"I rejoiced when I heard them say let us go to the house of the Lord." Psalm 122     Welcome to our Parish Website! We are happy you have joined us. Saint George Parish is a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people. If you are new to the area, just visiting, or looking to learn more about the Catholic faith, we invite you to join us for Mass and one of our many community events. Come and learn more. Or contact us by phone or Email.  Reverend Leo P. Oswald Pastor If you would like to register online, please click on the Newcomers tab for the Registration Form and fill in the information. Once submittted, you will be contacted by a member of our staff to confirm the information and to let you know that it has been processed. You will also receive a Welcome Packet in the mail. We are happy to welcome new members and look foward to having you join our Parish Community.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For your convenience, click here for a link to this week's Parish Bulletin: /media/1/112%20George%21January 17%205%2C%202020.pdf   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------          What's New? St. George Open for Private Prayer We are open for private prayer from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Monday thru Friday. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held in the church on Friday. Mass follows daily at 4:00 PM. Please join us as we pray for an end to the Coronavirus and for your personal intentions.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------        Weekly Reflection from our Pastor, Father Oswald                                                       January 17, 2021                                                       2021 Prayer for Christian Unity              Week of January 18-25, 2021      "Abide in my love... You shall bear much fruit" ~John 15:1-17 The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an ecumenical Christian observance in the Christian calendar that is celebrated internationally. It is kept annually between Ascension Day and Pentecost in the Southern Hemisphere, and between January 18-25 in the Northern Hemisphere. It is an octave, that is, an observance lasting eight days. The theme for 2021 was chosen by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp located near Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland. The community, founded in the 1930s were a group of Reformed women, searching for a place to pray in solitude in imitation of Jesus Christ, repeatedly gathered and drew a growing group of guests that necessitated a permanent presence. The community continues to welcome guests and retreatants for periods of retreat, silence, healing or in search of meaning. The theme, "Abide in my love... You shall bear much fruit" from the Gospel of John, chapter 15, expresses the Grandchamp Community’s vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the Church and the human family. Here, Jesus reminds His disciples that He is the vine and we are the branches. If we abide in Him, in Jesus and the Covenant made in His precious blood, we will be such a healthy branch as to bear much fruit, abundant grapes. Jesus manifests this in His references to loving one another: “Abide in my love.” This love of Christ figuratively speaking is akin to the healthy sap that nourishes the vine throughout all its branches. Jesus the man is lovingly begotten into human society by the love God has for all human beings, through the cooperation of a human woman, the Virgin Mary. In return, humanity is repeatedly raised from sin to justification by the love of Christ, the only Son of God, one with the Father and the Spirit through all the ages. This resource for abiding in His love is endless. The image of branches helps believers understand that they are all diverse as individuals, but brought together in the one Vine, who is Christ alive in the Church. It can also point out, in these times of growing ecumenical witness, that the differing expressions of Christian faith are also branches which cannot live on their own and still authentically proclaim the Gospel to all creatures. We preach Christ crucified and risen to a needy world, that the world may have hope. Separately, that “sap” which keeps all the branches healthy, gets stuck in blocked veins of animosity, distrust, bigotry and ignorance. Only open veins will allow the sap to flow. Only then can all the branches bear much fruit. Therefore, abiding in Christ’s love, let us love one another.                    Pray for Unity Daily from January 18 to January 25, 2021 Gracious Lord, we pray for all the members of your holy Church, that all may abide in you and you in them, that they may be one in your love and bear much fruit. We also pray for the world, that all may come to believe in your love for them by the fruit of our witness. We know that our divisions are a source of scandal to your world, and we know that in love we are called to unite as one in the vine and branches. The vine is our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. We are meant to be his branches. Help us we pray, to love, to forgive, to seek justice and to be your prophetic voice in the world. May your grace effect growth of good fruit among us, that our world may realize peace. We ask all this in the name of Jesus, your Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.                                             Daily Readings and Reflections Day 1  Called by God: “You did not choose me but I chose you.” ~John 15: 16a Genesis 12: 1-4, The call of Abraham John 1: 35-51, The call of the first disciples Day 2 Maturing internally: “Abide I me as I abide in you.” ~John 15:4a Ephesians 3: 14-21, May Christ dwell in our hearts. Luke 2: 41-52, Mary treasured all these things. Day 3  Forming one body: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Colossians 3: 12-17,  Clothe yourself with compassion. John 13: 1-15, 34-35, Love one another. Day 4 Praying together: “I do not call you servants any longer…but I have called you friends.”   ~John 15:15 Romans 8: 26-27, The Spirit helps us in our Luke 11: 1-4, Lord, teach us to pray.   