NEWS AND EVENTS

Food Pantry

Our Food Pantry is in place to help parishioners and anyone locally in need with short or long-term food assistance. We are well-stocked with non-perishable items including cereals, soups, pasta, sauces, tuna, canned chicken, canned vegetables, and many other items. If you or someone you know can benefit from this ministry, please contact the Rectory Office at 215-357-1221 to arrange it. Provide basic info on the number of people in the household, dietary restrictions and preferences, and our volunteers will prepare bags and boxes of food for your pickup. All communications are private.

Archdiocese of Philadelphia

OFFICE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

222 North Seventeenth Street ● Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-1299

Telephone (215) 587-3747 ● commof@archphila.org ● www.archphila.org

For Immediate Release Contact: Kenneth A. Gavin, June 24,2022 Chief Communications Officer 215-587-3747 (office)

STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP NELSON J. PEREZ

FOLLOWING OPINION FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES IN DOBBS V. JACKSON WOMEN'S HEALTH ORGANIZATION

I am grateful to the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States for their willingness to hear Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, and for their opinion, which affirms the deep value inherent to every human life. As Catholics, we believe that life is God's most precious gift and that we share a responsibility to uphold its beauty and sanctity from conception to natural death. In addition to being strong advocates for the unborn, this responsibility extends to caring for the hungry, the poor, the sick, the immigrant, the elderly, the oppressed, and any of our brothers and sisters who are marginalized. In short, to be truly pro-life means to recognize the presence of God in everyone and to care for

them accordingly.

The Church's strong commitment to protecting and preserving human life is a holistic one. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is one of the largest private providers of social services in the region. Our ministries and programs provide continuum of care to those in need regardless of their faith tradition. Our charitable programs provide formula, diapers, education, and comprehensive support services to pregnant women, fathers, new parents, and single parents. We have distributed more than a million meals in the greater Philadelphia region to those struggling with food insecurity. We shelter the homeless, support veterans, those in recovery, and help students with special needs receive the Catholic education they deserve. We have helped desperate families get back on their feet and bring joy to the lives of the aged and lonely. I have often said that we are a people of hope. It is my personal hope that we can all live and work peacefully, side-by-side, to create a true culture of life in our Nation.

May God bless you,

Most Reverend Nelson J. Perez, D.D.

Archbishop of Philadelphia

# # #

Editor's Note: Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS) offers community-based and residential programs and services to support men, women and children in need as an expression of the charitable works of our local Church throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. To learn more about CSS programs that serve a wide variety of human needs, please visit https://cssphiladelphia.org/.

Project Rachel was founded in 1984 in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The ministry is now active in more than 110 dioceses across the United States. Project Rachel is composed of a network of specially trained clergy, spiritual directors and therapists who provide compassionate one-on-one care to men and women who are struggling with the aftermath of abortion and seek emotional and psychological healing. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia this program is a collaborative effort between Catholic Social Services and the Office for Life and Family. For more information, please visit HopeAfterAbortion.org.

Real Alternatives is a government-funded program of the Department of Human Services that provides pregnancy and parenting support services to women facing unplanned, crisis pregnancies which empowers them to choose childbirth over abortion. For more information, please visit visit www.realalternatives.org.

Sun of Hope Orphanage

2022 Sun of Hope Lenten Campaign
The Lenten Campaign has come to an end and Assumption parishioners and friends raised an amazing $20,060.00!!! Thank you to everyone that donated to this wonderful cause. We really are making a difference in the lives of these children. If you have any questions or comments, please email at sunofhopeandabvm@outlook.com and please visit our website at www.sunofhopeandabvm.org. Thank you!!!

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus participated in a number of Assumption BVM activities including the landscaping of the prayer garden and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ procession. Also, we worked with the Events Committee to landscape the Blessed Margaret Home in Bensalem, PA. There is more work to do at the Blessed Margaret Home. Anyone interested in helping, please contact Chris Dern at 215.962.9956 or Rich Gathercole at 267.261.7337.

Legend of Mary

Join the Legion of Mary. The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every county of the world. Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service. Works include door-to-door evangelization, parishioner visitation, prison ministry, visitation of the sick or aged, crowd contact, religious education, visiting the newly baptized, Pilgrim Virgin Statue rotations, and meeting the other spiritual needs of the parish community. Legionaries are under the spiritual director by the pastor. The Legion is, in essence, an extension of the heart and hands of the pastor. Members meet once a week for prayer, planning and discussion in a family setting. Then they do two hours of definite work each week in pairs and under the guidance of their spiritual director.

WHO CAN BELONG? The Legion of Mary is open to all Catholics who: Faithfully practice their religion; Are animated by the desire to participate in the Church's apostolate through membership in the Legion; Are prepared to fulfill each and every duty which active membership in the Legion involves. HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? Call Elaine at 215.962.4312.

A Plenary Indulgence for Legionaries from Pope Francis
In recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Legion of Mary on September 7, 2021, Pope Francis grants this full remission of the temporal punishment for forgiven sins with its usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Holy Communion and prayer for the intention of the Holy Pontiff) to the members of the Legion of Mary and to the faithful who are truly penitent from September 7, 2021 until September 7, 2022. The faithful who visit any church which is connected to the Legion of Mary, such as our church, or while on pilgrimage are present to joyful celebrations, or at least devoutly recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed, with pious prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary fulfill the conditions for the Plenary Indulgence. In connection with the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this indulgence may be applied to the souls in Purgatory, and reflects God’s unfathomable mercy. While not connected to the Legion of Mary, the Flame of Love prayers, which are prayed on Monday mornings after the 8:30 am Mass and Tuesday evenings after Benediction, focus on freeing souls from Purgatory. Aside from scheduled times for Confessions on weekends, you may ask to schedule an appointment, if more convenient for you.

Ukrainian Refugees

You can help Ukrainian Refugees Resettle in Our Area

Recently several members of ABVM represented our parish at a Community Worship Service to welcome 18 refugees from Odessa, Ukraine. After a long and harrowing journey, the Ukrainian families arrived in the USA just weeks ago and now are getting settled in Bucks County. The congregation heard testimonies at the Service from refugees who spoke about their experiences through a translator. Each family had their own story of escape and their own questions to confront. They stayed in Poland for a month where many people they did not know helped them. Attending church services, they heard comforting words from Isaiah 43 and were reminded that God had taken each of them by the hand and was leading them forward through their pain and suffering that He loved them and would always be with them. They were consoled by the message of Jesus in John 10:10. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. As the refugees traveled, they began to see that God was working in their lives through the many beautiful people who helped them along the way. A Ukrainian Ensemble and St. Stephens Lutheran Chancel Choir sang hymns of thanks and praise and then a young Ukrainian girl recited by heart a poem in her native language. In closing Bishop Patricia Davenport spoke of Psalm 55 and the anguish we feel in our hearts for the people of war-torn Ukraine. She reminded everyone that the Holy Spirit is with the refugees - and all of us in every step of life's journey.

The refugee families only have the clothes on their back and what they were able to carry in a suitcase. They need apartments or houses to rent, furniture, food, jobs, toys for their children and everything else necessary to start a new life in a new country. Any help will be accepted to assist these families. To support St. Stephens work with their Ukrainian refugees, contact Lisa Marano at 215.520.0535 about financial donations or the donation of your time or talents. Leave your name, phone number and a message and she will call you back. Currently financial gifts are the #1 need to assist local refugees.

Caring for Friends