“Charity enters heaven when humility opens the door.”
-St Maria Natividad Venegas de la Torre
Sunday readings for September 7, 2025- Twenty Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
First Reading: Wisdom 9:13-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17
Second Reading: Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
Announcements
Black and Indian missions second collection
On Sunday, September 13, there will be the annual collection to support the work of the Catholic Church in the United States among Native American and African American communities. Please be generous.
Archbishop’s Pastoral Letter
Archbishop Perez recently issued a pastoral letter on evangelization. It is called Trust and Hope. On Sunday, September 21, Philip Cheung will lead a discussion on the letter in the Teresa Hu library in Cantonese after the 10 AM Mass and in English after the 11:15 AM Mass. Please join us!
The English version of the Archbishop’s letter can be found at trustandhope.org. Copies of the Archbishop’s pastoral letter are available in the back of the church.
Light the City
Young adults are invited to join in a street evangelization at Saint John’s on Saturday, September 6. We will speak to everyone passing by the church and invite them in to pray for peace and light a candle. The program begins at 7:15 PM, but there is training beginning at 6:30. Please ask Father Tom for information.
Holy Redeemer School
Please encourage people with school age children to consider Holy Redeemer School. We accept new students even after the start of the school year. Our first open house will be on October 6 from 9:30-11 AM
A Cappella Voice Ensemble at Saint John’s
All are welcome to attend a concern of sacred music, pop and folk songs on Saturday, September 20 at 3 PM. The conductor and producer will be Sheng Hwa Yu, who has been involved at Holy Redeemer for many years, though he and his family now live in North New Jersey.
EITC Tax Credit to benefit Holy Redeemer
Father Tom will hold an information session on this program on Tuesday, September 9 at 6:30 in the Teresa Hu Center cafeteria
Holy Redeemer School continues to educate children from low and middle income families. As you know, the cost of most things, especially education, has risen over the past decade. Fortunately, the State of Pennsylvania has created a program to assist families to pay tuition at private and Catholic schools.
Pennsylvania residents who pay at least $1000 in State taxes (income taxes usually) can pay their money to a charity that provides tuition help to Holy Redeemer School instead of paying that money to the State.
And the donors get a 90% credit (not deduction, but tax credit) for taxes that are owed to the State of Pennsylvania. That means that you can give $1000 for Holy Redeemer School tuition and you will receive a $900 credit for your State taxes. You will really only give $100 from your own pocket, but Holy Redeemer School will receive $1000. Your donation will only be used for tuition for needy families.
If you give $3000 from your tax liability, you will actually be out of pocket only $300 and you will receive a$2700 tax credit. You can only take advantage of this program up to the amount of your Pennsylvania tax liability.
Two flyers are attached that explain this program AND which direct you to make contact the two tuition assistance programs which assist Holy Redeemer School.
This program is what keeps our school open. Consider paying your taxes to Holy Redeemer School instead of into the general Pennsylvania State treasury.
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
On Monday, September 22, we begin our weekly zoom classes for those who are considering joining the church through baptism or for baptized Catholics who would like to be confirmed. This program is known as RCIA, sometimes now called OCIA. Catholics who simply want to learn more about the Catholic faith are also welcome. If you would like to receive zoom invitations to these classes, please email Father Tom at frtomcap@yahoo.com.
Holy Redeemer School Spotlight
Training for an Active Shooter was presented to the staff this past Wednesday, Sept 3rd, by an FBI agent.
The breakfast & lunch program starts Monday Sept 8th.
Special Classes – Start Dates
- Music – begins Tuesday, 9/9 & Wednesday, 9/10
- Dancing with the Students (K–4th)
– begins Friday, 9/12
- Mindfulness with Movement (5th–8th)
– begins Thursday, 10/2