm & Johanna Schmitt—Their
Family
9:00 AM:
Patricia Gavaghan—Jean & Dick
Gretzinger
Wednesday, March 6:
6:30 AM
Tom Murphy—Lynn & Joe Chapman
9:00 AM
Bridget Tarsi—Her Family
Thursday, March 7:
6:30 AM
Thomas Gandolfo—Dave & Arlene
White
9:00 AM
Douglas Doody (2nd Ann.) - Mary
Doody
Friday, March 8:
6:30 AM
Marian Cristino—Meghan & Don
Coleman
9:00 AM
Veronica W. Eddis—Florence A. Fuery
Saturday, March 9:
9:00 AM
Robert Logan—The Robins Family
5:00 PM
For the People of the Parish
Sunday, March 10:
8:00 AM
Barbara & George Monasky—The
Monasky Family
10:15 AM
Angela Serratore—Dolores Serratore
12:00 PM
Margaret Garrity—Jackie & Scott
Smith
SICK RELATIVES AND FRIENDS
Donald James Carroll
Kristin Murphy
Kara Marie Grainger
Lois McGinty
Michael Thorne
Ann Michels
Marni Brown Passaretti
Mary Curran
Larry DiLuzio
Joe Cirotti
Ethel Cirotti
Grady Hofmann
Sandora Weathers
Rose Mullarkey
Peg McGann
Wolfgang Lackler
Ethel Moses
Michael Getty
Gregory Thompson
Maryjane Payne
Fr. Dennis Billy
Nicole Hayes
Marge Burghart
Leonard Paccione
Kirsten Threlfall
Julie Moor
Joseph Burke
David Dickson IV
Alice Notaris
Luta Lipman
Fred Silverman
Jim Jandrisitz
Michael DiMuzio
David Byrne
Kathleen Finnegan
Carol Stilletto
Barbara Ramsden
Kevin Romano
Grace Marcozzi
Michelle Gossner
Thomas Fisher
Kathleen O’Shea
Ella Dierkes
Grace Pierce
Morgan McDonald
Patti Carrier
Charles Irwin
Belinda Loehle
Joseph Loehle Jr.
Winifred Auch
Joseph McNamara
Anne Romberger
Marisa Fabiszewski
Elizabeth Schapperle
Jennifer McDermott
Gerard Taddei
Joan Taddei
Shannon DiGiuseppe
Mary K. Greenwood
Kristen PavlickWeetenkamp
DECEASED RELATIVES AND FRIENDS
Rev. John P Gallagher, Dorothy McAuliffe, Gary Gilbert,
Shirley Ann Burns, Eileen Taddei, Beverly Oliver,
and Clara Exner.
PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS
Lcpl. Patrick Miller, Lieutenant Christopher M. Boss, Lieutenant
Thomas Nell, USMC, Connor Cleary, Sean Dickson,
Eric Burns, Matthew Reed, Joey Lewcun, Anthony
Szczurek, Tania Szczurek, Matthew Trimborn, Major Gabriel J. Zinni, Ryan Greene, Michael McHale,
Michael McDonald, Matthew Morrison, Col. John
Sullivan, Lieutenant Commander Thomas Luft, Bradford Hollingsworth.
Together as a parish we pray for their safety.
Please contact John Cavanaugh if you would like to add a name
or for more information at 215-643-3299 or email at
jjcav@comcast.net.
LITURGY OF THE HOURS/ROSARY
Morning Prayer is Monday through Saturday at 8:40 AM.
The recitation of the Holy Rosary follows our 9 AM Mass.
Next Sunday’s Celebrants
March 9 and 10
5:00 PM
Preaching:
8:00 AM
10:15 AM
12:00 PM
Father Quan Trinh
Deacon Peter Burghart
Father Quan Trinh
Monsignor Tom Owens
Father Joseph Smits
Celebrants subject to change.
Holy Communion for the Sick and Homebound
If you are unable to attend Mass and would like to receive
Holy Communion, please contact Kathy Morris at the rectory (215) 646-4600 or email at Kmorris1000@comcast.net.
YOUR WILL
Please remember our parish in your bequests.
Page 2
Music Ministry
5:00 PM
8:00 AM
10:15 AM
12:00 PM
Monica Spadoni-Matthews,
Gerry DaCosta
Frank Stieber, Mary Lou Lewcun
Revelation
Monica Spadoni-Matthews,
Mary Lou Lewcun
Bulletin notices are due no later than Monday noon to church_bulletin@stalphonsus.com
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
First Reading — The Israelites ate of the yield of the land of
Canaan (Joshua 5:9a, 10-12) or 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a.
