31st Sunday in Ordinary Time November 5, 2017

Saturday, November 4 4:30PM Donald & Teresa Hine Sunday, November 5 7:30AM Lona & James Craven 9:30AM Martin Brady 11:30AM Felicia Rzeznik Monday, November 6 8:15AM Martin & Patricia Matsko Tuesday, November 7 8:15AM Lawrence Hoy, Michael Kane David Milleur Audrey DeFrangesco Wednesday, November 8 8:15AM Agnes Masciantonio Maureen Foley Hedwig, Michael Foley, Mary C. Foley Thursday, November 9 8:15AM Anne & Joseph Marchegiano Friday, November 10 8:15AM Gerald W. Masciantonio Saturday, November 11 4:30PM Ignatius & Blanche Schultz Sunday, November 12 7:30AM Charles & Charlotte Kelly 9:30AM John & Bettie McCarthy 11:30AM In Thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart

Tom Tone, David Talone, JoAnn LaSorsa, Marie Carney,

Greg Atkinson, Msgr. Robert Grudowski, Anthony

Bonanno, Joanne Toth, Theresa Lenczewski, Luke

Birkhead, Erik Kozlowski, Marlene Salkowski, Roselie

Partenheimer, John Walski, Carl Reiff, Joseph Blaszczak, Patrick Kelly,

Sean McGonagle, Mary Pierce, Brian Dunlevy, , Stephanie Hathaway,

Charles Streibig, Kylie Reiff, Eduardo Gloria, Molly Glick, Deb Smith,

Ann Campbell, Francina Capolingua, Cathy Pierlott, Lynn Bowman,

James Gauger, Emilia Bello Jones, Rita VanBuskirk, Caroline Smerecki,

Joan Pierce, Kevin Miller, Rylan Borys, Susan Minnick, Jessica Jara,

Kendall Soltys, Concezio Lelii, William McGrath, Carl Pierce, Ursula

Kozlowski, Benedetto McDaniels, Kevin Kelly, Joanne Kalacinski, Mary

DiMedio, Anna Marie Ferrier, Mary Stoffel, Jeri McClennen, John

Boccella, Jim Bokoski, Hans Pawling, Margie Burghart, Kristen Lafferty,

Debbie Miller Hannon, Robert Berk, Emma Forlini, Derek Dean, Baby

Noah Marchetti, James Simpson, Roseann Sirianni Lare, Theresa

Steinhauser,Rachel Minnick, Mark Hogan, Gregory Mazzochetti, Teresa

Sensinger, Theresa Rozecki, Minnie Olearsky, Sal Spera, Veronica

Lilick, Jessie Bonkowski, Marlin McCarthy, Angeline Williams, Grace

McCracken, Joe Lipinski, Marty Murray, Jack Ashton Sr., David Foults,

David Smerecki Sr., Gina Hauserman, A Blind Woman, Debbie Adams,

Joe Januzelli, Owen Reichner

Sr. Jean Streibig, George Roth, Jr.

Staff Sgt Daniel Furtak, Lt. Michelle R. McNally, SSKC Terence J. McNally Jr., Sgt. Robert Bonneau, Andrew Midgett, Lt.

Col Evah McGinley, The 108th Wing McGuire AFB, Petty

Officer George Horning Jr., 1st Lt. Stanley J. Reimer III, SR Brett Pellicciotti, Corporal Thomas Mazzochetti, Robert Catapano U.S. Army 101

st Airborne, Michael Bondra,

Senior Airman Jacob Shoemaker, Master Sgt. Curt W. Zeiders III, Edward Sobeck, 2

nd Lt. Ryan D’Ambrosio, 2

nd

Lt. Eraina D’Ambrosio, Lt. Col Jeffrey Matthew

CELEBRANTS MASS SCHEDULE 11/4 4:30 Fr. Ryan 11/5 7:30 Msgr. Owens 9:30 Fr. Cooke 11:30 Msgr. Ricci 11/11 4:30 Fr. Ryan 11/12 7:30 Msgr. Ricci 9:30 Fr. McKeaney11:30 Fr. Heron

