FROM THE PASTOR Dear Parishioners,

World War II General Douglas MacArthur is remembered for his famous parting words spoken in

1942 as he evacuated the Philippine Islands. He said, “I

shall return.” We also hear this in this Sunday’s gospel.

Jesus tells us, “I will come again and I will take you to Myself.”

MacArthur kept his promise, addressing the soon-to-

be liberated Philippine people. He said, “The guidance of Divine God points the way. Follow in His name to the

Holy Grail of righteous victory!”

When Jesus returns for us, we won’t need such

inspiring rhetoric. All we will need is His familiar and simple: “Come, follow Me.”

Yours in Christ, Father Dave

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MASS INTENTIONS Monday, May 23 – 9:00 a.m.

PATRICIA DAVIS (Marion & Tom Messina)

Tuesday, May 24 – 9:00 a.m. JOAN ALBO (Phil & Carol Lasco)

Wednesday, May 25 – 9:00 a.m

JACK CAMPION (Children)

Thursday, May 26 – 8:00 a.m. – (TIME CHANGE)

FRANCES PROKOP (Peggy & Gene Ebling)

Friday, May 27 – 9:00 a.m.

EARL & FLORENCE TROPP Saturday, May 28 – 5:00 p.m.

JOSEPH & ELIZABETH YARASHUS (Family)

Sunday, May 29 – 8:15 a.m. CARL W. ELISON (Bill & Dot Elison)

Sunday, May 29 – 10:30 a.m.

CARL WEISS (Weiss Family) ========================================

CANDLE INTENTIONS B.V.M – IMO Frances Bortzel, 25

th Anniv. by Family

St. Joseph – IMO Joseph Wollyung Sr.

by Joe & Barbara Wollyung Tabernacle – Special Intention by Mary Ann Holley

Sanctuary –

1. IMO Mary Hahner by Hahner Family 2. Living & Deceased of Holley Family

by Mary Ann Holley

3. Special Intention

4. Living & Deceased of Smith Family by Mary Ann Holley

Guardian Angels 1 .Special Intention 2. Special Intention

========================================

WEEKLY COLLECTIION May 15

th : $ 5,210.50; Imp.&Rep.: $1,560.00

We thank our parishioners for their sacrificial giving.

SCHEDULE Sixth Sunday of Easter

5:00 – Saturday – May 28th

Readers: Carol Rizzardi

Euch.Min.: Katie Zwiebel, Christopher Lombel

Servers: Kate Kramer, Rachel Brahler, Molly Zwiebel

Cantor: Mary Bound

8:15 a.m. – Sunday – May 29th

Reader: Adalie Zanis

Euch.Min.: Paul & Debbie Herb, (Dr. Visot) Servers: Lorne Zanis, Nathaniel & Christian Yingling

Cantor: Karen Glunz

10:30 a.m. – Sunday – May 29th

Reader: Bill Casey Euch.Min.: Phil Markovich, Prudence Griffin,

Al Hauptly

Servers: Megan Ryan, Madison Buckingham, Alexi Plachko

Cantor: Dave Derbes

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BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL Next week, we will begin our diocesan phone-a-thon in order to reach out to members of our parish community

who have not yet made a gift to the 2011 BAA. In order

to save our volunteers many hours, please respond with your gift decision in the next week. If you did not take

the opportunity to make your gift, you may do so by

placing your pledge in the collection basket or visiting the Appeal online at www.adbaa.org. Thank you for

your support!

Total Goal: $26,120.00

Amount Collected: $6,933.50

Number of donors: 78

========================================

PRAY FOR OUR SICK / DECEASED We remember in prayer those who are ill. We commend to our Divine Lord all of our aged

people and those residing in nursing homes.

Sick: Margie Glunz, Edward Wychunas, John

Woznicki, Mary Ellen Viduszynski, Espn Murphy, Greg Schoffstall, Mary Margaret Smith,

John Connell, Joe Christ, Marie Melinchok.

========================================

CCD REGISTRATION All registrations for

2011/2012 have not been received. All registrations

received now will need to pay a late fee of $5.00.

