Parish Bulletin

Hopefully many of you will be able to join us in thanking Father Leo for his ministry to our parish following the 11:15 Mass next Sunday, July 22. The reception will take place in the Portico. After five years of faithful and dedicated service, Father Leo will conclude his assignment at St. John's by celebrating the 11:15 Mass. I am deeply grateful to Father Leo for his priestly witness, fidelity to the Church and service to God's people. Although he will be missed, his new assignment as Director of Field Placement at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary is both recognition of his talent in working with seminarians and affirmation of his priestly ministry. He can be assured of our continued prayers and of a warm welcome whenever he is Westminster.

I invite you to join me in extending a welcome to Father Patrick Peach as he begins his new assignment at St. John's. Some of you may remember Father Patrick when he enjoyed a summer assignment with us after his second year of studies at the North American College in Rome. He was a deacon in Rome while I was on my sabbatical, and was very helpful and supportive during my time in the hospital. Father Patrick will begin his ministry in our parish this month. It is a pleasure to welcome Father Patrick to his first parish assignment.

At this point in time, we are in the process of planning a parish reception to thank Father Patrick Carrion for his outstanding work as parish administrator. Once a date and time can be coordinated with his new schedule, an announcement will be made in the bulletin.

A NOTE FROM FR. PATRICK CARRION…Thank you for the privilege of ministering here at St. John Parish. I appreciate the support and cooperation you gave to me as you supported the parish through two administrators.

I have been asked by the Archdiocese to serve St. Ignatius Loyola in Frederick County as Administrator, as its pastor is on medical leave. Please keep me in your prayers. I look forward to moments when our paths cross once again.

PERPETUAL ADORATION UPDATE…The following afternoon and evening hours has only one scheduled Adorer. Please call the parish office if you are willing to come for Adoration during one of these hours:

WE ASK YOUR PRAYERS for all who are homebound or in nursing homes and for all the sick, especially…Julia Ford, Marie Isaac, Kristina Blye, Phyllis Speelman, Bud Rickell, Ann Dembeck, Mary Carland, William Dembeck, Cathy Porter, Agnes Shifflett, Mary Ann Borowski, Vernon Miller, Jr., and Baby Nathan Boner.

BAPTISMS: Congratulations and welcome to Alan Aguirre, son of Lynn Yem and Dennis Aguirre; and Rachel Anne Shockney, daughter of Lisa and Nicholas Shockney.

WE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE of Stephanie Rooney and Chester Bower and for their families and friends.

Banns of marriage: The Banns of Marriage are published at the request of Holy Angels Parish in Plaistow, NH where Whitney Poole and Scott Mauriello of St. John Parish will be married

Stewardship

CAMPAIGN UPDATE:

Total Pledged: $ 7,478,807

Paid to Date: 6,845,534

Balance $ 633,273

SUMMER BENEFIT: Over past years, 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 in last week’s mailing, please pick up a Summer Benefit envelope at the doors of the church or in the parish office, or mail your contribution to St. John Church, attention “Summer Benefit.” Thank you for your generosity to your parish.

LENTEN APPEAL OPPORTUNITY! Congratulations St. John Parishioners!! – We have moved up another percentage point to 73% of the way toward reaching our Lenten Appeal parish goal of $124,400! We have reached over $90,000! Help us come even closer to our goal by prayerfully considering a gift to the Lenten Appeal today! With your support, we are inching steadily toward our goal and your family can make it happen! Thanks for your support of those in need through the Lenten Appeal!

TEST SCORES AVAILABLE…Students who were in grades 3-7 in the 2006-07 school year took standardized test in April. These test scores have arrived, and parent reports of scores may be picked up in the school office on any Wednesday morning from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Confirmation students: Parents of all incoming 8th graders should have received a letter regarding our parish's Confirmation Program. If you have a student who will be in the 8th grade this fall and didn't receive this important letter, call Barbara Maranto in the Religious Ed. Office, 410-848-8443.

The school will also be conducting STAND training for anyone involved in any of St. John ministries on the following dates:

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 – St. Matthew Rm. 7-9 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.

The school participates in the grocery bonus programs for Giant, Martin’s and Safeway. Forms are located at the entrances of the Church. Take a flyer for the appropriate store and fill out the information requested. Forms can be placed in the collection basket or dropped off at school . Call Darlene at 410-876-7031.

