Mission Statement We Worship ~ We Teach ~ We Care

5112 Pocono Crest Road Mass Schedule: PO Box O Pocono Pines, PA 18350 Saturday 4:00 pm 570-646-6424 Sunday 8:30 am & 10:30 am May 16, 2021 GOSPEL MEDITATION God remains where love remains. When a 7th Sunday of Easter believer realizes without doubt that God is love, it is a powerful moment. Being able to place our resurrection trust in this fundamental truth allows us to experience God’s presence in all of our experiences: the good and the bad, positive and negative, life enriching and destructive events we encounter. It is no wonder that St. Paul so accurately tells us that it is love that endures all things and lasts. How can God not endure or ever fade away? Because he is God, Jesus also guarded and protected his disciples as the endearing shepherd who always had their best in- terest at heart.

If we become too immersed in the world, we Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed lose touch with these deeper realities. We can

saying: “As you sent me into the world, so I become so preoccupied with preserving what we have created or think that we need, forgetting that sent them into the world. And I consecrate it is not building our city that really matters, but myself for them, so that they also may be God’s. Jesus clearly did not belong to the world consecrated in truth.” -Jn 17:18-19 and, by virtue of his resurrection, he tries to get us

to understand that we do not either. The truth brings us to other worldly, more divine places and takes our eyes off of the concerns that often captivate our fears and storm our senses.

St. Life can easily erode our faith. Think of your life Parish Staff over the last couple of weeks. What challenged your faith and distracted your divine glance? Reverend Sean G. Carpenter Even being overly stimulated with technology and ~ social media can erode our sense of confidence and cause us to forget who we really are. We need Deacon Tom Amoroso to distance ourselves from the world in order to experience the joy that Christ offers. The Melissa Laverty Pastoral Associate world will never like the word of God. It is Coordinator of Religious Education too challenging and too perplexing. The world ~ [email protected] mistakenly believes that it can survive on its own. It is a mistaken judgment that may cost people a Juli Reese Office Manager ~ [email protected] lot in the end. It is all so very simple: God remains when we love one another. If in all the business of John Marcinkowski, Jr. our lives and all that each day brings, the good and Coordinator of Music ~ [email protected] the bad, we follow the call and path of love, we will walk with God. There is nothing to fear and Visit us on the web @ www.stmaxkolbepoconos.org anxiety finds no home.

St. Maximillian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr, pray for us PARISH OFFICE HOURS AT ST. MAX MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY Saturday: Mother’s Day Intentions 10 am to 1 pm Sunday: Mother’s Day Intentions For The Parishioners Monday: Mother’s Day Intentions Sanctuary Light Tuesday: Lois Gleason In Memory of by Louise Allen Deacon Frank Gisoldi Wednesday: Father Al Vito

by Tom and Lynnette Smith Bread and Wine Thursday: Eugene Gartner & Daughter for Victims of Abortion Denise by Joan Gartner Saturday: Anne Marie Alcamo by Nat Alcamo Sunday 8:30: Deacon Frank Gisoldi 10:30: For The Parishioners Polish Mass 2:00: Henryk Zamojski by The Zamojski Family Katie Scully ~ Eileen Long - Geri Williams Mary DeWaters - Elaine Madere Regina Chmil If you know someone in need of prayers Confessions will be heard and would like to have them added to this list, please call the Parish Office. by appointment. Please call the parish office to schedule an appointment. Readings for the Week