Day 5  Letting oneself be transformed by the Word: “You have already been pruned by the word…” ~John 15:3 Deuteronomy 30: 11029, The word of God to you Matthew 5: 1-12, Blessed are you              Day 6  Welcoming others: “Go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” ~John 15: 16-b Genesis 18: 1-5, Abraham hosts the angels at the Oak of Mamre Mark 6: 30-44 Jesus’ compassion for the crowds Day 7 Growing in Unity: “I am the vine, you are the branches.” ~John 15:5a 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13; 3:21023, Is Christ divided? John 17: 20-23, As you and I are one Day 8 Reconciling with all of creation: “So that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.’ ~John 15: 11 Colossians 1: 15-20, In Him all things hold together. Mark 4: 30-32, As small as a mustard seed     Church Protocols During Covid19 Restrictions          Parishes of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia  resumed public Masses the weekend of June 6 and 7, 2020.  We at St. George are so happy to  have you back!  All of us need to do our part to make sure that our return to Mass is a peaceful and safe experience for all. Please take the time to read the instructions below. We ask everyone to follow these guidelines when attending Mass during this time: GENERAL POINTS * The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation continues    to be lifted during the Yellow Phase. You are not required to attend Mass at    this time. * Please stay home if you are sick. * Please stay home if you are at higher risk of severe illness with COVID19.    If you are uncertain about your risk status, please consult your doctor and    also the CDC Guidelines at the link below. *Click here to read the CDC Guidelines for those at higher risk:   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra- precautions/people-at-higher-       risk.html * Mass will continue to be available via live-stream. *Live Mass can be found at the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul at  www.cathedralphila.org,  EWTN at www.ewtn.com, or other local networks. ST. GEORGE MASS SCHEDULE * 4:30 PM Saturday, 8:00 AM Sunday, 10:30 AM Sunday BEFORE COMING TO MASS * Please wash your hands for 20 seconds using soap and water. * Before entering the Church, please put on a face mask or cloth covering.    Exceptions to this are “children younger than 2 years old, anyone who has         trouble breathing or is unconscious, and anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise    unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance” (CDC Guidelines). * Please do not come to Mass if you are sick or are at higher risk for severe illness    with COVID19 (see above). * Missalettes will not be in the pews during this period. You are welcome to bring     your own missal/readings with you. ENTERING THE CHURCH * Please maintain reverent silence in respect for the Blessed Sacrament and others     who are in prayer. * Please use designated entrances at the side doors of the church. * Hand sanitizers will be available at the Church entrances. Please use the hand    sanitizer upon entering and exiting the Church. SEATING     *  When taking your seat, please honor all posted signs about where you may sit.          Pews will be marked to ensure proper social distancing. * Members of the same household may sit together as normal. Please place 6    feet between your household and members of a different household. DURING MASS * There will be no Sign of Peace during Mass during the Yellow Phase. * The Precious Blood will not be distributed during Mass during the Yellow Phase. * There should be no holding of hands during the Our Father. * Bulletins will only be available on line or by contacting the Rectory for a copy. RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION * Holy Communion will be single file only. * Please maintain social distancing in the Communion line. Please keep several   pews betweenyourself and the person in front of you while in line and when    returning to your pew. * During the Yellow Phase, the faithful are asked to receive Holy Communion    in the hand. * Please remove your mask before receiving Holy Communion. EXITING THE CHURCH * At the conclusion of Mass, please exit the Church and proceed directly to your   car. Please do not congregate for any reason. * Please leave your mask on until you exit the Church. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU St. George will follow the guidelines from the CDC for sanitation as we resume public Masses.  * To view the CDC guidelines, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/faith- based.html * The church will be sanitized after each Mass. If we all do our best to follow these guidelines, we can hopefully eradicate this awful pandemic and return to some semblance of normalcy. In the meantime, be safe and keep well.   St. George Church to Open for Private Prayer Good news! St. George Church is open for private prayer from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM weekdays, followed by Mass at 4:00 PM. We ask all visitors to continue social distancing by remaining at least six feet away from others, keeping in mind that the church is a house of prayer and conversations should be limited to outside of the church doors, thus allowing us to maintain the reverence and respect the Eucharist so deserves. Masks must be worn and gloves are encouraged, especially if you will be lighting a candle. At this time, Holy water fonts will remain empty.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                  Mass Cards During COVID-19 Restrictions                                          If you would like to schedule a Mass for a deceased loved one or friend, please call the Rectory Office at 610-237-1633. We will schedule it for you and then upon receipt of your check, we will mail the card to you. If you need it right away, please call the Rectory so that we can prepare it. We will leave it in the mailbox and you can drop your check in the secure lock box at the front door of the Rectory Office. At this time (June 2020) Masses are still available for 2020 and the 2021 book is also open thru June of next year.

