October is the month when the Archdiocese asks every parish to take a headcount of Mass attendees. Our numbers have grown gradually each week. This is a good sign of things to come. As we cautiously continue our recovery from Covid, I thought an update on how things are going would be appropriate at this time. Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to get a pretty good picture of how the parish functions. One of the added advantages of being a new pastor is that I can easily ask the question of why when it comes to understanding the history of various events and traditions. There are times when the answer is, “I don’t know, but that is the way we have always done it.” Other times folks can provide a logical and practical answer to my questions.
This allows us to make some necessary changes and changes that have become essential due to Covid restrictions. Settling into a new position always needs time and dialogue in order to make sense of the culture and chemistry of the community.
In planning ahead, I have a few questions that need your honest opinion. I would ask that you take some time to think carefully about how you might answer these few questions.
Next weekend, we will be adding the Midnight Mass survey papers to the pew to get in-person results.
·If we were to have a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, would you attend? YES or NO
·If we added a 7:00 PM Mass on Sunday evening as a way to attract young adults, would you ever consider attending yourself? YES or NO
These are just two questions that need our attention so that proper planning can begin if changes are desired. Your opinion is critical, and with the help of our staff and the various committees, we can move forward knowing that any changes are grounded in your hopes, needs, and wishes as a community of faith. I look forward to sharing the results with all of you. Please note that your YES or NO is only one part of preparing for such changes. There are many facets to a schedule change that involves various aspects of the parish besides the results of this survey.
Please mark your calendars for the weekend of November 6 & 7 as we will be having a tent event, inviting folks to join in on the many and varied activities of the parish as we revive and recover from this pandemic. Your active participation will be an example to others of how we share time and talent along with whatever treasure that you can afford, building up our parish community in service to one another and the larger community.
Fr. Joe
Midnight Mass Poll
Would you attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve if it is offered at OMGC this year?
Yes
No
Morning Prayer
Please join us
Monday through Saturday at 8:30 AM in the
Chapel for Morning Prayer.
All are welcome!
PREP Schedule for October 2021
October 17, 2021 - Lesson 2
October 24, 2021 - Lesson 3
October 31, 2021 - Lesson 4
OMGC ANNUAL PUMPKIN CARVING
All parishioners are invited to join us for our Annual Pumpkin Carving on Friday evening, October 29, 2021 at 6 pm. We will serve pizza and you can bring your own beverage! (BYOB). Please bring your own pumpkin. We have some tools and stencils as well!
Please rsvp to kcarey@omgcparish.net or 610-525-0147 (Karen).
RCIA
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
If you know someone 16 years or older interested in becoming a Roman Catholic or completing their Christian Initiation into the Catholic Church,
please contact Roger Pisani, Pastoral Associate,
at rpisani@omgcparish.net or
call him at (610) 525-0147 x.234.
Our lessons can be virtual when necessary.
AMERICAN AIRLINES ADVANTAGE MILES NEEDED
If you happen to have any advantage miles from American Airlines that you do not need or have no intention of using, our men in formation could always use them for travel especially as we prepare them for a pilgrimage in the summer of 2022, as part of their initial formation as Augustinians.
Please contact Fr. Joe, frjoe@omgcparish.net, if you can help.
ELECTRONICS FOR REFUGEES!
Appeal for Cell Phones and Computers for Refugees
For several years, I have been the middle man in the:
1.Receiving of used, donated electronic goods.
2.Their repair and pro-bono reconditioning.
3.The gift of the restored item to, mainly, refugees, but also immigrants, those released from prison, and the poor.
Many Cell phones, I-phones, laptops, desktops, Ipads, thin-screen TVs, and other electronic items and their accessories have come through me to be given to those in need. Our beneficiaries are from the Catholic Archdiocese’s Committee on Refugees, clients of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), Catholic immigrants from Africa, and those released from Graterford (now Phoenix) prison. Many refugees are now arriving from Afghanistan who will benefit significantly from gifts of these materials.
If you want to donate electronic items, and you are at Villanova, please take them to Dan Griffin, Room 5 in Corr Hall. If you are in St. Thomas of Villanova or Our Mother of Good Counsel parishes, please bring them to the parish office, or please phone (H) 610-525-4499, or email Joe Betz (joseph.betz@villanova.edu), who will come and get them. Your generosity will make a big difference in their tumultuous situation.
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 6:30 pm. at St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the campus of Villanova University will be the site for the closing ceremonies of the archdiocesan phase of the process that has been underway these past four years for the canonization of Fr. Bill Atkinson, O.S.A. Archbishop Perez will preside at the hour-long ceremony. It is a wonderful opportunity for all to come together to remember and celebrate Fr. Bill's life as an Augustinian and Priest as he continues to inspire and encourage so many who seek his intercession.
This is not a liturgical celebration but a ceremony sending Fr. Bill's cause for Sainthood to Rome as we continue to pray that someday he will be named a Saint in the Catholic Church. Following the ceremony, there will be a buffet reception in the Connelly Center to which all are invited. NO RSVP necessary.
St. Thomas of Villanova is hosting a 5-part series: “We Thirst: Christian Reflections on Addiction” in the Parish Auditorium (1229 E. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA.) each Tuesday evening in November from 6:30 to 8:30pm. These evenings are designed for all members of our community who would like to learn about becoming part of the solution and our responsibility as followers of Christ in responding to those who are suffering. Please see under the Parish Events on our website at: www.stthomasofvillanova.org.
SAINT COLMAN CONCERT
CARLOS ALBERTO IBAY
Presented by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and Saint Colman Church
Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 3:00 P.M.
Saint Colman Church, Ardmore
All are invited to a special afternoon of music, for free, in Saint Colman Church. Carlos Alberto Ibay is a classically trained Filipino American concert pianist and tenor who has been blind since infancy. He began playing piano at age two and singing at age three. A child prodigy, Carlos made his first public performance at age ten. Fluent in seven languages, he has performed at The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and over a dozen countries including concert halls in: the Philippines, Russia, Italy, Brazil, Australia, Israel, and Cuba. He has also had the honor of playing and singing at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Come and enjoy this treat.
Our thanks to all who so generously support our parish even during this time of quarantine.
