The Catholic Community of Bradford

4th Sunday of Easter, April 22, 2018

The Catholic Community of Bradford

St. Francis of Assisi 15 St. Francis Drive

Website: www.stfrancisomph.com

Our Mother of Perpetual Help (A Secondary Mission Church)

St. Bernard of Clairvaux 95 East Corydon Street

Website: www.stbernardcatholic.org

On-line giving: www.osvonlinegiving/1845

Very Rev. Raymond Gramata, V.F.

Pastor

Rev. Stanley Swacha, Senior Associate

P.O. Box 2394 • Bradford, PA 16701-5394

Phone: (814) 362-6825 • Fax: (814) 362-1479

Email: sboffice@atlanticbb.net

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Francis of Assisi

Our Mother of Perpetual Help Mission Church

2018 CONFIMATION MASS

The 2018 Confirmation will be held at St. Bernard this weekend on Sunday, April 22nd at 5 pm.

There are 24 local confirmandi from area churches who will re-ceive the sacrament at this ser-vice. You are invited to come and celebrate with them!

Welcome to the Catholic Community!

St. Bernard

Victoria Lnn Coppella

Sydney Elizabeth Emerson

Callie Charito Luke

Noah John Meyer

Clare Louise Mulcahy

Andrew John Piganelli

Andrew Louis Truman

St. Francis

Kevin Richard Ackerman

Brett Alexander DeGolier

Joseph Richard Ditz

Joseph Hayden Yaros

St. Elizabeth Noah Gabriel Costa

Abigail Quinn Holohan

Raychel Jane Keller

Cordell Allen Tanner St. Eulalia

Kelsey marie Bennett

John Thomas Fitzerald

Daniel Frame

Brenen Thomas Kisiel

Elizabeth Smoulder

Chelsey Streich St. Gabriel

Quinlan Thomas Bailey

Reese Donald Vollmer

ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX CHURCH BRADFORD, PA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF BRADFORD APRIL 22, 2018

As we hear the opening line of today’s first reading, taken from Acts 4:8, which reads: “Peter, filled with

the Holy Spirit…” do we realize that we too, like Peter, are filled with the Holy Spirit? Do we realize that

like Peter our lives have been changed by the Holy Spirit? Before receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter and

the apostles were like milk toast, weak and afraid. Once they received the Holy Spirit they became

empowered, not only to proclaim, but to live out their belief in the Risen Jesus.

This afternoon Bishop Lawrence Persico will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation upon several

young men and women from various parishes. It should give us time to reflect on our own reception of

the Sacrament of Confirmation. Many of us may remember that we received a gentle tap of the face to

remind us of the possible hardships that we may face in living out our faith, but that we were called to be tough enough to

stick it out and live our faith. Others may think of it as a graduation ceremony indicating that we have learned all we can

about our faith and now we have a PHD in our faith. We received the gift of the Holy Spirit first in the Sacrament of Baptism

and now the fullness of the Holy Spirt in the Sacrament of Confirmation is ours.

We know from Scripture that the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles on

Pentecost Sunday in the form of tongues of fire. That is the best description of the Holy

Spirit. Just as fire both purifies and breaks through the darkness; so does the Holy

Spirit, so that we may see the truth and live the truth. The Holy Spirit continually

reminds us to live and love as Jesus did. The Holy Spirit reminds us that each day we

are growing in our personal relationship with our God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

So, today, as we pray for those who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, let us

pray also for our self that we may continue to accept the role of the Holy Spirit in our

life. Like Peter, may we remember that we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

I want to take this time to personally thank Bishop Persico for celebrating the

Sacrament with us today. God Bless, Fr. Ray

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Catholic Women: May 8 @ 6:30 pm — Rosary & Ice Cream Social — meet in Church 50+ Club: May 9 @ 11 am in Fr. Ritchie Hall

REP 1-11: Resumes in September 2018

Confirmation: April 22 @ 5 pm @ St. Bernard Church

Rosary Altar: May 10 @ 6:30 pm in Fr. Ritchie Hall

Widows Group: TBA

ST. BERNARD

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL

April 27 — NO SCHOOL OR CARE

Wed, April 25th, 10 am mass—Grades 5 & 6

CORRECTION to Deceased Easter Remembrances: Genevieve Sprague should have been

Gene Allen Sprague

CALLING EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

St. Francis’ 8 am Sunday mass and Chap-el Ridge Sunday communion are in need of more available ministers. Any ministers who attend this mass, please consider being add-

ed to our scheduling. 3 of our current ministers are not able to serve for the upcoming future, making it difficult to cover all our needs. Please contact Craig Cuthbertson who schedules for St. Francis or call the parish office and we will pass along your information to him.

Likewise, St. Bernard is in need of EMs for both the 5:15 Saturday evening and the 10 am Sunday Masses. Several of our ministers are unavailable and again, this makes it very difficult to fill all the needs of the Parish. Con-tact Kathy Howe, who schedules for St. Bernard, or the parish office at 362-6825 for further information.

If you are interested in becoming a Eu-charistic Minister for mass ministry or nursing home ministry, please call the parish office at 362-6825 for information.

