Upcoming Meetings & Events
Together Retreat-Women’s Team: Mondays (through 9/23), 7:00 PM, St. Matthew
Together Retreat-Men’s Team: Mondays (through 10/14), 7:00 PM, St. Mark
High School Youth Group: Tuesdays (8/6-8/27), 7:00 PM, ministry center
EFF 4th & 5th Grade Catechists: Tuesday (8/6), 6:30 PM, education center offices
Knights of Columbus Council Meeting: Tuesday (8/6), 7:30 PM, St. Matthew
EFF 1st Grade Catechists: Wednesday (8/7), 6:30 PM, St. Mark
Legion of Mary: Wednesdays, 7:00 PM, St. Matthew
Men’s Spirituality Group: Thursdays (8/8 & 8/22), 7:00 PM, St. Luke
Pre-Jordan II: Saturday (8/10), 10:30 AM, St. Matthew
Back to School Collection: Saturday/Sunday (8/10-11), before all Masses, Holy Family/narthex
Casserole Collection: Saturday/Sunday (8/10-11), before all Masses, social hall kitchen
Rosary on the Green: Tuesday (8/13), 6:00 PM, at the Cross on the church grounds
Bereavement Ministry Team: Wednesday (8/14), 9:00 AM, St. Mark
EFF Volunteer Staff Orientation: Wednesday (8/14), 6:30 PM, social hall
Holy Day of the Assumption Masses: Wednesday (8/15), 7:30 AM, 12:00 Noon, 7:00 PM, church
Cub Scout Pack 61- Leaders Meeting: Monday (8/19), 6:30 PM, CLC
Joseph’s People: Monday (8/19), 7:00 PM, St. Luke
Ignatian Spiritual Exercises- Introductory Meeting: Tuesday (8/19), 7:00 PM, St. Mark
Chosen Fathers: Tuesday (8/19), 7:30 PM, St. Luke
SAM Game Day: Thursday (8/22), 10:30 AM, St. Matthew
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST
Help Wanted: Bishop Shanahan High School has the following job openings: Maintenance Technician and a Custodian - Full and part-time positions available. Tuition waiver after 6 month probation. If interested send qualifications and previous job experience to Mr. Donald Gentile (
Help Wanted: Saint Joseph parish, Downingtown, has an immediate opening for a part-time Coordinator of Parish Ministries. The ideal candidate should have experience in a Catholic parish/school/organization setting, possess sound interpersonal communication skills, a talent for organization, and the ability to help bring about a good working relationship between the ministries of the parish. Preference will be given to the candidate who possesses a degree in theology or a comparable pastoral program/experience. If you are passionate about your Catholic faith and would like to share that passion with the broader community, please send your resume to Father Leva at
Help Wanted: St. Patrick parish, Malvern, is looking for a Director of Facilities and Maintenance. The qualified candidate should have previous experience in the following areas: minor repair work in carpentry, plumbing and painting; ability to implement a comprehensive cleaning plan for the facility; ability to maintain multiple buildings, grounds, parking lots; ability to be on call for emergencies; ability to sit, stand, walk, bend and lift up to 50 lbs. and computer skills. Candidate should have a high school diploma or GED, five or more years supervisory experience and previous maintenance experience. If interested, please send a resume to Tricia Cellucci, Director of Parish Services, at
Help Wanted: Roman Catholic High School has the following job openings: Maintenance - Full-time, 12 month, 2:00-10:00 PM shift. Candidate should be reliable, self-motivated and possess a familiarity with painting, electric, plumbing, etc. Attention to detail required. Full benefits package available, including tuition waiver for children enrolled in an Archdiocesan high school. Send resumes to
Designer Handbag & Power Tool Bingo: Sunday, August 4, Ludwigs Corner Fire Hall. Doors open at 1:00 PM, bingo starts at 2:00 PM. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Drinks and snacks available for sale, BYOB for alcohol. Special games, basket raffles and 50/50. Benefits the Multiple Sclerosis Society and American Cancer Society. Visit www.MSBenefit.org for more information and tickets.
Bishop Shanahan's 13th Annual Endowment Fund Golf Outing: Join us on Tuesday, September 10, at French Creek Golf Course. For sponsorship opportunities and/or to register golf foursomes, visit www.shanahan.org/golfouting.html. Raffle tickets are also available for $100 per ticket, with only 200 tickets being sold, and the prize being $10,000 to the lucky winner. To purchase tickets contact Wendi Miller Chapman ‘90 (610-343-6238 or
Save the Date!: 14th Annual Bishop Shanahan College Fair, Tuesday, October 22, 7:00-9:00 PM in the main gym. Over 200 colleges will be represented. All students and parents looking for information on colleges are encouraged to attend. For more information call Marie Weyback (610-343-6242).
