Tag: Lifeline Screening

Around the Parish – July 28, 2024

Written by on July 27, 2024. Posted in Around the Parish, News.

In last weekend’s bulletin, we announced that Joseph Dumais would be invested into the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. This week we are able to share that his new religious name is Brother Ezekiel Thomas! Congratulations to Bro. Zeke and the Dumais Family. I know you will join me in continuing to pray for Brother Ezekiel Thomas as he continues his discernment with the Friars, as well as praying for an increase in the response of young people to the call of God to vocations in the priesthood and consecrated life, especially from our parish and our diocese.

If you wish to send a card of greeting, congratulations, and offer of support through prayer, you can send it to:

Br. Ezekiel Thomas
PO Box 404
South Orange NJ 07079

In this weekend’s bulletin, there is a notice about some impending paving work we need to address before winter. The asphalt in the upper parking lot has deteriorated to the point of creating dangerous potholes and erosion, requiring us to have it resurfaced before winter to ensure safety.

After reaching out to three companies, the Parish Finance Council has chosen to work with Smith Paving for this critical project. The minimum estimated cost is $20,500, but this amount may increase depending on what we discover during the process.

We are asking for your financial assistance as well as prayers to help us cover these necessary expenses. Your support is greatly needed and deeply appreciated.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Worry pulls tomorrow’s potential of a cloud over today’s guaranteed sunshine. Life has no remote; we need to get up and change things ourselves. Remember, God doesn’t ask for ability, but for our availability.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

The Mass is considered the greatest prayer of intercession in the Church. This is because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father, making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection. Traditionally, a Priest may be requested to offer a Mass for a specific intention, even if the requester cannot be physically present.

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

Having a Mass offered for a deceased person is an ancient and commendable practice. A Mass is offered to pray for the departed, that they may find peace in heaven. Since each Mass holds infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit to the person prayed for, as well as their family, who can take comfort in knowing that their intention is united with the prayers of the Church.

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Every Mass is a precious gift from God. It is the center of the Church’s life, known as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” because in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass. We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. At each Mass, all the intentions of God’s people, both living and deceased, are included. As Pope Paul VI noted in his motu proprio “Firma in Traditione,” the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join their own sacrifices to the Eucharistic sacrifice, participating more intensely and supporting the Church’s needs, especially its ministers.

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Anyone may request a Mass Intention for a living person, a deceased person, members of a family, or a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, such as World Peace, Vocations, or Respect for Life. The Church allows only one intention per Mass.

Offering a Mass Stipend:

The normal stipend offering for a Mass is $10. However, a Mass Offering can be more or less than the suggested amount, depending on the financial position of the person requesting the Mass. Envelopes for Mass intention requests are available at the entrances of the church. These envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. The requester may also ask for a card to be sent to notify someone that a Mass Intention has been requested (one card per intention). Please note that the name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not announced.

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Around the Parish – July 21, 2024

Written by on July 20, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Exciting news for a family in our parish: The Dumais’ son Joseph will be celebrating his investiture with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal this Monday, July 22. The investiture for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal is a ceremony where postulants receive their religious habit, marking their formal commitment to a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This includes a Mass or prayer service and the presentation of the grey tunic, cord, and hood. While this is a private ceremony for the men that are discerning a vocation to the community, we join in prayer for thanksgiving to God for Joseph as he continues to discern his calling toward the religious life. Let us also pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially from our parish and for our diocese.

Since this past Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of Catholics from all over have been in Indianapolis at the Tenth National Eucharistic Congress. This great gathering of Catholics is focused around the Holy Eucharist and its importance in our daily lives. I ask that you keep these people in prayer as the journey home this weekend. Keep also in prayer the blessings that will come forth from this amazing gathering that Our God has permitted and blessed.

Included in this weekend’s bulletin is information about mass intentions. The greatest form of prayer is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and therefore offering the mass for an intention is very important to us Catholics. It is customary to offer the mass especially for the dead on their date of death or a special anniversary. Many saints speak about the ineffable graces that come from offering the Holy Sacrifice for our deceased relatives. St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us: “The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is of infinite value. The souls in Purgatory are incapable of helping themselves. They can no longer merit, as we can. They cannot pray for themselves. But we can help them by our prayers, penances, and especially by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.” Let us pray for all of our beloved, both living and deceased.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

A head full of fear has no place for dreams or faith. Grow through what you go through. It is not the things that we accumulate, but the hearts that we touch that measure our success in life. Count your rainbows, not your thunderstorms.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Offering a Mass Stipend:

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Around the Parish – July 14, 2024

Written by on July 13, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Thank you to everyone who participated in and helped out at our Vacation Bible School this past week. Great fun was had by all! This couldn’t be done without the amazing support and help of all our dedicated volunteers.

Mark your calendars for our annual mass and picnic at St. Hermenegild Church. Our mass is scheduled for Thursday, August 1. Bring a chair and a dish to share for our picnic outside following mass. Mass will begin at 6 pm.

