Archives for April 2017

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and Chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has released a statement in reaction to an announcement by the Democratic National Committee’s Chair that pledged support only for pro-abortion candidates. The full text of Cardinal Dolan’s statement can be found below and is being provided at the request of Archbishop Chaput. Cardinal Dolan Calls Pro-Abortion DNC Pledge Extreme, Disturbing, Intolerant April 26, 2017   “The recent pledge by the Democratic National Committee chair to support only candidates who embrace the radical unrestricted abortion license is very disturbing. The Democratic Party platform already endorses abortion throughout the nine months of pregnancy, even forcing taxpayers to fund it; and now the DNC says that to be a Democrat–indeed to be an American–requires supporting that extreme agenda.   True solidarity with pregnant women and their children transcends all party lines. Abortion doesn’t empower women. Indeed, women deserve better than abortion.   In the name of diversity and inclusion, pro-life and pro-‘choice’ Democrats, alike, should challenge their leadership to recant this intolerant position.”

The Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood is sponsoring a 9-day Novena, beginning on Saturday, April 29th, to promote and encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life. I will be praying the first day of the Novena via Facebook Live on Saturday, April 29th, at Noon (www.facebook.com/phillypriest). Prayers for each subsequent day of the Novena will be led by seminarians and the videos posted at Noonon the Vocation Office Facebook Page. I ask that you share these videos on your personal/parish Facebook pages, and encourage your parishioners to like our page and participate in this Novena. Prayers for the Novena will be posted on our website at www.heedthecall.org.

I am sharing information regarding the presentation of the relics of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of his birth. The Saint Pio Foundation in collaboration with the Capuchin Friars of Pietrelcina have organized a first-time tour of his relics in the United States, with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as the first stop on this tour.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul will display for veneration the relics of Saint Pio during the weekend of May 6 – 8 with opportunities for penance and reconciliation.

Please see below and the attached flyer for additional information.

PRESENTATION OF THE RELICS

OF SAINT PIO OF PIETRELCINA

TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

ON THE OCCASION OF THE 130^TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH

The Saint Pio Foundation in collaboration with the Capuchin Friars of Pietrelcina have organized a first-time tour of the relics of Padre Pio here in the United States with the Archdiocese as the first place for this tour. 

SCHEDULE FOR THE PRESENTATION AND VENERATION

OF THE RELICS OF PADRE PIO

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2017

4:15 PM          Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

5:15 PM          Anticipated Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

6:15 PM          Reception of the Relics of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

6:30 PM          Public Veneration of the Relics of Saint Pio fo Pietrelcina

                        7:00 PM Reception for Honored Guests (Archdiocesan Pastoral Center)

10:00 PM        Night Prayer and Blessing with the Relics of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2017

8:00 AM Mass, 9:30 AM Mass, 11:00 AM Solemn Mass,

and 12:30 PM Mass in Spanish

9:00 AM         Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

2:00 PM          Archdiocesan May Procession

3:00 PM          Public Veneration of the Relics of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

5:30 PM          Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

6:30 PM          Mass (Archbishop Chaput)

8:00 PM          Public Veneration of the Relics of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

10:00 PM        Night Prayer and Blessing with the Relics of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

MONDAY, MAY 8, 2017

7:15 AM         Mass

9:00 AM         Public Veneration of the Relics of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

11: 30 AM      Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

12: 05 PM       Mass

7:30 PM          Mass of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

                        Conclusion of the Presentation of the Relics of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

OTHER POINTS

• The Presentation and Veneration of the Relics will take place in conjunction with the liturgical schedule already in place at the Cathedral Basilica.
  • There will be an additional Mass on Monday, May 8, 2017, to conclude the veneration of the relics.
  • Additional Confession times will be scheduled on Sunday and Monday, May 7 and 8, 2017.
  • A special invitation will be directed to high schools and elementary schools to venerate the Relics on Monday, May 8, 2017.

• The Office for Divine Worship will provide for the liturgical celebrations for the Reception of the Relics, the Night Prayers and Blessings with the Relics and the Mass on Monday evening at 7:00 on May 8, 2017.

• Information on the Presentation and Veneration of the Relics will be promoted electronically to all parishes and institutions in the Archdiocese through the Office Communications and Social Media. This promotion will include catechesis on relics and their veneration.

• The Cathedral Ambassadors will coordinate the veneration periods.

• The Saint Pio foundation will be responsible for security for the Relics.

• Books and other information on Padre Pio will be available for purchase through the Saint Pio Foundation on both days of the veneration of the Relics.

Did you know you are helping to fund Planned Parenthood’s political activity?

Governor Wolf just headlined a roundtable discussion at a Planned Parenthood facility in Warminster – which does more than 900 abortions each year. The event was held by Planned Parenthood Keystone – one of their three regions in Pennsylvania – and national Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards was right by our Governor’s side. The discussion centered on fighting against proposals to defund Planned Parenthood “both on the federal and state levels.”

