WEEKEND OF JULY 24-25

For nearly thirty years, Sister Bea McElrone, SSJ, has served Saint Timothy Parish as our Director of Parish Social Ministries. In this important role, Sister Bea has ministered to many people, including our elderly sick and shut-ins, the poor, those who have been in need of food and other material necessities, as well as those who have been in need of countless other life essentials. Sister’s vital ministry here has literally touched tens of thousands of people. In all of this, Sister Bea has been the presence of Christ to all of us who have been privileged to know her and to live with her in this community of faith, but that presence has been particularly manifested to the poor and those who are most in need.

            It is with a real measure of sadness but with a heart filled with gratitude that I inform you that Sister Bea’s ministry among us has come to an end. On September 13^th, Sister will be leaving us to be missioned to Saint Joseph Villa in Flourtown.

            Sister has told me more than once over the course of the past several months that she has received much more than she has given, and that she is most grateful for the many people who worked with her and enabled her ministry to be as fruitful as it has been. While this is certainly true, I truly believe that God has used her as an important instrument of his love here in our Mayfair community and beyond, and for that reason we have an obligation to thank him and to praise him for Sister’s presence.

            In thanksgiving to God for the gift of Sister Bea to our Saint Timothy’s family, we will be celebrating a special Mass of Thanksgiving, on Sunday, September 12, at 9:15. This Eucharistic Celebration will give us the perfect opportunity to thank God and to honor Sister Bea for the many blessings we have all been given through her presence and her ministry among us. After Mass we will gather in the hall for a continental breakfast, during which you will be able to greet Sister and to thank her personally. More information about this tribute to Sister Bea will be forthcoming.
             
I once again call to your attention the ad in this bulletin regarding the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.). This process will be beginning in the fall. This journey of faith is for those adults and young adults who have never been baptized, those who were baptized in another Christian denomination and would like to be received into the Catholic Church, and those who were baptized Catholic but never were catechized and/or never received the sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation. If you know of anyone who falls into any of these categories, please encourage them to call the Rectory to speak with me so that they can begin this journey and be received into the Church at Eastertime.

I remind you for the one final time about the Parish Raffle fundraiser we are participating in. You should have received a mailing in your home, containing a cover letter from me and four raffle tickets. We are participating in this fundraiser with several other Catholic parishes. We are asking for a donation of $25 for each raffle ticket, and are asking you to please consider purchasing the chances for yourself, or selling them to family members, neighbors, or friends. The purchaser keeps the right half of the ticket. The left half of the ticket, along with the payment, should be placed in the envelope enclosed in the mailing for return. We also ask you to include any unsold tickets in the return envelope. All tickets and money should be returned by August 1. The raffle will be drawn on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 11:00 P.M. and can be viewed live at www.parishraffle.com

            The prizes for the raffle are excellent. They are all American Express gift cards, and there are fifteen prizes in total. The first prize is a $30,000 gift card; the second prize is a $3,000 gift card; the third prize is a $2,000 gift card; and there are twelve $1,000 prizes.

            I am asking every registered family or individual to participate in this important fundraiser. Besides the excellent prizes, the proceeds are of great benefit to our parish. If you didn’t receive the mailing, or would like more tickets to either purchase or sell, there are more tickets available at the rectory. Thank you in advance for your goodness, and for your willingness to participate in this important fundraiser in support of our great parish.

Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.

                                                                                    Love and prayers,
                                                                                    Father Olivere