Parish Bulletin

Continuing a long tradition at St. John’s, once again this fall we welcome the seminarians who have been placed with us for their pastoral field education experience. Rev. Mr. Thomas Doyle is a seminarian at Mount St. Mary’s from the Diocese of Rockford, Illinois. Deacon Doyle introduced himself to the parish last weekend. The seminarians from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore include: Daniel Hoffman, a third year student from the diocese of Erie, Michael Hall, a second year student from the diocese of Trenton, Jason Feigh, a first year student from the diocese of Erie, and David Carr, a first year student from the diocese of Louisville. Please join me in welcoming these seminarians to our parish and remembering them in our prayers.

Congratulations to Ralph Arnold who will receive the Archdiocese Medal of Honor this Sunday in recognition for his service to the Church. As a lifelong member of our parish, Ralph is an alumnus of our parish elementary school and high school. His leadership and work on the Development Committee, the Pastoral Council, School Board. Heritage of Hope Campaign and Lenten Appeal has been and continues to be a tremendous benefit to our parish.

PERPETUAL ADORATION UPDATE…The following hours of adoration are currently being covered by volunteers. We need at least one (preferably two people) to commit to adoration during these time periods: Wednesday 1-2 a.m., & 3–4 p.m., & Sunday 8-9 a.m.& 6 to 7 p.m. Please call the Parish Center if you are willing to sign up for adoration for these or any other hours.

WE ASK YOUR PRAYERS for all who are homebound or in nursing homes and for all the sick, especially… Linda Mileo, Betty Affleck, Kathleen Adcock, Eileen Sovitsky, Albert Jones, Jenna Johnson, Phyllis Speelman, Kathleen Colley, Henry Seibel, Marie McCurdy, Deacon Bob Malinowski and Raymond Rolle.

BAPTISMS: Congratulations and welcome to Cooper Thomas Olshefski, son of Kathleen and Michael Olshefski and Isaac John Peloquin, son of Christa and Mark Peloquin.

FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR last weekend were donated by Dr. and Mrs. Sherrill Cheeks in honor of the Blessed Mother’s birthday.

CAMPAIGN UPDATE:

Total Pledged: $ 7,478,807

Paid to Date: 6,866,160

Balance $ 612,647

THANK YOU to all who contributed to the Peter’s Pence collection. The amount collected was $7,655.20.Your generosity is appreciated.

School Calendar

Sept. 16 - Catholic HS Fair –3-5 College of Notre Dame

Sept. 17 - Back to School Night – 7 p.m. – Portico

Sept. 17-21 – ACRE testing – Grades 5 & 8

Sept. 20 – School Board Meeting – 7:30 p.m. –Parish Center

Sept. 21 – School Liturgy – Gr. 1-8 at 9:30 a.m.

Band Demo – 12:15 p.m. Gr. 6,7 & 8 - 1:15 Gr. 4 & 5

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

HELP INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN'S CATHOLIC EDUCATION…Help the St. John Community by supporting our children's future with a solid Catholic education while attending our school! This year's PTF Fundraisers include Innisbrook Gifts, Market Days, Entertainment Books, the Silent & Live Auction, and the Walk-A-Thon. Proceeds go to support Catholic Education. For more info, visit the St. John School/PTF on the St. John Church web site at www.sjwest.org. Thanks for your support!

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. Gift cards are available for purchase in the school office, the 1^st and 3^rd “Hospitality Sundays” at the Portico or by calling the parish office.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Catholic Church, our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes are set to begin September 16. Our weekly classes meet on Sunday mornings from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Parish Center. Babysitting is available with advance notice. For more information, please contact Paul Gallagher in the Parish Center.

Small groups will begin meeting again to complete the second part of “The Profession of Faith.” The groups will meet for 6 weeks, finishing the week of November 11^th. Anyone can participate, even if you didn’t participate last spring. Registration forms are available in the narthex of the church. We ask that everyone who participated in the spring register for this session.

Religious Education Assistants needed!!! We are still in need of assistants for our Religious Education Program. Please contact Religious Ed at 410-848-8443 if you can help!

HOMESCHOOL PARENTS: If you have a child who will be preparing for 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.

NOTE: We are pleased to announce that on Thursday at both 4:30 & 6:45 p.m. we will have a class for young people with special needs. Call Religious Ed Office or stop in for the registration form.

BABYSITTERS NEEDED…Religious Ed is looking for people who are willing to baby-sit children during Thursday Religious Ed class times between 4:30-5:45 & 6:45-8:00 p.m. Service hours are available for any teenager interested. Call Tina at 443-375-2334.

