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Mass Times:

Saturdays: 4:30 P.M.

Sundays: 8:00, 9:45, & 11:30

Weekdays: 8:00 A.M.

Saint Elizabeth Parish Religious Education Preparation – PREP (CCD) Mrs. Mary Spieker – Director of Religious Education dirreled@sercc.org 610-266-0695 St. Elizabeth’s Parish web site at http://www.sercc.org/

March 2019

POPE FRANCIS’ MARCH INTENTION: POPE FRANCIS’ MARCH INTENTION: POPE FRANCIS’ MARCH INTENTION: POPE FRANCIS’ MARCH INTENTION:

Recognition of the Right of Christian Communities That Christian communities, especially those who are persecuted, feel that they are close to Christ and have their rights respected.

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/the-popes-monthly-intention.cfm

Lent begins on Ash

Wednesday March 6, 2019.

St. Elizabeth Mass times are at 9:00 AM, 12:15 PM & 7:00 PM

LENTEN REMINDERS: Lent is a time for sacrifice and for spiritual renewal as we reflect upon our baptism and the call given to each of us to walk as disciples of the Lord. We are provided with three personal challenges:

1. Almsgiving – generously giving to those in need 2. Fasting – practicing self-discipline and self-denial 3. Prayer – reading, hearing and reflecting on the Word of God

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Lenten Fasting Rules

1) Abstinence on all the Fridays of Lent, and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

• No meat may be eaten on days of abstinence.

• Catholics 14 years and older are bound to abstain from meat.

Invalids, pregnant and nursing mothers are exempt.

2) Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

• Fasting means having only one full meal to maintain one's strength.

Two smaller, meatless and penitential meals are permitted according

to one's needs, but they should not together equal the one full meal. Eating solid foods

between meals is not permitted.

• Catholics from age 18 through age 59 are bound to fast. Again, invalids, pregnant and

nursing mothers are exempt.

Operation Rice Bowl – Children’s Donation Boxes

The children of St. Elizabeth Parish will be asked once again to collect donations for Operation Rice Bowl. Our children (one per family) in Pre-K through 8th grade will be given small donation boxes once Lent begins. Please return all boxes by Monday, April 15. All donations will be sent directly to Catholic Relief Services to help fund their efforts of bringing food and drink to our hungry world.

When you give to CRS (Catholic Relief Services) Rice Bowl: 25 percent of your donations go to hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in your own community. 75 percent of your donations support CRS’s humanitarian relief programs in 100 countries worldwide. ($10 provides a family with 2 weeks of food) http://www.crsricebowl.org/about/ We thank you for supporting this important ministry.

Family Activities for the Forty Days of Lent:

http://www.catholicfamilyfaith.org/lent.html http://www.olqw.com/docs/TriduumNewsletter2012.pdf

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Sacrament of Reconciliation:

PREP Lenten Confession Time:

Monday, March 25 during PREP class for grades 2-8

Also available every Saturday from 3:30 – 4:15 PM and before Weekend Masses

Tuesday, April 2 – Penance Service 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Tuesday, April 9 – Living Stations of the Cross – Presented by 8th grade school – 6:30 PM

Attend Stations of the Cross each Friday evening at 7:00 PM during Lent.

LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF

PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION:

The following haveThe following haveThe following haveThe following have received thereceived thereceived thereceived the

Sacrament of ConfirmationSacrament of ConfirmationSacrament of ConfirmationSacrament of Confirmation

Administered by Administered by Administered by Administered by

Bishop Bishop Bishop Bishop Edward Cullen Edward Cullen Edward Cullen Edward Cullen

at at at at Assumption BVMAssumption BVMAssumption BVMAssumption BVM ParishParishParishParish

on on on on February 28February 28February 28February 28,,,, 2012012012019999....

Blaine Mark Christ Madex Joseph Cuyler

Daniel Joseph Fisher Isabella Elizabeth Fonzone

Megan Catherine Hamilton Killian Michael Holland

Gavin Patrick Kneller Giovanni Sebastian Mazzola

Alycia Rose Smith Aubrey Marie Vivian

Erika Elizabeth Wied Kaitlynn Camila Wied

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Where: St. Elizabeth Parish HallWhere: St. Elizabeth Parish HallWhere: St. Elizabeth Parish HallWhere: St. Elizabeth Parish Hall

Who: PREP & St. E’s School StudentsWho: PREP & St. E’s School StudentsWho: PREP & St. E’s School StudentsWho: PREP & St. E’s School Students

Saint Mary’s Students are welcome to join us!Saint Mary’s Students are welcome to join us!Saint Mary’s Students are welcome to join us!Saint Mary’s Students are welcome to join us!

