Roman Catholic Church 35 Old Eagle School Road, Strafford, PA

May 16, 2021

7th Sunday

of Easter World Day of Social Communication

MY OLA MY FAMILY OF FAITH

NEW MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday Vigil: 5 PM Sunday: 7 AM, 8:30 AM and 10 AM Weekdays: 8 AM Saturday: 9 AM Holy Days: 7 PM Vigil, 8 AM and 12:05 PM

SACRAMENTS

Reconciliation: Sat. 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM, or by appointment.

Eucharistic Adoration: Tues. 7 PM – 8 PM Baptism: 1st & 3rd Sunday each Month. Pre-Jordan class is required and held on the 3rd Monday of every month. Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

Marriage: Engaged couples must meet with the Pastor at least six months prior to the Wedding.

Anointing of the Sick: Holy Communion for the homebound or Sacrament of the Sick upon request. Anointing in preparation for surgery after Masses.

PASTOR:

Rev. Gerald P. Carey

IN RESIDENCE:

Rev. Augustin Kassa, SMA

PERMANENT DEACON:

Deacon John Rose

Office Manager/

Parish Secretary:

RoseAnn Westerfer

Business Manager:

Nicole Giacche

Office Phone: 610-688-1178 Website: olastrafford.org

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Mon. - Fri.: 8:30 AM - 4 PM

Emergencies Call the Parish Office and press 1.

ASSUMPTION ACADEMY

School Principal: Patricia Welsh 610-688-5277

PREP Office

Sr. Rita Marian Angelilli, IHM 610-688-6590

OLA CONVENT — IHM SISTERS

Phone: 610-688-7889

Join us Sunday, 5/23/2021 in Assumption Hall after 10 AM Mass to celebrate Rick West’s Retirement.

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION PARISH www.olastrafford.org

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Masses for the Week

Saturday - May 15, 2021 9:00 Dominic Meoli by Elie Sauerzopf 5 PM Fred Domenick, Jr., 1st Anniv. by His Children & Grandchildren

Sunday, May 16, 2021 7th SUNDAY OF EASTER

World Day of Social Communications 7 AM Fred & Barbara Domenick by Antoinette Recchi & Family 8:30 Maryellen Nerz-Stormes, 40th Wedding Anniv by Husband, Marc & Family 10 AM James & Ida D’Innocenzo by Nephew, Peter & Donna D’Innocenzo & Family

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Monday - May 17, 2021 8:00 For the People of the Parish

Tuesday - May 18, 2021 St. John I, Pope & Martyr

8:00 Roberta Brophy by Jeanne Marley Wednesday - May 19, 2021

8:00 Special Intention of the IHM Sisters in Appreciation of Their Dedication & Service

Thursday - May 20, 2021 8:00 Michael Sgrignioli by John & Anne Rogers

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Friday - May 21, 2021 8:00 Donato Donato, 10th Anniv. by Son, Michael & Edward Donato

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Saturday - May 22, 2021 9:00 Mike & Julia Yanak by Her Sister, Sr. Jeannine Norton, IHM 5 PM Jennifer Emmi Fiorini by Dino & Yolanda Calvarese

Sunday, May 23, 2021 PENTECOST SUNDAY

7 AM Dominic Meoli by Mike & Carol Barbera 8:30 For the People of the Parish 10 AM Carlo D’Ambrosio by Daughter, Dina & Tony Gentile & Sons

Sanctuary Lamp is burning

For: Andre Vittoz From: May 21, 2021 to May 27, 2021 By: Greg & Marge Seedor

Question of the week:

How can I more closely imitate the love God has for me in the way that I treat those I love in my life? Do I see God in those I love?

Brother’s House

Assisting homeless men in Norristown is in desperate need of clean new socks & boxer shorts (XL & XXL & XXXL). Please drop off in the Giving Room.

Walking With Purpose

Join the WWP Wed. Night Book Club! Our 5-week (May 26 - June 23) book club read is “I Heard God Laugh” by Matthew Kelly. Read on your own time & meet via ZOOM to discuss. Complimentary books are available in the Parish Office. See the OLA website for registration.

