Reverend James Rodia, O. Praem.

Website: www.stpiocatholicschool.org

ST. RICHARD PARISH PHILADELPHIA, PA

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY July 24th

8:00 Giuseppe & Angelamazia Ricciotti requested by

Zuccarini family

10:00 HOLY SPIRIT Clara Rugnetta requested by

Rocco & Kim Rugnetta

11:30 Christian Robert O’Neill requested by family

MONDAY July 25th

8:00 Dec’d members of the Nigro family requested by

Marilyn Nigro

TUESDAY July 26th

8:00 Anna Cannavo requested Lou & Jean

WEDNESDAY July 27th

8:00 Eleanor Masciantonio requested by

John & Maryann Pilla

THURSDAY July 28th

8:00 William J. Meagher requested by Mr. & Mrs. Browna

FRIDAY July 29th 8:00 Catherine Renzulli & John requested by

Betty & Bernie Tartaglia

SATURDAY July 30th

8:00 Phyllis Bonanni requested by friends, Mary and Jean

4:30pm Frances Rotolo requested by

Salvatore & Carol Amaradio

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our SANCTUARY CANDLE will be burning

this week In Loving Memory of Jennie Damore

requested by sister, Alice Monfreda and family

VOTIVE CANDLES

IMO Birthday of Jane Emmertz requested by Charles &

Linda Emmertz and children

IMO Rosina Phillips requested by

Angie & Alfred Gargano

ILM BettyLou Morris requested by family

ILM Deborah Duffy requested by Anita & Frank Cortese

IMO Birthday of Sam Greco requested by

Trasatti & Parisi families

IMO Arthur Fragomele requested by Trasetti family

IMO Richard DiSabatino requested by Trasatti family

IMO Charles Buemi requested by Caroline and Aida

FROM MY HOUSE

TO YOURS

Dear Parishioners,

In calling for the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis said:

“At times we are called to gaze even more attentively on

mercy so that we become a more effective sign of the Father’s

action in our lives.” The Pope has remarked over and over

again how critical mercy is to the Church. Each of us exists as

an act of God’s mercy, which is pure unmerited gift.

The Pope’s words express hope and expectation that

by gazing attentively on mercy, we will in turn be merciful

like our Father. Today’s readings offer us a glimpse into how

our Father is merciful, and shows his mercy in intimate and

personal ways.

In the first reading, God, having received claims

against Sodom and Gomorrah, is in the process of verifying

these allegations. Abraham entreats him to consider the inno-

cent as well as the guilty. With each number proposed by

Abraham, God demonstrates his mercy by agreeing to save the

wicked for the sake of as few as ten innocent people. In to-

day’s gospel Jesus, when asked how to pray, tells us to call

God Father, or Abba. He goes on to say: And I tell you, ask

and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the

door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives;

and the one who seeks, find; and to the one who knocks, the

door will be opened.

What more can we possibly need than to know and

receive the Father’s mercy? According to Pope Francis, “God

never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire seeking

his mercy.” God’s mercy is freely and abundantly given.

Like those in the first reading, God has saved us. No

claim of our unworthiness, rendered by ourselves or others,

can have the final say in our lives. God extends his mercy. All

we need to do is accept it. We acknowledge this in the last

response we make together at Mass before receiving the

Eucharist: “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under

my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

This prepares us to receive the perfect and living em-

bodiment of God’s love and mercy - Jesus. Jesus, who freely

chose to die upon the cross to win our salvation. Jesus, who

gives himself to us in the Eucharist so we might continue to

grow in our love for him, and have the grace and strength

needed to be founts of his love and mercy in the world.

This Eucharist celebration resounds with God’s

mercy, and so we fittingly end with great gratitude by saying,

“Thanks be to God.”

God Love Ya!

Fr. Reilly

Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time July 242016

SAVE the DATE

August 8-12, 2016 at Holy Spirit Hall

“Philadelphia, The ‘Saint’sational City!”

