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Gym & Cafeteria rental Call Terry Miller before 9 PM

at 696-7844

Beginning this week we will again start up our adult education classes beginning at 9:15 on Sunday mornings. Sorry for the two weeks absence, but I need to meet with our young people in their religious ed classes. So, see you this week and bring your New Testament book. All are welcome.

Basket Bingo tickets are now available! You may purchase yours by calling: Gerlinde Mattern @ 832-2660 or Renee Luciano @ 946-4146

May the water of Baptism well up inside you so all you encounter know that you are living as a trustworthy steward and disciple of Jesus Christ

Amount in Adult Envelopes # 280 of 701 $8,569

Amount in Children's Envelopes # 47 of 280 $ 38

Loose $325

Total Regular Offertory $8,932

Parish Debt $ 32

Other collections $ 20

Phone $219, Gas $401, Sewer $35, RCIA $60, Tax $238, Envelopes $343, Maintenance $63, Cathedraticum $2,000

Mar 19^th - Grades K - 5 - 9:00 to 10:50 AM

Mar 19^th - Jr. Confirmation Class & Sponsors

Rite of Commitment at 11:00 AM Mass -

meet in cafeteria at 10:30 AM

Mar 19^th - Jr. High Youth Day at Bishop Carroll High School - Grades 6,7,8 who are pre-registered will attend. The bus leaves St. John's parking lot at 10:30 AM and will return at 6:45 PM. Mass will be at 4:30. Please bring a donation for the Fulton County Mission.

Mar 26^th - Grades 6,7,8,9 - 9:00 to 10:50 AM

- Sophomore Confirmation 12 Noon in cafeteria

Mar 27^th - 6:00 PM Penance Service - Gr 2-12 will attend

We will have a Finance Council Meeting on Thursday, March 30^th at 6:30.

Lent/Easter Mini-Retreat - Our Lent/Easter mini-retreat this year will be on Saturday March 25^th, the Feast of the Annunciation. Like our previous mini-retreats we will officially begin at 9:00. Fr. Alan Thomas will be joining us to share his thoughts on the Easter Mystery and to prepare us for the Holy Three Days. However, since this is a Solemnity, a major feast day, we will celebrate Mass at 7:45 that morning, followed by Eucharistic Adoration until 9:00 when we will celebrate Morning Prayer for the Feast. The remainder of the schedule will be the same as before, with two short talks by Fr. Alan. We will conclude with lunch at noon.

Silent Prayer - During Lent we will be meeting every Monday night at 6:00 PM in the church for prayer. On Monday, March 20, following prayer, we will discuss Books VII and VIII of St. Augustine's Confessions. Everyone is welcome to join us for prayer and/or discussion.

Several more HANDBELL RINGERS are needed to complete our handbell choir. We need 3 or 4 more people to utilize the 3 octaves of bells we have. The handbell choir is currently rehearsing on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 8:30. You do not need any previous experience, but it’s helpful if you can keep a steady beat and know your left from your right! It’s a lot of fun! If you are interested in joining, please call Debbie Johnson at 696-2683

Young Adults Bible Study - We will meet at 7pm in the rectory on Sunday, March 26th. The discussion will be on the Gospel of John, Chapter 18:1- 19:16. Call Matt and Heidi Manfred at
# 940-7377 with any questions.

As I mentioned before, both Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict have been saying over and over that we must do more to make our Sundays a day of rest and a day of prayer. In our secular world Sunday is looking more and more like the other six days of the week. We need Sunday!! We need a day of rest, a day of family, a day when we don’t just run off to cram in what we didn’t get done the remaining of the week. Especially for our young people, we need this day of rest, prayer and family. If God rested after 6 days of work, who are we to do differently. In years past many parishes have celebrated not only Holy Mass, but they have included Evening Prayer (Vespers) as a way to keep holy the Lord’s Day. Maybe this can be one way you can observe the Sunday day of rest.