Additional Donation Options

available in Parish Giving:

1. Outreach - Poor Box and assisting the less fortunate 2. Shrines - Lighting candle 3. Memorial Fund - In memory of a deceased loved one

Prayer Intentions

Please pray for the sick and disabled members of our parish family: Nicole LaMonaca, Ed Drill, Anthony Ciarlone, Elsa Marsili, Josephine Sorrentino, Logan Schweiter, Margaret Cox, Victor Newton, William Vallejo, Msgr. McDonough, Carole Pullo, Gloria Biondi, Taylor Boileau, Dan, Angie, Nick & Kelly Sciarratta, Barbara Pupek, Catherine Harmer, Eileen Piombino, John Becker, Janet Fleming, Holly Weaver, Agatha & Carol Annino, Bob Iatesta, Louise Fehn, Gabe Yervelli, Milena Trosini, Alison Colodonato, Baby Flynn, Yolanda Price, Russell Demanczyk, Dominic Toscani, Fran Neary, William Vare, Hugh Rineer, Veronica Kelly, Carolyn Weber, Arthur Mattmiller, Nello DeFlaviis, Gina Pine, Msgr. Marino, Fr. Woodeshick, Msgr. Malone, Fr. Carbonaro, Ed Rofi, Gina Falcone, Anita Moscia, Maria DiGiacomo, Rick West, Kaitlyn Dorris, Marcella Canfarotta, Ann Koltay, Jim Batalise, Lynette Donnelly, Meghan Pitts, Rose Rogers, Philomena Mozanni, Erin & Noah Vandiver, Buddy Daniel, Barbara Ann Fitting, Bill & Theresa Sherwin, Ralph J. Salamone, Nick Santoleri & Bob Marcil. Please remember in your prayers the deceased mem-bers of our parish family, especially for Sarah Marie Lint & Anthony Ricci, husband of Adeline Donato Ricci. May their soul & all the souls of the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ. Please pray for our parishioners serving in the Military: Lauren Seedor, Rebecca Robbins, Luke Scilovati & Matthew Wilson.

7th Sunday of Easter May 16, 2021

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ASSUMPTION ACADEMY 2021 News

All of the teachers, staff and students would like to offer a great big

CONGRATULATIONS to our alumni and friends who

received Christ in Holy Communion. We are all so proud of you & excited

for you to begin this journey with Jesus.

Garden Update: This week the students planted

tomatoes, peppers, sunflowers & more! Be sure to check on our

garden’s progress when you drive by.

Registration for 2021— 2022 is almost complete.

Only 3 spaces remain in the Full day Kindergarten.

Please email pwelsh@olastrafford.org to schedule a tour.

Also, please visit our website: assumptionacademy.weebly.com

for information about scholarships!

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PREP

As we wind down this extraordinary year of PREP, we invite all families to join in with our virtual May Ceremony in honor of the Blessed Mother. It will be live-streamed on Wednesday, May 19th at 7 PM. After our prayer service, I hope to give information concerning registration for the 2021-2022 school year. You will be able to download the prayer from the email reminder which will be sent on May 18th. It will be a short service so plan on about 20 minutes viewing time. Please contact Sr. Rita Marian with any questions or concerns at 610-688-6590 or rmangelilli@olastrafford.org.

Baby’s Breath in Wayne In need of formula, baby food, bottles, diapers & wipes. Please drop off in the Giving Room.

OLA Planned Giving:

All parishioners & friends of Our Lady of the Assumption Church (OLA) are kindly asked to consider including OLA in their will & estate planning. We gratefully thank you in advance for remembering this wonderful family & community of faith in your will in order to ensure that its mission & ministry may continue to serve God’s flock in the years ahead.

Stewardship

SUNDAY & OTHER COLLECTIONS** (does not include Electronic Parish Giving) On 5/02/2021: $ 4,029 5/03/2020: $ 3,503

** OTHER COLLECTIONS INCLUDE: HOLY DAYS, CHRISTMAS and EASTER FLOWERS

Electronic Parish Giving Deposited on 5/05/2021: $ 2,032.50

CUM FISCAL YTD TOTALS AS OF including Electronic Parish Giving

5/05/2021: $ 347,503 5/06/2020: $ 357,218 Note: 2020-2021 fiscal YTD offerings are

- 2.7 % less than 2019-2020.

