January 31, 2016 - St. Matthias Catholic Church

Saint Matthias Parish
128 Bryn Mawr Avenue
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004
Website: www.saintmatthias.org
Email: [email protected]
Founded 1906
Rectory: 610-664-0207

Fax: 610-664-3559
Parish Religious Education Office and Youth Office: 610 -664-1942
Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions): Saturdays at 4:15 PM, also by appointment
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reverend Monsignor Gerard C. Mesure, Pastor
Reverend John A. McGinnis, Retired Priest
Reverend Mariusz Beczek, O.S.J., Weekend Assistance
Deacon Michael J. Kubiak
Brandon M. Artman, Seminarian
Director of Parish Outreach: Peggy Haley
Director of Liturgical Music: Berthilla Wiscount
Coordinator of Religious Education: Peggy Haley
Director of Youth/Young Adult Ministry: Katie Bryson
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW PARISHIONERS: Welcome to Saint Matthias Parish! Please see
Monsignor and register at the Rectory after any weekend Mass. Additional
information about registering at Saint Matthias Parish may be found on our
website.
RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: The office staff is available for business matters
Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
APPOINTMENTS: You are asked to arrange an appointment in advance by
telephone with the Priest you wish to see.
SICK CALLS: Emergencies – Please call the Rectory. Hospital Visitation –
The Parish Priests will be happy to visit any Parishioner who is hospitalized.
Please contact the Rectory, since hospitals do not contact the Rectory.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: The Sacrament of Baptism is administered most
Sundays at 11:30 a.m. Arrangements are made in advance at the Rectory.
Sponsors must provide proof of eligibility by a letter from their respective
Pastors. First time parents attend a Pre-Jordan Meeting prior to Baptism,
which is arranged at a mutually convenient time.
SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Arrangements must be made with the Pastor
at least six months before the date of the Wedding. Pre-Cana instructions are
required. Weddings may be scheduled on Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and
2:00 p.m., or on Friday evenings.
JANUARY 31, 2016 – FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
January 31, 2016
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday, January 30 –Vigil, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5:00
For Our Parishioners
Sunday, January 31 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8:30
Vera Fragment
10:30 Gerald Harley
7:00
Edward Crenny (25th anniversary of death) &
Elizabeth Crenny (10th anniversary of death)
Monday, February 1 – Weekday
7:30
For Our H.O.P.E. Volunteers
Tuesday, February 2 – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
7:30
Yolanda Marchetti
Wednesday, February 3 – Weekday/Ss. Blaise & Ansgar
*7:30 Intentions of Rita Juliano
Thursday, February 4 – Weekday
7:30
Henryka Carney
Friday, February 5 – St. Agatha
*7:30 Intentions of Angelina Straface
Saturday, February 6 – St. Paul Miki & Companions
8:00
Richard Frank Vita
5:00
For Our Parishioners
Sunday, February 7 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
*8:30 In Loving Memory of Isabelle Ragan
10:30 Margaret Harley
7:00
For Our Parishioners
*Extraordinary support through the Saint Matthias Day Program
LIVING LIGHTS: On the side of the Sanctuary near
the statue of the Sacred Heart is a place where three
candles burn for special intentions. If you wish to have
one of these candles burning for your intention, please
bring your donation and intention to the sacristy or the
rectory office. The Donation for these candles is $10.
This week’s candles are lit for: Our Youth, Marriage &
Family, and Special Intention.
Priest Celebrant Schedule – February 6/7
5:00
Father Mariusz
8:30
Father Mariusz
10:30 Father Mariusz
7:00
Father Quan Tran
H.O.P.E. – Helping Other People Enthusiastically
H.O.P.E. volunteers assist fellow Parishioners by
providing transportation to doctors’ offices, banks,
and supermarkets. The Captain for February 1 - 7 is
Peggy Haley: 610-664-0207.
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Carmel Bane,
Joseph Butler, Tom Hennessey, Jr., Marie D. Fratini,
Martha Eckert, Richard Knorr, Stephen Williams, Ryan
Williams, Wyn Marino, Thomas Liciardella, Jeanne
Glick, Nita Dransfield, Anthony Massini, Louise
Rascioli, Paul Snyder, Joe Casino, Irma Bates, Mary
Takacs, John Lynch, Dorothy Rubincam, Eugene Scotti,
Catherine O’Connor, Tom Klemick, Alec Boult, Frank
Diebold, Louise Grato, Bernie, Katherine, Jordan
Damas, John DiVivo, Baby Michael Anthony
Siniscalchi, Mary Rowland, Joan Grzeskowiak, Gerry
Gregory, Roger & Lelene Lifleur, Josette Brun, Eleanor
Kuhl, Fran Cravereo, Jim Cassalia, Hannah D’Agosta,
Jacqueline Gregory, Christine Ambrose, Lorraine
Beaulieu, Dr. Joan Hurlock, Theresa Jandrositz,
Raymond Sullivan, Rev. Thomas Wheeler, SJ,
Maryhelen Hogan, Thomas O’Connor, Jr., Dante Scott,
Gerard Hilard, Gabriel Minders, Chadd Kraus, Sr. Rita
Powell, Bill Duffy, Rachel Smith, Louis Owens, and
Lynne Dotsey. We also pray for those served by our
Parish in Inglis House and Bala Nursing Home. If you
wish to have someone’s name added to our Sick List,
please call the Rectory. Kindly notify the Rectory when a
name should be removed from the Sick List.
