Parish Bulletin

I extend, on behalf of all parishioners, a warm thanks to Jeanne Link and Kelly Hollenbaugh and the entire staff and cast of the Three Marys for the fine production last weekend. The production included people of all ages, ‘showcasing the talented people of our community’ (excerpt from program booklet). It was obvious that a lot of hours of commitment went into the production. There are many ways to preach the gospel: from a pulpit, in a classroom and on a stage, to name a few. The production furthers the evangelization efforts of the parish.

The parish center’s front door will become inaccessible the week of November 6th so the planned handicap ramp can be installed. The parish designated a portion of the annual Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal rebate to finance this project. Having the front door closed does create some logistic challenges for the many activities in the parish center. During normal business hours, the side door along the driveway will be the entrance. A temporary doorbell will be installed to allow access. A more significant challenge is access to the perpetual adoration chapel, since the keypad is at the front door. It is being contemplated, but not yet fully determined, that while the front door is inaccessible and there would be no access at the side door for the night adorers, to suspend the perpetual adoration for the week so that the repairs to the HVAC and lighting systems in the chapel can be conducted—a task difficult to maintain while the chapel is in use. I realize that while the chapel holds a special place in people’s hearts, the suspension is to allow more access to the chapel for those not able to get into the building as well as caring for the chapel itself. If it is determined that use of the chapel will be suspended during the construction and repair, the church will be open daily for private devotion after daily mass until 5 pm, so that those who are typically scheduled for the daytime adoration hours will have a place to pray. More information will be forthcoming about the ramp and access to the center as the details are made known to us from the builder. You are welcome to call me if you have any concerns about construction of the ramp and access to the building.

This week, if all goes as planned, each registered parishioner will receive the Parish Annual Report which outlines the parish finances, while highlighting the many contributions people make by way of their time and their gift of service. Next weekend, parishioners will speak at all the Masses, highlighting some of the information and encouraging all to discern how best they can share their time, gifts and financial resources to the parish.

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.

ALL SAINTS DAY MASSES… Wed., November, 1 (a holy day of obligation) Masses are at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31st (Vigil Mass) and Wednesday, November 1^st at 7:00 & 9:30 a.m., 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m.

If a member of your family has died since Nov. 1^st of last year and was not buried from St. John Church, please call the parish office to have their name added to a list of names to be read at this Mass.

All Souls Intention envelopes are available in the back of the church and should be returned to the parish office by October 30^th.

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

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

WE PRAY for the REPOSE of John Cunzeman, Francis Klunk, Mary Rothenburg, Lillian Umstead and Margaret Cook and for their families and friends.

BAPTISMS: Congratulations and welcome to William Richard Fehle, son of Stacy and Michael Fehle; Tyler Virginia Havelin, daughter of Stephanie and Eric Havelin; Anna Lauren Sompayrac, daughter of Maren Souter and William Sompayrac; and Rocco Peter Simonello, son of Andrea and Peter Simonello.

This year’s budget is based on a weekly offering of $30,700.00. Our current weekly average is $27,566.47.

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.

Each year at this time, we reflect upon how grateful we are for God’s generous blessings and we renew our commitment to give generously of ourselves as a way to express our love for God and for others. Soon, volunteer parishioners will reflect upon their personal response to stewardship at each of our Masses, and will invite you and your family to consider becoming more involved in our parish as well. Your gift of time can be a source of great blessing to both our parish and to your families. Thank you to all who continue to volunteer on behalf of our parish. We invite everyone to join us and share your gifts with those in need!

School Calendar

Oct. 29 – Day light savings time ends

Oct. 30 – Order forms for Holy bears due back

Oct. 31 - Holloween

Nov. 1 - Feast of All Saints – 9:30 a.m. Liturgy

Nov. 2 - All Souls Day – 12:15 dismissal

Nov. 3 - First Friday – 9:30 a.m. Liturgy

Nov. 7 – School closed – Election Day

The school is 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. 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.

NOTICE: Religious Education classes are cancelled for Tuesday, October 31^st. A notice went home last week with the children to let parents know of this change in schedule.

REMINDER: Home Study meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 1^st at 6:45 p.m.

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, Nov. 14 and Thursday, Nov.16. Both meetings will be held in The Portico. Confirmation classes begin Dec. 5^th and 7^th.

— LIFE TEEN (Grades 9 -12) —

Sun., Nov. 5 – It’s Coffee House time! Join us after the 6 p.m. Mass in the school cafeteria to hang out, share a cup of coffee or listen to some great music and grow deeper in your faith.

Sat., Nov. 11 – A Life Teen Concert by local Christian rappers, Fresh Digress! Doors open at 6:30 - concert starts at 7 p.m. in the school gym. For details call Kenn at 410-848-8443.

Life Teen is looking to fill our 2^nd bus!! We leave St. John at 6:00 a.m. and arrive in Manhattan around 10:00 a.m. & leave New York at 6 p.m. The day is yours to do what you want. The cost is $55.00 per person. Call Paul at 410-848-8443 to register.

Time for our annual winter retreat. Cost is $80 if you register on or before Dec. 3—after that date the cost is $95 – so register now!

SAVE YOUR OLD CELL PHONES FOR LIFE TEEN: We will be collecting old cell phones the weekends of Nov. 4-5 & 11-12th at the doors of the Church as a project to help fund our trip to Italy next year.

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!

Fri., Nov. 24 – Jesus and Giving Thanks – Grab it, buy it, bag it, bring it (non-perishables that is) to our Fall Food Drive. More information will be distributed when we meet on the 12^th.

