A WELCOMING COMMUNITY Sunday, December 5, 2021

A WELCOMING COMMUNITYSunday, March 6, 2022Saint AloysiusRev. Joseph L. Maloney, Pastor223 Beech StreetPottstown, PA 19464(610) 326-5877Lord’s Day MassesSaturday: Vigil 5:00 PMSunday: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM (Spanish),10:45 AM, 12:30 PMWeekday MassesMonday thru Friday - 8:30 AM MassSaturday - 8:00 AM MassConfessionsSaturdays 8:30-9:00 AM / 3:30-4:30 PMBaptism1st & 3rd Sunday of the Month at 1:30 PM*Unless otherwise statedAdorationParish Office:Mailing address: 844 N. Keim Street, Pottstown, PA19464Physical address: 223 Beech Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 is held each Thursday followTel: 610-326-5877Fax: 610-326-3003ing the 8:30 AM Mass until 5:00 PM.Parish Office Hours:*Unless otherwise stated or a funeral.Monday – Friday (8:00 AM-4:00 PM)The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayedwww.saintaloysius.netat Adoration each Thursday from 3:00 toSaint Aloysius Parish3:15PM. All are welcome!Click here for websitewww.facebook.com/SaintAlsParish/AMAZON SMILES—St. Aloysius Church

Fighting Temptation Is It Even Relevant Anymore?As it is the First Sunday of Lent we hear of Jesus’temptation in the desert. We know that Jesus facedthe same kinds of temptation that the Israelites experienced as they wandered in the desert for fortyyears. And these temptations are also very similar tothe temptations we face throughout our lives. Ofcourse, we know He knows that He won a dramaticvictory over Satan and that His victory is meant toinspire our own victory over temptation during thisseason of Lent. However, I can’t help but thinking,does anyone ever fight temptation anymore? Imean, really, does anyone see any value in such anarcane struggle in the present day? Perhaps I amseeing the glass as half empty, but I do think I havevalid reasons to be concerned. We are so affected bymodern culture that I even wonder if we recognizesin any more or the value of trying to stay awayfrom it – and that is the very reason that Jesus diedon the cross! Have we actually gotten to the pointwhere we no longer really value trying to stay awayfrom the very reality (sin) from which Jesus cameto save us? We are so very much affected by theworld that I am truly very worried. The worldteaches us that any action is perfectly acceptable aslong as no one gets hurt. This is the old “victimlesscrime” theory. The problem with this is that there isno such thing. If we commit sin, no matter how“private,” someone always gets hurt. It is not okayto hurt ourselves or anyone else or to offend Godand sin always involves all three. The world teachesus it is psychologically harmful to deny ourselves ofanything that we want-and really, if we want something, we need it; don’t we? Therefore, if I wantsomething, I am harming myself if I don’t act to getit. We are also taught human beings cannot overcome temptation so there is no reason to try to overcome it or teach our children to do so. Therefore,parents should supply their teen children withmeans of birth control, and provide them with “safehavens” to abuse alcohol, etc. because they would2not be able to refrain from sex orbeer, etc. This kind of thinking denies young people of the human dignity to which they, believe it or not,want to be held. Last, but certainlynot least the world teaches us thatsince we are living in modern timeswe need a whole new set of moralguidelines. Because things havechanged so much and because we arehave learned so much and have become so “enlightened,” we simplycan no longer be expected to abideby the antiquated values of the past.Therefore, no one can be expected torefrain from sex before marriage, andcertainly we now realize that samesex marriage is to be regarded in thesame way as traditional marriage andwe certainly should not trap peopleinto biological genders. What isamazing about this one is that, whilewe think we are so enlightened, weare not quite enlightened enough torealize that countless cultures boughtthis lie before us. And guess wherethey are now? Well, they are exactlywhere we will be if we also buy it-onthe ash heap of history just like theRomans at the hands of the barbarians. You see, the bottom line is this:there is good, there is evil, there isright, there is wrong, and they arehere to stay. And human beings arealways tempted to sin. But Jesusgives us the means to victory. Hislesson is that we don’t have to beslaves to sin. All that we have to dois struggle to resist temptation, andwhen we fall we turn to Him andkeep on striving-and the victory isours. The only question is does anyof this matter to us anymore?

