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Religious Services This Week

Sunday May 29 Corpus Christi Sat. Eve. Vigil Masses: 4:00 pm (English); 7:00 pm (Spanish) Sun. Morning Masses: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00 am No afternoon/eve. Mass on Sunday.

Corpus Christi Procession right after 11 AM Mass. Three altars will be erected in front parking lot.

Catholics show love for Christ in His Real Presence by honoring Him in a very public way. We show love for our neighbors by bringing Our Lord

closer to them. All are welcome.

Monday ~ Memorial Day 8:45 am Holy Mass No confessions today. Attending Mass is the very best way to “remember” on Memorial Day. Adoration Chapel closed; re-opens Tues. 3:00 pm National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks all Americans,

wherever we are at 3 pm, local time, Memorial Day, to pause for one minute in an act of national unity. This time was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoy freedoms on a national holiday. The Moment is for all Americans, alone or with family and friends, to honor those who died in service to the U.S.A.

Tues.-Fri. Confession: 8:15-8:35 am. Holy Mass: 8:45 am. Sat. Confession: 8:30-8:50 am. Rosary: 8:30 am. Holy Mass: 9:00 am Novena: After Mass to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Confession: 3-3:30 pm; 6-6:30 pm.

Parishioners unable to attend confessions at scheduled times may request appt. with priest.

Saint John Bosco

Roman Catholic Church Parish Center Office

215 E. County Line Road Hatboro, PA 19040

Tel. (215) 672-7280 In emergency, call anytime 24/7.

Otherwise, please call during Office Hours.

Faith Formation Office (PREP) Tel. 267-803-0774. St. Vincent de Paul Society Tel. 215-882-2707.

Office Hours This Week

Tues. to Thurs.: 9 am to 12 noon; 1 to 4:30 pm; Evenings 6:30 to 8:00 pm by appt. Fri.: 9 am to 12 noon; 1 to 4 pm. Eve. closed. Sat./Sun.: Closed.

Staff Rev. Gary J. Kramer, Pastor

Rev. Gerald C. Ronan, Parochial Vicar Rev. James E. McVeigh, Weekend Assistant

Deacon Daniel J. Rouse, Financial Administrator Mrs. Diane Falchetta, Secretary

Loretta Ceniviva, Secretary Mrs. Christine Flack, Faith Formation Coordinator

Mrs. Lisa Quaranto, Music Director & Youth Ministry Coordinator

Mrs. Janet Shepherd, Bulletin Editor

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

First Friday June 3, 2016 Holy Hour of Reparation

(Spanish) Adoration Chapel 6 to 7 pm

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

First Saturday June 4, 2016 Novena (English)

Church after 9 am Mass

Parish Center is closed Mon., May 30, Memorial Day. Re-opens Tuesday at 9 am.

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PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AND INFIRM.

Please Pray for Our Faithful Departed

All Men and Women who Died in Our Country’s Military Service.

Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the

souls of the Faithful Departed through the mercy of God rest in

peace. Amen.

Please submit items for Bulletin issue dates (left) by 12 noon on submission dates (right):

June 19…………………………...Tues., May 31

June 26…………………………...Mon., June 6

July 3…………………………...Mon., June 13

July 10…………………………..Mon., June 20

Please send info./questions to Bulletin Editor at Parish Ctr. Email Bulletined@saintjohnbosco.org.

Adoration Chapel

Chapel Hours Sat. Sun. Mon. Closed.

Tues.: after 8:45 am Mass to 7 pm. Wed. to Fri.: 8 am to 7 pm.

Prayer Intention Candles (6) burn alongside the Blessed Sacrament in the Adoration Chapel and are dedicated this

week to: Ella Covaleski, Hank Eichorn,

SJB Choir, Majestic Oaks Residents, Joseph Serratore, Frank Waltrich

How we list: Just send your name with intention & offering to ADORATION CANDLE c/o Parish Cen-ter. Please name one Person, Couple (engaged or mar-ried), Family, Group per request. Candles are for liv-ing or dec’d. Offering: $ 15.

