TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

1. TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 Perhaps the most scandalous thing about the parable of the rich man is that the sore-ridden beggar “lying at his door” was not some anonymous, faceless stranger, for the first one to speak the name of the “poor man” – “Lazarus” – was the rich man! “Woe to the complacent in Zion,” for their complacency not only deprives the poor of what they need – it goes so far as to deny their very humanity, their personal dignity. To steer clear of this temptation, we “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” “The King of kings and Lord of lords” dwells in unapproachable light – a light that he shares with us so that we will approach the poor who dwell with us. lies an abyss that cannot be bridged. It is the Abyss of unawareness and self-sufficiency. The anesthetized conscience of the rich man is no longer touched by the reproach of poverty. // Thus we can understand Jesus’ warnings: “How hard it will be for the rich to go into the kingdom of God. Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Luke 18:25). Sometimes we read on the door of elegant buildings: “No solicit- ing”. What if that prohibition were to be found reversed at the threshold of the kingdom, “The rich need not apply.” That is the picture Luke seems to paint. // Is there no redemption then for the rich? At the door of the kingdom there are no rich and poor. Both are saved by the word of God. That word reveals to men and women their radical inter- dependence. The self-sufficiency of the rich can blind them to the Lazarus at their gates. The afflu- ence of our society can close our ears to the cries of the third world. In neglecting their needs, we exclude ourselves from the table of the kingdom. 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 – 6:00 PM – John and Louise Kishel by Daughter, Joan Roberts TUE – Joseph Holland by Children WED – Helen Bluff by Julie Kubich and The Birthday Group THU – John Maletz and Lorraine Cygan by Family FRI – Living and Deceased Members of the Parish Memorial Society SAT – 4:00 PM – Anthony and Rose Phillips by Children SUN – 7:00 AM – Veronica Orlosky by Andruchek Family 9:00 AM – James and Sophie Genovese by Genovese Family 11:00 AM – Living and Deceased Parishioners ******************************************************************************************************************************************** REQUIESCANT IN PACE: May Jesus, the Lord of the Harvest, take unto Himself: VERONICA P. DAROSH, a member of the former St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, and a member of our Parish Family, who died Thursday, September 19, and was buried from our Parish on Wednesday, September 25; EDITH LESCAVAGE, a member of the former St. Francis of Assisi Parish, and a member of our Parish Family, who died Tuesday, September 24, and will be buried Monday, 8:00 AM, September 30. May Mary, Mother of Mercy, obtain comfort from Jesus, her risen son, for their family and friends. ET LUX PERPETUA LUCEAT EIS! ******************************************************************************************************************************************** THE WEEKLY CALENDAR: All that you have done to us, O Lord,/ you have done with true judgment,/ for we have sinned against you/ and not obeyed your commandments./ But give glory to your name/ and deal with us according to the bounty of your mercy. (Dn 3:31, 29, 30, 43, 42) THE TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, September 29 – SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: 6:30 AM and 10:45 AM. THE FAMILY PRAYER CHALICE FOR VOCATIONS(FPC): 9:00 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 ROSEMARIE SKIBIEL who will host the Family Prayer Chalice for Vocations this week. Call 399-5056 or sign up in Church. FAMILY PERSPECTIVE: In today’s gospel the rich man died and was condemned to “a place of torment” because he ignored the poor. He asked Lazarus to go and warn his five brothers to change their ways. Evidently ignoring the poor was a family pattern. Is your family sensitive to the poor? PRO-LIFE REFLECTION: Over 70 years ago Hitler tried to form a master race by killing the unwanted.  Millions of innocent people died as result. Today in America, people abort unwanted babies for no more reason than sex select- ion or personal inconvenience.  Is our government any different than Hitler? STEWARDSHIP: “My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established…” Luke 16:25-26. When God created the world He declared that it was good and He gave it to all mankind for us to enjoy. However, over the years we have created a chasm between those who have great gifts and those who do not. In today’s Gospel we see that with our own generosity we must bridge that gap between those who have much and those who have little or we may find ourselves on the wrong side of the chasm in the next life.LAST WEEK YOU CONTRIBUTED:Sunday: $3,085; Capital Improve- ment:$492. Expenses: $2,471.57 (ordinary); $4,500 (school subsidy). Thanks! 