FROM THE PASTOR Dear Parishioners, As we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord on this Easter Sunday, each gospel provides supernatural details to explain the empty tomb. Two “men” appear out of nowhere dressed in “dazzling clothes” to proclaim to the first eyewitnesses that Jesus has risen from the dead. We, however, must rely on the gift of faith. Yet it is more than blind faith. Paschal faith is based on practice; it is based on a willingness to experience resurrection daily. Paschal faith looks into the world and proclaims that death is never the end of a story. There is no sadness that cannot give way to joy. There is no suffering that cannot be transformed into new life. There is no sin that cannot be reconciled. There is no despair that cannot be redeemed in hope. Peter could have looked at the burial cloths and beheld the ongoing presence of death. Instead, where there was emptiness, he saw fulfillment. This is the faith that we are proud to profess. A very Happy and Blessed Easter to all our parishioners. May that peace of the Risen Christ be with you throughout this Easter Season and always.

Yours in Christ, Father Dave

======================================== MASS INTENTIONS

Monday – March 28 – 9:00 a.m. CLAIR & MARGARET FRY

Tuesday – March 29 – 9:00 a.m. MARY CONNORS (Joan Steficek & Family)

Wednesday–March 30– 9:00 a.m. MATT DUDISH (Dan & Hermine Murphy)

Thursday – March 31 – 9:00 a.m. JOHN & FLORENCE BENTZ (Joanne & Sterling Hepler)

Friday – April 1 – 9:00 a.m. FRANCIS & MARY BURNS (Mary Ann Bausch)

Saturday – April 2 – 5:00 p.m. MATT & MARK NORKUS (Norkus Family)

Sunday - April 3 – 8:15 a.m. VERONICA SCHMITT (William Schmitt)

Sunday – April 3 – 10:30 a.m. JOHN D. DALTON (Hoy & Dalton Family)

======================================== PRAY FOR OUR SICK /

DECEASED We remember in prayer those who are ill. We commend to our Divine Lord all of our aged people and those residing in nursing homes. Sick: Margie Glunz, Theresa & Joseph Tuite,

Fred Maskerines, Pete Meseravage, Joanne Kochol, Joanne Hepler, Mary Zambo, Ed Smith. ======================================== The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. … Ps. 23:1

======================================== CANDLE DONATIONS

BVM – Special Intention by Mary Jean Morgalis St. Joseph - IMO Marguerite Minchoff by Margaret Pauly Tabernacle - IMO Mary LeBlanc by Margaret Pauly Sanctuary 1.IMO Joseph Minchhoff by Margaret Pauly 2.IMO Olive Minchhoff by Margaret Pauly 3. IMO Sister & Brother by Margaret Pauly 4. IMO Dr. &Mrs. Robert P.Boran by Tom & Kay Boran Guardian Angels 1.IMO Dr.&Mrs. Robert P.Boran by Tom & Kay Boran 2.For Toni’s intentions by Carl & Toni Wiest ========================================

SCHEDULE DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

5:00 p.m. – Saturday – April 2nd Reader: Bill Gianfagna Euch.Min.: Paul & Debbie Herb Servers: Cooper Chiplonia, Alyssa Sheriff, Evan Woodward Cantor: Mary Bound 8:15 a.m. – Sunday – April 3rd Reader: Chris Disabella Euch.Min.: Joyce Gerace, Joe Rehnert, John Corbacio Servers: Caitlynne & Mickaellya Schatz, Aliyah Peckman Cantor: Dave Derbes 10:30 a.m. – Sunday – April 3rd Reader: Jennifer Daubert Euch.Min.: Justina Majestic, Phil Markovich Servers: Ashley & Alisha Weiss, Megan Dalton Cantor: Dave Derbes ========================================

ATTENTION All Readers, Servers, and Eucharistic Ministers … your help is needed … please let us know your plans for May & June so that we can get started on the schedule for those months. Please call or email the Rectory by Monday, April 11th to let us know when you are NOT available during these months. Thank you. ========================================

QUESTION OF THE WEEK What in our faith do you find hard to understand?

How do you help others to understand the Catholic Faith?

========================================Next Week’s Readings

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (April 2/3) Reading I: Acts 5:12-16

Reading II: Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 Gospel: John 20:19-31

========================================

DRAMATIC STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Cast / Crew

Jesus – portrayed by John Vuksta Narrators – Debbie Herb & Evelyn Datte Script - George Smith Co-Directors - Dr. Robert DeColli & Rick Smith Choir Director - Dave Derbes Organist - Kathy Buehler

Choir Members

Kate Blackwell Lucilla Kochol Karli Blackwell Barbara Powers Mary Bound Butch Scheetz Fred Brahler Pat Scheetz Joe Brahler Sue Scheetz Debbie Chitwood Bernice Sockwell Janet Daubert Gene Walacavage Barbara Fox Marianne Wollyung ========================================  

STEWARDSHIP LIBRARY Stewardship Displays are located at the church exits. There are many items available including CD’s, Rosaries, Self-help and Informational Booklets, etc. You can make a donation or if you can’t pay, don’t worry; you may take it for free.