Phil Adamo, Jr. Patricia Ambrose Edward Bauman Melissa Bauman Robert Boileau

William J. Brady Miriam Burke

Joseph Campbell Helen Cannon Carolyn Cole

Linda Cunningham Ellen Dardis Irene Dardis

Eileen Friscia Carol Gallagher Marianna Genn Rita Garofalo

MaryAnn Graham Debbie Hipple Lilly Ibbotson Marie Jones

Tim Keebler Helen LaRosa Gail Maines

Florence McHugh Rick Obert-Thorn

Rolene Rose Catherine Sarsfield

Joseph Serratore Michael Slanino

Brett Vivian Frank Waltrich

Jim Wyatt How we list:

We list sick persons for one month at their own or family member’s request. To place/extend a listing, please call Parish Center.

Sunday Amount Differ-ence 5/15/16 $12,117.17 5/17/15 11,490.60 + 626.57 *includes E-giving

We welcome into the Church and our Parish:

Yaretzy Belen Reyes Marcos Osmar Daniel Reyes Marcos

Kaylee Sofia Martinez Evelyn Moctezuma Medina

Santiago Rosales Perez

MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

5/30 MON. 8:45 AM Joseph Regan 5/31 TUES. 8:45 AM Joseph Regan 6/1 WED. 8:45 AM Joseph Regan 6/2 THURS. 8:45 AM Joseph Regan 6/3 FRI. 8:45 AM Henry Bach

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016 9:00 AM John Migon 4:00 PM Dolores Yanni 7:00 PM Pro Populo (For the People) SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 7:00 AM Rosemary Gana 9:00 AM The Kent Family 11:00 AM Jeanne DeKett

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Saint John Bosco Sat., June 4 from 8 AM to 1PM. Flea Market Closets overflowing? Clean out those unwanted items & turn them into cash by renting one or more spaces to sell your stuff. Spaces $ 15.00. Contact: Janet Lynch 215-364-1646.

Rummage Sale Don’t want to rent a space. Have items to Donate? SJB accepts donations dropped off in our collection boxes by gym doors from 5/26/16-6/3/16. Info.? John 215-669-8159.

The Holy Name Society is

sponsoring a trip to Trenton Thunder vs. Reading

Fighting Phils in Trenton Sat., July 16, 7 PM.

Great Family & Parish Fun this Summer!!

Tickets $ 9 per person. Contact: Stephen stevemcd97@gmail.com for tickets. Info.? Questions? Please call 215-682-9702. Ticket orders Due by June 25th

. Call or email for tickets and payments.

Baked Goods Table at SJB Flea Market/Rummage Sale, 6/4 from 8-1 PM. Can you make and donate your favorite dessert? Please complete form below and drop in any Collection Basket. Please help us to have another successful event. Thanks for your support and generosity.

Questions? Tel. 215-718-7841.

YES! I can bring a baked good to Flea Market on 6/4.

Name: __________________

Phone: _________________

Craft Like Crazy Thursdays 10 AM. Making small

crafts for Christmas Bazaar. Info. Janet 215-718-7841.

SJB Craft Club Wednesdays 7 PM. Info. Donna 215-350-0542.

SJB’s Craft Club kindly requests DONATIONS of material to make things for the Christmas Bazaar. We

need 100% COTTON MATERIAL at least 44 inches wide & 3/4 yard long. Flannel fabric is acceptable as it is 100% cotton. Please mark donation Craft Club and leave in the church Usher's Room or

drop at the Parish Office. Info.? Donna 215-350-0542 St. John Bosco Book Club! A Novel Idea: You’re invited to join! Like to read? Interested in fun, stimulating

discussion? Please join us Mon., 6/6/16, 7:00 PM in the Parish Center. Join our adventure through the pages of BEAUTIFUL RUINS by Jess Walter. Please bring your own beverage and a snack to share. Info. Janet 215-718-7841. Hope to see you there!

Come Celebrate a Baby Shower!

All women of the Parish are invited to join us Sun., June 5 immediately following 9am Mass in Drexel Hall (Cafeteria). Breakfast will be served. Please bring unwrapped gift!

All baby gifts will be donated to St. Vincent De-Paul Society for needy children in our Parish.

