TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

1. TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 15, 2013 The Pharisees and scribes complain about Jesus. “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Yet, if they had the decency to be the least bit mindful of their own history, they would have recalled how their ancestors at the base of Mount Sinai had “become depraved” and had turned aside from the way that God pointed out to them. God uses the experience of our being lost like the sheep, the coin, and the son to demonstrate compellingly that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Christ welcomes sinners and eats with them because only that closeness with Christ’s human presence changes sinners into saints. To this Saint Paul attests: “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant, but I have been mercifully treated… The grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with faith and love. dour recriminations of the scribes and Pharisees who see Jesus welcoming sinners and eating with them. // At the time Luke’s gospel was written, some were indignant at the rejoicing which accompanied the entry of the Gentiles into the household of the Church. Some, like the older brother, balked at crossing the threshold of a house open to sinners. The book of Acts, also written by Luke, confirms this. // The fifteenth chapter of Luke reminds us that ostracism and intolerance, even when motivated by unquestionable fervor, are contrary to the gospel. ST. MATTHEW THE EVANGELIST PARISH MINERSVILLE, PA www.StMatthewTheEvangelistParish.org Rectory Office Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM SAINT MATTHEW THE EVANGELIST WELCOMES ALL No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church; no matter what your current family or marital situation; no matter what your past or present religious affiliation; no matter what your personal history, age, background, race, ethnicity, etc.; you are Invited, Welcomed, Accepted, Loved and Respected at Saint Matthew the Evangelist Parish!’ SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATOR: Sr. Meg Cole(610-289-8900x222) VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR: Wendy S. Krisak (1-800-791-9209) WEEKDAY MASS AT 8:00 AM MON – Leo Owsinski by Helen Owsinski and Family TUE – Living and Deceased Parishioners WED – Helen Bluff by Julie Kubich and the Birthday Group THU – John and Anna Dobles by Daughter, Carol FRI – Mary Callery (Estate) SAT – 4:00 PM – Eva Mitchell by Family SUN – 7:00 AM – Living and Deceased Parishioners 9:00 AM – Connie Stine Bluis (Birthday) by Family 11:00 AM – Betty Wentz by John and Judy Ruddy ******************************************************************************************************************************************** THE WEEKLY CALENDAR: Give peace, O Lord, to those who wait for you,/ that your prophets be found true./ Hear the prayers of your servant,/ and of your people Israel. (Cf. Sir 36: 18) SATURDAY, September 14 – SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: May Christ, our Good Shepherd, accept as His own MADELINE ADELE COONEY, granddaughter of Edward and April Wytovich, who will be Baptized in our Church after today’s 4:00 PM Mass. God Bless Madeline Adele and her Family! THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, September 15 – SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: 6:30 AM and 10:45 AM. THE FAMILY PRAYER CHALICE FOR VOCATIONS(FPC): 7:00 AM Mass. Jesus told us to ask the Harvest Master to send laborers into his harvest. We hope the prayers of our participat- ing families will bear fruit. May God be attentive to MARY GRABUSKY who will host the Family Prayer Chalice for Vocations this week. Call 399-5056 or sign up in Church for October and November. FAMILY PERSPECTIVE: Parents are like that shepherd in today’s gospel for they don’t give up and can’t rest if one of their children has wandered away. A parent’s persistent love provides a glimpse of the unconditional love for each of us by God, Our Father. A parent is a window to the Divine. PRO-LIFE REFLECTION: What a pathetic people we are if we are willing to tolerate the killing of an entire group of people (the pre-born) but then become outraged if someone displays the suffering of the aborted baby with graphic pictures.  If it’s that horrible to look at or talk about then we should not allow it to continue. STEWARDSHIP: “Everything I have is yours.” Luke 15:31. Our Heavenly Father gives us everything, including the chance to share in His eternal kingdom. Yet, like the Prodigal Son we are often lured away by the materialism of our society. Do we really want to turn our backs on all that God offers in exchange for a material wealth that has no lasting value? LAST WEEK YOU CONTRIBUTED: Sunday: $3,256; Utilities: $130. Expenses: $4,736.92 (ordinary); $7,842 (Diocesan Assessments); $4,500 (school subsidy). Thanks! FRATERNAL CHARITY: ST. VINCENT DE PAUL FOOD PANTRY– Your donation of all TYPES OF PASTA AND SAUCES will allow the SVDP Society to aid the needy of our area. Volunteer for our SVDP Society Outreach and God’s Bountiful Table. Call544-2739. VOTIVES:(1) SANCTUARY: IMO Stella Pytko (1stAnnv) by George Pytko, Jr. and Joanne. (2) ALTARS: BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: IMO John and Anna Dobles by Daughter, Carol; IMO John Consugar (75th Birthday) by Family; IMO Francis O’Connor by Daughter, Helene. DIVINE MERCY: IMO Joseph Gober (Birthday) by Family; For the Health of George Homa and Special Intention by Wife and Family; IMO Stanley Wolinsky by Sister, 0. Three times in this Sunday’s gospel we witness the same outburst of joy on the part of someone who has found what was lost: the shepherd his sheep, the woman her silver piece, the father his son. This joy stands in sharp contrast to the goal! We need the support of all our parish families to reach it. If you have not made your pledge of support, you may drop off your pledge form in the collection basket or return it to the Rectory. Extra pledge forms are available at the back of Church. Please call the Rectory or visit www.adbaa. org with any questions. Thank you! Serve One Another As of today, our parish has raised $18,921 from 210 parishioners representing 99% of our parish goal of $18,950.55 and 34% of our total number of registered families. We are only $29.55 away from our 2013 Catherine. (3) BEFORE:ST. ANTHONY: For Special Intention of Bill Zaharis. ST. ANNE: IMO Anthony Wolinsky by Nephew, David. ST. JOSEPH: Special Intention. Call 544-2211 to memorialize Votives.. MONDAY, September 16 –PASTORAL NOTE: Sincerest thanks to Msgr. William Handges for covering Mass from September 16 to 21. TUESDAY, September 17 – ST. MATTHEW THE EVANGELIST RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, the Good Shepherd School Building. Contact our Coordinator of Religious Education, Rosalie Novack (544-2211) for more information. HEALTH AND WELLNESS DAY: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Luther Ridge at Seiders Hill, Pottsville. Blood pressure screenings, flu shots, pneumonia vaccines. Call 621-7200 for more information. WEDNESDAY, September 18 – DEVOTIONS TO ST. PEREGRINE: 8:00 AM Mass. Ask St. Peregrine to help cancer patients / caregivers. THURSDAY, September 19 – SOUNDS OF THE SPIRIT” CONTEMPORARY CHOIR REHEARSAL: 7:00 PM, Church Loft. Call 544-2355. RED CROSS BLOODMOBILE: 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Good Shepherd Building Cafeteria. Donate your blood, give life! FRIDAY, September 20 – SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: None today. SATURDAY, September 21 – SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: None today. FOOD PREPARATION AT GOOD SHEPHERD CAFETERIA: Christmas Pierogi Making Sunday, September 15, 22, 29 – 1:00 PM; Monday, September 16, 23, 30 – 9:00 AM PLEASE LEND YOUR PARISH A HAND! EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

2. ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PILGRIMAGE BUS TRIP TO THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL: Depart Quandel’s Lot at 8:15 AM for Germantown, PA, and arrive back in town approximately 6:00 PM. Cost $85 and includes bus fare, shrine donation, and lunch on the Moshulu docked at Penns Landing. Call Mary at 544-3046. ST. PATRICK BUS TRIP PILGRIMAGE TO THE NATIONAL SHRINE GROTTO OF LOURDES AT MOUNT SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY AND TO THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON IN EMMITSBURG, MARYLAND: Cost $25 per person. Call Barb (622-6646) for more information. TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, September 22 –SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: 6:30 AM and 10:45 AM. THE FAMILY PRAYER CHALICE FOR VOCATIONS (FPC): MILLIE MAGIC will host the FPC this week. Call 399-5056 or Sign-Up in the Church Vestibule for October and November. HALUPKI DINNER: 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM, St. Nicholas Hall, Primrose. $9.00 per platter includes: halupki, filling, mashed potatoes, green beans and roll. Eat-in or take-out. Advance tickets only by calling 544-4581. SECOND COLLECTION ENVELOPE: (1) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT: Your contribution will help defray the cost of improvements for all Parish buildings. (2) Please catch up with any missed envelopes. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* MINISTERS AT MASS FOR THE TWENY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OFF. PROC.LECTORS EUCH. MIN.ALTAR SERVERS SAT 4:00 PM Mitchell Family Michael Novack Tom Mundy Alex Reppert Barbara Sincavage Killian Clark Jack Ruscavage SUN 7:00 AM Parishioners Nick Quinn Eric Andruchek 9:00 AM Bluis Family Elaine Stine Dave Fogarty Alexandra Eades Jordan Berdanier 11:00 AM Wentz Family Marge Walasavage Marian Rhoads Jesse Stickell Jade Stickell ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* COMING EVENTS: Please be sure to mark your calendar! SEPTEMBER 23, 24 – ANNUAL FORTY HOURS CELEBRATION DAY II AND DAY III. SEPTEMBER 24 : INSTITUTE FOR CATECHESIS AND FORMATION: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Tuesday evenings until October 15, Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville. ICF 101 – Christian Anthropology. Call 1-610-289-8900 X221 or email adultformation@allentowndiocese.org. SEPTEMBER 25 – GOD’S BOUNTIFUL TABLE: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Fr. Anthony Ricapito Annex. OCTOBER 4 – HADDOCK OR CRAB CAKE DINNER: 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM, St. Michael’s Parish Center, Minersville. $10 eat-in or tale-out includes: haddock or crab cake, french fries, cole slaw, green beans, roll and dessert. Beverage included with eat-in only. Call Jean at 544-6853 for advance tickets. Sponsored by St. Michael the Archangel Ladies’ Guild. HARVEST FEST: St. Mary Church, Hamburg. Today 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Polka