THANK YOU TO

J. A. LUCIANO & SONS BUILDERS

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

OUR PARISHES THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

St. Bernard - Needed Weekly: $9,129 APRIL 15

th Collection���..$ 5,475

2018 CSA Assessment�.$ 37,338 2018 CSA Collected���..$ 16,233

St. Francis - Needed Weekly: $6,250 APRIL 15

th Collection���..$ 1,788

2018 CSA Assessment�..$ 28,275 2018 CSA Collected����.....$ 6,905

NOTICE TO ST. FRANCIS PARISHIONERS

The CSA assessment from the Diocese is a bill that has to be paid just like your gas or electric bill. This year’s St. Francis assessment is $28,275 to be paid in quarterly in-stallments of $7,068. The first installment is due April 30th. To date we have received only $6,905 for CSA. This is $164 less than needed. We do NOT HAVE THE OPTION of not paying this installment. The deficit will come out of the St. Francis General Account.

4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER APRIL 22, 2018

FAMILY LIFE

The apostles were afraid of Jesus until he ate with them and they touched him. In your family, the ordinary acts of eating together, touching, embracing not only confirm our love for each other, but also celebrate God’s presence in your family. These ‘ordinary’ moments contain the ‘Extraordinary.”

Monday, May 21, 2018 6 pm—8 pm

Masonic Center 625 South avenue

Event includes: A decadent chocolate buffet including

chocolate fountains Live and silent auctions

Music by: Ronan & Copeland

Benefits the Salvation Army

GOOD SHEPHERD COLLECTION This weekend all parishes and missions in the Diocese of Erie are taking a special col-lection to support the needs of our retired Diocesan priests.

This special collection on Good Shep-herd Sunday will assist those dedicated

priests in the Erie Diocese who are elderly, seriously ill or incapacitated, and in need of supplementary assis-tance for expenses such as non-insured medical costs, nursing home and long-term care assistance.

Our diocesan website – www.eriercd.org contains lists with the residence of our retired priests, their birthday and anni-versary date of ordination to priesthood. May we suggest sending a priest who has touched your life a note or card sometime this year letting him know you still remember him. Consider adopting one of our priests as a prayer part-ner and pray for them and send an occasional note.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

St. Bernard School and REP 3rd grade students will be making their First Com-munion at a special mass at 1 pm at St. Bernard Church next Sunday, May 6th.

Come celebrate this sacrament with them.

NOTE: ALL FIRST COMMUNICANTS

AND PARENTS

A mandatory practice and parent meeting will be held

after the 10 am mass at St. Bernard on Sunday April 29.

Please meet in the Fr. Gallina Social Center.

ATTENTION FAMILIES Need some ideas to help your family

along the journey of life? Visit the Families Always Matter website, www.ErieRCD.org/fam.htm,

to find information/ideas for traditional, single-parent, blended, military, and adoptive/foster families.

At the Diocese of Erie, families always matter! Go Families!

www.osvonlinegiving/1845

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF BRADFORD APRIL 22, 2018

MARRIAGE MOMENTS "Jesus made himself known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24:35) Sometimes when I have been around my beloved for a long time, it's easy to seem invisible to each other. Consciously look at your spouse at dinner to-night. See the likeness of God within him or her.

2018 CSA HELPS SUPPORT Natural Family Planning/Chastity Education With “Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality” and Hu-manae Vitae as foundational documents, this office offers seminars on Sympto-thermal Method of Natural Family Planning, speakers for school-age as well as adult groups and a pre-Lenten couples’ retreat. Chastity education guidelines, resources and speakers for parent groups and 5th grade puberty presentations are available.

Parish Office Hours:

Monday 9am - 4pm

Tuesday-Friday, 8am - 4pm

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Child Abuse Prevention Month: Preventing Child Abuse is Everyone’s Responsibility. It is every adult’s moral re-sponsibility to protect possible victims by reporting the sus-pected abuse or neglect to the responsible authorities. Sex-ual abuse of minor is a pervasive societal problem, and only concerted and sustained efforts by all adults in every seg-ment of society can help to protect children and youth To report suspected abuse of a minor, call Childline at 1-800-932-0323. To see what the Diocese of Erie is doing to help create safe environments, check out http://www.eriercd.org/protectyouth.htm

World Day of Prayer

for Vocations will be observed this Sunday, April 22nd, also known as "Good Shepherd Sunday."

The purpose of this day is to publically fulfill the Lord's in-struction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord's call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes. You can find many re-sources to promote a culture of vocations on the USCCB Vocations webpage.

DIVINE COMEDY: Where Heaven meets “Mirth”

A humorous presentation reminding us to use a smile to give ourselves a “Faith Lift”

Speaker: Dan Reynold, Cartoonist/Speaker/Author

1 pm Saturday, April 28, 2018 OPEN TO ALL Cost: $15 per person

OUR LADY OF PEACE PARISH CENTER — Salamanca, NY with light refreshment

OR 6:30 PM, Saturday, April 28, 2018

OPEN TO ALL - Cost: $15 OUR LADY OF PEACE CHURCH — Salamanca, NY

(with light supper following 4:30 mass for registered participants)

REGISTRATION FORMS FOR BOTH SESSIONS AVAILABLE IN PARISH OFFICE or

Call Our Lady of Peace @ 1-716-945-4966

COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK

The Blood Bank will be available

in the St. Bernard Gymnasium

Monday, April 23rd

12:00 Noon until 5:30 pm.

