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On that same weekend, October 23-24, we will be celebrating the 69th anniversary of the dedication of our parish church.  Saint Timothy’s upper church was dedicated (or, to use the term that was used at that time, consecrated) on October 25, 1952, by Bishop George L. Leech, who was then the Bishop of Harrisburg and a seminary classmate and friend of Father Thomas Brady, the founding pastor.

I want to update you on the work we have had done recently around the parish property. You know already that we had the exterior doors of the church repaired and refinished. As you can see, they look (and operate!) like new. Altogether, we had twelve doors (or six pairs) repaired and refinished.

I am also asking all of you to consider joining this committee, if you would be willing and able to assist us in this great work of helping those among us who are most in need, especially if you have an area of expertise that would be of assistance to us (e.g., if you are a nurse or another type of health professional, or if you have worked in some way with those who are advanced in years).

I am very happy to officially welcome back to school all of our young people who are students, from Pre-K to college. Our prayer is that this school year is filled with many blessings for you, and that you will learn much and continue to grow into the person God created you to be.

For twenty-nine years, Sister Bea has served our parish as Director of Parish Social Ministries. Sister was brought on to our parish staff by Monsignor Michael Carroll in 1992.

One of the great gifts of this COVID-19 pandemic has been the fact that we have received a large amount of grant money from the federal government for our school. In total we have received over $1.6 million dollars! With this grant money, we have been able to do many things.

In light of current circumstances with the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as school will soon be beginning and the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holydays has been reinstated, I would like to share with you the communication we received from Archbishop Perez

I remind you that many of our classes in our Blessed Trinity School are full for the upcoming school year, but we do have some openings in a few grades. If you have a child, or know of a child, who would benefit from a superior Catholic education, please call our school office (215-338-9797) to speak with our Principal, Ms. Linda Milewski, about registering.

As many aspects of life are now returning to normalcy, each Catholic Bishop in Pennsylvania will reinstate the obligation to attend Mass in person on Sundays and Holy Days beginning on Sunday, August 15, 2021, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  

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 13th, Sister will be leaving us to be missioned to Saint Joseph Villa in Flourtown.

Even if your routine doesn’t change all that much because of retirement, illness, or a particular home situation, the very nature of summertime just seems to make things different than they are during the rest of the year.

We are participating in this fundraiser with several other Catholic parishes and institutions. We are asking for a donation of $25 for each raffle ticket, and are asking you to please consider purchasing the raffle tickets for yourself, or selling them to family members, neighbors, or friends. The purchaser keeps the right half of the ticket.

I once again ask you, if you have not already done so, to please make your Catholic Charities and Saint Charles Seminary Appeal donations for 2021.  It would be a wonderful thing if we had 100% participation in these important annual appeals from every wage earner and/or household in the parish.

This means that our Sunday Masses will basically be celebrated the way we celebrated before COVID, with a few exceptions, e.g., we still will not be offering each other the Sign of Peace and we will not be receiving Holy Communion from the chalice (except, of course, for the priest celebrant).

We are happy to welcome home to Saint Timothy this weekend Reverend Mr. John O’Farrell. As I told you previously, Deacon John, a life-long parishioner of our parish, was ordained a deacon of the Church on Saturday, April 10th by Bishop Michael Burbidge, the Bishop of Arlington, Virginia, in the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington.

I once again respectfully remind you to please consider your gift to the 2021 Catholic Charities Appeal, if you have not already given your gift. My goal as your pastor is for every household and/or every wage earner in the parish to make a sacrificial gift to this year’s Appeal.

There are a limited number of books available. We are asking for a donation of $25 per book. Books may be purchased at the rectory. More information and an order form may be found elsewhere in this bulletin.

Many of you will recall that twice in the past three years I was appointed administrator of Saint Martin of Tours Parish while remaining pastor here at Saint Timothy’s. While I was administrator of Saint Martin’s, the IHM Sisters sadly moved out of the convent and left their work in Saint Martin’s School. In their convent chapel there were two beautiful marble statues, one of Our Lady and the other of Saint Joseph. I was able to acquire the Saint Joseph statue for our use here at Saint Timothy’s.

thank all of you, our dedicated and faithful parishioners, for being with us on this Easter Sunday and throughout the Sacred Triduum, and for all you do for this great parish throughout the year. In the end, it is your fidelity to and love for Saint Timothy’s that really makes us great. I am grateful.

The days of Holy Week, and in particular the Paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday evening, Good Friday, Holy Saturday night/Easter Sunday) invite us to celebrate this Paschal Mystery more intensely, uniting our hearts with Jesus as we recall the great events which gave us new life.