Forgot a Bulletin?

Click the link for the current bulletin or check out our archives for the past two months of St. Columba news

Current Bulletin

September 27th, 2020

Past Bulletins

Community Headlines & Events

OFFICE NEWS
This week, we express our appreciation to Bernie Staniszewski for her 13+ years of service as our Parish Secretary! Bernie’s last day is 9/28. Please feel free to call or stop in or the parish office to wish her farewell. We will miss her dearly in the office, but wish her every Irish Blessing as she takes time to focus on her family. Thank you, Bernie, for your years of service to the parish, for helping keep our security badges up-to-date and the parish office running smoothly and efficiently.

MAY SHE REST IN THE PEACE OF THE LORD! Please pray for the soul of Mrs. Helen H. Heller who died on September 15, 2020. The parish community of Saint Columba Church extends its deepest sympathies to her family, relatives, and friends on their loss.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOD’S BLESSINGS ON SISTER MARIA FORMA DEI KONKOLICS on the Solemn Profession of Perpetual Vows which she took on September 17. She is a religious sister with the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (SSVM). Together with the priests of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and the Third Order Members, they make up the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word.
After completing 2 years of her formation in Washington, DC, she entered the contemplative branch of the Servidoras in Monastic House of Formation in Tuscania, Italy. After 2 years in Italy, she entered the Monastere Sainte Hildegarde in Luxembourg where she currently resides. Please pray for Sr. Forma Dei as she lives out the will of God as a religious sister with the SSVM.

THE BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY MASS, which was held at 6:00 p.m. Sunday evenings at our church, has been canceled until further notice. We pray for the ongoing health and safety of the Bloomsburg University students, staff, and faculty, as they navigate the challenges of online learning during this COVID-19 pandemic.

DIOCESAN MASS FOR YOUNG ADULTS
On Saturday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m., Bishop Ronald W. Gainer will be the Principal Celebrant and Homilist for the Diocesan Mass for Young Adults. The Mass will be celebrated at Saint Catherine Laboure Parish (4000 Derry Street, Harrisburg, 17111). Young adult Catholics in their 20’s and 30’s are most welcome and heartily encouraged to attend!

WE NEED YOUR UP-TO-DATE CONTACT INFORMATION
Please help us keep our records up to date in the parish office. We have many parishioners who are only listed with a landline, and in many cases that landline has been disconnected. In some cases, parishioners have moved, but we don’t know this until we have sent out envelopes and then they are returned back to us. Simply call or email the office with your updated contact information so that if we need to get in touch, we can find you! Thank you. It is very helpful to have accurate contact information. Please call us, or email the office.

RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION
During this Covid 19 Pandemic, it is highly recommended that reception of Holy Communion be on the hand because of the concern of the transmission of the virus to others when received on the tongue. If you determine to receive on the tongue, please wait until the end of the Communion line.
Thank you to everyone for your understanding.

FROM THE FOOD CUPBOARD
Thank you to the understanding and cooperative parishioners, especially those coming to the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass for navigating their way around the Food Cupboard lines in order to park for Mass.
The Food Cupboard encourages all gardeners to “plant a row for the hungry” in order to share your bountiful harvest with those in need.
We are also in need of single use masks for our clients. If you can help with masks or a donation that would help us purchase masks, give us a call at (570) 387-2607.
Thank you for your continued generosity and support of the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard!

DANVILLE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BBQ CHICKEN DINNER
Saturday, October 3, 4:00 to 6:30. St. Joseph’s School Parking Lot
Cost $10.00
Meal includes chicken, baked potato, baked beans, roll, and dessert.
TAKE OUT ONLY
For Tickets Contact Peter Taylor at 570-850-7755

This Week in Our Parish

– a calendar for the week of September 20, 2020 –

REMEMBRANCE BOOK
During the month of October, our Remembrance book will be in the back of the church so that all may inscribe the names of their beloved deceased family and friends during the month of October. A candle will be lit for all the names in the book at the Mass of Remembrance on Monday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. We will also include our prior Remembrance book at the Mass, which was used from 2017-2019, so you to not need to re-inscribe those names. All are invited to the Mass of Remembrance.

LIFETEEN We are very much looking forward to seeing you all again and enjoying some fun. We will meet at the town park in Bloomsburg on September 27 from 6 to 8. In keeping in line with the Harrisburg guidelines, we will play games that require us to be 6 feet apart and we will wear masks. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to serve food of any kind, so please eat dinner before you come.
There is a permission form that your parents have to sign before you come to Life Teen. I will be sending that out in an email. If you think I do not have your email address, call or text me at 570-441-3459 and give it to me so that I can include you in my email groups.

AFTERSHOCK will resume in October using appropriate
guidelines.

