Saint Joseph Parish:
Parish receipts: $1,147.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $90.00 from the second collection (plate); $40.00 from the Dues envelopes; $30.00 from the Summer Banks envelopes; $71.00 from the loose. Total: $1,378.00
Non-parish receipts: $-0-
Analysis: When one deducts from the total of the parish receipts ($1,378.00) 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 $285.26 is available from this collection for operating the parish.



Saint Vincent DePaul Parish:
Parish receipts: $899.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $126.00 from the second collection (plate); $16.00 from the Building Maintenance envelopes; $25.00 from the Assumption envelopes; $68.00 from the loose. Total: $1,134.00.
Non-parish receipts: $10.00 from the Lithuanian Catholic Relief envelopes
Analysis: When one deducts from the total of the parish receipts ($1,134.00) 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 $431.29 is available from this collection for operating the parish.

Please note that, in addition to the times scheduled, the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) is available to anyone who requests it at almost any time. Just call the Rectory or tap Fr. Connolly on the shoulder and say, “I’d like to go to Confession”. I will do my best to accommodate your request.

WE SHARE THE MAIL #1
This email interchange that I had with a friend of mine might be of some interest. I have omitted the non-relevant portions of the e-mails.

Dear Fr. Connolly:
Actually, I'm starting to feel a little guilty about my Kennedy tirades. A real Catholic would be praying for the man's soul. I just can't help myself. It isn't because he was a liberal, mind you. It is because of that poor girl who drowned, a girl who worked her hide off for the Kennedy family. My grandmother used to complain about that (and she was a Democrat.)
I think the Kennedys have greatly harmed the Catholic Church, but that is another story.
XXX

DearXXX:
In regard to Ted Kennedy: I can forgive him for the Kopechne drowning. Whatever spin one might want to put on the whole tragic event, at least there was no MALICE involved. Maybe there was UNCHASTITY involved --- but I can’t be certain of that and, so, I’d better not presume it. Almost certainly, there was INTOXICATION involved and gross IMPRUDENCE as to driving while under the influence — but neither of these reaches the level of malice. Seemingly, there was COWARDICE involved, inasmuch as he delayed notifying the police --- but I can forgive cowardice. Surely he did not intend, at the time he got into the car with Mary Jo, that she would be dead before the night was over. In addition to all of this, he gave every indication, in the aftermath of the whole sad event, that he was truly sorry. I believed Teddy when he said that he was sorry. Whether he was “perfectly sorry” or “imperfectly sorry” is for God to figure out, not me. I’ll presume that he was perfectly sorry. Remember that “perfect sorrow” — which is God-oriented contrition — does not rule out the possibility that there is some admixture of “imperfect sorrow” — which is contrition based on self-interest. Admittedly, “sorry” doesn’t bring Mary Jo back from the dead, but this is not the first time in the history of the human race that an innocent person has died as a result of another person’s carelessness or stupidity — nor will it be the last.
So, as Ted Kennedy’s self-appointed defense attorney, I hereby declare: The defense rests in the matter of Ted Kennedy vs Mary Jo Kopechne!
What I have real trouble with is Ted’s unremitting and thorough dedication to the cause of abortion. I shall never understand that, not if I live to be a thousand.
But, to a great extent, I blame the cowardice of some of the leading members of the hierarchy of the Archdiocese of Boston and of some prominent members of the Jesuit community of Boston College. Apparently, they became “enamored of the world” and, so, they soft-pedaled (at best) and undercut (at worst) the Church’s teachings in the area of artificial contraception and abortion in order to stay in the good graces of the Irish-Catholic Democratic political establishment. They never held Teddy’s feet (or the feet of his colleagues) to the fire for his support of abortion. They were hireling shepherds. As St. John Chrysostom said, “The road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops and priests!”
However, now that Teddy is dead, I do forgive him even for his support of abortion.
I forgive him, not because I am wobbly in the matter of abortion.
I forgive him because it would be dangerous to my own salvation not to forgive him.
I figure that, if I forgive him, I might more likely anticipate forgiveness for my own sins and offenses on the terrible Day of Judgment.
When I say that I forgive him, I hope you know that forgiving is not condoning.
Bottom line: Eternal rest grant unto Ted Kennedy, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him.
EBC

WE SHARE THE MAIL #2

I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL from a person who signed (gave) his name. (I did not recognize the name.) It is not clear to me if the person sent it to me “one-on-one” or if he had sent out a mass mailing to priests in general.
Be that as it may, I think it is eminently worth sharing in the bulletin.

