Community Bulletin Board

Alumni Information    Benefits    Charity    Concerts    Craft Fairs   Devotions/Retreats  Ecumenical Activities   Help Wanted    High School Entrance   Hosting Requests   Interfaith Activities    Lectures/Workshops   Liturgies    Local Charity/Benefits  Pilgrimages   Retreats    Reunions     Shows   Services   Socials  Sports    Support Groups   Trips     Volunteer Opportunities    Workshops    etc

Lectures, Workshops, etc.

The Cecilian Center for Earth, Arts and Spirit in Mt. Airy offers a number of courses and workshops. Read the Fall 2008 catalog here

Peace and Justice Series. Our Mother of Consolation Parish, Chestnut Hill, invites you to join them in their a yearlong learning series. Listen, learn, and discuss together important topics in its Peace and Justice Series 2008 - 2009. They begin on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 with the lecture: “The Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching” by Reverend William J. Byron, SJ, Ph.D., St. Joseph’s University Professor of Business, Ethics and Society. 
Father Byron is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and its most recent President. He has a distinguished career as an educator, college president, and writer. Fr. Byron is the author of eleven books, most recently Power of Principles: Ethics for the New Corporate Culture.
The lecture will be at 7:30pm in the Daily Mass Chapel, Our Mother of Consolation Church, 11 E. Chestnut Hill Avenue.
Other offerings in the series:
November 5, 2008 - 2nd Session: The Common Good and Catholic Social Teaching with Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Detroit, MI, and Johanna Berrigan, Catholic Worker House of Grace, Philadelphia
February 4, 2009 - 3rd Session: Immigration and Catholic Social Teaching, Iraqi Refugees: Living in Limbo, with Sister Arlene Flaherty, OP, Catholic Relief Service, Radnor, PA
For further information, call OMC Parish Center, 215-247-0430 

A conference on Where Pope Benedict XVI is leading us with the Gospels and with St. Paul will be held on Saturday, September 20, at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary from 9am to 3pm. Our speaker for this year’s conference is Father Benedict J. Groeschel, Ph.D., CFR, Director of the Office for Spiritual Development of the Archdiocese of New York. He has published a number of books and tapes on spirituality and pastoral counseling and is familiar to television audiences.
The Most Reverend Daniel E. Thomas, D.D. Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the concluding Mass at 4pm in St. Martin’s Chapel. The Archdiocesan Boy Choir will sing at the Mass. Lunch will be served.
Reservations are required. Tickets are $40. Full-time high school and college students: $15. (There is no charge for priests, sisters, and seminarians). Please send fee to: St. John Neumann Chapter, CUF 183 Hillcrest Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118-2621. For more information, 215-247-2585 or http://cuf.homestead.com/cuf.html

Justice and Compassion in the Web of Life. September 26 and 27, 2008. A Conference with Sisters Helen Prejean, CSJ author of Dead Man Walking and Death of Innocents and Marya Grathwohl, OSF director of Earth Hope Center, Montana. 
Where:
Mt. St. Joseph Academy, Flourtown, PA 19031
When: Friday, September 26, 7pm-8:30pm “A Personal Journey: Poor People, Death Penalty, Earth” with Sister Helen Prejean, SSJ. Saturday, September 27, 9am-3pm - “Fresh Insights from Catholic Teaching and Native American Wisdom”
Cost: Sliding scale Friday only $35 – 20 Saturday only $45 – 30. Friday and Saturday both $50 – 35. 
Please bring lunch. Beverages and snacks provided. Sponsored by Cecilian Center for Earth, Arts and Spirit For info, 215-849-3364 or meclark2004@verizon.net . Make check payable to Sisters of St. Joseph. Mail to CCEAS, 100 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119.
Register by September 3. More information and registration forms here.

Care for God's Creation. The Sisters of Saint Joseph invite you to an eight week program that integrates prayer, input, discussion, video presentations and action to explore Catholic Social Teaching as it relates to the environment and the impact of climate change on those who are poor. 8 Sessions, Tuesdays from 7:00 - 9:00 pm, October 7, 14, 21, 28 and November 4, 11, 18, 25.
Place: Cecilian Center for Earth, Arts and Spirit, 100 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119. Cost: $84.00 includes all materials. Facilitators: Sisters Mary Elizabeth Clark and Mary Beth Hamm, SSJ. For information call 215-849-3364.

