Home and School Association
ASSUMPTION BVM 28TH ANNUAL PENNY PARTY, FRIDAY FEB. 24, 2012, 6PM-10PM
The Home and School Assn. are now selling tickets. The cost of the tickets are $15.00 each. You may purchase tickets by contacting: Cecilia Prock-Benson at 215-355-4864 or cbgb98@msn.com.
Basket donations for the Penny Party are still needed. If you would like to donate a basket valuing $25 or more, please contact Nancy Chiodo at 215-752-1059 or Sandy Clark at 267-253-6924. In appreciation, we will provide you with a $10 envelope of Penny Party tickets. All proceeds benefit Assumption BVM School.
NOTICES
2011 CHURCH CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT
If you want a Church Contribution Statement for 2011, please call the rectory, 215-357-1221, and speak to Dot. We only mail out statements to the people who call and request one. Thank you.
MEN’S SPIRITUALITY CONFERENCE
Men of Assumption Parish come help “Strengthen One Another” at the Men’s Spirituality Conference on Saturday, March 3, 2012. The conference is held at Archbishop Ryan High School, Philadelphia. For more information, please call Bob Watson at 215-355-6345.
WOMAN'S RETREAT: SATURDAY MAY 19, 2012.
Women's’ Retreat will once again be happening here at Assumption! Sister Bridget will be returning to give the Retreat. Stay alert for more details in the near future.
Volunteers
PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN TRAINING SESSION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
Will be held at St. Bede the Venerable Parish in the Drexel Center located in the Parish Center (separate building), on Saturday, Feb. 25th 9:30 AM. If you wish to volunteer/help with any sports or activities involving children you must take a Protecting God’s Children Training session. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the session to sign in and pick up materials used in the training. For more information: www.virtus.org or call St. Bede Rectory, 215-357-5720.
Fabulous 55 Plus Club
Our Anniversary Luncheon will take place on Friday, February 24th at the Buck Hotel. If you would like to attend and have not yet signed up, Call Gerry Maialetti, 215-355-7461.
FABULOUS 55 PLUS TRIP—APRIL 9TH.
Lunch at Atlantic City Culinary School, then on to the Casino. Deadline to sign up for this trip is March 6th. Cost $55.00. Call Gerry Maialetti 215-355-7461 or Jean Carlini 215-579-4545 to sign up. On April 9th, we will leave our parking lot at 10 AM and return at 7:30 PM.
Baptism
BAPTISM CLASS—FEBRUARY 25TH
If you are planning to have your child baptized in the next few months and need to attend class, call the rectory this week to register for the class. The parent interview/meeting with Fr. Bill, or Sister Diane is a prerequisite to attending class.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.Cap.
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Office of the Archbishop
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1299
February 1, 2012
Dear Friends in Christ,
The United States Department of Health and Human Services announced on January 20 that almost all employers including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health insurance that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.
Unless the ruling is overturned, faithful Catholics will be forced either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees and suffer the penalties for doing so.
Bishops and lay Catholic leaders across the United States have made it clear that we cannot comply with this unjust law without comprising our convictions and undermining the Catholic identity pf many of our service ministries. This ruling interferes with the basic right of Catholic citizens to organize and work for the common good as Catholics in the public square.
Today, I ask you two things. First, we need to pray for our country, for our Church, and for our own right to work freely as a believing community through our ministries in the square. Second, we need to act. Please visit the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference website at www.pacatholic.org to learn how to contact your federal Representative and Senators. Write them, call them, visit them - and help them understand the deep resistance of Pennsylvania Catholics to this dangerous ruling. Please also visit www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this attack on religious conscience, and how to work to reverse the Administration’s decision.
Your action on this issue matters - not just today but for many years to come; and in ways that will shape the ability of the Church to witness the Gospel publicly through her ministries well into the future. Please know that you have my gratitude and daily prayers. And please remember me in your prayers as well.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia
Bereavement Support Group
Will have an 8 week Bereavement Support Group for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one through death. It is a safe place to allow healing to begin by expressing your feelings with those who have had similar losses. When: Monday, March 12th —-April 29th, 7 PM—8:30 PM in the Rectory Meeting Room.
For information or registration (required) please call Barbara Wutzer 215-355-8897 or Barbara Mulloy, 215-357-3129.
Lenten Fast and Abstinence
FASTS AND ABSTINENCE AND OTHER ACTS OF PENANCE FOR LENT
The Bishops of the United States prescribe, as minimal obligation, that all persons who are 14 years of age & older are bound to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. Further, all persons 18 years of age and older, up to and including their 59th birthday, are bound to fast by limiting themselves to a single full meal on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, while the other two meals on those days are to be light.
All the faithful are encouraged, when possible, to participate in Mass and to receive the Holy Eucharist daily, to celebrate frequently the Sacrament of Penance, undertake spiritual reading, especially the study of Sacred Scriptures, and to participate in Operation Rice Bowl as well as Parish Lenten devotions and Lenten education programs. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is especially recommended.
Catholic Charities Appeal
Our Annual Appeal is now running. The diocesan goal for this year’s Appeal is $10 million. Our parish goal is $48,630.00. I realize this is an ambitious goal, but ambition to help the poor, ambition to serve Jesus Christ— this is the kind of ambition that reflects a life of real discipleship. We can accomplish our goal despite these difficult times. The poor can’t wait for a friendlier economy. They need our help Now.
If you received a pledge card and envelope in the mail, please return your gift directly to the Archdiocese. If you did not receive a pledge card in the mail, extra pledge cards are available in the back of church. Please fill out and return it either to the rectory or mail directly to the Archdiocese. Thank you.
Lenten Devotions
PARISH LENTEN MISSION
Sunday, March 4th—7:00 PM, The God Who ….So Loved the World
March 5th—7:00 PM, A Second Chance ….Becoming Free
Tuesday, March 6th—7:00 PM, A New Birth ...To a Living Hope
Preacher: Deacon John P. Lozano
Childcare available age one to grade one.
Bingo
BINGO, FRIDAY, March 9th—SCHOOL HALL, SPONSORDED BY THE WOMEN'S CLUB
Admission $7.00. Doors open at 6 PM. Bingo begins at 7 PM. Refreshments sold. For more information call Joan Corcoran at 215-953-7711. MUST BE 18 OR OLDER TO ATTEND.
St. Patrick's Day Party
ST PATRICK’S DAY PARTY SPONSORED BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The St. Patrick’s Day Party will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Tickets will go on sale soon at $25.00 per person . Our D.J. is “Tommy J.” (Tommy Joseph). Mark your calendars and plan to come for an evening of good food, music and fun!
St. Vincent De Paul Truck
ST VINCENT DE PAUL COLLECTION
The St. Vincent De Paul Society Truck will be on our parking lot on Thursday, March 22nd from 9 AM—2 PM to collect good, wearable, used clothes and small household goods. They cannot accept baby items only baby clothes. Please take all donations to their truck which will be on our lot.
Thank you.
Expectant and New Parents
Registration for your child’s Baptism should be part of the plans for your baby’s arrival. Just call the rectory, 215-357-1221, to begin the process. Life will only get busier once your little one arrives.
If your baby has arrived and you haven’t registered, just call. You will be sent a letter with information about the process. For whatever reason, if your child is older and has never been baptized, guess what, just call.
Winter and Spring Baptism Class Dates: Saturday, February 25th, Tuesday, April 10th and Saturday, June 16th.
Registration and the interview must be completed before attending the class.