11/18 4:30 Fr. Heron 11/19 7:30Msgr. Ricci 9:30 Msgr. Owens 11:30 Fr. McKeaney

11/25 4:30 Msgr. Ricci 11/26 7:30 Fr. McKeaney 9:30 Fr. Ryan 11:30 Msgr. Owens

Pre-Jordan Instructions: The Sacrament of Baptism is

administered in church on the first three Sundays of each month following the 11:30 A.M. Mass. In preparation for having a child Baptized, parents are required to attend “Pre-Jordan Instructions.” Classes are the 1

st

Tuesday of each month. The next class is November 7 at 7PM in Church. You will be required to attend a class if this is the Baptism of your first child. To schedule your Baptism go to www.stmatthewparish.com Pastoral Council News Pastoral Council will meet Nov. 28, January 16 and Feb. 20 at 7PM in the Parish Center.

Prepare for next Sunday 32

nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 12 Wisdom 6:12 – 16 Thessalonians 4:13 – 18 Matthew 25:1 – 13

Why do the five wise virgins not share their oil with the five foolish ones? Because it is something that simply cannot be shared. The oil represents our personal virtue. The burning oil lamps, which they carry, symbolically portray Christian wisdom. God, through Jesus, will bring with him those who seek wisdom with the same ardor with which the wise virgins seek the bridegroom. For Christ is the Bridegroom.

CCD/PREP Congratulations to the Youth Group who held a successful trick or treat at the 4:30 Mass October 28th. See website for pictures. Next

meeting Monday Nov. 6th in parish center 6:30pm.

Youth Group Schedule 2017-2018: November 6, 2017 December 4, 2017 January 8, 2018 February 5, 2018

March 5, 2018 April 2, 2018 May 7, 2018

LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN is held every Sunday at the 9:30AM Mass. All children (ages 3 – 9) are invited from the altar to the sacristy to share in a child-like presentation of the Readings of the Day. They return after the Prayer of

the Faithful. Parents and older siblings are encouraged to accompany younger siblings. 10 year olds and up are encouraged to become altar servers.

ALTAR SERVERS: Are you 10 years old or older? Do you want to help in the parish? Join the St. Matthew’s Altar Servers. E-mail stmatthewrectory@verizon.net.

St Matthews Senior Group will meet on November 15th at 12:30pm, in the school hall. There will be a short meeting, lunch and a social time to meet new and old friends. Lunch is $5, if you would like to bring a

dessert, call Ann Love 610-828-7103. Any questions, suggestions, or new member who would to join call Pat Hanna, 610-272-3610 or Kitty McNally 610-825-9291.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: We most ‘warmly’ invite you to be a part of this Ministry by meeting with us in the St. Vincent DePaul room Tuesday, November 14 at 7PM. If you know of someone who might like to receive a shawl, please let us know-or make one yourself for someone special to you. Contact

Alice O’Connor acaoc@verizon.net After Divorce: Hope and Healing for the Catholic Family: There will be a special ‘healing retreat’ at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Overbrook, Philadelphia on November 18th at 9 a.m. The day will end with Mass at 4 p.m. Lunch is included with the fee of $25. Rose Sweet, national speaker and Catholic author will be the presenter. Rose is a dynamic speaker who offers healing and understanding to her listeners in honor of the Church. See our Church bulletin for details or go to their website at www.nonnatus.org. Call 215-870-9913.

St. Matthew's Conshohocken Young Adult group aims to provide fellowship through social, spiritual and service opportunities for those in their 20s and 30s and the young at heart. Our next event: Nov 6 - Quizzo at Guppys 7 PM To sign up for events and more please join the St Matthew Conshohocken Young Adult Facebook group. If you have any questions, please contact Tony Moral at tony.moral2@gmail.com or Erin Garrett at erin.garret@gmail.com.