Bottles, bibs, blankets, booties! Diapers, late nights & parental duties! It's almost time for the glorious hour!

IS SEWING YOUR PASSION? If so, we need you! We are forming a team of sewers to make Baptismal Bibs for our

newly baptized babies. This is a perfect opportunity for you to put

your sewing skills to work!!

Please contact Barbara Murphy at 215-441-4073 if you are able to help.

2016 Catholic Women's Conference! Mother of Mercy, Make Our Hearts Like Yours!

Sat., October 29, 2016, 8:30 am to 4 pm; National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Visit the website:

http://www.catholicwomensconference.org

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Act of Kindness… Suggestion Week of May 29 ~

“Be inviting – Ask people to do something with you.”

Sunday, May 29, 2016 Heaven is Not Just for Angels

In that wonderful series of books with Christian overtones – The Chronicles of Narnia – there is reference to the Kingdom of Aslan. The Lion King Aslan, seen to be a type of Christ, talks of his kingdom beyond where those of noble and good hearts go. In like manner, Christians and many others of different faiths, yearn for entrance into Heaven, a wonderful place where everything is good and all is well. Of course, the various faiths that believe in an afterlife each have their own perception of what life in the hereafter is all about. But for now, I will dwell only on our own Catholic-Christian belief in the Kingdom of God – Heaven.

It is said that when fully one-third of the angels failed their entrance exam and were prevented from entering into the Beatific Vision, they were cast into Hell. Their places in Heaven were then set aside for the human race, a fact that grates with the demons, and is the reason why they envy Man so much and try to prevent as many as they can from taking their place in the Kingdom of God. When Jesus walked the Earth, He talked continuously of the Kingdom and how He would go ahead to prepare many mansions for good people. His many parables refer to Heaven as a treasure worth working for, where one would be expected to give up everything else to gain this great prize. Jesus mentions the eternal banquet in Heaven – of which the Eucharist is a foretaste – and the special union He calls the Nuptials, the union between God and Man, the union between God and His Church.

The Promise of Heaven In Roman Catechism, Heaven is said to “…consist in the perfect and total possession of the Good, without any mixture of evil.”

One of the early Church Fathers gives this description: “…the Happiness of Eternal Life is an exemption from all evil and an enjoyment of all good.” In various sections of the New Testament, we find Heaven being compared to a banquet where the desire for happiness is satisfied. However, one is reminded to become like a child, to fight strenuously to gain Heaven, and to always comply with the Will of the Father. Seemingly difficult tasks that Jesus reduces to a simple formula: Love God and Love Neighbor (as one would love God). Christian Doctrine explains the existence of Heaven in the same way as Hell: It is fitting to the infinite justice and sanctity of the Love of God that the Just – those who die in friendship with God – receive a suitable award.

Heaven is a Place, not a Concept There are many people who think that Heaven is just one big, white, well-lighted place where everyone looks upon the Trinity, soaking up all the goodness of the Divinity while listening to the angels singing. Jesus Himself talked often of the wonders of Heaven, and many saints have made mention of the wonders awaiting the elect. St John’s description of the heavenly Jerusalem and the many wonderful palaces and abodes of the elect, made of the most precious materials, should give one pause. St. Teresa has this to say: “The Blessed Mother gave me a jewel, and hung around my neck a superb gold chain, to which a cross of priceless value was attached. Both the gold and precious stones thus given to me are so unlike those that we have here in this world that no comparison can be instituted between them. They are beautiful beyond anything that can be conceived, and the matter whereof they are composed is beyond our knowledge. For what we call gold and precious stones beside them appear dark and lusterless as charcoal.” Saints Augustine, Anselm, and Didacus make mention of real trees, real fruits, real flowers, each one extremely beautiful to the eye and incapable of deterioration unlike the fleeting beauty of things of this earth. Remember that after the Last Judgment, when the bodies of the elect rise from wherever they are and reunite with their respective souls to become Glorified bodies, everyone thus situated will be able to see, feel, hear, and touch in Heaven in ways that no one ever could while still earthbound. This is proof positive that Heaven is a place and not just a concept; not an empty but a happy state of being.

