Parish Bulletin

For several years the opening salutation of this letter was usually followed by a thank you for your continued prayers and support, an appreciative acknowledgment of the ministry that is taking place in our parish and an invitation for you to renew your commitment to ongoing and faithful stewardship. This note is intended to be a little more personal. I would prefer to address each of you individually, if it were possible, and express my profound and humble thanks for your prayers, support and affirmation.

The original purpose of my planned sabbatical last spring was: time for prayer, rest and ongoing theological education. Following the diagnose of leukemia, I have had the unique blessings of learning to appreciate how fortunate I am to be a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, to be the pastor of St. John's Westminster and to have family, friends and parishioners (past and present) who have loved me and are here for me. I thank God for the gift of faith and the nourishment of the Holy Eucharist.

The first week since the bone marrow transplant has followed the expectations of the doctors. Sometime around the beginning of the new year we will have a better idea of the possible success of the procedure. I am being treated, almost daily, in the IPOP (In-Patient/Out Patient) Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital. In the meantime, you remain in my daily prayers and especially in my daily Mass. Your continued prayers are deeply appreciated. I know that I could not respond to or deal with the challenges without your prayers. Thank you so much!

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.

PERPETUAL ADORATION UPDATE! The following hours have only one scheduled adorer, but we would like to have at least two for each hour:

Sundays – 2, 4, 6, & 8 a.m.; and 12,1,2,3,4,5,7,8 & 11 p.m.; Mondays – 1, 2 & 6 a.m.; and 12, 4, 6,10 & 11 p.m.

An anointing with Holy and Healing Oils will take place at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, October 14^th and after the 11:15 Mass on Sunday, October 15^th. Those who should receive this Sacrament at our annual masses of anointing include: Those with a chronic illness which affects day to day life; those elderly persons who are experiencing diminishing health; those who are experiencing a mental or emotional illness; those who have received a diagnosis of a serious health issue; those anticipating a serious surgery; women who are pregnant.

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

BAPTISMS: Congratulations and welcome to Kevin John Abel, son of Gina and John Abel; Andrew John Chirillo, son of Dana and Brandon Chirillo; Sarah Anna Dreistadt, daughter of Lesley and Richard Dreistadt; Genevieve Kristine Goldstein, daughter of Stacy and Craig Goldstein; Elizabeth McKenna Grocki, daughter of Mary and Jamie Grocki; and Matthew George Leimbach, son of Tina and Richard Leimbach.

FLOWERS on the ALTAR this WEEKEND are in memory of Valerie Jean Allen and were donated by her loving family.

This year’s budget is based on a weekly offering of $30,700.00. Our current weekly average is $27,866.47.

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.

School Calendar

Oct. 13 – Liturgy @ 9:30 a.m.

Oct. 16 – 19 - Standardized testing – Grade 8

Oct. 16 – STAND Training – 7 p.m. Computer Lab

Oct. 20 – SCHOOL CLOSED – Professional Day

The school is now also participating in the grocery bonus programs for Giant, Martin’s and Safeway. Forms for this program are located at the entrances of the church. Please take a flyer for the appropriate store and fill out the information requested. You can place the forms in the collection basket or drop them off at school during the week. Any questions, call Darlene at 410-876-7031 or 410-848-1508.

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.

GROCERY CERTIFICATES PROGRAMS: 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 as well as the Portico Book + Gifts Store.

RCIA: Although RCIA has already started, we still have room for more! If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Catholic Church, please contact Paul in the Religious Ed. Office. RCIA will meet weekly each Sunday morning from 9:30-11:30 am until Easter.

REMINDER: The Mass of Recognition for those students and their families preparing for Reconciliation and Eucharist will be held on Saturday, October 21 OR Saturday, October 28 at the 5:00 p.m. Mass. There will not be assigned seating. The children will sit with their families.

CONFIRMATION: Everyone who has registered in our Confirmation Program should have received a letter outlining our upcoming parent meetings. If you did not receive a letter, contact the Religious Ed Office. Parent meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14 and Thursday, November 16. Both meetings will be held in The Portico. Confirmation classes begin December 5^th and 7^th.

FUNDRAISER FOR RELIGIOUS ED… Oct. 10-26

We are having a Yankee Candle fundraiser. Do your Christmas shopping early--great selection of gifts for you or others–select from the brochure. Call Religious Ed for more information.

— LIFE TEEN (Grades 9 -12) —

Service Projects Update: Thank you to everyone who signed up to help our brothers and sisters in Westminster! The final details of the projects are being ironed out. We will be in touch in the next two weeks with everyone who signed up.

SAVE YOUR OLD CELL PHONES FOR LIFE TEEN: We will be collecting old cell phones in October as a project to help fund our trip to Italy next year. Watch the bulletin for more details.