Get to know many holy people who lived or visited our wonderful city, including Pope Francis, Saint John Paul II, Saint John Neumann, Saint Katharine Drexel, Blessed Mother Teresa and many more

who walked the streets of Philadelphia. The cost is $40 per child and information including

registration will be on our website soon.

Opportunity is available for parents and teens to assist with the Camp. Please call Maryellen at the

Rectory if you are interested 215-468-777.

Pre-Jordan Classes In preparation for Baptism Pre-Jordan classes

are held the third Monday of the month at 7:00

pm in the Church. The parents of the child are

required to attend the class; godparents are also wel-

come but not required to attend.

Please call the rectory to make arrangements for the

Baptism and to attend the class. After you have attended

the class and acquired certificates of eligibility for your

godparents, you may then call the rectory for an appoint-

ment to book the date of your choosing. The next

scheduled classes are:

August 15, 2016

September 19, 2016

Pre-Cana Classes In preparation for the sacrament of Marriage,

Pre-Cana classes are required for all couples.

You must register in advance for this class. For registration

and more information visit www.philamarriageprep.com .

PRINICIPAL HOLY DOOR

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

PHILADELPHIA, PA

SHRINE HOLY DOORS

SHRINE OF ST. RITA OF CASCIA

PHILADELPHIA, PA

SHRINE OFS T. JOHN NEUMANN

PHILADELPHIA, PA

SHRINE OF ST. KATHARINE DREXEL

BENSALEM, PA

SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF

CZESTOCHOWA

DOYLESTOWN, PA

MIRACULOUS MEDAL SHRINE

PHILADELPHIA, PA

Passage through a Jubilee Holy Door is an efficacious sign of our decision to enter into the life of Jesus Christ and make the passage from sin to grace. All are invited to respond to the Jubilee invitation to conversion of heart by passing through the holy door!

• Can I trust that God has

the big picture in mind

when he answers?

• Who or what do I find

difficult to accept or

forgive?

A Word from

Pope Francis

God is patient with us because he loves us,

and those who love are able to under-

stand, to hope, to inspire confidence;

they do not give up, they do not burn

bridges, they are able to forgive. Let us

remember this in our lives as Christians:

God always waits for us, even when we

have left him behind! He is never far

from us, and if we return to him, he is

ready to embrace us. — Homily for the Possession of the Chair of the Bishop of Rome, April 7,

Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time July 24, 2016

The Prayer Jesus Taught Us

By Gloria Hutchinson

Our Father, who art in heaven, The Catechism of the Catholic Church assures us that the word

our “excludes no one.” If we are sincere in using it, “our divi-

sions and oppositions have to be overcome” (CCC 2792). We

cannot pray “our” without including every single person for

whom Christ died. The Our Father calls us into the family—

rich and poor, powerful and victimized, beloved and despised,

living and dead.

hallowed be thy name; “It is characteristic of love to think first of the one whom we

love,” the Catechism says (CCC 2804). The first three affirma-

tions of the Our Father bear this aroma of selflessness: God,

we love you; we hallow your name; we desire the fulfillment

of your will.

thy kingdom come; The kingdom has come in Christ himself and will come in

glory when Jesus appears at the end times. Sometimes, in the

midst of Mass, we actually sense that the kingdom is, as Jesus

said, at hand. It is there in the homilist’s words that make us

say, “Yes, that’s how it is.”

The kingdom parables show that the disciples must exert ef-

fort. The sower must sow and harvest. The yeast cannot leaven

the loaf unless the woman kneads it. The treasure in the field

and the pearl of great price must be sought and purchased. The

net cannot cast itself, nor the haul be separated without the

fisherman.

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. During Mass, the Our Father comes between the preparation

rite (he took and blessed) and the Communion rite (he broke

and gave). It is as though the prayer gathers our intentions and

lifts them up before opening the door to the banquet table.

