29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME October 18, 2015

Saturday, October 17 4:30PM Michael J. Zadroga Vincent Wolfrom (9th Anniversary) Sunday, October 18 7:30AM Edward Garbacz

9:30AM Sr. Francis Paula

11:30AM John & Dorothy Welsch Living & Dec’d Members St. Matthew Class 57

Monday, October 19 8:15AM Ms. J. Jessee Tuesday, October 20 8:15AM Lana Martinez Wednesday, October 21 8:15AM Carol A. Tinneny Thursday, October 22 8:15AM Audrey DeFrangesco Friday, October 23 8:15AM Thomas Neville Saturday, October 24 4:30PM Jerry Richardson (13th Anniversary) Sunday, October 25 7:30AM Christopher Mastrocola (49 Birthday) 9:30AM Mary Biehl Earl & Rita Joaquin 11:30AM Joan Luczkowski (1

st Anniversary)

Tom Tone, David Talone,JoAnn LaSorsa, Marie Carney,

Greg Atkinson, Sophie Grabowski, Anthony Bonanno, Joanne Toth, Theresa Lenczewski, Florence Zapien, Luke Birkhead, Rose Kiger,

Erik Kozlowski, Edmund Opielski, Bozena Orzechowski, Marlene Salkowski, Roselie Partenheimer, John Walski, Carl Reiff, Joseph Blaszczak, Patrick Kelly, Sean McGonagle, Mary Pierce, Brian Dunlevy, Sr. Jean Streibig, Stephanie Hathaway, Charles Streibig, Theresa McGrath, Kylie Reiff, Nikki Dolan, Joseph Rozecki, Betty DiCola, Brother James Riley, Shawn Gallen, Eduardo Gloria, Molly Glick, Deb Smith, Ann Campbell, Francina Capolingua, Cathy Pierlott, Lynn Bowman, James Sousa, James Gauger, Emilia Bello Jones, Rita Van Buskirk, Joan Nasielski, Stephen Greene, Caroline Smerecki, Joan Pierce, Kevin Miller, Mike Ancin, Alfred Zisk, Cynthia Allen, Rylan Borys, Susan Minnick, Ann Greco, Denise Kavanaugh, Michael Fox, Anthony, Nick Falcone.

Staff Sgt Daniel Furtak, Lt. Michelle R. McNally, SSKC Terence J. McNally Jr., Sgt. Robert Bonneau, Andrew Midgett, Jonathan Staats, Col. Shawn McGinley,

108th Wing McGuire AFB, Matthew Horning, 1st Lt. Stanley

J. Reimer III, SR Brett Pellicciotti, PFC Thomas Mazzochetti, Staff Sgt. Michael Alfonse, Robert Catapano U.S. Army 101

st Airborne, Paul Brown, Marines, Corporal

Andrew Teitjen, Tech Sgt Eric Zweiback

CELEBRANTS MASS SCHEDULE 10/17 4:30 Fr. Ryan 10/18 7:30 Msgr. Owens 9:30 Fr. Heron 11:30 Fr. Genovese

10/24 4:30 Msgr. Owens 10/25 7:30 Fr. Genovese 9:30 Fr. Heron11:30 Fr. Ryan 10/31 4:30 Fr. Ryan

Pre-Jordan Instructions (Sacrament of Baptism) The Sacrament of Baptism is administered in church on the first three Sundays of each month following the 11:30 A.M. Mass. In preparation for having a child Baptized, parents are required to attend “Pre-Jordan Instructions.” Classes are the first Tuesday of each month. The next class will be Tuesday, November 3 at 7PM in church. You will be required to attend a class if this is the Baptism of your first child. Please call the rectory at 610-828-0424 press 4 for the office to register for the class.

Prepare for next Sunday Scripture – October 25

th

Jeremiah 31:7 –9 Hebrews 5:1 – 6 Mark 10:46 – 52

No depth of darkness can prevent the infallible human heart from crying out for the Answer it seeks in the son of David. “The outlook of faith is the outlook of the truth that may be obscured and trampled upon, but can never perish” (Pope Benedict XVI). Bartimaeus possessed this outlook even in his blindness. His heart rang with God’s promise: “I will bring them back... for I am a Father.” Its fulfillment comes in the voice of the begotten One, the Son of the Father. Like a man dreaming, Bartimaeus leaps to his destiny and receives what he needs to continue to follow. “Take courage, Jesus is calling you.”

