St. Matthew Parish

Bulletin:

 

219 Fayette Street

Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428

(610)-828-0424

FAX (610)-825-5168

stmatthewrectory@verizon.net

 

 

 

 

WE ARE A TITHING PARISH

 

TITHING: GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING

For August 28, 2008

Number of envelopes mailed................................. 1197

Number of envelopes returned................................ 270

Offertory for this week.................................... $8,660.00

Offertory last year........................................... $9,363.50

Children’s Offering.............................................. $12.00

Today the Special Collection is for the Black and Indian Missions.

MASS INTENTIONS

 

23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME                            

 September 7, 2008

Saturday, September 6

    5:15PM      Frances Brady

Sunday, September 7

     7:30AM      In Thanksgiving of Margaret Mwangi

    9 :30AM      David Ford

  11:30AM      William Minnick

Monday, September 8

    8:15AM      The Wertz Family

Tuesday, September 9

     8:15AM      Eugene & Helen Ledger

Wednesday, September 10

     8:15AM      Joseph Staley

Thursday, September 11

     8:15AM      Marie Carroll

Friday, September 12 School Liturgy

    9:00AM      Mary Lucas

Saturday, September 13

    5:15PM      William Moffitt

Sunday, September 14

     7:30AM      Joseph F. Delbuono

    9 :30AM      Selicetta Volpe

  11:30AM      Anne Genuardi & Family

                                          

James Fritz III, Emily Kelly, Claire Muldoon, Michael McGinnis, Jeffrey Ryan Brown, Lucy Gordon, Rita Champagne, Virginia Otty, Gabriella Baldwin, Karen Hill Brown, Fred Amrhein, Faith Griffin, Hal Zweiback, Gerry Urbano, Vera McPhilomy, Jerry Hollingsworth, Therese Sharkey, Helen Bogle, Daniel Horulko, Eric Hartman, Roselie Partenheimer. (Please notify the Rectory when your loved one is well again).

 

Keep in your prayers Specialist Daniel Furtak on active duty in Afghanistan. God Bless America and our Armed Forces.

 

PRAY FOR THE DECEASED OF OUR PARISH:

 

 

PARISH NEWS

LITURGY OF THE WORD WITH CHILDREN:

We celebrate Liturgy with Children at the 9:30 AM Mass every Sunday all year long.  All are welcome.

 

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY BULLETINS:

Are available in the vestibules of the church.  Look for them each week.

 

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: Will meet on Friday, September 12th at 1:00PM.

BAPTISM:   Baptismal classes are every first Monday of the month (except in Sept. Labor Day is the 1st) at 6:30 PM in our St. Vincent de Paul Room. Our next class is Monday, September 8, 2008.  Please call the rectory to register for the class. To schedule a Baptism please go to the Rectory Office after Mass on Sunday or call Father Donlon for an appointment to fill out the required paperwork. Baptisms are held the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month after the 11:30AM Mass.

 

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION:  

We will resume our monthly Adoration Mondays on September 15th. Following the 8:15AM Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar for our prayer and adoration. We welcome you into the peace on September 15th, October 20, November 17, December 15, January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20, Mary 18, June 15. At 7:00 PM we  will close with Evening Prayer and Benediction.

 

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE CLASS: (Formerly known as Bible Class) will meet on Thursday, September 18 at 7:00 PM in the St. Vincent de Paul room.

 

                  

CATECHETICAL SUNDAY: On Sunday, September 14th we will ask a special blessing on the teachers of religion, both in Conshohocken Catholic and the CCD. Come to 9:30AM Mass to show encouragement and support for the task our parishioners do in  preparing the younger generation for their journey of life. The teachers and their families will be welcomed into the rectory for refreshments following the mass.

 

ST. MATTHEW PARISH FEAST WEEKEND:

On the weekend of September 20 and 21 at all the masses, we will honor our parish patron with special prayers and blessings. We honor you, our parishioners, for the support you provide week-in-and-week-out by your presence and participation at liturgy and by your financial contributions. Be sure to pick up your special remembrance when leaving mass that weekend.

 

MISSION COOPERATIVE COLLECTION: On Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, a priest from Sri Lanka is going to do a mission appeal at our parish. Father represents the Jaffna Diocese. I’m sure we all know Sri Lanka where 27,000 people lost their lives being hit by the Tsunami. Please be generous. Thank you.