$55.00 – First Child

$50.00 – additional Child

Registration forms are at the church exits. ========================================

NATIVITY ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP Application forms, for incoming freshman only, are now available at Nativity BVM High School. Students must

have a parent who is a graduate of Nativity BVM High

School. For more information, please call 544-2550.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK Pray the Our Father. What did Jesus reveal about the

Father that is most important to you? ========================================

This Week’s Readings

Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 21/22)

Reading I: Acts 6:1-7 Reading II: 1 Peter 2:4-9

Gospel: John 14:1-12 GOSPEL REFLECTION

There Is A Season For Everything “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will

do the works that I do” (Jn 14:12a)

A friend of mine likes to explain his religious

background this way: “I have powerful conservative

roots. I was raised in a very strong conservative, Roman Catholic, immigrant, German, farming family, with all

the inhibitions, protectiveness, exclusivity, and reticence

that this entailed. And I’m grateful for that. It’s one of the greatest gift you can be given. Now I’m free for the

rest of my life!”

There is something both healthily conservative and

healthily liberal in that assessment. The instinct within

the liberal wants to push edges, to widen the circle, to move away from narrowness, to be more inclusive, to

not always see the other as threat, and to protect the

ineffability of God and God’s universal salvific will. Whereas the conservative intuits the necessity of being

rooted in truth, in grounding yourself in the essentials, in

having proper boundaries, and in not being naive to the

fact that everything that’s precious and true will invariably be under attack.

The gospels, the mystics, and the great spiritual writers,

with some variation in how they express this, concur that

there are three clear stages to the spiritual journey or, in another way of putting it, three levels of discipleship:

The first level, which might aptly be termed, Essential Discipleship, is the struggle to get our lives together, to

achieve basic human maturity (which itself might be

defined as the capacity for essential unselfishness, the capacity to put others before ourselves). The second

level can be called Generative Discipleship and is the

struggle to give our lives away in love, service, and prayer. The third level can be called Radical

Discipleship and consists in the struggle to give our

deaths away, that is, to leave this earth in such a way that

our deaths themselves become our final gift and blessing to our families, churches, and society.

Fr. Ron Rolheiser

Next Week’s Readings

Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 28/29) Reading I: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17

Reading II: 1 Peter 3:15-18

Gospel: John 14:15-21

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL PANDAMANIA

Sunday,June 26 – Thursday,June 30

PandaMania is in the air …. Soon we will be off on our

Wild Adventure! Learn how Boomer the Panda and his

friends, Fez, Lulu, Pogo, Amanda and Chadder will

guide you on a fun-filled journey finding how “God Is Wild About You!” There’s room for 100 participants, so

hurry and register before June 17th

.

Don’t miss the adventure !!! There are many ways to make VBS a success … volunteer, pick a Panda from

our wish list or join our Adult VBS.

Sign-up in the back of church or register

at www.saintjohnpottsville.org Questions? Call/email Theresa Hossler at 570-640-6686

or tmhossler3@gmail.com

Vacation Bible School CD’s will be on sale again throughout the week of VBS.

Protecting God’s Children Workshop is scheduled for

Monday, June 9th

at 6 p.m. in St. Pat’s conference room. Please call 622-1802 to register.

Please Note: All Vacation Bible School volunteers need

to attend the Protecting God’s Children Workshop.

========================================

ADULT VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL June 26 – 30 …. 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Join fellow parishioners for an inspiring look at the

Letter to the Hebrews. Learn more about:

- Christ seen as the new WORD of God. - Christ the unique and eternal high priest

- Christ’s insight into the life of God

All to build us up in our faith for the everyday

challenges of life. To register, add your name to the sign-up sheet in the

back of church or register online at

www.stjohnpottsville.org or call the Rectory 622-5470. Why drop off your children or grandchildren and sit at

home? Stay and be filled up with God’s word and great

adult food and fellowship.

========================================

‘PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN’ WORKSHOP

The next workshop will be held on Thursday, June 9th

at 6 p.m. in St. Patrick's Rectory Conference Room. All

new volunteers, coaches, etc. who will work with

children and teens MUST attend this workshop. To register, please call St. Patrick’s Rectory ASAP . Space

is limited. Questions, call Amy Joyce at 385-0210.

========================================

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to Your name, Most High, to proclaim Your kindness at

dawn and Your faithfulness throughout the night.

Psalm 92:2-3

PARISH COUNCIL

NOMINATIONS - 2011 It is now time to nominate new members to the council

to fill the places of those whose term has expired. The

term of office is three (3) years with the possibility of a second consecutive term

Any parishioner who is at least 21 years old is eligible

for nominations. You may nominate yourself or

someone else. Please put nominations in the collection

or mail your nomination to the rectory. When nominating, please don't choose just the most popular

people, but choose people who will work for the parish.

We wish to thank the following members who will be

completing a three-year term on the Parish Council. They are, however, eligible to be nominated for a second

three-year term.