Saturday: Acts 18:23-28; Jn 16:23b-28 Sunday: Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26; 1 Jn 4:11-16; Jn 17:11b-19 Monday: Acts 19:1-8; Jn 16:29-33 Tuesday: Acts 20:17-27; Jn 17:1-11a A Warm Thank You to those who continue offertory Wednesday: Acts 20:28-38; Jn 17:11b-19 support to our parish during these difficult times. Thursday: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Jn 17:20-26 Donations for May 9 were $4,030. Friday: Acts 25:13b-21; Jn 21:15-19 Your donations may be placed in the basket when Saturday: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; Jn 21:20-25 leaving mass; by mailing to the church, or by online Sunday: Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13; giving. Please contact the parish office if you want Jn 20:19-23 information on how to donate online.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr, pray for us ONLINE SCRIPTURE STUDY The St. Maximilian Kolbe Scripture Seekers discussion group meets live on Zoom every Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. New members are Faith Formation Classes always welcome. For more information on how to Updates and Reminders join, contact Melissa in the parish office. We would This year, students in the parish’s Faith Formation love to “see” you. program in grades 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are learning about their faith using the WELCOME TO FLOCKNOTE! online program My Catholic Faith Delivered. This year, the parish is Flocknote is the new communication system the covering all costs for the program. It’s parish is using to communicate not too late to get started if your child hasn’t already with all of its parishioners via done so. For more information or if you need to email or text. In addition to reset your child’s login password, contact Melissa in parish news, you’ll also receive the parish office. weekly communications from Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire Institute/Engage Program. If you are not receiving Flocknote PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAITH FORMATION notifications and would like to, reach out to Melissa STUDENTS WHO CELEBRATED THEIR or Juli in the parish office. SACRAMENT OF FIRST COMMUNION LAST WEEK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR MASS Gunner Gonzalez During any future Masses, our Brendan Keane parish welcomes anyone who Torin Murphy would like to help us during Samantha Van Buskirk daily and weekend Masses with greeting and/or seating Bryan Vinci parishioners, serving as lector, or assisting with Lyssa Weaver technology. Anyone interested may contact Juli or Melissa in the parish office. GOD BLESS OUR FAITH FORMATION STUDENTS WHO WILL CELEBRATE THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION In order to understand and appreciate the Sacrament Prayers are also requested for our eighth grade of Baptism, expectant parents are required to attend students as they continue their formation for this Baptism preparation. Currently, preparation takes Sacrament with their teachers, Dr. Maureen place online. A call to the parish office approximately Rinehimer and Mr. Bruce Reese. Confirmation will be held on Saturday, May 22, and Sunday, May 23. four months before your child is Zoe Bisono Nathaniel Cornejo due will make the scheduling of Patrick Domanski Madelynn Drivon your pre-Baptism session easier Megan Hejnowicz Dylan Horoszewski and give you ample time to Ayden Hull Klaudia Kononczuk prepare for this Sacrament of Gerald Negvesky Peterson Initiation to the life of grace. For more information, contact Melissa in the parish office. Jussette Suardi

St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr, pray for us Discover our Academic Excellence! Notre Dame Jr/Sr High School invites you to “SAVE THE DATE” learn more about our outstanding academic programs, enriching co-curricular & AUGUST 10TH extracurricular activities and faith-filled environment. Our administration, faculty and ST MAX ANNUAL staff are dedicated to encouraging each student GOLF OUTING to reach their own academic and spiritual potential. Tuition assistance is available. Call our office to learn how Notre Dame will be the more details coming in early June right choice for your student. 570-421-0466 or visit us online at www.ndhigh.org EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS Why Are We Looking at the Sky? When Jesus was physically with his disciples, he Men of Galilee — why are you looking at the sky? guarded and protected them. One of his greatest It seems like a pretty foolish question for the angels desires was that they share his joy completely. God’s to be asking the disciples. Their best friend just flew love is the source of all things and their sustenance. away in a cloud. I think in that situation, my first As we conduct the normal routines of our lives it is reaction would probably be to stop and stare, too. easy to get caught up in the immediacies of this But let’s not forget, the disciples had a lot of work world and lose focus. We become very self and to do. A world full of souls to evangelize. I’ve worldly dependent, forgetting that God wishes to always been a little amused at the thought of the guard and protect us. The joy the resurrected Christ angels shooing them down from Mount Olivet. Get can offer cannot be found in this world. It takes a to work! The kingdom isn’t going to build itself! bit of faith to realize that God’s will is a constant in In our own faith lives, we often find ourselves our lives and that God desires only the sustenance looking at the sky, don’t we? We’re the faithful, and goodness of both our bodies and our souls. We after all. We have seen Christ. We have accepted need to trust in God’s constant and rejuvenating him. We have given ourselves to him. What more love. This radical resurrection trust allows us to do we need to do? Perhaps we excessively dwell on experience the joy of God’s presence in all of the the past, or anxiously anticipate the future. Perhaps good and the bad, positive and negative, life building we can’t move on from a mistake we have made, or and life destructive events that we encounter. God we are shying away from a challenge in front of us. remains where love remains. We all have our own cloud that has bewitched us. But let’s remember, our faith compels action. Once again, the kingdom isn’t going to build itself. Why are you looking at the sky? The work is here. The hour is at hand. A good steward is to be mindful of the gift of time. What’s the mountain you need to climb down? What is the task God is handing you? For what purpose has God placed you here, at this very moment in history? — Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr, pray for us

