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PASTOR’S CORNER

The Death of Meri Jones (Chapter Seven) by Fr. Eric

It was two months since their daughter’s killer had been sentenced to “life” and Evelyn Jones with her husband in-tow walked up the steps to St. Vincent’s rectory. They had “done their homework” for their fourth counseling session with Fr. Edmund Fallow. As they waited for the Mass Intentions doorbell to “wake” Father from his post-supper The Exaltation of the Cross news, Mrs. Jones remembered the blur of the last few weeks…or was it months?

September 14, 2014 She recalled Meri’s funeral, the confession of th Saturday – September 13 – St her killer, and an earth-shatteringly superficial 4:00PM – Julia Superka reason of unrequited affection for her daughter’s by Carolyn and Nick Pontician ever-present absence. Evelyn had never given 7:00PM – and Mary Burda by Connie and Paul Woodring much thought to black holes as cosmic Sunday–September 14th–Exaltation of Holy Cross phenomena, but the thought of her daughter 8:30AM – Living and Deceased Members being “beyond” her reach she felt as the by Altar and Rosary Society strongest gravity. Her grief was a new celestial 10:30AM – Charles Hughes body around which her whole life revolved, by McCloskey Family draining every glimmer and glint of light. Why? Monday – September 15th – Our Lady of Sorrows Why had God allowed this to happen to her 8:00AM – Charles H Albert beautiful child? Why? Meri had so much to by Pauline Albert th offer – she was offering it to the helpless, the Tuesday–September 16 –Ss Cornelius & poor, the sick? How could God allow this? Why 8:00AM – Magdaline Forgas and Frances Burda by Sister, Agnes Chabak would God do this to them? They were good Novena after Mass people, raising a good child, named for freedom Wednesday–September 17th–St itself, America Katherine Jones,…why? So they 6:00PM – Richard Pontician, Sr. had called their pastor, Fr. Fallow and sought by Joe and Marie Maroski some help and hope. th Thursday – September 18 – St /Cupertino The door opened and Fr. Edmund was there 8:00AM – Catherine Kotch with a gentle smile to welcome them in to the by Michele Bankos parlor where they would spend the next hour or Friday – September 19th – St Januarius 8:00AM – Joseph J Holena so reflecting on and going through the “waves of by Barbara Knarr grief” and how they might cope with them. The Saturday–September 20th–St Andrew Kim Tae-gon Joneses only sought one real thing there – to 8:00AM – All St John Fisher Parishioners know why Meri had been taken from them. Fr. 4:00PM – Korenko Family Edmund asked, “Were you able to complete by Daughter, Sue Hertz your ‘homework’ assignment for this session?” 7:00PM – Michael Ruggerio Tom affirmed, looking sidelong at Evelyn, “We by Chris Lloyd st th did, Father, but…as usual, we failed to see any Sunday–September 21 –25 Sunday/Ordinary Time connection with what we’ve been dealing.” “I 8:30AM – Jive, Sophie and Frank Snyder see,” said Fr. Edmund, “why don’t we read it by Nin and Family 10:30AM – Jesse Michael Crossley together again before we start our time tonight?” by C.C.D. Teachers He leaned over the coffee table and handed them each a copy of their “homework.” They read it together. Out loud.

Sundays: “Mending Wall, by Robert Frost, ‘Something 8:15AM and 10:15AM there is that doesn’t love a wall…'”

OFFERTORY COLLECTION CCD OPENING DAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2014 Classes from Pre-school to 7th grade will be held at the former St Lawrence Plate Collection $ 3,278.60 School from 9:00am to 10:15am. At Mary’s Shelter $ 956.50 10:15am, parents will pick up their child and take them to attend the The Second Collection next weekend will be for 10:30am Mass. Since Mass is a the Catasauqua Food Bank. continuation of their class, the

students are to sit with their Catechist and classmates. I thank all the parents in advance for their cooperation. Next Sunday is also Catechetical Sunday. Our Catechists and Assistants will be called to be commissioned into their ministry. Jean Marhefka, D.R.E. NEXT WEEK’S SCHEDULE Servers Lectors E.Ministers 4:00PM A.Gorr J.McAllister J.Ottinger The next meeting of St John Fisher’s Young at D.Gorr th Heart will be held September 24 at 1:00PM in the 7:00PM J.Drummer P.McCarty J.Yanek St John Fisher Church Social Hall. J.Shaul th The next Casino trip will be September 26 . Bus 8:30AM D.Popovic E.Snyder J.O’Connell leaves St John Fisher Parking Lot at 10:00AM. The M.Popovic price is $22/pp.