Saints Peter & Paul, West Chester: A Men’s Bible Reflection Group is now forming. Join us in the Father Kovacs meeting room of the Parish Center for a meaningful hour of prayer and sharing thoughts on the upcoming Sunday Gospel. Have no time? We will gather before work and the start of your daily routine! Meetings will be on Wednesday mornings from 6:00-7:00 AM. Coffee and donuts will be provided. No registration is necessary. For more information, contact Joe Bracken (
We Thirst-Christian Reflections on Addiction: Catholic Social Services and the Office for the New Evangelization will be offering this popular series about the topic of addiction from a Christian perspective. The program consists of five contemplative sessions designed for all Christians who would like to learn more to become part of a solution to a problem that has reached epidemic proportions. The sessions will be held on Wednesday afternoons, through August 21, from 1:00-3:00 PM, at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, 222 N. 17th Street, Philadelphia. For more information and to RSVP, please visit http://archphila.org/wethirst/.
Volunteer English Program of Chester County: Become a tutor and change someone’s life and see how it changes yours! Tutors provide one-to-one language instruction to meet the needs of adult immigrants and refugees in Chester County. No teaching experience is necessary. Join us at the Coatesville Tutor Training Workshop on August 9, 12 & 15, 9:00 AM-12:00 noon each day. Training will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott, 600 Manor Road (Rt. 82 south of the Rt. 30 bypass, Coatesville. Workshop fee is $35 for materials and refreshments. Register online at www.volunteerenglish.org. For more information and or to discuss your interest please call 610-918-
8222.
St. Mary of Providence Center, Elverson: Help Save Our Pool Fund-Raiser! Saturday, August 10, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. New & Improved Historic 1890 Mansion Tour-$15; Outdoor BBQ & Food- a la carte; Swimming-$3. Rent a table to sell your crafts or yard sale items-$20. For more information call 610-942-4166 or email
Saints Philip & James, Exton: We will be having a Grief Sharing Program on Tuesday, August 20 from 7:00-8:30 PM in the Rectory Meeting Room. Come to talk, share fellowship or just listen at this evening session dedicated to helping to heal the wounds of grief through discussion. Light refreshments will be served. For more information and/or to register contact Theresa Ferrari (
Archdiocese of Philadelphia: The Office for Life and Family and Desert Stream Ministries/Living Waters will be sponsoring a one-day conference entitled “Gender Matters-Fighting for the Integrity of Persons”, on Saturday, September 7, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM, at St. Katherine of Siena Parish, Wayne, PA. The conference, hosted by Andrew Comiskey, author and founder of Desert Stream Ministries, will address the compassion and clarity of Jesus for persons facing sexual identity problems. Tickets are $25 each. To learn more about this conference and/or to purchase tickets, please visit https://
www.eventbrite.com/e/gender-matters-fighting-for-the-integrity-of-persons-tickets-63065230803.
Daylesford Abbey: Save the Date! 2019 Abbey Picnic and Raffle, Sunday, September 8, following the 10:30 AM Liturgy. First Prize-$5,000; Second Prize-$1,000; Third Prize-$500. Tickets may be found in the lobby of the Spirituality Center as well as in the racks in the back of Church. For more information please contact Jeanne Byrne in the Development Office at the Abbey (610-647-2530, Ext. 1180).
Archdiocese of Philadelphia-Remain in My Love Mini-Conference on Marriage: Sunday, September 15, 2:00-4:30 PM at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul Chapel, Philadelphia. Speakers for this event are Father Dennis Gill, Megan Murphy & Damon Owens. More information, speaker bios and online registration can be found at archphila.org/remain2019.
