Neumann News-Weekly Bulletin
March 16, 2008 --
The timekeeper
Years ago, there was a massive cave-in at a coal mine in northern England. Twelve miners were trapped behind a wall of fallen rock and debris. When the rock and coal dust finally settled, each of the twelve miners called out his name. No one seemed to be hurt—but everyone realized the seriousness of the situation. All they could do was wait, and hope rescuers would reach them in time.
As they waited in the darkness, one miner yelled out, “Timekeeper! Can you tell us how we’re doing for time? How long do you think we can last?” The timekeeper said, “It was ten thirty just before the accident. There’s twelve of us and about 14 feet to this pocket we’re in. If we keep still, we’ve got two hours of oxygen, by my reckoning. We’ll be all right. We’ll be fine.”
No one questioned or doubted the timekeeper’s words. They sat quietly, listening for any sound of digging. As the time passed, a miner would call “Time?” and the timekeeper would announce, with a momentary flare of a match, “Fifteen minutes. We’ll be fine, lads.” The periods between the time markings seemed longer, yet the timekeeper always marked off small increments, never more than 20 minutes—and each time mark included words of encouragement and hope from the keeper of the watch. When it seemed that there were only a few minutes of oxygen left, the sweet sound of hammering and digging was heard. After what seemed like an eternity, a draft of air and a shaft of light broke through.
Of the twelve miners trapped, all but one survived. The rescued miners were stunned that the timekeeper alone died. The village priest said, “It’s a miracle that any of you survived! You’ve been trapped down there for over six hours!” As they carried out the timekeeper’s body, one of the miners took the pocket watch from his coworker’s vest. It had been broken in the accident. The hands of the watch were stopped at ten thirty.
(From a story by Tony Cowan)
In “emptying” himself of his own fear and despair in order to be a vehicle of hope to his fellow miners, the timekeeper imitates the selfless compassion of Jesus, the Christ “who empties himself for our sakes, accepting even death on a cross.” It is that same “attitude” of love and compassion that we must embrace if we are to become the people God has called us to be. Like Christ, we must “empty” ourselves of our own wants and needs for the sake of others; we must reach out to heal the hurt and comfort the despairing around us despite our own sense of betrayal; we must realize how our actions affe3ct others and consider the impact our decisions and actions have on them. Our remembering the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ this Holy Week calls us to embrace the attitude of Christ’s compassion and total selflessness, to become servants of God by becoming servants to one another.
Please be assured of my prayers for you and your family and please keep me in your prayers.
Peace,
Fr. Steve
 We would like to offer our sympathy to the family of Frank F. He is the father of parishioner Tom F. Please keep Tom and his family in your prayers.
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BREAKING NEWS
HOLY WEEK
A week like no other:\Holy Thursday, Good Friday,
Holy Saturday night and Easter Sunday morn.
It is a holy week!
If there is someone you would like to invite to come with you,
assure them that our doors and our
hearts will be open WIDE!
Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper
March 20, 2008 7:30 p.m.
Adoration in Daniel Hall until midnight
Closing with Night Prayer at 11:50 p.m.
Good Friday
March 21, 2008
Morning Prayer 8:30 a.m.
Stations of the Cross 12:00 noon
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion 7:30 p.m.
Holy Saturday
March 22, 2008
11:00 a.m. Morning Prayer
Easter Vigil
March 22, 2008
8:30 p.m.
(no 5:00 p.m. Mass)
Easter Sunday
March 23, 2008
9:00 a.m. Mass
11:00 a.m. Mass
OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY PICTURE DIRECTORY
We are very excited to announce that Saint John Neumann has requested the services of Busson Portrait Directories to prepare a Church Family Album in Full Color. This will be a bound book that will tell the story of our church in word and picture. It will contain color portraits of all the families along with a membership roster.
Do you know all SJN members by name? Are there families whom you do not know? Your Parish Directory Committee feels that this full color Church Family Album will help you to know each other better and build stronger unity and closer fellowship.
The online scheduling is set to start March 8th, 2008
and continue through April 4th, 2008.
The church sign-up schedule will be held April 5/6, April 19/20
& April 26/27, 2008.
The Photography sessions are set to start May 13th, 2008.
Sign up today and get 1st choice of the photography dates!
OUR CHURCH FAMILY ALBUM WILL NOT
BE COMPLETE WITHOUT YOU!!
