This Week …
Posted By admin on January 27, 2012
Dear Friends,
In today’s gospel passage Jesus continues to proclaim the Kingdom through His words and deeds. The people, encountering Jesus, are astonished at His teaching because “He taught as one having authority and not as the scribes.” Jesus’ authority is being expressed in His person and the people are captivated by Him. This authority will continue to be manifested and more clearly defined as He continues to reveal Himself and the Father whom He loves. The unclean spirits recognize Him and are compelled by His authority to 
leave the unclean man. They indeed recognize Him for who He is. Jesus’ command for them to remain silent about His identity is sometimes referred to as the “Messianic Secret.”
Jesus is not ready to be known as the Messiah for the expectations of the Jewish people for the Messiah was as an earthly King who would free them from Roman oppression. His Messiahship would be much more and the freedom from oppression He offers is something much greater than what they were expecting. He offers the freedom to love and to forgive. In time, as the gospel unfolds, the people will come to understand what that freedom entails and what that freedom will cost.
Last Monday was the annual March for Life. I express thanks to everyone who joined us on the parish bus to Washington to promote the dignity of human life. Thank you to the Knights of Columbus who sponsored the Pancake Breakfast last week which helped cover the cost of the bus. I also express gratitude to Ed Barry who organized our parish participation. Please keep the unborn in your prayers that they may safely reach a healthy birth and enjoy the life that God gives them.
The preparations for the new school continue to move forward. This upcoming week we will have our second meeting of the Implementation Committee comprised of members of Holy Trinity Parish and Saint John the Evangelist Parish. Sub-Committees dealing with different aspects of forming a new school are being set up as the work moves forward.
The members of the implementation team for Saint John the Evangelist Parish are Sheree Montgomery, Mike Aileo, Amanda Conmy, Kevin McCoy and myself. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. I will keep you posted as to the progress as we move forward.
I am grateful to everyone in your support for this effort to secure a sustainable Catholic school education for the future. A Catholic school education is a great gift for our children, the efforts and sacrifices we make now will ensure that this can continue well into the future.
God bless,
Monsignor Prior
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• THE PARISH FINANCIAL REPORT is now available for downloading. Click on the graphic in the left column of this page.
• FAITH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR LENT If you’ve ever wondered why we say what we say and do what we do during the Liturgy, the five-part Biblical Walk Through the Mass study is for you! You will go deep into the Scriptural roots of the Mass, and see the beauty and riches unfold before your eyes like never before. Sessions will take place on Thursday and Saturday mornings.
The Passion According to John, presented by Monsignor Prior, will explore this centerpiece of the Good Friday liturgy. Prepare for the Paschal Triduum by looking more deeply into the suffering and triumph that reveals our Lord’s love for each of us. Five Tuesday evenings during Lent. For more information, call Marie Schwartz at 215.736.2452 or visit The Faith Explorer website.
• SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE Bucks County Code Blue is ready to help. Emergency shelters are being organized for homeless persons on cold nights, from now until April 1st. Volunteer forms may be found in the blue envelope on Monsignor Prior’s bulletin board. Some much needed items are: Dry breakfast food, or snacks, paper products (tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, plasticware, napkins, large plastic bags), mini-sized toiletries, new pillows, clean blankets, sweat shirts & pants, socks, towels and wash cloths. The contact number is 215.550.3868. Please prayerfully consider these needs. All donations may be placed in the marked basket in St Gianna’s Room. Our Prison Ministry is in need of Bibles and calendars. Many women prisoners are searching to heal. Your donation may guide another toward God. Items may be placed in the donation basket.
• WASHINGTON AT WAR WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH A special issue of The Faith Explorer: Commentaries from 4 national publications on how the Administration is attacking the core principles of the Church.
• FEBRUARY BAKERY BASKET Join us for the February Bakery Basket sponsored by the Junior CYO. The Bakery Basket is in the Deacon James Hartmann Lounge after the 9:30 and 11:30 AM Masses next weekend, February 5, 2012.
• MARDI GRAS PARTY The Mothers of Young Children group is throwing a Mardi Gras party on Friday, Feb. 17 at 9:30 am. All mothers and young children are encouraged to come and join us to learn a little bit about Lent and to celebrate with sweet treats. Get in touch with Lucy Fronheiser at 267.573.9499 or lucy.donnellan@gmail.com for more information.
• 9th ANNUAL JIMMY V TOURNAMENT On February 23rd through February 26th, 2012, the 9th Annual Jimmy V CYO Classic Tournament will take place at St. John the Evangelist Parish Center. This event is sponsored by the Philadelphia Friends of V, a local chapter that is made up of parents, coaches, players and friends of St. John’s CYO basketball program which supports the National V Foundation for Cancer Research. We need your help! We are looking for items to add to our General Raffle and Silent Auction. No donation is too big or too small — and our Jimmy V Alumni Team we’ll even drive over to pick items up! If there are any questions or to donate items, please contact Karen Kelbaugh at 215.321.7063 or karenk@phillyfriendsofv.org. Please save the dates and visit our website www.phillyfriendsofv.org for more information and volunteer opportunities. The continued success of this parish event needs you.
• CHILDREN’S LITURGY The Children’s Liturgy of the Word is offered to children every Sunday during the 11:30 Mass, except on holiday weekends. All children from 5 to 9 years old are welcome.
• WELCOMING THE NEW ROMAN MISSAL The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has produced a series of informative videos about the New Roman Missal. See the complete set here. Also, the Faith Enrichment committee has created a web page filled with valuable resources on the new translation. See it here.
• SUNDAY COLLECTION ENVELOPES If you need to drop off your collection envelope please do not place it in the prayer intention box in the Church. All envelopes must be dropped off at the Convent during normal business hours (see the front of the bulletin) to assure that your contribution is recorded accordingly.
• PRAYER REQUEST Please pray for Ron Baker who is in need of a kidney transplant. The family is hoping and praying that someone with Type “O” blood will come forward as a donor. If anyone is able to help, please contact Ron’s wife, Patti Baker, 215.369.9477. Thank you for your prayers.
• VISITING THE SICK If you have a family member who is sick in the hospital or at home and they would like a short friendly visit by one of our members, please call the Rectory with their information. Also if you know of any parishioner in a Nursing Home, we would be glad to visit them. Call the Rectory at 215.295.4102.
Next Sunday’s Readings
February 5th: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Prepare for Sunday Mass by reading, reflecting and praying the readings with family and friends.
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Make yourself familiar with the angels. and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen,they are present with you.
~ St. Francis de Sales
Organization of the Week: CYO Athletics
The CYO Athletics oversees the athletic teams representing St. John the Evangelist and insures that all Archdiocesan guidelines are followed.
Leadership and Life Skills: 1.To operate within the rules of competition; 2.To accept with respect the authority of coaches and officials; 3.Exhibit Christian characteristics by dealing graciously in both victory and defeat. Service Projects: Basketball – Annual Jimmy V Event to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.
The sports that St. John the Evangelist offers includes soccer, basketball, and track. Teams compete on the Regional, Parish and intramural level. Coaches and their assistants are to be mature, Christian adults. Coaches must be accredited within one year of beginning coaching through the Archdiocesan CYO coaches Accreditation Program.
