Holy Name Roman Catholic Church

Bulletin
June 29, 2008
Peter & Paul, Apostles

Adelaide Flanagan/Estate
Helen Luther/Estate
Betty Switzler/Estate
Forgotten Souls in Purgatory
Zeno & Catherine Buffoni/Family
Joseph & Anna Conigy/Zeno Buffoni Fam.
Liv. & Dec’d Chaplains & Mems. CD of A Ct. 680
Gerald Ambrisco/wife Louise
Patrick Anstead/Edna Schettig
John Huber/Dan Berezansky
Maurice Farabaugh/Family & Friends
Margaret Kuntzman/MM Paul Madey
Leo Shutty/Joan Shutty
Don Stoy/Mrs. Peter Shero
 

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THE CHURCH’S BEST-KEPT SECRET - PART II
Contraception is a moral issue. It is a matter of faith that we accept this teaching. However, God never asks the impossible or unreasonable of us. It may seem unreasonable in the short run, as in when He asked Abraham to slay his only son as a sacrifice, but Abraham in his obedience passed the test God put to him and his son was spared. So too, some interpreted Humanae Vitae in 1968 and even now as unreasonable, a heavy burden, even though since the beginning of time couples gave birth to and raised children in hardships unknown to the modern world, yet the modern world somehow sees children as a burden. Perhaps we too were put to a test of obedience. But before long God revealed to those studying the issue the gift of Natural Family Planning (NFP). The response has been less than grateful.
As always, God and the Church are very understanding and a licit way to space children for serious reason appeared on the scene, which had the added benefit of improving communication between couples on intimate matters, creating, in turn, greater intimacy. In fact, studies show that correctly done, NFP is more effective than the pill, and entirely free of the medical risks that accompany the pill. All this presupposes a proper Catholic attitude that children are a priceless blessing from God always to be welcomed.

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK on First Friday after 8:00AM Mass in the Church Library. Sponsored by Home Nursing Agency.

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008
On Sunday, July 20, Pope Benedict XVI will be in Sydney, Australia, celebrating a Mass with 500,000 young people from all over the globe. This Mass will be the culmination of three whole years of preparation. APEX, our parish High School Youth Group, has been putting together its own plans to be represented at WYD 2008. You can imagine the pleasure of your pastor when he realizes that the ONLY diocesan representatives in Sydney this July are from Holy Name!!!
Four sophomore boys, namely, Matt Bopp, Luke Caroff, Brett Donoughe and Ricky Drahnak II will be led and escorted by Father Matthew Reese, Co-Director of APEX, and Mrs. Diane Bopp, RN. They will be flying out of Pittsburgh the evening of July 4th and returning there late the night of July 23rd.
Let us pray for World Youth Day. Let us pray also for Pope Benedict for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that sets a fire in the hearts of our parish youth and especially the four teenagers traveling to Australia this July. Please pray for the safety of their travels.
We urge parishioners to follow the events of WYD 2008 to be televised on EWTN between the days of July 15 and July 20. Special thanks to all who supported the fund raisers which financially made it possible for our Parish Group to be present at WYD 2008 in Sydney.

8:00AM MASS WITH THE BISHOP - JULY 3RD - SEND OFF FOR AUSTRALIA
On Thursday, July 3, 2008, the 8:00AM Mass will be a Diocesan send-off for those going to Australia for World Youth Day. Bishop Joseph will be the main celebrant. Those of you who regularly attend 8:00AM daily Mass should be aware that this Mass will not be the usual 25-30 minute Mass that you are accustomed to. Please take this into account if you plan to attend the 8:00AM Mass on Thursday, July 3rd.

NEWS FROM HAITI
The food crisis in Haiti is ongoing. The food riots there have been precipitated by the extreme rise in food costs. Access to food is becoming more out of reach for the average Haitian. The food deficit, receiving an average of 460 calories a day by Haitians, is a major concern, considering the recommended amount for proper health is 2,100 calories per day. Brother Francklin has had to open the Nutritional Centers to adults as well as children. The hunger there at this point in time has no respect of age, from the youngest to the oldest. Yes, the peasants there who have so little are now left with even less! Continue to keep the needs of your sister and brother Haitians in your daily prayers.

