Neumann News-Weekly Bulletin
May 11, 2008 --
God as ‘verb’
How would you describe God?
God is the Creator of heaven and earth. God is the Father of all. God is the Supreme Being, the Author of everything that is good and right and holy. God is the ultimate Judge. God is love. These statements are all true.
But today’s solemnity of Pentecost asks us to consider God in another way—to think of God in terms other than as noun.
Pentecost is about God as verb. God as doing, being, acting. The Spirit of God is God breathing in us, God pulling us together as a Church. God loving and healing and reconciling. God sanctifying the everyday, God comforting the grieving, God seeking out the lost. The Spirit of God is the manifestation of God as a verb—God not only is but does. And Christ enables us to do as God does.
God’s gift of the Spirit animates us both as individuals and as a church to do the work God does, to be people of God, to live the life of the Gospel Christ. Pentecost celebrates the unseen, immeasurable presence of God in our lives and in our Church—the ruah (“breath”) that animates us to do the work of the Gospel of the Risen One, the ruah that makes God’s will our will, the ruah of God transforming us so that we might bring his life and love into our broken world.
God “breathes” the Spirit into our souls so that we may live God’s life in the here and now; God ignites the “fire” of the Spirit within our hearts and minds that we may realize the coming of God’s reign in our time and place.
For me as a priest I am expected to go on a week long retreat every year to reignite the fire of the Spirit within my heart and soul. The purpose of a retreat is like the purpose of putting gas in your gas tank. It’s fuel for my ministry. As a spiritual leader I need to take time away in quiet to open my heart to how the Spirit is working in me and in my ministry. I will be away from May 18 to May 23 on retreat. A significant part of this time will be spent in prayer. If you have any specific prayer request, please call or drop them off at the office before the 18th.
Please keep me in your prayers and be assured of my prayers for all of you and your families.
Peace,
Fr. Steve
Summer Religious Education School – RES
If you have a child going into grades 1-8, who will not be attending Catholic School next year, we have a program for your child. This is what many of us used to call C.C.D., except in a more updated form. There is art, education, music, & prayer all done in an age appropriate level. The dates are from June 16-20 & 23-27. The times are 8:30 am-12:30 daily. For more information contact Mike Montgomery at mmontgomery@isoc.net or 742-0953 ext. 19.
Evangelization Moment
At the Feast of Pentecost I take the sacred Book in my hands and turn eagerly to the first page of the Old Testament, and then to the first page of the New. The first page of the Old Testament describes the creation of the world, saying that "the Spirit of God was moving on the waters". This refers to the whole universe, the seas and land masses, the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms: a triple realm, a manifold order; and it refers also to the governments of men, of races, peoples and tribes, inspired and moved by energies common to all mankind, and to the history of humanity slowly evolving through the centuries according to a Divine plan.
All nature, then, belongs to the temporal order, but always in the sight of God and subject to his power.
And now we turn to the first page of the Gospel, the New Testament, which begins with the sound of an angel's voice: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God...You will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus."
With this announcement to Mary there begins the epic of Redemption, which has Christ for its all-radiant Sun, the source of divine life and sanctifying grace.
Pope John XXIII Reflection on Pentecost
CHILDREN’S CHOIR
So many things to do and places to go! The Children’s choir will be on “Recess” until August or early September. Watch for our notice in the bulletin! We look forward to seeing many new faces!
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SJN FAMILY PARISH PICNIC – JUNE 13, 2008
 As our parish continues to celebrate our 30th Anniversary, plan to attend the parish picnic on Friday, June 13, 2008 at Stricker’s Grove on Hamilton-Cleves Road near Ross, Ohio. Gates open at 5 p.m. There will be free rides from 6-10 p.m. The SJN Men will offer a Picnic Buffet. Bring a dessert to share. Free soft drinks. Because of state alcohol policies, no alcohol can be brought into Stricker’s Grove. Stricker’s Grove will sell beer.
SCHOOL NEWS:
St. John the Baptist Corpus Christi St. John Neumann
A Pastoral Area School: Three parishes…One commitment to Catholic Education
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.
REMINDER TO SCHOOL PARENTS: All tuition for 2007-2008 school year must be paid in full by May 12th to be eligible for parish subsidy and to use the tuition payment plan for the 2008-2009 school year.
Monday, May 12th is the deadline for return of all SJN Parish forms: Application for sponsorship (white form); Tuition Payment Agreement (green form); and Tuition Election form (yellow form).
LITURGICAL LIFE
Tuesday, May 13
8:30 a.m. Fr. Steve Away
Wednesday, May 14
8:30 a.m. Fr. Steve Away
Thursday, May 15
8:30 a.m. + Ann Fabri
Friday, May 16
8:30 a.m. + Kay Hamilton
Saturday, May 17
5:00 p.m. + Ralph Lohman
Sunday, May 18
9:00 a.m. + Urbano Donaire
11:00 a.m. For the Parish
Readings
for the weekend
of May 17 & 18
First Reading: Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9
Psalm:Dn 3:52-55
Second Reading: Cor 13:11-13
Gospel: Jn 3:16-18
A THOUGHT FOR ALL TEENS:
The Holy Spirit is like air or electricity. You can't see those things but you can feel or see what they do.
The wind is invisible yet you see it bend a tree. Electricity can't be held in your hand but you're reading this message on a computer that wouldn't work without it. The Holy Spirit can be recognized by looking for signs of inspiration in other people's lives— especially people in the Bible—and in our own life. The Holy Spirit is a living presence in our lives—just like our heartbeat and pulse— that helps us do whatever we do. The Holy Spirit gives us a boost of creativity or insight or energy or patience or inspiration—whenever we need it— whether we know we need it or not.
