SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 – TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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“Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” ~ Matthew 21:31

Masses for the week of Sept. 29 – Oct. 5, 2014

Morning Prayer in St. Joseph Chapel, 8:15am - Mon to Fri.

Monday, Sept. 29

8:35am (chapel) Roy Weber (Jim & Joan Black) Tuesday, Sept. 30 8:35am (chapel) Geri Fellin (Phil & Mary Lou Crossley) Wednesday, Oct. 1 8:35am (chapel) Bill Reinbold (William & Doris Schraff) Thursday, Oct. 2 8:35am (chapel) Barbara Holland (Tom Fink)

Friday, Oct. 3 – First Friday Mass & Benediction 9:00am (church) Maria Meier (Ron Meier) Saturday, Oct. 4 5:00pm (church) The Eckardt & Flood Families (Cathy Eckardt) Sunday, Oct. 5 8:00am (church) The Intentions of John Zdanowicz

(Mr. & Mrs. Russell Hay) 10:30am (church) Parishioners’ Intentions

Meetings for the week of Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2014

Mon. Sept 29: Adoration & Evening prayer, 7pm- Fatima House

Conquest, 6:40pm – School

Wed. Oct. 1: “Reason to Believe” Bible Study, 7-8pm – Marian

Room

Thurs. Oct. 2: Renew Group, 2:30pm – Marian Room

Baptismal Class, 6:30pm – Marian Room

Fri. Oct. 3:American RED CROSS Blood Drive, 2-7pm – School

Sat. Oct. 4: First Saturday Mass, 10am – Fatima House Men of Faith, 8am – Marian Room

The Church Cleaning Team for the week of

September 29th is (Team #1):

Laura Gumrecht, Anita Colahan,

Susan Middleton and Sharon Forte.

Your parish thanks you!

Mass Collection

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 $5,730.00

Thank you for your generosity!

Please remember in your prayers our parishioners who are sick, homebound, in the hospital, under hospice or residential care. Susan Ackerman, Rose Marie Alex, Lillian Appleman, Roger Bahnck, Mary Balbirer, Elizabeth Bartolillo, John & Loretta Bodisch, Ann Burns, Libby Chapman, Anne Colyer, Charlene Cornell, Matthew Crance, Jim Crawford, Chrissy Davis, Bill Dayton, Glen DeKutosli, Larry & Joanne Diehl, Terry Dunn, Arlene Eichlin, Josephine Fasano, Bernice &Charles Fees, Charles Fees, Jr.,Kathryn Ferris, Patricia Fite, Sara Fleck, Nancy Fratrik, Mary Gallo, Kathleen Gaughan, Dylan Geroni, Kathy Geroni, Marie & Rosalyn Giardullo, Anna Giebler, Judy Green, Susan Gross, Mary Halwski, Florence Hancharik, Steve Hancharik, Bill Hejnor, Joyceann Heley, Eli Hinkie, Charles Houston, David Huey, Doris Johnson, Martha Juchnowicz, Susan Kelly, Kathleen Kershaw, Kimberly Koch, Georgine Kocher, Martha Kocsis, Jack Kocsis, Grace Korcheck, Deanna Kovner, Barbara Kuehnle, Ryan Leven, Kathy Donahue Lewis, Kathy Lightkep, George & Frances Lovett, Eileen McCarty, Adelaide McElderry, Bridget Julia McHugh, Anne McNichol, Florence Middleton, Joseph Moore, Zachary Vincent Morelli, Jennie Moreno, Nancy Moreno, Wanda Muth, Frances Nowicki, Dorothy Odor, Helen Patzek-Charlton, Ryan Phillips, Nicholas Powell, Gladys Proca, Don Raman, Mike Ramos, Rachael Rice, Gregory Rickert, Joseph Ripp, Valerie Roberts, Richard Rolle, Sandy Romaszewski, Sim Rothman, Frederick R. Rude, Dolly Rutherford, Zina Sauerwine, Jean Scattergood, Lana Schell, Anna Scheuermann, Herbert Schevermann, Mario Sciacca, Julian Shine, Joe Shuman, Gail Silveira, Carolyn Stahley, Sandy Stauffer, Shane Stroup, Michael Suder, Sean Thatcher, Baby William Patrick Thomas, Maddie Tomaszewski, Douglas & Frank Toner, Barbara Vogan, Tamara Widmer, Ed Wismer, Baby Logan Yoder.