Cont. on next page.

It’s Saint John Bosco Day at Palz, 1902 County Line Rd in Huntingdon Valley on Tues., June 7 11 AM to 9 PM. The restaurant will donate a % of their proceeds to SJB.

Eat in / Take out. Take a day off from cooking. No flyer needed. Just mention SJB! Thanks!!!.

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Continued from previous page.

Qualities of the Elect When those fortunate to be in Heaven get to enjoy their glorified bodies, they will find that they will possess certain qualities or attributes. Among them are those of BEAUTY (Glorified and radiant, dazzling in brilliance and brightness); IMPASSIBILITY (incapable of suffering, never growing old); AGILITY (able to traverse immense distances with the speed of thought); and SUBTLETY (able to penetrate matter). The SENSES will be heightened so that the elect will have Perfect Eyesight, Perfect Hearing, and other qualities. The singing of the Angels in Heaven will be heard and enjoyed in a special way by the elect.

The Vision of God The best reward of all in Heaven is to be admitted into the Beatific Vision. This Vision of God that the Angels and Saints enjoy in Heaven is not like the knowledge of God that we have here on earth, even when it is revealed knowledge. According to St Paul: “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then, I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.” It is virtually impossible for human beings to imbibe any image from creation and use this to comprehend the Divine Essence. The only means of coming into knowledge of the Divine Essence is if God Himself were to unite with the soul concerned. In Heaven, there is direct vision of God because God unites Himself to the intelligence of the Blessed in Heaven. From this union flow the other characteristics of heavenly bliss. The Beatific Vision allows the Blessed to retain their own nature, but at the same time, makes them assume a certain admirable and almost divine form. This divinization of the soul and of its powers, which affects the body after the resurrection, does not take away the difference between Creator and creature. God is absolutely transcendent and cannot enter into composition with any creature. This is the great mystery of the Beatific Vision, and shows in a limited way how a finite being – even if immortal – can share in the essence of the Infinite Divinity. There is an analogy that can be used for this. When placed in a fire, an iron rod becomes red-hot much like the fire itself, but it does not and cannot become the fire itself. One truism we must always keep in mind is that the Blessed can never know God with absolute fullness and depth as He knows Himself, because of the immensity of His perfection, goodness, and beauty. The Blessed may only know a very small extent of this immensity at the risk of annihilation. To be able to see God face to face, the soul of the Blessed has to be elevated by the lumen gloriae.

The Inequality of Blessedness In St Paul’s 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians, he makes reference to a Third Heaven. Christian Doctrine is replete with teachings that suggest that there are different levels in Heaven – something even our Muslim brothers believe in. Basically, those among the Blessed who earn more Grace by doing good and practicing charity and following the many other tenets of the Faith, manage to garner a higher place in Heaven than, say, someone who got there literally by a hair-breadth. Thus, the highest level, the Seventh Heaven, is said to be for the Apostles and Disciples who distinguished themselves while Christ was on earth, and so forth. Special places are up there too for Virgins and Martyrs, for those who distinguished themselves in the defense of the Faith as Doctors and Scholars.

The existence of a heavenly hierarchy is also seen in the Nine Choirs of Angels, with the Seraphim all the way on top and closest to the throne of the Trinity, and the Angels who interact with humans at the bottom of the rung. What is important to know is that in Heaven, there is no jealousy whatsoever no matter what level one may be in. Those at the higher levels because of their having lots of Grace, pass on the good things flowing out of the Trinity to the lower levels. This is the same arrangement with the Angels. Above all the Saints and Angels is she who has more Grace than all of them combined – the Most Holy Mother of God, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and the Special Daughter of the Father. Only she has this special position by way of Grace, she being Gratia Plena, and the delight of the Trinity. Just below her is St. Joseph, also by way of Grace and chosen by the Trinity for the protection and care of the earthly trinity, the Holy Family.