DOORS OF MERCY St John’s Adult Faith Formation is offering part 2 of the “Doors of Mercy” series.

April 3rd, April 10th, April 17th, April 24th

4:30 to 6 p.m. in Longinus Hall. Come and join us for an informative and inspiring video series on the mercy of God as seen throughout the Bible. Please add your name to the sign-up sheets in the back of church. We hope to see those who started the series and welcome any new participants who would like to be part of the final 4 weeks. For more information please call St. John’s Rectory 570-622-5470 or email stjbparish@comcast.net ========================================    

OPERATION RICE BOWL Hungering for Celebration. We prayed, fasted and gave alms – and now we celebrate! Our Lenten journey with CRS Rice Bowl ends in our own hearts, where Jesus reigns forever. Let us rejoice in our risen Lord – and in the lives we’ve changed this Lent in Columbia, Laos, Rwanda, Honduras, Madagascar and all over the world! Don’t forget to turn in your CRS Rice Bowl! ========================================  

DIVINE MERCY PERPETUAL ADORATION

Open Hours with Jesus We all must pray. What better place to pray than where God is physically present? If we love someone, we want to spend time with them. What better way to show Jesus how much we love him than to go before him in the Eucharist? We need adorers for the following hours:

Friday 5 p.m. Saturday 1 p.m.

Please call Albert 573-0036 or Aleece 449-7678. ========================================

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION Confirmation will be conferred

at St. John's on ….. Thursday,  April  28th,  2016  

======================================== FAMILY MATTERS

Easter. The Paschal mystery – Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again – reminds us that we are called to live a new life in Christ this Easter season. As a family we too can embrace the Paschal mystery – by dying and rising to new life in loving our neighbor – the ones we live with. Have a joy-filled Easter with your family!

You pray for my family, and I’ll pray for yours. LONGABERGER

BASKET & POTTERY CALENDAR SPONSORS - 2016

BeeHive Salon Ed & Carole Quirin Boran Dental Assoc. Rosenberger Plumbing Club 18 Schlitzer-Allen-Pugh Eastern Press Smith Family Brian & Sue Eckley St. John’s CYO Program Father Dave Sr. John’s Family Guild Fellows & Smink St. Clair Auto Supply Dr. Richard Greco & Sons Towne Drugs Inc / Hahner Bros. Inc. Yorkville Drug Store Headquarters Salon Donald&Marianne Young David & Lori Miller Z&M Painting&Papering Victor E.Muncy Inc. Zimmerman,Lieberman Bob & Mary Porter Tamulonis & Hobbs Noble & Jule Quandel Law Offices

Winners 3/16: Aly Starr 3/20: Amy Gunosky 3/17: Linda Ralston 3/21: Missy Scheetz 3/18: Cindy Vuksta 3/22: Adrienne Schreffler 3/19: Bella & Abby ========================================

NATIVITY BVM HIGH SCHOOL … COACHING POSITIONS … Head Coach for Boys Soccer and a Head Coach for Boys/Girls Golf for the 2016/2017 season. Interested applicants should forward a résumé to the address listed or contact the school at 570-622-8110 ext 343. Must have all clearances and Protecting God’s Children workshop. Mail to: Nativity BVM High School, Attn: Principal Lynn Sabol, One Lawton’s Hill, Pottsville, Pa. 17901

FUNDRAISING NIGHTS Nativity BVM High School Theatre Arts Fundraising Nights … Come and enjoy a meal at Friendly’s Restaurant at the Fairlane Village Mall on Tuesday, March 29th from 5 to 8 p.m. Dine-in or take-out and Roma Pizza, 116 W. Market St., Pottsville on Monday, April 4th from 4 to 9 p.m. Dine-in. All proceeds benefit Nativity BVM Theatre Arts.

SOPHY JEWELERS BINGO sponsored by Nativity Green and Gold Booster Club on Sunday, April 3rd …Doors open 11:30 a.m.; Bingo starts 1 p.m. Admission $25.00 includes 15 regular games and 4 specials also special Jackpot Game (additional fee). Homemade Food and Refreshments available for purchase. ========================================

     

WELCOME VISITORS

Thank you for worshiping with us today.

If you are visiting our beautiful church, please know you are most welcome!

