Parish Bulletin

I thank you all for your consistent giving to the parish. Over the last few months, the contributions to the parish have not only been steady and consistent but has increased. Over the course of about 5 months, there have been 13 weeks where the collection has been over $30,000, that does not include the Easter collection of $78,000. What the weekly figure does not reflect is the amount collected electronically each month, which is nearly $7,000. Since the inception at the beginning of the year of the ‘5^th Sunday of the Month’ collection which goes entirely to the mortgage, the parish has collected over $25,000 which is basically one monthly mortgage payment. If we can keep that pace up over a year, three months of mortgage can be paid without draining the operating budget. I am so appreciative of your constant giving.

Because of your generosity, the parish has been able to care for the unexpected high price tag repairs on the HVAC system as well as develop the technology infra-structure of the parish.

PERPETUAL ADORATION UPDATE… At the end of May we will need someone for the following hours of Adoration: Wednesday from 2:00-3:00 p.m. and Thursday from 12-1:00 p.m. Anyone willing to come for Adoration at these times please call the parish office.

WE ASK YOUR PRAYERS for all who are homebound or in nursing homes and for all the sick, especially…Robert Knust, Viola Guiaguinto, David Bartell, Joseph Sosnowsky, Grace Fischer, Raymond Rolle, Lillian Putman, Erin Street, Fred Samuels, Kristina Blye, Cecilia Hinkel, Baby Karl Mack, Linda Carger, Joe Giordano, Ellwood Johnson, Dorothy Baranauskas, Mike Stitcher, Wendell Vollmer and Marilynn Rawland.

WE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE of Howard J. Kapfer, Jr. andMary Sorrentino Kuhn and for their families and friends.

BAPTISMS: Congratulations and welcome to Isabella Grace Bioblerhimer, daughter of Brittiany Pohlhaus and Michael Biblehimer, Jr. and Paul Herbert Henderson, son of Teresa and Herbert Henderson.

FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR THIS WEEKEND were donated by Dr. and Mrs. Sherrill Cheeks in memory of Sophia Curtis.

Stewardship

CAMPAIGN UPDATE:

Total Pledged: $ 7,473,807

Paid to Date: 6,833,037

Balance: $ 640,770

CARDINAL’S LENTEN APPEAL-THERE'S STILL TIME!!!

To date, we have received $84,273 toward our $124,400 goal! Thank you to all who have already donated. Please know that although Lent is over, we can still accept donations toward the $40,127 still needed to reach our parish goal, which is set by the Cardinal! You can still help us make it by placing your check made out to the Cardinal's Lenten Appeal and place it into the collection basket. Just be sure to mark ("St. John Church, Westminster, #3303”) in the memo line of your check, so that we can be assured credit when we send it down to the Archdiocese.

THANK YOU to all who contributed to the Fund for Education of the Seminarians. The total collected was $11,046.01.

May 21 – 7^th Gr. Field Trip Gettysburg –8:30-3:00 p.m.

May 22 – Dude Day & 2^nd Gr. Field Trip – Rose Hill Manor

May 23 – Gr. 8 Field Trip- Hershey Park –6 a.m.-7 p.m.

Gr. 1 Field Trip – Carroll County Farm Museum

May 24 – Kindergarten Sweet Dreams performance– gym

May 26 - All School Liturgy - 9:30 a.m. – church

May 28 - School Closed – Memorial Day

May 31 – 8^th Gr. Pictures – 6:30 pm. & Award Ceremony at 7 pm

SIGN UP TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL…Get on the bus with Box tops. and win 10,000 bonus Box Tops for our school. Go to www.boxtops4education.com/bus

INNISBROOK ON-GOING FUNDRAISER: Check out the website for gift giving ideas. The school receives 50% of all sales.

CONGRATULATIONS to our students who made their First Holy Communion last weekend. We pray these students and their families will always receive the Risen Lord and spread His love among all people.

Registration forms are at the doors of the church. We are still in need of teachers. Please call the Religious Ed Office if you can help.

REGISTRATION FORMS for 2007/2008 were sent bulk mail on Friday, May 11^th. If you do not receive your registration form, please call the Religious Ed office. If you are new to our program, stop by the Parish Center to pick up a registration form.

THE RELIGIOUS ED STAFF would like to THANK all of our volunteers who helped make this past year a success. We wish our students and families, our teachers, assistants, office helpers; hall monitors a very safe, relaxing summer. God Bless you all. See you in September!

Life Teen is a High School Youth Ministry that meets every 1st, 2nd and 4th Sunday at 7:15 p.m. in the Cafeteria. On the 3rd Sunday of each month we meet in the Portico at 7:15. Newcomers are welcome!

Sun., May 27 – Family Movie Night and Cookout: Celebrate Memorial Day Life Teen style: a big screen movie and food! Here’s the deal, you bring the blanket/lawn chair and your family. We bring the movie and the food! Why pay $10 to go to the movies when you can go for free!

