Evangelization is a big topic in the Catholic Church right now, especially when it comes to reaching our young people. In the book From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age, Father James Shea, the president of the University of Mary, talks about the challenges the Church faces in sharing the faith today. He also offers some strategies for how we can do a better job of it.
We’re focusing on six key ideas in the modern mindset that make it harder to share our faith effectively.
First, let’s clear something up. When Father Shea talks about a “modern mindset,” he’s referring to a way of thinking that comes from the Enlightenment period in Europe during the 1600s and 1700s. It’s not necessarily about political labels, but more about a broader worldview.
Denial of the Fall: G.K. Chesterton was once asked, “What’s wrong with the world?” He replied, “I am.” This points to the idea that change starts with recognizing our own flaws and need for conversion.
Modern thinkers acknowledge that there’s evil in the world, but they don’t see it as the result of Original Sin or the brokenness within each of us. They view the story of the Fall and Original Sin as outdated, just a relic of an ancient past. Instead, they believe that evil comes from ignorance—a lack of knowledge and education. So, their solution is to fix our laws, social structures, or psychological principles to conquer evil.
But this mindset also blames certain groups of people for standing in the way of progress. History shows us how dangerous this can be. In the past, different groups were targeted as the source of society’s problems—the rich and aristocracy during the Communist revolutions, the Jews during the Holocaust, and so on. Today, similar thinking can lead to demonizing those who are seen as obstacles to progress, whether it’s people with large families, those labeled as “radicals”, or others who don’t fit into the modern narrative.
The Marginalization of God: This modern mindset doesn’t necessarily deny God’s existence, but it tends to believe that God doesn’t really matter in daily life. People today often think, “I’m in charge of my life—I choose my friends, decide how to love, figure out my career, and make decisions about marriage, family, and justice—all without needing to consider God’s guidance.”
This is where the idea that religion should be a “private matter” comes from. Many people customize their spiritual beliefs to fit their personal preferences, and the thought of following any external religious guidelines feels not only uncomfortable but even dangerous. You’ve probably heard people say, “Religion has been the greatest cause of war and suffering in history.” While this idea isn’t supported by facts, it fits the modern narrative and helps explain why the Church and faith are sometimes strongly opposed.
There’s a downside to this way of thinking. As St. Augustine said, “We were created for God. Our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.” Without God, life can quickly become boring, depressing, and empty. We see this in the modern age, where people often feel restless and seek distractions to fill the void. Bishop Barron had a great conversation with comedian Russell Brand about this very topic, which you can watch in this video.
Father Charles Zlock
Pastor
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Good Things are Happening at St. Raymond!
Join us, this Friday, August 23, from 4 pm-7 pm for our third annual Meet and Greet BBQ for our St. Raymond Church and School families. Food, games, and music will be provided. Donations of side salads (potato, pasta, tuna and macaroni, and garden salads) are greatly appreciated. To RSVP, please call the Rectory Office at 215-549-3760, use the signup sheets in the back of the Church, or this link. Please RSVP ASAP.
Sign up to volunteer at this link.
Donate Shoes for the Children of Ghana
Last year, we hosted a very successful Shoe Drive providing shoes for 175 children in Ghana. Please help us donate even more this year!
Benedictine Missionary Coming to us This Week!
Reverend Richard Migodela from the Benedictines will be the speaker at St. Raymond on the weekend of August 24 and 25.
Fr. Migodela comes from St. Maurus’ Hanga Abbey, a vibrant Benedictine community in Southern Tanzania. Founded in 1957, Hanga Abbey was created to allow the Tanzanian population to live in the spirit of St. Benedict. Over fifty years later, the original mission of the Abbey lives on as the Hanga community continues to grow and promote Benedictine values while remaining rooted in African culture.
St. Raymond parish is eager for a unique opportunity to learn about, and support, this vibrant Benedictine community.
Men's Raffle
Be sure to get your tickets for the Meat Raffle after Mass this week!
