1. THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME JANUARY 25, 2015 At a moment when “time was running out” for evil Nineveh, God did something extraordinary: he raised up Jonah to preach repentance to “the great city.” When “Jesus came proclaiming the Gospel of God,” Christ’s first action was to call men from the sea to preach to the world. Nothing convinces us of the compassion, the love, the kindness, and the goodness of God like the witness of these humble believers who leave nets, boats, and father to follow Jesus. To us who beg, “Teach me your paths,” Jesus beckons: “Come after me.” transmitted them infallibly to the Church. // At the origin of Christianity, there was no celestial indoctrination with divine truths, sprung from the First Truth. It was rather by a decisive event that faith began. God’s good news is his Son Jesus. He can say: “The kingdom of God is here” because he himself is here. In him and through him, God establishes his kingdom by actively saving humanity.//In this regard, the great fisherman is Jesus himself. He attracts people not with vinegar but with the proclamation of good news. That is the savor of Christian belief. The sacraments, the beatitudes, the Church, the forgiveness of sins are all good news summarized in Jesus, revelation of a Father full of tenderness. To welcome this conviction, to follow Jesus unconditionally, is faith, conversion. It is not mere intellectual assent to a collection of inherited truths. ST. MATTHEW THE EVANGELIST PARISH MINERSVILLE, PA www.StMatthewTheEvangelistParish.org Rectory Office Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM Phone: (570) 544-2211 Fax: (570) 544-2317 SAINT MATTHEW THE EVANGELIST WELCOMES ALL No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church; no matter what your current family or marital situation; no matter what your past or present religious affiliation; no matter what your personal history, age, background, race, ethnicity, etc.; you are Invited, Welcomed, Accepted, Loved and Respected at Saint Matthew the Evangelist Parish! SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATOR: Sr. Meg Cole (610-866-0581x19) VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR: Wendy S. Krisak (1-800-791-9209) WEEKDAY MASS AT 8:00 AM MON – Joseph Grecky by family TUE – John Kubich and Rita and Ottavio Agosti by Julie WED – George Miller by Joanne Bobby Family THU – Edward Walasavage FRI – John and Josephine Smiszek by Family SAT – 4:00 PM – Thomas Donlen, Sr. by Mia and Ava Bowers SUN – 8:30 AM – Tim Stine by Family 10:30 AM – Living and Deceased Parishioners ******************************************************************************************************************************************** THE WEEKLY CALENDAR: O sing a new song to the Lord;/ sing to the Lord, all the earth./ In his presence are majesty and splendor,/ strength and honor in his holy place. (Cf. Ps 96 (95):1,6) THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, JANUARY 25 – SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: 8:00 AM and 10:15 AM. THE FAMILY PRAYER CHALICE FOR VOCATIONS (FPC): Jesus told us to ask the Harvest Master to send laborers into his harvest. May the prayers of our participating families bear fruit. Thanks to JACK HUDOCK (8:30 AM) for hosting the FPC for Vocations this week. Please sign up in Church vestibule. FAMILY PERSPECTIVE: It must have been difficult for Zebedee to watch his sons walk away and follow Jesus. It was the end of ‘Zebedee and Sons Fishing, Inc.’ Our children were never ours. They are only on loan to us. We raise them to let them go. PRO-LIFE REFLECTION: Just because something happens to be legal does not make it moral, ethical or right. Abortion is perhaps one of the most dramatic examples of a situation where something is legal (decriminalized) but is very much a sin against God and against humanity. STEWARDSHIP: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” – Mark 1:17. Jesus’ call to “Follow me” is a call to all Christians! Jesus asks us to help Him build his church on earth by generously sharing all our gifts of prayer, 0. 0. talent and treasure. Remember, Jesus calls us to generously develop and share all our gifts, not just the ones we pick and choose. LAST WEEK YOU CONTRIBUTED: Sunday: $2,449; General Repair: $377; Expenses: $3,214.80. Thank you for your generosity! FRATERNAL CHARITY: ST. VINCENT DE PAUL FOOD PANTRY –Your donation of all TYPES OF PASTA AND RICE will allow the SVDP Society to aid the needy of our area. Volunteer to help our SVDP Society Outreach and God’s Bountiful Table.Call 570-544-2739. VOTIVES: (1) SANCTUARY: IMO John and Josephine Smiszek by Family (Available Dates: March 15, 29, April 26, May 24, October 4, 18) (2) ALTARS: BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: Special Intention by Stan and Sally Gober; For the Health of George Homa and Special Intention by Wife and Family; IMO George Miller by Aldona and Ed. (3) BEFORE: ST. JOSEPH: Special Intention. SACRED HEART: For the intentions of Gregory Tatusko by Grandmother. ST. LUCY: Special Intention. Call 570-544-2211 for