Parish Bulletin

Msgr. Art left for Rome on Sunday, Feb. 5^th. He had to miss the Super Bowl as a result. Let’s keep him in our prayers as he begins his well-deserved sabbatical.

In my short time here so far, I grateful for all the kindness that everyone has shown me. I am also impressed by the sincere prayerfulness of this community. It is no wonder that St. John’s is as vibrant as it is. The parish vibrancy seems to know no age. I see young people as well as older people participating in adoration, reconciliation, volunteer work, etc. Many other parishes only hope for such activity. St. John Parish is truly blessed.

PERPETUAL ADORATION UPDATE! The following hours have one scheduled adorer, but we would like to have at least two for each hour: Sundays – 4, 6, 7 & 8 a.m.; and 12,1,3,4,5 & 8 p.m.; Mondays – 1 & 2 a.m.; Tuesdays – 3, 6 & 8 a.m.; and 2, 4 & 11 p.m.; Wednesdays – 1, 2 & 7 a.m.; and 2 p.m.; Thursdays – 12, 1 & 2a.m.; and 12, 4 & 11 p.m.; Fridays – 2, 3, 5 & 9 a.m.; and 2, 6 & 9 p.m.; Saturdays – 12, 2, 3 & 10 a.m.; and 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 p.m. Please call the parish office.

Join with the Ladies Sodality to pray the Rosary on the 2^nd Sunday of each month after the 9:15 a.m. Mass, at the statue of the Blessed Mother in the church. Everyone is welcome.

Immediately following the 9:30 a.m. Mass and Rosary in the church. All are invited to participate.

At 3:00 p.m. in the church before the Blessed Sacrament and ending with Benediction. All are welcome to attend.

BAPTISMS: Congratulations and welcome to Elizabeth Mary Seeley, daughter of Rosalie and Demian Seeley.

WE PRAY for the REPOSE of Joseph A. D’Alfonzo, Francoise Jones, Elizabeth Hanson, Alice Murphy, Lillian Broccolina and Baby Erin Katherine O’Toole and for their families and friends.

FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR THIS WEEKEND are in loving memory of Howard G. Armstrong, Jr.,

This year’s budget is based on a weekly offering of $30,700.00. Our current weekly average is $28,428.08. Thank you.

THANK YOU to all parishioners who have made a pledge. Memorial opportunities are still available. Please call the parish office to make, renew or extend your pledge.

SPECIAL COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND is for Catholic Relief Services. Thank you for your generosity.

School Calendar

Feb. 16 School Board Meeting – 7:30 p.m. – Parish Center

Feb. 17 High School letters of acceptance mailed

Feb. 17 Middle School Dance – 7-10 p.m. - gym

Feb. 20 SCHOOL CLOSED – President’s Day

Feb. 21 SCHOOL CLOSED – Professional Day

Feb. 23 PTF General Meeting – 7-9 p.m. - cafeteria

school by purchasing gift cards for Kohl’s, Boscov’s, and local grocery stores. There is no additional cost involved, but the school makes 5% from all sales. Cards are available in the school office.

INNISBROOK ON-GOING FUNDRAISER: Check out the website for gift giving ideas. The school receives 50% of all sales. Shop at www.innisbrook.com. Our school ID is # 122169.

RCIA: The Monday Session of RCIA begins on March 13 with orientation. The group will meet weekly from 7-9 p.m. in the St. Therese Room at the Parish Center. Anyone interested in joining this session should contact Paul Gallagher in Religious Ed. Office.

REMINDER: There will be no Religious Ed classes on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Our teachers will be having an In-Service. Additional information will be sent to our teachers regarding the In-Service.

NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES on Tues., Feb. 21 and Thurs., Feb. 23. There will be Religious Ed. classes for Pre thru 8^th grade.

“What If” Spring 2006: We have sent out the newsletters. If you did not receive one, pick one up in the Life Teen box in the back of the Church. We will have amazing Life Nights this Sun., Feb.12 and next Sun.,, Feb. 19 after the 6:00 p.m. Mass. Come by for a great night! On Mon., Feb. 20^th (President’s Day) we will be going to 9:30 a.m. Mass and then to Baughers for breakfast. Join us for Mass and bring some money for breakfast, if you want to hang out!