Mass at 4:30 PM); tomorrow 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Food, fun and activities for all ages! Polka Mass at 4:30 PM. Lots of indoor and outdoor activities. Located in Tilden Township (only 2 miles from Cabela’s). For directions or more information call 610-562-7657 (www.rc.net/allentown/stmaryhamb). OCTOBER 6 – SHOWER OF ROSES FESTIVAL IN HONOR OF ST. THERESA, THE LITTLE FLOWER: The event begins with 1:00 PM Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Parish at The Shrine of St. Therese, Nesquehoning, PA. Procession, Benediction and a showering of roses to follow. Ethnic foods will be available at concession stands throughout the day. 570-669-6075 for directions or information. OCTOBER 19 – CYO COACHES CLINIC: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Holy Cross, New Philadelphia. Clinic includes an overview of insurance requirements, sports medicine, and the integration of our Catholic faith and CYO. Cost $25. Checks or credit card payments are acceptable payable to the Diocese of Allentown. All CYO coaches are required to attend a coaches’ clinic within one year of starting to coach or they will be ineligible to coach. No walk-ins permitted. Registration form can be found at cyo.adoyyam.com/?page id=41. Clinic dates and times in other Deaneries are also available. Call Sue at 610-289-8900 X231 with any questions. OCTOBER 19, 20 – DIOCESAN COLLECTION: WORLD MISSION SUNDAY: Our parish will celebrate World Mission Sunday. This year we are invited to act in solidarity with missionaries in India and throughout the world. Every day, faithful missionaries are reaching out in the ANNUAL FORTY HOURS CELEBRATION DAY I: (1) EXPOSITION and ADORATION will begin immediately after 11:00 AM Mass concluding with BENEDICTION at 6:00 PM. (2) MEMORIALIZATIONS of Vigils ($5 each) and Flowers ($10 each) can be made by contacting the Rectory (544-2211). We would appreciate your help in adorning our Church’s Altars with Vigils and Flowers. Thanks for caring! (3) Eucharistic Adoration Sign-Up Sheets can be found in the Church Vestibule. We need at least 2 people for each half-hour interval for each of the three days of our Annual Forty Hours Celebration. Please honor our Eucharistic Lord by your presence! (4) The Parish Forty Hours Offering Envelope can be found at the back of your current Church Envelope Box. It can be placed in this Sunday’s Collection. We would be grateful for your support of this spiritual endeavor. Thanks for being the good and caring people that you are! SEPTEMBER 28 – WORKERS / VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATION DINNNER: After 4:00 PM Mass in our Parish Center. All Liturgical Ministers, Choir, St. Vincent dePaul Society Members, Religious Education teachers and aides, God’s Bountiful Table volunteers, Parish Festival and Lenten Food Sale Workers, Special Bingo Volunteers, Food Sale Workers, Anyone who helps the Parish in any way is welcome! We need you to call the Rectory at 544-2211 to inform us if you will be attending in order to be adequately prepared. HOPE TO SEE YOU! name of Christ, offering practical, emotional and spiritual care to communities, children and families in desperate need, bringing the light of Christ to the darkest of circumstances. Please use the Special Mission Sunday Envelope found in your envelope boxes. For more information visit: www.IAmAMissionary.org. ST. JOSEPH LEARNING CENTER COLLECTION: After all weekend masses, the Knights of Columbus, Schuylkill County 431, will be collecting funds at the exit doors for the St. Joseph Learning Center. All funds received will go directly to the center. Your support for the Center would be greatly appreciated. OCTOBER 31 –NOVEMBER 3–PARISH MISSION: More details to follow. NOVEMBER 1 – ALL SAINTS DAY: HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION: Masses will be celebrated at 7:00 PM (Eve), 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM. NOVEMBER 3 – ANNUAL TURKEY BINGO: Doors open at 12:00 Noon; Bingo starts at 2:00 PM. Good Shepherd Cafeteria. Admission $3.00. Donations of baked goods would be appreciated and should be brought directly to the Cafeteria today. Just place your name on these items. Food and refreshments will be available. For more information, call Theresa (544-4316) or Rose Ann (544-5304). December 5 – ST. MATTHEW’S TRAVELERS’ RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR BUS TRIP: 11:00 AM Matinee. 2nd Mezzanine seating.$95 per person includes show and bus.Leaves Minersville 6:30 AM; Departs New York 6:00 PM.Call Julie (544-5231) or the Rectory (544-2211). Your payment is your reservation. Prayer for Students and Teachers Lord our God, your Spirit of wisdom fills the earth and teaches us your ways. You gave each of us a Guardian Angel to guide, protect, and enlighten us, and to bring us back to you when we go astray. Look kindly upon all students returning to school. Let them enjoy their learning and take delight in new discoveries. Help them to persevere in their studies and give them the desire to learn all things well. Look kindly upon their teachers. May they strive to share their knowledge with gentle patience; and endeavor always to bring the truth to eager minds. Send your Holy Spirit upon all students and their teachers and fill them with your wisdom and blessings. Guide and protect them from hurt and danger and keep them safely in your care. May they always follow Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.