Sunday, October 15: Do you remember reading Where the Wild Things Are as a kid? If you loved that book, then chances are you are going to love this night! As a bonus, we’ll be doing our first drawing for some great prizes!

Sunday, October 22: Dis-stress - Feeling stressed out? Who isn’t at this time of year? When ships are under stress on the open ocean, they let out a distress signal to get help. When we’re under stress in our lives, we need to dis-stress ourselves to get help. Join us this evening as we look at ways to minimize our stress and play some really fun games to relieve any stress we have built up.

Life Teen is heading back to the Big Apple and everyone’s invited! The bus will leave St. John at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9^th and arrive in Manhattan around 10:00 a.m. The day is yours to do what you want. We leave for Westminster around 6:00 p.m. and arrive back around 10 p.m. The cost is $55.00 per person. To sign up call Paul at 410-848-8443. This trip ALWAYS sells out, so get your money in as soon as you can.

— THE EDGE (Grades 6, 7 & 8) —

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 6^th , 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!

NOTICE: The Collect All Four Extravaganza has begun! Come to all four EDGE events (noted with an *) and win a Blockbuster gift card instantly!! Everyone who attends all four events (*) will also be entered in a drawing for an IPOD Shuffle! You don’t want to miss this opportunity! Bring all of your friends!!

*Oct. 28-29 – Fall Retreat – “A Game Plan for Life”- Deadline for registration is October 20^th. Must register by October 1^st and requires a liability form. Call Kate for more details.

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., Oct. 20 – What’s in a Pumpkin? It’s more than seeds and slime! Join us for some fun-filled pumpkin madness!

Fri., Nov. 3 – Fall Family Dinner – A change in plans. We encourage everyone to go with your family to the annual spaghetti dinner at The Portico. See you there!

Activities in Our Parish

The summer has taken its toll on the air conditioning units around the parish. You might have noticed the bright orange construction fence in the back of the church. We are replacing the refrigerant lines for the air conditioner. During the summer one of the underground lines started to leak and we have only been running on half the unit. This repair should be completed within the next two weeks at a cost of about $45,000. We also lost one of the five heat pumps on the new portion of the school. That unit was about 15 years old and has to be replaced at a cost of $16,000. The unit should be up and running in about 10 days.

OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH: The pink and blue crosses at the Monroe Street entrance and 140/Sullivan Road are a poignant reminder of the thousands of babies who lose their lives daily as a result of abortion. Please pray for the unborn and their mothers. God is merciful!

KNOTT SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS announce the availability of four-year, full tuition scholarships. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic achievement. Catholic students now in Grade 4 or Grade 8, living in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore,Carroll,Frederick,Harford or Howard counties may apply. These scholarships may be used to attend a Catholic parish elementary school or a Catholic high school within these geographic areas of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. A flyer/application request form describing eligibility requirements and deadlines for applying may be obtained from the web site: www.knottscholar.org or by sending a stamped, self-addressed, #10 envelope to the following address: Knott Scholarship Funds, P. O. Box 9489, Silver Spring, MD 20916-9489. For further information call 877-603-9980.

ST. JOHN LECTOR MINISTRY: Are you interested in proclaiming Our Lord’s word to our church congregation? Do you feel that you have the ability to speak before others during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? If so, please obtain the green lector ministry sign-up form located at the exits of the church, complete the front side and place it in the collection basket during Mass or return it to the Parish Center. For any questions, contact Bob Andrews @ 410-876-9151 or robertandrews@adelphia.net.

Donations of the following items are needed for our communion call shut-ins: band aids, Kleenex (boxes & pocket size), dish detergent (small) dish cloths, dish towels, pot holders, scotch tape, post-it-notes, hand cream, wet wipes, shampoo, socks, napkins, Vaseline, disinfectant hand soap, Chap stick, pens and paper towels. Please drop off donations at the Parish Center.

We will begin our gift-wrapping project for shut-ins on Oct. 16 from 9-to 12:00 p.m. and continue each Monday until Christmas. Anyone interested in having fun while preparing gifts for the needy is welcome to join us.

We will be offering STAND training at St. John School at 7:00 p.m. in the Computer Lab.

in the Parish Center. You need only attend one of these meetings. Call Jim Diggs at 410-346-6576 if you cannot attend.

Members will meet for a day of prayer, meditation and reflection from 9-3 pm at Bon Secours Retreat House in Marriottsville. Our moderator will be Fr. Patrick. The price is $22.00 and includes lunch. Transportation is by private automobile. Non-members are welcome. For details call Irene at 410-848-0489.

Three Mary’s Musical: Great Family event, Oct.20,21,22. This is the last time it will be performed. Carroll Community College, tickets at the door. Benefits St. John Youth Activities. Special student prices: $10 (15 and under) Call Jeanne at 410-876-3784.