Workshop on Grief and Loss. The Family Life Office is sponsoring a conference entitled “Blessed Are Those Who Mourn”: A Workshop on Grief and Loss on October 25, 2008, from 9:30am to 2:30pm (with optional 9:00 am Mass) at St. Thomas of Villanova Parish (Rosemont Chapel), in Rosemont, PA (for directions, see www.stthomasofvillanova.org; the Rosemont Chapel is 1.4 miles east of the Villanova campus on Lancaster Avenue, next to McDonald’s restaurant). 
This workshop will be geared towards giving parishioners and parish staff practical tips for a pastoral approach to bereavement, separated/divorced, and related ministries. Cost: $40 (breakfast and lunch included; $150 for 5 or more people registered at same time from same parish). Grief therapist, Celia Ryan, LCSW,  (www.griefworks.com) will speak. For more info and to register, e-mail tseyfer@adphila.org or call 215-587-3516

Support Groups

Bereavement Support Group for Friends & Family at St. Luke Chapel House, 2330 Fairhill Ave, Glenside. Alternate Tuesdays from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.  Fall Group: September 23 - December 2, 2008.   Click here for details

Mary Mother of Captives Support Group. The mission of Mary Mother of Captives is to bring, through support groups and education, healing and restoration to families who have a loved one on trial, about to be sentenced to prison, in prison or released from prison. Working together we are providing support so as to foster courage, inner peace, strength, and forgiveness in our lives. To offer prayer for the victims who are scarred and their families, wisdom for lawmakers, judges, attorneys, correctional officers and all who work in the Criminal Justice System. For additional information or meetings call: Jack or Sophie, 215-698-2585, mmocsprtgp@aol.com, MaryMotherofcaptivessupportgroup.org

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers Needed At Saint Joseph Villa. Do you have some extra time that you don’t know how to fill? Would you consider “gifting” that time to Saint Joseph Villa as a volunteer? Saint Joseph Villa is a facility that provides long-term health care to infirmed and retired Sisters of St Joseph as well as lay men and women. You could help us by making beds, doing laundry, filling water pitchers, visiting our residents, escorting residents to and from physical therapy, helping with bingo and other activities, or just by being a happy presence for those around you. You choose the day, the time and the area of service. To learn more about this endeavor call Sister Vicki DeSante, 215-248-7844.

We are looking for some Angels of Mercy to provide assistance to parishioners: to drive them to church, the doctor or hospital; to house-sit during a funeral; to visit the sick and homebound. Call St. Luke rectory, 215-572-0128, or e-mail us: stlukerc@aol.com

Become a Foster Parent. Call Melissa or Pat at Catholic Social Services, 217-587-3960 for more information.

See also Income Opportunities for Seniors

Liturgies/Devotions/Retreats

Worldwide Marriage Encounter.   Call 800-456-8330 for info. 

Malvern Retreat House. Many types of retreats for men, women, married couples, and youth. Find out more at www.malvernretreat.com

Married Couple Prayer Retreat. A Marriage Retorno weekend is a Scripture based couple prayer retreat for married couples wanting to deepen their relationship with one another in the Lord. It is the second step of Marriage Encounter. For info. contact Joe and Mary Ward, 215-362-8699 or visit the MR web site at www.marriageretorno.org

Reunions/Alumni Information

The Friends of St. Bridget School Alumni, East Falls, are hosting a Fiftieth and Twenty-Fifth Reunion for the classes of 1958 and 1983 at the 11:00 am Mass on Sunday, September 28, 2008. A reception m the school auditorium will follow the Mass. The Friends are looking for contact information about these graduates. If you are, or know someone, in one of these two classes please call Ellen Sheehan at 215-848-8396 or e-mail the parish at stb@st-bridget.com.

St. Maria Goretti HS, Class of 1963, 45th Reunion. Invitations have been mailed for St. Maria Goretti High School's 45th Reunion. if you have not received an invitation and would like to attend, please send your name, (including maiden name), address, telephone number, and email address to: Maria (Repici) Quigg at mrepici2@comcast.net or call Joanne Melnick-O'Donnell (Belfatto) 610-608-6513 or Joann Thomas (Fiorentino) at 609-584-8309.