0. Parables demand careful reading. There is little detailed descript- ion about the characters in today’s gospel. It is never said that the rich man is wicked. We are never told that Lazarus badgers him for help which he actively refuses. Between them, however, amounting to 35.13% of our Parish have supported the Appeal. This is the first time our Parish has reached its goal since the merger in 2008! Thanks for your concern for the poor! St. Matthew the Evangelist Parish does indeed care for the poor! Serve One Another WE HAVE MADE OUR GOAL ($18,950.55)! $19, 496 has been pledged so far. $17,603 has been collected. 215 households 2013 FRATERNAL CHARITY: ST. VINCENT DE PAUL FOOD PANTRY– Your donation of all TYPES OF MEALS IN A BOX will allow the SVDP Society to aid the needy of our area. Volunteer for our SVDP Society Outreach and God’s Bountiful Table. Call 544-2739. VOTIVES:(1) SANCTUARY: IMO John Maletz and Lorraine Cygan by Family. (2) ALTARS: BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: IMO Michael Gober (Birthday) by Family; For the Health of George Homa and Special Intention by Wife and Family; For the Health of My Sister by Jean. DIVINE MERCY: For the Health of Evan Gober by Grandparents, Stan and Sally; Special Intention for Bill Zaharis; Special Intention. (3) BEFORE:ST. ANTHONY: Special Intention for Health. ST. ANNE: In Thanksgiving. ST. JOSEPH: Special Intention. ST. FRANCIS: Special Intention. ST. THERESA: Intentions of Knorr Family. POPE JOHN PAUL II: Special Intention.. Call 544-2211. BELATED FORTY HOURS FLOWERS: We gratefully acknowledge this floral donation: IMO Leister and Pytko Families by Francis and Dolores Leister. Thanks to everyone who memorialized flowers for Forty Hours Devotions! ST. RAPHAEL HEALING SERVICE: 4:00 PM, St. Michael the Archangel Church, Minersville. Service will be conducted by Rev. Gerard Boulanger, a La Salette Missionary from Attelboro, MA. Come for emotional, physical or spiritual healing. Everyone welcome! MONDAY, September 30 – VISITATION OF THE SICK: The sick and shut-in of our Parish will be brought Holy Communion for October beginning today and continuing until completed. Call the Rectory (570-544-2211) to have someone added to our list. THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS: 5:00 PM, last Monday of each month, Our Lady’s Chapel of St. Patrick Church, Pottsville. Veneration of a First-Class Relic of Saint Pauline Visintainer to follow. Call 622-1802 for information. FOOD PREPARATION AT GOOD SHEPHERD CAFETERIA: Pierogi Making Sunday, September 29 – 9:00 AM; Monday, September 30 – 9:00 AM Sunday, October 6 – 9:00 AM; Monday, October 7 – 9:00 AM PLEASE LEND YOUR PARISH A HAND! EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

2. TUESDAY, October 1– 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. WEDNESDAY, October 2 – DEVOTIONS TO ST. PEREGRINE: 8:00 AM Mass. Ask St. Peregrine to help cancer patients / caregivers. THURSDAY, October 3 – “SOUNDS OF THE SPIRIT” CONTEMPORARY CHOIR REHEARSAL: 7:00 PM, Church Loft. Call 544-2355. FRIDAY, October 4 – FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI: 1) CONFESSIONS: 7:30 AM, at the former St. Francis of Assisi Church. 2) MASS: 8:00 AM at the former St. Francis of Assisi Church. There will be an opportunity to venerate the relic of St . Francis of Assisi, who is Patron: against fire; of animals; Catholic Action; dying alone; ecology; environment; families; lacemakers; merchants; peace; zoos, at the conclusion of Mass. Pastoral Note: The Church will open at 7:00 AM. 3) EUCHARISTIC HOLY HOUR: Immediately following today’s 8:00 AM Mass, there will be Eucharistic Exposition, Adoration, and Benediction. Come pray for vocations to the Priesthood/ Consecrated Life from our Parish/Diocese. 4) ANNUAL BLESSING OF ANIMALS: 6:00 PM in the former St. Francis of Assisi Church to honor St. Francis of Assisi. Small pets and animals should be hand-held; large animals should be leashed and held in the center aisle. Everyone is welcome to honor the Patron Saint of Ecology. There will be an opportunity to venerate his relic at the conclusion of the Blessing. COME PREPARED TO CLEAN UP ANY ACCIDENTS! HADDOCK OR CRAB CAKE DINNER: 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM, St. Michael’s Parish Center, Minersville. $10 eat-in or take-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; tomorrow 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Polka Mass at 4:30 PM). Food, fun and activities for all ages! 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). SATURDAY, October 5 – SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: 3:30 PM. TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, October 6 –SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: 6:30 AM and 10:45 AM. THE FAMILY PRAYER CHALICE FOR VOCATIONS (FPC): JAMIE AND KARIN KUEHN FAMILY (11:00 AM) will host the FPC this week. Call 399-5056 or Sign-Up in the Church Vestibule. ENROLLMENT MASS: 9:00 AM. For First Penance and First Communion Class. SECOND COLLECTION ENVELOPE: (1) UTILITIES: Your donation will help pay for light, water, sewer, heating tapes, and the maintenance of all parish heating units, etc. (2) Please catch up with any missed envelopes. Thank you for your generosity! ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* MINISTERS AT MASS FOR THE TWENY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OFF. PROC.LECTORS EUCH. MIN.ALTAR SERVERS SAT 4:00 PM Phillips Family Mary Ann Harrison David Fogarty Nathan Tropp Michael Perzel SUN 7:00 AM Andruchek Family Jack Hudock Nicholas Quinn Gabriella Quinn 9:00 AM Genovese Family Sharon Kolenick Ed Davis Abby Schoffstall Elaine Davis Jonathan Kriston Teresa Miller 11:00 AM Parishioners Theresa Kroznuski Lori Hoffman Adams / Kuehn Families ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* COMING EVENTS: Please be sure to mark your calendar! OCTOBER 8 – THE LIFE AND SPIRITUALITY OF FATHER WALTER CISZEK: 6:00 PM, St. Michael the Archangel Church, Minersville. Come and learn more about this “Man of Faith”, a candidate for sainthood, who is an exemplary model of how to live and love the precious gift of our faith. Presenter is Rev. Thomas F. Sable, a Jesuit priest from Scranton. All are welcome! OCTOBER 9 – GOD’S BOUNTIFUL TABLE: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Fr. Anthony Ricapito Annex. OCTOBER 10 – MONTHLY ROSARY: 6:15 PM, our Church. Come and pray the Rosary with us. OCTOBER 12 – POLKA MASS AND PIG ROAST: Polka Mass with the Golden Tones Orchestra at 5:00 PM, followed by a Pig Roast Dinner 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM with entertainment afterwards. St. Ambrose Parish, Schuylkill Haven. Tickets $12. Cash bar available. Tickets are pre-order only by calling 385-1031. OCTOBER 15 – MEETING FOR PARENTS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION STUDENTS: 6:30 PM, Good Shepherd Cafeteria. One parent from each Religious Education family must attend! 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 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 go directly to the center.Your support is appreciated. OCTOBER 28 – RESCHEDULED PARISH MEETING: 7:00 PM in our Parish Center. Everyone Welcome! OCTOBER 29 – PARENTS’ MEETING FOR FIRST PENANCE: 6:30 PM, Good Shepherd Chapel. OCTOBER 31 –NOVEMBER 3–PARISH MISSION: More details to follow. NOVEMBER 1 – ALL SAINTS DAY: A Holy Day of Obligation. Mass schedule: 7:00 PM (eve before), 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM. NOVEMBER 2 – ALL SOULS DAY: Mass schedule: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Pastoral Note: 1) We would like to decorate our Church with Vigils for this special day. Please help us! Call the Rectory (544-2211) for Vigil Memorializations ($5 per Vigil). 2) We respectfully remind you to return your All Souls Day Remembrance Offering. The persons listed on your Remembrance Offering Envelope will be remembered at Mass throughout the month of November. 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). 40 DAYS FOR LIFE VIGIL TO END ABORTION: Continuing until today, Allentown Women’s Center, Bethlehem. All are invited to pray outside for an hour. The goal is to have enough people praying for 40 days in a row 12 hours a day. Join us as we pray for the conversion of the parents’ souls to choose life for their child, and if they do not, we pray that they turn to God to be healed from post abortion trauma. Call 610-704-6935 for more information. NOVEMBER 4 – MASS OF REMEMBRANCE: 6:00 PM Mass. 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. DECEMBER 11 – HOLIDAY FOOD SALE: Homemade pierogi by the dozen and kielbasa 2 lb links. Pick-up is from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM today at the Parish Center. PRE-ORDER ONLY. Call Sophie Kuchta (624-3619) or the Rectory (544-2211) to order. ORDER DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 6. DECEMBER 16 – ST. MATTHEW’S TRAVELERS’ MOHEGAN SUN CASINO BUS TRIP: Cost: $23; Rebate: $25 to play. Leaves R&J at 8:00 AM; Quandel’s at 8:30 AM. Call Julie (544-5231) or Helen (544-5465) to reserve your spot. MAY 18, 2014 – SPAGHETTI DINNER: More information to follow. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CYO NEWS: 1) THANK YOU: We gratefully acknowledge the donation of $846.48 given by St. Matthew the Evangelist CYO to the Parish to offset the fuel expenses for the Good Shepherd Building for the 2012-2013 scholastic year. We deeply appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness! 2) CYO BASKETBALL:  Parish students grades 3-8 (first and second graders if necessary) interested in CYO basketball should register no later than October 6.  Parochial school enrollment or religious education classes (CCD) along with weekly mass attendance is required to be eligible.  Call Jamie @ 544-4803 or Jodi @ 544-8184 to register. No registration fee.