Bill Gianfagna

Kathy Gianfagna (not eligible)

Noel Glunz Mary Hahner (not eligible)

Jan Kurtek

Mary Porter

John Powers

Dave Steffan

The following should NOT be nominated as they are

presently serving or finishing their term:

Term expires 2012 Term expires 2013

Robert DeColli Jr. Janet Daubert

Maureen Kurtek Jennifer Daubert

Albert Nastasi Mark Major Tina Seiger Gerry Schwartz

Mary Sitcoske Dave Zerbe

President: Debbie Herb

1st Vice-President: Bill Casey 2nd Vice-President: Eric Lieberman

NOMINATION BALLOT

I Nominate:

(a) ________________________________________

(b) ________________________________________

PLEASE RETURN TO RECTORY

by Tuesday, May 31, 2011

========================================

PLANT A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY As you plant your vegetable garden this Spring, the Interfaith Health Network of Schuylkill County is asking

you to please consider planting an extra row for a local

food pantry or soup kitchen. For more information call

Marie Beauchamp at 366-1164.

========================================

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO HELP ??

For September 2011 we need help with ….

Pre-School Liturgy A Mom to help out on Sunday’s during the first half of 10:30 Mass.

CCD Teachers Someone who would enjoy teaching First Grade or

Fourth Grade or Sixth Grade on Sunday mornings from

9 to 10:15.

CCD Aides Adult aides to help CCD teachers on Sundays mornings

from 9 to 10:15.

If interested please fill out the form below and return to the rectory or call 622-5470.

I am interested in: ________ helping with the Pre-School

Liturgy on Sunday's during the first half of

the 10:30 Mass.

________teaching First Grade or Fourth

Grade or Sixth Grade during Sunday CCD

from 9 to 10:15 a.m.

________ assisting (aide) the CCD teachers

on Sundays from 9 to 10:15 a.m.

========================================

THANK YOU DEPT. We wish to express our gratitude to the following parishioners for committing to the academic year

2010/2011 for our Religious Education Program as

Catechists and volunteers, and those who volunteered for

our Children’s Liturgy Program and Pre-School Programs each Sunday.

CCD Program Dr. Angela Ambrosia Albert Nastasi Christine Black Judy Piel

Dr. Robert DeColli Joe Rittle

Charlotte Granito Rose Schimpf Mary Hahner Tina Seiger

Bob Hahner Beth & Rick Smith

Lucilla Kochol John & Kathy Kostick - office

Children’s Liturgy Marie Ryan, Tina Zanis, Heather Wojciechowsky

Pre-School Heidi Gorski Josette Peckman ========================================

PARISH FESTIVAL – 2011 This year's date is July 16th

Mark your calendars!

Our next meeting is scheduled for

Monday, May 23rd

at 7 p.m.

in the Rectory Fellowship Room

ROMANS 12 SCHUYLKILL COUNTY SERVICE CAMP

ATTENTION YOUTH AND ADULTS!!!!

Romans 12 – LOCAL MISSION TRIP

Be a living sacrifice. If your gift is to serve, serve

well. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the

Lord enthusiastically.

Anyone (youth 7th grade through college and

Adults) interested in Romans 12 Local

Mission Trip please call Debbie Herb at

544-5646 / 691-8874 or Ron Schultz at 385-

3256 for additional information, application, schedule, etc. (GOOGLE ROMANS 12

CAMP – APPLICATOPN FORMS ON LINE).

Mark Your Calendar…July 27 to 24 at Christmas

Pines Campground in Auburn. Cost is only $75 which includes camping, meals, snacks, entertainment, T-shirt,

and group picture.

Limited number of spots will fill up quickly. Please return application by June 1 or at least call to express

your interest.

========================================

ST. JOSEPH CENTER FOR SPECIAL LEARNING

Upcoming Events

Pottsville Mile sponsored by the Notre Dame Club of Schuylkill County and the Schuylkill Knights of

Columbus, will take place on Memorial Day, May 30th

Pre-registration guarantees a commemorative t-shirt for all runners. For more information or to register to run or

become a sponsor, please call Bill Kern at 498-5991.

Ride for Autism will take place Sunday, June 12th

.

Registration begins 8 a.m. at 106 W. Main St. in Tremont. Scenic ride starts 10 a.m. followed by a non-

alcoholic picnic at Whippoorwill Dam in Frackville. Pig

Roast, raffles, 50/50 drawing and music by Airwaves. Donation of raffle items greatly appreciated. $20 per

driver and $20 per passenger. Call 695-3824 or visit the

event website at www.rideforautismtremontpa.com for

more information. ========================================

NEIGHBORING EVENTS

BOY’S BASKETBALL CAMP for boys entering 3rd

through 9th grades to be held June 27 to July 1 at North

Schuylkill High School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost $75.00 … includes individual instruction, team concepts,

competitions, prizes, T-shirt and is also a fundraiser for

Nativity, North Schuylkill and Shenandoah Boy’s Basketball Programs. For more information contact

Nativity Coach McLaughlin at 778-8505.

