August 29th, 2010

XXII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Jesus’ table etiquette in today’s Gospel echoes the wisdom of Sirach in the first reading. His parable about choosing the places of honor at the table illustrates Sirach’s instruction, “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” His teaching about inviting the poor who cannot reciprocate agrees with Sirach’s dictum, “Alms atone for sin.” At one level today’s reading depicts Jesus as a teacher in the tradition of wisdom in Israel. On another level the horizon of Jesus’ teaching is that of the end-time, the day of “the resurrection of the righteous,” when God will humble those who exalted themselves and exalt those who humbled themselves. This end-time or eschatological perspective is amplified in today’s reading from Hebrews. With a barrage of biblical images—“a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice”—he evokes ancient Israel’s experience of God in the Exodus. Then with another profusion of images he asks his Christian readers to push the horizon of their faith beyond the earth-bound event of Sinai to the revelation of Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, where Jesus waits in glory

POLISH FESTIVAL
On Sunday, September 12, 2010 from 11 am to 7 pm the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception will hold their 42nd Annual Country Fair and Gala Polish Festival on their Convent Grounds, 1000 Cropwell Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ. There will be Holy Mass in Polish in the Convent Chapel at 11 am. Day-long entertainment and music for dancing will feature Polish dancers, and Radio Personality Andy Citkowicz of WPDQ’S Polka Party. Free parking will be available on the parking lots of Henry Beck Middle School and Cherry Hill High School East. The funds realized from this event will be used to support the education and training of young Sisters for their American Ministry in the teaching and health care fields.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM REGISTRATION
Registration for 2010-2011 Religious Education Program (CCD) will take place on September 18 & 19, 2010 in the convent after all Masses. The registration fee is $60.00. Registration forms are also available at the rectory during regular business hours or by contacting Mrs. Dorothy Zadworny, Coordinator, at (609) 587-0487. Please be sure that your child is registered.

CATECHISTS NEEDED
Due to our expanding religious education program, we are in need of additional Catechists for the 2010–2011 school year. Please consider this wonderful ministry. We welcome those with experience and those who have never taught before. Help and information are available to anyone interested. If you are interested or have any questions in regards to this ministry, please contact Dorothy Zadworny at (609) 587-0487.

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER WEEKEND STELLA MARIS RETREAT HOUSE
Engaged Encounter is a weekend retreat experience for engaged couples to prepare for a lifelong sacramental marriage, in a beautiful, ocean-front setting. The next available weekend will be held on October 29-31, 2010 at Stella Maris Retreat House, Elberon, NJ. The fee is $395 per couple, which includes MEALS AND LODGING. Reservations are limited. To register online, go to www.dioceseoftrenton.org/go/cee or call the Office of Family Life, 609-406-7400 ext. 5592.

SPECIAL COLLECTION
Pontifical Mission Societies
A Missionary Co-operative Plan Appeal will be made in our parish at all the Masses next weekend to benefit the missionary work of the Sacred Heart Sisters of Juba. This collection will be used exclusively to support the Sacred Heart Sisters of Juba in South Sudan Please help the Sacred Heart Sisters of Juba in South Sudan to continue to help the people of South Sudan by contributing to this collection. We wish to welcome Fr. Philip Pitya, who will be speaking at all the Masses next weekend September 4th and 5th.

IN MEMORIAM
Please pray for the souls of Edward Lisiewski, Mary Sexton and Philip Ventigli, Sr. who have died. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let Perpetual Light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

MASSES IN THE CHAPEL
Beginning September 1, 2010 the morning Masses in the Chapel will start at 6:45 am instead of 7:00 am.

ST. HEDWIG’S PARISH VETERANS MEMORIAL
All Veterans active or inactive qualify to enter names on the Memorial Walk. The cost is $30.00 per brick. For information please call Julius Wszolek at 599-2298

Lest We Forget
Because of them, our lives are full—
Because of them, our nation lives
Because of them, our world is Blessed.