“If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.”
-St. John Chrysostom
Sunday readings for September 17, 2023- Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Sir 27:30-28:7
Responsorial Psalm: Ps103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
Second Reading: Rom 14:7-9
Gospel: Mt 18:21-35
Announcements
Parish Social
This Sunday, all are welcome to join the parish social after the English Mass to enjoy drinks/snacks and fellowship with one another. The social will take place in the Theresa Hu Center.
HR Youth Group Activity- Apple Picking
On Sunday September 24th, the HR youth group will be going to Johnson Farm in Medford NJ for apple picking and activities at the farm. Any youth between the ages of 12-17 are welcome to join us. Please reply to this email or contact Emily Man/Ursula Yau for more information.
Pro Life Mass at HR
On Sunday There will be a Pro Life Mass at Holy Redeemer on Saturday September 30 at 9:30 AM. The Mass is to pray for a culture of life and an end to abortion.
SAT Classes in Chinatown
There are 2 SAT classes offered in Chinatown to students who are preparing for the test. One is offered at Holy Redeemer on Saturday mornings 8:30-10am starting tomorrow September 16th. The second one is offered at the Chinese Christian Church on Wednesday evenings 6:30-8pm starting September 20th. Please see the attached flyers for more information and to sign up.
HR Sat Flyer for Fall_2023_with Chinese
Donation Link
There are two donation buttons to the new HR’s website: https://holyredeemerccc.org/. You can scan the QRs or click the buttons to make your donations. Thank you for your continued support for Holy Redeemer Church.
Archdiocese Capital Campaign
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is initiating a major change in the way it will train its future priests. For many years, Saint Charles Seminary has been a massive presence in Wynnewood and hundreds of priests have been trained there. However, the seminary buildings are much too large for the number of seminarians now enrolled. There is no realistic expectation that we will have again 500 or more seminarians who would fill the buildings.
The seminary property has been sold and the seminary program will move to the campus of Gwynedd Mercy University. Even though this change is in large measure an economic response to declining enrollment, in my opinion, training seminarians on the campus of a Catholic co-educational college is a better way of preparing future priests. The seminarians will have a positive impact on the Catholic identity of the university and the seminarians will regularly associate with typical college and graduate students each day.
It is necessary for the Archdiocese to build new buildings to accommodate this change. Archbishop Perez has initiated a capital campaign to fund the transition, including the building project.
Ed Town, a seminarian, will come to speak at Holy Redeemer on behalf of this campaign. There will be pledge/offering envelopes in each pew.
Our seminary also trains lay leaders and future deacons. Investing in Saint Charles Seminary, soon to move to Gwynedd Mercy, is an investment in the future of the Church in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Holy Sepulcher Catholic Cemetery
Many Holy Redeemer parishioners have expressed interest in purchasing graves at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, essentially creating a Chinese Catholic section of the cemetery. This Sunday, September 17 at 2:30 PM, Holy Redeemer parishioners are invited to visit the cemetery, see the section that can be reserved for Chinese Catholics and learn about purchasing cemetery lots. Father Tom and Father Joseph will be present. Refreshments will be served.
Holy Redeemer Upcoming Open House
The 1st Open House is scheduled for Thursday, September 21st at 9:30 AM. The school welcomes anyone who is interested in enrolling their child. Applications are accepted at any time by calling the school at 215-922-0999 or submitted online at https://www.holyredeemerschool.org/application
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
We will begin our weekly zoom classes on Monday, October 9th at 7 PM. These classes are for adults who are considering joining the Catholic Church through baptism or confirmation (for those who are already baptized). However, those who wish to update and expand their knowledge of the faith are also invited. If you wish to received email invitations to our RCIA classes, email Father Tom at frtomcap@yahoo.com.
Career Opportunities for women for non traditional jobs
The Women in Non Traditional Careers (WINC) Tradeswomen Readiness Program facilitates a career path for women in careers that are not historically associated with women. See the attached flyer for their latest offer and to register.
WINC TRP Fall 2023 Digital Flyer_reduced
Church Website
Until the church website is complete with the information from the original website, we will be making updates to the Parish section of the School website. In particular:
– parish events will be added to the school calendar for now
– news items and announcements will also be added and updated
– photos and videos will be posted the Photo Gallery within the Parish section
– all of Fr. Tom’s writings are still here.
Please send any announcements, photos, videos, or items of news to mlouie@holyredeemerschool.org
Holy Redeemer School Spotlight
The REACH program that mentors 8th Graders for life in High School kicked off its school-year long program with a short introductory presentation at Holy Redeemer School on Friday, September 15th.
The first of two fall Open House is scheduled for next Thursday September 21st at 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Applications are accepted for immediate enrollment as well as for the next school year.
The Parents-Teachers Conference to introduce the teachers to the parents and to present the school educational programs is scheduled for Friday, September 22.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Spotlight
To an outsider, an orphanage is a last resort. But that’s not always true. 80% to 90% of kids living in orphanages have a living parent who would like to take care of them but often can’t because they’re too poor. At the age of 5, Stephen Ucembe lost his mother to violence. He also lost his sense of a home when he was sent to stay in an orphanage in Kenya. Stephen and two of his siblings lived in the orphanage despite the fact their father was still alive in another part of the country. Stephen’s father visited him once in the institution. The next time he heard about him, his father was dead.
Stephen founded the Kenya Society of Care Leavers in 2009. He says people in their late teens and early 20s leaving institutional care did not have a strong voice or platform to express themselves. He works at Hope and Homes for Children, which specializes in placing children with families and ending institutionalization. Visit www.crs.org to see what you can do to help!
***If you received this bulletin from a friend, request to be on the listserve by sending an email to holyredeemer1939@gmail.com.
Holy Redeemer Church’s website: https://holyredeemerccc.org/