MASS SCHEDULE: 03 — 10 JANUARY 2010 SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH GIRARDVILLE Saturday, 02 January Vigil of the Epiphany of the Lord 05:30 pm — ISABEL KARAVAGE KRICK (13th anniversary) by John Karavage and family Sunday, 03 January Epiphany of the Lord 11:30 am — JOAN O’CONNOR by Jack and Rose McCarthy Monday, 04 December St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious (OblMem) 08:00 am — JOSEPH C. CHIARETTI by his wife, Alice Wednesday, 06 December Bd. Andre Bessette (OptMem) 08:00 am — JAMES MICHAEL KENNEDY by Henry and Eileen Wayne Friday, 08 January Christmas Weekday 08:00 am — God’s Blessings on SISTER MARY RAYMOND, OP by her family Saturday, 09 January Christmas Weekday 08:00 am — HANNAH McLOUGHLIN by Maurice McDonald Vigil of the Baptism of the Lord 05:30 pm — DOMINICK GRASSO (20th anniversary) by Rose and family Sunday, 10 January Baptism of the Lord 11:30 am — FRANCIS X. BOYLAN by Patricia Kowalick

MASS SCHEDULE: 03 — 10 JANUARY 2010 SAINT Vincent dePAUL CHURCH GIRARDVILLE   Saturday, 02 January Vigil of the Epiphany of the Lord 04:00 pm — EDWARD M. WASCAVAGE by the Dade family Sunday, 03 January Epiphany of the Lord 08:30 am — God’s Blessings on SONNY and CHARLOTTE VOCINOVICH by David and Susan Thye Tuesday, 05 January St. John Neumann, bishop (OblMem) 08:00 am — WILLIAM KARPYN by Dorothy Karpyn and family and Shafnitsky family Thursday, 07 January St. Raymond of Penyafort, priest (OptMem) 06:30 pm — DECEASED: HOLY ROSARY SOCIETY by the HRS Saturday, 09 January Vigil of the Baptism of the Lord 04:00 pm — JOSEPHINE ROVINSKIE by Al and Josette Machese Sunday, 10 January Baptism of the Lord 08:30 am — DECEASED: HOLY NAME SOCIETY by the HNS

stjos/stvdp: 01.03.2010 - 04

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SOME RECENT STATISTICS ON BAPTISM  Saint Vincent dePaul Parish       YEAR                     BAPTISMS 2000                           03 2001                           01 2002                           01 2003                           01 2004                           03 2005                           06 2006                           07 2007                           01 2008                           00 2009                           02 Total:                          25  Saint Joseph Parish        YEAR                           BAPTISMS 2000                         15 2001                         18 2002                         13 2003                         14 2004                         18 2005                         14 2006                         13 2007                         15 2008                         12 2009                         12 Total:                      144 COMMENTARY ON THE ABOVE One hundred and sixty-nine (169) baptisms over the course of ten years is not exactly something to write home about! (Although we DO thank God for those 169! May all of them live long and happy lives and, in due time, may they all go to Heaven!) But back to WHY so FEW baptisms! Let us start with a few positive observations: #1 — Thank God we have baptism fonts at both churches in Girardville: fine, substantial baptism fonts. Therefore, we cannot attribute the small number of baptisms to any lack of fonts. #2 — Thank God we are not deprived of water here in Girardville. We have an abundance of good clean water and of modern plumbing, both in St. Vincent dePaul Church and in St. Joseph Church. Therefore, the paucity of baptisms cannot be blamed on any scarcity of H20. #3 — Thank God we have (and have had) priests in Girardville who are competent to administer the Sacrament of Baptism and are (and have been) ready and willing to do so. So, we cannot attribute the fewness of baptisms to any lack of priests or incompetence thereof. #4 — Thank God we have a great many beautiful — and, if I may be so bold as to say so, presumably fertile — married women here in Girardville. So, no problem in that department! #5 — Thank God we have a good many handsome — and, so it seems to me, virile — married men here in Girardville. So, no problem in that department either! #6 — Could the problem possibly be (I tremble to suggest this) some deficiency of faith in God among some of our married parishioners? Could the problem possibly have any relation to the pagan practice of artificial contraception? God forbid that this would be the reason! LET ALL MARRIED COUPLES INCREASE AND MULTIPLY! LET THEM FILL SCHUYLKILL COUNTY AND THE EARTH (AND OUR TWO PARISHES) WITH MANY NEW CITIZENS FOR HEAVEN!

stjos/stvdp: 01.03.2010 - 05

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A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION! Make 2010 the year you keep the promise to grow closer in your marriage. A MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER will help you keep this resolution. Register now for your Valentine’s Day weekend: 12 to 14 February in Bethlehem. Call 1-800-787-7679 or go online at www. wwme-nepa.org for information.

THE HOLY ROSARY SOCIETY will hold its monthly meeting this coming Thursday (07 Jan) in the StVdP Parish Hall after the 6:30 pm Mass.

THE HOLY NAME SOCIETY will hold its monthly meeting this coming Sunday (10 Jan) in the StVdP Parish Hall after the 8:30 am Mass.

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.

