Catechetical Sunday
My Dear Parishioners,
This Sunday is Catechetical Sunday. It is a special recognition of all those who give of their time, effort and skills to see that our parishioners have the opportunity to be properly formed in the faith. This includes all those involved in St. Joseph/St. Robert School – teachers, principal, administration, staff, and volunteers. We also recognize and thank those involved in faith formation in our CCD program, including our program director and catechists, assistants, staff and volunteers. In addition we are grateful for the members of our RCIA team, youth formation team and Pre-Jordan instructors. They play a crucial role in preparing and instructing our youth and adults to come into the faith, or complete their initiation. We thank them for all they do in handing on the kingdom. This year they have the added challenge of trying to form our children in the age of Coronavirus. While we usually recognize parents as the primary teachers of their children in the ways of faith, they are even more important in assisting their children whether going over homework, facilitating home learning and in general supporting the plan of our teachers and aides. Please pray for all involved and ask God to bless them for the very good work they do.
The 2020 theme for Catechetical Sunday is “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.” Bishop Robert Barron, the Chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis says, “The 2020 Catechetical Sunday theme is taken from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. This theme focuses on the essential work of catechesis, which is an invitation to a whole new life given by Christ Himself. It emphasizes that living faith necessitates movement, inspiring all those who hear the Word to share it as witnesses of the true and living God.”
This year, we also invite everyone who is involved in the work of catechesis to consider earnestly the importance of catechist formation. Since catechists are the instruments through which many come to encounter Christ and hear this invitation, they have a unique role in keeping people connected to the life of the parish. The new Directory for Catechesis describes the following goal of catechist formation: “making catechists aware that as baptized persons they are true missionary disciples, meaning active participants in evangelization, and on this basis are enabled by the Church to communicate the Gospel and to accompany and educate believers in the faith” (DC 132). Therefore, catechists must first be accompanied by their pastors and catechetical leaders to encounter Christ, in order to facilitate encounters with Christ for others. To read the full text of the letter please go to https://www.usccb.org/committees/evangelization-catechesis/leadership-institute-catechetical-sunday-2020.
As a reminder, we are all catechists, in that we should join together in passing on the faith. If you know someone who is considering joining the Catholic Faith, or someone who simply needs to be asked, now is the time. We are holding our special Night of Inquiry on Wednesday, September 30th at 7:00 p.m. in classroom 18. Anyone interested in finding out more about the faith is invited to join us. Please call the rectory if interested, 215-672-3020.
Effective October 3-4, 2020 our schedule will be, Daily Mass (Mon-Sat) 8:00 a.m., Confessions on Saturday from 3:30-4:30 p.m., Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m., Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m.
God Bless you,
Fr. Bordonaro