CONFIRMATION REGISTRATION IS PAST DUE! If you want to register your teen for this year’s Confirmation program, you need to call the Religious Ed Office NOW at 410-848-8443. Some classes are already filled! Parent Meeting is in October, and classes begin in November.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION classes begin on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 4:30 & 6:45 p.m. and on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 4:30 & 6:45 p.m.

NEEDED: Religious Ed is in need of a sign language interpreter to help one of our children during their Religious Ed class on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. We will also need someone at our Parent Meeting for Home Study on Wednesday, Sept. 26^th at 6:45 p.m. and our various activities scheduled for Reconciliation and Eucharist. Please call the Religious Ed Office for more details.

Sept. 21 – FALL KICK OFF – bring a friend and be entered in a drawing for a free T-shirt!

Oct. 5 - RELAY GAMES & ice breaker night – The fun never ends with these activities, games, food, fun and PRIZES!!! Join us.

Oct. 19 – MUSIC, Food and Fun night…and pumpkin bowling!! – we want to have a campfire, or go to a corn maze, if possible, so watch the bulletin.

Nov. 2 – WELCOME TO PISA! Italian food, a pizza dough throwing contest and much more! This night is a follow-up with the “ON LOCATION” night held in the Portico the previous week!

The cost is $40 per person. Parent drop off at 4 p.m. – parent pick up Saturday at 1 p.m. Sign-up a new friend and get $5.00 off your retreat cost! Sign up NOW!! Money and liability/release form due to Religious Ed no later than Sept. 21st!!

Oct. 14 – RELAY GAMES, ice cream and maybe even laser tag! This night will exceed the very definition of FUN! Oh…and have you ever bowled with a pumpkin???

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. New- comers are welcome!

Do you like dessert? How about fun games like dodge ball? Are you more of a board gamer? We’ve got all that at this night and more! Come out and meet our new Core Team for the fall 2007 semester!!

Join the Sisters of the Good Shepherd for a retreat and take a deeper look at the call to religious life, the steps of discernment and the skills needed to live religious life well. There is no charge for lodging or food for this retreat! Call Sr. Debbie Drago at 732-946-7877 x 422 or e-mail srdebbie@optonline.net

What better way to kick off a new semester of Life Teen than with a fall kick off! The theme for our Kick Off is a LUAU! Come for the Food! Come for the Music! But, really come for the Fun!!

Matt Maher is coming back to Maryland and we’re going to see him! We’ll be leaving St. John at 5:15 p.m.-return time & total cost is still being worked out. Registration Deadline is Sept. 30!

It’s a long way from winter! But, Life Teen is planning on going on retreat from December 14-16^th. Mark your calendars. Cost is still being determined.

This spiritually based ministry is for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Meeting is in the Parish Center from 10:30-noon. No registration is required. For more information call Janet Tenney at 410-833-1542.

Committee chairpersons are requested to attend a meeting on either Tuesday, Sept. 18 OR Thursday, Sept. 20. Both meetings will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. It is only necessary to attend one of these meetings.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED…If you would like to volunteer your time to work on one of the Christmas Bazaar Committee’s, please come to one of the meetings on Sept. 18 or Sept. 20^th at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. A committee chairperson is needed for the Basket and Linen room and also needed is a Bazaar Co-Chairperson. Call Jim Diggs at 410-346-6576 if you are interested.

There will be a Prison Ministry Retreat for Volunteers and potential volunteers from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. here at St. John Church. If interested, please contact Sister Dolores, Coordinator of Prison Outreach for St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, at 443-263-1931 or DChepiga@vincentbaltimore. Further information will be sent to those who register. No charge.

Basketball players in Grades 4-8 interested in representing the St. John Eagles throughout the Baltimore Archdiocese, please find listed below the current schedule for tryouts. Tryouts will be held at the St. John gym beginning September 24th thru October 5^th (see schedule listing times). If anyone is interested in volunteering in the St. John travel CYO league, contact Lisa Hurley at 443-277-3983 or email at lwhurley@hurleyir.com

4^th – 10/1 & 10/2 –5:30 -7 pm 10/2 – 3:30 –5 p.m. & 10/5– 5:30–7 pm

The Westminster Council Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a bus trip to the Basilica, leaving St. John at 9:45 a.m., tour at 11 a.m., Mass at noon then on to Holy Rosary Church (home to the Shrine of Divine Mercy) for a visit and lunch, arriving back at 4:00 p.m. Cost of the trip including lunch is $35.00. To sign up contact Dennis Ford at 410-840-0266 or Pat Hogan at 410-840-3407.