If you have questions or are interested in joining our parish family, please call the rectory 570-622-5470.

======================================== EASTER BASKETS – Thank you

Because of your overwhelming generosity during the Easter Food Drive we were able to provide 14 families with an Easter Dinner complete with a ham or turkey and all the trimmings. Thank you to Gerry Schwartz and volunteers, Miriam Tirjan, Barbara Schoenauer and Ed Schwartz, who helped with this event. Many of those less fortunate will be nourished because of your kindness! Thank you to those who donated hams, gift cards or made contributions to our St. Vincent de Paul Society. ========================================

St. John’s Parish Family Treasured Recipes Volume II Cookbook

Books are available at the Rectory during the week or by calling Sandy at 570-739-1630. ========================================

WEEKLY COLLECTION March 19/20: $ 5,716.86

Improvements & Repairs: $ 1,947.00 We thank our parishioners for their sacrificial giving

========================================NEIGHBORING EVENTS

ST. PAULINE VISINTAINER … You are invited to take part in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Monday, March 28th at 5 p.m. followed by Veneration of the first-class relic of St. Pauline Visintainer, Patron Saint of Diabetics and of all who are sick at Our Lady’s Chapel in St. Patrick’s.

YARD SALE at St. Ambrose Parish Hall, 302 Randel St., Schuylkill Haven, on Saturday, April 2nd. Doors open at 7 a.m. until noon. Thousands of items from furniture to collectibles. Food and drink available for purchase.

========================================  

PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Dear Parishioners,

The last Parish Council meeting took place on Monday March 7th. Information from the meeting:

1-Financials were distributed and discussed. We are in good financial shape.

2 - Update on St. John’s 175th Anniversary: There will be a picnic at Knobles Grove. The exact weekend will be finalized at the next meeting. The Mass and dinner will take place in October. The exact date will be finalized at the next meeting.

3 - An update was provided on Assumption and Nativity. All information was positive.

4 - Father Dave spoke about the renovations in the Chapel. If you have not been in the Chapel recently, the Council encourages you to see the beautiful changes that have taken place.

5 - There was an update on the Lenten dinners, Dramatic Stations, and the Mid-Summer Festival. This year’s Mid-Summer Festival will take place July 15 & 16.

6 - The Council has decided to have a special 'Drive for the Homeless' in April. Through the input of Council member Albert Nastasi, this year's drive will be in support of 'Servants to All'. This is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve the poor and homeless of Schuylkill County. This is their 4th year of service. They provide emergency shelter, food, clothing, and transportation for the poor and homeless. They are often the first responders to the homeless in our county. They also serve as a gateway and referral source to many county services and benefits. Servants to All is asking for non-perishable food items, especially food that can be eaten without having to be cooked. This especially helps the homeless who may not have a way to prepare any type of food. There will be a box in the back of church as well as a box at the 10th Street door. All the food will stay in the county. Thank you in advance for your support of this excellent charity and in helping the homeless and poor of our county. Feed the hungry is a corporal work of mercy.

7 - This meeting's focus discussion looked at the ministries of the parish connected with Mass (Altar Servers, Ministers of Hospitality, Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, and the Music Program). Altar Servers - Understanding that children grow, the Council asked if an effort can be made to have the robes reach the top of their shoes/sneakers. This would create a uniform look. Readers - Dr. Visot informed Council that he personally works with all parishioners that express an interest in being a Reader during Mass. Hospitality - There was a discussion concerning the Ministers of Hospitality. Should they greet people as they enter church? It was decided that this would not occur.

A general discussion took place regarding the dress attire of those participating in the Mass on the altar, as well as the Ministers of Hospitality. There were several different points of view. Some members stated that the dress was appropriate. Other members were looking for a specific dress guideline. The thought was that these volunteers were not simply coming to church but were representing our Parish and serving God in an official way and should dress accordingly. There was also a concern regarding a dress guideline. The consensus of Council was that the parishioners serving in an official manner during Mass be mindful of their role in serving God and representing the Parish and dress accordingly. No specific dress guideline will be adopted.

Music - Dave Derbes represented the choir and Dr. Bill Gianfagna represented the contemporary ensemble. Dave and Dr. Gianfagna presented information concerning the music program. The Council approved the purchase of a new electronic keyboard. The cost will be approximately $2,000. This will be used for both the traditional choir as well as the contemporary program. Father Dave will purchase additional music books for the ensemble.

The Council wishes to acknowledge and thank all the parishioners who volunteer their time and talent in service to our parish.

If there are any questions or concerns, please speak with a Council member. Remember - look for the blue lanyard. Dr. Robert DeColli

Parish Council President