School Daze are Upon Us!
It's Back to School time! Mr. Durrell Harris, Principal of St. Raymond IMS School, is opening up Teacher Orientation Days. We can’t wait to welcome back all our students!
Catholic Women's Conference
Register NOW!
Registration fee and transportation will be subsidized for St. Raymond parishioners. Contact Brandi at 215-549-3760.
ATTENTION: ST. RAYMOND NEEDS YOU!
Matthew 9:37-38: Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Numerous needs have been communicated here and in the bulletin. Unfortunately, responses are nearly non-existent. A vibrant parish has members responding to the call for help. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Please scroll below for several opportunities. You can sign up here or complete a signup sheet on the table in the back of church (on the Williams Ave side). We want to hear from you! THE HARVEST AWAITS!
Volunteer Opportunities
Technology
We are in urgent need of support from those with basic technology skills:
Slide Operators – manage slides shown on TV screens during 5 pm, 8 am or 10 am Mass
Camera Operator – manage live streaming of 10 am Mass via YouTube
YouTube Host – Engage with parishioners during 10 am Mass
Requirements are a love for your parish, and a willingness to learn and serve. Teenagers and adults can contact Brandi at 215-549-3760.
To volunteer for any of the above tasks, please complete this form and someone will be in touch soon! Or, call Brandi at 215-549-3760.
Part-Time Employment Opportunity
We are excited to announce a fantastic part-time job opportunity at St. Raymond:
Director of Religious Education and Social Services
This role involves coordinating faith formation, religious education, social outreach, and related activities to enhance the vibrancy, religious development, and social services of the parish. View the job description: https://indeedhi.re/3RMQS2G
Please share this opportunity with anyone who might be interested!
We want to pray for you!
Our Monthly Prayer Team meets this weekend, after Mass. Please share your prayer requests and be assured of our prayers for you.
Explore Your Faith in a New Way with Formed
Did you know that you have access to an incredible resource called Formed? This wonderful faith formation tool will allow you and your family to experience our faith in a new way through e-books, audio recordings and a great variety of movies and video teachings, including a great variety of Bible Studies. Follow these instructions to sign in.
Visit www.formed.org
Enter St. Raymond Philadelphia
Follow instructions to set up your own account and be formed in Christ!
Celebrating Our Youth with Generation Grace
Do you have a child in grades 6th-8th? Please contact Brandi to get them involved in our Middle School Youth Ministry. We would love to have all our Middle School Kids involved. Brandi can be contacted at brandi@saintraymond.net or 215-549-3760.
There is a new email address for communication relating to religious education: religious.ed@saintraymond.net.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Assistants Needed
"All things should be done decently and in order. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace in all the churches of the saints." (1 Corinthians 14:40 & 33)
We are looking for 6 people to support the Children’s Liturgy of The Word (CLOW) as Classroom Assistants. Commitment is 30 minutes during Mass, one Sunday every six weeks. The CLOW Assistant helps to keep order in the room, attends to the care of the children, sets up before and cleans up afterwards. In this way the Assistant supports the Disciple/Catechist who can then fully focus on imparting the Word of God and the story of Jesus Christ to the children. The only qualification is that you enjoy spending time with the children of our Parish. If interested or would like to review the list of duties as an assistant for CLOW, please contact Peggy Evans at peggy@saintraymond.net or 267-262-6594.
Church Announcements
Attention St. Raymond Parents & Guardians!
Fr Zlock is excited to invite you for a one-on-one chat where you can discuss anything on your mind. Join him at one of the upcoming sessions:
Monday, Sept 23: 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct 5: 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Thursday, Oct 10: 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct 12: 9:00 – 10:00 AM
He's looking forward to connecting with each of you!