Properties of Blessedness Finally, we must explain briefly some properties of the Blessed in Heaven. They have a most perfect love for God that cannot be changed anymore. They will have absolute impeccability, incapable of doing anything wrong. They will exist for the balance of eternity and will share in the Essential Glory that each soul gets upon entering Heaven while being able to share also in the Accidental Glory that comes very often to the elect. For example, the Blessed are given a large dose of Accidental Glory at the celebration of various Marian feasts. Try and contemplate for a moment how the Blessed would be able to enjoy all these, continuously, for all eternity, and one will be inspired to do good, rather than do bad and end up in eternal fire and damnation. End.

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Visit the Miraculous Medal Shrine for its Summer Novena of Mercy June 12-2016

Fr. Aidan Rooney, CM, will preach on the topic "Mother of Mercy" for nine days beginning Sun., June 12, 2016.

Most Rev. Ronald W. Gainer, DD, JCL, Bishop of Harrisburg, will be main celebrant at Closing Mass on the

Novena’s last day, June 20, 2016. Each day, prayer will be offered for a different group

seeking Mary’s intercession for their needs. Confessions Mondays and Thursday begin 15

minutes prior to Masses and Services. Sacrament of “Anointing of the Sick” will be celebrated at each service on Friday, June 17.

In addition, thousands of intentions from all over the world will be sent to the Shrine to be hung on the

Altar’s golden gates on intention cards.

More info. at www.MiraculousMedal.org/Novena.

We are sure some of you out there have been wondering what you could do to help at the Fall Festival. Are you a good cook? Do you like to fry food? Here's your chance! Divine Dining

needs someone to run two small fryers at the Festival from 9/20-9/24. Broccoli Bites, Mozzarella Sticks and Shrimp are on the menu. If you can help out, please contact Peachy at 215-674-9713 or John 215-

Senior Club Meeting Wed., June 8 12 Noon Hoagie Luncheon & Bingo!

Election of Officers for 2016-2017 .

CLOTHING DRIVE June 4, 2016 9 AM -1 PM St Vincent de Paul will sponsor a Greendrop truck in back parking lot. 50 pounds limit:

clothing, shoes, small appliances, books, glass ware, household items, etc.

CAR WASH June 4, 2016 9 AM -1 PM Minnie Vinnies Youth Group of SVdP is sponsoring car wash on back parking

lot, $5.00 car, $7.00 van.

Parish Religious Education Program PREP 2016-17

Have a child entering Gr. 1 in September?

He/she needs to begin classes this Summer or Fall. Older children and teens who have not yet received all

Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Communion, or Confirmation) may register now, too.

Weekly PREP Tuesday Sessions: Sept. to May Either 4:15-5:30 pm or 6:45-8:00 pm

Summer PREP Two weeks June 23-28 & July 1-3 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM Summer option requires families to commit to five (5)

family activities a year offered by the parish.

REGISTRATION & TUITION You may register in person at our PREP office.

Or, you may print registration forms from the parish website www.sjbhatboro.org. Mail them to Parish Center or

drop them in any collection basket. Registering a new student?

Please include copy of his/her Baptism Certificate.

Tuition (same as last year): 1 child $ 225; 2 children $ 290; 3+ children $ 340.00).

$ 100 due at registration; full payment due by start of classes.

Non-parish Families Welcome Non parish families may register for SJB Summer PREP. Note: 2nd & 4th levels currently full. Added registration requirements for non-parish families. 1. Tuition Add “Out of Parish” Fee ($

100.). 2. Letter of Permission to attend SJB’s PREP from

family’s home parish where registered. 3. Reception of Sacraments by children will be in parish where family is registered. Family will need to make arrangements with that parish. Questions? Info.? Faith Formation Office

(PREP) Tel. 267-803-0774.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to thank you for your generous giving at our recent appeal, we appreciate it immensely. It will aid in helping the less fortunate. We would also like to thank you for your support throughout

the year with your support of the food cupboard and donations to ensure children do not go hungry. Thank You, again!