LITURGICAL LIFE
Tuesday, March 18
8:30 a.m. The Unemployed
7:30 p.m. Chrism Mass at the Cathedral
Wednesday, March 19
8:30 a.m. The Sick and their Caretakers
Thursday, March 20
7:30 p.m. For the Hungry
Saturday, March 22
No 5:00 p.m. Mass
8:30 p.m. For the Parish
Sunday, March 23
9:00 a.m. + Matta Nguyen
11:00 a.m. + Ralph Lohman
Confirmation Update
The interview schedule will be placed in the back of church starting this weekend. Please sign up for a thirty minute slot. Thanks. Remember the next Confirmation Spirit nights are April 7 & 14 6:00 -7:00 pm in Daniel Hall
Jesus Day – First Communion Retreat
The First Communion Retreat Day will be on Saturday, April 5th from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Remember that a parent needs to attend with their child. Lunch will be provided.
HOLY THURSDAY COLLECTION
On Holy Thursday, there will be a collection at Mass for the Mary Magdalene House, a facility for the homeless, in downtown Cincinnati that provides a shower, clean clothing, and networking with agencies Any donation appreciated.
HOLY LAND GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION
The Good Friday collection provides for the upkeep of the sacred shrines of Our Lord in the Holy Land, and assists the local Catholic churches in their pastoral, charitable, and social ministries. A basket will be placed in the center aisle at our Good Friday liturgies. Any donation will be appreciated
Evangelization Minute
Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me”
St. Patrick Patron of Ireland 5th Century
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(CMA) Catholic Ministries Appeal
Please pledge your support for six of our very important regional church ministries, through the Catholic Ministries Appeal (replaces the Archdiocesan Fund Drive).
100% of your contribution goes to Catholic Social Services, campus ministries, lay and ordained ministries education, St. Rita School for the Deaf, support of our retired priests, and chaplains for our hospitals and prisons. Our parish goal this year is $21,500. Envelopes are available on the tables in the gathering space. Please visit CatholicAppeal.info for more information, and to make your pledge online. SJN contributions to this appeal so far total $1,989 about 9% of our goal.
Thank you.
Thanks to all who helped clear the sidewalks last Saturday afternoon. There were over 15 volunteers who helped!!
Parish Work Day
Mark your calendars Parish Work Day is on April 5th from 9:00 am – 1:00 PM. Lunch is provided. Watch for more details on what is to bring.
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A THOUGHT FOR ALL TEENS:
Trust is the first quality young people respond when asked what qualities constitute a good and lasting friendship.
We all experience a certain amount of difficulty in opening up and getting close to people we don't know. We're afraid they won't like us or that they'll make fun of us or trick us. It takes a great deal of time and experience before we'll trust someone enough to consider him or her a true friend.
All it takes is just one lie to set that whole process back or to destroy a friendship altogether.
THANKS TO ALL BAKERS FOR FISH FRY BAKE SALE!!
Thank you for all who donated bake goods for the Fish Fry Bake Sales!! They were delicious! We will use the money received at each bake sale for our youth activities such as retreat and mission trips.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITY AT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
Wed. March 26 3:30 – 7:30 pm
You’re invited to help prepare and serve dinner for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House. We would love your help! This is a great chance to serve others during your break from school! No cooking experience is necessary. Just come with a willingness to learn and to work hard. Please RSVP by March 21 to Ruthie Barnes at 942-3426 or to ruthiebarnes@fuse.net.
INTERESTED IN GOING ON MISSION TRIP?
We will have an Informational Meeting for our Young Neighbors In Action Mission Trip this summer. The meeting will be offered at two different times. The first time will be on Sunday Mar. 16th at 10:00 am in the Youth Room. The second will be on Monday March 17th at 7:00 pm in the Youth Room. The trip is to Chicago from June 15-21st. Any high school youth and a parent are invited to attend to hear more details about this wonderful experience.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
NEXT YOUTH SUNDAY
Sunday April 13th at the 9:00 am Mass
Grateful to God for many blessings.
Eager to care for our parish.
Aware of our responsibilities to needy neighbors everywhere.
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We are grateful to those who bring or send their Sunday offering envelopes
to our parish when they have been away on vacation or because of the snow! Thank You!
WOULD YOU LIKE A STATEMENT OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
through the envelope system for 2007? Please call the parish office and leave your name and address. We will mail the statements as soon as possible.
Festival Ideas Wanted!!!
Please come to an open meeting on April 15th, at 7:00PM in Daniel Hall, to discuss the 2008 St. John Neumann Olde Fashion Summer Festival. We are looking for new faces, with new ideas to help make our festival even more fun and exciting. Please join us! The 2008 SJN Festival Committee.
