Parish Staff, Ministry Directory, and Contact Information

Parish Staff & Mailing AddressParish Mailing Address420 Holland Street, Shillington, PA 19607PastorRev. Richard Clement: 610.777.1365DeaconDeacon F. Joseph Lombardo: 610.777.1697Principal of La Salle AcademyMr. Stephen Mickulik: 610.777.7392Parish SecretaryBernadette Yohn: 610.777.1697Parish Communications CoordinatorSarah Capato: 610.850.4978Director of Religious EducationBernadette Yohn: 610.777.1697

Comprehensive Catholic EducationLa Salle Academy: Preschool, Pre Kindergarten, K-8th GradeMr. Stephen Mickulik, Principal: 610.777.7392Berks Catholic High School: 9th-12th GradeMrs. Alice Einolf, Principal: 610.374.8361Parish Religious Education Program: 1st-8th GradeMrs. Bernadette Yohn, DRE: 610.777.1697RCIA: Age 18+Mrs. Bernadette Yohn, DRE: 610.777.1697

Scheduling Use of Parish FacilitiesFor those interested in using the Father Lyons room for a meeting or special event, please contact the Parish Office at 610.777.1697

WorshipEucharistic AdorationFirst Fridays of each month from 8:30AM-12:00PMAltar ServersStudents from Grade 4 to Seniors in High SchoolContact: Parish Office at 610.777.1697Adult Funeral ServersContact: Parish Office at 610.777.1697Eucharistic MinistersContact: Bernadette Yohn at 610.777.1697 or 610.777.6297LectorsContact: Deacon Joe Lombardo at 610.777.2542Ministers of HospitalityContact: Deacon Joe Lombardo at 610.777.2542Liturgical Music Contact: Christopher Hoster at 610.334.1188CantorsContact: Christopher Hoster at 610.334.1188Baptismal PrepContact: Parish Office at 610.777.1697Baptismal BibsContact: Parish Office at 610.777.1697SacristansContact: Elaine Strick at 610.856.7264Youth GroupContact: Ashlee Hess at 610.944.4862

Outreach & Parish MinistriesCulture of LifeContact: Bob Peters at 610.775.8965Bereavement MinistryContact: Roseann Kumor at 610.775.7431Justice in Action MinistryContact: Arlene Seeber at 484.794.8027Breaking Bread Social CommitteeContact: Lois Lombardo at 610.777.2542Prayer Shawl MinistryContact: Elaine Strick at 484.824.1577Nursing Home Visitors for Rosary & MassContact: Billie & Mike Resch at 610.775.3927Food Pantry / Emergency MealsContact: Lois Carrier at 610.777.6947Advocacy for Persons with DisabilitiesContact: Kathleen Roche at 610.777.4792Parish Nurse MinistryContact: Sharon Shingler at 610.775.9998St. Paul Street EvangelizationContact: Gina Aldi at 484.769.5346Divorce MinistryContact: Deb Kelly at 610.763.6528

Spiritual GrowthRCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)Contact: Parish Office at 610.777.1697Adult Education (Seasonal)Contact: Parish Office at 610.777.1697Faith Sharing for WomenContact: Arlene Seeber at 484.794.8027Parish Prayer LineContact: Judy Peters at 610.775.8965Charismatic Prayer GroupContact: Amelia “Midge” Biancone at 610.777.2215

OrganizationsPrime TimersContact: Jim Stadelmeyer at 610.378.1290Boy ScoutsContact: Dan Giesen at 610.777.4387Cub ScoutsContact: Dan Giesen at 610.777.4387Knights of Columbus Contact: Bill Griffith at 484.797.0669Altar SocietyContact: Carol Bensing at 610.777.9360Men’s Recreational Basketball ClubContact: Russ Baver at 610.507.0627CYO (Christian Youth Organization)Contact: Rock Witmer at 610.775.2176Parish GardenersContact: Chris Hofmann at 610.777.2523

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First Friday Adoration: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on January 3 at 8:30 AM and close with Benediction at Noon. Start the New Year off spending some quiet time with our Lord.

