Saint Joseph Parish: $1,709.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $126.00 from the second collection (plate); $81.00 from the Dues envelopes; $35.00 from the Initial Offering envelopes; $50.00 from the Christmas envelopes; $126.00 from the loose. Thank you..

Saint Vincent DePaul Parish: $1,562.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $110.00 from the second collection (plate); $65.00 from the Building Maintenance envelopes; $78.00 from the loose. Thank you.

THOMAS PATRICK [“Buckey”] O’CONNOR Sr.,
a member of St. Joseph Parish, died on Tuesday, 20 January.
Born on 17 March 1924, he was 84 years old.
Thomas is one of the seven children of the late Thomas P. and Nellie (McLaughlin) O’Connor.
His four brothers and two sisters are deceased: William O’Connor; Frank O’Connor; Joseph O’Connor; Jeremiah O’Connor; Margaret O’Connor; Sister Alma Joseph O’Connor, IHM.
Thomas was baptized in Holy Rosary Church, Mahanoy Plane, on 24 March 1924, by Fr. J. J. Treshock. His godparents were James Gormley and Beatrice Gaughan.
He married Anna C. Holden in Holy Rosary Church, Mahanoy Plane, on 23 October 1948, in the presence of Fr. J. Fitzmaurice. The witnesses were William O’Connor and Theresa Holden.
Anna died on 17 October 1992. The two had been married for almost 44 years.
Thomas and Anna had four children: Thomas P. O’Connor Jr. (deceased); Robert P. O’Connor; Diane M. O’Connor McDonald; Maureen A. O’Connor Howard.
Thomas has six grandchildren: Robby O’Connor; Katie O’Connor; Krissy O’Connor; Heather A. Howard Homan; Maura McDonald; Baby Boy McDonald (deceased).
He has two great-grandchildren: Mya Ann Homan and Lea Ashley Homan.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Thomas was celebrated in St. Joseph Church at 11:00 am, on Saturday, 24 January. The interment took place in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Frackville.

Eternal rest grant unto Thomas, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Oley, Bradley Michael — St. Ambrose Parish, Schuylkill Haven
Pikitus, Andraya — St. Vincent dePaul Parish, Girardville
Pikitus, Helen — St. Vincent dePaul Parish, Girardville
Pilo, Tony — St. Patrick Parish, Pottsville
Purcell, Brian — St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Minersville
Reedy, Kathy — St. Ambrose Parish, Schuylkill Haven
Relavage, Anthony — Holy Cross Parish, New Philadelphia
Relavage, Gretchen — Holy Cross Parish, New Philadelphia
Repince, George — St. Katherine Drexel Parish, Coaldale
Rutecky, Tina — St. Patrick Parish, Pottsville
Setlock, John — St. Clare of Assisi Parish, St. Clair
Smith, Matthew — St. Ambrose Parish, Schuylkill Haven
Thye, David — St. Vincent dePaul Parish, Girardville
Thye, Susan — St. Vincent dePaul Parish, Girardville
Tranquillo, Aaron — St. Patrick Parish, Pottsville
Tranquillo, Ann Marie — St. Patrick Parish, Pottsville
Usalis, Rebecca — St. Vincent dePaul Parish, Girardville
Vidal, Melvin W. Sr. — Roam’n Catholic
Wascavage, Samantha — St. Vincent dePaul Parish, Girardville
Weidner, Madelyn — St. Joseph Parish, Girardville
Whitecavage, Aaron — St. Mary Priory Chapel, New Ringgold
Whitecavage, William — St. Mary Priory Chapel, New Ringgold
Whitney, R. Michael — Child Jesus Chapel, West Pittston
Wilson, Sue — Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont
Yackenchick, Albert J. Jr. — St. Joseph Parish, Girardville
Yackenchick, Albert J. Sr. — St. Joseph Parish, Girardville
Yackenchick, Michael — St. Joseph Parish, Girardville
Yackenchick, Nicholas — St. Joseph Parish, Girardville

In the presence of your father and your mother, be ashamed about committing fornication.
In the presence of your teachers, be ashamed about speaking falsehoods.
Be ashamed of flattering rich persons and trying to gain favor with high-ranking persons.
In the presence of the public assembly, be ashamed of committing any crime.
Be ashamed of being disloyal to your friends and companions.
Be ashamed of breaking an oath or an agreement.
Be ashamed of stealing from your neighbors and of selfish behavior at the supper table.
Be ashamed of refusing to give a donation when asked and of cheating someone out of what belongs to him.
Be ashamed of refusing to return a greeting and of stonewalling a friend.
Be ashamed of staring at a married woman and of entertaining thoughts about another man’s wife.
Be ashamed of trifling with young women — waitresses, store clerks, babysitters and others — and of taking sexual advantage of them.
Be ashamed of using harsh words with friends, and of following up gifts with insults.
Be ashamed of repeating what you hear and of betraying secrets.

These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful, if you want people to respect you.

Cf. Sirach 41, 15-24.

In an attempt to make these verses more intelligible to persons who might not be patient with more formal language, I have attempted a loose (but, I hope, reliable) rendering of the meaning of these verses. I highly recommend that you pick up a Bible and “just start reading” from “the Wisdom Literature” [which includes Sirach, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Wisdom]. You’ll find some fascinating (and highly relevant) material therein.

(EBC)

On 22 January 2001, President Bush issued a memo restricting the use of tax money for abortions overseas.
Obama promised that, if elected, he would reverse Bush’s policy. He was and he did.
From the pulpits of St. Joseph Church, Girardville and of St. Vincent dePaul Church, Girardville, we had warned parishioners during the presidential campaign, that, if he became President, Obama would sign such an executive order.
It is beyond my comprehension that anyone can say, “I am pro-life” if, knowing ahead of time that Obama would do such a thing (and McCain would not), he or she nevertheless voted for Obama.
All who voted for Obama share in the works of Obama.
This particular work of Obama is, indeed, an Abomination before God.
The blood of the slaughtered babies cries out to God for revenge.
God calls us to repentance before the Day of Judgment.

National Catholic Schools Week 2009 will be held January 25 through January 30. The theme for 2009 CSW is “Celebrate Service.”
The following events are being planned for CSW at Trinity Academy:

Sunday, 25 January — Breakfast at Trinity
8:30 am to 12:00 noon.
All are welcome to join us in our cafeteria and to purchase a delicious “All You Care To Eat Breakfast.” Table Service is being provided by our student volunteers.

Monday, 26 January — Bring a Buddy to Breakfast
7:15 to 8:15 am.
Parents, grandparents, et al. are invited to join the children for Continental Breakfast, compliments of the Trinity Academy Home and School Association.

Tuesday, 27 January — Open House
9:00 to 11:00 am and 1:00 to 2:15 pm.
Everyone is welcome to visit our school, to see our teachers and their students in action.

Wednesday, 28 January — Mass
9:30 am in Annunciation Church, Shenandoah.
All are welcome to attend this special CSW liturgy.

Thursday, 29 January — Student Appreciation Day
1:00 pm — a game of “Bunko” for Trinity students, plus an ice-cream treat provided by our Home & School Association.

Friday, 30 January — 12:00 Noon Dismissal
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon afterwards
6:00 pm — Children’s Bingo — Open to the Public in our Trinity Cafeteria.