ST. MATTHEW SENIOR GROUP: Our next meeting will be held on October 21st at 12:30pm, at the convent. We will have a short business meeting and lunch. All Seniors are welcome, please come and join us. ST. MARY’S GOLDEN AGE CLUB: Meets every Thursday at St. Mary’s Church Hall. Three dollar fee. Play Cards 9:00 AM Snacks 10 AM Lunch 11 AM Play Bingo 12 – 2:30 PM. Dues for members due 2015 is $10.00 for the year.

PREP/CCD is in need of a few willing volunteers to sub for when a catechist has to be absent. A lesson plan would be provided. Please contact Mary Kay at the rectory. 610-828-0424 press 6. Youth Group will have a discussion session with Miss MaryKay this Monday evening. Please report directly to SSC&D hall. Father spoke of the newly formed youth group as a miracle in our midst! See you there!

Liturgy of the Word for Children which occurs at the 9:30 Mass has grown so that we now have two sessions at the same time. We are

in need of willing volunteers to assist with this wonderful ministry. If you believe you can help please contact Ms. Mary Kay at the rectory.

The Food Cupboard will only be open twice a month starting in September on the 2nd & 3rd Fridays of the month at 1 PM.

Food Pantry Needs: tuna fish, boxes of mashed potatoes, stew, canned fruits, Turkey stuffing, Cranberry sauce, Turkey gravy. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY MEETING: on Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30 PM in the St. Vincent de Paul room.

Ladies - Curious about Walking with Purpose? Please join us for coffee and dessert

on Wednesday, October 28th at St. Matthews Convent (51 E 3rd Ave, Conshohocken, PA 19428). 6:30 – 8:15 PM. Feel free to come alone or bring a friend. We’re a very welcoming group. No RSVP necessary, but please contact Judy Kukowski if you have any questions: JAKukowski@verizon.net or 610-331-2147. FOUNDATION FOR BABIES (ALEXANDRA PIERCE

ANGEL FUND) we are having our 3rd

Annual Diaper Drive from October 1

st –

October 31st. Once again this year our

Foundation for Babies Diaper Drive will be partnering with Cradles to Crayons. We are pleased to announce that over the past three years we have brought in

over 300,000 diapers to the Delaware Valley. This drive will benefit struggling parents who cannot afford adequate supply of diapers for their family. There will be boxes in the back of the church for your donations. Thank you in advance for all of your support. Bill & Nicole Pierce 610-405-3725 or 267-882-5573.

St. Matthew Prayer Shawl Ministry: We most ‘warmly’ invite you to be a part of this Ministry by meeting with us in the St. Vincent DePaul room Tuesday, November10 at

7PM. If you know of someone who might like to receive a shawl, please let us know-or make one yourself for someone special to you. For Information contact Alice O’Connor acaoc@verizon.net GOLDEN AGE CLUB of St Mary’s News: Casino Trips are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month: November 10 & December 8. Bus leaves 9:00 AM from 11th & Fayette, 9:15 AM from 3rd & Fayette, and at 9:30 AM from St. Mary’s. Please call Joe (610-825-4596).

The following forms and schedules can be found on our website at www.stmatthewparish.com

Parish Registration Prep/CCD Registration Schedule a Baptism Schedule a Wedding Eucharistic Minister Schedules

Lector Schedules Altar Servers Schedules Youth Ministry Registration 2015-2016 Archbishop Lecture Series: Join Archbishop Chaput as he welcomes distinguished scholars who will present on the theme "Living as a Christian in a Culture of Unbelief." The first lecture is Thursday, Nov 12 at 7pm at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Vianney Auditorium, Wynnewood, PA. Speaker: Mr. Kenneth Myers of Mars Hill Audio on the topic Neither Worldly nor Worldless: Faithful Christian Living in a Post-Christian Society. For the full line-up of speakers and registration information, visit: PhillyEvang.org/lectures. Workshop: Forming Life-Long Disciples & The Beloved Series The visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia has inspired all of us to seek ways to more deeply serve God, the Church and our families. Two upcoming workshops hosted by the Augustine Institute will help you find a way to do this: Friday, November 6, 9:30am-3:30pm, Forming Life-Long Disciples Through the Symbolon Program and Saturday, November 7, 8:30am-12:00pm, Developing a Marriage Ministry Using the Beloved Program. Attend one or both of these workshop to learn ways you can help strengthen people's faith and serve the family. POPE JOHN PAUL II HIGH SCHOOL – TWO SECRETARIAL – PART TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE There are currently two (2) part-time secretarial positions available at Pope John Paul II High School located in Royersford, PA. The hours for the positions are as follows: Student Affairs Office (Part-time) – 20 hours per week - 10 month position - Guidance Office (Part-time) – 15 hours per week – 10 month position Contact Linda Moffett at 484-975-6500 ext. 3001. Please forward resume to the attention of Dr. Louis Giuliano, 181 Rittenhouse Road, Royersford, PA 19468 or via email at lgiuliano@pjphs.org