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ONLY 4 SPOTS LEFT FOR THE CHICAGO MISSION TRIP
YNIA MISSION TRIP:JUNE 15th- 21st
Contact Elizabeth at emontgomery@isoc.net if you are interested in going. Informational packets available in the back of church or in the parish office.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR SUMMER:
Contact Elizabeth at emontgomery@isoc.net if you are interested in them.
JrHigh Summer Camp: June 6-8th
Leadership training retreat for incoming 7th and 8th graders
World Youth Day Celebration in Sydney, OH: July 19-20th
Gathering of over 350 youth. Graduated 8th graders to high school age youth.
TCL: JULY 31- AUG. 3rd
Premier youth leadership development program for graduated 8th graders and high school students
ST JOHN NEUMANN PASTORAL COUNCIL 2007-2008
Have a question? Ask a councilperson.
SJNWO Mother/Child Breakfast
 May 18 is the date for the SJNWO annual Mother/Child Breakfast! This breakfast is for more than mothers and daughters…feel free to invite your aunts, grandparents, sisters, or another significant woman in your life. The Breakfast is after 9:00 Mass. Reservations are required in order for us to make sure we have enough food prepared. Please call Amy R or sign –up in the Gathering Space following Mass or if it’s easier for you, you can email your reservation to Betsy B at paulbetsy@fuse.net. Come enjoy!!
Grateful to God for many blessings.
Eager to care for our parish.
Aware of our responsibilities to needy neighbors everywhere.
OUR SUNDAY OFFERING
OUTREACH TO THE NEEDY
(5% of every Sunday collection)
Many of our parishioners contribute to the Sunday collection
on a monthly basis. The Sunday collection on the first weekend
of each month sometimes exceeds our weekly goal of $12,000.
The Sunday collection last weekend exceeded our goal. Awesome!
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN UPDATE
As of 05/05/2008
GIFTS & PLEDGE PAYMENTS: $1,005,224
OUR PAYMENTS HAVE REACHED AND SURPASSED OUR MILLION GOAL!
THANK GOD AND THANK YOU!
Our parish has loans totaling $307,744. Our Focus on the Future payments will be used to pay on these loans and the current interest accrued until we have paid the principal in full. The blue Focus on the Future payment envelopes will continue to be mailed to our homes in the envelope packets.
CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL (CMA)
Please prayerfully consider giving your support for six of our very important regional Church ministries, through the Catholic Ministries Appeal. (This 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. Donations so far total $5,989 about 28% of our goal. Envelopes for CMA are available in the Gathering Space or call the parish office. You can also visit CatholicAppeal.info for more information, and to make your gift online. Our inability to get even close to our success with the AAFD in past years will be noticed and reflect badly on our parish and pastor. Both the amount of total gifts from each parish and the number of parish families participating from each parish is important. Therefore, every gift helps and no gift is too small.
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Tuesday, May 13
2:30 p.m. Photos taken in Ed Center
7:00 p.m. Baptism Prep - OLC
Wednesday, May 14
11:00 a.m. Youth Rm in Use.
2:30 p.m. Photos taken in Ed Center
7:00 p.m. Music Ensemble - MR
Thursday, May 15
2:30 p.m. Photos taken in Ed Center
6:00 p.m. Benediction & Holy Hour
6:00 p.m. Outreach
7:30 p.m. Choir - MR
Friday, May 16
10:00 a.m. Scripture Study - YR
2:30 p.m. Photos taken in Ed Center
Saturday, May 17
9:00 a.m. Photos taken in Ed Center
3:00 p.m. Music Ministry - Nave
4:00 p.m. Reconciliation
7:00 p.m. Joe Thorenson & Nicole Reinhart Wedding
Sunday, May 18
9:00 a.m. Mother/Child Breakfast following Mass
12:30 Baptism: Elizondo
6:00 p.m. Scripture Study - YR
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OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY PICTURE DIRECTORY
We are very excited 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. Each family photographed will receive a free portrait directory and a free 8x10 portrait.
Your Parish Directory Committee feels that this full color Church Family Album will help us to know each other better and build stronger unity and closer fellowship.
Many of our families have scheduled photography appointments. The Photography sessions will start this Tuesday, May 13th in the Education Center behind Daniel Hall. Your promptness will be greatly appreciated.
SJN NEEDS YOUR HELP hosting families as they arrive at Daniel Hall for their Parish directory photo shoot. The job entails greeting the families, managing the photo shoot schedule, and working with the photographer to make the sessions run smoothly.
Host and Hostess families will receive a 20% off coupon on all photos they wish to purchase. One coupon per family. Photo sessions begin Tuesday, May 13 and end Saturday, May 24th. Please contact Dave S or stentzdm@fuse.net and let him know when you would like to help
The Grief Support Group has made a decision to meet only once a month on the third Saturday of the month for lunch.. We have had no new members join the group but we are willing to support any who may need our support. If you have any questions about the group or would like to join us for lunch please call John Pack at 829-5007. The next meeting will be May 17 at Bob Evans on Gilmore Rd.
RIGHT TO LIFE FLOWER SALE
We will once again be holding our annual flower sale on Mother’s Day (Today!) after all of the Masses. We will be selling geraniums and New Guinea impatiens. Stop by to pick some up for Mom or for your own gardens!
Better Than May Flowers
Want to make your marriage more beautiful than the Spring season? Schedule a weekend away – just the two of you to grow closer to each other and the Lord! Make your good marriage warmer and happier with a Marriage Encounter Weekend! For more details or reservations call: Keith and Lori Maurmeier at (800) 547-1251 Code 00 or on the web at www.esharing.org.
Please join us!
Directions
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