10:30AM C.Ritter J.DeLong J.Behum The next bus trip will be to the Royal Manor M.Ritter Dinner Theatre to see “Al Meixner with the Famous th Schafer Dancers” on Wednesday, October 15 .

For those bearing heavy crosses in The price is $70.00 per person. For more information, call Bill Molchany, 610-264-0920. living out their belief in the value of each human life, we pray.

SHOWER OF ROSES FESTIVAL On Sunday, October 5th at St Parish at The Shrine of St ST JOHN FISHER Therese, 15 East Garibaldi Avenue in YOUTH GROUP FOR KIDS Nesquehoning. Mass is at 1:00pm Time is running out to sign up for our Youth Group. with Monsignor L James as This is for all children in Kindergarten through 3rd Celebrant. A procession follows at grade. They will meet from 10:00AM to 11:00AM in 3:00pm with the recitation of the the Church hall on the fourth Saturday of each month Rosary, and Benediction is at 4:00pm. The Shower beginning Saturday, September 27th. Each month of Blessings from Heaven will be at 5:00pm, the youth group will concentrate on life lessons such followed by refreshments of Ethnic foods, vendors as sharing, respecting others, kindness, and playing and music. fair. This will be done through interactive stories, crafts, games and songs. In the future, youth groups SANTA’S WISH-LIST will be added for our older children. If you have any HO! HO! HO! Another gift has arrived! questions, please call Mary Beth McGinley, at 610- An anonymous gift of $500.00 has 264-4494, or call Jen DeLong, 610-762-4380. been received. We thank you for any In order to have sufficient supplies, please and all gifts as we continue to build and register your child on the form below and place in the re-build. collection basket by September 21st. ------ALTAR FLOWERS CHILD’S NAME: ______Flowers were placed on the altar last weekend in honor of John and GRADE: ______PHONE #: ______Rose Marhefka’s wedding anniversary by the Englert Family. PARENTS NAMES: ______

ALLERGIES/SPECIAL NEEDS: ______DONUT SUNDAY Next Sunday, September 21st, will be our first Donut Sunday. Thank you to Ben and Amy Jedlovec who are sponsoring our first event. Please stop by after HALUPKIE MAKING TIME the 8:30am and 10:30am Masses for some coffee, Please consider coming to the church hall on Friday, tea, and, oh yes, some donuts! Plus, it will be a September 26th, beginning at 9:00am to help make great time to get to know your fellow parishioners. our halupkies. It will be a great way to get to know Donut Sunday will be held on the third Sunday of your fellow parishioners. See you there! each month. If you would like to sponsor a month, just pick a month on the signup sheet at the side HALUPKIE SALE entrance, and the cost is only $50.00. Our social committee takes care of the rest. This is the final weekend to place your orders for halupkies. The cost is only $2.50 each. They will be “OLD FASHIONED” HYMN SING available for pickup after the Masses on Saturday, Everyone in the community is invited. Old favorites September 27th, and Sunday, September 28th. and special music will be sung. Invite you family and Order forms are at the entrances to church, and they, friends to Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, 4th along with your payment, can be placed in the and Pine Streets, on Saturday, October 25th, from collection basket today. 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Light refreshments will be served. CHRISTMAS SHOW Join us for a great trip to the American Music Theater HISTORIC CATASAUQUA on Saturday, December 13th. The bus will depart St PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION John Fisher parking lot at 8:00am. The show is at Fest ‘O Fall celebration will be held on Saturday, 10:30am, followed by a family lunch at Hershey October 4th, from 12:00noon to 5:00pm at the Farms at 1:00pm. The day continues at 3:00pm to Biery House, 8 Race Street, and at the George the National Christmas Museum. At 5:00pm, the bus Taylor House, Lehigh and Poplar Streets. The will depart for home, arriving back at St John Fisher at celebration will feature kid’s games, crafts, hayrides, 7:00pm. The price is $90.00 per person, and includes fun, food and music for all. admission to the Theatre and Museum as well as lunch at Hershey Farms. Besides having a great day to get in the Christmas spirit, ALL proceeds will be IN THE WORDS OF … donated to ST JOHN FISHER CHURCH! Contact "The school of Christ is the school of love. In the last Marge Heffner, 610-262-3174 for more day, when the general examination takes information.” place...Love will be the whole syllabus.” ~ St Robert Bellarmine