October 11, 2015 WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR

YOUR OFFERTORY

GIFTS LAST WEEKEND:

$12,089.00

Electronic giving $879 + $11,210 = $12,089 SECOND COLLECTION TODAY Mission Sunday

ELECTRONIC GIVING:

We invite you to consider our new electronic giving program as a way to automate your regular weekly or monthly offerings. Parish Giving is

convenient for you and there is NO COST for you to participate. Contact Deacon Mike Kubiak at deacon.mike.kubiak@comcast.net to register www.parishgiving.org or www.stmatthewparish.com NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. KATHARINE DREXEL

Rosary Novena for the October Synod of Bishops (Oct 4-25) Pope Francis, during his visit to Philadelphia, asked all of us to pray fervently for the October Synod of Bishops, which is on the topic "The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world." Our own Archbishop Chaput will serve as a delegate to the synod from the United States of America. Since October is the month of the Rosary, the Archdiocese invites everyone to commit to praying a daily Rosary from October 4-25 for the intention of the Synod and for Archbishop Chaput. To download the novena, visit PhillyEvang.org/novena.

REFLECTIONS FROM MY ROCKING CHAIR:

Dear friends,

It seems that the presidential election for the fall of 2016 has

already begun. Oh my! I thought I might add my two cents to the

discussions, not me but Pope Francis. He is the first Pope to address a

meeting of Congress, the cabinet and the justices. A teachable moment

it most certainly was.

Representatives have a social responsibility “to defend and

preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding

pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics”. In a

special way they are to look after “those in situations of greater

vulnerability or risk. Legislators are asked “to protect, by means of the

law, the image and likeness fashion by God on every human face”.

The bulk of his speech was directed at you and I. He did so in

what I consider to be a novel way, by offering the example of four

people known to us by way of our national memory: Abraham Lincoln,

Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.

President Lincoln is the “guardian of liberty” who labored

tirelessly that “this nation, under God, might have a new birth of

freedom”. Building a future of freedom requires love of the common

good and cooperation with a spirit of solidarity. Our world is increasingly

a place of sectarian violence, sometimes committed even in the name of

God and of religion. Ideological extremism, the Pope noted, sees no

common ground. Religion that commits violent acts in the name of God

is false. Any form of fundamentalism must be guarded against - “we are

totally right and they are totally wrong”. Humility should apply. Do you

remember the comic strip character Pogo saying, “We have met the

enemy and they are us”?

Pope Francis presents Martin Luther King as a wonderful

example of our nation’s commitment to that noble truth expressed in the

Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident,

that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator

with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the

pursuit of happiness”. The Pope encourages us not to be fearful of

foreigners in pursuit of happiness, because “most of us were once

foreigners”. The “American dream” certainly played a role in the lives of

Irish, Italian, Polish immigrants, and others as they came to this land.

Their arrival was sometimes met with social unrest but the Holy Father

is convinced that we will not repeat past mistakes.

It is no wonder that Pope Francis’ love for the poor would

cause him to admire Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement

which she founded. She gave witness to personal poverty as does Pope

Francis and lived amongst the poor. He applauds those efforts made “to

raise people out of extreme poverty”! Much more needs to be done. In

difficult times a spirit of global solidarity must be prayed for. The Pope

writes, “The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly

and on many fronts, especially in its causes.” He identifies the right use

of natural resources, the proper application of technology and the

harnessing of the spirit of enterprise as essential elements of a properly

organized economy.

And finally we are invited to consider Thomas Merton as an

exemplar of dialogue between religions and a promoter of peace

between peoples. The Pontiff (a title reserved to the Pope) is drawn to

Merton, the contemplative monk, both for his life of prayer and his

desire to draw together the religions of East and West. The Latin word

pontifex means bridge builder.

Isn’t this the case that in admiring the qualities of these four

individual Americans, he admires the best in each of us?

Blessings in abundance, Msgr. Tom Owens (stmatt2014@gmail.com )

Fr. Tom Heron’s Weekly Reflection Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus,Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus,Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus,Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus,

Welcome!Welcome!Welcome!Welcome!

