Saint Joseph Parish:
Parish receipts: $1,248.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $74.50 from the second collection (plate); $112.00 from the Dues envelopes; $105.00 from the Summer Banks envelopes; $72.00 from the loose. Total: $1,611.50
Non-parish receipts: $80.00 from the Central and Eastern Europe envelopes.
Analysis: When one deducts from the total of the parish receipts ($1,611.50) our weekly financial obligation to the Diocese, i.e. assessments ($290.08), plus our weekly premium for property and casualty insurance ($444.49), plus our weekly subsidy to Trinity Academy ($358.17), the sum total of which is $1,092.74, one sees that $518.76 is available from this collection for operating the parish.

Saint Vincent DePaul Parish:
Parish receipts: $1,098.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $127.00 from the second collection (plate); $10.00 from the Building Maintenance envelopes; $202.00 from the loose. Total: $1,437.00.
Non-parish receipts: $33.00 from the Mission Co-op envelopes.
Analysis: When one deducts from the total of the parish receipts ($1,437.00) our weekly financial obligation to the Diocese, i.e. assessments ($183.92), plus our weekly premium for property and casualty insurance ($267.81), plus our weekly subsidy to Trinity Academy ($250.98), the sum total of which is $702.71, one sees that $743.29 is available from this collection for operating the parish.

THE RIGHT OF CHILDREN TO PRIVACY IN THEIR COMMUNICATIONS

Perhaps you read the following “Dear Abby” Q &A in the newspaper on 23 July.
I think it raises an important issue that begs for commentary. I encourage parents of minor children to read this and to share it with others.

DEAR ABBY: My 16-year-old son, "Derrick," recently stopped talking to me. Frustrated about not being able to open the lines of communication, I installed a keystroke recorder on our home computer. It enabled me to see what Derrick was writing in his e-mails. I know it was a violation of his privacy, but I was afraid and didn't know who else to ask what was going on.
I learned that Derrick has gotten his girlfriend pregnant. They are discussing various options, and he is thinking about running away from home.
How can I help my son through this, having gained this information in an underhanded way? If I reveal how I learned about this, I will lose his trust forever. But if I don't help him, I don't know what will happen. Please help me.
SPY DAD IN TEXAS

DEAR SPY DAD: You may not have to tell Derrick how you got the information. You are his father. Sit him down, tell him you love him, that he's the most important thing in this world to you and that you're worried sick because he has become secretive and uncommunicative. Tell him that if he's in any sort of trouble he won't be punished or lectured to and that you will do whatever it takes to help him. And do not let him get up until he has finally told you what is wrong.
ABBY

MY COMMENT ON THE ABOVE
I don’t feel any need to criticize Abby’s advice. It is adequate, as far as it goes. In fact, it is pretty good.
My problem is that “Spy Dad in Texas” feels guilty about the fact that he installed a keystroke recorder on his home computer and that, by so doing, he was violating his 16-year-old son’s privacy.
This raises the question: Do children have the same right to privacy in their communications as do adults? Common sense says that they do not.
My point is this: A 16-year-old is a child. He probably prefers not to be thought of as a child, but the reality is that he is a child. A mature 16-year-old acknowledges that he is a child and goes along with the program. He knows that he will be an adult in due time. Meanwhile, he is willing to pay his dues and wait for life to unfold. An immature 16-year-old acts against his own best interests by making pre-mature and unwarranted claims to adult rights and status. Ironically, those 16-year-olds who make such claims hardly ever “complete the circle” by asserting any comparable eagerness to assume adult responsibilities.
It is possible (but highly unlikely) for a 16-year-old to be an emancipated minor, hence not subject to parental authority. This status would be acquired by marriage or by court order.
Outside of these two somewhat rare exceptions, 16-year-olds are subject to their parents, both morally and legally. Children, like adults, come in various stages. There are “young adults” (roughly 18 to 34); “middle-aged adults” (roughly 35 to 64) and “old adults” (roughly 65 to funeral). Likewise, there are “young children” (roughly birth to 6); “middle-aged children” (roughly 8 to 12) and “old children” (roughly 13 to 17). All of these categories are capable of being further sub-divided, but these are sufficient for our purposes here.

