News from St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish

Parish E-news

April 16, 2010

www.saint-max.org

The Gift of the 7 Sacraments

17 people were received into the church at Easter Vigil;

242 children will receive the Eucharist for the first time after celebrating the Sacrament of Penance;

197 youth will be Confirmed;

3 Men will be ordained as permanent deacons;

33 couples will be joined in the Sacrament of Marriage;

countless babies will be baptized;

and Communal Anointing of the Sick will be conferred on the 5th Sunday of May

Greetings!

My dear sisters and brothers in the risen Lord Jesus,

A blessed Eastertide to all! Celebrating the central mystery of Christianity, Christ's triumph over sin and death in his glorious resurrection, we celebrate Easter for a full fifty days until Pentecost Sunday, May 23. As we celebrate each Sunday of the Easter season, we will start our Masses with a sprinkling rite, a reminder of our baptism into Christ's victory over sin and death.

Let us always pray for each other as we continue to build up that unique part of the Body of Christ which is St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish.

Thank you to all supporters of the 2010 Catholic Ministries Appeal. If you have not yet pledged, please consider a gift today and help us meet our goal. Please remember to make your pledge now even if you plan on fulfilling that pledge towards the end of the year. You can pick up pledge packets in the back of church to be mailed in., or for more information please visit CatholicAppeal.info. Every gift matters.

God Bless one and all!

Fr. Geoff

Last Chance

It's not too late to attend the Fr. Porter 80th Birthday Celebration. Call Lakme' in the parish office at 777-4322, ext. 105 by noon Friday if you would like to attend.

We cordially invite you to a reception

In honor of our

Newly Ordained Deacons

John Back

Mike Hinger

Mike Lippman

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Fr. John E. Porter Family Life Complex

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010

1:30-3:30 PM

"WISH LIST"

APPETIZERS NEEDED - We will be celebrating the ordination of parishioners John Back, Mike Hinger and Mike Lippman to the permanent deaconate after noon Mass, Sunday, April 25, 1:30-3:30pm in the gym. If you would like to prepare a "finger food" for this event, please contact inquiry@saint-max.org or call the parish office 777-4322.

PASTORAL COUNCIL

RECORDING SECRETARY NEEDED

After years of service to pastoral council as recording secretary, Christy Burke is moving on to focus on other ministries. We thank Christy for her energy and dedication, and know she will bring these gifts to any ministry in which she participates. As a result, we are actively looking for a replacement for this important position. The recording secretary is a non-voting, volunteer position, and generally for a term no longer than three years. Duties include:

Attendance at all PC meetings, thefirst Wednesday of the month, to record minutes and track attendance. The format of the minutes includes summaries of the major decisions, recommendations, and actions to be taken, including the persons delegated to act.

Providing timely issuance of minutes for review by PC members and approval by the pastor.

Serving as directed by the council in the administration of PC matters.

Attending all PC events, including retreats.

If you would like to serve your parish in this manner, please contact Fr. Geoff gdrew@saint-max.org or 777-4322x102.

HEALING AND REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

FOR THE LOSS OF AN UNBORN CHILD

The service for healing and remembrance for those who have lost an unborn child due to miscarriage or abortion has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Max. Come to know that your child is safe in the arms of Jesus and receive His love and healing. For more information, contact Debbie Sander at 856-8494 or sanfam@fuse.net

BOTTLES FOR BABIES

The Respect Life Ministry will distributed baby bottles after Mass on Mother's Day weekend - May 8 & 9. Please put any spare change or cash in bottle. The bottles will be collected on Father's Day weekend. Money will be donated to Elizabeth's New Life Center in Lebanon. The Center provides positive solutions to unexpected pregnancies by offering free pregnancy tests, ultrasound scans, consulting/mentoring, prenatal care and maternal assistance. For more information, contact Mary Jo Suer at 755-1193 or maryjos1@fuse.net

