THE SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

FEBRUARY 19, 2012

WEEKLY LITURGY SCHEDULE

MONDAY, FEB. 20, WEEKDAY

8:30am SH Robert H. Bowler (Family)

TUESDAY, FEB. 21, SAINT PETER DAMIAN

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22, ASH WEDNESDAY

5:00pm  OLL  Norb Dietrich (Kellie, Lori & Erin)

7:00pm  SH    Margaret Tau (Betty Bartok)

THURSDAY, FEB. 23, LENTEN WEEKDAY

8:30am  OLL  Charlotte Klein (Mike & Annette Magdich)

FRIDAY, FEB. 24, LENTEN WEEKDAY

7:00pm  OLL  Stations of the Cross

SATURDAY, FEB. 25, LENTEN WEEKDAY

Anticipated Sunday Liturgy

5:00pm  SH  Donald Mailliard (Children)

SUNDAY, FEB. 26, FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

 8:30am  OLL  Sam Froella (Joanne Froella)

10:30am  SH   For the Parishioners

 HELPING HANDS PRAYER

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WHOLE COMMUNITY CATECHESIS

       Lent is a 40 day period before Easter, excluding Sundays. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends just before the Holy Thursday Mass to prepare for the Triduum.   The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting,  self-denial, spiritual growth, conversion and simplicity.  Lent is a word for springtime; a time for spring cleaning, a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our personal relationship with Jesus and our service to him. It is also a time for repentance.  Placing ashes mixed with oil on one’s head is a reminder to us to repent.  Lent is a time to transform our whole body, soul, and spirit and help us become more like Christ.

       There are many traditions associated with Lent, such as prayer, almsgiving and fasting.  We begin by gathering for Mass and celebration at our Mardi Gras Party and then gather again for the Distribution of Ashes on February 22nd.  During Lent we will have Soup and Bread on Wednesday evenings with a reflection by Fr. Fischer to follow.  On Friday we will have Stations of the Cross.  The Stations of the Cross on  Friday, March 23rd will be presented by the OLL 7th and 8th graders at 7:00pm at Our Lady of Lourdes.  We need parishioners to volunteer to lead the Stations on the remaining weeks:  February 24th and March 9th at Our Lady of Lourdes; and March 2nd, March 16th, and March 30th at Saint Hippolyte.  We have the books for you to prepare and use for the Stations.  This would be an awesome service to do as a family, G.R., Bible study group, etc.  Please call the office to volunteer.

THE LENTEN SPRING IS COMING…

Ash Wednesday is February 22

       Masses:  5:00pm at OLL; 7:00pm at SH

Rite of Sending—February 26 during 8:30 Mass at

      OLL and 10:30 Mass at SH

       Daniel Sprenkle and Christopher Mailliard will   travel to Saint Peter Cathedral for the RCIA

       Rite of Election

First Penance—March 10 at SH

       Eve Beuchat, James Bizjak, Breanna Heme,

       Jordan Hudock, Dustin LeSuer, Jacob Opatrny,

       Jordyn Ploski, and Devin Rhoades will

       celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Wednesday Evening Activities—Soup and Bread at 6:15 and a spiritual reflection given by Father Fischer at 7:00

       This year’s theme is “Ingredients for the

       Spiritual Life” 

       Feb. 29, March 14 & 28 at OLL

       March 7 & 21 at SH

Stations of the Cross—Fridays at 7:00pm

       Feb. 24, March 9 & 23 at OLL

       March 2, 16 & 30 at SH

       **Parishioners are needed to lead the Stations

          of the Cross each week.  Please call the office

          to volunteer.  Stations  will be cancelled if

          we do not get volunteers to lead them.

 A Holy Hour of Adoration will be offered at Saint Agatha Church, Meadville on each Sunday of Lent from 2:00-3:00pm.

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EVENTS FOR THE WEEK

Monday         9:00am  Small Group Bible Study at SH

Tuesday             7:00pm Choir at OLL

Wednesday        ASH WEDNESDAY

Saturday            4:30pm Confessions at SH

Sunday               Morning PSR Grades PS-8

              3:00pm RCIA Rite of Election at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie

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READINGS FOR THE WEEK

TODAY:     Is 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25/1 Cor 2:18-22/Mk 2:1-12

MONDAY: Jas 3:13-18/Mk 9:14-29

TUESDAY: Jas 4:1-10/Mk 9:30-37

WEDNESDAY: Jl 2:12-18/2 Cor 5:20—6:2/Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

THURSDAY:    Dt 30:15-20/Lk 9:22-25

FRIDAY:    Is 58:1-9a/Mt 9:14-15

SATURDAY:     Is 58:9b-14/Lk 5:27-32

SUNDAY:   Gn 9:8-14/1 Pt 3:18-22/Mk 1:12-15 ________________________________________________________________________

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Feb. 20:       Becky Deeter

Feb. 21:       Daniel Dunlevy, Bob Eddy,

        Ashley Lippert, Sarah Lippert

Feb. 23:       Ann Semler

Feb. 24:       Julie Foulk

Feb. 26:       Chuck Phillips

COMING EVENTS

Feb. 29 Soup & Bread at OLL  6:15pm

       Parish Lenten Retreat at OLL  7:00pm

Mar. 2  Stations of the Cross at SH  7:00pm (Leader needed)

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Suggested text for faith sharing: Today’s Gospel

Adults – What powerful signs have you seen that God forgives us and heals us?