Send Cards and Notes of Encouragement WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS to our Seminarians! The Diocese of Scranton currently has eight His , the Most Reverend C. men in formation for the priesthood. In Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, and the Office for Parish Life wish to invite couples support of vocations, our parish is asking th th adults and children to send notes, cards, and celebrating their 25 or 50 wedding anniversary in drawings of support to thank these men for their selfless 2021 to a diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass on service to our Church. All cards, notes, and drawings Sunday, June 6 at the Cathedral of St. Peter. may be dropped off in the parish office or in the The Mass will begin at 2:30, and attendance will collection basket at Mass, or emailed to require advance reservation. [email protected] or [email protected]. To register for the celebration go to : https:// The parish will then mail the cards to our seminarians: www.dioceseofscranton.org/parish-life/community/ William Asinari Michael Boris marriage/enrichment/wedding-anniversary-mass- Deacon Mark DeCelles Thomas Dzwonczyk june-6-2021/ . For questions or concerns, or if there are issues registering online, please reach out to Jen Andrew McCarroll Jan Carlo Perez Housel, Director for Community and Family Marc Phillips Pirolli Development. ([email protected], 570-207-2213 x 1104)

ST. MAX MASS SCHEDULE Saturday 4 pm Sunday - 8:30 & 10:30 am

Daily Masses: Mon.~Thurs. at 9:15 am All masses will be on a first come, first serve basis. Overflow seating will be in the parish hall with live television. Everyone is required It’s easy to join our parish ! to wear a mask and ushers will take everyone to their seats, following social distancing Go to: stmaxkolepoconos.org protocols. We humbly ask for your patience and and click Join. cooperation with this arrangement.

Fill in your basic information and a member of our parish staff will contact you. Or, call To access the Masses live on Facebook - the parish office at 570-646-6424 to have Saturday @ 4 pm; Sunday @ 8:30 & 10:30 go a registration form mailed. to Facebook.com and in the search engine, type “St Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Pocono Pines, PA.”