The Young Adults have started up an American Cancer Society Relay for Life team called the CUREsaders to help spread the love of Christ through community outreach. If you are interested in joining the Team and/or participating in events, please reach out to Ryan Parisi at parisi.ryan.a@gmail.com. The Team is open to members of all ages, from the young to the young at heart!"

Holy Rosary Annual Craft Show Holy Rosary Regional Catholic School, located in Plymouth Meeting, will be having their annual Craft Show on Saturday December 2

nd and Sunday

December 3rd

. This event continues to be one of the largest in the area by hosting over 100 crafters who cater to the shopping needs of over 1,000 attendees. If you are interested in being a crafter at this popular event, please email holyrosarycraftshow@gmail.com Sunday, November 19, 2017, 4:30pm Event: Annual Stand Up For Life Dinner We hope you can join us for a wonderful night to celebrate the gift of life! We encourage you to order your tickets as soon as possible. Cocktails begin at 4:30pm, and the dinner begins at 5:30pm. This event is hosted by the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia. Keynote speaker: Melissa Ohden Location: Sheraton Hotel, Center City, Philadelphia Cost: Student tickets $50, individual tickets $75, tables of ten (adults) $700 More info: Please register online at www.prolifeunion.org/dinner.

HOLY NAME SOCIETY” – Annual Holy Saviour Holy Name Society Communion Breakfast: Sunday, November 19

th at Plymouth CC after the 9:30 AM Mass.

Guest Speaker Tommy Greene, Philadelphia Phillies 1991 “no hitter” & pitched for ‘93 Philadelphia National League Champions. Tickets are $25.00. Contact any Holy Name Member, or Michael Angelucci at 610-279-2912 or by e-mail at michaelangelucci@verizon.net.

October 29, 2017

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR

YOUR OFFERTORY GIFTS LAST WEEKEND:

Electronic giving $1,635.00 + $10,676.00 = $12,311.00

TWO-YEAR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE ST. MATTHEW CHURCH IN

PREPARATION OF THE 100TH

ANNIVERSARY

Masonry restoration of Steeple & Outside of Church ..................... $592,513.00 Complete Stained Glass Window project ............................... $68,842.00 Marble Restoration ......................... $51,000.00 Electric Sign on front lawn ............. $40,000.00 Total ............................................... $752,355.00

ELECTRONIC GIVING: Parish Giving is convenient for you and there is NO COST for you to participate. to register

www.parishgiving.org or www.stmatthewparish.com

Reflections from my Rocking Chair Dear friends, The month of November begins with the great feast of All Saints where remember those canonized by the church and offered to us as intercessors in our prayer to Jesus and as a model for Christian living. The process for canonization is a serious one for in it the church solemnly declares that the person admired for their sanctity is definitively in heaven. Such a one is Father Walter Ciszek, SJ. Born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania in 1904 Father Ciszek entered the Jesuits and in 1938 was sent into Russia to sustain the faith of the many Catholics persecuted by that communist state. He worked as an unskilled logger, while discreetly performing religious ministries at the same time. Father Ciszek was arrested in 1941 being accused of espionage on behalf of the Vatican and sent to prison in Moscow. He was convicted and sentenced to 15 years hard labor in the Gulag. For five years he endured solitary confinement with numerous interrogations seeking his confession to the spy conviction. He prayed intensely for the grace to resist but after years of suffering signed a confession document. Throughout his lengthy imprisonment (23 years), Father Ciszek continued to pray, celebrate Mass and hear confessions discreetly, while working as an enslaved coal miner and later as an auto repairman. In 1963, he was permitted to return to the United States in an exchange for the release of two Soviet spies. In 1965 he began lecturing at the John XXIII center at Fordham University. After many years of declining health, Father Ciszek died December 8, 1984 and is buried at the Jesuit Cemetery in Wernersville, Pennsylvania. He has been declared a “Servant of God”, the first stage of the canonization process. He authored two books that may be of interest to you, With God in Russia (1964) and He Leadeth Me (1973). In this second volume there is a moment in his journey that was compelling to me. During the solitary confinement he prayed intensely that he would have the strength to resist the interrogators insistence that he signed a document confessing that he was a spy. He prayed hard and long and yet he failed. He describes a deep spiritual depression that followed his capitulation. He had let God down. In a very moving portion of He Leadeth Me Father Ciszek made a great discovery spiritually. Jesus revealed to him this fundamental grace; that God’s love for Father Ciszek did not depend on whether he signed the document. God loved Father Ciszek because God is love. God’s love does not come and go based on our worthiness. He loves us for no other reason than he created us. We do not earn it. God loves us first and always. Blessings, Monsignor Tom Owens stmatt2014@gmail.com PS the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League, 231 N. Jardin St., Shenandoah, PA 17976 promotes the cause for canonization of Father Ciszek. Both of the books cited above remain in print and are a fine example of spiritual reading.