Save the Date: Saint Agnes Church, West Chester, invites you to The 100th Year Celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on Sunday, August 11, 9:00 AM Mass, followed by a Communion Breakfast at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Market Street, West Chester. There will be a Procession at 2:30 PM. Please join us in this Centennial Tradition as we honor Mary, Family Unity and Past Memories. For more information and tickets, contact Barbara Mange at 610-389-0728 or email
Daughters of St. Mary of Providence: Come & See Weekends at the Convent, for single women (ages 18-35), interested in exploring religious life. There will be Reflections on God’s Call, vocation stories from the Sisters, Liturgy of the Hours, Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. Weekends will be held on December 27-29, 2019 and March 13-15, 2020. Contact Sr. Brenda McHugh at
Retrouvaille: Is your marriage hurting? Do you feel helpless? Hopeless? Retrouvaille (retro-VIE) can help and offers hope for a better relationship. Retrouvaille can help heal your marriage. For more information, or to register for one of our weekends, visit www.HelpOurMarriage.org or call 1-800-470-2230. All inquiries are kept strictly confidential. Our next program will be held at the Family Life Center in Malvern, August 9-11.
St. Monica Parish, Atlantic City, NJ: Join us for our annual Wedding of the Sea, on Thursday, August 15. Opening remarks & Mass, 12:00 PM, at Boardwalk Hall, followed by Procession of the Blessed Mother & Benediction on the Boardwalk, Prayers and Wreath Toss at the Surf. Wedding of the Sea Festival, from 1:00-7:00 PM at St. Michael’s, Georgia Avenue, featuring 10+ area restaurants serving their signature dishes, a beer garden, raffle prizes, games and live music. For more information email
Nativity BVM Retreat Weekend at Malvern: Join us for a Men’s Weekend with Friends & Jesus too on September 6-8 at Malvern Retreat House. For more information call Jack Warnock at 610-722-2673 or register at https://www.malvernretreat.com/events/nativity-bvm-3/.
Mission Doctors Association: Calling Catholic physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who feel called to serve Christ’s poor in Africa and Latin America to attend the 2019 Midwest Retreat/Seminar on September 13-15, at Loyola Stritch Medical School in Chicago, IL. Information and Accreditation Statement are available on the website: www.MissionDoctors.org or by calling the office at 213-368-1872 for more information.
Marianist Family Retreat Center, Cape May, NJ: Join us for a Contemplative Prayer Retreat, September 23-26 (mid-week). This retreat is intended for those interested in a contemplative prayer experience. First-timers as well as those familiar and experienced with this type of retreat are most welcome. Our time will be filled with prayer experiences, quiet personal time, special liturgies and daily Eucharist. Cost is $155 pp (includes meals, room and program). For more information contact Anthony Fucci, Center Director, at 609-884-3829.
Save the Date!-St. Laurence School, Highland Park, Centennial Celebration: All are invited on Sunday, October 6 for our Centennial Celebration and First Annual Hall of Fame Inductions. There will be a Concelebrated Noon Mass at St. Laurence followed by a banquet reception at Drexelbrook, 1:30-5:30 PM. For more information and tickets, contact Eileen Campbell, Development Director (610-449-0600, ext. 216); Terri Howell (484-454-5565) or Cathleen Albertus (610-789-8792).
Church of Saint Joseph, Aston: 2019 Fall Pre-Cana Classes will be held on Mondays, October 7, 14, 21 and 28, from 7:00-8:45 PM (couples must attend all four classes). Cost is $75 per couple. All couples must complete the FOCCUS on-line survey prior to attending the Pre-Cana classes. FOCCUS Survey must be completed by September 9. For more information and/or to register, contact the parish office (
Save the Date and Plan Now!: Please plan to join us for the 2019 Archdiocesan Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Bless Mother, on Saturday, October 19, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC. Program begins at 11:00 AM and includes confessions, procession and crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Rosary and concludes with a Solemn Mass at 3:00 PM. Archbishop Chaput is the celebrant and homilist. Reserve your transportation now as a Parish or Institution (consider sharing a bus with a neighboring Parish or Institution). Meals will be on your own. For questions, contact Fr. Dennis Gill (
Worldwide Marriage Encounter: Married Couples-Take time out for you! Refresh your marriage relationship on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends are: October 18-20 and November 22-24 at Our Lady of Czetochowa, Doylestown. For more information visit our website at: https://www.wwme-philly.org or contact Al & Mary Liz at
Bonner-Prendie Class of 1969: 50th Class Reunion, Friday, October 4, 2019. For details visit our Facebook Page, “BonnerPrendie1969", or send your email address and questions to:
Archbishop Prendergast Class of 1964: We will be having a 55th Class Reunion on Sunday, October 13, at Springfield County Club, Springfield, PA, 1:00-5:00 PM. Please email your contact info to