MANKIND vs HUMANKIND
The word “humankind” is a politically correct word.
It is meant to replace “mankind”, which is not a politically correct word.
It is one of my personal aspirations that I shall succeed in getting through life without having even once pronounced or spoken the word “humankind” — except for instructional purposes, i.e. to caution against its use.
I wouldn’t mind having the following as my epitaph:

I thought about “mankind / humankind” this past week when we were observing the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing.

How wonderful that he said “mankind”!
I doubt that he could get away with that today!
Why do the politically correct people prefer “humankind” to “mankind”?
Because politically correct people tend to be radical feminists and radical feminists find gender distinctions abhorrent.
This is characteristic of paganism, both the old paganism and the new paganism. This is why the sacred writer of Genesis 1 emphasized that “male and female created He them”. This was to refute the pagan myth that the original humans were androgynes.
Is there any philosophical / theological reason why one should say “mankind” and eschew “humankind”?
Funny you should ask! Yes, there is!
If we insist on stripping the gender from the word that expresses the totality of the human race, we are implying that the human race has two separate and distinct points of origin: one of them a male and the other of them a female.
But such is not the case.
The human race has ONE distinct point of origin and that point of origin is a male: Adam was a male and Jesus is a male.
In the Old Testament, this comes across in the second story of creation. God creates THE MAN (who is clearly a male) and from his side creates THE WOMAN. Subsequent human beings take their origin from THE MAN and THE WOMAN, as from one principle. However, the prior truth is that THE WOMAN takes her origin from THE MAN.
In the New Testament, this comes across in the Gospel of John, which tells us that the Blood and Water poured forth from the side of Jesus. We understand this to be the birth of the Church. The Church is to Jesus as Eve is to Adam.
Jesus is the New Adam. He pre-exists His Own Mother. Jesus (and Jesus alone) is the point of origin of the new human race.
The use of “mankind” in preference (I should say “strong preference”) to “humankind” is indicative of a mentality that is grounded in Scripture and in Biology.
Elementary biology tells us that “the male” includes “the female”, but not vice versa. The Masculine is constituted by a pair of distinct chromosomes (X and Y), whereas the Feminine is constituted by a pair of identical chromosomes (X and X).
I encourage the reader not to dismiss these reflections as irrelevant to real life. These reflections are extraordinarily relevant to real life. The words we use determine the thoughts we think and the thoughts we think determine the deeds we do.

CARMELLA TALERICO PELLEGRINO,
a member of St. Joseph Parish, died on Sunday, 19 July.
Born on 25 March 1919, she was 90 years of age.
Carmella is one of the three children of the late Gregorio and Maria (Defazio) Talerico.
She has two brothers, both of whom are deceased: Joseph Talerico and Martin Talerico.
She was baptized in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (Shenandoah) on 17 April 1919 by Fr. Thomas Antenni.
On 29 June 1941, also in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, in the presence of Fr. Peter J. Cavalucci, she was married to John V. Pellegrino.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Joseph Church on Thursday, 23 July. The interment took place in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Shenandoah.

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

IN REGARD TO THE OATH PRINTED ON PAGE EIGHT OF THIS BULLETIN: Please note that the Latin text of the oath is in the public domain, but I could not locate an English translation. The translation I provide is my own. I am responsible for any errors in the translation --- and I am sure there are more than a few — but nothing crucial or heretical, I hope! If there are, I apologize!
I remember from high school days the chant of the frustrated Latin student:

Ego, Joannes Oliver Barres, ad sedem Alanopolitanum promotus, catholicae Ecclesiae atque romano Pontifici, eius supremo pastori, Christi vicario beati Petri apostoli in primatu successori et collegii Episcoporum capiti, semper fidelis ero.
I, John Oliver Barres, promoted to the See of Allentown, shall always be faithful to the Catholic Church and to the Roman Pontiff — her Supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of Christ, the successor in the primacy of the blessed Apostle Peter and the Head of the College of Bishops.

Libero exercitio primatialis summi Pontificis potestatis in universa Ecclesia obsequar, Ipsiusque iura et auctoritatem mihi curae erit provehere ac defendere.
Of my own free will, I acknowledge the primatial authority of the Supreme Pontiff over the Universal Church and I shall take care to protect and defend his rights and authority.
Praerogativas quoque atque munera romani Pontificis Legatorum, quippe qui personam gerant supremi pastoris, agnoscam atque observabo.

I acknowledge moreover the prerogatives and duties of the legates of the Roman Pontiff and I shall defer to them.
Apostolica munera Episcopis commissa, nempe populum Dei docendi, sanctificandi et regendi, in hierarchica communione cum collegii episcopalis capite atque membris, summa diligentia exsequenda curabo.

