Neumann News-Weekly Bulletin
March 14, 2010 --
Strong at the Broken Places
It’s a medical fact: In the human body, the place where a broken bone heals actually becomes stronger than before the break. Strong at the Broken Places is the title of a remarkable book by Richard M. Cohen. Subtitled Voices of illness, a chorus of hope, Cohen—who himself suffers from MS and is a cancer survivor—has spent three years chronicling the lives of five individuals living with chronic diseases.
These five individuals are: Denise, who suffers from ALS; Buzz, whose faith has helped him and his family deal with his non-Hodgkins lymphoma; Sarah, a determined young woman with Chron’s disease; Ben, a bright and gifted college student with muscular dystrophy; and Larry, who struggles to live a normal life despite bipolar disorder.
All five stories are both inspiring and heartbreaking. Two common threads run through the five experiences. Despite the physical pain and mental anguish they have had to endure, all five have found within themselves and with the help of family and friends, the strength and courage to live fulfilling and complete lives—and to help other “citizens of sickness” do the same.
But the hardest part of their living with chronic illness is the ignorance of the public. The chronically are diminished every day by the condescension of many—many of us—who wish they would just go away.
The stories in Strong at the Broken Places mirror two dimensions of today’s Gospel. While we are astonished at the stupidity of the question “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” we are guilty of a similar ignorance and insensitivity to the chronically ill in our midst. We ignore them; we wish they would go away; we are convinced that they somehow have “failed,” that they deserve what has happened to them.
In their triumph over their illnesses and their generosity of heart to help others do the same, these five individuals reveal the goodness of God in our midst—their sense of hope, their insistence on embracing life despite their brokenness, their ability to engender generosity and compassion among family and friends are nothing less than the grace of God alive in our own time and place. In them, Jesus tells us, the glory of God is revealed.
Please be assured of my prayers for you and your family and please keep me in your prayers.
Peace,
Fr. Steve
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Catholic Ministries Appeal
“The gifts we have, we are given to share.” Success in the eyes of God is not about the quantity or quality of our material goods. Instead, it’s about how we use those goods: do they move us closer to God, or are they an obstacle? God calls us to share what we have to help others. By providing support for many different ministries of the Church, the Catholic Ministries Appeal offers everyone a chance to exercise Christian Stewardship. Please consider how you will participate in the Catholic Ministries Appeal this year. Thank you to everyone that has pledged thus far!
St. Vincent DePaul Bundle Sunday
Please mark your calendars for March 20 and 21. On that weekend, we will have a truck from St. Vincent de Paul to collect household items and gently-used clothing at all the Masses. This is one way that we can use the gifts and fruits of the Spirit to build up the kingdom of God here on earth and help make a difference in our community. Thank you for your generosity.
Scouting For Food – Reminder that this is the weekend to bring in your donations for the Cub Scout Pack 929 Scouting For Food drive. Please bring in a full grocery bag at any Mass this weekend. All donations will be going to the Corpus Christi food pantry. Your support and generosity is much appreciated.
Lenten Fish Fry
All Fridays during Lent, we invite you to stop by Daniel Hall between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for our Fish Fry. Come and break bread with us before or after the 6:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross. Our Fish Fry is sponsored by the St. John Neumann Men’s Society. Carry out is available.
Pastoral Area Lenten Almsgiving Collection
Almsgiving means to give to those in need from what is saved through the discipline of fasting and abstinence, or from one’s surplus. This year our pastoral area has agreed that we will collect “alms” to share with those in need in our parish communities. The funds collected at our soup suppers and from what you set aside during Lent will be shared equally with the outreach ministries at St. John the Baptist, Corpus Christi and St. John Neumann. With these funds we hope to bring Christ to those in our community and build up the kingdom of God here on earth. For St. John Neumann: The funds collected during Lent will be used to support our Outreach Ministries. Please write a check to St. John Neumann and write “Lenten Almsgiving” in the memo portion for the alms collected during Lent and turn it in to the office on Palm Sunday or during Holy Week. Thank you for your support and generosity.