IMPROVEMENT FUND including Electronic Parish Giving

YTD TOTALS AS OF 5/05/2021: $ 28,453 5/06/2020: $ 23,626

Note: 2020-2021 fiscal YTD offerings are + 20.4 % more than 2019-2020.

To request your 2020 Contributions Letter for tax filing, contact Nicole Giacche at 610-688-1178 or NGiacche@olastrafford.org.

We thank you for your generosity!

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION PARISH www.olastrafford.org

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Pastor’s Corner

Dear Friends,

This weekend, we celebrate the Seventh Sunday of Easter. On this Sunday of Easter, we always read from the Seventeenth chapter of John’s Gospel. This chapter of John’s Gospel comes at the conclusion of Jesus’ farewell discourse delivered to the disciples at the Last Supper. This entire chapter is a prayer by Jesus (oftentimes called his high Priestly Prayer), commending himself to the Father and expressing his care and concern for his disciples. At the end of this prayer, Jesus and his disciples depart for the garden, and Jesus is arrested.

In this most solemn prayer, several themes begin to emerge. First, Jesus’ prayer reaffirms the complete union between himself and the Father. Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus has been presented as the One who preexisted with the Father and as the one sent by the Father to do his work on earth. Now, we hear Jesus include all his disciples in this union with the Father. We are reminded that Christ is the source of Christian unity. Through Christ, we are united with one another and with God Our Father.

In this prayer, Jesus describes part of his mission in the language of “protection”. He has protected those who were given to him by the Father. In Jesus’ presence, his disciples have been protected from Satan. Now that Jesus is returning to the Father, he prays that his disciples will continue to be protected from the evil one. In a very poignant way, his prayerful words echo the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, the Lord’s Prayer.

We also see in this gospel the distinction between the world and the disciples. The disciples are in the world, but they do not belong to the world. Yet like Jesus, they are sent into the world for the world’s salvation. As Jesus’ teaching and ministry was a source of consternation for some, Jesus knows that the world may not accept his disciples with open arms. And so we too, united with the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit, are sent into the world facing, at times, opposition ourselves. However, our Lord assures us that he is with us until the end of time as we proclaim his light in a world often filled with dark-ness. We are “in the world” but not “of the world.”

As I mentioned last week, Rick West, our Director of Music, has decided to retire from his position here at OLA. Rick has served for over 40 years as our music director. That is a great testimony to his love for our parish. Rick has worked tirelessly throughout all of these years to carefully build the music program and even going beyond that, offering his talents and gifts in so many other areas of our parish’s life. Next weekend on May 23rd, which is Pentecost Sunday, we will honor him at the 10 AM Mass. Immediately fol-lowing the Mass, we will have a reception for him in Assumption Hall. This will be an opportunity for all of you to thank him in person for all he has done for us. Please mark your calendar for that day. Even if you cannot be present at the Mass, you can always stop into the hall to give him a quick personal thank you. We will have light refreshments and a brief presentation of special music just for him. Please keep Rick in your prayers.

The month of May is a traditional time to honor our Blessed Mother. Last Friday, the faculty and students at Assumption Academy honored Our Lady by a special ceremony with songs and hymns and a crowning of her statue outside of the school. This spiritual event was followed with a social event with refreshments honoring the presence of the parents/guardians with the annual “muffins with moms.” It was a beautiful opportunity to honor Mary and all those special women who are mothers to our young children. Likewise, this weekend we will celebrate the Crowning of our Blessed Mother within the 10 AM Mass on Sunday. We pray that she will continue to watch over and bless our parish.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our Ladies of OLA for a successful Night at the Races last week. A good time was had by all at the Italian American Club, many prizes were won and for the first time I even won a race myself! I sincerely thank them for all of their hard work and dedication in sponsoring this event and all the social events that not only benefit our parish but help to brings us together as a family. Thank you.

Finally, I thank all of you for the many sacrifices you make to keep our parish healthy and strong. May God continue to bless you and your families. You remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Love and prayers, Fr. Carey