Provides time for engaged couples to focus on issues pertaining to marriage. Fulfills diocesan marriage preparation requirement. Gift Certificates available. For registration/information contact Tim & Lynn Rea - 695-8252. Weekend dates: Nov 10-12 at St. John the Baptist Retreat Center, New Baltimore; Oct 28-29 at Our Lady of Victory Activity Center, State College; June 24-25 at Mount Aloysius College, Cresson; Aug 19-20 at Good Shepherd Church, State College

St. Demetrius Parish - Gallitzin March 26^th

Roast Beef Dinner - Spring Festival, Games, Baskets, Bake sale, Takeout available ($7.50)

Adults $7, Children $3.50 UNDER 4 free

Noon to 6:00 PM

Thursday, March 23, 2006

324 Bedford Street

Hollidaysburg, PA

The Scrutinies provide an opportunity for the Elect and Candidates to examine their intentions and motivations concerning conversion and membership in the Body of Christ - the Church.

In conjunction with the Scrutinies, the Church offers the Elect and Candidates a Prayer of Deliverance to free them from the effects of sin and the influence of Satan.

Also, included in the Rite of Scrutiny are a Series of Intercessions in which we pray that God will uncover and heal all that is weak in their lives and to strengthen all that is upright, strong and good.

Please continue to pray for the Elect and Candidates as they enter into the final stages of preparation for initiation into the Catholic Church. Sponsors this year are: Kathy Vincent, Paul Dennis, Dorothy Yingling, Linda Mueller, Melissa McHugh, Ginny Reeder, Rita Kibler, Becky Merilli, Gretchen Robison, Peter Rea, Katie Johnson, Sara Slat, Brian Neff, Andrew Klobuka, and Carole Litzinger

Social Committee - The next meeting of the Social Committee will be March 21, at 7:00, in the Pre-K room in the basement of the church. This will be the first meeting about the picnic. We are always looking for new members so this would be a good time to join! Questions? Call Cora Bacon at 695-7489.

Annual Turkey Dinner - Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Loretto School Hall

Sunday, Mar 19^th - Noon to 4 PM $7.50 for Adults and $4.50 for children 12 and under.

Attention Scrip Users - All Scrip orders will be filled at all weekend Masses. If an order is dropped off at school before Thursday at 9:00 AM - the order can be picked up at school on Thursday.

Liturgical Reflection…Pope Benedict XVI has chosen the theme for his Lenten message the Gospel text, "Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved to pity" (Mt 9:36) The Holy Father speaks of the holy "gaze" of Christ upon the poor of the world. His Holiness states, "In the face of the terrible challenge of poverty afflicting so much of the world's population, indifference and self-centered isolation stand in stark contrast to the 'gaze' of Christ." This Lent is an opportunity for believers to reflect on our response to the poor of the earth. Have self-centeredness and selfishness become so much a part of our lives that we do not even notice the pain and suffering around us? As we intensify our prayer this Lent, may we become more aware that we can responsibly lighten the sufferings of others. Identify one concrete way in which you can ease the suffering of another.

You are invited to join Bishop Joseph with his priests in the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Lent is the Church's season to remind the faithful of our need to turn from sin and seek God's mercy. We seek reconciliation with God and our neighbor. Gather with all who identify themselves as sinners joyfully proclaiming the joy and forgiveness of God. A Communal Penance Service will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 5 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona, at 6:30 PM. This public gathering of believers is a great preparation for the celebration of the Easter mysteries. Plan to gather for this hour of prayer celebrating God's mercy in liturgy.

Protecting God's Children - What should I do if a child reveals an experience of abuse to me?

Be open and understanding. Try to stay calm. If you react strongly, the child may stop talking, take back information or internalize this as another reason to feel bad about him or herself.

Understand that the child is probably having mixed feelings. Often, the perpetrator of sexual abuse is someone close to the child. Although the child may have strong negative feelings about the person's abusive behavior, he or she also may love them for other behaviors.