Mass Intentions For The Week MONDAY, Dec. 30 – 6th Day within the Octave of

the Nativity of the Lord 8:00 a.m. Rose Tucci TUESDAY, Dec. 31 – 7th Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord/St. Sylvester I 4:00 p.m. People of the Parish-Vigil for Holy Day WEDNESDAY, Jan. 1 – The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 8:30 a.m. Marlin Rautzhan 10:30 a.m. Veronica Gaab THURSDAY, Jan. 2 – St. Basil the Great & St.

Gregory Nazianzen 7:00 p.m. NO MASS FRIDAY, Jan. 3 – Holy Name of Jesus 8:00 a.m. Memorial Society Members EPIPHANY OF THE LORD SATURDAY, JAN. 4 4:00 p.m. Philip Symanski SUNDAY, JAN. 5 8:30 a.m. George Hlodash, Sr. 10:30 a.m. People of the Parish

St. John Baptist de la Salle December 29th 2019 www.stjohnsfamilyoffaith.com the holy family of Jesus, Mary and joseph

Away from home? Find a Mass wherever you are at www.masstimes.org

Please direct all bulletin and website inquiries to the Parish Communications Coordinator, Sarah Capato at 610.850.4978 or sarah@stjohnsfamilyoffaith.com.

Bulletin submissions are due Thursday, ten days prior to the Sunday of publication.

St. John Baptist de la Salle Family of Faith

Altar Wine for the month December: In loving memory of John Lombard (requested

by Jennie Lombardo)

Altar Bread for the month of December: In loving memory of Richard & Cecilia Roloff (requested by daughter Donna

Upcoming Liturgical Ministers SATURDAY, JAN. 4 - 4:00PM Lector: Amy Dodrer Cantor: TBD Servers: Lydia & Seth Toal EM: S/J.Baddick, J.Ambrose, K.Becker, M.Biancone, C.Boland, C.Brahmstadt, K.Burke, ME.Symanski SUNDAY, JAN. 5 - 8:30AM Lector: Shayla Carey Cantor: TBD Servers: Rosie, Jack, Ben Makosch SUNDAY, JAN. 5 - 10:30AM Lector: Tom Cuba Cantor: TBD Servers: Madison Cannon, Hanna Bitting EM: T.Cannon, A.Krick, C.Bensing, J.Buckley, V.Pinder, C.Yochimowitz, T.Cuba, K.Mihalik

Upcoming Events Sunday, Dec. 29 NO Rel. Ed Classes (classes to resume 1/5/2020) Tuesday, Dec. 31 4:00 pm Vigil Mass for Holy Day Wednesday, Jan. 1 Solemnity of Mary 8:30 am Holy Day Mass 10:30 am Holy Day Mass Friday, Jan. 3 8:30 am Adoration of Blessed Sacrament 12:00 pm Benediction

Today's Readings First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 Ahaz receives from Isaiah a prophecy that he will be successful in war and is urged to ask for a sign that the prophecy is true. The sign is “The virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7 Paul greets the Romans by pointing out that Jesus is the Christ who was promised to them in Scripture. He, Paul, is the apostle favored with the task of spreading the name of Christ to all. Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 In a brief, straightforward, simple narrative, Matthew recounts the events leading to Jesus’ birth. He details the appearance of the angel in a dream to Joseph and stresses that “All this happened to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophets.”

