What does a new Apostolic church look like? What are the principles on which it is based?
Refuse to be Trapped by Modern Social Analysis and Criticism
The Catholic Church faces many challenges. To address these, it has engaged in countless studies. It looks at youth Mass attendance. The number of sacraments that have been celebrated are counted. Likewise, it conducts polls about music styles and the way our churches are decorated. It utilizes behavioral test apps and provide instantaneous feedback.
None of this is bad. Yet, the apostolic age needs to free itself from this. You cannot measure faith using numerical analysis. Don't believe it? Ask yourself: What sociological survey could have predicted the conversion of an ancient and sophisticated civilization at the hands of a small group of uneducated men and women? What numerological analysis could have predicted the explosion of monasticism in the Middle Ages? What app could have foreseen the appearance of Saint Francis or Saint Dominic or Our Lady of Guadalupe and the conversion of millions in Mexico? Answer: None.
Sociological analysis is not a marker of a church or a parish’s spiritual strength. It cannot predict how the church will fare in the future. It should not be a source of hand wringing, or a lack of trust in the Holy Spirit.
Let's look at the Catholic Church in France between 1810 and 1815. The church was nothing but wreckage. The French Revolution devastated the church. Parishes were closed or destroyed. Sisters and priests were executed. Any analysis would have predicted vocational disaster in the future. What happened was different.
Between 1808 and 1878 the number of religious sisters increased from 12,300 to 135,000. Three thousand priests grew to 30,000, a 10-fold increase. Great saints appeared during and after the Revolution: St. Catherine Laboure (Promoter of the Miraculous Medal), St. Bernadette Soubirous (Visionary at Lourdes), St. John Vianny (Patron of Diocesan Priests), and the 200 “Martyrs of the Carmelite Massacre.”
The French government sought to rid France of the Catholic Church. No one saw this kind of vibrancy coming in the midst of such oppression. Consider one humorous story.
Napoleon Bonaparte once taunted a Catholic Cardinal. He threatened: “Your eminence, are you not aware that I have the power to destroy the Catholic Church?” The Cardinal quipped: “Your Majesty, we Catholic clergy have done our best to destroy the church for 1800 years. We have not succeeded, and neither will you.”
The Church in Philadelphia has gone through some rough times lately. If you read the papers, magazines, blogs or online articles, you’d think we were finished. An Apostolic church does not believe it. An apostolic mindset laughs at such silliness. It waits for the Holy Spirit miracle.
This does come at a cost. We need to be like the Church during the French Revolution. A Christian institution can maintain its distinctively Christian character in an anti-Christian culture. Yet, it can only do so by energetic resistance to conformity with society. Our approach cannot be “business as usual.” We must be selective about whom we employ. We need to be intentional about how we train our members. We will have to preach to people who have been captured by the wider culture. They will find what we say, and what we advocate, to be difficult and offensive.
We will be considered doctrinaire, rigorist, intolerant, bigoted. In former times, Luke 9:50 applied: “Whoever is not against you, is for you.” In apostolic times, Luke 11:23 is in play: “Whoever is not with me, is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.”
Some churches and Christian institutions will look to best practices, overall visions, and mission statements. In former times these would have been praiseworthy, and perhaps effective. Today, some best practices are damaging to human dignity. Using them results in building a church that is founded on a faulty, secular anthropology. It is an unbeliever's vision of humanity. It will destroy the faith and those under its influence.
Today, the Church must be laser-focused on the deepest questions. What is good, what is the truth, what is just? (Micah 6:8). What Is a Human Person? (That’s St. John Paul II) How can we develop true, healthy and fully-human priests? (That’s from the US Bishops) What does it mean to be human? (John Paul II again) What is expected of us by God? (Micah again) What will lead to eternal, as well as temporal, human happiness? (Baltimore Catechism, Question #6).
Next week we will look at the third pillar of the Apostolic church: “Maintaining and using our institutions differently.”
Fr. Charles Zlock
Pastor
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We Place in Your Loving Arms
God of love we place in your loving arms the thousands of innocent lives that were lost on that unforgettable morning of September 11, 2001. We also remember the courage of the countless men and women who put their lives at risk in order to rescue, alleviate and bring solace to the afflicted. Help us to continue to work for a world free from every form of hatred, violence and ignorance. May terrorism -- in all its forms -- disappear from the face of the earth. Amen.
- Fr. Alberto Cutie
Good Things are Happening at St. Raymond!
Hospitality Sunday
Join us after the 10 am Mass on September 22.
Halloween Fun
St Raymond Church is having our 2nd Trunk or Treat Saturday, October 12th from 1- 3 pm in the Church Rectory Parking Lot!!
Registered “Trunks” will bring candy to hand out, PLUS be entered into our “BEST TRUNK” Contest! Please sign up here.
Please show up at 12:15 pm to decorate your trunk
There is no entry fee for treaters with participating trunks
o Registration is REQUIRED. Please sign up here.
o $1 (per child) entry fee at the entrance of the parking lot
There will be face painting, snacks & more!
RSVP BY OCTOBER 7TH.
Please contact Brandi at 215-549-3760 or at brandi@saintraymond.net if you have any questions.
Want to Learn More about your Catholic Faith?
Understanding Annulments: How the Tribunal Can Help After Divorce
The Tribunal is available to help people who have experienced divorce and who may wish to remarry in the Catholic Church. When a divorce occurs, the Catholic Church always seeks to balance two realities. One is the durable bond of marriage. This is God's law. On the
other hand, the Church is concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people involved. Perhaps there was some deficiency in the consent of the parties involved regarding intentions, understanding, or ability. The Annulment procedure addresses these circumstances.