Youth – When have you experienced forgiveness from God or others?  What does forgiveness feel like to you?

Children – How does the Church help us see that Jesus forgives our sins?

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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.

THE LENTEN SPRING IS COMING…

Ash Wednesday is February 22

       Masses:  5:00pm at OLL; 7:00pm at SH

Rite of Sending—February 26 during 8:30 Mass at OLL and 10:30 Mass at SH

   First Penance—March 10 at SH

Wednesday Evening Activities—Soup and Bread at 6:15 and a spiritual reflection given by Father Fischer at 7:00

       This year’s theme is “Ingredients for the

       Spiritual Life” 

       Feb. 29, March 14 & 28 at OLL

       March 7 & 21 at SH

Stations of the Cross—Fridays at 7:00pm

       Feb. 24, March 9 & 23 at OLL

       March 2, 16 & 30 at SH

       **Parishioners are needed to lead the Stations

          of the Cross each week.

PLAN AHEAD:  The OLL Old Fashioned Strawberry Social will be on Saturday, June 23.  Don’t forget that theme baskets are needed for the Chinese Auction!

2012 CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL — ”A Faith Journey...Giving of Yourself to Others”  Hopefully everyone has taken time to reflect upon the information that has been shared the past few weeks.  We hope that all parishioners prayerfully consider the opportunity today to offer a gift to the CSA.  We would like everyone to participate and help our parish reach its financial goal ($11,072 at SH; $12,296 at OLL).  Those who have given before know we are grateful.  We need your help again this year.  Those who have not given before, please make this year your first gift to the CSA.  Everyone’s help is needed.  Please also remember that any amount raised above our goal stays in the parish. 

HELPING HANDS—PHASE 2 begins next weekend.   The committee has evaluated the survey sheets and have prepared the commitment sheets.  Next weekend, Helping Hands Commitment Weekend, all parishioners will be asked to choose areas to share their gifts by helping others.  We all have been given gifts!  Please ask God for help in how He wants You to share those gifts in the following categories:  Prayer, Visitation, Services to the Bereaved, Emergency Home Care, Transportation, Elizabeth Ministry, and Ministry of Welcome.  More info provided next weekend.

LENTEN FISH DINNERS will be held at Saint Brigid McCrory Social Hall in Meadville Feb. 24 through March 30 from 4:30-6:30pm.  Adults $8; Children 5-12 $4; Macaroni & Cheese or Grilled Cheese Dinner $5.  Take-outs available.

YOU’RE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES’ OPERATION RICE BOWL  This Lent, our faith community will be joining millions of Catholics across the country by participating in CRS’ Operation Rice bowl.  Your family is invited to pick up a Rice Bowl packet (along with a copy of the Little Black Book for Lent—provided by Le Nom du Pere Society) and join in this simple yet powerful Lenten practice.  Operation Rice Bowl invites us to pray with our families and faith communities, fast in solidarity with those who are hungry, learn about our brothers and sisters around the world, and give sacrificial contributions to help those in need.  Visit orb.crs.org for additional resources to use at home.THE HHS MANDATE: An attack on rights of conscience...If you would like more information about the U.S. Health and Human Services attack on Freedom of Religion or want to learn how you can get involved in restoring the rights of Catholics to consciously object, please contact Joel White at 814-573-0990 or by email at silverfish@windstream.net.

Pertinent information is available on our diocesan website at http://ErieRCD.org/justice.asp.

Individuals can also become involved through the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference by visiting www.PaCatholic.org.

SH REVERSE RAFFLE NEWS...Mark your calendar for this year’s date: Oct. 6.  Now is the time to watch for end of season sales and get prizes for a great price in the clearance aisle at your favorite department store.  Call Krista Rhoades at 814-720-3992 and she will pick them up from you and store them until the raffle.

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

THE SOCIAL HALL RENTAL FEES for both Saint Hippolyte and Our Lady of Lourdes are as follows:
Wedding Reception: $425
Wedding Reception Parishioner Rate: $300
** this reduced rate for registered parishioners applies to the wedding reception of the registered member or the child of a registered member of the parish.
Small Party: $100
** the small party rate applies to events such as bridal/baby showers, family reunions, anniversary parties, graduation parties, banquets, etc.
ALL RENTERS much purchase liability insurance, either from the Diocese of Erie ($90) or through their homeowners insurance company.
ALL RENTERS must give a $100 refundable security deposit, which would cover any damages that may occur during the rental period.
To rent the social hall, call the parish office.