Mass
Schedule
OUR LADY OF MERCY
Sunday,
August 17, 20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
4:30 pm Installation of New Pastor
7:30 am Helen/John Hodge [Family]
9:00 am
Bernard Hommer [Donald/Rita Strohl]
10:30
am Virginia English [Family]
12:00
pm Zenaida Perez [Nicole Florez]
ST.
BERNARD ORATORY
Monday,
August 18
8:00 am Dec’d Mem/Marie Strunk Fam [Bonnie McCollum]
12:10 pm Thomas Reichard [Bereavement Choir]
Tuesday,
August 19
8:00 am Lois Jean Reilly [Family]
12:10 pm Henry J. Schultz [Anna Bullock]
Wednesday,
August 20
8:00 am Blanche/Joseph Rinkunas
12:10 pm Lois Kay Smull [Bill Hertkorn]
7:00 pm
Thursday,
August 21
8:00 am LAOH/Dec’d Members
12:10 pm Anne Sterner [John Lambert]
Friday,
August 22
8:00 am Agnes Braun
12:10 pm Kenneth Norman [Marie Link]
OUR LADY OF MERCY
Sunday,
August 24, 21ST SUNDAY IN
ORDINARY TIME
4:30 pm Helen/James Balvo [Jerome Balvo]
7:30 am Eileen Ball [Family]
9:00 am
Henry J. Schultz [Card Club]
10:30
am Patricia Gaffney [Delores
Connolly]
12:00
pm
RESPONSORIAL PSALM:
O God, let all the nations praise you!
Flowers on the altar this weekend
were arranged by Posey Peddler.
NEXT WEEKEND, the Knights of
Columbus will be selling tickets after all the Masses for their Spaghetti
Dinner at St. Jane’s Father Farrell Hall, Sunday, September 14, serving 1:00 to
6:00 pm. Advance ticket sales only. Adults-$8, Children 4 to 12-$4 (under 4 –
free). Carry-outs for $8. Also, a Chinese Auction will be held at the
same time and place.
Upcoming Weekend Schedule
For August 23rd
& 24th
4:30 pm
Celebrant: Fr. Avitus
Lector: Betsy Kennedy, Don Gunn
Eucharistic
Ministers: Jennifer/Gregg Reinhart
Merrielee
Legath
Altar
Servers: Shaun Ball, Rachelina
Campanelli
7:30 am
Celebrant: Fr. Deo
Lector: Terry Lynch, Richard Larkin
Eucharistic
Ministers: Steve/Kathy Wallo, Fred
Mich
Altar
Servers: Kathleen/Colin Piatt
9:00 am
Celebrant: Fr. Avitus
Lector: Jim Lennertz, Bill Brodniak
Eucharistic
Ministers: Lois DeFrancesco, Jim Case,
Tom Hess
Altar
Servers: Alyssa Evans, Matt Crouse
10:30 am
Celebrant: Fr. Deo
Lector: David Kmetz, Tim Wittemann
Eucharistic
Ministers: Patti Clarke, Tom Kiley,
Richard Leshko
Altar
Servers: Lauren Johnson, Andrew Susen
Collection
Counters: Diane Wallo, Carmen
DeFrancesco
Susan
Cordero, Katherine Malia
PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING will be held
Thursday, August 28, 7:00 pm, Parish Center at St. Bernard’s Oratory. All are invited.
MEMORIAL & ENDOWMENT SOCIETY
The following have been enrolled in the
Memorial & Endowment Society. Every
first Friday, Holy Mass is offered for those enrolled in the Memorial Society.
In Memory of Lois Kay Smull
Lois
Singley $50
Eva Albus $25
Eppie/Beth/Michael
Smull $25
George/Kathy
Hunter $25
David/Nancy
Little……..$20
In Memory of Gerard Norman
Kathy/Ray
Ferry $25
OFFERING August
9th & 10th
$6,965.60
Parish Picnic
Our Lady of Mercy
Sunday, September 7
1:00 PM
Lopatcong Township Pavilion Complex, Phillipsburg,
NJ
All Parishioners are invited. Please bring your dish to share (and its
recipe) to the Parish’s first picnic. An
afternoon of fun, games, relaxation and enjoyment are planned. Cash donations are being accepted to defray
costs. Please place your donation in an
envelope marked “Parish Picnic”.