Sun., June 3 – Pick ‘em Up! Friends rock don’t they? They’re always there to help you out. Friends rock so much, we’re doing a night all about them! Be sure you’re there to see the hysterical skit!

STEUBENVILLE PARENT MEETING CHANGED…New date is June 24^th after the 6 p.m.Mass in The Portico.^.

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.

Fri., May 25 – Twin Kiss Night – We will meet at the cafeteria at 7:30 p.m. and walk down the hill to Twin Kiss for ice cream! Start Memorial Day weekend off right by relaxing with your friends and laughing over a sundae, snowball, or even a milkshake! It’s your call, just be there! Parents are welcome to join us for ice cream too!

Sun., June 10^th – Family Night at the Orioles Game – That’s right, we are going to Baltimore! We have a whole section reserved for THE EDGE for the 1:35 p.m. game. We will meet at St. John’s at noon and take a bus to the stadium. Tickets will be on sale through Kate in the Religious Ed Office for $12.00 (includes transportation).We only have 50 tickets so get them while you can!

Fri.,June 22 – White Water Rafting day trip! More information to come…

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., June 15 – Twin Kiss Night – Meet in the cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. and then we will walk down the hill to Twin Kiss. Parents are welcome to join us if you like! Let’s enjoy some great summer treats together!

This weekend the Catholic War Veterans will be conducting their annual Cross of Peace Campaign. The assistance they receive from our parish during this campaign helps them to aid veterans of wars and their families, to carry on their work in military and veterans’ hospitals and to promote and carry on parish youth activities such as scholarships, basketball leagues, and the poster and essay contests, in which the pupils of our parish school participate. This year they are also aiding in the education of the seminarians.

All registered parishioners, aged 16 and older, are encouraged to complete one of the ballots in the bulletin this weekend and place it in one of the ballot boxes at the entry areas of the church by the conclusion of the 6:00 Mass on Sunday, May 20. We ask you to prayerfully consider the following candidates: Ralph Arnold, Dave Geiman, Jerry Hynson, Jack Lusby, Becky Martin, Jim O’Donnell, Demian Seeley, Lou Stachowiak and Christy Tenney. More detailed information on each candidate is posted in the entry areas of the church. Thank you.

The Carroll County Health department will be in the Portico to offer free blood pressure screenings from 10-12:30 p.m.

This newly formed, spiritually based ministry is for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Meeting in the Parish Center from 10:30– 12 noon. A continental breakfast is served. For more information call Janet Tenney 410-833-1542. No registration required.

Join us for Mass at noon, followed by lunch in the Portico. Our speaker for this month is Carol Ravenhorst of Carroll Community College, who will give a slide show on the “Glaciers of Alaska.” Bring your brown bag lunch. Desserts and beverages provided. New members are always welcome. Call Eleanor – 410-875-3336 or Bonnie – 410-795-0786.

With the recent violence at Virginia Tech and throughout the world, Fr. Joe will talk about “Where God is Today in our Society” and why bad things happen to good people. The talk begins at 7:00 p.m. at The Portico. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door or in advance. Light refreshments will be served. For tickets or more information, call Teresa @ 410-848-4744 x227.

New altar servers must attend 2 of the 3 training sessions and the

Active altar servers must attend 1 of the 3 sessions. Renewal information sheets need to be brought to the meetings. If you have any questions, call Jim Diggs at 410-346-6757.

Join St. John Roses for a leisurely afternoon of tea, scones, and more at the Portico. A certified plant designer will discuss how to design and plant a perennial garden. Cost: $15 per person. Time: 2-4 p.m. Tickets are limited. For reservations call Cathy Hoffman 410-840-3659 or Linda Nester 410-751-5258. Proceeds to benefit Head Start. Come “Bloom and Grow” with us.

Join the Wisdom Club for a trip to Charlestown Slots for a fun day! Cost is $36 and includes the bus and buffet. Deadline for payment is May 24^th. The bus leaves St. John parking lot (across from the church) at 9 a.m., returning at approximately 5 p.m. For more info contact Maureen Fugate at 410-840-4676.

The next blood drive will be from 2- 8 p.m. at The Portico. We will be entering our 33^rd year! We are in need of phone callers, due to moving, personal issues, etc. If you can help call Ted Cook at 410-876-2107. Please give the gift of life—DONATE!!

Mark your calendar now for St. John’s Annual Golf Tournament to be held at the much-improved Bear Creek Golf Club in Westminster. Cost per golfer is $80.00 ($100 after July 22) and includes all fees, food, beverages and trophies. Shot gun start at 1:00 p.m. Hole sponsors and door prizes are needed. For details call John Stephens 410-848-3722 or Dean Ditman 410-875-4221.

ST. JOHN COOKBOOK- St. John Roses (Ladies Auxiliary of KofC) is collecting favorite recipes for a cookbook to be published in October. Submit no more than 3 of your favorite recipes by going to www.fundcraft.com (Enter Web ID: 23995-06DJ) OR print/type on forms available in the narthex of the church, parish center or the bulletin insert. Mail to Christine Mort, 357 Winged Foot Dr.,Westminster,MD 21158. One recipe per form, please.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED…Adults and older teens are welcome to join this ministry. Service hours can be given to teen volunteers. If you can help one Sunday a month call Nancy at 410-876-2173 for details.