PARISH CENSUS UPDATE
As you know, parishioners have been completing a census form to get our records up-to-date. Don’t be left out. You can print an update form from the parish website, (web form) ., update forms are available in the plastic racks in the gathering space or contact the parish office. Thank you for your help.
Ask about our pray as you go plan
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Monday, March 17
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Thursday, March 20
Holy Thursday
Office closes at noon
Friday, March 21
Good Friday
Office Closed
Sunday, March 23
Happy Easter!!!
Monday, March 24
Office Closed
SCHOOL NEWS:
St. John the Baptist Corpus Christi St. John Neumann
A Pastoral Area School: Three parishes…
One commitment to Catholic Education
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Registration for new families to the school program, grades K-8 at St. John the Baptist School, for the 2008-2009 school year for families who are presently registered members of St. John Neumann Parish began Friday, March 7, 2008. K-8 re-registration for returning students began Wednesday, February 27, 2008.
The school parent meeting for all SJN families with students registered to attend St. John the Baptist School or John Paul II (SBCS) School for the 2008-2009 year is scheduled on April 8, 2008. Please mark your calendars now.
FINANCIAL AID – PSAS (Private School Aid Services) has been contracted to provide a confidential evaluation for families to see if they are eligible for tuition assistance. PSAS applications require a $20 processing fee. If you wish to apply for financial aid for students registered in grades 1-8 for the 2008-2009 year, please call the parish office, 742-0953 ext 20 to arrange to pick up an application.
PSAS applications must be filled in and mailed with a copy of your 2007 tax return, and postmarked no later than March 18, 2008. Only school families who apply to PSAS for financial aid will be awarded Parish Education Fund tuition grants. If a high school PSAS application is being made and your elementary school student is included, please notify Janet Joerger (742-0953) so your combined PSAS application can be tracked.
Please note the following: Membership in SJN Parish is determined by formal registration in the parish and regular attendance at Eucharist with the SJN community. This should be noted by all who plan to register or reregister children in the St. John grades K-8 program. For information about membership, parish policies etc. call Janet Joerger at the parish office, 742-0953. Please call the school office 385-7970 or visit online at www.stjohnbluejays.org. for more information about our school and registration.
St. John Neumann Womens’ Organization
Annual Mystery Trip
March 29, 2008
Meet in the North Parking lot after 5:00 mass
$15.00 members
$20.00 non-members
Contact Susan F by March 20
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PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
St. John the Baptist School offers a 3 and 4-year-old Preschool Program. Currently, both programs are full – a waiting list has been started for the 4-year-old program. The school is looking to possibly open another session for 4-year-olds. The new session would be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. If you would be interested in registering your 4-year-old in this program, please contact the school office at 385-7970. Thank you.
St. John the Baptist CYO has announced it is forming its own football / cheerleading program for this fall. All boys and girls, in the 3rd thru 8th grade for the 08/09 school year, from St John the Baptist, Corpus Christi and St. John Neumann parishes are welcomed. For those with any interest level, who have not filled out the in-school survey, please visit the St. John the Baptist CYO website (stjohnbluejays.org/cyosports) to fill out and submit. The survey is being used to gauge interest for planning purposes and is not a signup sheet. More details and signup dates will follow in upcoming months. There is also a section for parents if they wish to volunteer to help. Any football questions, please call Alan Gerbus at 385-0249. Cheerleading contact information to follow.
Primetimers Spring Fling Friday, April 4
Don’t Miss This One! April 4 at 6:00 pm in Daniel Hall, St. John Neumann.
Entertainment by Kathy & Tom Turan, international biking and hiking travelers, who will take us with them as they hike down into the Grand Canyon, tour the ancient Indian ruins and the beautiful southwest via slides. They have entertained many groups with this presentation.
Dinner: pot roast, veggies, dessert, and beverage, cost $10.
Direct reservations to Billie E2.
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN SHOW TRIP! JOIN US
St. John Neumann, St. John the Baptist, Corpus Christi and Sacred Heart!
3 Days 2 Nights, (Tue-Thu)- July 22-23 & 24
Motor Coach Transportation
4 meal - Five Shows
We depart Cincinnati at 8:00 a.m.
Only $289.00
All the above and driver’s tip included in the cost
If interested, please call Betty B or Jane M.
A $75.00 deposit is due at sign-up.
Add peace of mind to your trip.
Please join us!
Directions
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