Lunch with the Lord
On Thursdays during Lent, we are having “Lunch with the Lord” in the Youth Room. Our topic for these lunches will be a bible study on the Book of Job. Please bring a sack lunch, drinks will be provided.
Stations of the Cross
Traditionally, the Lenten devotions in parish churches have drawn attention to the suffering and death of Jesus. The most popular one is known as the Stations of the Cross. In the history of the church pilgrims would journey to the Holy Land to walk in the footsteps of Jesus to Calvary. When this became too dangerous, a substitute pilgrimage, the Stations of the Cross, became a popular outdoor devotion throughout Europe. In the 18th century Pope Clement XII fixed the number of stations at 14 and in the mid-18th century Stations were allowed inside churches. In the mid-20th century, it became popular to add a fifteenth Station representing the end of the journey: the resurrection of Jesus. During Lent we will pray the Stations on Friday at 6:00 p.m. We invite you to come and pray with us as we walk with Jesus on the way to Calvary.
LITURGICAL LIFE
Tuesday, March 16
8:30 a.m. + Tim Hamilton
Wednesday, March 17
8:30 a.m. + The Doyle Family
Thursday, March 18
8:30 a.m. + Thomas Koehne
Friday, March 19
8:30 a.m. + Sylvia Jones
Saturday, March 20
5:00 p.m. For the Parish
Sunday, March 21
9:00 a.m. + Matta Nguyen
11:00 a.m. + John Nguyen
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Readings for the
Weekend of
March 20 & 21 Year A
First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14
Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11
Gospel: John 11:1-45
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
March 17 St. John the Baptist Evening Prayer
We hope to see you there as we receive
nourishment for body and soul.
Soup supper starts at 6:00 p.m. and prayer starts at 7:00 p.m.
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)
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Take A Look…the link to set up a Sunday collection e-donation from your personal computer is now available on the parish web page (SJNews.org).
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2010 Lenten Reconciliation Services
St. Bartholomew Tuesday, March 16, 7:00 p.m.
St John Neumann, Corpus Christi, and St. John the Baptist
Saturday, March 20, 10:00 a.m. @ SJN
Wednesday, March 24, 7:00 p.m. @ SJB
Shopping Cent$ News - We are back to our schedule of following the Coffee and Donuts schedule. Mark your calendars for upcoming Shopping Cent$ dates: March 20 & 21. On Saturdays after 5:00 mass, you can find us in the Usher’s Room, at the back of church and on Sundays you can find us near the donuts in Daniel Hall.
St. John Neumann Women’s Organization Mystery Trip
Saturday, April 17
All Women are invited - Dinner and Transportation Included
Members - $23.00 Non-members - $28.00
RSVP by March 17 with Shelly W or Linda -Meet in the south lot St. John Neumann Church at 4:16 p.m.
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Monday, March 15
Office Closed
3:00 p.m. RCIC- YR
7:00 p.m. RCIA - YR
Tuesday, March 16
8:10a.m. Recitation of the Rosary – OLC
6:00 p.m. Worship Mtg - YR
Wednesday, March 17
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
8:10 a.m. Recitation of the Rosary – OLC
11:30 a.m. Primetimer’s St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon
6:00 p.m. Soup Supper - SJB
7:00 p.m. Evening Prayer - SJB
Thursday, March 18
8:10 a.m. Recitation of the Rosary – OLC
Noon Lunch with the Lord - YR
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - DH
6:00 p.m. Holy Hour – OLC
Friday, March 19
8:10 a.m. Recitation of the Rosary - OLC
5:00 p.m. Lenten Fish Fry – DH
6:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross - Nave
Saturday, March 20
St. Vincent de Paul Truck here
10:00 a.m. Parish Reconciliation
10:30 a.m. Confirmation Retreat - CC
3:00 p.m. Music Ministry - Nave
Shopping Cents Available Following Mass
Sunday, March 21
St. Vincent de Paul Truck here
Shopping Cents Available following Mass - DH
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Women’s Retreat – Saturday, March 27
We hope you will join Jan Turala on March 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Daniel Hall to learn about labrynths and experience this prayerful tradition. The day will start with muffins, coffee and tea… and will include a catered luncheon from noon until 1 o’clock. This event is free to all members of the St. John Neumann Women’s Organization, and a fee of $10.00 will be charged to non-members and guests (this may be applied to membership). Because the pattern of the labrynth is delicate, those attending should come prepared to walk in stocking feet…..there are labrynths available that do not require walking. Please don’t let walking keep you from experiencing this opportunity. Join us as you learn about this ancient meditation tool of prayer, as we become “spiritual beings on a human path, not simply human beings on a spiritual path.”