Psalm — Taste and see the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 34)
or Psalm 23.
Second Reading — Whoever is in Christ is a new creation (2
Corinthians 5:17-21) or Ephesians 5:8-14.
Gospel — This man welcomes sinners and eats with them
(Luke 15:1-3, 11-32) or John 9:1-41 [1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38].
Adoration Corner
Every Wednesday in the Chapel
9:30 AM-6:30 PM
Followed by Evening Prayer and Benediction
Intention:
Dedication:
To Reduce World Hunger
Food Drive Committee
Could you not spend an hour with me?
Meditation
Do You Know Your Tribunal?
Saint Paul makes plain today’s point: “God has reconciled
us to himself through Christ… We implore you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God… Whoever is in Christ is a
new creation.” What is it that finally moves the prodigal son
to return home? His hunger. In the experience of being
without, he becomes aware of the “something more” that
can save him: his father’s house. Certain that his father will
feed him just as he feeds any of his household servants, the
son sets out to be saved. He goes hoping for scraps of manna, yet he is received like the Israelites into the Promised
Land where he is set before a feast. The “hunger” of what
remains unreconciled in us is what leads us back to the Father. Dressed in the effects of the Father’s own authority,
we “become the righteousness of God.”
The Tribunal is a group of specially qualified Catholics
whose responsibility is to come to the help of people who
have experienced divorce and who may wish to remarry in
the Catholic Church. When a divorce occurs, the Catholic
Church always seeks to balance two realities. One is the
unbreakableness of the bond of marriage. This is God’s law.
It cannot be broken by human intervention. On the other
hand, the Church is concerned about the spiritual welfare of
the people involved. Was this a true marriage? Even though
a Catholic marriage was concelebrated, was there perhaps
some deficiency in the consent of the parties involved? The
annulment procedure addresses this problem. If you are divorced and want to marry in the Church or remarried outside the Catholic Church, please telephone the Tribunal Office.
The Tribunal,
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone (215) 587-3750
www.stalphonsusparish.com
Have you signed up yet to receive our latest parish web announcements. Just go to our website and give us your email
address. Each time we post a new announcement on our
website, it will be emailed to you. Great way to keep informed.
Bereavement Ministry Workshop
St. Joseph the Worker Parish
1879 Applewood Drive, Oreland PA
Saturday, March 9th from 9 AM-3 PM
Please RSVP, Megan Cokeley, (215) 587-5630
or mcokeley@adphila.org
Neumann Spirituality Day Retreat
Nativity of Our Lord
625 W. Street Road, Warminster, PA
“Between Heaven and Mirth”
Wednesday, March 13th 9:30 AM-2:00 PM
Located in the Parish Center, cost is $15, which includes
Continental Breakfast at 9:30 AM, program from 10 AM - 2
PM. Drinks and desserts provided for Brown Bag Lunch.
Reservation requested but not required. Contact Rosemary
(215) 947-2780.
This Week at St. Alphonsus
Sign up for free, weekly email newsletter at
catholicphilly.com/newsletter
Mon. March 4: Have a wonderful week!
New Family Registration
All new families are asked to please register at the rectory.
We are eager to greet new members of our parish community. Call for an appointment. (Note: Families moving out of
the Parish should also notify the rectory).
Teller Group #5 March 10 :
Gene Guicheteau
Nancy Moore
Ray Garcia
March Poor Box: Operation Rice Bowl
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Sun. March 3: 8:45 AM PREP; 10:15 AM Little Church
School
Tues. March 5: 6:30 AM Morning Bible Study; 4:00 PM
Share the Word; 4:30 PM PREP; 7:30 PM Liturgy Committee
Wed. March 6: Adoration following 9 AM Mass; 7:00 PM
Confessions; 7:00 PM Knights of Columbus
Thurs., March 7: 7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal
Fri., March 8: 7:30 PM Stations of the Cross
Have a great weekend!
Bulletin notices are due no later than Monday noon to church_bulletin@stalphonsus.com
What’s Going On
Gwynedd Mercy Academy
High School
Are you interested in GMAHS? Do you
have what it takes to be a
Gwynedd Girl? Do you want to learn
more about our academics, sports and extracurricular activities? Now is your chance!