Sunday, March 6—First Sunday of Lent7:30 AM Nhat Thi MaiRequested by Betsey Ameer9:00 AM(Spanish)10:45 AM12:30 PM Roberto CruzRequested by Juanita Rodrigues Jessie and Michael FarenishRequested by Judy Farenish and Tom Vagasky Intentions of the PeopleMonday, March 7—Saints Perpetua & Felicity8:30 AMMorning Light George MillerRequested by Family3:30-5:00 PM Ǥ ϐ Ǥ ǣ "Lenten Meditation:Growing in Friendship With God" ̈́ͳͷ ǤChurch is open for Prayer OpportunityTuesday, March 8—Shrove Tuesday8:30 AM Keith KienleRequested by Amanda and Melanie Miller3:30-5:00PMChurch is open for Prayer Opportunity ͳ ͳͳǣͲͲ ͳʹǣͲͲ Ǧ Ǥ Vaccines are requiredǤWednesday, March 9—Saint Frances of Rome8:30 AM John and Anna DemkoRequested by Veronicann Gordon3:30-5:00PMChurch is open for Prayer Opportunity Ǧ ǤThursday, March 108:30 AM Lou MalfaroRequested by George and Carole BellFriday, March 118:30 AM Louis MalfaroAre you a Baptized Catholic andhave not received Confirmation?Requested by Patricia Mort and FamilySaturday, March 128:00 AM Esther Cartwright (LIVING)Each year our Bishop confirms adult Catholics whowish to be full members of the Church and receivethe Holy Spirit in a special way through this sacrament. If thisis the sacrament you have not received and find yourself interested in receiving it please call Sr. Marty at the parish office610.326.5877 and let her know of your interest.Confirmation will be held June 5th at the Cathedral and thepreparation for the sacrament is usually 3 sessions of prayer,information and reflection. Know you are welcome and realizethat the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmationare the Sacraments of Initiation which brings you into fullcommunion in the Catholic Church.Requested by Moe Enterprizes, Inc.5:00 PM Intentions of the PeopleSunday, March 13—Second Sunday of Lent7:30 AM Annabel Rose MeenanRequested by Claude and Angela Shelton9:00 AM(Spanish)10:45 AM12:30 PM Eric SalgadoRequested by Parents Helen, Stephen & Dennis VagaskyRequested by Tom Vagasky and Judy Farenish Lawrence FarmanRequested by The Nugent FamilyArchdiocese of Philadelphia SynodArchbishop Pérez is inviting all Catholics to attend a listening session offered in English and Spanish throughout theArchdiocese in March and April. Registration is required.For more information or to register, go to:https://archphila.org/synod.3CALLED FOR MOREAs part of the Archdiocesan “Called for More” Program each parishioner is invited to fill out a DiscipleMaker Index. In order to access the DMI pleaseclick the link below and look for Saint Aloysius Parish on the ��Saint Aloysius

