As many of you know, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Affordable Care Act, continues to demand coverage of sterilization, contraception and abortion-causing drugs as women’s preventative services. Religious ministries of service – such as charities, schools, health care facilities and institutions of higher education – are given, at best, second-class status under the law in the form of a still-murky “accommodation.”

As it stands the HHS mandate ignores our nation’s foundational freedoms of conscience and religion. The Church and its ministries have been told that we can call ourselves Catholic; we just can’t act like we are.

Congress is currently considering legislation that would address this issue and HHS is holding an open comment period about its mandate. Catholics must send a strong clear message to HHS, the White House and to Congress that we will not abandon our religious freedom. Your comments are needed. Even if you submitted comments in the past, you should do so again.

Click on the link below and forward this message to your family and friends!

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/pacc/iqz4KFqc.aspx

St. Frances Cabrini Parish will host a night at the Trenton Thunder baseball game on Tuesday, June 11th!   The Trenton Thunder vs. the Binghamton Mets!

The game is on a Super Value Tuesday, so Kids Eat Free and there will be $1 Hot Dogs throughout the night.  Mark your calendar!  We will keep you updated with more information about ticket sales through the Parish bulletin.

Beginning on this Sunday, March 3^rd, the History Channel will be hosting an epic five-week, 10 hour television mini-series entitled “The Bible” from Emmy Award winning husband and wife team, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.  The series premieres Sunday, March 3rd, at 8:00 PM and will span the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, presenting some of its best-known stories, including Noah’s Ark, the Exodus, Daniel in the lions’ den and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Each segment will be shown for two hours on Sunday night and millions of viewers will see the Bible come to life in a way never before seen. The final episode of the series will air on Easter Sunday and will feature the death and resurrection of Jesus.

To help insure the accuracy of the miniseries, many Christian scholars served as advisors and hundreds of Christian leaders have given their endorsement.

Former Touched By an Angel star, Roma Downey, Burnett’s wife and fellow executive producer, heads a large international cast in the role of Mother Mary. Keith David, an Emmy winner for voice-over performances, will narrate with a musical score by Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

Our research indicates that this will be a series worth watching!

The Jackpot Prize for the Pot of Gold Lottery drawing scheduled for Monday, March 4th will be $50,000!!!  Tickets can be purchased after all of the Masses or at the rectory!  Remember, you’ve gotta be in it, to win it!

Falls Township will be making repairs to the bridge on South Olds Boulevard between Parkway Drive and Southway Drive beginning on Wednesday, February 20th.  The bridge will be closed until repairs until further notice.  For our parishioners, this may necessitate taking alternate routes to get to church, or to other places in our area.   So, be prepared and travel safely!

Parish Giving

St. Frances Cabrini Church now offers our parishioners the option of fulfilling their stewardship commitments through our newly implemented Electronic Funds Transfer Program – Parish Giving.  Parish Giving allows participants to donate a recurring contribution that is automatically transferred from their checking or savings account, or even credit card, on a monthly basis.  Parish Giving is a safe, secure and convenient alternative method to support our Parish.   By signing up for Parish Giving, you will know that you are doing your part to support the Parish even at times you are not able to be physically present to celebrate with the Parish Community.   For more information about the Parish Giving Program, click here.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a special season for prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  It is also a time for reflection on one’s life and the direction of one’s life.  The season of Lent prepares us for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.  At the beginning of Lent, the Church imposes ashes which are a symbol of our desire to repent and also a reminder of our mortality.

At St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Masses will be celebrated on Ash Wednesday, February 13^th, at 9:30 AM and 7:00 PM.

We are pleased to announce that the new Lay Ministry Schedule for February through May 2013 is now available.  The Schedule was emailed to all lay ministers who provided an email contact and mailed to those for whom we do not have an email address.  The new Schedule can also be accessed on the Parish website.  If you did not receive your schedule, please contact the rectory.

To access the new Lay Ministry Schedule through the website, click here. 

Following up on the overwhelming success of Daring to Walk the Walk, our Pastoral Staff believes that the next series in the Walking Toward Eternity Program will enhance the lives of those who make a commitment to walk this journey of faith.  The new Program, entitled Walking Toward Eternity Engaging in the Struggles of Your Heart, is a challenging study that can open our eyes to obstacles in our Christian walk such as greed, envy, fear and shame.  Through prayer, reflection, guidance and the aid of the Holy Spirit, we begin to engage these difficulties in a positive way as we continue toward our goal of union with Christ.

If you missed the last series, start a new journey with this Program.

The Program will be held for eight weeks in the Msgr. Woods Hall on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM beginning on January 30^th until March 27^th (no session on Ash Wednesday, February 13th).

Click here for a REGISTRATION FORM which you can complete and return to the rectory.    Registration deadline is Monday, January 21st.   There is a nominal fee of $10 to cover the cost of the book. 

The annual installation of members of the St. Frances Cabrini Parish Pastoral Council was held on Sunday, January 6th during the 11:00 AM Mass.  Family members and parishioners looked on as the Council members were called forward to the sanctuary where Monsignor McCormac acknowledged the responsibility of their ministry of service and prayed a blessing over them.   The congregation then expressed their support through applause.

Parish Pastoral Council members serve to advise and make recommendations to the the Pastor with regard to pastoral issues and planning for the vitality of the Parish.  Council members also serve as a vehicle through which all members of the Parish may share ideas concerning the Parish Community.   The first meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council for the new year will be held on Thursday, January 10th.  For a listing of Parish Pastoral Council members, please refer to the Our Parish tab on the home page of the Parish website.