CROSSES

There are approximately 4000 abortions performed everyday in the United States. As a way to remember and show love for all of these babies, the Respect Life Committee is sponsoring the installation or 4000 crosses along the front of St. Max. Your help is needed! Please sign up to help put up crosses. They will be installed on May 22 at 8:30 a.m. Families are welcome. The crosses will be taken down on June 1 at 8:30 a.m. To sign up or for more information, contact Sol Gross at 759-2131 or solcarmelagross@roadrunner.com

Ladies' Fellowship Network Wine-tasting Social:

All women of the parish (21 and up) are invited to an informal wine-tasting on April 24^th at 7 p.m. at the home of Pat Drybala. Help us celebrate Spring's arrival! Please bring your favorite bottle of wine or sparkling juice for sampling; appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be available as well. While we are anticipating a light-hearted, enjoyable evening of socializing among friends, we are organizing a pool of designated drivers to ensure everyone's comfort and safety. For information regarding designated drivers, please contact Christy at 759-4295 or LFN@saint-max.org. Please call our gracious hostess, Pat, for directions @ 290-4124.

RFY NEWS

"{Jesus} said to {them}, "Follow me."(Jn 21:19) Children, pray that we may be able to see with eyes of love and follow Jesus.

SUMMER RFY: Registration materials are now available, in the Gathering Space or from the parish website, www.saint-max.org, link to Faith Formation Youth, Gr. 1-8. The Summer RFY program is home study format and includes a mandatory retreat (books distributed at retreat). Please see

NOTE TO 8^TH GRADE HOME STUDY STUDENTS: All 8^th Grade Home Study Students should be finished with both books. Please return all Jr. High Textbooks to the RFY Office as soon as possible. Thank you!

HOME STUDY: All Home Study students should be finished with the scheduled lessons by the end of April.

PARENT EVALUATIONS: Sent home last week with all students. Please take time to complete and return-evaluations help us to plan and improve the RFY program.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Easter-Journey to Pentecost-April 19 & 21

Closing Mass-May 3, 6:00 pm--ALL RFY students and families

Invited and encouraged to attend

Please contact Mary Montour, 777-4322, X-120, or mmontour@saint-max.org if you have any questions about the RFY program.

FIRST COMMUNION MASS SCHEDULE:

The sacrament of First Communion will be celebrated with the St. Max community on the following weekends:

DATE MASS

April 17 4:30 Mass

April 18 12:00 Mass

May 1 4:30 Mass

May 2 8:00 Mass

May 2 10:00 Mass

May 2 12:00 Mass

May 8 4:30 Mass

May 9 12:00 Mass

REMEMBER!!

Please be attentive to arrival at church 15 min. before Mass
Facilitators will be on hand for check in and last minute questions
Children will be randomly selected and contacted for the Offertory procession
Each family will be assigned one pew-First Communion certificates will be in pew & pew will be labeled with family name
First Communion banners will be hung at the end of your family's pew
Relatives may also need to arrive early if additional seating is needed
No photography during Mass-before & after Mass if time permits

Please contact Mary Montour, 777-4322, X-120, with any

questions or concerns regarding the Sacrament Preparation

program, or e-mail: mmontour@saint-max.org. Thank you!

PRESCHOOL RFY

The Sunday morning Preschool Faith Formation Program is offered for children who are or will be 3, 4, or 5 years old by September 30, 2010. Its goal is to help children discover and appreciate God's wonderful world while learning to show Christian attitudes toward others and worshiping Him through prayer and song. The program encourages children to recognize their value to God and strives to prepare them for a personal life of faith.

CALENDAR: September 12, 2010-May 22, 2011 with holiday breaks.

TIMES & LOCATION: Classes are held on Sunday mornings at 8:00 and 10:00 during Mass. They are held in the classrooms of the Fr. John E. Porter Family Life Complex.

FEES: $70 per child

VOLUNTEERS: Volunteer opportunities are available. Please check the website.

To Enroll: The Preschool RFY program will begin to accept registrations for the 2010-2011 session on May 3, 2010. Classes are filled on a first come, first served basis.