Parish Religious Education Program

    Special Announcement
In-person lessons for the Confirmation class and First Communion class have been suspended until the New Year. Students are expected to continue their weekly lessons at home with online reviews. 

Our PREP is for children in grades 1-8 and begins in September and runs thru the first week in May. Please see our Parish Bulletin for details or contact the Rectory Office at 610-237-1633. 

Children need religious education in their lives to help them know God and to remain grounded in their faith, which will sustain them through their lifetime. Our ultimate goal in catechesis is to lead the children to a relationship with Jesus where they will find hope, faith and love. We ask parents to allow us to help you do that and please consider joining us.

The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program is for older students and adults. These sessions are held on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM. If you are an adult and did not complete your sacraments, if you were never baptized Catholic, or if you would like to learn more about the Catholic faith, please contact Sister Lorraine Muglie, SSJ, Adult Faith Coordinator, for details. 

                                                                     
                  Check it Out!
To learn more about all the wonderful things we do here at St. George Parish, please make it a point to read our weekly Parish Bulletin.        Included in it you will find a wealth of information about upcoming parish events and youth group activities, as well as local events and numerous articles of interest. If you didn't get a chance to pick one up at Mass, you can find it here on our website. For your convenience, a link has been posted above. Bulletins remain online for a period of three months so you can check out back issues.
     And don't forget to check out the summer articles of interest for both youth and adult activities, interesting places to visit, and the Children's Corner.
     You can also find out more about our Parish functions on Facebook.
     If you have any articles you would like to see included in our Parish Bulletin, please send details by Monday mornings to st.georgesec@rcn.com for consideration.

Going on vacation? Visit https://catholicmasstime.org/ to locate the closest church to your location. 

Our Mass Schedule

Saturday: 4:30 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM
Weekdays: Monday thru Friday 4:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM
Legal Holidays: 9:00 AM
Holy Days: As Announced
For other Mass times in our area, visit
www.MassTimes.org.
Confession: 3:30-4:15 PM Every Saturday at St. George Church and Mondays during Lent and Advent following the 4:00 PM Mass. Also by appointment.
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      Our Rectory Hours

Due to COVID19 restrictions, these hours are for business that can be handled by phone. If you need to come to the Rectory Office, please call ahead for an appointment. 

Regular Hours of Operation
Monday thru Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Weekend Hours Temporarily Suspended
Saturday: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
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We are pleased to announce that we now have online giving. If you would like to make your contribution online, please visit https://www.osvhub.com/
stgeorgeparish
/funds/offertory by clicking here. 
We thank you for your generous support.

     More Ways You Can Help
     Parish Support Initiative 
St. Paul wrote, “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.” In difficult times, we must remain hopeful and listen to God’s call. We must always put our faith into action as Jesus reminded his disciples, “I am with you always, until the end of age.”
 
If you are able, please support Saint George Parish through the Parish Support Initiative. This initiative is made possible through a partnership with The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia.

Visit www.SupportMyParish.org and select Saint George Parish from the drop-down menu. Your support will ensure that we can continue our work through these uncertain times.
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Tweets by @StGeorge_PA
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If you would like information about our Bereavement Group, please contact the Rectory Office at 610-237-1633. One on one sessions can also be made available if requested. Please don’t hesitate to call with your questions or suggestions. Don’t grieve alone. Discussion is helpful. We are here to help you through your time of loss.
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Empty casserole pans and suggested casserole recipes are placed at the main (front) doors of the church on the first weekend of every month. Filled, frozen casseroles are then returned directly to the Rectory Office on Saturday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM, and on Sunday between 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM. Casseroles can also be dropped off Monday thru Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All Casseroles are picked up by and delivered to St. John's Hospice in Philadelphia where meals are provided for the homeless.

