THIS WEEK'S MASSES
June 27 8:45 AM †Patrick King
June 28 8:45 AM †Stephen Sitar
29 8:45 AM †Geraldine Flaim
June 30 8:45 AM †Mr. & Mrs. Frank Savini
July 1 8:45 AM †Michael & Carmine
Agerenza
July 2 8:45 AM †Dr. James Hughes
5:00 PM †Henry Gerlich & his son
Henry, Jr.
July 3 7:30 AM †Mary Muscato
9:00 AM Intentions of all the People
of the Parish
10:30 AM †Peter Sturla

SANCTUARY LIGHT
In memory of Irma Savini

FLOWERS FOR THE ALTAR
Call Fran Taylor at 656-8900 if you wish to donate for a loved one.

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S READINGS
2 Kings 4: 8-11, 14-16

A childless woman offers hospitality to the prophet Elisha. In gratitude the prophet responds by telling her that a year from now she will bear a son.

Romans 6: 3-4, 8-11

At the heart of Paul's teaching is the central importance of baptism. In baptism we share in the dying and rising of Christ. We are now dead to sin and alive in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 10: 26-33

Jesus speaks of the reward that comes to those who welcome the prophet who speaks in his name. Only those who take up their cross and follow Christ will be worthy of him.
³ ³ ³

FIRST FRIDAY: This Friday, July 1, is First Friday of the month. Following the 8:45 AM Mass, there will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 4:00 PM. Pray for peace in our world by taking a ½ hour adoration before our Eucharistic Lord.

OUR PARISH BULLETIN is made possible by the many advertisers who place ads on the back page of the bulletin. Please consider using the fine products and services they provide.

NEW PARISHIONERS are asked to register in the parish by completing a parish registration form which can be picked up in the Parish Office after Mass or during office hours.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR VOCATIONS will be held on August 12, from 8:00 PM - 8:00 AM at St. John Neumann Church in Lancaster. The Eucharist will be exposed using a Monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II.

NEW ALTAR SERVERS: We welcome our newest altar servers who have just completed their training and will begin serving Mass here in July. They are:
Ryan Baer Adam Helman
Ashley Chirico Scott Ireland
Katie Clay Hilary Jones
Kyle & Ryan Connell Lucy Jackson
Connor Dickson Amanda Plunkett
Ben Hatter Anna Podoletz

CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES who are seeking to perform service hours in preparation for Confirmation are invited to join Fr. John when he visits and brings Holy Communion to the sick and shut-ins of our parish. Please call the Parish Office and leave your name and telephone number.

A NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE PERFORMANCE will be hosted by St. Leo's Parish on Tuesday, July 19, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the school gym. This performance will be done by the Lakota Sioux from South Dakota. There is no charge, except for a free-will offering that will be taken to help cover travel costs.

SPECIAL THANKS
…to all who volunteered to help paint the church last week.
…to all who participated in celebrating Fr. Creaven's birthday here on Tuesday as well as Fr. Gaffney's anniversary Mass on Friday.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE is eager to certify families for infants through teenagers needing temporary or adoptive homes. Along with a stipend and reimbursements, they also provide a support network and extensive training program. For more information, call 1-800-777-7003.

THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY assists needy people in our community who are in need of financial help. The poor boxes at the entrance to the church are the main source of funding that enables us to give food, to pay rent or to supply medicine to those most in need. Just your pocket change or a couple of dollars can make a great difference. Thanks for your generosity.

NEEDED FOR SUMMER BIBLE SCHOOL: Clean baby food jars with lids. Please place them on the counter in the kitchen. Thank you.

THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH
Sunday, June 26
Knights of Columbus -- 7:30 PM
Monday, June 27
Tuesday -- June 28
Bible Sharing -- 9:30 AM
Wednesday, June 29
Thursday, June 30
Friday, July 1, -- First Friday
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Saturday, July 2 -- First Saturday
First Saturday Mass - 8:45 AM
Sacrament of Reconciliation - 4:00 PM

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DON'T MONKEY AROUND - JOIN OUR PRAYER SAFARI AT KINGDOM OF THE SON. July 25th - 29th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church for kids from age 3 to those who have completed Grade 6. Kids, you will discover that "God Listens", "God Provides", "God Forgives", God Protects", and "God Rules!" You will have a great time with lively songs, hilarious skits, creative crafts, exciting games, Bible stories, and tasty snacks…all while learning to know God through prayer. You will embark on a journey into the pages of God's Word, exploring The Lord's Prayer, and discovering the greatest adventure of all - getting to know God and being encouraged to develop a personal relationship with Him. Registration forms and the Needs List are available in the Social Hall outside the Rel. Ed. Office. Reg. Deadline: July 10th!

MASS STIPENDS: As directed by Bishop Rhoades, beginning July 1, all Mass stipends will be increased to $10.00.

KNIGHTS' PIG ROAST: On Saturday, July 16th, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the Knights will be sponsoring a community Pig Roast and invite your family for the day. It will be served in the Social Hall or as take out for $7 per meal. See any Knight for tickets or call Jim Shirk at 917-7677. We will also have a bake sale that day to help raise money for the church. Any donation to the bake sale will be greatly appreciated!

FINANCIAL NEWS:
Thank you for your response to the Increased Giving Program. Building Fund is now at $512,800!!

WHY DO CATHOLICS DO THAT?

(An occasional series on the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church and why we do them.)

Why does the priest pour water into the wine and put a piece of the consecrated host into the cup?

Both actions are very ancient and began as practical necessities, but eventually the necessities disappeared and were even forgotten. Later when Christians started to ask what these two gestures meant, they began to interpret them symbolically. While these symbols may never have been intended in the beginning, they made sense and became part of our rich tradition.
In the ancient world, the Greeks added water to wine because it was often thick, gritty and too strong. It was simply good taste to add water to wine before drinking it. The Romans loved all things Greek, so they adopted Greek manners and spread them to the lands they conquered. And even though it was not originally a Jewish custom to add water to wine, it soon became part of the Passover meal itself and, hence, part of our Mass.
As early as the fourth century, catechists explained that the water represented humanity and the wine, divinity. Once you put water into wine, it's impossible to take it out again. Because of Jesus, humanity can never again be separated permanently from God. So the custom continues.
The practice of dropping a piece of consecrated bread into the cup may have started because of the ancient Roman custom of the fermentum. Christians in the suburbs could not always travel to Rome for Eucharist. So when the bishop broke the bread before Communion, he would set aside a piece for each missing group. A minister brought this fermentum to each place later, where the priest would drop it into the chalice to be swallowed - and most everyone drank from the cup in those days. Thus the bishop's Eucharist "fermented" this celebration.
Eventually, the pope also began to set aside a piece for his next celebration. It was added to the chalice to show that this Mass is a continuation of the one before it - the one sacrifice of Christ.
Priests began imitating the pope by breaking off a piece of the bread just consecrated. Some then explained this as a sign of Christ's Resurrection. A body without blood is dead, but when Christ's body is "reunited" with his blood, Christ is risen. This gesture continues to this day, being preserved probably because it is so ancient a custom.

Stay well and have a good week!

-- Fr. Schmalhofer