Edward Armstrong, Jr., Fionna M. Boyle, Derek Brosius,Christopher Brune, Kyle Crossland,Casey de Lauretis, Steehly de Lauretis, Michael Froeder,A.J. Giovino, Amy Giovino, Aaron Given, Bob Hankinson,Victor Hormilla, James Kidd, Stephen Lindmeier, Jason Litschauer,

Cory Litzenberger,Dan O’Connor, Jonathan Pucci, Dusty Rhodes, Craig Russell, Nicholas Spangler-Loch, Don Valdez, Justin Walsh.

It’s Easy…It’s Secure!

St. John’s online

Weekly Donation Program.

Visit our parish website at

www.stjohnsottsville.org

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 – TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes

are entering the kingdom of God before you.” ~ Matthew 21:31

I remember when I was in the seminary. One day, our Philosophy teacher brought in another student from another class to teach us the lesson of that day. I was envious. I sat through that class quietly simmering in my resentment of this other student’s brilliance. Lord have mercy on me and my pride. The chief priests and the elders saw Jesus in the temple area teaching and in their stubbornness questioned Jesus’ authority to teach, a job that they thought they and only they had the authority to do. “By what authority are you doing these things?* And who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 21:23) Today’s gospel is Jesus reply to their question, a response to their unbelief. They thought that they do not need saving by Him. They were so self-assured. Their pride and their attachment to their position of authority blinded them to the source of all and any real authority: Jesus. In addition to their pride, their souls were also poisoned with envy. They were jealous that Jesus was being followed and listened to by so many people. He was attracting crowds who were clamoring to hear Him speak. This is something they weren’t able to do well. Their hearts were then filled with envy. Pride does that in us. Pride inflates our heads and our hearts so much that we think that we are the best at what we do and no one can be better than me. Pride can take the simplest gifts that we may possess and run away with them. The gift can be something like a cooking recipe you have, your home, your well-kept lawn, your looks, and your intellectual brilliance. More dangerous to our pride is our position at work, in the family, or in the community. Church leaders can be so proud and blinded by their positions of leadership. Pride is the greatest enemy of authority. Pride sees itself as the source or author of its own gifts. Pride kills our connection to the real author of our gifts: our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the author of our positions. The author of my priesthood. The author of your parenthood. When we give in to pride, we lose all authority. Our leadership loses credibility.

When we lose authority, people who are in search of leaders of real authority will sense it and begin to walk away. Relationships will come apart as they become less authentic; that is, less founded on the source/author of all relationships. Just as well too. This can help deflate our prideful egos. This can then help us to question ourselves and become more aware of our pride. The tax collectors and prostitutes knew how it felt to be avoided. They knew what it meant to lack authority. They knew broken relationships. They have come to be aware of the painful road that their pride has led them to. They know what it means to be cut off from any authentic relationship with God and others. This is what drove them to seek real authority. They saw authority in John the Baptist who in turn pointed out Jesus to them, the ultimate source of all authority. In Jesus they saw the author of that authentic bond with God the Father and with people. They repented and turned to Jesus. Do we believe Jesus as the author of our marriages, our parenthood, our priesthood? Do we see Jesus as the source of our words an example to our spouses, our children? Do we admit the presence of pride in us that can weaken our relationships with one another because we no longer see Jesus and treat Jesus as the source/author of all our relationships? Lord Jesus, heal us of our pride and increase our faith in you.

Fr. Simi

Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Gala featuring in CONCERT the

LA DIVA TENORS

October 4, 2014 and October 5, 2014

a joyful, magical event in the St. Martin of Tours Chapel on

the grounds of the Seminary. All proceeds are dedicated to Forming Priests for the

Future.