 

PARENTS MEETING FOR MONDAY CCD:

Parents only should come Monday, September 8, at 6:30PM to the Church to join in prayer for our children and complete the paperwork for registration. One person should be in attendance to represent each family.

 

RECYCLE ROSARIES? YES

We are collecting old rosary beads. They will be lovingly taken apart, cleaned and used to make new rosaries for children and charity organizations. If you have rosaries you are willing to donate, please drop them in the box at the back of the church. Thank you.

 

CCD CLASS SCHEDULE:   Monday evening classes meet from 6:30 – 7:45PM in the Conshohocken Catholic School on: September 15, 22 and 29, October 6, 13, 20, and 27, November 3, 10, 17 and 24, December 1, 8 and 15, January 5, 12 and 26, February 2, 9, and 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. There is NO CCD on: December 22, and 29, January 19, and February 16.

 

DAILY MASS SCHEDULE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR:   In order to welcome the Conshohocken Catholic School students to our daily Masses at St. Matthew, we must occasionally change the time for Mass from 8:15 to 9:00 AM. Please note the dates for the 2008-2009 school year below. We especially welcome you to these Masses and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Come celebrate with the school at 9:00AM on: Friday, September 12, Friday, October 3, Friday, November 7, Friday, December 5, Friday, January 9, Friday, February 6, Friday, March 6, Friday, April 3, Friday, May 1, and Friday, June 12.

 

R.C.I.A. CLASSES:   We will be starting our new class for prospective converts to the Catholic faith on Mondays, starting September 29th; we will hold our classes in the St. Vincent DePaul room (under the church); the time will be 7:30-8:30 PM each Monday.  This class will also be for those who have not received Confirmation or Catholics who just want to update their faith.  Call the rectory for more information and to reserve a seat in the class.

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Clean up day at St. Matthew’s new cemetery (butler Pike and North Lane) will be Saturday, October 11 from 12:30 to 4:00 Pm, rain or shine. Meet us at the Mausoleum at 12:30PM. Gloves and snacks will be provided. Everyone is welcomed to join us. Any questions please contact Bill McAvoy at 610-238-9969.

 

SPIRITUAL LENDING LIBRARY:   "Do you love to read a good book?  Do you hunger for spiritual reading material?  Stop by our new Spiritual Lending Library!  It is located in the vestibule on the rectory side of the Church.  Books are available for a period of a month at a time.  We ask that you sign out any book you borrow in the log provided and sign the book back in when you return it.  Happy Reading!"

 

ST. MATTHEW PARISH PRAYER CHAIN: We invite people in the parish community to call the rectory (610-828-0424) or email the rectory stmatthewrectory@verizon.net with prayer requests.  You may be very specific or very general in your request.  At this time we have about 30 people praying for your petitions.  If you are interested in joining us in daily prayer, please call the rectory and ask to be added to our list of intercessory prayers.

 

                                                       

JOKE OF THE WEEK

 

Time to Chuckle:

 Middle Age is when your wife tells you to pull in your stomach and you already have!

 

TIME TO CHUCKLE:

   Once there were two trapeze artists named Annette and Antone!  The most exciting part of the show was when Annette would catch Antone as he leaped from his trapeze.  One night Annette was ill, but in the best tradition of the circus Antone went on alone.  Unfortunately, without Annette to catch him, he never made the second show!  Which goes to prove that if you’re going to be a trapeze artist, you should never work without Annette!

 

 

TIME TO CHUCKLE:

Did you hear about the carpenter who tended to be undiplomatic in his dealing with other people?

Recently he fell off a ladder with a mouthful of tacks and swallowed a half dozen or so.  He now might be described as a tactful person!