ST. JOHN GIFT CARD PROGRAM: Thank you for your support of the grocery and department store gift card program. Since the beginning of the school year $213,000 in gift cards have been purchased, for a profit of $10,650. We hope the momentum will continue throughout the summer. During the summer gift cards are available for purchase every Wednesday in the school office, the 1^st and 3^rd “Hospitality Sundays” at the Portico or by calling the parish office.

ARE ALL YOUR CHILDREN REGISTERED at ST. JOHN? If you have young children who were baptized at a parish other than St. John since registering here, or have a child baptized at another location in the future, please be certain they are represented within your family records at St. John by notifying the parish office. This information will be important as they grow up in the parish, and in their enrollment in St. John School or in Religious Education classes.

SPECIAL ED TEACHER NEEDED for Religious Ed classes held on Thursdays from 4:30-5:15 p.m. beginning in Sept. If you are able to volunteer for this special needs class, call our office.

Religious Ed will be conducting STAND training for any person involved with any of St. John ministries. The following dates have been confirmed for training:

HOMESCHOOL PARENTS: If you have a child who will be preparing for a Reconciliation and Eucharist this year, please call the Religious Education Office for a registration form. Your child will not have to come to classes, but you MUST be part of our Immediate Catechesis Program (attend parent meetings, special Mass, etc). You will be given an information sheet when all the details for Immediate Catechesis have been finalized. If you have any questions, please call Ruth in the Religious Education Office.

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 p.m. Newcomers are welcome!

Join us for a night of hanging out as we walk down the hill to Twin Kiss! Make sure you bring $5 for Ice Cream!

Life Teen is headed to Hershey Park for the day! Ride your old favorites plus, check out the newest section of the park entitled “The Boardwalk.” The cost of the trip is $30. Seating is limited—so call Kenn to sign up today!

6 PM Mass Lectors Needed: If you have a desire to serve your Church by reading at Mass call Kenn at 410-848-8443!

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.

Friday, July 27 – 4 Seasons Golf and POOL Party! Sign up for a great time. We will have an open pool and mini golf party from 6-8 p.m. Only $12 for this event! Call for more info.

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 Paul for details.

Fri., July 20 – H2Olympics – Is the summer heat getting to you yet? Join us as we cool off the Youth Alive way!

Fri., Aug 3 – 4 Seasons Golf and POOL Party! Sign up for a great time. We will have an open pool and mini golf party from 6-8 p.m. Only $12 for this event! Call for more info.

Annual Golf Tournament to be held at 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 needed. For details call John Stephens 410-848-3722 or Dean Ditman 410-875-4221.

LECTURE BY BISHOP MALOOLY…Thursday, August 16

Bishop Francis Malooly will host a lecture/dialogue in the Portico entitled “Why we are called to lead a Eucharistic Life; Why the celebration of Mass is important to us.” Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Lecture begins at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free, but tickets are required. Must be 18 and older to attend. Tap beer and beef sandwiches will be on sale prior and during the lecture. For tickets or more information, call Teresa Richardson at 410-848-4744 x 227.

ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC…Saturday, August 18

The annual parish picnic will be held again this year at St. John. Mark the date on your calendar! The time is from 4-8:00 p.m. More details forthcoming. We are looking for some new faces and counting on our return volunteers to help on the committee, volunteer at a wheel or bake cakes for the cake wheel. Call Tom or Theresa Greene at 410-876-9578.

JOIN THE PRE-CANA TEAM…We are looking for couples who have been married for a minimum of 5 years and have the desire to share their love and experience with those who are preparing for marriage. Contact Rosalie.seeley@verizon.net if you are interested in joining this ministry.

ST. JOHN YOUTH CHOIR…The newly renamed Youth Choir that sings at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday Mass needs some additional singers (5^th grade and up). The commitment is 6 hours per month – rehearsal Monday nights from 7-8 p.m. and then Liturgy on the 1^st and 3^rd Saturdays of each month. Consider joining just for the summer! For more details call Jane Schmidt 410-848-5365.

ST. JOHN COOKBOOK… St. John Roses 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 or parish center. Mail to Christine Mort, 357 Winged Foot Drive, Westminster, MD 21158. One recipe per form, please. Deadline to submit recipes are July 16^th.

LANDFILL PERMITS: Carroll County residents receiving their Carroll County property tax bill also receive two landfill-use coupons. If you have no use for your coupons, your donations of those coupons to St. John Church would be greatly appreciated. Please drop them in the collection basket, drop them off at the parish center or mail to the parish center. Many thanks.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED… If you can help one Sunday a month call Nancy at 410-876-2173 for details.