Concerts at OMOS - You are most welcome and encouraged to participate in any or all of them

April 2^nd - Heinz Chapel Choir @ 3:00 PM

Apr 9^th - Bus trip to Opera "Tosca" $65

Apr 30^th - Blair Concert Chorale will present a concert performance of the wonderful musical "Sweeney Todd"

May 10^th - The Pennsylvania Quintet @ 7 PM

Call 535-7646 for more information

Haiti Committee Update: Many thanks to all who enjoyed the Ash Wednesday soup supper, and to those who made the delicious soup! Your generous donations enable us to continue to provide financial support to our twin parish in Haiti. As many of you know our parish began the twinning relationship with Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Marmount, Haiti in 1991. Over the years we have raised money for a variety of projects including a Medical Mission with Altoona Hospital; the purchase of a diesel powered grist mill for grinding flour; the purchase of a generator to provide electricity for lighting sufficient to conduct evening classes; and the reconstruction of a bakery damaged in a hurricane. In recent years our efforts have focused on education. Our funds have helped the small village’s school grow from about 150 to 350 students. This fall, at the request of the pastor we sent sneakers and composition books for the children.

Watch the bulletin for details about Haiti Day, Friday, April 7^th.

The Commission for Life & Justice of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese scheduled a lecture on "Benedict's Labor of Love; a Consideration of the Pope's First Encyclical, Deus Caritas Est." Dr. Anthony Dragani, Asst. Prof of Religious Studies at Mount Aloysius College will conduct the lecture held on Tuesday, April 4^th from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at Cosgrove Hall, Mt. Aloysius College, Cresson. Admission is $5, students free with valid ID. Master Catechist credit available for Catholic educators and catechists. Reservations necessary by March 30. Send registration to Commission for Life & Justice, c/o Family Life Office, 5379 Portage St., Lilly, PA 15938 -- 814-886-5551

All Fridays of Lent (March 24,31,and April 7) are days of abstinence. FASTING refers to only one full meal, with two small meals and no eating otherwise for the day. ABSTINENCE refers to not eating meat at all during the day. All those who have reached their 14^th year are obliged to ABSTAIN. The Church directs the holy FAST to all those in the 18^th year until their 60^th year (Canon1252). The ancient practice of fasting and abstaining can occur throughout the other days of Lent. This is not obligatory and can take a variety of forms distinct from food

The Art of Sending Greetings - "Clearly you are a letter of Christ which I have delivered, a letter not written with ink but by the spirit of the Living God." (2Cor.3:3) Why do we send cards to others? What kind of greeting would God send to you? Sr. Maryann Palko, CCW will conduct this retreat day which will include prayer, exploring the idea of "greetings" in scripture, an opportunity for a hands-on experience of creating a personal greeting card. Thursday, March 23 from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Donation $35 includes lunch and materials. Register in advance @ 886-3972 or 886-4098 CCW Incarnation Center, 394 Bem Road, Gallitzin.

Book Fair after all Masses - March 18^th and 19^th. Books for all ages will be available - maybe even some for Mom and Dad! School Children will visit the fair on Wednesday, March 22. All proceeds will benefit St. John's School library. Any questions please contact Gretchen Robison. Thank you for our patronage!

Church Clean Up: The Lenten Season has begun, and we need your help once again to get St. John's ready for Easter. Grab some cleaning supplies, bring a friend, and come to St. John's on Saturday, April 8^th at 9:00 AM. Please come to help!

Mon. Mar 20: 2 SM 7:4-5a,12-14a,16; Rom

4:13,16-18,22; Mt 1:16,18-21,24a

Tues. Mar 21: Dn 3:25,34-43; Mt 18:21-35

Wed. Mar 22: Dt 4:1,5-9; Mt 5:17-19

Thurs. Mar 23: Jer 7:23-28; Lk 11:14-23

Fri. Mar 24: Hos 14:2-10; Mk 12:28-34