Bible Study: Gospel of Mark
Saint John the Evangelist Parishioner, Paul Danove (B.S., M.Div., S.T.L, Ph.D.), is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies at Villanova University. He has published seven books and more than three dozen publications on the Gospel of Mark and the Greek grammar of the New Testament. He will offer an in depth study of the Gospel of Mark by Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 PM from December 3-March 27. The class will be recorded and available for viewing in the week following the class. If you wish to receive Zoom invitations to the class and the recordings, please email Father Tom
Saint Charles Seminary Collection
Each year all Catholics are asked to contribute to the support of our seminary. The Church needs priests and we need a good seminary. We recently had a collection to assist with the costs of moving from the seminary’s current campus in Wynnewood to the new site in Lower Gwynedd Township. That was a one time extraordinary campaign, different from the annual collection.
Next weekend, November 18-19, we will have our annual collection for the basic support of the seminary. Please be generous.
Beef and Beer Fundraiser
A few parishioners would like to revive an old tradition of an annual beef and beer fundraiser. But we need a committee to work on it. If you’d like to help, please email Fr. Tom:
800th Anniversary of Saint Francis First Christmas Crèche in Greccio
According to Franciscan tradition, on Christmas Eve 1223, Saint Francis created the first living Nativity scene. Actors played the parts of Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. Live cows and sheep made the scene realistic. And according to medieval legend, the actual infant Christ appeared. In honor of the 800th anniversary of this event, Pope Francis grants a plenary indulgence to anyone who visits a Franciscan Church (like Saint John’s) in December 2023 and January 2024 and prays before the Christmas nativity display. To receive the plenary indulgence one must also go to confession, receive communion and pray for the intentions of Pope Francis.
Although sins are forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a plenary indulgence is the remission of punishment still due for sin. In other words, Catholic theology of indulgences recognizes that even sin that has been forgiven has caused harmful consequences to others and to the world. God forgives sin, but we still need to repair the damage that our sin causes. Forgiveness comes only from God, but we must participate in the restoration of justice that our sins have disrupted. However, we are not capable of fully repairing the damage that our sin causes and even in this, we need the merits and help of Jesus Christ.
This week ...