Planned Parenthood Keystone made a net profit of over $621k in their last reporting year; over 25% of their revenue coming from government grants – i.e. your tax dollars.

So let’s put this equation together:

Governor Wolf & Cecile Richards pushing politics at Planned Parenthood facility

+

Event organized by Planned Parenthood Keystone, which is funded in part by taxpayers

=

Taxpayers are funding Planned Parenthood’s political activities.

Governor Wolf advocating for pro-abortion politics in Planned Parenthood’s own clinics that continue to receive taxpayer funding is yet another example of you and every Pennsylvania taxpayer being forced into helping their pro-abortion political activity.

TAKE ACTION:

The leading abortion business in Pennsylvania and nationally does not deserve our taxpayer dollars. Here are two ways to encourage your elected officials to take action:

1) State level: SB300, introduced by Senator John Eichelberger, would prioritize current taxpayer dollars to first be directed to the many community health centers that offer better comprehensive women’s health care than Planned Parenthood. (Remember, women can’t even get prenatal care at a Planned Parenthood in Pennsylvania.) Tell your State Senator and State Representative to support SB300 today – click here to use our action alert to send your elected officials an email.

***SB300 is on the agenda for the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, April 26. Please contact your State Senator before Wednesday to voice your support for SB300.

2) Federal level: Encourage your Congressman to do all they can to stop funding Planned Parenthood, especially in any health care reform measure. Here’s a one-page fact sheet summarizing the need for defunding Planned Parenthood at the federal level. For contact information, use our Citizen Action Center to enter your zip code (at the bottom of the page).

For more on Planned Parenthood, click here to download a statewide analysis of the largest abortion business, their partisan politics and why it’s time to end their taxpayer funding.

Podcast: Michael Geer talks Planned Parenthood, privacy lawsuit and private school education on WDAC program

PFI President Michael Geer provides the latest on what’s happening in Pennsylvania impacting families. Click here to listen now. The program will also air live on WDAC-FM 94.5 Lancaster on Saturday, April 22 at 12:30 p.m. and on WBYN-FM 107.5 Boyertown at 2 p.m.

“We need to open more doors for families and children to get a good education.” – Michael Geer

Additional Headlines 

1) Iowa becomes 21st state to improve abortion limits to 20 weeks. Pennsylvania continues an abortion limit set up in the 1980s that permits abortion as far as six months into pregnancy (24 weeks). SB3/HB77 would update this limit to the first five months of pregnancy (20 weeks) as well as end the barbaric practice of dismemberment abortions.

For more information and to take action here in PA, go to tinyurl.com/YESonSB3.

2) Resources for Privacy Lawsuit against Boyertown Area School District:

• Press Release: More students fight for privacy rights, join lawsuit against PA school district.

• Copy of the Court Complaint.

• One-minute video: Brave Students Take Action to Defend Privacy Rights

• The Rectory office will be closed on Holy Thursday, April 13th and Good Friday, April 14th.  The Rectory will also be closed on Easter Monday April 17th; however the Pot of Gold drawing will still take place that evening as scheduled.  Pot of Gold Tickets can be dropped off at the Rectory by using the drop-off slot in the Front door.

• All are invited to decorate the church for Easter on Holy Saturday morning, April 15th  at 9:00 AM.  No experience is necessary.  

Monsignor McCormac will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation this evening, April 12th at 7:00 PM .  Since there will be no Confessions on Holy Saturday afternoon, this will be the last opportunity to receive the Sacrament at Saint Frances Cabrini before Easter.

On behalf of Bishop Timothy C. Senior, Rector of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, I am pleased to share the following.

Today, the Seminary announced that that it will award a Doctor of Humane Letters degree, honoris causa, to United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito at its Concursus ceremony on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Justice Alito will also give the Concursus address.

The attached news release contains additional information. Please consider sharing this material broadly in your parish communities in the manner you deem most appropriate. May you have a Blessed Holy Week.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Sullivan

Vicar for Clergy

Last week, the Senate passed the resolution of disapproval to override a rule change made late in the Obama Administration that prevented states from redirecting Title X family planning funding away from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood to community health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care. The House passed it in mid-February. That means the next stop is the President’s desk for signature!

Thanks for standing with us and taking action on the alerts when we were urging both chambers to reverse that bad public policy. Even if you didn’t respond earlier, your help is needed now to send a follow-up message to your members.

Please take a moment to follow up with your legislators and encourage others to do so as well. We know it is important to say, “thank you” when a member votes for life as they often only hear criticism after a courageous vote. It is equally important that those who did not vote with us be aware that we are paying attention and that we expect better in the future. We have prepared a follow-up message that you can send by clicking here. The correct message which corresponds to your members’ votes will automatically appear once your address is processed.

Again, our thanks for all you do to build the culture of life in law. We will continue to keep you posted on important developments and future calls to action.

Together we will be heard!

Amy McInerny
Executive Director