PLEASE HELP US KEEP THE CHURCH SAFE AND CLEAN
Helpers are needed after Mass to assist with spraying and wiping down the pews. Please stop by the cafeteria after Mass if you can take a few minutes to assist, so that the same people are not cleaning the church each time. We also have signup sheets in the back of the church. Please consider signing up for a future date if you can.

PARISH PICNIC NEWS
This year we are encouraging everyone to stay healthy and avoid social mixers, both inside and outside. We will not be holding a parish picnic this year, but next year, in August of 2021, we are hoping for our best parish picnic ever! Contact the Parish Office if you would like to help plan next year’s Best-Ever Parish Picnic!

CATHOLIC COUNSELING OPTIONS ARE NEARBY
Heart of Mercy Counseling Ministry (Sisters of the Good Shepherd), in the Danville area now has two licensed therapists available to serve adults: individual, couples, and families. Fee based on sliding scale. Please contact either one of them to schedule an appointment if you are seeking counsel-ing based in Catholic teachings: Sr. Patricia Marie Barnette, Licensed Professional Counselor, 352-328-8145 OR: Sr. Mary Frances Altavilla, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 410-245-0870.

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
Each Saturday – 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You can also call the office for an appointment.

HOLY COMMUNION WILL BE DISTRIBUTED at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday for those who want to come to the church after Sunday Mass just for Communion.

THE DIOCESAN YOUTH COUNCIL is accepting nominations for the 2020 – 2021 school year. The council consists of youth who are called to discipleship through leadership and service to the community. The new DYC is expanding membership to include youth in grades 8 and 9, and will meet and offer retreats virtually. Youth interested may contact their parish office to obtain a copy of the nomination form or contact the Diocesan Youth Office via email.

Parish Stewardship

September 20, 2020 – $9,306
September 22, 2019 – $9,145

This week’s Offering – Weekly
Next week’s Offering – Weekly

ROOTED IN FAITH – THE DIOCESAN ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
Have you made your commitment to the Diocesan Annual Campaign?
PARISH CAMPAIGN as of 09/27/20
ASSESSMENT – $97,952
PLEDGED – $71,460
% OF GOAL – 72.9%
GIVERS – 181

Mass Schedule for this Week

SUNDAY/September 27, 2020
8:00 a.m. Helen Pollard (Jocile and Mel Martz)
10:30 a.m. People of the Parish

MONDAY/September 28, 2020
7:30 a.m. Louis Erhardt (Stephanie Severn)

TUESDAY/September 29, 2020
7:30 a.m. Donald Dunne (Theresa Dunne and Family)

WEDNESDAY/September 30, 2020
7:30 a.m. Stanley & Nancy Kuznicki (Family)

THURSDAY/October 1, 2020
7:30 a.m. Sr. Virginia Zapotocky (Mike & Rita Zapotocky)

FRIDAY/October 2, 2020
7:30 a.m. Donald Trump (Paul and Joann Page)
5:00 p.m.

SATURDAY/October 3, 2020
8:00 a.m. Pat Sands (Sands Family)
5:00 p.m. Martha Kruczek (Marino Family)

NEXT SUNDAY/October 4, 2020
8:00 a.m. People of the Parish
10:30 a.m. John and Madonna Shannon (In Honor of their 50th Wedding Anniversary)

BLESSED MOTHER CANDLE: In Loving Memory of Mary P. Jankowski (Christine Haririan).

SAINT GIANNA CANDLE: For the Special Intention of Patrick Murph II and the Moore Family (Rhonda Dougherty).


PLEASE REMEMBER to leave the kneeler down when you leave your pew after Mass, so that we know which pews need to be cleaned. Thank you.

CELL PHONE FRAUD
Please be aware that another round of text messages from someone pretending to be Msgr. Lawrence and asking for iTunes gift cards. Please know that the scammers are getting more and more savvy. Also know that Monsignor will NEVER contact you to ask for monetary help. Anytime you receive a text presumably from Msgr. Lawrence, double check the original cell phone number. Fraudulent calls and text messages can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and we encourage you to do so.

Hearing the Word of the Lord this Week

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
What is important is that we do the will of God. At first, we may not want to do what the Lord asks of us. However, if we reflect upon it and do God’s will, then we are pleasing God. If we have not yet made that decision for the Lord, now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.
Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Be Prepared for the Word of the Lord Next Sunday

Readings for next Sunday, October 4, 2020
TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Isaiah 5: 1 – 7
Psalm 80: 9, 12 – 16, 19 – 20
Philippians 4: 6 – 9
Matthew 21: 33 – 43

Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Part Three: Life in Christ
CHAPTER ONE
The Dignity of the Human Person
MAN THE IMAGE OF GOD
THE VIRTUES

What is hope?
Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire and await from God eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit to merit it and to persevere to the end of our earthly life.

What is charity?
Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Jesus makes charity the new commandment, the fullness of the law. “It is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:14) and the foundation of the other virtues to which it gives life, inspiration, and order. Without charity “I am nothing” and “I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).