The Call of the Prophet Isaiah and the Call of St. Peter
My Dear Parishioners,
We thank all of those who helped to make our volunteer’s appreciation dinner and our family bingo so successful. There were so many happy people at both events. We have such a beautiful and friendly and happy parish. We are so blessed.
Saturday morning Confessions are off to a great start. The new Confession schedule is 8:30-9:00 and 3:30- 4:30. Saturday morning Confessions offer an opportunity for those who cannot come in the afternoons to have their Confessions heard.
More people are also signing up for Monday Adoration. We can still use more people to sign up to keep our Monday Adoration going. We remember that time before the Eucharist is never wasted time and the most productive of time possible.
This weekend we have another happy event as we have a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. Fill up on pancakes and get the sugar high to cheer on the Eagles!
Next weekend, we will be blessed by a pastoral visit by Bishop Christopher Cooke. Bishop Cooke is the regional bishop of Bucks County. He will be saying our vigil Mass on Saturday, February 15 and will be greeting parishioners after the Vigil Mass.
Monday, February 17, we are blessed to have Kathleen McCarthy with us again. Kathleen will have a faith sharing at 7:00pm followed by Benediction. She is an excellent speaker. Come. The schedule is: Rosary at 6:30, presentation by Kathleen at 7:00, then concluding with Benediction.
This weekend we hear the call of the Prophet Isaiah and the call of St. Peter.
The burning coal that touched the mouth of Isaiah is symbolic of the Sacraments. The Sacraments burn away the uncleanliness sin. Then the Sacraments fill us with the Heavenly Graces necessary to live out whatever Vocation to which God calls us.
The call of St. Peter is the call of our very first Catholic Priest. All priests are fishers of men. The “net” used by priests are the teachings of the Church. The “bait” is the chance for eternal life in Heaven. The “boat” is the Church itself.
All priests are unworthy. This is because all priests share is the Priesthood of Our High Priest, Jesus Christ. Yet, Jesus Christ has chosen to use the ministry of priests in order to fulfill His promise to us to remain with us until the end of time. Jesus has chosen to make priests another Himself, “another Christ.” He has chosen to use the hands and mouths of His priests to continue to teach, govern, and sanctify us, His people.
Priests then are not a nice thing to have in a parish but a necessary presence in a parish. Our very definition of a parish confirms this:
Can. 515 §1 A parish is a certain community of Christ’s faithful stably established within a particular Church, whose pastoral care, under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, is entrusted to a parish priest as its proper pastor. No lay person or even Deacon, however committed to the parish, however well intended, however devout, can replace a parish priest.
Let us continue to lay siege to Heaven for more priests. Let us continue to promote vocations to the Sacred Priesthood from our own parish and from our own families.
Tuesday, February 11, is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. This day commemorates the first of the 18 apparitions of our Blessed Mother at Lourdes. To help us observe the Feast I am including the Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes from EWTN.
It is a big weekend for us Philly fans. Go Birds!
And may everyone have a really great celebration—of an Eagles win!
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
St. Joseph, our Patron, pray for us!
Fr. Michael J Pawelko, Pastor
LITANY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy; Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven; Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world; Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit; Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God; Have mercy on us. Holy Mary; Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God; Pray for us. Mother of Christ; Pray for us.
Mother of our Savior; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Help of Christians; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Source of love; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of the poor; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of the handicapped; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of orphans; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of all children; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of all nations; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of the Church; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Friend of the lonely; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Comforter of those who mourn; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Shelter of the homeless; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Guide of travelers; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Strength of the weak; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Refuge of sinners; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Comforter of the suffering; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Help of the dying; Pray for us.
Queen of heaven; Pray for us. Queen of peace; Pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Spare us O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.
Let us pray: Grant us, your servants, we pray you, Lord God, to enjoy perpetual health of mind and body. By the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrows, and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.