Blanket of Love…St. John Parish Respect Life Committee invites you to create a square for a Blanket of Love to remember your child who died prior to birth, either through miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion. The Blanket of Love is a loving memorial to pre-born children. The Blanket of Love reaches out to grieving mothers and fathers, bringing restoration and healing. Program information and confidential request forms are displayed in the narthex of the church.

Please continue to help minister to the poor in Carroll County by remembering that next weekend, the 3rd weekend of the month, is Food Sunday. Please bring your donation of non-perishable food to church and place in the baskets by the doors of the church. We especially need donations of canned meats, stews, spaghetti sauce, canned pasta meals, jelly, peanut butter, powdered milk, canned fruit and bottled juices. We also need paper goods, such as toilet paper, baby diapers, paper towels, etc. Thanks for you generosity!

The Center for Grief & Loss at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium is offering grief support groups for kids, teens and parents on Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 8 p.m. and also a Saturday Day Camp on July 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is required. Call 410-252-4500, Ext. 7291 for more details.

Join us for a good old fashion Conewago Chapel Picnic on Saturday, July 21 in Hanover, PA (9:30 a.m. chicken corn soup (carry-out); 11 a.m. lunch only (soup & sandwich); 12 noon picnic officially begins, 3 p.m. fried chicken dinners served $8.00 (adults) $4.00 (children). Live music by Hat Creek Country from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Call Nancy Fahnestock at 717-259-6624 for details.

The Holy Name Society of St. Joseph Taneytown is sponsoring a pilgrimage to the shrine of Fr. Demetrius A. Gallitzin, the first pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Taneytown (1797-1799) and to the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Alleghenies, the Carmelite Cloisters and Mt. Assisi Gardens. Msgr. Martin Feild and Rev. Dr. David Shaum will concelebrate mass at the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Loretto to conclude the pilgrimage. The cost of the trip is $50 per person and includes lunch. For tickets call Linda Webster at 410-775-7500.

THE DEER PARK LIONS CLUB, will collect used eyeglasses for recycling in developing countries. The eyeglasses will be distributed to those in need by Lion volunteers and other organizations hosting optical missions in developing countries. Look for the Lions Recycle for Sight boxes near the doors of the church on the 4th weekend of this month (July 21-22).

Here is a list of upcoming retreat dates: Aug 10-12; Sept 14-16; Nov 9-11; Dec 7-9. For more information or to register for a weekend, visit our website at www.mdcee.org or call 410-439-4217.

A Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreat for spiritual and emotional healing after abortion will be held in Maryland August 3-5 and November 16-18. The confidential, supportive retreat is for anyone hurting inside due to abortion trauma. For more information, call 410-354-6900 or email: projectrachel@archbalt.org., local website is www.project-rachel.net. National Rachel’s Vineyard contact is 1-877-HOPE-4-ME or www.rachelsvineyard.,org.

Our Lady of the Chesapeake in Pasadena, Maryland will be hosting an Adoption Fair for families from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For women in crisis, couples desiring to parent, children in need of homes--adoption can be God's grace and mercy to them in their time of need. Adoption is an option that has received little attention in the right to life movement. As children of God we believe it can make a profound difference in the spiritual and physical lives of families. We want to reach out to couples and families in the community by highlighting the blessing of adoption. The fair is sponsored jointly by the Respect Life Ministry, the Elizabeth Ministry and the Wellness Ministry of Our Lady of the Chesapeake Parish. There will be many representatives from the community, including Catholic Charities and other domestic and international adoption agencies. For more information email Wellness@olchesapeake.org or visit the parish web site at www.olchesapeake.org

Reminders

August 6 – STAND training – Parish Center

August 18 – Parish Picnic – St. John grounds

The Portico Books + Gifts: Now carrying the Magnificat & Magnifikid Monthly Magazines! Starting with the August Issue. Reserve your copy today! Magnificat Magazine is a monthly missalette that contains all the Masses, morning and night prayers for the entire month in a convenient, easy-to-use format. The missal also contains spiritual readings, hymns and information about the saints. Magnifikid Magazine reaches children from 6 to 12, in a booklet of 16 color pages for each Sunday and special issues for all major feast days.

Word Up! CD available at Portico Bookstore: Word Up! is a new music group made up of Fr. Leo's adorable and talented nieces and nephews. They recently released their original, inspirational and family friendly hip-hop and pop music CD. These kids entertained the parish at the Men In Black half-time show. Their music is a big hit with families with children who want to hear modern music but with a positive message! Price is $10.00.