St. John Neumann Catholic Community
Staffed by Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
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Current Mass Times
Saturday: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:
7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 2:00pm(español), 5:00pm
Monday-Friday: 9:00am
(The 12:10pm Mass has gone on summer break. It returns on Wednesday, September 7)
Confession
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (English)
Sunday: 3:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. (español)
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Pastor's Perspective
Slow Down and Appreciate the Ordinary
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Dear Friends,
As I write this column for July, I have just returned along with Fr. Michael from the Priesthood Ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving for Craig Irwin, OSFS in Toledo, Ohio. Fr. Craig spent much of this year as a transitional deacon here at St. John Neumann. For both American Provinces, this was the first ordination in nine years. The ordination was beautiful and encouraging. Bishop Willem Christiaans, OSFS from the Diocese of Keetmanshoop, Namibia, was the presider, making it more special.
Fr. Craig celebrated his first Mass the next day, and you can watch it here.
Yet something Fr. Craig said in his homily at the Mass of Thanksgiving the morning after the ordination has given me pause. “We all have a vocation.” The key is how are we open to the Holy Spirit working in our state of life so that we can experience God’s presence and follow his ordinances in our particular vocation?
Liturgically, we are back in Ordinary Time, just having completed the Easter Season culminating with Pentecost, the feasts of The Most Holy Trinity, and then the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). We also enter into the heart of summer as the month of July begins. Even with the 4th of July celebrations and all that the day entails, these warm and hot summer months allow me to truly appreciate and experience the ordinary. I suggest this because it is in the ordinary of one’s life, at least in my own, where I can experience God embracing me with unconditional love and giving me direction for a meaningful life of service and love. I remembered this from reading a brief reflection by Jan Richardson, Follow Me in the Ordinary, in Give Us This Day. She states, “Turning off the light, I think of how it is the ordinary that roots me. And it is there that God challenges us to unmask her, begs us to unveil him.”
As Christians, we all have a vocation. When I can appreciate the ordinary in my life and see and experience God’s presence, it is there I am able to embrace my vocation. Sometimes, it takes the warm days of summer to slow down and appreciate the gift of the ordinary in our lives.
Live Jesus,
Fr. Joe
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At last week’s Wilmington-Philadelphia Province Convocation, we elected new leadership for the next four years. Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, is our new Provincial. In addition to being a provincial counselor in the last term, Fr. Jack was Superior of the Salesianum Oblate Community and led development efforts for the Province. We also elected four Provincial Councilors who, along with the Provincial, are the governing body for the Province. The newly elected councilors are Oblates, Bro. Dan Wisniewski, Fr. Michael Vannicola, Fr. Michael Murray, and Fr. Joe Campellone.
In addition to being a Provincial Counselor, the Provincial has appointed Fr. Michael Vannicola the Assistant Provincial and is assigning him to live in Wilmington, Delaware, at the Provincial residence.
Fr. Michael will be moving sometime by the end of the summer. In just two short years, he has made a real impact here at the parish in many positive ways. We will sorely miss him. The one piece of good news for us is that in his new position, there is a good chance we will see him here at the parish from time to time.
We will write more news about Fr. Michael’s departure in the future.
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Catechetical Corner
St. Mary Magdalene
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By Jean Lupinacci
We only celebrate two feast days in July, and the first one is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene on July 22, followed by the Feast of St. James on July 25. Today, we focus on St. Mary Magdalene. The Church elevated her feast from a memorial in 2016. This elevation put her on a par with the male apostles, who we also celebrate with feast days. Feast days come just after Sundays, and Solemnities in importance – memorials for saints come under feast days. Mary Magdalene is the patron saint of women. She is mentioned in the gospels 12 times, more than many of the apostles.
Mary Magdalene was from the city of Magdala near the shores of the Sea of Galilee and traveled with Jesus as one of his followers after he healed her of seven demons. She remained at the cross with the other women after the apostles had run away. In the Gospel of John, she was the first one that Jesus appeared to after his resurrection and proclaimed the news of the resurrection to the other apostles. She is known as the “Apostle to the Apostles” for that reason.
Mary of Magdala is sometimes confused with other women named Mary in the gospels, including being incorrectly labeled as a prostitute and sinful woman. Some people thought she was a sinful woman because Luke’s gospel says that “seven demons had gone out of her,” but what that meant in first-century Palestine was that she was ill, not sinful. She is also confused with the sinful woman in Luke 7 who anointed Jesus’ feet. Mary of Magdala was likely a woman of wealth. We know this because Luke 8:2-3 mentions her with other women as one who provided for Jesus and his mission out of their resources.
Mary of Magdala is a beautiful role model for women in the Church today as a faith leader! She was a faithful disciple, a friend and benefactor of Jesus, and a witness to the faith. She loved Jesus so much that she bravely went to the tomb to anoint him after witnessing his terrible death on the cross when others had abandoned him. She also recognized him by his voice when she encountered him in his resurrected body.
Many women today are persecuted and misunderstood. We can turn to Mary Magdalene for support and understanding. She proclaimed the truth and stood firm when people did not believe her. She experienced the truth of the resurrection before anyone else. When the community thought all hope was lost, she gave them hope. She is a beacon of hope for us in modern times. We can use that hope to propel us outward into our community to serve others.
St. Mary of Magdala Pray for us!
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Staff Spotlight
Jean Lupinacci
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Who is Jean and What is Her Role Here at SJN?
Jean is our new Director of the Faith Formation Department. She will oversee all of the office’s activities and work with her staff to ensure our program continues to be dynamic and fulfilling for all our parishioners. “I am observing the ministries in the Faith Formation Department and learning about the St. John Neumann faith community before making any changes.”
When Not at Work What Hobbies or Other Activities do you Enjoy?
"I enjoy spending time with Bill, my husband of 32 years, and our four adult children. I also enjoy walking, and reading." Jean is also working through DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, on a Doctorate in Education (Ed. D.) in the field of Global Catholic Educational Leadership. In the program, she studies women’s role in the Church and how “the Church can amplify the voices of the women within it.” “I am one year into the program, so I have some ways to go, but I am looking forward to the semesters ahead.”
Who is your favorite Saint, and Why?
"My favorite Saint is St. Therese of Lisieux," also known as Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, “a French discalced Carmelite nun canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925.” "My grandmother had a particular devotion to St. Therese and that this led me to continue the devotion.” "I especially like St. Therese's emphasis on “kindness and gentleness in all things.” These concepts, known as “The Little Way,” are what St. Therese embraced all of her life, stating that it is crucial to “be both small“ and “to do the smallest actions with great love.”
What do you like most about SJN?
“I have really enjoyed the welcome and acceptance I have received, along with the thanks for the gifts and talents I'm bringing to SJN."
When you see Jean, be sure to give her a great SJN welcome and take a minute to pray for her as she undertakes the charge of growing the children and adults of our parish in faith and devotion to our Lord, His people.
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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.”
John 15:1-2
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