Sanctuary Lamp for the week of 12/29-1/4 In loving memory of: Veronica Gaab

(requested by the Yohn Family)

Weekly Stewardship 12/15 - $ 13,049.50

Please take note: Masses for the Holy Day – Solemnity of Mary, Vigil Mass on Tuesday is at 4 PM. Jan. 1 will be at 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM

Nocturnal Adoration Devotions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be held on January 3, 2020 at Holy Rosary Church, from 4 – 5 PM (please take note of new time)

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Parish Happenings

PRIME TIMERS NEWS ST. JOHN’S PRIMETIMERS INVITES PARISHIONERS 50 YEARS AND OLDER TO JOIN US AT OUR GENERAL MEETINGS HELD ON THE FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE AT NOON IN THE FR. LYONS ROOM.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 and what a fantastic way it would be for you to start the New Year, especially for all you BINGO LOVERS as we’ll be playing JANUARY JINGLE BELL BINGO for our entertainment!!

During the year we have many enjoyable trips to see great Dinner Plays, lots of fun on our Casino Trips and in between those, we make our own entertainment…And you’re always treated to an assortment of delicious goodies at our monthly meetings! So, if you would like to find out more about our lively group of Seniors, please join us in January and see what we’re all about. For more Membership information, please call Judy Peters at 610.775.8965. Hope to see you in January!!

Berks Catholic News • Saints Annual Shooting Clinic- December 30, 2019- For Boys and Girls Grades K-8. Offensive moves for guards and forwards, dribbling moves, shooting, shooting off the dribble, shooting off the pass, and shoot out contest. Please go to the Berks Catholic Website for a registration form. www.berkscatholic.org• Berks Catholic Open House-Thursday, January 23, 2020 5-7pm It’s a great time to Be A Saint! Visit our new John R. Post Learning Center which features a new STEM Lab, expanded, cafeteria, new classrooms, college and career counseling suite and collegiate style learning commons. Come experience the energy of our community and learn more about how we prepare young men and ladies to be college and life ready. For more information please contact Nicky Smith at 610.374.8361 ext. 244 or nsmith@berkscatholic.org

JOB OPPURTUNITY: Mary’s Shelter is looking for part-time staff members. This is an entry level position, please contact dani@marysshelter.org for more information.

Knights of Columbus Calendar –January 2020

January 2020 • Wednesday; January 1 – Soup Kitchen • Sunday; January 12 – Knights ta Mass – Rosary 10:00 / Mass: 10:30 AM

JOB OPPURTUNITY • La Salle Academy is hiring a night-time security lock-up attendant. Applications and clearances may be sent to Mr. Stephen Mickulik, M.Ed., Principal, La Salle Academy, 440 Holland St., Shillington, PA 19607. • Adult Library Assistant Volunteers are needed for Wednesdays at school to help students check books in and out and to reshelve returned books. Volunteers must have or be able to obtain Diocesan clearances. Contact the Principal at La Salle Academy for more information (610.777.7392).

DIOCESAN VICTIM ASSISTANCE: Contact Ms. Wendy Krisak L.S.W Direct Phone # 800.791.9209 SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATOR: Contact Sister Meg Cole S.S.J 610.332.0442 x 2019 PARISH SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATOR: Contact: Bernadette Yohn 610.777.1697

Only 1- Needed! One of our long-time parishioners, Sandy Milanek-Clayton, needs a kidney. She is a mother of two Brandy Stremba-Skaf and Dean Stremba. Sandy has been

on dialysis for several months, and as our St. John Family, we are asking you to consider being a donor. If you are healthy and want to pay it forward, at no expense to you, please contact Cheryl Gehrke at 717.327.8973 OR cherylcolella@yahoo.com.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

• CHRISTMAS EVE- TUESDAY, DEC. 24th

4:00PM, 7:00PM & 10:00PM • CHRISTMAS DAY- WEDNESDAY, DEC. 25th

9:00AM *Note there will be no Mass on Thurs. Dec. 26th*

Faith Sharing for Women Faith Sharing for Women will meet on Wednesday, January 8 (the second Wednesday of

January rather than on New Years) at 7:30 pm, in the Father Lyons Room. Come ponder the gift of our baptism as we pray with and discuss the Scripture readings on The Baptism of Our Lord. Come follow the directives of Lectio Divina, and ponder how your daily life connects with the message contained in the Gospel. Women from all walks of life are welcome to participate. Attendance at previous sessions is not required, just a willingness to listen to others with the ear of your heart and to share in all that surfaces under the influence of the Holy Spirit. For more information contact Arlene Seeber (484.794.8027 or arleneseeber@icloud.com).