TEE SHIRT OF THE WEEK I was in a Pizza Hut in Harrisburg this past week. I saw a boy sitting in a booth across from me. He was a well-pierced and tattooed lad of about 18 or 19 years. His tee shirt read as follows: SELF-MUTILATING DEATH. Poor lost boy! I said a Memorare for him. May God help him and may the Holy Mother pray for him.

http://www.catholicscomehome.org/former-catholic.php If you are a non-practicing Catholic or if you have a friend or relative who is a non-practicing Catholic, you might want to tap into the website listed above. We here at StJosPar and StVdPPar welcome all non-practicing Catholics to come back home. If you would like to discuss some “issues” with Fr. Connolly, just give him a call. Make an appointment to talk about whatever you want to talk about. He guarantees you a respectful and courteous visit, plus free coffee (or tea or soda) and, as long as the Christmas cookies last, maybe even a free cookie.

 stjos/stvdp: 01.03.2010 - 06

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EIGHT REASONS WHY I DO NOT TAKE A BATH 1.) When I was a child, my parents made me take baths. I made up my mind that, once I was grown up, I wouldn’t take any more baths. 2.) People who take baths are a bunch of hypocrites. They think they’re cleaner than everybody else! I don’t want to be like one of them. 3.) Some people say baths are best. Some people say showers are best. Plus, there are so many different brands of soap. It’s too confusing for me. So, I just don’t bother. 4.) I used to take baths but it was so boring: the same thing, one bath after another. So, I just stopped taking them. 5.) It’s not like I’m totally against taking baths. I still take a bath for Christmas and for Easter. 6.) I have a lot of friends who never take any baths. 7.) I’m still young. Maybe, when I get older and dirtier and think I really need it, I might take a bath. 8.) “Taking a bath” is a lot of propaganda. It’s a racket. The water company and the soap companies are just after your money. That’s why I don’t take any baths.

EIGHT REASONS WHYI DO NOT GO TO MASS 1.) When I was a child, my parents made me go to Mass. I made up my mind that, once I was grown up, I wouldn’t go to Mass any more. 2.) People who go to Mass are a bunch of hypocrites. They think they’re better than everybody else! I don’t want to be like one of them. 3.) Some Catholics like organ music. Some Catholics like guitar music. Plus, there are so many different brands of religion. It’s too confusing for me. So, I just don’t bother. 4.) I used to go to Mass, but it was so boring: the same thing one Sunday after another. So, I just stopped going. 5.) It’s not like I’m totally against going to Mass. I still go to Mass on Christmas and Easter. 6.) I have a lot of friends who never go to Mass. 7.) I’m still young. Maybe, when I get older and commit more sins and think I really need it, I might go to Mass. 8.) “Go to Mass every Sunday” is a lot of propaganda. Religion is a racket. The Catholic Church is just after your money. That’s why I don’t go to Mass.

stjos/stvdp: 01.03.2010 - 07

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A SAGE OBSERVATION! In last weekend’s bulletin, after typing the Mass schedule for the Holy Day (Solemnity of Mary, 01 Jan), I added a few words of exhortation about the importance of going to Mass on a Holy Day. I wrote the following: “Please note that the obligation to attend Mass on any Holyday of Obligation is the same as the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday”. Ian (the Saturday Office Boy) made this observation: “Father, you should have typed, ‘Please note that the obligation to attend Mass on any Holyday of Obligation is the same as the obligation to attend Mass on Christmas’.” If you think about it, that’s very insightful. Smart kid! Wiser than his years!

I SET MY DVR to record the Pope’s Mass for the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. I watched it late at night on New Year’s Day. I noticed that the Pope had arranged for a kneeling bench to be placed in the center. Each person who came up to the Pope to receive Holy Communion knelt down and received on the tongue. Viva il Papa! May he live a thousand years! Well, maybe not a thousand, but at least long enough to undo some of the harm that has accrued to the Church over the past forty (give or take) years.

WHILE ON THE SUBJECT OF THE POPE, you might have noticed that His Holiness recently issued a document (known as a motu proprio) the title of which is OMNIUM IN MENTE. He has exercised his supreme authority to make two adjustments to Canon Law. Here is a brief (very brief) explanation of the two changes: #1 — The current Code of Canon Law implies (incorrectly) that deacons share in the governance of the Church, along with bishops and priests. Pope Benedict has made the clarification that only bishops and priests share in the governance of the Church, whereas the ministry of deacons is one of service in Word and in charity. #2 — The current Code exempts persons who have “formally” left the Catholic Church from the obligation to observe canonical form in marriage (i.e. the obligation to be married by “a duly authorized priest and two witnesses”) and also from the obligation to obtain a dispensation from disparity of cult in order to enter a valid marriage with a non-baptized person. Benedict has brought the law back to what it was prior to 1983. Basically the Pope is saying this: There is no such thing as “an ex-Catholic” when it comes to the laws governing marriage. Once a Catholic, always a Catholic — at least as far as Church marriage law is concerned. My way of putting it is this: You can leave the Church if you’re dumb enough to do so, but the Church isn’t about to leave you! PS – Both of these changes are going to rattle the cages of the malcontents! That’s good!

                        stjos/stvdp: 01.03.2010 - 08                            

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