EASTON CATHOLIC
SCHOOL NEWS
Information packets for the start of the
school year are available at St. Anthony’s Parish Center, 900 Washington St., 9
am-12 noon and 1-4 pm. If times are not
convenient for you, call 610-253-7188 to make other arrangements. Please pick
up your packet and complete all forms for the first day of school. . School begins Monday, August 25, grades 1 –
8.
NOTE: The School
Advisory Board Meeting is held the third Thursday in August (August 21) not the
second Thursday as stated on the Parish calendar.
THANK YOU to Paul Weiss and Warren Davis
for their volunteer time in assisting our Custodian, Tom Galambos, in
installing a security gate in our Social Hall.
This security gate was installed at a cost of $477 as opposed to
estimates we received for the purchase and installation of over $1,300. Their efforts are most appreciated.
The new women’s organization, Our
Lady of Mercy Women’s Guild, is holding a membership drive. Dues are $5.00. Money may be placed in the collection
basket-payable by August 31. We look
forward to an enjoyable year.
Name___________________________________
Address_________________________________
_________________________________
Phone___________________________________

PREP IS MOVING
All PREP Classes will be held on Sunday Morning.
PREP for all 1st – 7th grade students will be held from 8:45 – 10:00 a.m. in the Parish Center.
The Special Faith Class or in the Confirmation Class, will start
at 9:00 a.m. in the basement of St. Joseph’s School.
1st grade PREP Teacher
Needed!!!!!
Anyone interested in
sharing their love of the church with some very eager young people, please
contact Mrs. Kelly DeRaymond at the Parish Center.
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Easton Area Catholic Youth Group
Youth Group News/Schedule
Our first Youth Group meeting of the
new school year will be held on
Sunday, September 14th at 7:00
in the St. Anthony’s
Parish Center.
CONFIRMATION
FINAL TEST AND INTERVIEW
Wednesday, August 20th –
10:00-1:00
Thursday, August 21st –
10:00-1:00
Friday, August 22nd –
1:00-3:00
Tuesday, August 26th –
3:00-4:00
Thursday, August 28th – 3:00-4:00
Saturday, August 30th –
9:00-11:00
Wednesday, September 3rd –
6:00 – 7:00
Please, contact Mrs.
DeRaymond at the Parish Center to schedule your interview.
ANNIVERSARY MASS
Are You Celebrating 5, 25, 40, 50, 60
or more years of marriage in the year 2008? Celebrate this
special occasion with your family at the Annual Diocesan Anniversary Mass on Sunday, September 28, 3:00 pm at St. Thomas
More Church, Allentown. Couples who pre-register and attend will
receive a certificate from Bishop Cullen.
Registration forms can be found in the vestibule of the Church.

Is it better to be Catholic?
The pope says the Catholic Church is
better than other religions. Are we better than those of other faiths?Surprised
Dear
Surprised,
We Christian brothers and sisters are a
fractured family, and there are many churches. We must be true to Christ’s
Church, to being Catholics. But, no, Catholic people are not better than people
of other religions.
The one and only God sent his one and
only Son to be the one and only Savior of the world. The Gospel says he founded
a Church, one Church only, to complete his task after his earthly life was
over. Scripture also says this Church is
considered his mysterious Body, still alive and available among us. The
Catholic Church humbly and tremblingly takes the responsibility of being that
Church. Jesus promised this Church would never disappear.
Scripture teaches that God wills the
salvation of everyone, and only Jesus Christ knows who are truly his own. All
Christians pray with Jesus that all may be one. Come, Lord Jesus. Make us one
again and forever.
John
Hamrogue, C.Ss.R.