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YOUTH GROUP - Our next meeting will be January 5th from 6:15-7:45 in the LaSalle

cafe. We encourage all 8th-12th graders to attend for a great time. We thank everyone for their support in 2019 and wish a very blessed Christmas to all! For more youth group updates and information, visit our Twitter at StJohn_YG16.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE If a Prenatal Diagnosis identifies a possible disability…You are not alone. There is help. The Diocese of Allentown has a network of concerned parents and professionals who have experienced or worked closely with issues surrounding a poor prenatal diagnosis. For support, contact: Sr. Janice Marie Johnson at 610.289.8900x42 or jjohnson@allentowndiocese.org

GUIDELINES FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOSPITAL BOUND: • If you are scheduled for a hospital visit and know in advance, please see Father Rich before or after mass and he will anoint you and bless you. • When being admitted to the Reading Hospital please advise the admitting staff person you are Catholic and a member of St. John Baptist de LaSalle. Should you want Communion while you are hospitalized please tell them you want Communion either daily or weekly and your name will be added to list of the Eucharistic Ministers who serve at the hospital. If you have any questions about this procedure see Deacon Joe Lombardo.

Rediscover the Love in Your Marriage! Tens of thousands of couples have healed their Marriages through Retrouvaille (Retro-VIE). Couples learn to build communications skills and rediscover intimacy. Retrouvaille provides help for marriage problems, difficulties or crises. The next program begins the weekend of February 21-23, 2020 at the Family Life Center in Malvern, PA. Another weekend will be held in April 2020. For more information, or to register for one of the weekends, visit their website at: www.HelpOurMarriage.org or call 210.766.3944 or 800.470.2230. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

The St. Francis Hospice Home in Shillington, PA is in need of additional volunteers to help provide compassionate, loving care to it’s residents. Please come and shadow one of our volunteers and see if you are being called to provide this blessed ministry. No medical background is required, just a willing heart. Any amount of time can help. For more information please contact Sandy Niehenke, manager of St Francis Home, directly at 610.898.4242. Thank you and God bless you.

Justice in Action Ministry Thanks You!!! For a Most Successful

REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR

The response of our parish to the Reverse Advent Calendar has indicated the overwhelming generosity of our parish family of

faith. Justice in Action Ministry wants to thank all who participated in this venture. This weekend marks the final days to drop off your filled “Reverse Advent Calendar” filled with non-perishable food items. Under the direction of Lois Carrier (who engineers the parish weekly food collections) all the donations to help feed hungry families will be delivered to the Mifflin Community Food Ministry. Located at the Zion Evangelical Congregational Church 57 N. Church Street Mohnton, this food pantry is sponsored by an Ecumenical Ministry of four churches: Zion Evangelical Congregational Church, New Life of Shillington, Saint John’s Lutheran and Calvary United Methodist. The Mifflin Community Food Ministry serves families who live within the boundaries of the Mifflin School District. Benefit from the items stocked in the pantry families need not have children enrolled in Mifflin schools.

2020 National Migration Week January 5-11

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops initiated the observance of National Migration Week over a quarter

century ago, to provide Catholics an opportunity to take stock of the wide diversity of peoples in the

Church and the ministries serving them. The theme for National Migration Week 2020, “Promoting a Church and a World for All” draws attention to the fact that each of our families have a migration story, some recent and others in the distant past. Regardless of where we are and where we came from, we remain part of the human family and are called to live in solidarity with one another. National Migration Week is an opportunity for us, the Church, to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims and survivors of human trafficking. National Migration Week suggests that we take time to celebrate our own ancestral heritage and also to ponder in prayer.