Platinum and Gold Sponsors: join us for cocktails,

dinner and concert.

General admission: $200 per person, includes an

elegant cocktail reception followed by the concert. Complimentary off-site parking at St. Joseph’s University

including a courtesy shuttle will operate before and after the concert between the parking lot and the Seminary.

For more information, please contact Gina DeColli at (215) 587-5650 or RSVP@catholicfoundationphila.org

Humble Servants, Heroic Leaders, Holy Priest

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 – TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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Important Upcoming PREP Dates

October 6

th & 7

th at 6:45 – 7:15pm: Our first “Monthly

PREP Mass.” On the first Monday & Tuesday of each month the children gather to celebrate Mass. We invite our families to join us.

Sunday, Oct. 12th

during the 10:30am Mass: Introduction of our 2015 First Holy Communion Class

October 27th

& 28th

: Catechist Conference – NO PREP Class

What kind of future are you preparing for? Jesus encourages us to think -- to think about the consequences of our choices, especially the choices and decisions that will count not just for now but for eternity as well. The choices we make now will affect and shape our future, both our future on earth as well as in the life of the age to come. Jesus tells a simple story of two imperfect sons to illustrate the way of God's kingdom. The father provided for his sons food, lodging, and everything they needed. Everything the father had belonged to them as well. The father also rewarded his sons with excellent work in his own vineyard. He expected them to show him gratitude, loyalty, and honor by doing their fair share of the daily work. The "rebellious" son told his father to his face that he would not work for him. But afterwards he changed his mind and did what he father commanded him. The "good" son said he would work for his father, but didn't carry through. He did his own pleasure contrary to his father's will. Now who was really the good son? Both sons disobeyed their father; but one repented and then did what the father told him. Jesus makes his point clear: Good intentions are not enough. And promises don't count unless they are performed. God wants to change our hearts so that we will show by our speech and by our actions that we respect His will and do it. God offers each of us the greatest treasure possible – unending peace, joy, happiness, and life with Him in His kingdom. We can lose that treasure if we refuse the grace that God offers us, to follow in His way of truth and righteousness. Do you respect the will of your Father in heaven? Let us pray…"Lord Jesus, change my heart that I may only desire that which is pleasing to you. Help me to respect your will and give me the strength, joy and perseverance to carry it out wholeheartedly." Amen

The Regina Academy at St. John the Baptist School

Open House

Sunday, October 19, 2014

12noon to 2pm

Classic Catholic Liberal Arts Education Model

Come Learn Why Our Enrollment is Up 23%

KNOWING LOVING SERVING LEADING

WWW.SJBOTTSVILLE.ORG

Sunday, October 5th

in the Marian Room

@ approx. 11:30am

(immediately following the 10:30am Mass). A parent/guardian must accompany their teen to this first meeting. All following meetings are for the teen and their sponsor (parents cannot be Sponsors). For further information contact Donna Sciacca, CRE at the parish office.

It’s not too late to register for the 2014-2015 program.

Classes are just beginning, if interested in contact the parish.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 – TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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Our Men of Faith group invites all men ages 18 and up to

please join us EVERY Saturday morning, 8am in the chapel of St. John the Baptist Church.

Please join us as we strive to better understand our liturgy of

the day and scriptures of our weekend masses. There are no dues to pay, no officers in the group.

Everything is voluntary. Just show up if you are interested.

Bridgeton AA is hosting a Trick-or-Treat Parade on

October 31 @ 6:30pm

This is a FREE

event. From 6-7:30pm Great

trick-or- treating fun

for kids in one safe,

family friendly

location!

Come deck out your car’s trunk, tailgate, or hatch

(optional) & have fun handing out treats to our area youth.

Call/email to reserve your spot today!

484.325.1816 or bridgetonaa@gmail.com

The annual K of C Penny Party is Oct 15th.

