Parish Bulletin

As the summer concludes and school resumes, we often concentrate learning from an intellectual perspective. Education is more about formation than it is about learning content of information. Formation encompasses many more dimensions of our lives than just the intellect or learning. There is also human, spiritual and pastoral formation. The human formation includes care of self, physically, emotionally and psychologically; i.e being attentive to yourself as a person made in God’s image and keeping ourselves, our body, healthy as a temple of the Lord. Spiritual formation calls us to focus on our relationship with God, giving our souls time to develop and mature in God’s grace. When we have given attention to ourselves in body, mind and spirit, it is not just for ourselves but also to reach out to others, which is the Pastoral formation.

Being educated is easy and often measured by degrees conferred on us by academic institutions. Being formed continuously in God’s image with our whole being is not easy and almost impossible to measure by society standards. As we begin this new academic year, let us remind ourselves of the ongoing formation we all need at each stage of our lives, from which we never graduate and never have a vacation.

MSGR. ART’S ADDRESS: If you would like to send a card or note to Msgr. Art, the address is: St. Rose of Lima Rectory, 3803 4^th Street, Baltimore, MD 21225.

Masses are 7:00 a.m. & 9:30 a.m. (attended by St. John School), and 7:00 p.m. Confessions: 8:45 – 9:15 a.m. & 6:15 – 6:45 p.m.

Following the 8:00 a.m. Mass and Rosary. Please pick up a folder with the prayers and come to the front pews. Everyone interested in the devotion is welcome to join in prayer.

PERPETUAL ADORATION UPDATE! The following hours are being filled by substitutes until we can get scheduled adorers:

Please call Agnes at the parish center if you are willing to commit to one of these hours.

The Ladies Sodality prays 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 to participate.

Immediately following the 8:00 a.m. Mass and Rosary in the church. All are invited to participate.

BAPTISMS: Congratulations and welcome to Aydan Grace Larson, daughter of Michele and William Larson and Van Evrett Reich, son of Dana and Luke Reich.

WE PRAY for the REPOSE of Dolores Schissler and Robert Clark, Sr. and for their families and friends.

FLOWERS on the ALTAR THIS WEEKEND are in loving memory of Anna A. Beard, donated by her loving children.

This year’s budget is based on a weekly offering of $30,700.00. Our current weekly average is $27,428.97.

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.

SUMMER BENEFIT: When Mass attendance decreases during summer months as families vacation and attend other churches, families have been asked to assist the parish in the payment of continuing utility bills through our annual Summer Benefit Collection. Your response is again requested. If you did not receive an envelope for this purpose, please pick one up at the doors of the church or in the parish office, or mail your contribution to St. John Church, “Summer Benefit.” Thank you for your generosity.

School Calendar

August. 28 - SCHOOL OPENS

Sept. 1 – First Friday Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. in the Church

Sept. 4 – SCHOOL CLOSED – LABOR DAY

Sept. 5 – Kindergarten begins for first half of class

Sept. 6 – Kindergarten begins for second half of class

GROCERY CERTIFICATES PROGRAM: Please support the 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% on all sales. Cards are for sale in the school office only.

Tickets are now on sale for Scott Hahn’s visit. Tickets are $20 per person & will be sold on a first come, first served basis at the Religious Ed Office in the Parish Center and at The Portico Bookstore during regular business hours. Tickets are limited--so purchase early, as last year was an immediate sell out. A box lunch can be purchased at The Portico. Proceeds will benefit the Adult Faith Formation Program of the parish.

Bible Study: Shortly after Dr. Scott Hahn’s visit to our parish on September 23^rd, we will begin a parish-wide, seven week Bible study using his “From Genesis to Jesus” study. Everyone in the parish is invited to join a group. More information will be found in future bulletins, with registrations taking place in September.

“Welcome Home” Committee Forming: Anyone interested in helping with our annual “Welcome Home” gathering on Thursday, December 28^th from 7:00-9:00 p.m., please email Paul Gallagher at pgallagher@sjwest.org. This gathering is held right after the Christmas Liturgies as a way to reach out to anyone who is no longer practicing their Catholic faith or is interested in becoming a Catholic.

RELIGIOUS ED REGISTRATION: If you have not yet registered your child for religious education classes--please contact the Religious Ed Office to assure a spot for the fall.

Our next new teacher & assistant training session will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Therese Room at the Parish Center. Call the Religious Ed office to let us know if you will attend.