Lifeline Screening will be hosting a health screening event at our church on Thursday, August 8. This is a great opportunity to take proactive steps in managing your health. Lifeline Screening offers non-invasive tests to detect potential issues such as cardiovascular disease, stroke risk, osteoporosis, and more. To participate, you must register before the event. Registration information and other details can be found in this weekend’s bulletin.

A quick message on online safety:

It has come to our attention that someone is impersonating Father Andrew Boyd, sending emails and text messages asking for “assistance” or to manage tasks “discreetly.” Please be aware that these messages are not from Father Andrew Boyd.

Father Andrew Boyd, or any member of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, including clergy and entities such as parishes and schools, will never request money or personal assistance via email or text message.

In this age of digital scams, it’s crucial to remain vigilant. The Diocese will never solicit your personal or business information unless you initiate the contact. If you receive an unsolicited request for personal information or financial assistance (including gift card purchases), do not respond. Instead, use official contact information to verify the request.

Help us spread the word: Never share personal information or send money online to anyone via email or text message.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Let your faith be taller than your fears. Graciously accept what isn’t any longer, so that you can move forward and make the most of what is. Remember: whenever you are in a position to help someone, be glad and do it because that is God answering someone else’s prayers through you.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – July 7, 2024

Written by on July 6, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

The big week is finally here! This Monday, July 8 we welcome over 50 youths to our Vacation Bible School, “Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus was a Kid”. The team has worked hard these past weeks, and we are excited to welcome our youth to this fun filled adventure. Please continue to pray for our children and leaders as we journey back in time to learn more about our God and His love for us!

A question was raised by a few members of our church on when we should sit, kneel, and stand following communion. Back in October of 2021, the Diocese of Erie returned to the practice of kneeling during the Communion Rite (following the recitation/singing of the Lamb of God through the reception of communion). Upon returning to the pew, all are invited to either kneel or sit, depending on the individual’s preference. The question was raised, “do we have to kneel? And when do we sit?” The simple answer is, it’s entirely up to you after receiving communion. For clarity sake, a common practice is that the general permission to sit is with the closing of the tabernacle doors after the Holy Eucharist is placed inside the tabernacle and the priest genuflects/bows. As always, you are welcome to continue kneeling until the presider says “Let us pray,” for the prayer after communion, but you are welcome to sit whenever you wish.

(I think the questions was raised because some may have felt awkward wanting to sit and the priest either does not return to the chair or there is a lengthy time after communion until the priest sits. In other words, you don’t have to wait for the priest to sit if you wish to sit. It is entirely up to your judgement when you want to sit!)

We are always in need of more ministers at mass! If you feel called to minister by reading or being a Eucharistic Minister, or assisting as an usher, please let us know in the office! We are still in need of more ministers of Holy Communion to visit our local nursing homes. Currently, there are three weeks of the month that need a minister to visit either QLS or Avalon. If you feel that you are in need of a sign, this is your sign from God! We need YOU to make this community a family!

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Hope is the only thing stronger than fear. Regardless of the circumstances, two things that we are always in control of are our attitude and our level of motivation. Go prayerfully in he direction of your dreams. Life is fragile, handle it with prayer.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – June 30, 2024

Written by on June 29, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

This week, our country celebrates its independence, as well as the mid point of our summer. Every year, when we get to this point, I always ask myself, how? How did the time fly so fast that we are at the Fourth of July. In any event, I hope and pray that you enjoy the holiday and time with family.

The parish office will be closed this week on Thursday as well as our usual day off on Friday for the celebration of the Fourth of July. In order to celebrate with my family, I will be away on Friday, July 5. Therefore, as mentioned in last week’s bulletin, there will be no adoration as well as mass this Friday.

On Thursday, August 8, Life Line Screening will be hosting a health screening in Gallagher Hall. To participate, you need to preregister for the screening. More information can be found at the doors of church as well as in this weekend’s bulletin.

Calling all bakers! We need your help to make our VBS even sweeter! If you’re willing to bake cookies for our students, we would greatly appreciate your support. You can drop off your delicious creations in the Gallagher Hall kitchen on the weekend of July 6 & 7 after all masses, or anytime on Monday, July 8. Thank you for your generosity!

You may have noticed some recent digging around our property. As part of our ongoing commitment to maintenance, we had the window wells and outside stairwell repaired. Prior to beginning the work, the contractor called the 811 hotline to ensure all utilities were marked. However, despite these precautions, the gas line was accidentally hit during the digging process. As a result, everyone on the property was evacuated while we waited for the gas company to shut off the service and repair the line. Unfortunately, there was difficulty locating the shutoff valve, leading to the installation of a new one as it was discovered that the previous valve was missing. Fortunately, all issues have been resolved, and work continued. Our window wells and stairwell are now fully repaired.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

It is the same life, whether we spend it laughing or complaining. Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today. Be a positive energy trampoline—absorb what you need and rebound more back. I am not a product of my circumstances; I am a product of my decisions.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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