Guiding Star Sends Thanks
Thank you from Guiding Star Ministry and Pro-Life Union for supporting our baby bottle fundraiser! On behalf of the moms and children at Guiding Star Maternity Home, the Pro-life Union wants to thank St Raymond Church parishioners for your generous donation of $2,826.00. May God continue to bless St Raymond!
In Memoriam
Patricia Brockington, a long-time member of St. Raymond, passed away on Monday, August 12. Her funeral will be tomorrow, Thursday, August 22; viewing from 9-10 am, followed by a
10 am Mass.
Denise Derrick's funeral Mass will be this Friday, August 23 at 10 am. There will be no viewing.
Spammed Again!
It's a commonplace albeit annoying problem for clergy to have their email accounts spammed. It has happened again to Fr. Zlock. If you received a message like the one below (with a grammatical error, no less!) please ignore it:
Good day,
I hope your day is going well and what are your plans today? I have an errands for you to kindly handle for me.
Blessings!
Fr. Charles Zlock
Father would never, ever send an email like that, asking for money, help or errands. Report it as spam, and please delete it.
A Reminder about Call to Prayer
St. Raymond offers a twice-daily opportunity, Call to Prayer on weekdays at 6:30 am and at noon. Taking a little time (five to seven minutes) to turn to the Lord will remove stress and restore peace in your life.
Call toll-free 1-877-309-2073, then enter code 319-414-445#. At 6:30 am, we reflect on God's Word. During the noon call, we pray the Angelus, reflect on the first reading of the day, and have intercessory prayer for those in need.
Donate to Support St. Raymond Church
Online giving is a wonderful way to make a one-time or a recurring gift to St. Raymond. We greatly appreciate your goodness and promise to be good stewards of your gift. DONATE HERE. You can also make a gift with your phone: send a text with the message straymond to 833-363-7471. You will receive a text that will give you simple instructions to make a gift!
Or, scan the QR code to donate.
Please note that we are no longer using Cash App as a form of payment for tithes.
We will accept Venmo (@StRaymond-PenafortPhilly), PushPay, Parish Giving & Envelopes. If you would like to receive envelopes, please contact Brandi at brandi@straymond.net and she will add your name to the list of envelope recipients. If you prefer to use PushPay, text straymond to 833-363-7471 to donate.
St. Raymond's expenses continue all year 'round. Your vacation giving is so important to us!
Collection Envelopes for September through December, 2024 have been mailed out. If you did not receive yours, please contact Brandi at 215-549-3760 or at brandi@straymond.org
Upcoming Special Collections
9/1 - Black & Native American Missions
10/13 Parish Stewardship
To our Online Parishioners
We at St. Raymond are extremely pleased that you continue to be part of our community via livestream. Although you may be unable to attend Mass in person, please remember that we need your financial support in order to remain a vibrant parish. You may give online anytime here: https://www.saintraymond.net/give Feel free to contact the rectory for assistance at 215-549-3760.
Guidelines for Church Temperature
As we navigate through the changing seasons, the topic of our church's temperature during mass often arises. We appreciate when everyone speaks kindly—it really makes a difference.
We know it’s tricky to get the temperature right for everyone. While we can't make everyone perfectly comfortable, we're doing our best to keep things pleasant. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work together to create a welcoming atmosphere for all our Masses.
Silence Cell Phones
Please remember how distracting cell-phone noises can be during Mass. We prayerfully ask you to silence your phone when you enter church, so that no one is disturbed during this holy hour.
Lost and Found
Have you lost any personal items during Church service and never retrieved them? Please check the bin in the back of Church labeled “Lost & Found." People turn in items often to the Rectory. All items turned in are put into the bin.
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers are back, and they meet here at St. Raymond every Thursday from 4 pm to 6 pm. If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact Brandi in the Church Rectory at 215-549-3760 or email her at brandi@saintraymond.net.
Church Safety Equipment
A first aid kit as well as an automated external defibrillator (also known as an AED device), are located in the sacristy. Both are on a table to the left of the sacristy sink. This ensures that St. Raymond has sufficient means to address significant medical emergencies during liturgical events.