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., Nov. 17 – Thanksgiving Food Drive – We sure do have a lot to be thankful for don’t we? There are many people who go without food to eat everyday. Come bring your food donations and learn a little bit about what we can do to serve God’s community.

Fri., Dec. 1- Cookie Bake Off – I sure hope you all can cook! Bring your friends to this cookie dough-making extravaganza. You’ll have a ball (of dough to take home that is…)!

Activities in Our Parish

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 have begun our gift-wrapping project for shut-ins on Mondays and will continue each Monday from 9-12 p.m. until Christmas. If you can help out, join us on any Monday.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR RELIEF EFFORT: One week of service to help build homes for those who lost their homes to hurricanes on the Gulf Coast. St. John’s & IOCC are partnering for this project. Call Fran Rock at 410-876-1795 for more information.

Sunday, October 29: All parishioners are invited to celebrate the birthdays of our spiritually adopted unborn babies by joining us for desserts, drinks and games in The Portico on Sunday, October 29, following the 9:15 and 11:15 Masses. You are welcome to bring a gift for a newborn baby and/or make a monetary donation to assist the St. John Gabriel Project. Checks may be made payable to St. John Church/Gabriel Project. Thank you for your prayers for God's precious children! Call 410-848-9391 for more information.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta once said that abortion could be eliminated from our country if enough families gathered once a week at their parish for a holy hour of prayer. In this Respect Life month, we invite your whole family to a "Be Not Afraid Family Hour". It will include a video with Francis Cardinal Arinze and a dramatized rosary. We will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Sundays beginning October 29th in the Marian Room in the Parish Center. Come help make Mother Teresa's vision a reality!

This is an important planning meeting for all parishioners interested in life issues. Meeting to be held at 8:00 p.m. after the 7:00 p.m. Mass in the Marian Room of the Parish Center. The Respect Life Committee thanks all parishioners who signed the letter to Gov. Ehrlich requesting funds for pregnancy center assistance. A total of 381 letters were signed and mailed to the Governor for his consideration.

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.

Join the Knights of Columbus at The Portico for our breakfast of pancakes, French toast, eggs and more from 8-11:30 a.m. Adults - $5 and children $3. The Knight will also have Christmas cards for sale at the breakfast. We appreciate your continued support.

World Vision is an ecumenical organization that tends to the immediate needs and future self-sufficiency of children around the world. Following all masses on the weekend of Nov. 4^thand 5^th, representatives of World Vision will distribute information concerning sponsorship of individual children in Spanish-speaking countries. Sponsors develop personal relationships with the children through regular correspondence and progress reports. This event is offered on behalf of our Hispanic Ministry and will be hosted by Father Tadeusz Mich, one of the celebrants of the Spanish Mass at St. John.

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.

For those who have suffered the loss of a child, a candlelight Mass will be celebrated in their memory at 7:00 p.m. A light reception will follow in The Portico. Since the Mass is personalized with the names of the children, registration is necessary. To register, please call Beverly Backof at 410-876-6275 (evenings) or email to bbackof@hotmail.com. Please leave a message and your call will be returned promptly.

FALL MEN & WOMEN’S COMMUNION BREAKFAST: Filiae Mariae is sponsoring a fall breakfast on Sunday, Nov. 19^th in The Portico, immediately following the 9:15a.m. Mass. Our guest speaker Raymond De Souza will be speaking on Jesus: The Real Presence in the Eucharist. Tickets are $15.00 and are available in The Portico Bookstore and Parish Center. This is a wonderful opportunity for our ENTIRE parish family to come together in prayer and fellowship in honor of our Eucharistic Lord. For details call Theresa Greene 410-876-9578 or Dawn Walsh 410-876-0250.

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!

50/50 RAFFLE – MINIMUM $2,000: Please return sold or unused raffle tickets to the school, parish center or portico. Drawing Dec. 2^nd at 4 p.m. For more information or additional tickets contact Jim Diggs at 410-346-6576 or email diggsit@aol.com

St. Vincent de Paul - Adopt A Family Program - Even though it is still autumn, our thoughts are turning to the Lord’s Birthday and the Adopt A Family Program. If you are interested in helping an entire family, please call the St. Vincent de Paul office at 410-848-8693, leave your name and number and you will be contacted about the next step.

MT. ST. JOSEPH OPEN HOUSE… Sunday, Nov. 5

An open house for prospective students and their families is being held from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Open house includes tours, exhibits and refreshments. For details call 410-644-3300.

Annual open house will be from 12-3 p.m. All students and their families, particularly those in the 6, 7 & 8 grades of both private and public schools are invited to discover the Delone difference. Call 717-637-5969 for more information.

Couples who make Marriage Encounter weekends rediscover the joy, intimacy and romance in their relationships. Call 1-877-558-5683 or visit www.me.net

An open house for perspective students and families will be held from 10-4 p.m. There will be three convenient presentations at 12:10, 1:20 or 2:30 p.m. Individual tours of the campus will follow as well as a chance to meet the teachers.

Fr. Leo (class of ’88) and Kevin Keeley (class of ’89) invite you to join them for this event. Cost is $29 per person. Reconnect with your classmates and reminisce and discuss ways to inspire current MSJ students through our faith and experiences to inspire their own future challenges and aspirations. For more details, call Fr. Leo at the parish center or Kevin Keeley at 410-840-0188.

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. Call 410-848-6100.