MEMBERS OF THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL:
Heidi Anderson, Patricia Black, Katherine Bryson
(ex-officio), Mike DeMonte, Maggie Duffy, Peggy Haley
(ex-officio), Ross Holgado, Ray Nepomuceno, Mark Rooney,
Peggy Saeger (Secretary), Gina Sullivan, H. Nelson
Keyser III (Finance Council representative), Mike Utkus,
Berthilla Wiscount (ex-officio).
Sacrificial Giving ~ Stewardship
January 23/24 Collection: $ 2,029 (blizzard weekend)
Bishops’ Relief Collection (January 23-24): $ 251
Thank you for your continued sacrificial generosity!
The second collection envelope this weekend is for
Catholic Education – This collection is used to support
the various educational projects of the Parish, in particular,
it underwrites the costs of our PREP program and the
subsidies we as a Parish provide for our children attending
Catholic grade schools. (All second collection envelopes, clearly
marked as such, should be placed in the main collection at the offertory of the
Mass.)
075 Saint Matthias - 2
Saint Matthias Youth Group (grades 7 to 12) meets
Sundays from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the Parish Center.
We learn more about our Catholic Faith, share meals
together, participate in community service, and enjoy
other fun activities. Contact Katie Bryson at 610-6640207 or [email protected].
Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament is on the
first Tuesday of each month. The next All-Day
Adoration will be this Tuesday.
The Blessed
Sacrament is exposed on the altar at the end of the
7:30 AM Mass. Adoration continues all day until
Benediction at 7 PM. As Catholics, we believe in the
Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Pope
Francis, like so many people before him, has a firm
commitment to spending time in prayer before the
Eucharist. This might seem odd or awkward if we’re
not familiar with it. But if you give it a fair trial, you
might discover some amazing graces that flow from
this time-honored practice. Stop by as a family!
is Wednesday, February 10.
Masses will be celebrated at
7:30 AM, 12:00 Noon, and 7:00 PM.
Ashes will be distributed during each Mass.
Stations of the Cross
Tuesdays of Lent
7:00 p.m.
Followed by Confessions
Mothers of Saint Matthias meets this Wednesday
from 9:00 to 10:30 AM in the Parish Center. We are a
group that seeks to grow in our relationship with the
Lord as we support one another in our vocation of
motherhood. We meet the first and third Wednesday
of each month. All are welcome. Invite your friends.
Bring your children.
Family Basketball Night will be held this Friday
from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the Gym. This is a laid back
family event designed to get us out in the cold
weather to get out, hang out, chill out, and unplug!
Come to the gym and play with your neighborhood
friends and fellow parishioners (parents should stay this is not a drop off thing) … we will have half the
court dedicated to kids and adults who want to play
an organized pick up style basketball game, and we’ll
have the other half of the court for those who like to
chat or just run around. (If you have kids who aren’t
into basketball, bring a jump rope or coloring book or
something else, and join us anyway!) Hope to see you
then!!!
075 Saint Matthias - 3
February 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
occurs 40 days after Christmas. Under the Mosaic
Law, a woman was ritually “unclean” for 40 days
after childbirth, when she was to present herself to the
priests and offer sacrifice—her “purification.” Contact
with anyone who had brushed against mystery—birth
or death—excluded a person from Jewish worship.
This feast emphasizes Jesus’ first appearance in the
Temple more than Mary’s purification.
The observance spread throughout the
Western Church in the 5th and 6th centuries. At the
beginning of the 8th century, Pope Sergius inaugurated
a candlelight procession; at the end of the same
century the blessing and distribution of candles which
continues to this day became part of the celebration,
giving the feast its popular name: Candlemas.
February 3: Memorial of Saint Blaise
We know more about the devotion to St.
Blaise by Christians around the world than we know
about the saint himself. His feast is observed as a holy
day in some Eastern Churches. The Germans and
Slavs hold him in special honor, and for decades many
United States Catholics have sought the annual St.
Blaise blessing for their throats.