========================================

DIOCESAN NEWS Holy Family Adult Day Care in Orwigsburg has

openings for new participants. Please contact Linda Herb

for details or to schedule a visit, 570-366-2924. * * * * *

Older Adults Month (the month of May). Catholic

Charities welcomes requests to assist older adults with a range of services including case management, benefits

eligibility, emergency food, and information and referral.

Please contact Dave Dagon at 570-628-0466 for more

information. * * * * *

Post Abortion Healing Retreat

Hurting from a past abortion? Plan to attend the

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Weekend, July 8-10,

through the Office of Pro-Life Activities and Social

Concerns. Within a safe, confidential, non-judgmental environment, experience God’s healing love, and

forgiveness. For more information or to register call 1-

866-3 Rachel. For a complete listing of Retreat dates

and locations visit the national Rachel’s Vineyard website at www.rachelsvineyard.org

* * * * *

Take Me Out to the Ball Game... To Celebrate the

50th Anniversary of the Diocese of Allentown Join other parishioners in celebrating our 50th

Anniversary as a Diocese at a Reading Phillies (July

9th) or Iron Pigs (July 14th) game this summer. Great seats have been reserved for our parishioners. Both

parks are wonderful family environments so bring out

the whole gang to enjoy one of America's favorite pastimes. Call the Parish Office for more information or

consult the full page ad in the AD Times for all the

information you need. Reservations must be made by

June 1st while seats last. Reservation forms are available either in the AD Times or at the Parish Office.

* * * * *

The faithful of the Roman Catholic Church (Diocese of Allentown) are advised that the church known as “The Catholic Church of the East,” “The Arabic Catholic Church,” or “The Archdiocese of St. James,” does not enjoy union with the Roman Catholic Church and therefore is not in communion with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Roman Catholics do not fulfill their Sunday obligation by attendance at this church nor may they participate in the sacramental life of that church. If you have further questions on this matter, please see Father Dave.

========================================

… and he changeth the times and the seasons. Daniel 2:21

========================================

CATHOLIC WOMEN'S UNION

FUND-RAISER St. John's Catholic Women's Union is currently fund-

raising with DELICIOUS Joe Corbi's Products. They are well-known for their Pizza Kits, Chee-Zee Bread and

homemade Cookie Dough.

If interested in ordering, pick up a brochure in the back

of church today. Orders can be dropped in the collection basket or mailed to Donna Moyer, 529 S. Centre St.,

Pottsville 17901. Orders and money are due by

Tuesday, May 31st Delivery date is

Thursday, June 9th at the Russell

Building from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information please call Donna

Moyer 622-9631.

We appreciate your support !

========================================

“CURIOSITY SHOP" It’s time once again for St. John’s Curiosity Shop …. so look around your

homes for any items you wish to

contribute to this year's Curiosity Shop at the Mid-Summer Festival. You'd be

surprised what you might find – Clean and Usable

Items Only – No empty plastic containers -- Here are some suggestions …

Christmas Items Vases Toys Serving Dishes Jewelry Gift Bags Knick Knacks Potted Plants Linens Kitchen Items Books Candy Dishes Framed Paintings Candles Table Covers

DROP-OFF DATES Items can be dropped off at St. John’s School Building

side entrance between Russell Building & School ONLY

on the following dates: Wednesday – July 6 – 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday – July 9 – 9 to 12 noon

NO ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED BEFORE OR AFTER THESE DATES.

Do Not Leave Articles at the

Door or in the Parking Lot

========================================

EAGLE SCOUT AWARD Congratulations to Michael Ryan on earning his Eagle

Scout Award on Saturday, May 14th. His Eagle Scout

project involved improving and upgrading the Grotto at the Catholic War Veteran’s Post on First Ave. here in

Pottsville. Congratulations, Michael, on a job well

done!

St. John’s CYO Program

Pictured: Joe Rehnert, St.John’s CYO Board President,

Pat Mulqueen, Varsity Boy’s Head Coach, Matthew Lescavage (left), Shea Golden (right)

Our parish is so fortunate to have such an active CYO Program with so many active parents and coaches.