votives. ASSUMPTION BVM PRE-SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Offering 2, 3 and 5 day programs. Accepting registrations for the 2015-2016 school year. Before and after school care is offered at an additional cost. Call 570-622-0106 for more information. MONDAY, JANUARY 26 – FEBRUARY VISITATION OF THE SICK; Beginning today until completed (will include Anointing of the sick). THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS: 5:00 PM, Our Lady’s Chapel of St. Patrick Church, Pottsville, followed by veneration of a First-Class Relic of Saint Pauline Visintainer. Call 570-622-1802 for information. TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 – ST. MATTHEW RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM: 6:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Building. Any questions, contact our Coordinator of Religious Education, Rosalie Novack (570-544-2211). Absences call 570-544-3766. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 – DEVOTIONS TO ST. PEREGRINE: 8:00 AM Mass. St. Peregrine help cancer patients and their caregivers! GOD’S BOUNTIFUL TABLE: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Fr. Ricapito Annex. Call 570-544-2739 or 570-544-6484 (Father Ricapito Annex). THURSDAY, JANUARY 29 – “SOUNDS OF THE SPIRIT” CONTEMPORARY CHOIR: New members are needed! Call 570-544-2355. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 – SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: 7:45 AM. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 – SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: 3:30 PM. Continue in this New Year by making a good Confession! FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, FEBRUARY 1 – SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: 8:00 AM and 10:15 AM. FOOD PREPARATION: 9:30 AM, Parish Center. Make halushki noodles! Lend a hand! Help us! DIOCESAN COLLECTION: CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). Today, we are reminded that Jesus identified himself with our poorest brothers and sisters. The Catholic Relief Services Collection serves Jesus in the victims of human trafficking, in those who suffer from unjust laws, and in those who need pastoral care and humanitarian assistance across the globe. Through your support with today’s Collection, you help Jesus in disguise. Please be generous and Use the Special Envelope found in your boxes. THANKS FOR CARING! We might take it for granted that good news is the essence of Christianity. Yet we often conceive of it as a collection of beliefs, a system of spiritual and moral strictures inherited from those who received them from God and CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK: Our Catholic values and morals make us who we are. They lead each of us to a purpose driven life. Learning about the traditions of our Catholic faith and how to make good moral choices all contribute to creating successful students and adults. The reinforcement of these values in our classrooms, hallways and on our playing fields builds an unshakable moral foundation. Please consider enrolling your children in our regional elementary school, ASSUMPTION BVM SCHOOL (570-622-0106), and NATIVITY BVM HIGH SCHOOL (570-622-8110). You won’t be sorry, the investment is worth it! FOOD PREPARATION: 9:00 AM, Parish Center. Peel, sauté onions. Everyone welcome! Help us!

2. THE FAMILY PRAYER CHALICE FOR VOCATIONS (FPC): BOB AND TONI PLESNARKSI will host the FPC this week. Call 570-399-5056 or sign-up in the Church Vestibule. We also need host families for March and April! SECOND COLLECTION ENVELOPE: (1) UTILITIES: Your donation will help pay for light, water, sewer, heating tapes, and the maintenance of all parish heating units, etc. (2) END OF THE YEAR GIVING: 2014 is over. Check your Sunday Church Envelopes for the envelopes you missed due to illness, vacation, inclement weather, etc. Please catch up as soon as possible. Your Church needs your consistent and generous support to meet Its financial obligations and to serve you. 2014 envelopes returned by January 31, 2015 will be credited for the fiscal year 2014. Thank you in advance for your support! **************************************************************************************************************************************************************** MINISTERS AT MASS FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OFF. PROC. LECTORS E. M. of H. C. ALTAR SERVERS SAT 4:00 PM Donlen Family Frank Melenchick Theresa Kroznuski Alexandra Eades Fletcher Eades SUN 8:30 AM Stine Family Jack Hudock Elaine Davis Emily Purcell Abby Schoffstall 10:30 AM Parishioners Sharon Kolenick Mary Ann Harrison Bella Kuehn Gabriel Kuehn **************************************************************************************************************************************************************** COMING EVENTS: Please be sure to mark your calendar! FEBRUARY 3 – MANDATORY PARENTS’ CONFIRMATION MEETING: 6:15 PM, Good Shepherd Chapel Room. FEBRUARY 8 – HALUPKI DINNER: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, St. Nicholas Hall, Primrose. $9.50 per platter includes: halupki, filling, mashed potatoes, green beans and roll. Eat-in or take- out. Advance tickets only by calling 570-544-4581. FEBRUARY 11 – GOD’S BOUNTIFUL TABLE: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Fr. Ricapito Annex. NATIVITY BVM HIGH SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE PRESENTATION: 6:30 PM. Members of the Nativity community will be available to answer questions. No pre- registration required. All are welcome! Call 570-622-8110 with any questions. FEBRUARY 28 – WOMEN’S LENTEN MORNING OF PRAYER: 8:30 AM Confessions; 9:00 AM Mass followed by breakfast and reflection in our Parish Center. Free-will offering accepted. (Sr. Natalya, S.S.M.I., St. Nicholas Convent, Minersville, guest speaker.) FEBRUARY 16 – ST. MATTHEW’S TRAVELERS’ SANDS CASINO BUS TRIP: Pay $23; Rebate $30. Bus leaves R&J 8:30 AM; Quandel’s in Minersville 9:00 AM. Bus departs casino 4:00 PM. Call Julie (570-544-5231) or Millie (570-628-5413) for information. MARCH 7 – CONFIRMATION RETREAT: 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM at St. Michael Parish Center. Parent Session: 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM. APRIL 8 – CONFIRMATION: 4:30 PM, St. Michael the Archangel Church, for St, Michael, St. Matthew, Most Blessed Trinity Parishes. Bishop Cullen will be Confirming our children. APRIL 21 – MANDATORY PARENTS’ FIRST COMMUNION MEETING: 6:15 PM, Good Shepherd Chapel Room. MAY 11-14 – ST. MATTHEW’S TRAVELERS’ VIRGINIA BEACH BUS TRIP: $479 per person, double occupancy includes: 3 nights hotel accommodations, 3 full breakfasts, 3 dinners including all-you-can-eat seafood buffet, visit to Fort Monroe Casemate Museum Williamsburg Pottery, Yankee Candle Village, Douglas MacArthur Memorial, Norfolk Naval Base, Hampton Roads Naval Museum, beach and boardwalk. Motorcoach transportation. Baggage handling, meal gratuities and hotel taxes included. YOUR PAYMENT IS YOUR RESERVATION! Call Julie (570-544-5231) or Millie (570-628-5413). JULY 6 – 8 – ST. MATTHEW’S TRAVELERS’ PITTSBURG EXPRESS BUS TRIP: $429 per person, double occupancy includes: 2 nights lodging, 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners including a dinner at the Grand Concourse, Duquesne Incline, Gateway Clipper cruise, Guided tour of Pittsburgh including University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning, Nationality Rooms, Heinz Memorial Chapel, Tour of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Fallingwater”, Visit to Flight 93 Memorial, souvenir gift. Motorcoach transportation. Baggage handling, meal gratuities and hotel taxes included. YOUR PAYMENT IS YOUR RESERVATION! Call Julie (570-544-5231) or Millie (570-628-5413). SEPTEMBER 21- 24 – ST. MATTHEW’S TRAVELERS’ WILDWOOD SEAFOOD FEST BUS TRIP: $399 per person, double occupancy includes: 3 nights motel accommodations, 3 full breakfasts, 3 dinners including all-you-can-eat seafood buffet featuring a DJ and over 50 different buffet items, one $20 meal credit valid for a 3 course price-fixed meal at Breadsticks in Resorts Casino, one dinner at a local restaurant, a trip to Atlantic City casino with a bonus package, visit to Washington Street Mall in Cape May, visit to Smithville Village, Wildwoods' famous beach and boardwalk. Motorcoach transportation. Baggage handling, meal gratuities and hotel taxes included. YOUR PAYMENT IS YOUR RESERVATION! Call Julie (570-544-5231) or Millie (570-628-5413). 2014 CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS: Call the Rectory (570-544-2211). BIRTHRIGHT OF FRACKVILLE: Thanks you for your support of their annual “Giving Tree Project”. Your participation in their endeavor is greatly appreciated, as it enables them to provide for the material welfare of newborns and older infants in our county throughout the year. FEBRUARY 20 – LENTEN FOOD SALE: 12:00 Noon to 3:00 PM, Parish Center. Eat-in or take-out. To place take out orders call the Parish Center (570-544-5485) from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Friday only. Help is needed to fry bleenies, cook pierogi, serve customers, pack orders, deliver business orders and clean up. Your home baked goodies would be appreciated for our dessert table and can be brought to the Parish Center between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. NEXT SALE MARCH 6. Nativity BVM High School Lynn Sabol, Principal Jennifer Daubert, Admissions jdaubert@nativitybvm.net 570-622-8110 www.NativityBVM.net 95% of Nativity BVM Catholic High School Graduates Go to College! ------------------------------------------------------- ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Nativity High School is renowned for academic excellence. Our students consistently receive high scores on national standardized tests. We offer Advanced Placement courses and Dual Credit courses through Alvernia University as well as advanced, regular, and general level classes. The Nativity Graduating Class of 2014 received over 4.1 million dollars in scholarship awards toward furthering their education. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Nativity students enjoy the benefits of a broad selection of extracurricular activities and 14 Varsity Sports to develop community commitment, social skills and physical fitness. Nativity’s dedication to the Arts can be seen through its music, drama and art programs. COMMUNITY SERVICE Nativity BVM High School exemplifies the importance of living the message of the Gospels by helping others, All of our students participate in community service projects. Each year Nativity students complete over 5,000 hours of community service. SPIRITUAL AND MORAL VALUES Nativity High School offers students a unique opportunity to nurture spiritual and moral values. This occurs and is constantly reinforced not only in classes of religious instruction but throughout the curriculum and extracurricular activities. The Gospel’s mes- sage is taught in our classrooms every day, through our liturgies and special devotions. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT Parental involvement is a critical part of Nativity BVM High School. From the Green & Gold Club to the School Store, to volunteer efforts at extracurricular events, parents demonstrate leadership at Nativity. COMMITTED FACULTY Nativity’s well-qualified and caring faculty is deeply committed to their students. They take the time to know their students as individuals and nurture their talents, even sometimes unveiling new talents, in helping them realize their full potential as responsible citizens and productive lifelong learners. TRANSFER GRANTS UP TO $3,000 Any public, private or charter school student who transfers will receive a Bishop’s Tuition Transfer Grant. Elementary students in grades 1-7, receive $1,500 in grants ($1,000 in year 1 and $500 in year 2). High School transfers in grades 10 and 11 will receive $3,000 in grants ($2,000 in year 1 and $1,000 in year 2). Restrictions apply. For details, contact a Catholic school. $25 MILLION IN FINANCIAL AID The Eastern Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation has awarded over $17 million in financial assistance. Most Catholic schools also award additional financial assistance to families, based on need and available resources. All families receive financial support from the school or diocese. $20,000 IN COLLEGE GRANTS!!! Diocese of Allentown Catholic high school graduates qualify for $20,000 in extra college grants from DeSales and Alvernia University. THAT'S LIKE GETTING 70% OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL TUITION FOR FREE! www.desales.edu www.alvernia.edu CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDE MORE EXTRACURRICULAR, ATHLETIC AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR CHILD. PARENTS Parents sacrifice to send their children to a Catholic school, because they recognize how important academics and Catholic lifelong values are to their child's success in college and in life. TEACHERS Catholic school teachers are talented, caring and dedicated to the lifelong success of each student. The Diocese of Allentown requires teachers to be certified by the State of Penn- sylvania and to continue their own education to improve their knowledge and skills. PRIESTS / RELIGIOUS Our priests and religious are present in our schools as administrators, chaplains and teachers in our classrooms.Their dedication to the Catholic faith is passed on to our students. REGISTER NOW AT ASSUMPTION BVM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR NATIVITY BVM HIGH SCHOOL! TRANSFERS WELCOME ALL FAITHS WELCOME FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE “Catholic education is critical to the New Evangelization. As Bishop, I am committed to strengthening the academic excellence and Catholic formation that is at the heart of Catholic education in the Diocese of Allentown”. Bishop John O. Barres, D.D., Bishop of Allentown. 2014 CHRISTMAS COLLECTION: Many people increased their Christmas Offering as was asked. For this I am deeply grateful. The Christmas Collection is very important in helping our Parish meet its financial needs. To everyone who donated at Christmas, I extend my heartfelt gratitude! It goes without saying, you are good people! The collection amounted to $13,744 from 348donors (18 less donors, a decrease of $319 from last year). Again, thanks for your GENEROSITY! WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK: A) In commemoration of The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, we will have Communal Anointing of the Sick within today’s 12:15 PM Mass. REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK: (1) You must be a baptized Catholic in the state of grace who has attained the use of reason (children who have not made their first Communion and infants are generally not anointed). (2) Your health must be impaired by sickness or advancing age. Practically speaking, you can and should be anointed: (a) If you are suffering from a chronic (long lasting) illness. (b) If you are about to undergo major surgery. (c) If you are suffering from depression or any form of mental illness. Call 570- 544-2211 to register. THIS IS A MUST! B) Holy Mass will be celebrated and the patients anointed at 10:00 AM at Golden Living Center, York Terrace.