SAINT ALOYSIUS PARISH LENTEN SCHEDULEStations of the CrossThursday evenings during Lent at 6:30PM ͳͲǡ ͳ ǡ ʹͶǡ ͳ Friday evenings during Lent at 7:00PM-Span ͳͳǡ ͳͺǡ ʹͷǡ ͳ ͺ ConfessionsThursday evenings during Lent at 7:00PM ͳͲǡ ͳ ǡ ʹͶǡ ͳ Saturday Confessionsͺǣ ͲǦͻǣͲͲ ǣ ͲǦͶǣ Ͳ Please pray for our brothers and sisters, members of ourfamily, relatives and friends who are sick. May they findcomfort in the thought that they have brothers and sisters inChrist who are thinking of and praying for them: ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǧ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǧ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ƭ ǡ ǡ ǯ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǯ Ǥ Please call the Parish Office to add or remove a name fromthe prayer list.Prayer to Saint MichaelSaint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Beour protection against the wickedness and snares ofthe devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; anddo thou, O Prince of Heavenly Host, be the power ofGod, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits whoprowl about the world seeking ruin of souls. Amen.4Saint of the WeekSt. Catherine of Bologna March 9St. Catherine of Bologna (September 8,1413 – March 9, 1463) came from an upper-class family in Ferrara, a city in Italy, andreceived an education at the court, whereshe learned reading, writing, singing anddrawing. But despite her advantages, herheart yearned for God.She joined a group of religious women inFerrara at the age of 18. Four years later,that same group joined the Poor Clares, anorder founded by St. Francis and St. Clareof Assisi. In 1456, she and 15 other sisterswere sent to establish a Poor Clare monastery in Florence.As abbess, St. Catherine of Bologna workedto establish the new community and maintain a semblance of peace throughout. Shewas a model of piety and reported experiencing miracles and several visions ofChrist, and the Virgin Mary.In 1463, St. Catherine of Bologna becameseriously ill, and she passed away. She wasburied without a coffin and her body wasexhumed 18 days later because of manycures attributed to her at her graveside andthe sweet scent coming from her grave. Herbody was discovered incorrupt (meaning itwas not decaying) and remains so today.142—Saint Aloysius

Readings for the week of March 6Sunday:Weekend of February 26/27, 2022Weekly Worship Offering Feb.26/27ǣ ̈́ͷǡͺͶͲ Weekly Offering via Mail: ̈́ ǡ ͶͶWeekly Epay Worship Offering Feb. 26/27 : ̈́ʹǡͳ ͺRestricted Donations: ̈́ʹǡ ͻʹ Other Donations: ̈́ͳͺͻ TOTAL: 14,203 ʹ Ȁʹͺ ǣ ̈́ͳʹǡ day:Next Sunday:Dt 26:4-10/Ps 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 [cf.15b]/Rom 10:8-13/Lk 4:1-13Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15/Mt 25:31-46Is 55:10-11/Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19/Mt 6:7-15Jon 3:1-10/Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19/Lk 11:29-32Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8/Mt 7:7-12Ez 18:21-28/Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8/Mt5:20-26Dt 26:16-19/Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8/Mt 5:43-48Gn 15:5-12, 17-18/Ps 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14/Phil3:17—4:1 or 3:20—4:1/Lk 9:28b-36551 UPDATE 3/01/22 Beginning new ROLL!!!!!Parishioners Helping ParishionersPlease consider donating two or three items of the following for parishioners in need:Chef-Boyardee pasta, Spam, Tuna fish, Chicken,Salmon, Cereal boxes, Toilet paper, Paper towelsHealth/beauty itemsAccess to the Food Pantry is anonymous - no questionsasked.The pantry is located across from the elevator in the Gathering Center kitchenette and is accessible when the Gathering Center is open. If you know of someone who cannotget to the church but would welcome some items, pleasecontact Cathy Heayn (484-948-7562) and we will makearrangements for delivery.Do you know of someone in need? Please let them knowabout the Pantry or feel free to gather a bag or two (ormore) of items for them.32 tickets sold ( 1 @ 10 and 31 @ 20)3 Winners ( 3 @ 20) Don DorkoskieDiane StuartHeather Young ʹ Ͷ ͺ Ǩ WHO WILL BE THE NEXT BIG WINNER ?SAINT ALOYSIUS SCHOOLANNUAL APPEAL:40 DAY - LENTEN CHALLENGE2021-2022St. Aloysius Food PantryParishioners Helping Parishioners ǡ Ǥ OURGOAL IS TO RECEIVE A TOTAL OF 40 – 4 PACKSOF TOILET PAPER AND 40 CANS OF SPAM [ORITS GENERIC EQUIVALENT]. Received as of 03/01/22: 121,311.00Pledged as of 03/01/22: 2,600.00Total received and Pledged 123,911.00 Goal: 200,000 Are you up for the challenge? Ǧ Ǥ ǡ ͶͲ Ǥ If you have questions, please contact: ȋ ͳͲǤͶ ǤͻͲͶͻ ̷ Ǥ ȌǤ 5