Rev. Connolly:
In the confessional, you likely hear men confessing the same sin over and over about looking at Internet pornography. For practical reasons, it is not an option for many of these men to cancel their Internet service. On top of that, many are also highly technically proficient, being able to defeat filters or monitoring software.
Fortunately, there is an option that just became available this year that addresses this very problem, and I wanted you to know about it. There is a new home network router called the Surf Scope that at random times captures what is displayed on the computer screen, saves the captures on the router, and replays it over and over later on all the computer screensavers in the home. This deters inappropriate browsing, as the computer usage will now be seen later by the entire family. It uses encryption, and if you try to tamper with anything, it cuts your internet connection. There is a video that describes how it works and other features at www.surfscope.com.
You are welcome to let others know about this either in the confessional or in casual conversation. I can speak from personal experience that this device keeps men (and savvy teenage boys) from looking at Internet pornography. I have not encountered a more effective tool for battling this problem.
XXX

I did check out the video on the website given. It seems rather impressive. The device is not inexpensive. However, if it does what it says it does, it could be worth the expense.

Occasionally I hear people say how wicked the Internet is. I always beg to differ. The Internet is not wicked. It is a marvelous and wonderful tool, a gift from God and a work of human genius. Unquestionably, there is evil to be found on the Internet. The best control of all, so as not to be drawn into the evil, is a combination of three marvelous factors: (a) the indispensable grace of God; (b) a pure heart; (c) a long-standing habit of self-discipline; (d) a salutary fear of eternal damnation.
If one lacks any of these, then the next best motivation, so as not to be drawn into the evil, is a reasonable fear of jeopardizing one’s marriage (“the wife finding out”) or of jeopardizing one’s domestic tranquility (“Mom and Dad finding out”).
While the latter motivation is not quite as noble as the former, it will do. It will definitely do — at least until the noble motivation kicks in.
I suggest that parishioners for whom this matter is relevant check out the video on the website and consider whether it might be worth investing in this device. If you have teenagers in the house, I think you might be especially well advised to check it out.
I ask all teenagers to forgive me for seeming to be suspicious of you. I know that there are many teenagers who have pure hearts and who strive for virtue. Please do not be resentful towards stodgy old adults like me who encourage parents to monitor your activities. Remember: You are a teenager for only seven years of your existence. If you are the beneficiaries of loving supervision (even a bit of parental snooping) during those seven years, it is much more likely that you will turn out to be happy adults.
As a former teenager, I know that this is the truth.
And, of course, I admit that it is much tougher for teenagers today than it used to be. Any teenager in today’s world who strives for virtue has my profound respect.

ALBERTA NOJUNAS CIERZNIEWSKI,
a member of St. Vincent dePaul Parish, died on Monday, 24 August.
Born on 25 May 1918, she was 91 years old.
She is one of six children of the late Michael and Anna (Nojunas) Nojunas.
Her brothers and sisters are: Edward Nojunas (deceased); William Nojunas (deceased); Beatrice Nojunas Salukas (deceased); Anna Nojunas Keck (deceased); Mary Nojunas Malinchock.
Alberta was married to Valentine "Walter" Cierzniewski. Walter died in 1988.
Alberta has two daughters: Elizabeth Kutchinsky Klemo and Jean Kutchinsky Cestaro.
She has five grandchildren: Lisa Cunningham Cheddar; Sandy Cunningham Wiley; Edward R. Cunningham; Gary M. Cunningham; Troy A. Cunningham (deceased).
She has six great-grandchildren: Justin M. Cunningham; Christopher B. Cunningham; Connor A. Cunningham; Adam T. Cunningham; Shane M. Dalley; David M. Wiley.
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am on Monday, 31 August, at St. Vincent dePaul Church. The interment will follow at St. Joseph Parish Cemetery, Fountain Springs.
The viewing will take place at the Stauffer-Breznik Funeral Home (Ringtown) on Sunday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm and on Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 am.

Eternal rest grant unto Alberta, 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.

SOME NOTABLE NEWS ITEMS FROM CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown is sponsoring “A Journey of Hope” Conference for Older Adults on Thursday October 1 from 8:30 A.M. -3:30 P.M. at the Holiday Inn, Fogelsville. Most Reverend John O. Barres, STD, JCL, DD, Bishop of Allentown, will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving. Brochures are available at every parish, or register by calling 610-791-3888, ext 305 before 15 September. This event is made possible through the Strengthening Our Future in Faith capital campaign.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown seeks families to foster medically fragile infants, siblings, and teen mothers with infants. An Information Meeting will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, 9 September, at Catholic Charities, 13 Westwood Road, Pottsville. Please register by 8 September with Barbara Ivaska at 570-628-0466, ext. 306 or Patricia Reusch at 1-800-330-8001 or e-mail preusch@allentowndiocese.org

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown Counseling & Behavioral Health Program is accepting Medical Assistance / Health Choices Insurance for residents of Schuylkill County and Traditional Blue Shield for residents of any county. Please contact the Schuylkill / Carbon service office at 13 Westwood Road, Pottsville, 570-628-0466.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown Immigration Program assists with legalization of status, family reunification, and citizenship. Please call for service in English or Spanish, 610-435-1541 in Allentown or 610-376-7144 in Reading.