Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 31, 2025

On Saturday, September 6, we have our annual Light the City street evangelization event. We need people to go out onto 13th street to invite passersby to come in to light a candle and pray. We also need people in the church at prayer so that visitors will see people praying. Plan to spend Saturday, September 6 in church. The street evangelization begins at 7:15 PM.

Saint John’s is the best church in the Archdiocese for this kind of street outreach. Each day hundreds, likely thousands, of people walk by our church. Some barely notice that we are here and others--people more tuned into churches--at least see us. Plenty of people enter our church for prayer, Mass, confessions or other celebrations. But plenty more walk by.

Once each year our young adults speak to people passing by and invite them to go into the church, light a candle and pray for peace. Praying for peace is more relevant in 2025 than it has been for a long time. War is raging in Gaza and Ukraine and other places. Families are fractured. And there is still too much violence in our own City. Pray for peace. Yes. For Peace.

When people walk in they will find a darkened church and people singing soft religious music. There will be people sitting in silence. As the night progresses, there will be more and more light from candles. Each candle represents a prayer offered.

Will you be part of this? Not everyone has the courage to walk up to strangers to invite them to pray. But you can be present. That’s just as important. You can pray for peace and light your own candle.

Divorced/Separated Catholic Outreach

“Divorced, Catholic, Now What?” – a weekly program for six weeks that meets on Thursday Evenings via Zoom that addresses concerns of divorced / separated Catholic men and women. It offers much needed support and helps to answer questions asked as a result of a separation or divorce. Topics include Introductions, Prayer, Grief, Letting Go, Forgiveness, Hope, and more.

Meetings will begin on Thursday September 4th at 7:30 pm via Zoom.

Leader: John Robert Heard II, PE (Retired), Board Certified RN.

Help Holy Redeemer School

Holy Redeemer School continues to educate children from low and middle income families. As you know, the cost of most things, especially education, has risen over the past decade. Fortunately, the State of Pennsylvania has created a program to assist families to pay tuition at private and Catholic schools.

Pennsylvania residents who pay at least $1000 in State taxes (income taxes usually) can pay their money to a charity that provides tuition help to Holy Redeemer School instead of paying that money to the State. And the donors get a 90% credit (not deduction, but tax credit) for taxes that are owed to the State of Pennsylvania. Your donation will only be used for tuition for needy families.

Consider paying your taxes to Holy Redeemer School instead of into the general Pennsylvania State treasury. For information, please email Father Tom at pastor@stjohnsphilly.com.

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

On Monday, September 22, we begin our weekly zoom classes for those who are considering joining the church through baptism or for baptized Catholics who would like to be confirmed. This program is known as RCIA, sometimes now called OCIA. Catholics who simply want to learn more about the Catholic faith are also welcome.

If you would like to receive zoom invitations to these classes, please email Father Tom.

Pancake and Eggs Breakfast

On Sunday, September 14, Saint John’s will hold a breakfast after the 8:30,10:30 and 12:30 Masses in the parish center. There is no set cost, but we ask that you make a donation equivalent to the cost of a similar breakfast in a restaurant. Up to you. The breakfast is a fundraiser for our Capital Campaign.