Join us on Sunday, December 16, at 6:30 Pm in Church for our annual Festival of Choirs featuring our Adult, Children's, and Contemporary Choirs as they perform many of our favorite Christmas hymns. This year's theme is Do You Hear What I Hear? We'll explore the meaning and symbolism behind some of our most beloved Christmas hymn. The evening will also feature many of our parish children in a Christmas tableau and in other roles to help us gain insights into the meaning behind the hymns. Families are invted to join us for holiday refreshments afterwards in the parish hall. Come! Enjoy the festivities. Prayer with us! Sing with us! Share in fellowship with us! Prepare your hearts for the coming of our Lord and Savior during this annual parish favorite.

We are inviting all men for the season of Advent to consider joining our Men's Group on Friday mornings in the rectory basement from 6:45 - 7:45 AM. The group gathers for prayer, reflecton, and discussion on our roles as husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, and friends in an effort to grow in holiness and in our relationship with the Lord. For the season of Advent, we will be shifting from our usual focus to spiritual preparation for Christmas by gathering for Lectio Divina beginning Friday, November 30. Lectio Divina is an ancient form of praying with scriptures. Our focus will be the Sunday Gospels for the Advent Season. Come, set some time aside from the hustle and bustle of this season to concentrate on your relationship with the Lord. There's no long term commitment, and men are free to join us as their schedules allow. So whether it is for just one Friday in Advent, or all four, we hope you'll make time to join us for prayer over coffee and fellowship. The entrance to the meeting area is located next to the rectory garage.

Our Annual Advent Giving Tree is now available in the narthex of Church. Please consider taking a tag from the tree and supporting the various organizations and charities that can use your assistance during the holiday season. This year's organizations include, Holy Family Home, Joseph's People, Ltd., Cradles to Crayons, Birthright, Medical Mission of the Rio Bravo, Parish Outreach, Dawn's Place, St. Mary's Franciscan Inn for Homeless Families, Pajama Program, and Guiding Stars Ministries. Please bring you unwrapped gift/donation to Church by Sunday, December 16. Please note that while we can accept cash and gift card donations after 12/16, we cannot accept any material gifts, as all material gifts are distributed to their organizations on Monday, December 17. Anyone wishing to help deliver gifts to the organizations is aked to contact Dennis M. Mueller at 215-947-3641 or email.

The Catholic Church in America just completed Vocation Awareness Week, a time when we focus on vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Here in the Archdiocese, over 1000 students in our religious education programs and Catholic grade schools participated in Meet & Greet Webinars with some of our Philadelphia seminarians. These webinars gave students insights into how a young man discerns his vocation and listens for the voice of call in their lives.

Parishes throughout the Archdiocese also just launched Called By Name initiative, asking parishioners to prayerfully look from within their own parishes for men who they believe have the qualities of a good and holy priest.

We are blessed in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with numerous examples of these good and holy men, who God has called to the priesthood. The Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood, in partnership with Joyful Films, is excited to launch a new video about one such priest whose compassion, understanding, and empathy characterize his. Fr. Douglas McKay, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1982. Following various parish assignments, Fr. Doug founded Our House Ministries in the Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia in 1997 and currently still serves as Chaplain. As 'the living and transparent image of Christ the priest' (JPII), Fr. Doug uses the power of prayer and the sacraments in his outreach to those who are struggling with addition.

We invite you to watch and see how Fr. Doug has received and transmitted the mercy, forgiveness, and love of God in his ministry. In this time when there is so much bad news reported about priests and bishops, it is important to be renewed in the power that our Lord Jesus works through the ordained priest, wonderfully exemplified by Fr. Doug.

Walking with Purpose is a parish-based Bible study for women. The program incorporates at-home Scripture study, weekly group discussion, and monthly talks on various faith-related topics. This Bible study leads hearts to Christ where He is found—In His Word! We will begin exploring the foundational series “Opening Your Heart” on the 1 st and 3 rd Thursdays on the month from 7-8pm beginning on September 20 th in the rectory. This Bible study is an incredibly effective guide to deep, lasting transformation of the heart. Join us as we reflect and discuss the core questions that we need to wrestle with if we want to experience all that God has for us.

The cost for the workbook we will be using this year is $40.00. Contact Christine Regan at 215-947-3500 or by e-mail for more information! Click here for more details or to register for this women's program.