PARISH CASE - IMPROVEMENTS
In excess of $30,000.00 will be expended this Summer to upgrade conditions around the parish facilities. For the front of the church entrance a handicap door will be installed. The pointing of cement joints on the old school building and annex is being addressed. New lighting fixtures with energy saving bulbs are being installed in the classrooms on both the primary and intermediate levels. Scores of water stained ceiling tiles in the church hall are being replaced. These improvements along with several others are the result of your contribution these past few months to the Parish Case as well as your use of the monthly envelope contributions to the Major Repair and Maintenance Fund. Prayerful gratitude is extended to all benefactors.

WE PRAY FOR STRONGER FAMILY LIFE
Are you concerned with the future of the country, particularly with regard to the issues of abortion and marriage? Same-sex marriage is fast becoming a key election issue now that the California Supreme Court has imposed it there and New York decided to recognize other states’ same-sex marriages. This country’s population is 80% Christian. The majority of its memberships in all our nation’s churches find it to be incredible that a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization, that is, the union of a man and a woman in marriage. What a year for prayerful discernment upon the voter!! Yes, let us continue to pray for stronger FAMILY LIFE in our parish and in this nation.

LITURGICAL REFLECTION - SAINTS PETER AND PAUL
Today the Church celebrates the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Peter, “Prince of the Apostles” who is our leader in the faith, and Paul, “Apostle of the Gentiles” who is the fearless preacher of the faith, both were martyred in Rome and are honored this day throughout the world. Reflecting the awareness of the Communion of Saints, the practice of incorporating symbols of the Trinity and images of Christ, the Blessed Mother, the angels, and the saints are appropriate in the church building. Since the Eucharist unites the Body of Christ, including those who are not physically present, the use of images of the saints in the church reminds us that we are joined to all who have gone before us.

INDEPENDENCE DAY
This Friday, Americans will celebrate Independence Day, a time filled with picnics, fireworks and other happy events. The faithful may take a moment to say thanks for the many freedoms that were set in motion on that first Independence Day more than two centuries ago.
But it would also be appropriate to take a little time to reflect on independence’s partner - responsibility. For without a deep sense of responsibility over the past 200 years plus, it’s likely that Americans would not have much independence to celebrate in 2008.
Assume responsibilities:

• To become more active in exercising our political rights, especially in petitioning our current representatives in government for legislation that includes a sense of moral values.
• To search for, and then act on, ways that we can personally influence a more just society that treats all of God’s children with respect, regardless of the color of their skin, their country of origin or the religion they profess.

Reflecting on responsibilities such as these could make this Independence Day especially meaningful. Attempt to attend the 9:00 AM Mass this day.

A PRAYER FOR OUR NATION ON THE 4th of JULY
Lord of Nations, how grateful we are for our great country and the blessings you have lavished upon us. As we celebrate our National Declaration of Independence, may we also humbly acknowledge our dependence upon you. Purify our hearts, that we may worship you, the Giver, rather than the gifts. May our laws not oppose your will. May our freedoms never oppress others. May our national wealth lead to a stewardship of responsible sharing. May our access to power never be invoked to exploit the weakness of others. And may we never take your presence and your love for granted. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE - OFF THE TOP
If your contribution is not increased each year, it is actually cut! Inflation sees to that. Furthermore, the money we give to God should come off the top of our income, not out of what is left over. If God is first in our lives, we don’t give to Him out of our left-overs.

CATHOLIC UPDATE: FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP
This issue of Catholic Update deals with the challenge of forming consciences. The U.S. bishops have issued this statement to Catholics to assist us in faith formation before making political choices. The bishops are not telling Catholics how to vote. The responsibility of that choice rests with each person and their own properly informed conscience. Certain fundamental principles of Catholic social teaching help provide a moral framework for decisions in public life, such as: The right to life and dignity of the human person; Protection of family life, based on marriage between a man and a woman; fundamental rights such as the right to life, human decency, food, shelter, education, employment and health care, and all the duties that correspond to these rights; a preferential option for the poor, those weakest among us; care for God’s creation and human solidarity among diverse national, racial and ethnic concerns. The Church is mother and teacher. This article is a must-read as we prepare for national elections in the Fall.

ANOINTING OF THE CHRONICALLY ILL AND AGED
The annual Anointing Service is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, during a 7:00 PM Mass. We ask all parishioners burdened with chronic illness and those 65 years and older to reserve that date for the Lord to share His special grace with you through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It will be a most satisfying and rewarding evening for those who will be present.

PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION
This weekend, our parish will participate in the Peter’s Pence Collection for the Works of the Holy Father. The theme for this year’s Collection echoes that of the Holy Father’s apostolic journey to the United States in April 2008 - Christ Our Hope. The Peter’s Pence Collection enables the Holy Father to respond with emergency financial assistance to our brothers and sisters in need throughout the world - those who suffer as a result of war, oppression, disease, and natural disaster. It is an opportunity for Catholics to stand in solidarity with the universal Church and to offer hope to those in need. Thank you for your support of the works of the Holy Father through the Peter’s Pence Collection.

JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED
We hope all are having an enjoyable and restful Summer! This upcoming school year at least five (5) Jr./Sr. High School CCD teachers will be needed for Sunday morning 10:00-11:15AM. If you enjoy working with the youth, please consider teaching and passing on your faith - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH! We are here to help you! We also have numerous resources to provide you with the information you will need to teach. Please consider sharing your time and talent with the youth of our parish. If you have any questions, please call Kerry & Nancy McCulley at 472-0677.

NARTHEX BULLETIN BOARD DISPLAYS
Many of you have surely noticed and enjoyed the bulletin boards in the Narthex that so eloquently display photos of various Parish events. What you may not know is that these displays are created with special materials and are assembled in such a way as to provide a lasting and permanent archive of ongoing church activities. Upon removal, each page is carefully stored for preservation in a scrapbook format that will serve as an interesting and valuable reference for many years to come. With this in mind, we ask you to refrain from removing items or photos from the displays, as this will create an empty gap in our archives. These bulletin boards are created and maintained through hours of diligent work by our small but active Spread The Word Information Committee. If you would like to participate in this fun and fulfilling ministry, please contact Doug Tusing at 472-4257. Watch for photos of our recent Festival coming soon!

CARE-GIVERS SUPPORT GROUP
Monday, June 30, 7PM in the Church Library. Anyone in the stressful position of being care-giver is welcome to attend this 1-hour prayer-support group session. (Call Sr. Margie: 472-8315)

OFFICIAL SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Please cut this form and return to Rectory or Collection Basket.
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NAME ______________________________________________

Check the convenient time if willing to commit weekly to one hour or one half hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday evening:

__ 6:00–6:30PM      ___ 6:30-7:00PM      __ 7:00-7:30PM
__ 7:30-8:00PM       ___ 8:00-8:30PM      __ 8:30-9:00PM
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ROADTROTTERS NEWS
YES, the parishioners of Holy Name have spoken! The questionnaire completed during the last mission indicated a desire to resume "roadtrotting", with the planning of trips. To that end, the following three trips are being considered:
• Sight and Sound Theater for "In the Beginning"
• Trip to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. (during Cherry Blossom Season)
• Trip to a casino (exact location to be determined)
If you have an interest in any or all of these trips, please call Toni Merlo 749-7352. The goal of the Roadtrotters is to plan according to the wishes of the parishioners, which needs further definition. Indeed, we are open to suggestions, just please let them be known.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES - COUNSELING
Depressed or anxious? Marital difficulties? Parenting problems? Grieving the loss of a loved one? Separated or divorced? Need some help and support? Catholic Charities, an agency of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, offers professional, confidential counseling for individuals, children and youth, families, and couples. Please call them at 814-944-9388 for more information.

APEX YOUTH GROUP NEWS
1. WHAT IS APEX? - it is the Youth Group of Holy Name Parish for students in grades 9 thru 12.
2. WHO IS AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF APEX? - any Bishop Carroll or public high school student in grades 9 thru 12 who is a registered parishioner of Holy Name Parish.
3. TASK FORCE will meet Tuesday, July 1 at 7:00PM in the Rectory Conference Room.
4. UPCOMING EVENTS - for a look at upcoming events, check out our website at www.holynameapex.com.

E-Z MONEY CALENDAR 19
Anyone interested in purchasing a Holy Name Calendar may do so by stopping in the rectory, calling the school office (472-8817) or purchase from any Holy Name student. Price is $25.00, with 365 chances to win beginning May 1, 2008!! All monies benefit Holy Name School.

School News

Walk Together in Faith

Kindergarten & 8th Grade Graduation Pictures can be picked up at the Rectory Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8:30AM-4:00PM.

Office Hours: The school office is open on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Scrip: Scrip cards may be purchased at the school or rectory office during summer office hours. Scrip will also be sold from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sundays in the Narthex.
 

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