St. Luke School Class of 73. Calling all members of the Class of 1973: The Class of 1973 is organizing their 35-Year Reunion. For information, please contact Debbie Helm Brennan (’73) at 610-584-8714 or dhbrennan@verizon.net

Are you an alumnus of St. Elizabeth, Most Precious Blood, Corpus Christi, St. Columba, or St. Mary of the Eternal? The St. Martin de Porres Alumni Association is looking for you. Contact the St. Martin de Porres rectory at 215-228-8330.

Calling all graduates from Queen of Peace. Let's stay connected! Want to receive emails informing you as to what's going on at your alma mater? Want to share news about yourself with other alumni? Let the QOP Alumni Committee know what's going on with you. Send an email to qopalumni@yahoo.com with any info to help us stay connected.

The Friends of St. Bridget Parish in East Falls are looking for alumni. Contact stb@st-bridget.com

St. Alice School, Upper Darby (Stonehurst) is gathering contact information for their graduates. Please send name, address, telephone number, and year of graduation of any graduate of St. Alice School to: St. Alice School Alumni; Sansom St. & Hampden Rd.; Upper Darby, PA 19082, or e-mail at staliceschool@yahoo.com, or call at 610-352-0725.

St. Thomas More High School Alumni Association is very active: Annual Communion Breakfast, socials, class reunions, Memorial Mass, Golf Outing. Keep in touch by receiving their "Bear Tracks" newsletter. If you are not in the mailing list, go to the website for information: www.stmforever.com or call/e-mail at: John Millon '74 (610-259-0380, jmillon@dca.net), Al Fala '70 (215-887-9129, ajfstm 70@yahoo.com) Gerry Woods '66 (610-449-9020, gjwoodswma@aol.com).

Lansdale Catholic High School Alumni Office is looking for "lost" alumni. If you are an alumnus or have a family member who is not receiving any alumni newsletter information , please contact Jim Casey, LC Director of Alumni Affairs at 215-362-1730 or jcasey@lansdalecatholic.com  or visit website at www.lansdalecatholic.com/Alumni.htm

Norwood-Fontbonne Academy. Please call 215-247-1591 or visit www.norwoodfontbonneacademy.org, click on Alumni and update your contact information, if you are a graduate of Norwood-Fontbonne Academy. We want to keep you informed with the latest events, reunions and activities happening at NFA!

Archdiocesan Boy Choir (ABC) Alumni Association - Choir alumni will soon have a new way to stay in touch with choir events and each other. The ABC Alumni Association is now forming. In addition to keeping up to date on ABC happenings, the group also plans to organize a variety of events to meet the interests of alumni of all ages. Interested alumni should send their contact information to ABC at P.O. Box 45, Pottstown, PA 19464 or call 610-326-7041

Help Wanted

Teaching Position Available. Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School is seeking a full time teacher of English/Spanish or 2 part-time teachers for English and Spanish. Please contact Sister Kathleen Boyce at 215-646-8815 or skathleen@gmahs.org. (posted 8/20/08)

Income Opportunity for Seniors

1) Family Services of Montgomery County is proud to present the Foster Grandparent Program to Montgomery County seniors. If you know of any low-income senior (60 or older) who is compassionate and caring and who likes to help children and youth, they may very well qualify to become a Foster Grandparent. Volunteers work at least 15 hours per week, receive a modest tax-free stipend (which will not affect any rent or health subsidies), paid vacation and sick time, paid holidays, and transportation reimbursement. In addition, they will have a new purpose in your life with people who need you and look forward to your visits. The Foster Grandparent Program volunteers serve as mentors while providing love and guidance to children in day care settings, pre-schools, elementary schools or alternative schools. The program provides paid training and monthly meetings for continuing education. Interested in the Foster Grandparent Program? Call Tricia Reedy Jones, Director, at (610) 630-0201. 

2) Family Services of Montgomery County is proud to present the Senior Companion Program to Montgomery County seniors. If you are a low income senior (60 or older) who is compassionate and caring and who likes to help other seniors, you may very well qualify to become a Senior Companion. Volunteers work at least 15 hours per week, serving as companions to other seniors who are more frail, helping them to remain independent in their homes. In return, you receive a modest tax-free stipend (which will not affect any of your subsidies), paid vacation and sick time, paid holidays, and transportation reimbursement. In addition, you will have a new purpose in your life with people who need you and look forward to your visits. The Senior Companion Program provides paid training and monthly meetings for continuing education. Interested? Call Deb Keller, Director, at 215-368-0985, ext. 15.