We wish to recognize those who participated in our

CYO Program this past year and a special thanks to our

Coaches and Board Members who gave so freely of their time during this past season.

Participants Participants

Cora Alvarez Olivia Tokonitz

Chloe Bledsoe Anthony Wojciechowsky

Rachel Brahler Anya Wojciechowsky Nicholas Brennan Maria Womer

Julia Brinich Lorne Zanis

Caitlin Coyle Jillian Zerbe Adrian Datte Sydney Zerbe

Evelyn Datte

Michael DeColli Coaches

Olivia Eagan Scott Hahner Liliana Golden Lucilla Kochol

Shea Golden Eric Lieberman

Madelyn Gordon Pat Mulqueen Emma Green Mike Skosnick

Samantha Heenan Rick Wojciechowsky

Elizabeth Hoover Christine Zerbe Matthew Lescavage Dave Zerbe

Anna Lieberman

Livia Lieberman Board Members

Nicholas Mason Father Dave Rileigh McPhillips Michelle Darhun

Alexi Plachko Pat Klassen

Chloe Prezelski Lucilla Kochol Elizabeth Rakus Joe Kurtek

Grace Scheidel Joe Rehnert

Samantha Shimkus Larry Steficek Megan Skosnick Rick Wojciechowsky

Justin Steffan

Wellington Daubert Memorial Award (Scholar Athlete)

Matthew Lescavage

John Bulino Memorial Award (Team Player)

Shea Golden

======================================== Sing to Him, sing His praise, proclaim all His wondrous

deeds. 1 Chr. 16:9

========================================

PEDIATRIC SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCE FAIR

… will take place Wednesday, June 8th

from 2-6 p.m.

at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit #29, Maple Avenue Campus in MarLin. The fair will provide businesses and

organizations that serve this unique population the

chance to promote what they have to offer to consumers, as well as present a forum for networking with other

providers throughout Schuylkill County and the

surrounding area. Parents and caregivers of children with

special needs are also strongly encouraged to attend this unique event to gather information on the many services

available locally to enhance the lives of children with

special needs and their families. Sponsorship opportunities are available for providers for even more

visibility. Reserve a table today, as space is limited. The

event is being hosted by Bayada Nurses Pediatric Home Care Services and the Schuylkill County Society for

Crippled Children. For more information contact Donna

at (610) 390-5655 or Sharon at (570) 622-7170, or email

dbuhosky@bayada.com. ========================================

FOOD COLLECTION “We can do no great things, only small things

with great love.” … Mother Teresa. Thank you for doing the small things, like feeding your

neighbors, with great love. God bless.

Items Needed: Stuffing Mix Canned Fruit Broth Packaged Cookies

Coffee/Tea (instant) Jelly

Hot Chocolate Hot Cereal packages Apple Sauce Canned Sweet Potatoes

Peanut Butter Beef Stew

Soups Spaghetti Spaghetti Sauce Macaroni & Cheese

Kindly place your donations in the basket at the 10th

Street entrance at the bottom of the steps. Thank you.

PLEASE – NO OUTDATED ITEMS ========================================

OUTREACH MINISTRY REACH OUT and TOUCH SOMEONE

Call Margie Glunz 622-3067

Call us if you need us.

Volunteers are needed to prepare meals for

parishioners who are in need. Please call the

above number to volunteer. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

========================================

FROM OUR PARISH NURSE … Janet Daubert

Mental training in the golden years … Just as physical exercise can keep our bodies functioning better

longer, mental training (or exercise) can keep older

minds functioning better. In a study conducted at the University of Florida and eight other institutions,

memory training, reasoning and speed of processing

information all improved older adults’ memory and

reasoning ability. Our minds need exercise just like our bodies. Some easy

forms of mental exercise: crossword puzzles, card games

and Scrabble. There is also a social benefit to these activities. Let’s be honest: TV can be entertaining but it

really is not exercising our minds. Get the cards and

some games out and keep your mind sharp. Just as we sometimes need company walking with us to encourage

us to keep our bodies in shape, we need company

playing cards or Scrabble to keep our minds sharp. Like

physical exercise, the benefits are well worth the effort. (Information from Duke Medicine Health News,

Volume 7G)

========================================

CYO SPORTS Registration forms for all St. John's CYO

sports are available at the Rectory during the

week, please call 622-5470 ext 3. The fee is

$20.00 per family until August 1st; after this date the fee will be $40.00. CYO sports is open to all

children enrolled in Catholic school or public

school. Participants in public school must be registered for CCD in order to play

CYO sports.

======================================== SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

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