“Everyone is in need of reassurance, and if we, who Online Masses will also continue on the have touched ‘the Word of life’ (1 Jn 1:1) do not Pocono Catholic YouTube site at give it, who will? How beautiful it is to be Christians who offer consolation, who bear the https://www.youtube.com/channel/ burdens of others and who offer encouragement: UC_38MQDvW5w347cmZpbTDgQ. messengers of life in a time of death!” You can access this Mass featuring Fr. Sean and Fr. Gregg at any time ~ Francis, 2020 Easter Vigil Homily © 2020 Libreria Editricea Vaticana. on Saturday or Sunday. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr, pray for us ATTENTION: MINISTRY LEADERS FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK AND MEMBERS Tuesday: St. John I, Pope, Martyr inherited the If you have upcoming news Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Italy was been ruled for 30 years by an emperor who about the ministry that you are espoused the heresy, though he treated the empire’s participating in, please send ar- Catholics with toleration. His policy changed at about ticles to [email protected] the time the young John was elected pope. John was forced by the emperor to head a delegation to the East, So that they can be published into our bulletin and to soften the measures against the heretics. On his way members can be made aware of any activities that home, John was imprisoned at Ravenna because the may happen. Our bulletins are submitted to our printer emperor began to suspect that John’s friendship with 10 days prior to the date of the bulletin., so receiving his eastern rival might lead to a conspiracy against his throne. Shortly after his imprisonment, John died, your articles in timely fashion are important. apparently from the treatment he received in prison. ~Marion Colvin, Bulletin Editor Thursday: St. Bernardine of Siena, Priest The greatest preacher of his time, journeying across Italy, calming strife-torn cities, attacking the paganism he found rampant, attracting crowds of 30,000, follow- All Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in ing ’s admonition to preach heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically about “vice and virtue, punishment and glory.” At 22, virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred he entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained two for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation. years later. For almost a dozen years he lived in In official Church procedures there are three steps to saint- solitude and prayer, but his gifts ultimately caused hood: a candidate becomes "Venerable," then "Blessed" and him to be sent to preach. Especially known for his then "Saint." Venerable is the title given to a deceased person devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, Bernardine recognized formally by the pope as having lived a heroically devised a symbol—IHS, the first three letters of the virtuous life or offered their life. To be beatified and name of Jesus in Greek—in Gothic letters on a blazing recognized as a Blessed, one miracle acquired through the sun. candidate's intercession is required in addition to recognition Friday: St. Christopher Magallanes, Priest He and of heroic virtue or offering of life. requires a his 24 companion martyrs lived under a very second miracle after . The pope may waive these anti-Catholic government in Mexico, one determined requirements. A miracle is not required prior to a martyr's to weaken the Catholic faith of its people. Churches, beatification, but one is required before Canonization. schools, & seminaries were closed; foreign clergy The American Church has been blessed with numerous were expelled. Cristóbal established a clandestine Saints, Blesseds and Venerables, all of whom in their own seminary at Totatiche, Jalisco. He and the other priests unique way witness to Christ's love through their martyrdom were forced to minister secretly to Catholics during or virtuous lives within our American culture. the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28). They all There are eleven American Saints: St. Frances Xavier belonged to the Cristero movement, pledging their Cabrini, St. Marianne Cope, St. Katharine Drexel, St. Rose allegiance to Christ and to the Church that he Philippine Duchesne, St. Mother Théodore Guérin, St. established, to spread the Good News in society— Jogues and the North American Martyrs, St. John Neumann, even if Mexico’s leaders had made it a crime to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Father Junípero Serra, O.F.M , receive baptism or celebrate the Mass. St. , and St. Damien de Veuster (canonized Saturday: St. Rita of Cascia, Religious Rita was a as Damien of Molokaʻi). wife, mother, widow, & member of a religious There are two American Blesseds: Blessed Father Francis community. Her holiness was reflected in each phase Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R., and Blessed Sister Miriam Teresa, of her life. Born at Roccaporena in central Italy, Rita S.C. (Teresa Demjanovich). There are fourteen American wanted to become a nun but was pressured at a young Venerables: Venerable Father Nelson Baker, Venerable age into marrying a harsh and cruel man. During her Bishop Frederic Baraga, Venerable Mother Mary Magdalen 18-year marriage, she bore and raised two sons. After Bentivoglio, O.S.C., Venerable Father Solanus Casey, O.F.M. her husband was killed and her sons had died, Cap., Venerable Cornelia Connelly, S.H.C.J., Venerable Rita tried to join the Augustinian nuns in Cascia. Henriette Delille, S.S.F., Venerable Mother Mary Theresa Unsuccessful at first because she was a widow, Rita Dudzik, O.S.F., Venerable Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, eventually succeeded. Over the years, her austerity, O.A.R., Venerable Mother Maria Kaupas, S.S.C., Venerable prayerfulness, and charity became legendary. She Mother Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, O. Carm., Venerable developed wounds on her forehead and people quickly Father Michael McGivney, Venerable Archbishop Fulton associated them with the wounds from Christ’s crown Sheen, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and Venerable Father of thorns. She meditated frequently on Christ’s Felix Varela. passion and lovingly cared for the sick nuns.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr, pray for us