“We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful.”
~St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Sunday readings for November 3, 2024- Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Dt 6:2-6
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
Second Reading: Heb 7:23-28
Gospel: Mk 12:28b-34
Announcements
Holy Redeemer School Open House
Please invite families with young children to consider Holy Redeemer School for their children’s education. There will be a school open house on Tuesday, November 19 from 1-2 PM.
November 1st– Feast of All Saints
The Feast of All Saints is a holy day of obligation, and Catholics are expected to attend Mass. The Holy Redeemer Mass will be at 6 PM tonight. The Mass will be in English with some Chinese additions. Saint John’s will offer our usual three daily Masses: 7:45, 12:05 and 5:15.
October Mass Attendance Count
Every year in every church in the Archdiocese (and in many other dioceses across the USA), parishes are asked to count how many are at Mass. October is seen as a “typical” month. It is not summer, when many people are away on vacation (or at a vacation site parish, when many visitors are present); it is not winter when bad weather may lessen attendance; and it is not a holiday season when attendance is higher. It is considered typical.
In 2023, the average Sunday attendance at Holy Redeemer was 246. In 2024, the average attendance on three Sundays (we did not count the third Sunday when we had the Eucharistic procession), the average attendance is 309. You will get a letter from me in a week or two that will report a lower number based on the first two weeks of October. In fact, the fourth Sunday of October had an especially large congregation due to a Saturday wedding in the Mandarin Mass community.
Regardless, our Mass attendance is trending higher and most of the growth is in the Mandarin 12:30 PM Mass. But all three of our Masses have faithful parishioners who attend Mass.
Saint John Church is also seeing an increase in Mass attendance. In 2023, the average Sunday attendance was 358; in 2024, the average Sunday attendance was 432. About 50% of the Saint John’s congregations are visitors and the October numbers were higher because of several large conventions.
Chinatown Clinic 25th Anniversary
Please come celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Chinatown Clinic! Volunteers, patients, church members, families and friends are all welcome. We will have food, flu shot and fun activities at this event. Please see the attached for the flyer.
Gospel of Luke Zoom Class: Begins December 4, 7-8:30pm
Last year, retired Villanova Scripture Professor Paul Danove, offered a weekly class on the Gospel of Mark. The class was well received. This year, beginning December 4, he will teach the Gospel of Luke. If you wish to receive zoom invitations each week to the class, email Father Tom pastor@stjohnsphilly.com.
Holy Redeemer School Spotlight
The CYO boys basketball is accepting players to join the team.
Holy Redeemer School will have a table at the Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP) fair at Community College next Saturday, November 9 10-2, for families to learn about Philadelphia K-8 schools. CSFP provides the majority of the tuition aid to our students.