Steubenville 2006: Unchanging - This year Life Teen and all the teens in the parish are invited back to Franciscan University of Steubenville for the annual summer youth conference. We have made our initial deposit and still have spots left. The dates for the conference are July 7-9. A $60 deposit will reserve your spot. Sign up with Marty Link in the Religious Ed. Office.

Steubenville 2006 Sponsors Needed: We are looking for parishioners to sponsor a teen for our annual Steubenville retreat. If you can be a full or partial sponsor, please make your check payable to St. John and call or email Marty at mlink@sjwest.org.

We meet every 2^ndSunday and 4^th Friday from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria. This ministry is open to all 7^th & 8^th graders.

Special Thanks to all those who have answered their call to service. THE EDGE appreciates all you do for us!

CLARIFICATION!!! Parents are invited to the Teacher’s Lounge to hear Joan McInerney speak about how to recognize teen depression and how you can help teens that are suffering. The regular EDGE night will be held in the cafeteria from 7:30-9 p.m. We will enjoy food, friends, games and raffles! Bring your friends.

Fri., Feb. 24 - THE EDGE goes Snow Tubing!!!

REGISTRATION PACKETS WENT OUT THIS WEEK!!!

100% fun with zero effort! Zoom down the perfectly carved lane and relax on the moving carpet as it brings you back to the top. Fun for everyone! Bring your friends. Registration packets and money are due by February 17^th.

ATTENTION 7^th and 8^th GRADERS: What activities do you want to do this year with THE EDGE? Please write down your ideas and give them to Kate at the next EDGE meeting.

We meet in the Cafeteria from 7-8:30 p.m. every 1^st and 3^rd Friday. Bring your friends and join the fun! Contact Kate for details.

Fri., Feb. 17 – This week we will celebrate February birthdays and have a blast. You never know what we have in store for you…until you join us, of course!

Parent volunteers are still needed to help with Youth Alive. The young people of our parish are having lots of fun at Youth Alive and our numbers are growing, but we need a few more adults to help us each week. If you are interested in helping our young people, call Kate in the Religious Ed Office.

MINISTRY for the DEAF: We are in the process of forming a ministry to serve the needs of the deaf in our community. If you know of anyone who could use these services to actively participate in Mass or other events here at St. John, please contact Fr. Leo at the parish center. We also encourage anyone who has interpreting skills and could help with this ministry to also contact Fr. Leo at 410-848- 4744 x 241.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY is seeking adults and older teen volunteers to help one Sunday a month with this ministry for the children. For details call Nancy Merrill at 410-876-2173.

LIFE TEEN WANTS TO THANK EVERYONE who supported this year’s Super Bowl sub sale. The proceeds from the sale will go towards helping a teen to go to the Steubenville Youth Conference this summer. Thanks again for helping bring someone closer to Christ.

Sodality meets for the 9:15 am. Mass (2^nd Sunday of each month), followed by a meeting in the Parish Center. All ladies of the parish are invited. For information, call Mary Jo Judge at 410-857-5655.

Next meeting is at 1:00 p.m. in the St. Therese Room at the Parish Center. All Health Care Ministers are encouraged to attend.

This month’s meeting will be at 8:00 p.m. in The Portico. Representatives from the Maryland School for the Blind will discuss their work as well as the school’s recent acquisition of The Westminster Inn. All are welcome to attend.

PTF will meet from 7-9:00 p.m. in The Portico. Child care will be available in the cafeteria for the meeting.

WISDOM CLUB . . . Thurs., Feb. 23

Mass will be celebrated at 12 Noon in the Church. The meeting will be held after Mass at The Portico. Since this is the 1^st meeting of 2006, our Treasurer will be collecting dues for 2006 at this meeting. Since February is “Heart Health Month” that will be the topic for this meeting presented by our 1^st Vice President. Remember to bring your brown-bag lunch. Dessert and beverages will be provided. New members are always welcome.