Come visit Gwynedd from 8:15 AM to 10:30 AM and receive a personal tour with the Admissions staff, explore
classrooms, and interact with students and faculty. Space is
limited so please call the Admissions Office at (215) 6468815 ext. 306 to make a reservation. Please visit the website
at www.gmahs.org for more information.
St. Alphonsus Spring Pre-Cana
Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, 2013
St. Alphonsus Parish is proud to have several gifted, enthusiastic married couples who will help make this
weekend a rich, spiritually rewarding experience
for all the engaged couples who attend. For additional information please contact the Rectory
Office, 215-646-4600. Registration forms are
located in the Narthex and can be found on our website.
Attention Runners…
OLM Run for Mercy 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run
Sat., March 16th, 2013 at 9:00 AM
Starts and ends at St. Alphonsus Parish Center
Benefits the educational needs of
Our Lady of Mercy
Sign-up online by clicking on the advancement tab of the
school website: www.olmcatholicschool.com. Entry fee
includes race registration, long sleeve t-shirt, food after the
race, and tons of fun. Also looking for sponsors &
volunteers. Contact Meg Pensabene (215) 628-3008 or
meg.pensabene@verizon.net.
The Holy Redeemer Thrift Store
Donations Needed
The Holy Redeemer Thrift Store is seeking tax deductible
donations of gently used clothing, decorative items and
housewares to stock their store. For large items, please call
their furniture line: (215) 674-1321. If your furniture qualifies, the pick-up is free.
Lenten Concert
“His Passion.
Our Salvation”
Saturday, March 9th at 7:00 PM
Free and open to the public.
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
100 E. Wynnewood Rd.
Wynnewood, PA 19096
Miraculous Medal Shrine
500 E. Chelten Ave., Philadelphia
Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
Mondays - Regular Novena Schedule & Masses:
7 & 9 AM, 12:15, 2,3,4,5,6:30 & 7:30 PM
Tuesday-Thursday: 7 & 9 AM, 12:05 & 7:00 PM
Friday & Saturday - 7 & 9 AM, 12:05 & 5:00 PM
For more info call (215) 848-1010
or www.MiraculousMedal.org.
Pray for our Priests and Our Pope
St. Catherine of Siena Parish
321 Witmer Rd.
Horsham PA
St. Catherine of Siena in Horsham hosts an ongoing Holy
Hour for Priests. Join them the 1st and 3rd Sunday every
month at 7:00 PM in the Chapel. The next dates for the Holy
Hour are March 3rd and March 17th. All are welcome!
Mass for Persons with Disabilities,
The Deaf Community, Family, Friends & Caregivers
Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Principal celebrant & homilist
Light reception immediately following Mass
All are welcome
For more information, contact the Dept. for Pastoral Care
for Persons with Disabilities (215) 587-3530 (voice), (267)
507-1215 (video phone).
Location: Town & Country Shopping Centre, 473 E. County Line Rd., Hatboro PA 19040, (215) 675-5833
Donation Hours: Mon.– Fri. 10 AM-6 PM; Sat. 9:30 AM 4 PM; Sun. 11 AM-4 PM.
Market Day
A Fundraiser Like No Other
This monthly grocery sale provides a great
variety of healthy, delicious and convenient
food at competitive prices. Also, a percentage of every purchase will fund important resources for
Our Lady of Mercy.
All proceeds from sales benefit Holy Redeemer Women’s
and Children’s Services.
Our next sale date is Thursday, March 14th, 2013.
Order today by visiting marketday.com or fill out the EZ
Order form found in the Narthex and return it to the OLM
school office on or before Wednesday, March 6th .
For questions or order forms please contact
Jocelyn Martone 215-628-2154
Page 4
Bulletin notices are due no later than Monday noon to church_bulletin@stalphonsus.com
The Independence Sinfonia
Jerome Rosen, Music Director and the
Abington Choral Club,
Peter Hilliard, Director
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
Cynthia Rasmussen, Soprano
Maja Lisa FritzHuspen, Mezzo-Soprano
Jeffrey Halili, Tenor
Rocky E. Sellers, Bass-Baritone
Catholic Clinical Consultants
Catholic Clinical Consultants, the behavioral health company of Catholic Healthcare Services of the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia, offers individual, couples, and family counseling in a supportive environment. Our staff includes psychologists and Master’s level professional psychotherapists.
Day and evening hours are available. We are a Medicare
provider and accept most health insurance. We have offices
in West Chester, Levittown, East Norriton, Northeast Philadelphia and Springfield, Delaware County.