I shall take care to carry out with the greatest of diligence the apostolic duties committed to Bishops, namely the duty of teaching, ruling and sanctifying the people of God in hierarchical communion with the Head and the members of the College of Bishops.

Universae Ecclesiae unitatem tuebor, ideoque studiose incumbam, ut depositum fidei inde ab Apostolis traditum purum et integrum servetur ac veritates tenendae et moribus applicandae, prouti ab Ecclesiae magisterio proponuntur, omnibus tradantur et illustrentur. Errantibus vero in fide paternum animum pandam atque omni ope adnitar, ut ad plenitudinem catholicae veritatis perveniant.
I shall protect the unity of the universal Church, and, therefore, I shall zealously dedicate myself to see to it that the deposit of faith will be transmitted in its purity and integrity and that the truths shall be held and the moral teachings applied just as they are proposed by the teaching authority of the Church and just as they are taught and expounded by her. To those who wander from the faith I shall extend a fatherly heart so that they might return to the fullness of catholic truth.

Ad imaginem Christi, summi et aeterni sacerdotis, respiciens, pie sancteque agam ac ministerium mihi commissum ita adimplebo, ut, forma factus gregis ex animo, fideles in christiana perfectione adipiscenda confirmare valeam.
Always gazing upon the image of Christ, the Supreme and Eternal Priest, I will act with loyalty and holiness and will fulfill the mission entrusted to me, so that I may be able to strengthen the faithful, gathered together as the flock of Christ, in the pursuit of Christian perfection.

Disciplinam cunctae Ecclesiae communem fovebo et observantiam omnium legum ecclesiasticarum, earum imprimis quae in Codice Iuris Canonici continentur, sollerter insistam, semper advigilans, ne mali usus irrepant praecipue circa ministerium verbi et sacramentorum celebrationem.
I will foster the common discipline of the whole Church and I will especially insist upon the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, especially of those that are contained in the Code of Canon Law, always being vigilant lest any evil practices insinuate themselves, especially in regard to the ministry of the Word and the celebration of the sacraments.

Diligentem curam in temporalibus Ecclesiae bonis administrandis ponam, iis potissimum quae ad divini cultus exercitium, ad cleri aliorumque ministrorum honestam sustentationem, necnon ad sacri apostolatus et caritatis opera collata sunt.
I will exercise diligent care in administering the temporal assets of the Church, most especially those assets that are set aside for sacred worship, for the adequate support of the clergy and of other persons and for sacred apostolic works and deeds of charity.

In explendo mandato mihi commisso omnes Presbyteros et Diaconos, ordinis episcopalis providos cooperatores, necnon Religiosos et Religiosas unius eiusdemque operis participes, peculiari dilectione prosequar. Itemque de sacris vocationibus provehendis maximam curam habebo, ut spiritualibus necessitatibus in tota Ecclesia convenienter consulatur.
In fulfilling the mandate given to me, I will seek with special affection the help of all of the Priests and Deacons, who have been provided to me as my fellow workers, and also of the Religious men and Religious women, who likewise participate in the same work. Moreover, I will exercise great care in the promoting of sacred vocations, so that the whole Church might be taken care of in her spiritual needs.

Laicorum dignitatem propriamque ipsorum in Ecclesiae missione partem agnoscam et proveham. Opera vero missionalia ad gentium evangelizationem fovendam peculiari sollicitudine curabo.
I will acknowledge and promote the dignity of the laity in their appropriate mission within the Church. I will take care with very particular solicitude to promote the work of the missions in the evangelization of the nations.

Ad Concilia ceterasque legitimas actiones collegiales vocatus, nisi impediar, ipse adero vel opportune respondebo.
If I am summoned to take part in synods and other lawful collegial activities, I will make every effort to attend, unless I am unable to do so, and I will be prompt in responding.

Statutis temporibus vel occasione data Apostolicae Sedi rationem de pastorali meo officio reddam, eiusdemque mandata atque consilia simul obsequenter accipiam ac maximo studio perficiam.
I will render an account of my pastoral office to the Apostolic See at the appointed times and occasions, will accept her advice and mandates, and, with earnest zeal, will strive to carry them out.

Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec santa Dei evangelia, quae manibus meis tango.
So help me God and these Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hands.