They are also in need of toiletries for homeless men who come to them for showers and respite. If you would like to donate toiletries such as soap, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, shaving cream, and men's sock, please put your travel size donations in a box or a bag marked "St. John's Hospice" and drop them off to the Rectory Office. Please join us in our efforts to end hunger. God bless you for reaching out to those in need.   
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Adoration of the            Blessed Sacrament


Adoration is held on Fridays from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in St. George Church. The Eucharist is exposed for Eucharistic Adoration, inviting you to come and spend time with Jesus in quiet prayer. Please take some time to stop by to pray for your intentions and those of your loved ones. This year, we pray most especailly for peace. Prior to Mass, we offer up the following prayer:
                 

Mary, Queen of Peace, save us all, who have so much trust in you, from wars, hatred, and oppression. Make us all learn to live in peace and educate ourseles for peace, do what is demanded by justice and respect the rights of every person, so that peace may be firmly established. Amen. 

Pope St. John Paul, II
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Marriage Encounter
If you are planning to mary in the Catholic Church and would like information about the Marriage Preparation Experience, please visit www.PhillyCatholicMarriagePrep.com. 
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Due to Covid-19 Guidelines, the following programs are temporarily suspended:

Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary gathers every Monday evening in St. George Rectory. Please consider joining them and learn about the good works they do for our parish and our community. Meetings begin at 6:30 PM with the Most Holy Rosary. All are welcome. For more details about the Legion of Mary, visit www.legionofmary.ie.
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          Adult Choir

The Adult Choir is on summer vacation, but will return in September.
     Did you know that singing is another form of prayer? We need voices to join our Adult Choir. If you would like to learn more, practice is held every Tuesday evening from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the church. Please feel free to join us or contact Mrs. Kathy Lerro at the Rectory Office for details. We especailly need male voices. Don't be shy!!! Come on out and join the fun.
 

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    Pinochle League
Men who are interested in joining the Pinochle League, are asked to please contact the Rectory Office for details or join us on First Friday in the Parish Hall at 7:00 PM. Games are played on the First Friday of each month. If you would like to attend Mass on first Friday, Mass is celebrated at 4:00 PM. 
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             Weekly Bingo
Our Bingo Program has been indefinately suspended. 
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      Bible Study
If you would like information about our Bible study program, please contact Sister Lorraine or Mrs. Terry Moller at 610-237-1633. All are welcome. 
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       Election Prayer for Life
O God, we acknowledge you today as Lord, not only of individuals, but of nations and governments. We thank you for the privilege of being able to organize ourselves politically and of knowing that political loyalty does not have to mean disloyalty to you. We thank you for your law, which our Founding Fathers acknowledged and recognized as higher than any human law. We thank you for the opportunity that this election year puts before us, to exercise our solemn duty not only to vote, but to influence countless others to vote, and to vote correctly. Lord, we pray that your people may be awakened. Let them realize that while politics is not their salvation, their response to you requires that they be politically active. Awaken your people to know that they are not called to be a sect fleeing the world, but rather a community of faith renewing the world. Awaken them that the same hands lifted up to you in prayer are the hands that pull the lever in the voting booth; that the same yes that reads your Word are the eyes that read the names on the ballot, and that they do not cease to be Christians when they enter the voting booth. Awaken your people to a commitment to justice. To the sanctity of marriage and the family, to the dignity of each individual human life, and to the truth that human rights begin when human lives begin, and not one moment later. Lord, we rejoice today that we are citizens of your kingdom. May that make us all the more committed to being faithful citizens on earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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     Rosary Group
Our Rosary Group gathers every Thursday in the Chapel at 7:00 PM to pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaput. Please pray the Rosary privately for your special intentions.
 Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death. Amen.
Please tune in each night at 8:00 PM to zoom.us/j/494480541 or dial-in to (646) 558-8656, ID#484 480 541, or visit www.phillyevang.org/rosary and join us as we pray the rosary for an end to the Coronavirus.