To schedule an appointment at the nearest office, please
call 1-855-518-2223.
Father Chuck’s Challenge
Pilgrimage to Nicaragua June 3-8, 2013
Join us on a pilgrimage with Food for the Poor, to the
mountains of Northern Nicaragua. We will visit homes of
some of the 4,500 poor now sheltered by donors to Father
Chuck’s Challenge. We plan to dedicate our two new villages, each with Holy Mass-as well as three newly renovated churches! No physical labor involved!
For details please contact IMMEDIATELY!
Msgr. Francis X. Schmidt at (610) 676-0146 or
email Connie Hunt at corneliahunt3@gmail.com
Holy Redeemer Counseling Center
521 Moredon Rd. Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
“To Pamper is to Nourish”
Many people often prioritize the needs of others above their
own. It’s important to take care of yourself not just on special occasions, but on a daily basis. This class will teach you
some great tips to help you pamper yourself and restore balance to your life by making a few simple changes and adding certain “lifestyle upgrades” into your daily routine. Registration is required by Friday, March 15th in order to provide adequate seating. Space is limited.
Wednesday, March 20th from 7-9 PM
Cost is $25
Presenter: Rachael Pontillo, AADP CHC, BS, LE
1-800-818-4747
Page 5
Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Upper Dublin HS Performing Arts Center
800 Loch Alsh Ave., Ft. Washington, PA
Tickets: Adults $18, Seniors/Students $12
To purchase tickets online, visit
Independence-sinfonia.org or call
(267) 625-8534
News from Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School
On Tuesday, February 26th, OLM hosted Sr. Edward
William Quinn, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for
the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Sr. Edward delivered an
informative presentation on the Common Core State
Standards and Terra Nova Testing. We thank Sr. Edward
for her presentation and the many parents who were able to
join us to learn about the good things happening in our
classrooms.
Calendar Reminders:
March 3 - Mother-Son Bowling
March 4-8 - Terra Nova Testing
March 5 - Home and School General Meeting
Sr. Pat presents information to parents
March 8 - End of the 2nd Marking Period
March 9 - Sweetheart Dance
March 16 - OLM 5K Run for Mercy
April 6 - OLM Trivia Night
Now Accepting Registrations for the
2013-2014 School Year..
Please call the school office
215-646-0150
for an appointment.
www.olmcatholicschool.com
BLOOD DRIVE
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Temple Sinai
1401 Limekiln Pike, Dresher, PA 19025
Noon—8:30 PM
Call (215) 643-6510 for an appointment.
Bulletin notices are due no later than Monday noon to church_bulletin@stalphonsus.com
St. Catherine of Siena Parish
“From Fear to Faith”
“Why are you afraid? Have you no
faith? (Mk 4:40) Jesus spoke these
words to His terrified disciples who
woke Him in the midst of a storm at
sea. Using Scripture, the Catechism
and the teaching of the Saints, Gary
Zimak will provide an effective antidote to the anxieties of daily life!
Sunday, March 10th and Monday, March 11th
7-8 PM
321 Witmer Rd. Horsham, PA
Free admission, donations accepted.
Gwynedd Mercy
Academy High School
The following girls from
St. Alphonsus Parish have earned a place on the honor roll
for their fine work during the first semester of the 20122013 academic year.
First Honors: Michael Novakovic, Tara DeAngelis, Julie
Hutchinson, Kelly Yoast, Mary Breen, Allison DeAngelis,
Belen Fresno-Caturla, Jenna Stefkovic, Emily Sillivan, Alexandra Araco, Caroline Dennin, Claire Kennedy and Shannon Scott.
Second Honors: Gia Avallone, Arleigh MacMaster, Alyssa
Maida, Kathryn Rietzke, Alexis Zollo and Mary Kathleen
Scott.
Congratulations!!!!
Saint Francis Retreat House
3918 Chipman Road, Easton, PA
“The Eucharist”
Men’s Retreat
Friday, March 22-Sunday, March 24
Today we are searching for restoration of a
sense of wonder and mystery to the Mass. To
help us understand the Mass it is crucial to investigate what Jesus as a Jewish man at this
time of history would have experienced and
intended by asking us “to do this to remember”
him.
Call (610) 258-3053 to register and for additional information. The presenter, John Quigley, OFM is an artist,
preacher and human rights activist.
Get all the inspiring articles you loved in the magazine, now
online only at PhaithMagazine.com.