Whether you are divorced and want to marry in the Catholic Church or are remarried outside the Church, please visit our website.
Or, if you have questions, concerns, and would like an initial conversation with Fr. Zlock, call the rectory and schedule a time to meet with him. 215-549-3760
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!
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.
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!
Funeral for Colleen Kelli Renn - September 16 at 11 am
Colleen (Kelli) Renn passed away on August 27th. Please pray for her and family. Her viewing is scheduled for Monday, September 16 from 10 to 11 am at St. Raymond. Mass at 11 am.
Funeral for Rhonell Seabreeze - Thursday, September 12th
Please pray for Rhonell Seabreeze, whose funeral service is tomorrow, September 12th at 10 am. Viewing from 9 am to 10 am.
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.
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
Black & Native American Missions
Here is a message from Archbishop Nelson Perez:
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Thank you for your generous support of the Black and Indian Mission Collection each year. This fundraising initiative was established as the first national collection for the Catholic Church in the United States in 1874. Since that time, it has proven itself to be a successful vehicle for sharing the resources of the Church’s members to provide for the unique cultural, pastoral, and temporal needs of our African American, Native American, and Alaskan Native sisters and brothers. Pope Francis reminds us that all are called to evangelize with the zealous heart of a Missionary Disciple. As we embark on another year of evangelization in the communities benefitting from this endeavor, I invite you to make a difference by offering prayers and a financial contribution to support these missions.
The collection is taken up the weekend of September 7 and September 8, 2024.
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.
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
Peggy Evans, the Children's Liturgy Director, has a personal journal in her possession which was lost at church. If your child has lost his/her journal, please contact Peggy at 267-262-6594 or peggy@saintraymond.net.
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, September 8, 2024
Budgetary Goal: $13,500.00
Collection & Envelopes: $5,063.10
Electronic Giving: $5,342.00
Monthly Church Maintenance: $572.02
Black and Native American Missions: $400.00
Mission Society: $385.00
Total: $11,762.12
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.
Community Events & Announcements
Eileen George Prayer Group
Join us on Sunday, September 15th 2 – 3 PM for a grace-filled Holy Hour. We will have Adoration, Confessions, and Benediction along with our Novena for Eileen George's intercession for our personal needs. Priests will be available for Confessions. Location: Annunciation BVM Church, 401 Brookline Blvd., Havertown, PA. Enter on Brookline Blvd doors.
For questions contact: Jeanmarie Lorello at 610-547-7308 (phone or text). Follow Eileen on Facebook or Website.
Abbeyfest at St. Norbert's
Abbeyfest is an outdoor Christian music festival held at the grounds of the Daylesford Abbey in Paoli. One of the most unique aspects of AbbeyFest is its engaging atmosphere for children, teens, youth groups and families to experience the fullness of faith and truth of Jesus Christ. This year is Abbeyfest's 10th year Anniversary, and we are in full gear for the event, which will take place on Saturday, September 14, 2024. We are especially grateful to be able to bring Abbeyfest to the community--considering all the tragedy around the world--our faith-filled day brings faith, joy and hope to all who attend. Get more details here.
Our Lady of Confidence Retreat
St. Raymond parish has funding to help defray costs. Please contact Brandi at brandi@saintraymond.net or 215-549-3760.
New Encounters: Catholics Confronting Racism
St. Norbert's in Paoli is the site of the next gathering of the Philadelphia-based, interracial team of Catholics working for racial healing within our faith community. The date is Saturday, September 21, from 11 am to 2 pm. All St. Raymond parishioners are invited to come and be enlightened by keynote speaker Maureen O'Connell, author of Undoing the Knots: Five Generations of American Catholic Anti-Blackness. Please contact Bonnie Dalzell bonnieduck@verizon.net or call her at 215-823-9910 no later than September 17. She will be sure you are registered.
Mount St. Joseph Academy Open House
Join us for our annual fall Open House on Sunday, September 29, from 10am to 1pm! Learn how a mission-driven education and the bonds of sisterhood fuel meaningful learning at the Mount. Tour our campus with a student tour guide, attend an information presentation, learn about personalized and dynamic academics and student life, and meet our experienced faculty, staff, and coaches.
Prospective families in grades 5-8 may register today at msjacad.org/visit.
Apply today for the Class of 2029 at msjacad.org/apply! Applications are due by October 10. Scholarships/Entrance Exams will be offered on October 5 and October 12. Contact the Admissions Team at admiss@msjacad.org or (215) 233-9133 with any questions.
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.
Martin Saints Classical High School
Admissions events for Martin Saints Classical High School (East Norriton, PA),during the coming school year are as follows:
Open Houses October 9th, 2024 @ 7:00pm; November 6th, 2024 @ 7:00pm; February 2nd, 2025 @ (afternoon, TBD)
Visitation Days 8th Grade Visitation Day: November 12th, 2024 from 8:30 am - 2:15 pm; 7th Grade Visitation Day: March 11th, 2025 from 8:30 am - 2:15 pm
Shadow Days Prospective families are welcome to schedule an individual shadow day for their son/daughter. Our shadow day season will begin on October 15th and end on May 22nd.
Contact Ms. Lindmeier (llindmeier@martinsaintsclassical.org) to schedule your visit.
Entrance Exam At present, we do not require an entrance exam for admission to Martin Saints. Applications for the 2025-2026 school year will be available come September 2024.
Bingo for the Wissahickon Boys & Girls Club
An all-new issue of the National Black Catholic Congress is out now. 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.
News From the Office of Black Catholics
Check out the Newsletter for more important news!
Archdiocese of Philadelphia Updates
The September newsletter is available here.
Please sign up to find out what is happening around the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
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