We will offer two Pre-Cana sessions this year. Session 1 will be held February 25, March 3 & 4. Session 2 will be June 3, 9 & 10. Couples who wish to register, should contact Rosalie Seeley via email at: rosalie.seeley@verizon.net

Seminarian Dave will present an overview of the Second Vatican Council from 7-9 p.m. in the St. Therese Room of the Parish Center. He will focus on the reasons Pope John XXIII called the council, the documents issued, and the impact that the council still has on our Church today. Clock hours will be given.

Life Teen will host it’s annual “Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper” from 4-8 p.m. in The Portico. Give Mom a break this year and come and enjoy this free “Fat Tuesday Meal” (not fat free)!! Donations are accepted, but not required. We also need volunteers-the more the merrier! Call Marty in Religious Ed or email at Mlink@SJWest.org

Give the gift of life! The next blood drive will be from 2-8 p.m. in The Portico. We need phone callers and canteen help. Call Ted Cook at 410-876-2107 to help or to make an appointment.

Fr. Joe, a well-known author and radio personality, will give a talk at The Portico, entitled “When Life Doesn’t Make Sense.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and his presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, and are available at Portico Book + Gifts, Parish Center or call Teresa Richardson at 410-848-4744 ext. 227.

Beginning March 10^th we will have a fish fry at The Portico from 4-8:00 p.m on Fridays during Lent. For details contact Teresa Richardson at 410-848-4744 Ext. 227.

Join the PTF at The Portico from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.00 per person and include hor’doeuvres, buffet style dinner, dessert, open bar and silent auction. We are looking for donations of all kinds. For tickets, donations or questions, contact Michele Kirk at kirkfamilymd@netzero.com or at 410-795-9632; Joelle Connor at 410-848-3671 or Caroline Quinn at 410-374-0262.

Mark your calendars and join us at 7:00 p.m. in The Portico. Proceeds to date have totaled over $32,000 and benefit the Church Building Fund. Prizes will include filled current and retired Longaberger baskets. You can help by sponsoring a door prize or a

basket to help decrease our expenses and increase profits. Call Anna at 410-876-2652 or the parish office.

Please continue to help minister to the poor in Carroll County by remembering that next weekend (3^rd weekend of the month) is Food Sunday. Please bring your donations of non-perishable food to Church and place in the white buckets at the doors. Needed items are: canned meats, stews, spaghetti sauce, canned pasta meals, jelly, powdered milk, canned fruit and bottled juices. We also need paper goods such as toilet tissue, baby diapers, paper towels, etc. Thank you for your continued help and generosity!

This retreat will be held at Holy Trinity Spiritual Center, 8400 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore and conducted by Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM.Conv., Spiritual Director, Vice Rector and Dir. of Continuing Formation at St. Mary’s Seminary. It is a great opportunity for spiritual reflection and renewal. For further details call 410-335-2897.

The Carmelite Sisters of Baltimore will be hosting a “Come & See Weekend” for women ages 18 to 25 at 1318 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore. For more details call Sr. Judy Murray, at 410-823-7415 or visit the website at www.baltimorecarmel.org.

Mount Aloysius College is holding 2 open house events this spring: Mon., February 20^th and Sat., April 8^th. Activities begin at 10 a.m. on both days. Students will have the opportunity to learn about academic programs, financial aid, the admissions process and extra-curricular activities. Tours of the campus will be given and lunch will be provided to all of guests. Students can register or get details by contacting the Admissions Office at 1-888-823-2220 or go to www.mtaloy.edu.

Parishioners are invited to join other Catholics from around the State at the Maryland Catholic Conference’s 22^nd Annual Lobby Night in Annapolis. Registration begins at 2:45 p.m. at St. Mary’s High School. To register, contact Chris Santo at 410-269-1155 or 301-261-1979 or register online at www.mdcathcon.org.