 

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

 

MOM – HEART OF THE HOME: Come moms of all ages! Unite with moms throughout the Archdiocese to pray and replenish your spirits. Celebrate you vocation of motherhood on Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 9AM-3PM at St. Charles Seminary. The main Celebrant for Mass is Cardinal Justin Rigali and the Keynote speaker is Pat Ciarrocchi a devout Catholic and news anchor. Register on line at www.momheartofthehome.org 

 

YOUNG ADULTS:

Theology on Tap (TOT) is coming to Conshy this year at the Great American Pub! Join others from around the Philly area who want to learn more about their faith and the church. Dates: September  11
Speakers and Topics for TOT 2008!
September 11- The facts about internet dating, why some succeed and others don't
Anthony Buono- Founder of Ave Maria Singles

Time: 6:30-9:30pm

Location: The Great American Pub in Conshohocken
123 Fayette St. Conshohocken, PA 19428.
(We will meet on the top floor in the Valley Top Ballroom.)

 

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CLOTHING DRIVE:

   The Society of St. Vincent de Paul serving the underprivileged is collecting donations of usable men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. We will also be accepting small household goods (bed, bath linens, pots and pans, dishes, cooking utensils, toys and books.) We also accept small appliances in good working order. No baby equipment. You are invited to take donations to the following locations on the specified dates below:

Saturday, Sept. 13th from 9AM to 2PM, St. Gertrude, 200 Bullock & Merion Ave., Conshohocken.

Saturday, Sept. 16 from 9AM to 2PM, Sacred Heart Church, 120 Jefferson St., Swedesburg.

Saturday, Sept. 27th from 9AM to 2PM, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 502 Ford St., Bridgeport.

Saturday, Sept. 27th from 9AM to 2PM, Sacred Heart, 120 Jefferson St., Swedesburg.

 

SS.COSMAS AND DAMIAN CHURCH, Conshohocken, will host its 95th ANNUAL ITALIAN FESTIVAL in honor of Saints Cosmas and Damian with the first night of our Triduum with a White Mass of Thanksgiving for all Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists and other members of the Medical Profession, Thursday September 25th at 7:00 P.M, and a Triduum Mass on Friday September 26th at 7:00 P.M. On Sunday, September 28th Masses will be said in honor of SS. Cosmas and Damian. There will be an outdoor Procession immediately following the 12:15 Mass on Sunday, September 28th, 2008. Following the Procession there will be a Healing Service in church.

The BLOCK PARTY AND CARNIVAL WILL BEGIN ON Friday evening September 26th at 6:00 PM with Family Night and Conclude, Sunday, September 28th at 5:00 PM. Each day will feature amusement rides, prize wheels, game tables, and outdoor musical entertainment and food.

 

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The First  Book of Samuel

 

   An ongoing national debate these days involves, on one side, those who want more laws to protect workers, poor people, and the environment, and on the other side, those who want fewer laws and less government.  The First Book of Samuel reflects a similar tension in Israel as the days of the judges come to an end and the first kings make their appearance.  This period of Israelite history is filled with mighty struggles and colorful personalities, including a king who gradually loses his sanity and the shining hero replaces him.

 

   This book is named after Samuel, the last of the judges and a reluctant kingmaker.  Samuel, a prophet anointed to speak God’s word to the nation, represents one way of government, God works through the prophet’s words to remind the people of Israel to be faithful to the terms of the Covenant.  A second way of governing is represented by Saul the first king anointed by Samuel to rule over the whole nation.  God works through the king’s laws and regulations to ensure that the people of Israel are faithful to the terms of the Covenant.  In I Samuel, the former way of governing the Israelite nation gradually gives way to the latter, with an obvious gain and an obvious loss for the people.

 

   When kings begin to rule Israel in place of judges and prophets, the people gain a more structured way of life and develop a great national identity.  These changes also make them stronger in facing threats from other nations.  But at the same time, the people lost a great deal of personal freedom and independence.  They are taxed and even forced into labor to support the king’s government and building plans.  Echoes of this debate on governing styles can be found throughout.

 

   Israel’s kings were understood as being chosen by God and as being responsible for God’s interests.  First Samuel clearly emphasizes that the success of kings depends on their obedience to Gods’ law.  First Samuel reminds us that final authority in human affairs rests in no human being, but in God alone.  Human systems are never perfect, but must constantly be reviewed and renewed.

 

Quick Facts:

- period covered from 1080 to 1040 BC

- the author is unknown, from the Deuternomic tradition, probably using ancient court records and her stories.

- the theme is: the tension between the need for a king and the people’s reliance on God.

- of note: first and Second Samuel, originally was one book and made into two books when they were translated from Hebrew into Greek.