Bonner-Prendie Class of 1974: Save the Date! 40th Class Reunion, Saturday, November 9, 4:00 PM Mass in the Bonner/Prendie Chapel (celebrant: Fr. John Stack, OSA). Reunion celebration, 6:00-10:00 PM, Anthony’s, Drexeline Shopping Center, Drexel Hill, PA. For additional information visit us on facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/1131495127054925/?ref=bookmarks or bonnerprendie
Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne: We invite women (ages 19-45) who are discerning a religious vocation to join us for a weekend of sharing in our life of prayer and apostolate. 2019 weekends will be held in Atlanta, GA, on September 20-22 and in Hawthorne, NY on November 15-17. Reservations are required. For information and/or reservations please contact Sr. Catherine Marie (
Daughters of Mary, Mediatrix of Mercy: We are in the process of forming a new congregation of teaching Sisters, who, by God’s grace, will serve within those Catholic primary and secondary schools that implement a classical curriculum. If you would like more information concerning a vocation of the Daughters of Mary, Mediatrix of Mercy, email
Insert to the Parish Bulletin for Sundays, July 28 & August 4, 2019
Extraordinary Year of Mission; October 2018-2019
2019 Missionary Cooperation Appeal: Diocese of Yaounde, Cameroon, Africa
“The Poor, Too, Are God’s Children”
The Diocese of Yaounde created the program called “The Poor Too Are God’s Children” with the aim of creating opportunities for women and children, orphans and disabled persons, the poor and the marginalized, all of whom are often forgotten. This program is designed to supply things like water, education, shelter, medication and food to thousands of people, especially children who suffer and at times die as a direct result of the lack of clean, healthy water.
To give you an idea of what young people are exposed to on a daily basis in Cameroon, listen to this story of Essomba and Ndi:
Essomba Stephanie was a promising young girl who wanted to become an engineer. She was at the top of her class in the elementary school she attended in her small village near Akono. Every morning before school she had to wake up at 5:00 AM and walk approximately 3 miles to fetch water in the nearby river for her parents and for herself to take a shower. She also had to walk 5 miles each way to and from school. But after losing both parents at age 10, Essomba could not feed and care for herself; shortly after that, she dropped out of school.
Ndi was 7 years old when her father died from HIV/AIDS. Unable to provide for Ndi and her two siblings by herself, the mother withdrew her from school and “leased” her as domestic labor to a wealthy family. Instead of school, the 7 year-old started working as housemaid for food and a salary to help her siblings.
Sadly, the fates of Essouma and Ndi are very common not only in Akono, but across Africa. “The Poor, Too, Are God’s Children program serves children like Essomba and Ndi. Here are several specific projects we hope to realize in 2019-2020:
1) Water Projects: We want to supply clean water to 5 villages of about 15,000 to 20,000 people each by drilling wells that will provide clean drinkable and disease free water. It will cost about $50,000 to supply clean water that will save the lives of thousands of people. Most people who fall sick in Cameroon suffer from water related diseases such as cholera and typhoid, among others. In fact, every glass of water given to children is a potential killer! We want to stop that threat by drilling wells for drinkable water.
2) Education- Building Catholic Schools: One of the most effective ways of putting an end to poverty and discrimination is to educate young people. Providing an education at a relatively low cost to young people, and especially to women who are often left aside, will ensure a brighter future for them. Education is also an effective way to evangelize young people; most of our Catholic schools enroll large numbers of Muslim and Presbyterian children. The local Catholic school is a powerful evangelization tool for our diocese in Cameroon.
3) Evangelization & Formation for Catechists and Seminarians: Because many of our parishioners are converts to the Catholic Church, we focus on the training of catechists, who in turn become the basic teachers for the RCIA and confirmation programs in parishes and mission churches across the diocese. In addition, the diocese also carries the cost of seminary formation for those young men called to the priesthood.
The proceeds of this year’s mission appeal will be shared as follows: 30% on water projects; 20% for school construction and 10% for tuition assistance for orphans; and 40% on evangelization and faith formation. Thank you for your generosity to the people of Yaounde, Cameroon!
The Sharing Our Bounty Committee
Back to School Collection
before & after all Masses
August 10 & 11
Please donate any of the following:
Backpacks, Lunch Boxes, Binders, Pens, Pencils, Erasers, Paper, Folders, Rulers, Glue Sticks, Highlighters, Crayons, Markers, etc.
Donations will go to Saint Agnes Day Room
and the Lord’s Pantry of Downingtown.