This is the first of six retreats for Married Couples. Fr. Akers, S.J. will be the Retreat Master. Other weekend retreats are: March 3, March 10, March 24, April 7 and May 5. For details call Elaine at 410-252-5355.

The Seton Retreat & Conference Center in Emmitsburg is offering a series of four Wednesday-Day Retreats in Lent from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. beginning March 1, 15, 29 and April 12. Fee is $25 each day (includes retreat program, lunch and 1:30 Mass). The retreats will be directed by Dr. Thelma Steiger, PhD. For details call 301-447-3121 or email: dsauvageau@doc.org.

The Daughters of Charity are sponsoring a Lenten Vocation Discernment Retreat beginning Friday evening March 3 at 8 p.m. through Sunday, March 5 ending at 1 p.m. at The Seton Retreat Center, St. Joseph Provincial House, 333 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD. Single catholic women interested in spending time in prayer, service and reflection to discern God’s call in their lives are encouraged to attend. Cost is $60.00 and retreat scholarships are available. Contact: Sr. Mary Catherine Warehime, DC at 410-646-2074 or email at devoc@doc.org

Holy Trinity Spiritual Center is offering a Lenten Program entitled “Into your Hands I Commend my Spirit - Surrender to Conversion from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The cost is $45 and includes lunch. For reservations and details, call 410-486-5171 or 410-984-4464 or email tcerulo@hotmail.com. All are welcome.

The Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Maryland will hold its 9^th Annual Catholic Men’s Conference at Archbishop Curley High School from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Speakers include: Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Fr. Gerard Francik and Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. Sacrament of Reconciliation is available. Holy Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski at 4:00 p.m. The $30 admission includes continental breakfast and lunch. Call Gil Hoffman at 410-252-5737 or Tom Weigand at 410-836-9638.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: The Polish Heritage Assn. of Maryland announces it will award six (6) grants of various amounts to full time students for the academic year 2006-07 at any accredited college or university in the United States. To be eligible for a grant the applicant must be of Polish descent (i.e., have at least two Polish grandparents, any generation), must be a resident of the State of Maryland and attending an accredited high school as a senior or college or university in the U.S. and pursuing studies leading to a baccalaureate degree. Applications must be completed and postmarked by March 31, 2006. For details contact: Thomas Hollowak at 410-837-4268 or via email at thollowak@ubalt.edu.

A Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreat for spiritual and emotional healing after abortion will be held in Baltimore. This confidential retreat is for anyone hurting emotionally after abortion. For more information, call Denise or Kathie at 410-354-6900 or 1-800-286-4224, email: Projectrachel@archbalt.org or visit the website at www.rachelsvineyar.org.

BULLETIN DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting notices is 12:00 noon on each Monday for the weekend prior to distribution. Please send articles via email to bulletin@sjwest.org or you may fax articles to 410-857-1519.

SUNDAY NURSERY for 1-5 year olds will be held in Classroom 2A of the school during the 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Masses. For information, contact Peggy Rager at 410-848-0790.

HOLY COMMUNION will be brought to you during Mass, if you are unable to come to the altar. Please inform an usher.

LARGE PRINT MISSALETTES are available at weekend Masses. Please see an usher before Mass to pick up a copy.

TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS ILL REMEMBERED during the Prayer of the Faithful at Masses, please call the parish office.

THE ROSARY PRAYED at a FUNERAL HOME for a deceased loved one is a service offered to parishioners of St. John by the Ladies Sodality. Contact the parish office to make request.

FROM the ST. JOHN LIBRARY: Something you borrowed long ago may be needed for Lent this year. Please check your shelves and return all overdue books, videos, and audiotapes.

PORTICO BOOKS + GIFTS: Be sure to stop by our gift shop and place your orders for First Communion & Confirmation gifts Special discounts for orders placed by February 28!

Monday, February 13

Thursday, February 16

Friday, February 17

From the Pastor

Fri., Feb. 24 - THE EDGE goes Snow Tubing!!!

REGISTRATION PACKETS WENT OUT THIS WEEK!!!

WISDOM CLUB . . . Thurs., Feb. 23