It is time to get rid of those new items you will never use or return. There is a box in the church Narthex to donate cheer, glassware, furniture, clothing, collectibles and any other new items you want to donate. For pick up call Jim McHugh 610-847-5456.

The American Red Cross Blood Drive will be at

St. John the Baptist’s school gym on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, 2pm – 7pm.

Please call Sylvia Holznagel at 610-847-5647

for a “Preferred Appointment.”

Thank you for your gift of Life!

No experience necessary. Equal Opportunity for men & women

Urgent need for “more hands” willing to give an hour or two, once a month, to help keep our church & chapel pleasing to God. Please consider giving back to Our Lord by keeping His house clean!

(Leviticus 15: Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness)

FIGHT LIKE A CATHOLIC: Fundamentals of Spiritual Warfare

This one-day conference, hosted by the Catholic Life Institute, will explore Church teaching on Satan, the many ways that he manifests in our world and what doors he uses to penetrate our individual lives. How

do we discern his activity and what weapons does the Church give us to keep ourselves and our families safe from the

evil one? Susan Brinkmann, OCDS, of Women of Grace and EWTN, an expert in the New Age and the occult, will conduct

this day-long conference at Fatima House in Bedminster on Saturday, October 11 and again on November 15. The day begins at

9:00am and concludes at 2:00pm. Cost is $45 per person and includes a

continental breakfast, Mass, lunch, and two conferences. Hurry! Space is limited to 50 people per conference. Register on-line at

www.freeandfaithful.com or call 215-675-4078.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 – TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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Please support our Bulletin Advertisers

Prepare for Our Lady’s triumph: By God’s desire and through Him, the Immaculate Heart of Mary WILL triumph over evil. Please share the privilege of being among those who trust in her triumph and who honor her publicly. We hope and pray for at least 10,000 Public Square Rosary Rallies on Saturday, October 11, 2014 to help speed God’s victory, to heal and guide our nation, and to bless everyone who joins this rally. Public prayer is powerful: Saint Louis Marie de Montfort was truly devoted to Our Lady, knowing that to honor her is essential for truly loving her Son, Jesus Christ, Our Savior. In St. Louis’ monumental work, The Secret of the Rosary, he tells us that: “Public prayer is far more powerful than private prayer to appease the anger of God and to call down His mercy.” St. Louis also said: “Holy Mother Church, guided by the Holy Ghost, has

always advocated public prayer in times of public tragedy and suffering.”

Please join us for the 2014 Public Square Rosary

Rally, sponsored by America Needs Fatima. Join us rain or shine to pray for our nation on:

October 11, 2014 at 12:00 noon in honor of the

Miracle of the Sun at Fatima in 1917.

2 Locations for your convenience: ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH Parking Lot facing Route 412 near the large rocks. For more information contact the parish office.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (at the corner of Cold Spring Creamery Road and Rt. 413 in Buckingham). For more information, contact: Pat Dowling at 267-629-9471 or Charol Abrams at 215-794-0254.

MINISTRY SCHEDULE

October 4th & 5th, 2014

27th

Sunday in Ordinary Time

Extraordinary Minister Lector Altar Server Music

Saturday, 5:00pm

Cathy Leidtke Dave Slifer Anne Slifer

Marion Wolf

Marie Louzon Aiden Blaikie Brendan Krug Johann Krug

Ordinary Time

Sunday, 8am

Marianne McEvoy Richard McEvoy

Weex Roney Joel Roney

John Zdanowicz

Samantha Froman Gavin Reshetar Maya Reshetar

Patty Leidner Elaine Jocelyn

Sunday, 10:30am

Phil Donahue Russell Hay

Dolly Kovacs Donna Sciacca

Jane Ferry Mackenzie Kenderdine

Olivia Kenderdine Anna Schmidt

Grace DeVenuto Jim Roney

HELP WANTED-Full-time seasonal oil truck driver

for growing oil company in Horsham, PA.

Applicant must be reliable and dependable with

the appropriate licenses. Please fax resume to

Home Comfort Mechanical 215-444-0551.