The Sunday Smile:
 

Presidential Wisdom: “Labor disgraces no one; unfortunately we occasionally find others who disgrace labor.”  Pres. U.S. Grant (1822-1855)

 Last Week's Bits & Pieces

Today is our annual Parish Day Spaghetti Dinner.  While it is not primarily intended as a fund-raiser but as just a comfortable chance to come and enjoy the company of your fellow parishioners, Carrie Iaquinto, who steers the kitchen operation, always insists that the event make some money and certainly not loose any. So there will be a few take-a-chance opportunities along with our strolling minstrels entertainment and of course, the always tasty meal. Many, many thanks to those who started last Friday with the cooking and yesterday with the set-ups, and today with the serving. Have a great time!

Last Sunday morning at the 10:00 Mass and again at the Cathedral in the afternoon with Bishop Trautman, the following members of the St. Luke 2005 RCIA class were prayerfully sent from us and accepted by the Bishop for full communion into the Catholic Faith: Thomas Barton, Jason Papucci, Pam Piglowski, Michael Schell, Lori Tupek, Carin Welka and John Willis, Jr. Congratulations to you all and sincerest thanks and appreciation to Deacon Jerry Sobrowski for leading them along this journey this year. It all comes to a glorious graduation in the jubilant celebration of Holy Saturday night.

More modifications to be made to our 50th Anniversary booklet:  please add the names of Father August P. Coccarelli and Father John Bonanti to the list of parish vocations on page 12. Also there’s a doubt about Father John Adams in that he might in fact have been from St. Boniface.

On Saturday, February 12, the Boy Scouts held a very nicely presented Red & White Banquet honoring the branches of our nation’s military. Three representatives, one from the Army, one from the Marines, and one from the Air Force spoke about their experiences. Scouts receiving rank advancements were Kyle DePew to Scout, Matthew Brown and Dan Hoover to Tenderfoot, Jeff Annunziata to Second Class, Colin Waidley to First Class, Dan Przyblak to Star, Adam Hausman and Thomas Lundmark to Life. Tim Hausmann, Mark Peelman, Dan Pryzblak and Matt Maher all earned a host of merit badges. Congratulations to one and all!

Lake Shore Community Services, Inc. is a non-profit group serving people with developmental disabilities and mental illness in the Erie community. They are raffling a Mercedes Benz to raise funds. Check the bulletin boards for more information.

A note from Rose Graham at Catholic Charities: “A tremendous response to help victims of the tsunami from Catholics all over the diocese of Erie! In an outstanding response to an overwhelming tragedy, parishes and schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie continue to raise money for Tsunami Relief. Today, Monday, February 7, 2005, a check for $284,000 is being sent to Catholic Relief Services (CRS). This money will assist in providing emergency and long term solutions to sanitation, health care, food, shelter and water for the victims of the tsunami. Catholic Charities will continue to accept donations and forward one hundred percent of tsunami relief donations to CRS to assist those countries affected by this horrible catastrophe. Thank you again for your support! The people of the Diocese of Erie are amazing and should be proud of their on-going support to those in need throughout their communities and the world.”

Coming up in the Scriptures this week on Monday, we are reminded to be merciful if we want to be shown mercy. On Tuesday, St. Peter is given the keys to the kingdom of heaven thus establishing the primacy of the position of the Holy Father in our Church. On Wednesday, Jesus teaches that greatness in His Kingdom is not about power, but about service. On Thursday, we are given the parable about the rich man and his earthly rewards being no where near as fulfilling as poor Lazarus’ rewards in heaven. On Friday, our lesson is that the kingdom of God is promised to those who make God’s ways their ways. On Saturday, the parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us that if God forgives us, who are we not to forgive ourselves? Next Sunday, Catholic Services Appeal Commitment Sunday, our theme is a spirit-softened heart.

Coming up on Magnify tonight friends, a visit with author Richard Waldman on the Lenten project of dealing with life’s depressions and discouragements. That’s on Magnify from 7-8 pm on AM 1400, WJET.