Food: All you can eat pizza & drinksFood: All you can eat pizza & drinksFood: All you can eat pizza & drinksFood: All you can eat pizza & drinks

Time: 6:15 PM Time: 6:15 PM Time: 6:15 PM Time: 6:15 PM –––– 7:30 PM7:30 PM7:30 PM7:30 PM You worked hard to prepare for Confirmation this year, so now is the time to kick

back and share the Spirit with your classmates and friends. Are you up for the challenge! Hope to see you there!

DATES TO REMEMBER: FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONFIRST HOLY COMMUNIONFIRST HOLY COMMUNIONFIRST HOLY COMMUNION

- See below for special practices for First Holy Communion.

- Parents of Children preparing for First Eucharist are reminded to

send letters to their school districts requesting released time

for the Retreat Day scheduled for Wednesday, May 1.

-

Important Dates:

Communion Fees and Lunch OrdersCommunion Fees and Lunch OrdersCommunion Fees and Lunch OrdersCommunion Fees and Lunch Orders are due are due are due are due –––– Monday, March 2Monday, March 2Monday, March 2Monday, March 25555, 201, 201, 201, 2019999 The fee is $20.00 for girls and $22.00 for boys. Please return these fees to me in an envelope clearly marked

with your child’s name and “Communion fee.” Checks should be made out to Saint Elizabeth Parish.

Sunday, MSunday, MSunday, MSunday, March 2arch 2arch 2arch 24444 –––– Special CLOW – Children’s Liturgy of the Word - 10:00 AM Mass

Sunday, April 2Sunday, April 2Sunday, April 2Sunday, April 28888 –––– Special CLOW – Children’s Liturgy of the Word - 10:00 AM Mass

Monday, April Monday, April Monday, April Monday, April 29292929 –––– Practice in Church from 6:00 -7:00 PM

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, May 1May 1May 1May 1 ---- First Communion Retreat 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM (all day)

Drop-off and pick-up at St. Elizabeth Church

Saturday, MaSaturday, MaSaturday, MaSaturday, May y y y 4444 ---- First Holy Communion - 10:00 AM.

(Children should be dressed and ready in the parish hall by 9:30 AM)(Children should be dressed and ready in the parish hall by 9:30 AM)(Children should be dressed and ready in the parish hall by 9:30 AM)(Children should be dressed and ready in the parish hall by 9:30 AM) Our students Our students Our students Our students preparing for the Sacrament of the Holy Euchpreparing for the Sacrament of the Holy Euchpreparing for the Sacrament of the Holy Euchpreparing for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharistaristaristarist will bewill bewill bewill be lealealealearning the parts of rning the parts of rning the parts of rning the parts of the Mass, thethe Mass, thethe Mass, thethe Mass, the prayers aprayers aprayers aprayers and responses. The children will bend responses. The children will bend responses. The children will bend responses. The children will be given their very own Mass given their very own Mass given their very own Mass given their very own Mass bookletbookletbookletbooklet to use each weekto use each weekto use each weekto use each week. It is important that they learn the prayers so they may more fully . It is important that they learn the prayers so they may more fully . It is important that they learn the prayers so they may more fully . It is important that they learn the prayers so they may more fully participate in this great prayer of loveparticipate in this great prayer of loveparticipate in this great prayer of loveparticipate in this great prayer of love and sacrifice, praise andand sacrifice, praise andand sacrifice, praise andand sacrifice, praise and remembremembremembremembrance called the rance called the rance called the rance called the Mass!Mass!Mass!Mass!

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DONATED COMMUNION DRESSES & SUITS We have a few communion We have a few communion We have a few communion We have a few communion dresses and suits for anydresses and suits for anydresses and suits for anydresses and suits for anyone who would like to one who would like to one who would like to one who would like to useuseuseuse them for First Holy Communion. It seems practical to share our them for First Holy Communion. It seems practical to share our them for First Holy Communion. It seems practical to share our them for First Holy Communion. It seems practical to share our things when we seldom willthings when we seldom willthings when we seldom willthings when we seldom will use them for more than a couple occasions. use them for more than a couple occasions. use them for more than a couple occasions. use them for more than a couple occasions. Please let me know if you would like to see what we have.Please let me know if you would like to see what we have.Please let me know if you would like to see what we have.Please let me know if you would like to see what we have.

