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In 1963, the Capuchin friars of Saint John Church saw the plight of many homeless men in our neighborhood and decided to do something about it. They opened a hospice in a small building on a nearby street. That small effort has grown into Saint John’s Hospice, which now provides a wide range of services to hundreds of homeless men every day.

While Saint John’s Hospice is now a separate corporation, it remains a ministry of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and continues to be sponsored by the Capuchin friars. We are proud of our connection to the Hospice and we continue to support its mission.

In October and November, we dedicated the proceeds of our Poor Box to Saint John’s Hospice. I am pleased to announce that through your generosity, we were able to donate $12,450 to the Hospice this year. This money will help to provide hot meals, clothing, and shelter to those in need.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to the Poor Box during those months. Your generosity is a tangible sign of your commitment to the Gospel and to the mission of our parish.

As we move into 2026, let us continue to look for ways to serve those who are on the margins of our society. Let us remember the words of Jesus: "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."

Catholic Relief Services Collection

Today we are taking up the annual collection for Catholic Relief Services. This collection supports the work of the Catholic Church among the poor and vulnerable in more than 100 countries. Your contributions provide emergency relief in times of disaster, as well as long-term development programs that help people to overcome poverty and build better lives for themselves and their families. Please be generous in your support of this important work.

Gospel of Matthew Class

Professor Paul Danove’s Zoom class on the Gospel of Matthew continues this Wednesday, January 21, from 7-8:30 PM. If you would like to participate, please email Father Tom for the Zoom link.

Pancake and Eggs Breakfast

Our first breakfast of the new year was a great success. We raised $2,206 for our capital campaign. I want to thank the many volunteers who helped to prepare and serve the breakfast, and everyone who came out to support us. Our next breakfast will be on Sunday, February 1.

Capital Campaign Update

We continue to receive generous donations for our capital campaign. This week we received another $100,000 from the estate of Rose Kozlow. We are now very close to our new goal of $1.4 Million. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. Your support is essential to the future of our parish.

This week ...

From the Pastor' Desk