A Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

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Parish Center Project New Facilities Now in Use! The Chapel of St. Louise de Marillac On Tuesday, February 26th, Northampton Township approved a Certificate of Occupancy for our Parish Center building. Access to the Church is now possible through the Parish Center, via the elevator, if necessary. Throughout this project, one of our goals has been to provide greater access to our facilities. To drop off individuals who have difficulty walking, from the new entrance drive beside the Rectory make the first right to drop the person off in front of the entrance to the Parish Center. The driver can then continue around the traffic island, Daily Mass in the Chapel Daily Mass and Friday's Eucharistic Adoration are now being celebrated in the Chapel. The Chapel Reconciliation Room is not furnished as yet, so Confessions continue to be in Church. Remaining Issues Although we can now occupy the building, the various sub-contractors continue to address punch list items; landscaping and the repaving of the exit driveway as will as what is left of the original parking lot will take place when the weather breaks in the spring. The parish staff is now working out of the new offices in the Parish Center, although the moving of furniture and records into the new facility continues, parishioners wishing to see a priest or staff member should come to the Parish Center and not to the Rectory. Campaign Now above $3.2 Million Pledges, contributions and interest have brought the anticipated campaign total to $3,239,519.09. Donations, both pledged and unpledged, together with quarterly interest payments, have produced $3,116,867.66 total cash receipts. A total of 1,109 families are now participating in the campaign. Of those who made pledges, 72% have met their pledges; of these 65% have contributed a total of $197,119.14 in excess of their pledges. In addition, 616 families who had not pledged have contributed a total of $1,666,376.32 to the campaign. To-date, we have earned $113,671.63 in interest on campaign donations. 493 Total pledges made   $1,262,352.00 489 Making payments on pledges $1,139,700.57     Future payments pledged $122,651.43   231 Exceeding pledged amount   $197,119.14 616 Making unpledged donations   $1,666,376.32   Interest earned   $113,671.63   Present Anticipated Campaign Total   $3,239,519.09 Use Monthly Envelope We ask additional families to consider being a part of this important development in our parish history. Payments on pledges and additional contributions may be made in the collection basket using the monthly Parish Center envelope included in the bi-monthly collection envelope mailing. Contact Parishioners with any questions regarding the campaign, or the Parish Center Project should not hesitate to contact Deacon Golaszewski at djack@nni.com or 215-357-5905. Click here for more details. E-mail the Pastor, Father McLaughlin, to make comments or suggestions.

Safe Environment Requirements The Safe Environment Program of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is designed to meet the letter and the spirit of the U.S. Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. All clergy, parish staff and volunteers who have regular contact with youth are required to complete: √   PA State Police Background Check √   PA Child Abuse History Clearance √   Signed acknowledgement of commitment to Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries √   Certification of attendance at a Protecting God's Children Awareness Session Training for Staff & Volunteers All priests and deacons, as well as parish staff, and volunteers who have regular contact with children, must attend Safe Environment training. This training provides those involved in ministry and service to children with a greater understanding of their role as adults in our Church to be: protectors of children, models of appropriate behavior and relationships, and advocates for those who are most vulnerable. Click here for other locations and dates of training sessions. Click here for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection. Our parish contact is Norma Yabut at rickandnorma@verizon.net. For Parents The U.S. Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People also involves instruction for parents and guardians. A mailing to all parents with children in our Religious Education Program included Practical Advice for Parents On Preventing Child Sexual Abuse (a document in pdf format). Click here for the locations and dates of awareness sessions for parents. Victim Assistance Coordinators for Sexually Abused Minors 215-587-3880 The Archdiocese of Philadelphia provides comprehensive assistance to anyone who as a minor was sexually abused by a priest, deacon, teacher, employee or representative of the Archdiocese. Parents, guardians, children and survivors of sexual abuse are invited and encouraged to contact the Archdiocese. The contact will be a confidential consultation with a Victim Assistance Coordinator who is a licensed social worker. Our Archdiocese is committed to assisting victims in the pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being.

You too are living stones, built as edifice of spirit.
1 Peter 2:5

You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Ephesians 2:20

Here you build a temple of living stones, and bring the Church to its full stature as the body of Christ throughout the world, to reach its perfection at last in the heavenly city of Jerusalem.
Preface for the Dedication of a Church

Inspired by these quotations, our WEB pages are intended to strengthen unity and improve communication within our parish, and establish bonds with other "living stones," Christian communities throughout the world.

We are building this WEB site in a spirit of "monastic simplicity." Our goal is not an award-winning presentation; it is rather to help our faith community and others see our place more clearly in "the temple of living stones," "the body of Christ throughout the world." As the building of this "temple" is in progress, so is the building of this WEB site. Comments and suggestions are welcome, both to improve communication within the parish, and to bond together with Christian communities throughout the world.