This Sunday, January 29, 2017 is the final Sunday that Eagle Scout candidate Justin Convery will be collecting clothing and toiletries for six shelters for Homeless Veterans.  We are looking for any new or gently used men’s clothing and toiletries.  Sizes can range from medium to 2XL.

If you have any questions, please call him at (484) 362-9733.  Thank you!

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia rejoices to have one of her own priests appointed to this ministry, Msgr. George Majoros, Pastor of St. Charles Borromeo in Drexel Hill and Sacred Heart in Clifton Heights.  To learn more about Msgr. Majoros’ extended Missionary of Mercy ministry, click here.

Approximately 60 million abortions since the 1973 decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton reflect with heartbreaking magnitude what Pope Francis means by a “throwaway culture.”  However, we have great trust in God’s providence.  We are reminded time and again in Scripture to seek the Lord’s help, and as people of faith, we believe that our prayers are heard.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), no. 373, designates January 22 as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children: “In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.”

As individuals, we are called to observe this day through the penitential practices of prayer, fasting and/or giving alms. Another way to take part is through participating in special events to observe the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

For further resources, visit the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Today would have been the 88^th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  In his “I Have a Dream” speech, he stated, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Dr. King’s call for racial equality is echoed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). “Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin.  Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.” (CCC 1934).

Photo by Mr. Joseph Ferrera. Creative Commons License.

Pope Francis has granted a Plenary Indulgence opportunity for the Centennial Year of Our Lady of Fatima.  To read more about how the indulgence may be obtained, click here.

To see how else to celebrate the Fatima anniversary, visit the Archdiocesan Fatima Centennial webpage: www.archphila.org/Fatima.

The first week of Ordinary Time begins today, January 10, 2017 with green as the seasonal color. Ordinary Time is the only liturgical season that is celebrated in two phases.  This is the first phase of Ordinary Time, which will last until the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday (this year, March 1, 2017).  The second phase of Ordinary Time begins the day after  Pentecost Sunday (this year,  June 5, 2017) and lasts until the First Sunday of Advent (this year, December 2, 2017).

There is nothing ordinary about Ordinary Time!  Ordinary Time gets its title from the word “ordinal” which means “numbered.”  Ordinary Time means that it is “numbered time.” It wasn’t meant to refer to this period in the liturgical calendar as being run of the mill or average.

This is a time set aside to reflect on our call to follow Jesus Christ on a daily basis – nothing ordinary about that!

The liturgical season of Christmas began with the vigil Mass on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which this liturgical year falls on Monday, January 9, 2017.

But, remember:

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman (1899-1981)

This is an ancient blessing in the Catholic tradition that transcends cultures and continents.  Legend holds that the letters correspond to the initials for the names of the Three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.  More importantly, these letters abbreviate the Latin phrase “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” – “May Christ bless this house”.

The year “2017” is divided by this phrase as a reminder to keep Jesus at the center of our lives and our relationships, wherever we go.  The four crosses signify the four corners of the world to which we the Baptized are commissioned to proclaim the Gospel.  The crosses also remind us that in the Year of Faith that we are called to:

• grow in faith
• witness to our faith
• share our faith
• be transformed in faith

Traditionally this blessing is done on Epiphany but it can be done at any time. The chalking ritual below is as a way to encourage every household of faith to begin the New Year in faith.  This is a simple and versatile way to include family members of varied Christian denominations.  The short prayer that follows can be shared at the main entrance of the home.

Chalking Entranceway Prayer

Begin by singing a refrain of familiar a Christmas song (e.g. “What Child is This?”)

Leader:  The Lord be with you;
ALL:  And with your spirit.

Leader: May Christ dwell in this house and bestow peace to all its inhabitants!
ALL: And all who enter it!

Leader: Let us pray.  O God, you once used a star to lead wise ones and all people of good will to your Son.  May the light of Christ guide us to recognize him in the epiphanies of our lives, each and every day.  As we cross this threshold each day for work, study or play remind us of our true purpose – to love your people, do your will and lead others to you just as did the wise men of old.  May all who enter here find your gracious hospitality in our company and may all who dwell here seek you in the face of every guest.
ALL:  Christ bless this house.

Invite each person present to chalk the door way with the phrase: 20  + C + M + B +  17.  Provide a step ladder and assistance so that younger family members can participate.  If possible, conclude by singing another song (“O Come All Ye Faithful” or “We Three Kings”)

Leader:  May Christ dwell with us, keep us from harm and make us one in mind and heart, now and forever We pray for this and all good things in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.
ALL:  Come, Lord Jesus, into our homes and our hearts and remain with us now and always.

Today is the feast day of Philadelphia’s own St. John Neumann.

Born in  Prachatitz, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) on March 28, 1811, Father Neumann was ordained a priest on June 25, 1836, for the Diocese of New York. He was assigned to the “Niagara Area” of upstate New York.  On January 16, 1842, Father Neumann became the first Redemptorist to profess vows in the United States. His first assignment was in Baltimore, Maryland; then on to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Father Neumann became an American citizen on February 10, 1848.

On his 41st birthday on March 28, 1852, Father Neumann was consecrated the 4th Bishop of Philadelphia.  He established the first diocesan school system and a diocesan schedule for the 40 Hours Devotion. Under his leadership, many schools and churches were built.

On January 5, 1860, Bishop Neumann collapsed and died on a Philadelphia street while running errands.  At his own request, Bishop Neumann was buried in a basement crypt in St. Peter the Apostle Church, Philadelphia, where he would be with his Redemptorist confreres.  He was declared “Blessed” on October 13, 1963 by Pope Paul VI and was canonized a saint by the same pope on June 19, 1977.

The National Shrine of St. John Neumann is located in the lower church of St. Peter the Apostle Church at 1019 North 5th Street in Philadelphia. The body of the saint lies in a glass-enclosed reliquary under the main altar.  It is dressed in episcopal vestments with a mask covering his face.  Adjoining the lower church is a small museum, which displays exhibits related to the life of the saint.  The National Shrine of St. John Neumann and St. Peter’s Church remain under the care of the Redemptorists.

For further information concerning this great saint and the beautiful shrine (including hours of the shrine, museum and gift shop), visit the shrine’s website: www.stjohnneumann.org.