We know that Bishop Blaise was martyred in
his episcopal city of Sebastea, Armenia, in 316. The
legendary Acts of St. Blaise were written 400 years
later. According to them Blaise was a good bishop,
working hard to encourage the spiritual and physical
health of his people. Although the Edict of Toleration
(311), granting freedom of worship in the Roman
Empire, was already five years old, persecution still
raged in Armenia. Blaise was apparently forced to flee
to the back country. There he lived as a hermit in
solitude and prayer, but he made friends with the wild
animals. One day a group of hunters seeking wild
animals for the amphitheater stumbled upon Blaise’s
cave. They were first surprised and then frightened.
The bishop was kneeling in prayer surrounded by
patiently waiting wolves, lions and bears.
The legend has it that as they hauled Blaise off
to prison, a mother came with her young son who had
a fish bone lodged in his throat. At Blaise’s command
the child was able to cough up the bone.
Agricolaus, governor of Cappadocia, tried to
persuade Blaise to sacrifice to pagan idols. The first
time Blaise refused, he was beaten. The next time he
was suspended from a tree and his flesh torn with iron
combs or rakes. Finally, he was beheaded.
Throats will be blessed after the 7:30 AM
Mass this Wednesday, the Memorial of Saint Blaise.
CONFIRMATION
If your child is in the 6th or 7th grade, please note that
Confirmation will take place at Saint Matthias on
Saturday, March 13, 2016. If you have not
contacted the Rectory, please do so ASAP.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
If you have a child in 2nd grade or beyond who has
not yet received their First Holy Communion, please
contact Peggy Haley as soon as possible at
[email protected].
We hope that you were able
to weather last weekend's
blizzard safely and without
too much difficulty or
inconvenience. A few of our
parishioners found it safe
enough to come to Mass. Of
course, and understandably, the extreme nature of
this storm made it impossible for many to attend
Mass; safety is the first priority on days such as we
had last weekend. Since our parish relies on your
generosity each week (we never take a "snow day"!),
we encourage you to place your envelope or
contribution from last weekend into the collection
either this weekend or next. Thank you for your
continual support of our parish!
Attention Saint Matthias Class of 1981!
The Saint Matthias School Class of 1981 will be
hosting a 35-year reunion on Saturday, April 9 from
6:00 to 10:00 PM in the parish gym. The reunion
committee is attempting to locate all graduates of the
1981 graduating class. For information please contact
reunion committee members: Andy Block at 484-5760194 or [email protected], or Madeleine Hickey
Arnott at 267-716-5080 or [email protected].
The Academy of Notre Dame 43rd Annual Fine
Art Show & Sale. Now through February 6 at the
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Mansion, 560
Sproul Rd., Villanova. Art displayed daily from Noon
to 4:00 PM. Free admission. More information at
www.ndapa.org/artshow.
075 Saint Matthias - 4
OPEN HOUSE
St. Margaret School, Narberth
Pre-K – 8th Grade
Celebrate Catholic Schools Week within a highly
recommended Catholic community. St. Margaret
School welcomes prospective parents for PreKindergarten through 8th grade to our Open Houses:
Sunday, January 31, 2016 from 12:30 – 2:30 PM,
or visit during the week on Walk-in Wednesdays:
9 AM -12 Noon on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays
monthly in 2016: January 20, February 3 & 17,
March 2 & 16. Learn more about our faith-based
education in a caring environment boasting
academic excellence and opportunity for your
family. For more information, visit us online at
www.smsnarberth.org.
Archbishop's Lecture Series
On Thursday, February 11 at 7:00 PM at Saint
Charles Seminary’s Vianney Hall Auditorium,
Professor Melissa Moschella of the Catholic
University of America will speak about Living as a
Christian Family in a Culture of Unbelief. One of the
most important tasks of the Christian family is to
pass on sound moral and religious teachings to the
next generation. Particularly in the wake of the
Obergefell decision in which same-sex "marriage"
was legalized and with the rise of transgender
ideology, it is critical that parents take their role as
primary educators seriously.
Yet these same
cultural trends also pose serious threats to parents’
ability to fulfill their educational responsibilities. In
her lecture, Dr. Moschella will discuss these timely
issues, explaining the nature of parental rights,
outlining the current challenges to those rights, and
suggesting ways to overcome these challenges.
Free and open to the public. For more information
please visit: http://www.phillyevang.org/lectures.
22nd Annual MOM – Heart of the Home
Day of Renewal
February 13, 2016 • 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Ss. Simon and Jude Parish, West Chester
Calling moms of all ages and types: new moms,
seasoned moms, grandmothers, step-mothers.