Page 6
Archbishop Wood High School
Performing Arts Department
“Music Man”
Friday, March 8th and Saturday,
March 9th at 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 10th at 2:00 PM
Tickets available now. Reserved seating is $10,
General admission is $6.
Contact Sue McCloskey (267) 408-1958 or
sue.mccloskey@verizon.net
Men’s Leadership Training Workshop
St. Gertrude’s Parish
209 Merion Avenue, West Conshohocken, PA
The King’s Men will be hosting a Leader’s Training Workshop Saturday, March 16th at St. Gertrude’s in West Conshohocken from 9 AM-4 PM. The workshop is for any man
interested in leading the men of the parish in an adult men’s
formation and accountability group. This program is designed to engage all men (fathers, husbands, sons, and single men 18+) in a masculine faith experience. For more information, please contact Dave DiNuzzo, TKM Director of
Programming at (719) 231-0922. Sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office for Life, Family and Laity.
LaSalle College High School
This distinguished academic tribute is the result of achieving the
Academic Excellence Award for
the first semester of 2012-2013:
Ahab G. Alneri
Michael P. Barrett
Gregory V. Brocato
Andrew G. Carlone
Christopher D. Ciliberto
David W. Cox
Joseph N. Dallas
Luke M. DeAngelis
Michael A. DeAngelis III
Joseph R. Fabrizio
John J. Farris, Jr.
Kevin M. Finnegan
Jonathan D. Giannini
John P. Gregor
Daniel P. Groff
Joseph B. Kennedy
Jacob J. Klemmer
Matthew G. Lucas
William C. Lucas
Christopher J. Mather
Christopher A. Mele
Michael J. O’Connor
Shea T. O’Neill
Sean P. Princivalle
Liam C. Reeves
Kevin J. Tavolaro
Michael P. Zajac
Congratulations!!!!
Sunday Mass on Television
The Sunday Mass is now airing in Pennsylvania on ABC
Family from 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM each Sunday. This Mass
is produced by the Passionist Fathers and Brothers in New
York City and airs nationally on various affiliates. It is a
special ministry, particularly for the elderly and the infirmed. For more information, consult the website at
www.TheSundayMass.org.
Bulletin notices are due no later than Monday noon to church_bulletin@stalphonsus.com
St. Alphonsus Parish
Parish Day of Service
(Saturday, April 20, 2013)
ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
MS
HS
Next Planning Meeting
March 7th at 7:30 PM
In Narthex Meeting Room
It is time to kick off 2013 with some exciting events
Save these upcoming dates!
All meetings are in the Parish Hall
Sunday, March 10 at 6:00 PM
Sunday March 24, TBD
Sunday, April 7, TBD
Sites available within our community are being discussed
along with how to organize our volunteers. We still need a
lot of help to make this day a success.
Please contact Hannah Vargo (MS) at hbvargo@yahoo.com.
and Suzie Devlin (HS) at devlinsuzie@gmail.com.
All are welcome to attend. If you can not attend the meeting, but would like to be part of the committee, please email
Kathy Morris at Kmorris1000@comcast.net.
Hope to see you!
Ambler YMCA
1325 McKean Rd., Ambler PA 19002
215-628-9950
Teen Leaders Club
Attention Teens interested in helping the community, having fun, learning how to be a leader, and making friends that
will last a lifetime. In Leaders Club teens get the opportunity to meet with their peers and discuss issues that are important to them. They get the opportunity to learn valuable
leadership skills while volunteering in the community and at
the YMCA. They also get to attend rallies (retreats) three
times a year at other YMCA’s in various states.
St. Alphonsus’ Seniors
The Seniors Club will hold their next meeting on Monday,
March 18th at1:30. Our special treat on this occasion will be
our gourmet dessert table. Members are asked to bring a
dessert that serves 8 people. Bingo will follow. Hope to see
you there. New members welcome. Questions, call (215)
646-6473.
St Alphonsus Seniors Group Travel Schedule
Mon., April 29th: Delaware Park Racing/Casino: Cost
$55; $30 free play and lunch. Departure TBA. Leave the
Casino after the last race.
Wed. May 15th: American Music Theater/Shady Maple.
Cost $85; Show- “Now & Forever” Departure TBA.
Contact Eleanor Deon (215) 646-4492 for additional details.
More events to follow!