All parents of Home Study students are encouraged to attend this meeting in The Portico. (Note the change of meeting location).

RELIGIOUS ED TEACHERS NEEDED: Due to our large enrollment and the need to add another class for some of the grades, we are in need of teachers for the following sessions: Tuesday at 4:30 - 3 teachers; Tuesday at 6:45 - 2 teachers, Thursday at 6:45 - 3 teachers. Home Study – 2 teachers. We also need teachers for the following special classes: Older Eucharist, Spanish/English speaking RCIY. Please prayerfully consider sharing your faith with the young people of our parish. Call Religious Ed Office if you can help.

Do you want to be a Lector? If you signed up to be a lector and were wondering why no one has contacted you--it’s because we had some problems with our email--so we are asking you to sign up AGAIN if you want to be a lector. Contact kdemoll@sjwest.org

Have you heard our local teenage Christian band “Saving Story?” They have a local gig coming up. For info contact Kenn DeMoll.

Summer is winding down, but Life Teen wants to help you get prepared for going back to school. We will be having a night of prayer and adoration before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament after the 6 p.m. Mass.

Labor Day Cook-Out … Monday, Sept. 3

Join us for the 6 p.m. Mass and afterward for a cookout to celebrate Labor Day. Later we will walk to Twin Kiss for some ice cream! If you’ve never been to a Life Teen event, come and check us out!

All those traveling with us next summer are asked to attend a meeting at 4 p.m. in the St. Therese Room in the Parish Center. There will be an update on the trip as well as a fundraising discussion. If you are going on the trip, but can’t make the meeting, call or email pgallagher@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.

FYI: The EDGE welcomes everyone! The more friends you bring to The EDGE, the bigger and better we can make it!

Sunday, Sept. 10 – Fall Kick Off-Let’s Kick Off the fall semester EDGE STYLE! Bring all of your friends to this awesome Kick Off. There will be a bonfire (weather permitting) and we will make S’mores and have a blast. You don’t want to miss it!

Sunday, Sept. 22 – Movie Night – That’s right, movies, popcorn, candy and all of your friends. What more could you ask for? Weather permitting this will be an outdoor movie so bring a blanket and a folding chair if you have one. More details later.

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., Sept. 1 – Ice Cream Party – Bring your favorite ice cream topping to share and get ready to make the best sundae ever! Invite your friends too…everyone likes ice cream!

Fri., Sept. 15 – Fall Kick Off – Do you like having fun with your friends? Well then this is the event for you. Bring all of your friends to Kick Off the fall semester night! We will have games, food and lots of fun. You will want to be there, trust me!

Activities in Our Parish

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE:

I would like to thank the late Msgr. Joseph Antoszewski, who started me as a Eucharistic Minister at the Westminster Nursing Home over 30 years ago and also thank Msgr. Arthur Valenzano who continued to allow me to take Our Lord to so many wonderful people at the nursing home. It was an honor and a privilege for me to represent St. John these past 30 years. It is with a heavy heart that I must regretfully resign, due to ill health. I thank the many Mass helpers who helped over the years. I could not have done it without you. May God Bless all of you.

Julia Ford

The school is holding a fundraiser in connection with Innisbrook and will earn 50% profit from each item sold during this time period. You can help support this effort by ordering online at www.innisbrook.com or through a catalog in the school office. The school ID # is 122169. Please support this effort.

A meeting of the committee will be held at 6:45 p.m. in the Parish Center. Call Deacon Joe Cinquino at the Parish Center for details.

We will be offering a 9 week spiritually based program for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Our trained facilitators will be using the book “A New Day.” We will meet at the Parish Center from 7:15-9:00 p.m. on Thursdays. Registration is required. Call Janet Tenney at 410-833-1542 to register.

Registration for the 2006-07 season will be held in the school gym the following dates: Saturday, Sept. 9 from 3-7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 10 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.and Saturday, Sept. 16 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. A registration fee of $35 a child and $50 for 2 or more boys will be charged. For additional information call:

If you missed the recent bulletin insert containing information about the upcoming bone marrow drive on behalf of Msgr. Art and all persons facing the need of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, the parish is hosting a drive at The Portico from 9:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 9. Please prayerfully consider this gift of life. Copies of the bulletin insert to be a donor or sponsor are available at the parish center or in the church.