Monday August 18 Ez 24:15–24 Mt 19:16–22 Tuesday August 19 Ez 28:1–10 Mt 19:23–30 Wednesday August 20 Saint Bernard, abbot and doctor of the Church Ez 34:1–11 Mt 20:1–16 Thursday August 21 Saint Pius X, pope Ez 36:23–28 Mt 22:1–14 Friday August 22 The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ez 37:1–14 Mt 22:34–40 Saturday August 23 Weekday Ez 43:1–7ab Mt 23:1–12 Sunday August 24 Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 22:19–23 Rom 11:33–36 Mt 16:13–20
ProJeCt of
Easton is in need of
the following food items: Powdered milk,
Jelly, Cereal, Inexpensive can openers and Canned Pasta. Food items can be donated directly to
ProJeCt’s food pantry at the rear of St. John’s Lutheran Church Parking
Lot, Monday – Friday, 8:30 am-12:30 pm
and 1:00 pm-4:00 pm.

August 17, 2008
TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Is 56:1, 6–7; Rom 11:13–15, 29–32; Mt
15:21–28
Let’s admit it. Some of Christ’s followers reject others. We
may not even let those who disagree with us into the conversation. Humans have
disagreed about religion for millennia. Christians have persecuted other
monotheists. Some of the worst cases of hate and misunderstanding have been
toward those who are close to us in faith…but
not quite the same.
Can we do better? Where do we get our
vision? Our hope? The prophet Isaiah sees a time when God’s house of prayer
will be a house for all. In Romans 11:29–32, Paul looks at how the new covenant
has grown from deeper roots, a process that brings him to two amazing
statements: “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” and “they have
now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now
receive mercy.”
The Second Vatican Council document
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate) embraces the tension the Church must live in. Addressing other
faiths—it names Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism—it says, “the Catholic
Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions.” Two
sentences later, the same document “proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ
‘the way, and the truth, and the life’ ” (NA, 2; John 14:6).
In today’s Gospel story, Jesus heals
several people at once. It’s not quick or easy. He challenges the Canaanite woman
who is following him; she challenges him back. And Jesus then acts, not only as
the healer who helps her and her daughter: he is the ultimate spin doctor.
His disciples see a foreigner who is a
pest. Jesus sees a woman of great faith. The message of the Gospel is
sophisticated. It is difficult. It
is freeing.


LECTURAS: Isaías 56:1,
6–7; Salmo 67; Romanos 11:13–15, 29–32; Mateo 15:21–28
MINISTROS DE LA EUCARISTIA
HOY: Carlos Rodriguez, Jose Luna
PROXIMO DOMINGO: Juan Enriquez, Jose Orsini
LECTORES:
HOY: Carolina Perla, Dora
Gaviria
PROXIMO DOMINGO: Margarita Palacios, Daysi Diaz
INTENCION DE LA MISA: Zenaida Perez
Tema de la Misa:
En la primera lectura de hoy Dios les dice a
los israelitas que a los extranjeros que se unan al Señor se les dará alegría
en la casa de Dios. En el Evangelio Jesús reconoce la fe tan grande de la mujer
cananea, a quien él había reprochado sólo momentos antes. La persistencia de
ella le da al Señor Jesús la oportunidad de derribar las barreras que eran
comúnmente aceptadas en su época. Hoy todo está relacionado con la inclusión.
Las Escrituras nos piden que pensemos y actuemos de una manera nueva. Seamos
receptivos al poder transformador de la palabra de Dios.
Los Sacramentos
Confesiones: Sábado 3:30 –
4:15 PM
Bautismo: La charla para
los bautizos será el primer domingo del mes después de la Misa de las 12 del
mediodía. Los bautizos se celebrarán el segundo domingo del mes después de la
Misa de las 12 del día en la Iglesia. Hablar con el Padre o el Diácono después
de la Misa Dominical para hacer los arreglos.
Matrimonio: La Diócesis
requiere una preparación de 6 meses. Favor de hablar con el Padre con tiempo
para más información.
Misa en Español: La Misa dominical
en español es a las 12 del mediodía. Hay una Misa durante la semana en español
el miércoles a las 7:00 de la noche.
Los Miércoles: Después de la Misa
del miércoles el primer y tercer miércoles un tiempo para aprender más de la
doctrina de Cristo predicado por la Iglesia Católica. El segundo y cuarto
miércoles del mes habrán dos oportunidades: un Círculo de Oración y una reunión
de Juan XXIII. Juan XXIII también se reúnen el ultimo Domingo del mes a las 3
de la tarde.