Parish Library Facts
There are over 800 titles in the collection, about 40 audio,
CD or DVD items located in the
shelves in the Narthex Meeting
Room. They are organized by subject
areas such as: biography, family life,
religious education, etc. You can
search online by going to www.librarything.com. Login
staparishlibrary and password: alphonsus. Look online then
stop by, browse the shelves and sign out the item on card in
the pocket of the book. Any questions, contact Suzie Devlin
at devlinsuzie@gmail.com.
Page 7
Please consider coming to the next meeting.
Family Portraits
50 Anniversary Book
th
Please be a part of the Parish Directory.
We need YOU to make this book complete!
The session is free and each family will receive a
complimentary 8x10 portrait and directory.
Next Session of Sittings– April 12 and 13th, 2013
These sessions will be in the Parish Center.
Go to the parish website, www.stalphonsus.com
for the link to sign up. Please call the rectory if you
can not go to the site. Other sitting times are also
available until June, just in time for our college students.
Interested in Becoming A Catholic?
The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the way
people join the Catholic Christian Community. It is the process of instruction, prayer, and community
experience that leads to full membership in
the Catholic Church. The program is for those
never baptized, those married to or marrying
Catholics and wanting to better understand
their partner’s faith, those persons having
never received the Sacrament of Confirmation and Eucharist, or needing some more instruction to help them to an
adult faith. If you or someone you know may want to join
us, contact the Rectory Office or e-mail us at rectory@stalphonsus.com.
Bulletin notices are due no later than Monday noon to church_bulletin@stalphonsus.com
Parish
Lenten Corner
Seeking God in All Things
Take a look at our Lenten road to Calvary
in the Main Church and reflect on this
meditation from an excerpt of writings
by Thomas Merton.
Opening a New Space Through Prayer
The contemplative life must provide an area in which possibilities are allowed to surface and new choices become manifest. It should create a new experience of time, a space
which can enjoy its own potentialities and hopes and its
presence to itself. One’s own time. Not dominated by one’s
own ego and its demands. Open to others-compassionate
time.
Jesus, help me find a new space for your presence in my life.
Symbols of Lent: Water: We are God’s family
Those who drink of the water that I will give them will
never be thirsty.—John 4:14
Jesus purposely talks with the Samaritan woman, a foreigner, as a reminder that the waters of baptism gather all people
as members of God’s family and brothers and sisters in
Christ.
MERCY
God is mercy. That seems to be the main message
of the reading from Exodus. God has seen the suffering of
the Israelites and promises mercy and rescue. From then
on, God is to be known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob.
Paul calls his readers to continue to grow in the
faith. The God who rescued
Israel also rescues them. As
beneficiaries of God’s mercy,
Christians must keep on working, doing their part to become
ever more trusting and loving
people of God.
The Gospel’s second
section is a homey story about
God’s mercy. Against the advice of the land owner, the
vinedresser pleads for mercy—and shows mercy—to allow the poor fig tree yet another year to become productive.
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
St. Alphonsus Diaconate Candidate
Congratulations to JT Toth, a candidate in formation for
Holy Orders as a permanent deacon from our parish. JT will
be instituted into the Ministry of Acolyte on Saturday,
March 16th. Our support and prayers are with JT and his
family.
The mission of Catholic Charities agencies is to provide
service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social
structures, and to call the entire church and other people
of good will to do the same.
The Parish goal is $76,250.
By now you should have received your pledge information in the mail. If you have sent in your donation, we
sincerely thank you. Additional donation forms can be
found in the narthex. We ask that you give generously to
this worthwhile appeal.
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Hollywood has given us an image of Moses slipping off his shoes before a burning bush. God has just
called Moses by name, and so that Moses doesn’t miss
the meaning of this breakthrough in human history, God
requires that all barriers to the experience be eliminated.
If you’ve ever tried to maneuver barefoot across hot
sand, or pick your way along a rocky beach, you know
how sensitive feet can be.
Within the Church, there are religious orders
with a custom of going barefoot, not merely to show
poverty, but to be an outward sign of a desire for connection with creation, a desire to go through life alert to
what God is doing. In
early days, when reconciliation was a once in a
lifetime
possibility,
penitents often went
barefoot for a long period of time as a sign of
their conversion. Even
today, people follow an
ancient practice of slipping off their shoes to walk in the procession to the cross
on Good Friday. It is striking that the first use of our
newly scrubbed feet from Holy Thursday night is to walk
resolutely in the footsteps of Christ to the cross.
Bulletin notices are due no later than Monday noon to church_bulletin@stalphonsus.com