Fr. Tom Heron’s Weekly Reflection

The Scribes and Pharisees were leaders in the Jewish community of Jesus’ day. They were teachers, lawyers, politicians. Jesus severely criticizes them for their corrupting vanity, for their self-righteous behavior and their pride. They had fallen into the trap that waits for anyone in a leadership position. They lost touch with ordinary people. They had become distant from the concerns of the people under them - unaware, unappreciative of their needs, concerns and worries. These teachers, lawyers, politicians knew the Law inside out. They used this knowledge to seek exemptions from the Law, all the while loading weighty burdens on the backs of the ordinary people who had no access to loopholes. These leaders flocked to the highest places in synagogues, at the Temple, at banquets. They insisted on being called by their official titles, Rabbi or O great one, Heavenly Father, Great Leader, Magnificent Leader (remember Der Fuhrer and Il Duce?). There is a familiar ring to all of this, isn’t there? Jesus could well speak these same words to teachers, lawyers, politicians today who are guilty of the same sins of pride and vanity, who forget their own humble origins and try to advance themselves through graft, corruption and immorality. Jesus criticizes these leaders especially because they do not practice what they preach. We all recognize that Jesus is right on the mark in His criticism. We all know teachers, lawyers, politicians, priests and religious who have done the same things Jesus accuses the Scribes and Pharisees of doing. The time has come to call our leaders to responsibility for their actions and demand that they lead by example. The time has come for any of us in a leadership position to live up to our responsibility. The time has come for parents to realize that they are their children’s first, most important and most influential teachers. Wouldn’t it be much easier for all of us to follow the Gospel of Christ if we had living examples in leadership roles? Jesus’ blueprint for leaders is quite simple. Any leader, parent, teacher, coach, lawyer, politician, priest, religious must realize that they hold their leadership position in trust. This means that each leader will have to give an accounting of his/her activity to the One God, Father and Teacher of us all. Every leader must realize that he/she is called to serve and not lord it over anyone. This means treating all under our care with the same dignity and respect, recognizing the potential of all under our care and seeing in them the image of God in which they were created. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and the scribes saying, “They don’t practice what they preach … They do everything so that people will see them.” An army major was in his new office when a private appeared at the door. To impress the private, the major said, “Come in, soldier! Be right with you after I answer this phone call.” Then speaking into the phone, he said,

“Well, General, good to hear your voice. How can I help you?” A pause followed. Then the major said, “Fine, General, I’ll call the President within the hour!” Then he said to the private, who was staring at the floor nervously, “Now, soldier, what can I do for you?” Without looking up, the private said in a low voice, “The sergeant told me to come in and hook up your telephone for you.” When was the last time you tried to impress another in some way? How prevalent is this in your life? Character is much easier kept than recovered. (Thomas Paine) The phylacteries were “small leather cases” that the Pharisees wore on their foreheads and their arms. In these cases were the Scripture verses from Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21. The Exodus verses are about how God brought His people out of slavery in Egypt, and about the celebration of the Passover. The Deuteronomy verses are about loving God with all one’s heart, mind, and spirit … There was no great crime here. The Pharisees were playing the same game all of us play. And the reason we play these games is that they are fun. We want other people to recognize us, respect us, even envy us. Who among us has not had our head turned by recognition?

End of Bulletin