Please call Dolly P or Linda S by March 23rd to make your reservation.
Pastoral Counseling Services are available through St. John the Baptist and Corpus Christi parishes by a certified degreed Pastoral Counselor, Sr. Jane Frey, OSF, LPC. Call 923-4241, Monday – Friday between 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Hours are by appointment.
Festival – We Need Your Help!
Last year the festival committee put in a plea through the bulletin as we were in need of Booth Chairpersons for the Merchandise Booth and the Funnel Cake Booth and Gail Yulanski (Merchandise) and Mel Pomfrey (Funnel Cakes) stepped up and both did a tremendous jobs with these important booths.
Our festival has grown each of the past (3) years – topping (6) figures in gross revenue each year and going up each year. The committee is constantly looking at ways to improve existing booths and services and to offer new initiatives in order to keep that growth on an upward trend and make our festival better each year for everyone.
This year – the committee is looking at several options that could improve the activities we have available and the bottom line. However, just like last year when Mel and Gail stepped up, we need YOU to help us do that. Here are a couple of the concepts we are looking at and the leadership that is needed:
· Outdoor beer garden and sports bar – We would love to put a second, smaller seating area up near the top of the parking lot with beer available and a projection television area that would show the weekend’s college football games and the fireworks on Sunday evening which we could then simulcast over the PA. We would be in need of a booth chair to assist Jim and Robin C who run our primary beer booth for this smaller beer stand in the beer garden.
· Racing booth – If we are able to move some seating up to this new area, we may be able to free up some space under the main seating tent to add a racing game that could generate excitement and buzz. Concepts include a rubber duck regatta race, horse track race or race cars. We have several people who are willing to assist in the design and building of a new game for us. Again, we would need a family or two to chair this booth and be ready to create buzz and excitement over who wins each race and takes the prize.
· Rides – We are bringing in a new ride company this year that we feel will be great to work with and have a better variety of rides for youth through teens and adults. We have the opportunity to staff the ticket booth and be in charge of selling the tickets and collecting the money. This would entail sitting in an air-conditioned trailer and being in charge of this operation
We again are interested in some family-friendly entertainment, especially on the early part of Sunday. If you know of a performing group or your child participates in something that might be fun, give us a call.
As always, the committee is open to ideas to help keep our festival the best festival around.
Please feel free to contact Brian Rawlings at (513) 218-9105 or brawlingsbrawlingsbrawlings@yahoo.com
Thank you
Brian Rawlings AU, AIS, AIM, ASLI
Merch Booth 2010
March-Spring Fling-anything spring, this includes kitchen textiles (bright tablecloths, place mats, towels/oven mitts, kids games-kites, kids dvd's/cd's preschool/elementary, "Easter basket items" jump ropes, small toys, no candy please), baby items, dolls, infant toys, etc.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DONATION ITEMS MUST BE TURNED IN BY FRIDAY JULY 30, 2010. ANY ITEMS DONATED AFTER WILL BE HELD OVER FOR FESTIVAL 2011. THIS WILL ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME TO PREPARE THE GIFT BOXES FOR THE FESTIVAL. YOUR COOPERATION ON THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, GAIL U.
Please join us!
Directions
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