Give us this day our daily bread; The bread we seek is the Bread of Life itself: the Eucharist. It

is “all appropriate goods and blessings, both material and spiri-

tual” (CCC 2830). We cannot hope to receive a hearty seven-

grain loaf if we are giving no more than a loaf-shaped stone to

those who hunger for three squares a day, for companionship,

for work, for the word of God.

and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; Who among us has not met at least one “impossible to forgive”

person? One hurt me deeply and often, with no apparent re-

morse. I said I forgave her. I went to confession. I continued to

speak to her with courtesy. But my jaw was clenched, my

words cold. In time I realized that I had allowed my enmity to

drive me out of the inner hearth where God abides in me. What

a joy it must be to forgive like the father of the Prodigal Son!

To forgive others as the Father has forgiven us is a life’s work

worthy of our best.

and lead us not into temptation, As many of the saints have noted, temptation itself is good for

us. Without it, we would be untried warriors who, in their first

major battle against evil, wind up as POWs. And what we ask

for we also must be willing to give: We must help others sur-

mount temptation. Many go starving for spiritual and moral

guidance. Every adult in the parish is accountable to God for

training others to recognize and do battle with evil. When I

provide my neighbor with a wise word or a moral example, I

am doing for others what I ask the Father to do for me.

but deliver us from evil. The Catechism recognizes Satan as “the angel who opposes

God” and “‘throws himself across’ God’s plan and his work of

salvation” (CCC 2851). At his “definitive defeat,” the world

will be liberated from sin and death (CCC 2852). We oppose

Satan best by sticking together, closing ranks around our car-

ing Father. “Resist the devil,” St. James advises, “and he will

flee from you” (4:7). †

Into the Wild Retreat for Men

Building on the principle that "grace builds upon nature",

the Into the Wild retreat is primarily an outdoor, skill-

oriented weekend with built in moments of prayer and fel-

lowship focused on providing men with experiences linked

to a man's natural vocation as a leader, protector, and pro-

vider. Thursday, August 4, 4pm - Sunday, August 7, 2pm

at Hickory Run State Park; 3613 State Route 534; White

Haven , PA 18661 For more information, visit: http://

www.intothewildweekend.com/

Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious –

Celebrating the Gift of Catholic Womanhood

Women’s Overnight Retreat at Malvern Retreat House

featuring Pat Gohn, nationally known author, speaker, and

columnist. September 30 – October 1, 2016. Be Re-

freshed, Inspired and Renewed by stepping away for 24

hours of “you” time with the Lord. Join the more than 2000

women who have already experienced this special event

focused on the feminine genius. To register visit malvern-

retreat.com/register.

Questions, call 610-644-0400

Events Happening throughout

the Archdiocese

Catholic Family Fun Club (CFFC) Want to find Catholic activities for the whole family to do

together? Want to meet other families that share your val-

ues? Look no further! The Catholic Family Fun Club

(CFFC) and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia invite you to

join the Catholic Family Fun Club to network with

other families and to attend—and create—local Catholic

catechetical and social activities. Go to

http://www.meetup.com/Catholic-Family-Fun-Club/ to join. Please direct questions to Mary Beth at catholicfamily-fun@gmail.com

Votive Candles are available every week with inten-tions of IMO in memory of your deceased loved ones, IHO in honor of the living, FGH for good health, or IT in thanksgiving. For a donation of $10. the candles will be lit starting with the Saturday 4:30pm mass and will be lit for the entire week at St. Richard Church. Candle intentions may be obtained at the rectory during regular business hours.

Children's Liturgy of the Word Attention all children: During the Liturgy of

the Word (First Reading through the General

Intercessions), we invite children ages 3-9 to hear the

Word of God and participate in an interactive homily.

We offer this ministry during the 4:30 Vigil Mass. Please

consider coming to this Mass and allowing your child to

learn about this part of the Mass at his/her level.

Merion Mercy Academy, a Catholic independent all girls high school sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, is seeking a short term substitute teacher of theology from the opening of school until mid to late October 2016. Degree required. Experience in teaching the-ology on a secondary level preferred. Qualified ap-plicants are asked to email a cover letter and resume by Wednesday, August 3rd to Mary Ann Danovich, Assistant Head for Academic Affairs , at madano-vich@merion-mercy.com.

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