Healing Our Church St Elizabeth, in conjunction with St John the Baptist, is offering small-

group discussions moderated by parishioners will be held every Thursday

during the six weeks of Lent, March 7th through April 11

th. The first three

sessions will be held at St John the Baptist rectory or social hall depending on participation, at

7 pm. The last three will be held at St. Elizabeth’s. All are welcome to attend. The program is

intended to encourage prayerful reflection and conversation about the clergy sexual abuse

crisis. It was designed by RENEW International, a Catholic nonprofit organization, in response

to a request from Bishop Schlert. Please call St. John’s Rectory 610-432-0034 for more

information or to reserve a seat.

Prayer Services Planned! Our 5th grade PREP class will soon begin to plan for our St. Joseph Feast Day

Prayer Service to be held on Monday, March 18 at 6:15 PM. All parents and families are welcome and urged to attend and pray with us!

Monday, March 18 – St. Joseph Feast Day Prayer Service

– Planned by 5th grade PREP

Monday, April 15 – PREP Closing Mass – All are welcome to attend!

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

Soup collection – School and PREP joint effort:

Feb. 13, 2019

Dear Children of St. Elizabeth:

The coalition of churches that makes up the Whitehall Food

Pantry, gratefully acknowledges your generous contribution of

soups that you collected for our patrons. Your kindness is

greatly appreciated and will benefit our friends who are

experiencing difficult times.

We thank you for you generous support and are pleased that you are sharing with those less

fortunate.

Warm Regards,

Judy Ehret for the Whitehall Food Pantry

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COOKIES AND MILK FUNDRAISER:

Thank you for all your wonderful participation! We are able to send $265.26 to Missionary Childhood Association! Be proud!

St. Elizabeth will host the “Hunger Initiative” Community Dinner

All are welcome to come and feast! Tuesday, March 19, 4:00 – 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall

It is an exciting time here at St. Elizabeth’s! This month we join our Christian

brothers and sisters from other faiths to help serve the hungry and lonely in our

community through a joint venture: Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative.

Our students will be helping with the meal by preparing delicious homemade

banana bread for our guests! PREP will measure and prepare the dry

ingredients on March 11 and the school children will mix all the ingredients on March 18. The

delicious loaves will be shared at the community meal. Come and enjoy a nice meal with your

family!

Shamrocks and DaffodialsShamrocks and DaffodialsShamrocks and DaffodialsShamrocks and Daffodials

and Fr. Pendzick’s Fudge!and Fr. Pendzick’s Fudge!and Fr. Pendzick’s Fudge!and Fr. Pendzick’s Fudge!

Our Youth Ministry Team will be selling Irish flowers and Polish fudge during the parish breakfast on Sunday, March 10.

Please stop by the youth table for a spring treat! What a great Irish deal!

Gertrude Hawk Candy and ordered Easter flowers will be available for pick-up, at the April breakfast!

Greetings All!

Our Youth Ministry is having an Easter Candy Fundraiser. It’s easy to order and the

candy is delicious. Please consider supporting our Youth with an order. God bless you!

Easter Candy Fundraiser Youth Ministry is selling delicious Gertrude Hawk Easter candy. Extra Easter candy brochures can be found in the vestibule of the church or parish office. All orders are due by Monday, March 4, 2019 to the parish office or Sunday

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Our PREP Program covers Unit #1 to Unit #3 during our Prep year, but parents/students

are required/encouraged to complete Unit #4 at home. Our teaching guides are a pyramid

of information so each set of 4 units builds towards the next year and so on. If your student

never finishes Unit #4 from 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th - you lost an entire year of education by the

time you reach 8th. You can always work on Unit #4 now during the school year to complete

it while they are still used to doing school work and not headed toward summer break.

collection basket. Conveniently make your Easter candy purchase and pick-up your orders during the parish breakfast on April 14. Please make checks payable to: St. Elizabeth. On-line orders go to: www.GertrudeHawkFundraising.com, click “place an order” and use participant #727867 and “GO”, click on the group member’s name (M. Spieker) and pick your favorite candy! Thank you for your participation in this yummy fund raiser!

EASTER CARDS FOR SHUT-INS Each class was asked to make beautiful Easter cards for our parish shut-ins. We are working together with our parish outreach committee to bring little baskets of cards and Easter flowers to parish family members who are homebound. They look forward to these precious Easter greetings from the children of the parish.

HomeworkHomeworkHomeworkHomework

Please check to make sure your child has completed the homework assignment each week. In most cases, homework is given weekly with an added e-mail reminder. Together, we can train our children to know, understand, and value our faith through our own words and examples.

ATTENDANCE Parents are responsible to make certain that their child does make-up work if they have exceeded our three-absent per year policy. I will only notify you of how many make-up assignments are necessary, your choices of assignments, and when they are due by next week. Unfortunately, incomplete work may mean that your child will need to do summer work or repeat the PREP year. This policy has been in place for a number of years and we are grateful to our parents for helping us attain completion each year. Without some kind of accountability, our policy and program would become meaningless. All parents with students over the three-absent limit will be receiving a note via e-mail in the next couple weeks. Then it is in your hands to carry out the assignment in a Christian spirit. If you have any questions or can offer a substitute make-up opportunity such as service hours, please contact me directly.