Matthew 2: 13-15 The Flight into Egypt

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A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR...

If you have received an adverse Prenatal Diagnosis, you are not alone. There is help. The Diocese of Allentown has a network of concerned parents and professionals who have experienced or worked closely with issues surrounding adverse prenatal diagnosis. For support, contact: Sr. Janice Marie Johnson, jjohnson@allentowndiocese.org or 610.289.8900 x 2280

SCHOLARSHIPS – During 2020, the Polish-American Board of Education of Berks County (PABEBC) will celebrate its75th Anniversary. As of 2019, the organization has awarded 321 scholarships totaling almost $700,000. A reunion of scholarship recipients is being planned in conjunction with the PABEBC annual scholarship awards dinner to be held at the Inn of Reading on Saturday, April 25, 2020. If you were the recipient of a scholarship please mark your calendar and plan to attend. If you know someone who was a recipient of a scholarship please share this information with him/her. In addition, we would like to compile information about the activities of our scholarship recipients. Scholarship recipients should visit our Facebook Page at Polish American board of education Berks County or our website at www.pabeberks.com.

The Sandwich Generation

The “sandwich generation” is a good description. There’s pressure from both sides and sometimes it gets messy in the middle. That’s what it can feel like if you’re taking care of your children as well as your aging parent. Add in a spouse and a job and it’s no wonder it often seems a twenty-four-hour day and seven-day week just aren’t enough for all you have to do. Then, too, from the time all of us were little we were taught there is a right way and a wrong way to accomplish a task. Maybe your parent

took care of Grandma or Grandpa. Your spouse took care of your mother- or father-in-law. Your friends or co-workers seem to be able to handle their situations. But you . . . . When you realize you can’t do all the things you’re supposed to do–all the things other people have done or are doing–you feel inadequate and even guilty. You think you’re letting everyone down. If you just worked a little harder, slept a little less, sacrificed a little more. . . If you find yourself in that situation, or feel yourself sinking into it, these suggestions might help

• Remember there is no single right way to do this. Trying to exactly mimic what another person has done probably isn’t going to work. Each case is unique because the personalities and problems in each case are unique.

• If you don’t take care of yourself–take time to eat, sleep, catch your breath and pray–you will burn out quickly and be of little use to anyone, including yourself. The situation in which you find yourself is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Yes, someday it will end but that may be a long, long time from now. In the meantime, if you do not pace yourself, sometimes even pamper yourself, you won’t be able to keep going. That’s not because you’re weak, it’s because you’re human.

• The big picture can look and feel overwhelming. Sometimes it helps to break it down into the many tiny pieces that make up the whole. What you have to do for your parent, your children, your spouse, your job and yourself. The lists may be long but somehow no single item is overpowering.

• Prioritize your tasks. Making those lists helps. Obviously, getting Mom to her doctor’s appointment is more important than vacuuming her apartment.

• Give away some of the low-priority duties. Someone else can be hired to do the apartment cleaning. Someone else–the bakery department at the local grocery store–can supply the brownies you’re supposed to send to the next Cub Scout den meeting.

• Get support for yourself. Groups for caregivers and organizations that focus on your parent’s particular illness or condition can help you deal with what you are facing. Doctors, social workers and the Area Agency on Aging can give you local contacts.

• Write it down: dates and schedules and all that information from doctors, therapists, pharmacists, teachers, coaches, your boss, your spouse, your kids . . . . There’s no way a person can remember all the things you need to remember.

It may seem the day is completely packed but if you jot down your own “to do” list, you may discover there’s half an hour free here or there. A little oasis like that gives you something to look forward to. It’s a short break to partially recharge your batteries before you have to go, go, go again. Article courtesy of www.youragingparent.com

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kids corner