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering all the men and women who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday is observed every year on the last Monday of May and originated in 1868 as Decoration Day after the American Civil War, when the Grand Army of the Republic (an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois) established it as a time for the nation to decorate graves of the war dead with flowers. By the 20th century, competing Union and Confederate holiday traditions, celebrated on different days, had merged, and Memorial Day eventually extended to honor all

Americans who died while in the military service. It typically marks the start of summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks the summer season’s end. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Annual Decoration Days for particular cemeteries are held on a Sunday in late spring or early summer in some rural areas of the American South, notably in the mountain areas. In cases involving a family graveyard where remote ancestors as well as those who were deceased more recently are buried, this may take on the character of an extended family reunion to which some people travel hundreds of miles. People gather on the designated day and put flowers on graves and renew contacts with relatives and others. There often is a religious service and a picnic-like "dinner on the grounds," the traditional term for a potluck meal at a church. It is believed that this practice began before the American Civil War and thus may reflect the real origin of the "memorial day" idea.

Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day; Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. On Memorial Day, the U.S. Flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

Half-staff position remembers more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon, their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all. A National Memorial Day Concert on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol is broadcast on PBS and NPR. Music is performed, and respect paid to the men and women who gave their lives for their country. For many Americans, the central event is attending one of thousands of parades held in large and small cities and towns all over the country. Most feature marching bands and a military theme with National Guard and other services participating along with veterans and military vehicles from various wars. In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act, asking people to stop and remember at 3:00 P.M. Poppies In 1915, following the Second Battle of Ypres, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a physician with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, wrote the poem, "In Flanders Fields". Its opening lines refer to the fields of poppies that grew among the soldiers' graves in

Flanders. In 1918, inspired by the poem, YWCA worker Moina Mi-chael attended a YWCA Overseas War Secretaries' conference wearing a silk poppy pinned to her coat and distributed over two dozen more to others present. In 1920, the National American Legion adopted it as their official symbol of remembrance.

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“This is not just a bunch of flags. Each flag has a tag with the name, rank, branch of service, etc. for each vet

buried at Floral Haven. This image is just the A’s and B’s – to get all the flags, I would have to be 500 feet in the air.”

– Richard Harkins -

Grand Prize Winner: “Avenue of Flags” Richard Harkins of Tulsa, OK Floral Haven Cemetery, Broken Arrow, OK

A Memorial Day Cemetery Photo Contest Results https://www.funeralwise.com/photo-contests/memorial-day-photo-contest-2011

1st Prize Winner: “Spanning the Generations of War” Harvey Avidon of Stoughton, MA Town of Stoughton Cemetery “Matthew Nosalek is my Grandson and visited my wife’s dad’s grave this Memorial Day wearing his grandfather’s military dress cap as seen in the photo at the grave site. I believe George O’Donnell was a career Navy vet with around 30 years of service. The photo was taken to depict that older service men and women from older wars, should be honored in the same way and with the same sense of respect as younger men who fought in newer wars.” – Harvey Avidon

2nd Prize Winner: Steve Minor of Sulligent,

AL Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, MS “This photo was shot in Mississippi. A ladies group decided to decorate both Union and Confederate graves together with flowers in 1866, an early example of what became Memorial Day.” – Steve Minor

Arlington National Cemetery

Gravestones decorated by U.S. flags on

Memorial Day weekend.

Tomb of the Unknowns Arlington National Cemetery

Confederate Memorial Monument, Montgomery, Alabama

Soldiers National Monument Gettysburg National Cemetery

is at the center of "two semi-circular sections" with 18 areas for Union States, 1 US Regulars area and 3 areas for Unknown Soldiers.

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7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Memorial Day Source: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/28/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-memorial-day/ TIME Magazine through CNN.

Memorial Day is not all sunshine and hot dogs — it's a day for remembrance. Here, TIME

presents some little-known facts about the start-of-summer holiday. This may come as a surprise — we hope you’re sitting down — but Memorial Day was not invented as an excuse to take a long week-end and loaf around eating grilled meats. The holiday was established to honor those who died in the bloody con-flicts of the Civil War, and continues to serve as a day of remembrance for fallen American soldiers. So before you slather on your sunscreen (and if you weren’t planning on doing that, we recommend you do) and head out for some sunshine, here’s a look at some little-known facts about everyone’s favorite summer kickoff holiday.

To honor the deceased, soldiers would decorate graves of fallen comrades with flowers, flags and wreaths. Hence Decoration Day. Memorial Day became its official title in the 1880s, but the holiday wouldn’t legally become Memorial Day until 1967.