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Phone & E-Mail Update Please, please remember to update your phone numbers and e-mail addresses!!!

St. Elizabeth’s Vacation Bible School

June 24 – 28, 2019! Join us at: “ROAR” this June where we will discover that ”Life is Wild & God is Good!” Imagine an African adventure that engages the whole herd. At “Roar”, kids explore God’s goodness and

celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life. Daily adventures start at 8:45 AM and end at 12 Noon each day. Registration forms will be available in May and throughout June. Early registration is recommended as we have limited supplies. Watch the parish bulletin for future updates! Volunteers welcome!

Volunteering Please consider volunteering in our PREP classrooms and/or in another parish ministry for the good

of all. We are all called to be His disciples and are led to serve one another. Our children will

benefit from our good example. Please contact Mary Spieker for more information.

“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

March Birthdays

Happy Birthday to: Dylan, Samantha, Cody, Isaak, Logan,

Rylan, Elianna, Ashton, Julia, Ethan, Mrs. Green and Mrs.

Silverthorn.

Liturgy of the Word – Sundays at the 10:00 AM Mass

Remember that Liturgy of the Word on Sundays is reserved for young children to better understand the readings. This is a wonderful program that is geared toward children ages 4 to 8 years of age. It helps our children learn how much God loves us and how he wants us to love Him and others in return.

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Remember to Spring Ahead Remember to Spring Ahead Remember to Spring Ahead Remember to Spring Ahead ---- Daylight Saving Time Daylight Saving Time Daylight Saving Time Daylight Saving Time

(United States) 201(United States) 201(United States) 201(United States) 2019999 begins at 2:00 AM onbegins at 2:00 AM onbegins at 2:00 AM onbegins at 2:00 AM on SundSundSundSunday, ay, ay, ay,

March 1March 1March 1March 10000!!!!

May the sun always shine on your window pane.

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

“

A MORNING OFFERING

What’s the best thing you can give God first thing in your day? A Morning offering! Although people have started their day with fervent prayers to God for centuries, this first Morning offering is the best known today. It was composed by Father Francois Xavier Gaulrelet in 1844 for his Apostleship of Prayer which he founded that year.

This prayer truly offers God everything in our day, good and bad, while reminding us of the importance of praying for others, with the help of our Blessed Mother, including our bishops and our Holy Father. They can all certainly use our prayers these days!

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, I offer you my prayers, I offer you my prayers, I offer you my prayers,

works, joys and sufferingworks, joys and sufferingworks, joys and sufferingworks, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the s of this day in union with the s of this day in union with the s of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Holy Sacrifice of the Holy Sacrifice of the Holy Sacrifice of the

Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred

Heart: the salvation of souls, the reparation for sin, and the reunion of Heart: the salvation of souls, the reparation for sin, and the reunion of Heart: the salvation of souls, the reparation for sin, and the reunion of Heart: the salvation of souls, the reparation for sin, and the reunion of all all all all

Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of

Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this

month.month.month.month.

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CLASS SCHEDULE 2018CLASS SCHEDULE 2018CLASS SCHEDULE 2018CLASS SCHEDULE 2018----2019201920192019

SAINT ELIZABETH PARISH SAINT ELIZABETH PARISH SAINT ELIZABETH PARISH SAINT ELIZABETH PARISH

PREP (CCD) PREP (CCD) PREP (CCD) PREP (CCD) –––– PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

PROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAM

6:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM –––– 7:30 PM7:30 PM7:30 PM7:30 PM MARCH

4 Monday Class 6:00 – 7:30 PM (Adoration)

6 Wednesday Ash Wednesday Mass 7:00 PM

11 Monday Class 6:00 – 7:30 PM

18 Monday Class 6:00 – 7:30 PM

St. Joseph Prayer Service or Mass (6:15) – Hosted by 5th Grade

25 Monday Class - Confessions during class for grades 2 - 8 6:00 – 7:30 PM

APRIL - PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GO TO CHURCH DURING HOLY WEEK

1 Monday Class - Traditional Stations of the Cross 6:00 – 7:30 PM (Adoration)

8 Monday Class 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Confirmation Class Pizza & Volleyball Celebration

14 Palm Sunday

15 Monday Last class & Mass 6:00 – 7:30 (Progress reports issued)

18 Holy Thursday Church Hopping after the 7 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper

19 Good Friday