Start your Lenten season by replenishing your
spirit. Come listen to amazing, inspirational
morning and afternoon speakers: Renee Eells
and Kathi Clapham. Information: www.momheartofthehome.org/events.html or contact Deb
MacKenzie at [email protected].
Fr. Thomas Rosica is Chief Executive Officer of the Salt
and Light Catholic Media, an award-winning digital
network that offers a variety of programs, event coverage,
series, documentaries and other hope-filled content
throughout the world. Following the announcement of
Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, Fr. Rosica was invited by
the Vatican to join the staff of the Holy See Press Office
and serve as one of the official spokespersons for the
transition in the papacy.
MOTHER BONIFACE SPIRITUALITY CENTER,
Women’s Weekend Retreat at Mother Boniface
Spirituality Center, 3501 Solly Avenue in Northeast
Philadelphia, on February 19-21. Jesus speaks with
His disciples often in Scripture. Do we, in the 21st
Century, recognize that He is speaking those same
words, asking those same questions, to us? Jesus
wants to be in an intimate friendship with us – we just
need to learn how to listen. On this retreat, we will
look at 7 questions Jesus asks and explore how to
move from them to a personal response. Presenter is
Anne Trufant, a wife, mother, recording artist, and
dynamic, faith-filled speaker. $165 fee (includes $40
non-refundable deposit). For more information and/or
to registration, please call: 267-350-1830.
075 Saint Matthias - 5
Mercy Spiritual Ministries Retreat Day
Saturday, February 20, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the
Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse, 515 Montgomery
Ave., Merion. Sisters Mary Anne Nolan and Marie
Michele Donnelly, RSM, will give presentations on
“The Year of Mercy … Mercy Received and Mercy
Given.” $30 fee includes refreshments and lunch.
For more information or to register (no later than
February 15), please contact Jean Meehan:
[email protected] or 610-247-5613.
Mount Saint Joseph Academy, a Catholic college
preparatory school for girls, invites all 7th grade
girls to register for a practice entrance exam
(given to 8th graders) on March 19 at 8:00 AM.
Registration available at msjacad.org/practicetest.
Catholic Cruise to the Western Caribbean
Come and sail away on a 7-night Catholic Western
Caribbean Cruise, September 10-17 on the Carnival
Freedom out of Galveston, TX. Ports of call:
Montego Bay (Jamaica), Grand Cayman (Cayman
Island), Cozumel (Mexico), and back to Galveston.
Prices begin at $1085 for two passengers, and include
all port fees and taxes. Mass offered daily on board
the ship. Deposit of only $300 per person will
reserve your cabin. Space is limited. Information
and/or Registration: Doug or Eileen at 860-399-1785
or [email protected].
February, 2016
Universal Intention: Interreligious Dialogue
That sincere dialogue among men and women of
different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and
justice.
Evangelization Intention: Christian Unity
That by means of dialogue and fraternal charity, and
with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Christians may
overcome divisions.
TAX SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER!
If you are in need of a statement of
your 2015 contributions to Saint
Matthias Church for preparing tax
returns, please contact the rectory.
Please take a moment to review the
Sick List on page 2 of this bulletin.
If a name needs to be removed
(or added), please contact the Rectory
by email ([email protected])
or by phone (610-664-0207). Thank you for
assisting us to keep this list current.
Celiac sufferers have to follow a low gluten diet
which means avoiding most, if not all, products
made with wheat. This can pose a difficulty for
the reception of Holy Communion. We have
available specially-made and Church-approved
hosts, which are made with less than 0.01%
gluten. The Center for Celiac Research believes
that this would be perfectly safe for most celiac
sufferers. If you need to receive this special host,
please stop by the sacristy at least 10 minutes
before Mass and tell the sacristan or priest.
How are your New Year’s Resolutions holding up??
Why not resolve to become more involved in your
Parish?! Here are three opportunities:
 We are in need of additional Sunday Collection
Counters. Join your fellow parishioners on
Sunday mornings from 10 to 12 to help count the
collections of the 5 PM, 8:30 and 10:30 AM
Masses. Can you give one Sunday a month?
Anyone interested, please contact the Rectory.
 H.O.P.E. Volunteers Needed. Can you spare a
half an hour a week, once a month? We are in
need of volunteers to provide transportation for
our parishioners in need: short trips to the
supermarket, doctor’s appointments, or run a
quick errand. Are you available to help? Please
consider volunteering for this important parish
program; you yourself or a loved one may require
this service in the future. Please contact Peggy
Haley at the Rectory.
 Church Cleaners Wanted! We have a need for
additional volunteers to join our group of Church
cleaners. If you are able to help by giving
approximately an hour of your time once a week
(or as often as you can), please call Dolores
DiGiacomo: 610-664-6043.
075 Saint Matthias - 6