Christian Unity Octave
I mentioned in my bulletin column last week that we are in the midst of the Christian Unity Octave. The Octave (January 18-25) is a lament that Christians who were supposed to be one church, one body, instead are broken into thousands of churches not in full communion with one another. Last week I recommended that you read Pope Saint Paul II’s encyclical, Ut Unum Sint. This is also a week to pray that God will restore the unity that the Church has lost over the centuries. Unity seems an impossible dream, but nothing is impossible with God. In your prayers, ask God for Christian unity.

Catholic Relief Services Collection
We US Catholics are proud of Catholic Relief Services, the official US Catholic aid and development agency. CRS is active in about 100 countries and is considered one of the most effective international aid organizations, respected by religious and secular organizations throughout the world. Our Catholic Relief second collection will be this weekend, January 21-22. Please be extra generous to this collection. In addition, you may want to consider finding Catholic Relief Services on line and becoming a regular donor to this great Catholic work of mercy.

Jack’s Yacs
Our next event is Thursday, February 2: Jack’s Yacs will sponsor a meal for people in the Frankford neighborhood. Our young adults hope to give the people who come to the event a small bag with helpful toiletries: shampoo, hand sanitizer, tissues, chap sticks, dish soap, etc. If we get more than we need, we can leave the items at the Padre Pio Prayer Center for the women and children’s program. There will be boxes in the upper and lower churches to collect these items. For more information on these and other opportunities, please contact Father Tom.

Firefighters’ Mass
Firefighters’ Mass Plan mark your calendars for Saturday, February 18 at 10 AM for the thirteenth annual Firefighters’ Memorial Mass at St. John’s. Volunteers are needed to help in the preparation of chili, cornbread muffins and cookies. Contact Carolyn at (267) 881-8794 or email

Cash donations are also needed and welcome.

For details please visit this post.

Debt Reduction collection
Our second collection next weekend, January 28-29, will be for the reduction of Saint John’s debt. We have made great progress in paying down our debt, but we still owe more than $800,000. Please be generous.

Visits to homebound parishioners
If you know of a Saint John parishioner who is unable to join us at Mass due to infirmity, sickness or old
age, please call the office so that friars and parishioners can visit for prayer and Holy Communion.