After the Civil War, General John A. Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, called for a holiday commemorating fallen soldiers to be observed every May 30. But due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which took effect in 1971, Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday of May to ensure long weekends. Some groups, like the American Legion veterans’ organization , have been working to re-store the original date to set the day apart and pay proper tribute to servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives defending the nation.

In December 2000, Congress passed a law (National Moment of Remembrance Act) requiring Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to remember and honor the fallen. But this doesn’t appear to

be common knowledge, or if it is, by 3 p.m. most people seem to be too deep into a hot dog-induced food coma to officially observe the moment.

James A. Garfield (photo right) delivered a rather lengthy speech at the first Memorial Day cere-mony. Of course then it was still called Decoration Day, and at the time, Garfield was a Civil War General and Republican

Congressman, not yet President. On May 30, 1868, he addressed several thousand people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery. He said, “If silence is ever golden, it must be beside the graves of 15,000 men, whose lives were more significant than speech, and whose death was a poem the music of which can never be sung.”

In addition to the national holiday, nine states officially set aside a day to honor those who died fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War: Texas, South

Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. The days vary, but only Virginia observes Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of May, in accordance with federal observance.

According to the town Waterloo’s website in 1966 Congress unanimously passed a resolution to officially recognize Waterloo as the holiday’s birthplace. However, it is a contentious debate, with other towns, like Boalsburg, Pa. claim-ing “Birthplace of Memorial Day”.

The American Automobile Association projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this weekend (5/28/2012) with about 31 million of them traveling by car. But travelers aren’t expected to go quite as far from home this year, with a projected average distance of 642 miles — 150 miles fewer than last year’s average.

Wedding Planning at St. John Bosco starts with engaged couple’s meeting a parish priest here at least six (6) months before desired wedding date. Please do not make financial commitments before confirming church date/time with our parish priest. Marriage Convalidation, a simple ceremony known as “getting a marriage blessed”, is for a couple who married in a civil or non-Catholic ceremony without explicit permission of the Catholic Church. Their marriage is not recognized as valid in the Catholic Church. Catholic parties in such marriages can-not receive other sacraments or serve as Baptism and Confirmation Sponsors. If there is no impediment to marriage, e.g. prior marriage, a “convalidation” will validate the marriage. Please consult parish priest.

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How to Contact Priest (Emergency)

Within Parish Call Parish Tel. (above). Parish priest is “on-call” (24 hrs./7 days wk.) within our parish area which includes Majestic Oaks Nursing Home and the Hospice Unit, Abington Health Center in Warminster. Our parish priests are not “on-call” for urgent needs elsewhere.

Outside Parish Other hospitals, nursing homes, rehabs, have their own “on-call” local priests. At any time please ask other facilities’ staff to contact their local Catholic parish or their own assigned Catholic chaplain.

How to Arrange Baptism at Our Parish Baptism usually takes place monthly on First (Spanish) and Last (English) Sundays. Parents, please call Parish Center. Before a date is confirmed, parents must have/obtain:

Registration in SJB Parish: Family from another parish must obtain written permission from their “home” parish for Baptism at SJB. Certificate of Eligibility to Serve as Sponsor: Each Catholic Sponsor (1 required; 2 preferred) must obtain

Certificate of Eligibility from his/her “home” parish. Parishes generally do not issue certificates to persons not registered already nor to persons who left the parish more than 6 months previously.

Letter of Pastor for Christian Witness. One baptized non-Catholic may serve as a Christian Witness and must present a Letter of Good Standing from his/heer current Christian pastor. A Catholic not eligible to be a Sponsor may not be Christian Witness.

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“In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Inspiration for “In Flanders Fields” During the early days of World War I’s Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, (picture right) was killed on May 2, 1915 in a gun positions near Ypres. An exploding German artillery shell landed near him. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as his friend Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.

As brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that even-ing. It is believed that later that evening, after the bur-ial, John began the draft for his now famous poem “In Flanders Fields”.

(Left) Field poppies near old Connaught British Military cemetery on the old Western Front battlefield.