High School Entrance

Saint Basil Academy 711 Fox Chase Rd., Jenkintown. www.stbasilacademy.org  

Bishop McDevitt HS www.mcdevitths.org

Lansdale Catholic HS  www.lansdalecatholic.com.  

Local Charity/Benefits

Octoberfest, September 27 & 28, benefiting Sisters of the Holy Redeemer (see Craft Fairs)

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul conducts Clothing Drives in our area frequently. The usual hours of the collection are 9 am to 2  pm. They accept all usable men's, women's, and children's clothing as well as small household food (bed and bath linens, pots, pans, dishes, cooking utensils, toys, books, and small appliances in good working order). Tax receipts are available upon request. The Society also offers pick-up services for furniture, large appliances, and vehicles (see below). For more information call 215-288-8160.
Upcoming Drives:
Friday, September 19, 2008 - Immaculate Conception Church, 602 West Ave., Jenkintown
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - St. Luke the Evangelist Church - note our hours are 8 to 2.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Philadelphia welcomes donations of vehicles (1993 or newer): Cars, trucks, vans, boats, motorcycles - working or not!!!! All you need to do it to provide the title of the vehicle and the Society will do the rest. (They will provide free towing and do all the paperwork.) You receive a receipt that makes your donation tax deductible. Call 215-288-8160.

There are St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Bins at Bishop McDevitt HS, Queen of Peace Church, St. John of the Cross Church, and the VFW on Jenkintown Road. Twice a year we have a clothing drive at St. Luke Church.

United Way Numbers
Catholic Charities Appeal #0233
St. John's Hospice #00272
Good Shepherd Program at St. John's Hospice #00370
St. Luke CYO #9227
St. Luke Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society #14394

Craft Fairs

Oktoberfest. Rain or shine, Saturday, September 27, 12 noon - 8pm and Sunday, September 28, 12 noon - 5pm, Provincialate, Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, 521 Moredon Rd, Huntingdon Valley. German Foods, Beer Garden, Music & Dancing. Craft tables, Activities & Games for Children. Raffles. All proceeds benefit the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer: Retired & Infirm Sisters, Religious Vocation Ministry & Redeemer Ministry Corps. For information: 215-914-4116 or www.sistersholyredeemer.org or RMCorps@aol.com or 215-914-4003.

Trips / Pilgrimages

Shows / Concerts

Socials

Services

Companion Service for Seniors. Are you a senior citizen in Montgomery County who needs some extra assistance in order to remain independent in your home? Are you perhaps lonely during the day and would appreciate a friendly visitor to talk to, share stories with, or play games? Do you need help with your mail or meal preparation? Family Services of Montgomery County is the sponsor of the Senior Companion Program which enables trained senior volunteers to visit folks like you for approximately 4 hours to provide assistance with important daily tasks, encouragement to remain active, help with your medication, help with meal preparation, and a friendship that can last a lifetime. Do you take care of a senior and need some relief from your caregiving responsibilities? Senior Companions can also provide 4 hours of respite to caregivers, giving them the peace of mind that their loved one is being looked after. The visits will occur on a weekly schedule to suit your needs. Senior Companions are not housekeepers, nor do they perform personal care (toileting, bathing). This is a free service! If you are interested in learning more about the program, please call Deb Keller, Program Director, at 215-368-0985, ext. 15.

Sports

Hosting Requests

etc

A calendar of events for Catholic Young Adults in the 20s and 30s (and early 40s) throughout the Philadelphia Archdiocese: www.stillcatholic.com/PHILLY.htm (The Spring 2007 calendar has been posted.)

Abington Community Taskforce (ACT): Its focus has been to promote healthy youth activities, to increase awareness among citizens about activities taking place in the community, and to give recognition to outstanding citizens involved in programs that promote ACT's goals. To accomplish these goals, ACT facilitates cooperation among Township and Borough organizations that share its goals as well as provides direct services to the community that are in line with its mission. www.abingtonact.org

Copyright © 2006-2008 St. Luke the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. All rights reserved. 
St. Luke Rectory, 2316 Fairhill Ave., Glenside, PA 19038 215-572-0128   StLukeRC@aol.com
Revised: August 26, 2008