The Legion of Mary will conduct the ceremony of enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the homes of St. John parishioners. To enthrone a home is an act of adoration that publicly declares Him as Lord of the Household. Call Bob Kehler at 410-857-1782 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Student artworks will be on display for the next several weeks in the community gallery of the Carroll County Arts Center on West Main Street. Call 410-871-9590 for more information.

BLESSINGS CLOSET … During the month of May, St. Vincent de Paul is asking for your help to assist us in supporting the Shepherd’s Staff Blessing Closet for the needy in our area. The following items are needed and can be dropped in the baskets at the doors of the church: bath tissue, shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, paper towels, napkins, tissues, all purpose cleaners, trash bags, feminine supplies, baby care items, light bulbs and liquid food supplements. Thank you for caring.

The Good News Jail and Prison Ministry of Carroll County invites you to play in its annual tournament from 1-7 p.m. at Challedon Golf Course, in Mt. Airy, beginning with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Cost is $115 per golfer and includes green fees, cart, lunch, snacks, water, sodas, dinner and a chance to win $50,000 in a hole-in-one shootout. This ministry provides Christian Chaplains to jails and prisons around the world, breaking the cycle of crime, one life at a time. Call Bruce Otto at 410-299-1910 for more details.

DELONE CLASS OF 1982 REUNION…We are planning our 25^th class reunion this year and are updating our class directory and are asking anyone who has not yet been contacted by a class member to contact Kim Dubs-Kenworthy at bnkken@earthlink.net

Listed below are dates, times and places for upcoming STAND training in the Carroll, Frederick and Washington County areas:

Call 301-695-8845

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School announces an application workshop for prospective students from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the school. Eighth-grade students and their parents or guardians are invited to the workshop where Cristo Rey Jesuit staff will assist them in completing applications for entry into the high school’s inaugural freshman class. Bilingual staff will be available to assist Spanish-speaking families. Cristo Rey Jesuit is located at 420 South Chester Street in Baltimore. For more information or to register for the workshop, please call 410-727-3255, ext. 1003.

Catholic Engaged Encounter is an international program committed to preparing couples for the sacrament of marriage. Engaged couples attend a weekend retreat that fosters openness and communication through a series of presentations, private reflection and dialog time. Catholic Engaged Encounter is an approved marriage preparation program within the Baltimore Archdiocese. Below is a list of upcoming retreat dates during 2007. June 1-3; July 20-22; Aug 10-12; Sept 14-16; Nov 9-11; Dec 7-9. For more information or to register for a weekend, please visit our website at www.mdcee.org or call 410-439-4217.

All are invited to a Memorial Mass for Father John Delclos, with many of his family in attendance, to be celebrated at St. Bernardine Roman Catholic Church, 3812 Edmondson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21229 at 11:30 a.m. There will be food and fellowship in the hall after Mass. All are welcome. For additional information please contact: St. Bernardine's at 410-362-8664.

Calvert Hall will once again offer a coeducational summer school program that includes enrichment courses for students in the 7^th through 9^th grades in Reading, Study Skills, Composition, Math, English Review and Intro to Algebra. Remedial courses for students completing grades 9 through 12 are also offered. Additionally, camps in baseball, basketball and water polo are offered. For a brochure or more info, call 410-825-4266 or visit on line at www.calverthall.com

May 28- June 2 – Parish Carnival

June 9, 15 & 16 – Pre-Cana – Session 2

June 10 - Garden Tea Party – 2-4 p.m. – Portico

THANK YOU: This bulletin is furnished to the Parish without charge. The advertisements that appear completely defray all publishing costs with which the church would otherwise be burdened. We encourage you to patronize our continuing sponsors and those that are new this year as a thank you for their kind generosity.

THE PORTICO BOOKS + GIFTS… Check out our Catholic books and find books on topics such as Catechist Faith Formation books, Prayer Books, Catholic Bibles, Saints Books, Books on Church History, Catholic Family Books to help your family grow in the Catholic faith, Catholic Books for Teenagers, Children's books and much more! Save 10% on all purchases over $95.00 through June 3.

Stewardship

CARDINAL’S LENTEN APPEAL-THERE'S STILL TIME!!!

Sun., May 27 – Family Movie Night and Cookout: Celebrate Memorial Day Life Teen style: a big screen movie and food! Here’s the deal, you bring the blanket/lawn chair and your family. We bring the movie and the food! Why pay $10 to go to the movies when you can go for free!

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED…Adults and older teens are welcome to join this ministry. Service hours can be given to teen volunteers. If you can help one Sunday a month call Nancy at 410-876-2173 for details.

Call 301-695-8845

May 28- June 2 – Parish Carnival

June 9, 15 & 16 – Pre-Cana – Session 2

June 10 - Garden Tea Party – 2-4 p.m. – Portico