Happy Catholic Schools Week!

My Dear Parishioners,

Happy Catholic Schools Week! Thank you to Mr. D’Andrea, our principal, and all of his teachers, staff, and volunteers. Thank you also to our parishioners. Without your support of Catholic education, we could not fulfill this part of our mission as church. Our school is a real blessing to our families. It is a true community where we are, “Focused on Faith and Learning.” We continue to celebrate that SJR was named a National Blue Ribbon School of excellence. This is quite an accomplishment. Our Mission Statement reads: St. Joseph/St. Robert School (SJR), with Jesus as our foundation and inspiration, prepares students to live fully His message of love, courage, and compassion. Our philosophy of academic rigor and relevance prepares our students to be contributing members of the Church and the global community. All are invited to check out the good things happening at our school by registering for a private tour.

I am looking to get our student altar servers serving again. If you have a student in grade 5 through high school who is interested in serving at Mass, please contact the rectory (215-672-3020). We will be hosting Archbishop Adams for confirmation this year as well as my classmate, Archbishop Perez for our 100^th Anniversary Mass and we will be needing people capable to serve. I will be offering refresher classes for those who were serving before COVID and feel that they may need a quick update as well as full training for those new to serving. Please call the rectory and leave your name, phone, and e-mail and I will be reaching out to you.

Next Sunday is the World Day for Consecrated Life and we were asked to publish the following letter that the Archbishop sent to the religious in our Archdiocese.

May God Bless You,
Fr. Bordonaro

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Consecrated Life,

I extend prayerful best wishes for a happy, healthy, and blessed New Year!

Soon we will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Observed on February 2nd, it celebrates Christ as the Light of the World. That celebration is significant for you as Saint John Paul II referred to consecrated persons as “lights for the world” bringing Christ to others through lives of sacrifice, service, and prayer.

World Day of Consecrated Life will be celebrated in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Sunday, February 6, 2022. The Gospel reading from Saint Luke for that day focuses on Our Lord’s call to Simon Peter. In it Jesus says,

“Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon Peter replies by answering the Lord without reservation. “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing … But at your command I will lower the nets.”

We celebrate World Day of Consecrated Life because each of you have said, “Yes, Lord.” Our Lord said to Simon Peter, “Do not be afraid,” and he says the same to you each day. Our world needs you and your dedicated witness. I commend and thank you for your dedicated and generous service to God’s people. We celebrate each of you for saying yes to the call of Consecrated Life as religious priests, brothers, sisters, hermits, and consecrated virgins.

We beseech families, parishes, and schools to foster the call to the consecrated life. As Our Lord says in the Gospel of today, “Do not be afraid … ” Parents, do not be afraid. Children, do not be afraid. Young adults, do not be afraid. Our Lord calls and He does not leave you to walk alone. He walks with you and strengthens you to follow the path He has laid out for you. May the Light of Christ shine on you and may you reflect His light and love on all those you encounter.

Sincerely in Christ Jesus,

Most Rev. Nelson J. Perez, D.D. Archbishop of Philadelphia