The next blood drive is from 2-8 p.m. at The Portico. We could still use some phone callers or to make an appointment call Ted Cook at 410-876-2107. Give the gift of love—DONATE!!

Got Scout Spirit? If not, come and get some at our recruiting open house starting at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Join your friends and have some fun. Call Carey Scott at 410-239-6179. It’s never to late to join scouts!

New for this year…a program prepared exclusively for St. John by Art Bennett, marriage and family therapist, who integrates the best of psychology and the Catholic faith. All St. John married couples are welcome to take part in this five evening course (begins Sept. 30 and ends in Nov.) to strengthen your marriage, your family and your faith. Contact Betty Belk at ebelk@verizon.net for details or to register or call 410-848-9391.

Knights of Columbus Council 1393 is looking for vendors for this 2^nd annual event being held on St. John parking lot from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Spaces (17’ by 20’) are $35 each or 2/$60. More space can be arranged if requested in advance. Spots are pre-paid and non-refundable. No rain date. For details contact Michael Dvorak at mak@dvorak.net, or Frederick Dvorak at 410-876-1292. Proceeds benefit St. John Catholic Church organizations.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR: The St. John Children’s Choir is seeking new members. Children going in to 5^th grade (and older) are welcome to join without an audition, and must be able to rehearse Monday nights in the church from 7-8 p.m. To join or for more details, call Jane Schmidt at 410-848-5365.

STITCHIN’ NOOK BOOTH NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: If you can do some knitting or sewing during the next few months for the Christmas Bazaar, call the Parish Center and leave your name and phone number. We will pay for the materials, or if you have any knitting or sewing materials you would like to donate, call the office. Christmas items, stockings, scarves, crochet items, baby items and other items that would be attractive for sale at the booth would be appreciated.

SEMINARIANS FROM ST. JOHN

The parish is pleased to announce that Joseph Langan, a core member of Life Teen, will be beginning his formation for priestly ministry. See Joe’s note below to the parishioners. Please keep Joe, as well as Chris Little, who is resuming his seminarian studies at Providence College, in your prayers. If you are interested in information about becoming a priest, please call the Vocation Office: Fr. Jerry Francik or Mr. Andrew Veviros at 410-547-5426.

Hello, my name is Joe Langan, and I would like to let you, my parish family, know that I have been accepted into the program of priestly formation for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. On August 30^th I will be starting as a college seminarian at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. I wanted to thank all of you for all you have done for me as I have grown up here at St. John. As I begin to consider more seriously the possibility of a call to the priesthood, I hope to carry with me all that you have already done to form me as a man of God. The discernment process is a hard one, and I may discover that God is not calling me to the priesthood after all. But I thank you, no matter what happens in the years to come, for your continued prayers and love. Pray for me that I may know God’s will for me and follow it with courage & faith. Thank you and God bless!

Joe Langan

Reminder! The next meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society will be on Wednesday, September 6^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Center. We look forward to seeing all of our members at this meeting. Since this is the first meeting of the Fall, it is a good time to learn more about our work. If you are interested in helping the poor, please join us at this meeting or call Patty Terrano at 410-857-1473. We’d love to see you there!

“SPEAK LORD, YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING”…Sat. Sept. 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg. A day committed to deepening your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Speakers include Fr. Jack Lombardi, Fr. Leo Patalinghug, Fr. Larry Adamczyk. Reconciliation, Mass, Benediction also. The cost is free with a donation to The Grotto. Bring a bag lunch. Sponsored by the Cursillo Movement of Baltimore. For further information or to register call Maureen Tomcala at 410-969-6308 or email mtomcala@cablespeed.com.

DEADLINE FOR BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS is 12:00 noon each Monday. All announcements and articles are requested in writing and can be sent via email to bulletin@sjwest.org or faxed 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.

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

HOW TO REGISTER at this PARISH: All new parishioners who wish to register at the parish are invited to receive a welcoming packet from either the parish office, ushers, school, Religious Education or Baptism Preparation Class. A Welcoming Session is held the last Sunday of each month from 10:30-11:00 a.m. At that time, interested parishioners can meet some of the parish priests and parishioners, hear about various programs, receive coupons for free Knights of Columbus breakfasts, and receive a more personal welcome into this very large and faith-filled parish.

PORTICO BOOKS + GIFTS: Cat's Meows have arrived! New products arriving weekly. Check out our special sale table and save big $$$.