We will hold this after the 8:00 a.m. Mass beginning with a continental breakfast in the Portico. All members are encouraged to attend. Anyone interested in Health Care Ministry is welcome.

Join us at The Portico from 4-8 p.m. for a delicious meal and wonderful desserts. The cost at the door is $28 per family (immediate family only), $9 per adult, $5 for children (ages 4-12) and children under 3 are admitted free. For more information or to volunteer, contact Carolyn Drumgoole at 410-833-7207 or email: drum2000@adelphia.net.

PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING…Mon., Nov. 6

The next meeting of St. John Pastoral Council will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Emmaus Room of the Parish Center. Feel free to come to the meeting and bring your concerns. Call Jeannie Carbo at 410-840-8205 or email at loves2sing514@hotmail.com

Tickets are $40 per person and are available at the Parish Center and at the Portico Bookstore. Proceeds benefit St. John Church. For more information call the Parish Center at 410-848-4744 or Anna at 410-876-2652.

CAKE DONATIONS NEEDED FOR BULL ROAST: If you can help out by baking a cake for our cake wheel, contact Marge Matulonis at 410-848-9143.

We are taking our annual trip to Allenberry Dinner Theater for their great Christmas show. We will leave St. John Church by bus at 9:30 a.m. and return about 6:00 p.m. The cost of the trip is $66.00 and includes bus transportation, buffet luncheon and the show. Call Maureen at 410-840-4676 to make reservations. Money is needed by October 26^th. Come with us and join the fun!

DONATION CONNECTION: The Gabriel Project is in need of furniture, clothing, children’s items, etc., on an as needed basis for families in need. We currently need twin beds, bedding and dressers. If you or anyone you know has the item to donate, we will make arrangements to pick it up. Call Lynn Pavlock at 410-871-0813.

50/50 RAFFLE – MINIMUM $2,000: Each family will be receiving 6 tickets in the mail the last week of October for our 50/50 raffle. Drawing to be held at the Bazaar on Sat., Dec. 2. Return envelopes will be included with the mailing. PLEASE HELP US AND SUPPORT THE RAFFLE. Monetary donations can also be sent with the return envelope.

STUFFED ANIMALS: We need new or clean used stuffed animals, dolls, doll clothes and other stuffed toys. Any questions, please call Cathy Hoos at 410-876-2442.

STITCHIN’ NOOK BOOTH NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: If anyone would like to donate their time and talent by sewing for the stitching booth, donate craft items or volunteer to work the day of the bazaar, please call Jeanne Gill at 410-596-6280.

RELIGIOUS ARTICLES: Check your attics, basements, closets, etc. for used and new religious articles/rosaries, pictures, bibles, statues, medals, prayer cards, etc. for our 2007 Christmas Bazaar. For information call Nina at 410-635.6422.

THE MARKET PLACE is now accepting useable donations of small furniture, lamps, pictures, linens, toys, games, household items (NO CLOTHES OR SHOES) on Tuesday and Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the school basement until November 21. Call Regina Sell at 410-876-6170.

ANGELS MINI MALLS – Adult & youth volunteers needed. Service hours awarded. We need donations of new or slightly used trinkets, knick-knacks, gadgets, small gift items, jewelry, jewelry boxes, soaps, scented candles, lotions, books, small toys, just about anything (especially gifts for men). Please mark your donation. Your generosity provides our “Little Angels” (children 12 & under) the thrill of purchasing the gift of their choice for their loved ones. NO ADULTS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE MINI MALL. Call Christine Myers to volunteer or if you have any questions 410-876-5627.

To all St. Vincent de Paul Members: There will be an office procedure workshop in the Parish Center on Monday, October 16^th after 8:00 a.m. Mass. Refreshments at 8:30 a.m., meeting begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. Call the office if you have questions.

Delone Catholic High will host its annual open house from 12-3 We invite all students and their families, particularly those in the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades of both private and public schools to discover the Delone difference. Call 717-637-5969 for more information.

The Gabriel Project celebrates its 10^th anniversary with a convention at the Ten Oaks Conference Center in Clarksville from 9-4. Clergy, religious and laity will have an opportunity to get a first hand account of how effective this ministry works for women in a crisis pregnancy from the people who are house directors, parish coordinators, angel moms, volunteers, staff, and some of the moms who have been helped and will share how this ministry has had a positive impact on their lives. The cost is $10 and includes breakfast, lunch and all the materials. Registration forms are available thru Jacqueline Johnson @clients@gabrielproject.org or call 410-741-1228. Deadline for registration is October 24^th.

A substance abuse awareness program sponsored by Carroll County Commissioners and hosted by Junction, Inc. at Carroll County Office Bldg., 225 N. Center Street, Room 003. Program begins at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments, information booths, Q&A session, and community service hours. For info call 410-848-6100.