Tips for Summer Camp Safety: All teachers, staff, and volunteers in the Erie diocese who work with children must undergo criminal background checks. Diocesan guidelines and abuse prevention training programs currently in use emphasize the importance of parents’ knowing who has access to their children at school and other church-sponsored activities. Summertime is here, and parents should remain vigilant regarding who is granted access to their children. Make sure camp counselors have undergone criminal background checks. And make sure you know the camp’s daily routine. In particular, make sure that no camp activity results in a child being left alone with one adult. All activities should be supervised by more than one adult, and the camp should be open to unannounced drop-in visits from parents. (Source: Sharon Womack Doty, “Summer Safety—Monitor All Programs!” VIRTUS, July 16, 2006.) To see what the Diocese of Erie is doing to keep children and youth safe, check out:
http://www.eriercd.org/protectyouth.htm

In our Second Reading today we heard that we are buried with Christ through our Baptism.

BAPTISM
Before his Ascension, Christ instructed the Apostles: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). In the cleansing waters of baptism we rejoice in God’s ongoing love that we received at conception. The baptismal candle signifies our embrace of the Light of Christ as celebrated at the Easter Vigil, and the white garment is a sign of the sacrament’s action, freeing us from original sin. Ideally, this sacrament of initiation is celebrated in community, a sign of one’s communal journey of faith.
Text, Bari Colombari © 2010, OCP. All rights reserved.

Read this column for the next six weeks to learn more about our other Sacraments.

Suggested text for faith sharing: Today’s Gospel

Adults - Jesus teaches us how to pray. When this past week did you take the time to pray, to talk to and listen to God?

Youth - Jesus teaches us how important it is to pray. How do you ask God for what you need? How do you listen for his response?

Children - Prayer is talking with God and listening to God in our hearts. Where do you talk to God and how do you listen to what God says to you?

The deadline for submitting information to be included in the parish bulletin is Monday at noon. To avoid confusion, information should be submitted in writing.

INTERESTED IN ATTENDING A CURSILLO WEEKEND or NEED MORE INFO? Call the parish office or pick up a brochure in the church vestibule. Research the history of Cursillo at Wikipedia.org

A WARM WELCOME to all our visitors at Saint Hippolyte today. We hope you enjoy the 114th Annual Frenchtown Ham or Chicken Dinner with a delicious meal, with good luck at the booths and games, and with visiting old friends and family. Hopefully you will make some new friends this year!

WORKERS ARE NEEDED for the Parish Men’s Club Muffin Pan Game at the Sheakleyville Homecoming, August 1-7. Please contact Steve Dale at 425-2341 OR see Steve today at the Ham or Chicken Dinner to see which days and times still need to be filled. Proceeds benefit the Faith Awards which the Parish Men’s Club give to our college students.

WORKERS ARE NEEDED for the Food Booth and the Funnel Cake Booth at the Cochranton Community Fair (August 1-7). If you can help in any way, please sign the list on the bulletin board or call:
For the Food Booth—Kay McGahen 425-3933
For the Funnel Cake Booth—Kathy Maruska 573-2815
or see either of them today at the Ham or Chicken Dinner. Your help is greatly appreciated!

SISTER SHIRLEY KING is with us this weekend for our annual Mission Cooperative Appeal second collection. She has been a Maryknoll Sister since 1965. She was first assigned to Bolivia, South America in 1971 and has spent more than 23 years serving the poor in Latin America. In Peru, Sister Shirley directed a large rural parish on the shores of Lake Titicaca, where the population is mostly Catholic and which live high in the Andes Mountains. Sister returned to the U.S. when her mother became critically ill and accompanied her father at home until his death at 104 years of age. She is currently working at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in the Development Department as photographer and also visits parishes and schools to explain the Maryknoll Sisters’ ministries. Please be generous.

IT’S TIME ONCE AGAIN TO UPDATE THE PARISH PRAYER CHAIN. For your name or the name of your loved one to remain on the Parish Prayer Chain for the months of August and September, please call Kathy Young (789-2749) or Julie Hovis (374-4972) no later than July 26.

AROUND THE DIOCESE... Our Lady Queen of the Americas Church in Conneaut Lake will hold its annual Roast Beef or Baked Half Chicken Dinner on Sunday, August 1st from 11:30am until 6:00pm in their air-conditioned social hall. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children. Also available: theme basket, gas grill and gas card raffles, instant bingo, and 50-50.

FLOOR TILE PROJECT UPDATE — So far we have raised a little over $2,100 in the social hall floor fundraiser. We're over half way there! Thank you to those who have donated. There is still a chance to donate if you have not be able to yet. Place your donation in the bucket and color in your squares on the board any weekend this summer.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES FAMILY SOCIETY is taking orders for RADA Cutlery. Call Fran Greathouse (425-2549) to place an order. A catalogue can be found on the bulletin board at each church.

THE PARISH CEMETERY BOARD is currently in need of another member. If you are a parishioner of Saint Hippolyte or if you are a parishioner with a connection to Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery (lot owner or family members buried there), please contact the rectory office to volunteer for this opening.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING — “Going Green” for the body: no chemicals, no side-effects, small investment, marriage preserving, lifetime benefits. Natural Family Planning—Give it a try. For more information call Linda at 814-898-1486 for classes starting Tuesdays, August 10 from 7-9pm at Saint Mark Catholic Center in Erie

REGISTER NOW FOR SETON CATHOLIC PRE-SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN. Seton offers: small classroom sizes, tuition payment plan, state certified teachers, Middle States Accredited, doors open at 7:30am, after school program until 5:30pm. To schedule a tour or for more information please call Jamie Longo at 336-2320

THE 13th ANNUAL RANDOLPH HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI REUNION will be held on Saturday, September 11 at the Saint Hippolyte social hall from 4:00-9:00pm. Dinner will be served at 5:00pm and is available at a cost of $10 (food by Art’s Catering—Swiss steak or chicken). Reservations are required by August 21 and should include your name, year of graduation and your meat choice by sending checks payable to REMHS Alumni and mailed to Ruth Ann Goodman, 12925 N. Wayland Road, Meadville PA 16335 or by calling 337-5033.

WOMEN & SPIRIT — Visit this national exhibit on the 250 year history of Catholic sisters in the U.S., including artifacts, photos and video that tell the story of the small group of pioneering women who built the schools, hospitals and social services we know today. The exhibit is at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood Ohio and runs until August 28th. For more information visit www.womenandspirit.org. For museum hours, costs and directions call 216-593-0575 or visit www.matlzmuseum.org.