The Wisdom Club will meet at noon for Mass celebrated by Msgr. Art, followed by lunch and meeting in The Portico. Bring your brown bag lunch. Desserts and drinks will be furnished. The program will be “Inside the World of Bees” presented by Steve McDaniel REMINDER: Money due for Bon Secours Retreat. For more information call Eleanor Wood at 410-875-3386 or Bonnie Bach at 410-795-0786.

St. Vincent de Paul Society will have a truck on campus the 4^th Saturday of each month. The truck will be here on Saturday afternoon (noon to Sunday afternoon). Only donations of clothes, outerwear and shoes will be accepted.

Knights of Columbus Council 1393 is looking for vendors for their 3rd annual event being held on St. John parking lot from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Vendors may set up at 5:30 a.m.) Spaces 17x20 are $35 or 2 for $60. More space can be requested in advance. No rain date. For details contact Michael Dvorak at mak@dvorak.net, or Frederick Dvorak at 410-876-1292. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Carroll Hospice Courage Lion Program.

WISDOM CLUB RETREAT at BON SECOURS…Thurs., Oct. 11 – Join us for this retreat from 9:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m. Msgr. Art will be the Moderator. The cost is $33.00 and is due at our meeting on Sept. 27^. Call Irene Wheeler at 410-848-0489 for info.

Only 8 seats left to Christmas Show – Sight & Sound – call Olive Hall at 410-833-1210 for reservations and information.

We need new and used religious articles for the Christmas Bazaar. Check your closets, attics, basements, drawers for statues, pictures, medals, rosaries, bibles, crucifixes, angels, etc. For information call Irene at 410-848-0489.

THE MARKET PLACE (Christmas Bazaar) will be accepting saleable/useable donations beginning Tuesday, Sept. 10^th up until Thursday, Nov. 22^nd. We need household goods, toys, games, linens, glassware, baskets, tins, lamps, pictures, puzzles, small appliances, yard items, small furniture, tools, seasonal items, candles, riding toys and bikes, etc., SORRY, NO CLOTHES OR SHOES. Drop off donations Tuesday or Wednesday in the school basement from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For daytime drop off contact Al Wilder at 410-596-3608. For info call Regina Sell 410-876-6170.

ST. JOHN ROSES are accepting donations to send phone cards to the military now serving in Iraq. Local phone cards or your donations can be dropped off at the monthly parish breakfasts in the Portico or call Sharon Bryan at 410-848-7126 for details.

The St. John Roses cookbooks will be in about October 20^th. To pre-order yours get forms in the narthex of the church or at the bookstore.

To all members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society: We will celebrate St. Vincent de Paul’s feast day on Sunday, Sept. 23 at the 9:15 a.m. Mass, followed by breakfast in the school cafeteria. Please plan to attend.

LOAVES and FISHES SOUP KITCHEN is updating its volunteer and contributor listings for the period October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008. If you will not be participating, please leave a message with Mike Radov at 410-857-9528.

Join the Westminster Road Runners Club for the fun run for families, kids, adults in support of Voices for Children, the local CASA program working with the Court to speak for Carroll County children who have suffered abuse and/or neglect. Race precedes the Fallfest Annual Parade--register at 6:00 p.m., race at 7:00 p.m. For more details see website: http://68.178.177.198/fallfestmile.htm

Cardinal William H. Keeler encourages all Catholics of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to take part in the national 40 Days for Life effort Sept. 26 through November 4. In addition to prayer and fasting, the faithful are encouraged to consider registering to pray outside an abortion facility (Hillcrest or Planned Parenthood). The focus will be one of conversion, forgiveness and prayer for those who provide or assist in abortions, those who encourage mothers toward abortion, and the mothers themselves, so that all may come to understand the truth of the dignity of human life from the first moment on conception. Prayer will also be for the softening of hardened hearts and the healing of broken hearts caused by abortion. For more information call Linda Brenegan at the Respect Life Office at 410-547-5537.

PORTICO BOOKS + GIFTS: Show your support and appreciation for our troops. We are carrying multiple items for our troops such as, Bishop Fulton Sheen’s Wartime Prayer Book, Catholic Prayer Book for the Marine Corps, and Blessing from the Battlefield, various Catholic coins with St. Michael prayer and other prayers and inspirational sayings, a variety of pewter and sterling silver medals for all of our services, prayer cards and much more. Plus, we will be carrying the Ranger Rosaries. If you would like to send any of the above items or any donations to the Armed Forces, the Portico staff will be coordinating all shipments on behalf of the parish to Fr. Tyson Wood. Contact Jean in the bookstore or Teresa Richardson at the Parish Center x 227.