I rejoice in your presence with the Saint MatI rejoice in your presence with the Saint MatI rejoice in your presence with the Saint MatI rejoice in your presence with the Saint Matthew faith thew faith thew faith thew faith

worshiping communityworshiping communityworshiping communityworshiping community as we participate in the Liturgy for as we participate in the Liturgy for as we participate in the Liturgy for as we participate in the Liturgy for

the 2the 2the 2the 29999thththth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Sunday in Ordinary Time. Sunday in Ordinary Time. Sunday in Ordinary Time. We are blessed by your We are blessed by your We are blessed by your We are blessed by your

desire to give thanks to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both desire to give thanks to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both desire to give thanks to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both desire to give thanks to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both

parishioners and guests. May you be renewed in mind, heart parishioners and guests. May you be renewed in mind, heart parishioners and guests. May you be renewed in mind, heart parishioners and guests. May you be renewed in mind, heart

and spirit and spirit and spirit and spirit through the Word and Eucharist we share. through the Word and Eucharist we share. through the Word and Eucharist we share. through the Word and Eucharist we share.

Thanks for joining us!Thanks for joining us!Thanks for joining us!Thanks for joining us!

Isaiah 53:10-11 Psalm 33 Hebrews 4:14-16 Mark 10:35-45

In our Gospel today, we meet two brothers, James and John who come to Jesus with a request. “Let one of us sit on Your right, the other on Your left when You establish Your kingdom.” Jesus knew these two disciples very well, so much so that He gave them a nickname: “Sons of Thunder.” They were dynamic individuals; they were quite successful in their fishing business; they were leaders; we might today call them entrepreneurs, movers and shakers. It was only natural that they would position themselves into a leadership role among the disciples. Why wouldn’t they seek to share some of Jesus’ power? They saw Jesus change water into wine. They witnessed Him feed over 5,000 people with a young boy’s lunch. They watched Him raise Lazarus from the dead. They were thinking to themselves: this Jesus has no limitations, and like all of us they were not satisfied with limitation. They wanted life without limitations, without restrictions. They wanted to transcend all that was part of being human. They didn’t realize that human life is always lived within limits of one kind or another. The challenge we all have is to find meaningful life within limits. This is what Jesus tried to teach them and the other disciples when He told them about accepting His baptism and drinking His cup of suffering. As a human being, Jesus emptied Himself of divinity and became one of us—that means that He had limits and they were self-imposed. They were the limitations of obedience to His Heavenly Father; the limitations of love. Jesus is teaching all of us a very valuable lesson here. We have limitations that are given with our human nature. We are not God. It is important to know and to accept these limitations. They present us with challenges. We should never shy away from them. Knowing our limitations and weaknesses and guarding against them, they become our strength as they did for Saint Paul—they become a sign of our spiritual maturity. But beyond the limitations that are given in our human nature we also have self-imposed limitations. For example, if we respect the individuality and freedom of another person we would never try to control or dominate that person.

If we honestly believe in the primacy of truth and goodness, we will regard lies and evil as off-limits to us. If married couples believe in the sanctity of their vows, they will observe the limits they know they cannot transgress in order to preserve their marriage. If we, for health’s sake, commit ourselves to weight loss and fitness, we will build fences around fast and fatty foods. Self-imposed limits function not to punish us but to enhance and enrich our lives. Jesus did not impose limitations on Himself because He found pleasure in them. He was no masochist. His self-imposed limits were free choices in the knowledge that they were to experience life at its best. Jesus knew that love of God and love of neighbor were not burdensome limitations but were the path to the highest joy and the life of genuine holiness. It is important to realize that Jesus did not condemn James and John for their ambition. He wants all of us to seek after greatness. He does not want any of us to live mediocre lives. Mediocrity as an achievement is deplorable; as an accomplishment commendable. There is nothing wrong with aspiring to be the best we can be at things we do, as long as we do them in an honorable way. Any ambition we have must be guided by the moral principles God has set out for us as any loving parent would do for their children. There is a fine line between ambition and ruthlessness; between ambition and greed. Our economy has been crippled and many people have lost their life savings because some people chose dishonest means to satisfy their ambitions. Misguided ambition is at the heart of many of the world’s greatest tragedies. Yes, there is a moral order built into our lives. We do not so much break its laws; we are broken when we do not observe them. Jesus asks us to be baptized into His baptism; drink the cup of His suffering—they are self-imposed limits He set on Himself and He asks us to accept them, too. If we want to be great, we will need to be selfless people who have learned how to serve God and others. The Gospel story of James and John is to seek after a greatness the world cannot understand. It is the greatness of Jesus Himself. If we want to be first, Jesus says, be first in love.

End of Bulletin