Weekend of November 13-14, 2021

Dear Friends,

            This coming Monday, November 15, at 6:00 P.M., we will be hosting the first meeting of our new Social Ministry Committee. You will recall that this committee will be continuing  the good work of Sister Bea McElrone, especially among the poor and most needy of our community. Anyone who would like and is able to assist us in this important ministry is most welcome to attend this inaugural meeting. It would be especially beneficial to us if you are a medical professional or have experience working with the sick or with those who are of advanced years. The meeting will be held in our school library, so I would ask you to please enter the school door nearest the gym. Again, the meeting will be this coming Monday, November 15, at 6:00 P.M.

            It is with a measure of sadness, coupled with great gratitude, that I announce to you the retirement of our dedicated Director of Music, Miss Anne Coneghen. Anne has served our Saint Timothy’s community for twelve years, with a competence, knowledge, professionalism and dedication that are unmatched among her peers in the liturgical music ministry. In every way, Anne has been a gift to our parish family (and to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for almost fifty years), and every one of us has been touched by the way in which she has drawn us into the act of worship, especially with her second-to-none musical gifts. As Anne has said many times over the past few weeks, she will now be our Director of Music Emeritus, meaning quite simply that she will still be around, to play the organ when needed, and to be an important part of our community of faith. We wish Anne every grace and blessing as she enters into this new chapter of her life.

By now you should have received the mailing for our annual census/block collection (if you have not received it, please call the rectory and let us know). Please remember that the census information is very important in order for us to update our records and to keep our data accurate. The block collection is equally important for us, since it is one of the single largest sources of income we receive in the course of the year. I ask that wage earners be as generous as possible in this annual collection, if possible donating $200. Your generosity in this collection is especially important as we face the winter months and the inevitably high utility bills. It is also important given the fact that our collections are becoming increasingly less, especially due to the continued deaths of some of our most faithful givers. Of course, in light of this, our bills NEVER decrease, but on the contrary continue to rise! Your generosity is always humbling to me, and so I thank you in advance for your goodness to your parish.

I remind you that, during this month of November, the Archdiocese is beginning our annual seminary appeal, for the benefit of our present seminarians, as well as to ensure the future of our great seminary of Saint Charles Borromeo at Overbrook. This year’s appeal’s theme is Saint Charles Seminary: For today. For tomorrow. For all of us.  We are reminded, especially in this theme, that the seminary exists not just to prepare future priests, but to also prepare future permanent deacons and their wives for ministry, and to educate lay women and men in theological studies, especially for their work in Church ministries, such as teaching or other forms of pastoral service. You should have received a direct mailing from the seminary for this annual appeal, and may use the envelope enclosed in your mailing to send your contribution directly to the seminary, which is the preferred method. For those of you who didn’t receive this mailing from the seminary, or misplaced it, there are extra envelopes available in the vestibule of the church for your convenience. Mr. Edward Town, our seminarian who was assigned to us this past summer and is with us during this school year on Thursdays, will be speaking to us about the seminary at all the Masses this weekend. I ask you, as always, to be as generous as possible in this important annual appeal. Thank you in advance for your generous sacrificial gift.

This Sunday, at the 9:15 Mass, our Confirmation candidates will officially begin their journey to this great sacrament with the Rite of Acceptance as candidates for Confirmation. Our young people will receive this Sacrament of Initiation next spring at the hands of Bishop Senior. Please pray for them as they begin in earnest their preparation to be confirmed.

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

                                                                                    Love and prayers,
                                                                                    Father Olivere