Dayarnira
Hernandez 610-435-1541 ext. 341
Parish Picnic
Nuestra Señora de
la Merced
Domingo, 7 de Septiembre
1:00 PM
Complejo del
pabellón del municipio de Lopatcong, Phillipsburg, NJ
Todas las familias de
nuestra parroquia están invitados. Por favor traiga su plato preferido con
receta para compartir el primer PICNIC de la parroquia. Una tarde llena de diversión,
juegos, para que se relaje y disfrute todo lo planeado. Estamos aceptando
donaciones de dinero para ayuda. Si desea donar dinero tráigalo en un sobre que
diga “Parish Picnic”.
He vivido alejado de la
Iglesia católica pero quiero regresar a ella. ¿Qué puedo hacer?
La Iglesia recibe a sus hijos con ilusión. Quizá le convenga reunirse
con el sacerdote de su parroquia para que lo guíe en el proceso. Todo sacerdote
está encantado de ayudar a los católicos a regresar al hogar.
A continuación,
sienta la misericordia de Dios en el sacramento de la Reconciliación. Una buena
manera de prepararse es pensar en cómo ha pecado de palabra, pensamiento, obra
u omisión. Use los Diez Mandamientos y las Bienaventuranzas como guía.
Vaya a misa aunque al principio no pueda recibir la comunión. Si le
cuesta trabajo seguirla, considere comprar una ayuda como el Saint Joseph
Sunday Missal. Se puede conseguir en muchas librerías católicas y en las Hijas
de San Pablo.
Para completar su formación, quizá le venga bien asistir en su parroquia
a las clases de RCIA que preparan a la gente para ingresar en la Iglesia. Pida
también un Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica a la Conferencia Episcopal de los
Estados Unidos.
¿Por qué creen los católicos
que María fue elevada al Cielo?
La idea de que el
cuerpo de una persona puede ser llevado al cielo se encuentra en las
Escrituras. Enoc, Elías y los que salieron de sus tum bas cuando Cristo murió fueron elevados al
Cielo (Mateo 27: 52-53).
Los cristianos creen que un
día todos subiremos al Cielo (1 Tesalonicenses 4:17). María tuvo un papel
fundamental en la obra salvadora de Jesús y es lógico que recibiera la
recompensa plena. Recibió temprano las bendiciones que todos compartiremos
algún día.
Haga suya la Biblia
Todo lo que necesitamos para vivir una vida feliz se encuentra en la
Biblia. Dios quiere que la leamos, que la amemos y que la vivamos. La clave
para vivir la Biblia es hacerla nuestra.

Ponga esto a prueba: seleccione la lectura evangélica del domingo
siguiente y aproveche estas ideas para experimentar la misa de forma distinta.
(Puede encontrar las lecturas en www.usccb.org.)
Prepárese. Antes de empezar a leer, cálmese y aparte tantas
distracciones como pueda. Respire hondo, inhalando y exhalando, con los ojos cerrados.
Lea despacio. Lea el pasaje tal cual y quédese con lo esencial. Cuando
termine, léalo otra vez prestando atención a los detalles. A continuación,
léalo en voz alta para percibir el efecto de las palabras.
Hágalo suyo. Una forma es memorizar el pasaje para interiorizar la
historia. O bien, tome notas, apuntando palabras clave o frases que puedan ser
significativas o sorprendentes.
Experiméntelo. Póngase en el lugar del protagonista del pasaje. Imagine
la alegría de ser curado por Jesús o la vergüenza de ver sus pecados sacados a
la luz por Él.
Lléveselo. ¿Ha experimentado usted en su vida emociones semejantes a las
de la gente en el pasaje evangélico? Jesús decepcionó a Marta y María al no
llegar antes de que su hermano muriera. ¿Se ha sentido usted decepcionado
porque Dios no llegó a tiempo? Experimente la alegría de las dos mujeres cuando
Jesús respondió a sus plegarias con un milagro.