Financial Facts
We thank those parishioners who, recognizing God’s gifts to them, make their response in our weekly collection. Your continued support is vital, necessary, and deeply appreciated.
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Budgetary Goal: $13,500.00
Collection & Envelopes: $3,728.00
Electronic Giving: $2,859.00
Monthly Church Maintenance: $375.00
Black and Native American Missions: $25.00
Mission Appeal: $230.00
Total: $7,217.00
Calling all Young Adults!
Sign up for Fr. Zlock’s Young Adult WhatsApp community for prayers, videos, reflections and events for the young adult community. Click here to join the group.
Connect with Us Online
Be part of our awesome virtual community! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get the latest scoop, see fun pictures, and hear about our exciting events.
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Community Events & Announcements
Back to School season is here! Yet there are some young people who are struggling to pull all the supplies and resources together to start the semester well. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are nearly 68,000 college students experiencing homelessness this year. In Philadelphia, there is a program designed specifically to address this gap in housing and, it is located in a former convent of the Sisters of Saint Joseph!
Sr. Bethany Welch, SSJ, a parishioner, is the program director for St. Joseph's House, a transitional housing program for 18–24-year-olds enrolled in a local post-secondary program. She currently has 21 residents in the house (with a capacity for 24) and all of them could use help to get ready for classes. Students specifically asked for breakfast bars and other small items to slip into their backpack on their way out the door. Check out their Amazon Wish List HERE, purchase, and ship directly to Sr. Bethany's attention at the house.
To learn more about the DAX program, which is part of Depaul USA's homeless services programs, click HERE, and check out a KYW news story about St. Joseph's House HERE.
Scott & Kimberley Hahn are Coming to Corpus Christi Church - Lansdale on September 14, 2024!
To celebrate their 60th anniversary as a parish, Corpus Christ Church in Lansdale is hosting
husband-and-wife speakers Scott and Kim Hahn who are known internationally for their talks on topics related to scripture and the Catholic faith. The title of the Hahns' talk at Corpus Christi on Saturday, September 14 is "Emmaus road as it pertains to The Communion of Saints, Family Life & The Eucharist".
REGISTRATION is now open. Click here for tickets.
An all-new issue of the National Black Catholic Congress is out not. Sign up to get your copy here.
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School: Open House
Interested in learning more about Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School? Families are invited to register for our Fall Open House on September 29, 2024 at 11am - 2 pm!
Learn more and register here.
St. Athanasius Parish Women’s Club Prayer Lunch
St. Athanasius School Hall 7105 Limekiln Pike Philadelphia, PA 19138
Saturday September 28, 2024 12:00 –to- 2:00 P.M.
Mary, Our Role Model in Hard Times
Guest Speaker “Judge Lucretia Clemons”
For Tickets Call: Alva Edwards – 267-259-7484; Miyoshi Spence-Snipes – 267-260-5503;
St. Athanasius Rectory – 215-548-2700
Admission $30.00 No tickets will be sold at the door.
Support Philly's Biggest Baby Shower
Saturday, August 24, 2024 – 10am-12pm
New and expecting mothers are invited to attend Philly's Biggest Baby Shower event sponsored by Catholic Social Services and the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia.
Free baby care items, prizes, food, informational tables and more will be available. Mothers with babies are invited to dress your cutie for the baby parade!
Location: Archdiocesan Pastoral Center Parking Lot, 222 N 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
More info:
Mothers, please register to attend here.
Want to donate gift items or volunteer at the baby shower? Click here for details
Mass to Honor St. Peter Claver, Minister to Enslaved
A New Issue of AMEN! from The Office of Black Catholics, by Stacy Williams
News From the Office of Black Catholics
Check out the Newsletter for many additional exciting events.
Archdiocese of Philadelphia Updates
The August newsletter is available here.
Please sign up to find out what is happening around the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
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