St. Bernard-Bradford FR THOMAS ALEKSA 1993 – 1999

FR HENRY ANDRAE 1979 – 1989

FR JOHN BARWIN 1983 – 1986

FR LEO GALLINA 1999 – 2011

FR HOWARD KING 1964 – 1977

MSGR JAN OLOWIN 1999 – 2007

FR PHILIP ORIOLE 1970 – 1974

MSGR RICHARD STACK 1957 – 1958

St. Francis-Bradford FR HOWARD KING 1992 – 2001

FR WILLIAM KUBA 1982 – 1992

Central Christian High School FR HENRY ANDRAE 1979 – 1989

FR HOWARD KING 1964 – 1977

Mother of Perpetual, Help-Lewis Run FR HOWARD KING 1978 – 2001

4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER APRIL 22, 2018

ERIE DIOCESAN PRIEST

RETIREMENT COLLECTION

Provide for our priests the same love and generosity

they provided for us for generations

APRIL 21 & 22, 2018

RETIRED PRIESTS FROM THE BRADFORD CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

Rev. William M. Kuba

Rev. Leo J. Gallina

Howard J. King Very Rev. Thomas M. Aleksa, V.F.

Rev. John G. Barwin

BULLETIN INFORMATION MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING BY NOON ON FRIDAY

2 WEEKS PRIOR TO BULLETIN DATE.

PASTORAL STAFF: Very Rev. Raymond C. Gramata, Pastor Rev. Stanley Swacha, Senior Associate Mrs. Linda Cecchetti, Principal SBS

OFFICE HOURS: Monday: 9 am to 4 pm

Tuesday - Friday: 8 am to 4 pm Ms. Wendy Thomson, Financial Manager

Ms. Kathy Bryant, Secretary

MASS SCHEDULE: Please consult bulletin

CONFESSIONS: St. Bernard — Saturdays from 4:30 to 5 pm before 5:15 mass, Thursday before First Friday from 4:30 to 5 pm. St. Francis — After 9 am mass on Saturdays. Private appointments may be made by calling the Parish Office (362-6825).

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM (REP) Students not attending Catholic school should be enrolled in REP programs. St. Bernard, St. Francis and OMPH Religious Education programs are combined. Grades 1 through 8 meet on Sunday mornings at 9 am at St. Bernard in Fr. Gallina Social Center and grades 9, 10 & 11(Confirmation) meet at St. Francis in G. Carlton Ritchie Hall at 5:15 pm on Sunday. Both programs begin in September.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA): We welcome all inquiries about the Catholic faith. This process begins in the fall of the year. Please call the Parish Office for further information.

ST. BERNARD ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE SCHOOL: 450 West Washington Street: serving students, preschool through eighth grade. Open to parishioners, Catholics from other parishes and those of other faiths. Offering Extended Care before, during, and after school. For complete information, please call 368-5302.

MEMBERSHIP: All Baptized Catholics should be registered, practicing and supporting members of a Parish. Only properly registered members appear on our parish list and are eligible to receive the benefits of parish membership for sacraments, and educational opportunities (including tuition assistance) at our Catholic School. Each parishioner is called upon to practice good stewardship of time, talent and treasure. If you are not currently receiving envelopes, you may not be registered. Call the Parish Office - we would love to meet you!

MARRIAGE: Couples need to contact a priest at least six months before their wedding. Registered and active participation needs to be considered before marriage.

PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: Please call the Parish Office to request the Sacrament of the Sick for family members who are seriously ill. Communion for the sick is taken to the hospital, nursing homes, and the home-bound on a regular basis.

BAPTISM: Both parents must attend the Pre-Baptism Preparation Program. Please call the St. Bernard Parish Office for dates and times of upcoming class. Baptisms are scheduled after completing the program. Call the Parish Office to schedule the class and baptism. Godparents must be at least 16, confirmed and active, registered members of their parish.

STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Religious Education:

Grades 1-8, 9 am Sunday mornings at St. Bernard Grades 9, 10 & 11(Confirmation), 5:45 pm Sunday

evenings at St. Francis

Liturgical Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors

Music Director Kathy O’Mara Organist St. Francis Michael Hicks Resurrection Choir Tubby Colella God’s Housekeepers Parish Office Liturgy Fr. Raymond C. Gramata

Parish Community St. Bernard School Linda Cecchetti, Principal Parish Council Fr. Raymond Gramata Catholic Women’s Club Teri Everett Rosary Altar Society Joan Hoffman Telephone Prayer Chain - Natalie Marasco (363-9110)

Cover photos by LongArt Photography

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF BRADFORD APRIL 22, 2018

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR PRIESTS

Please Pray for the Following Priests

Sun, Apr 22 - Rev. Henry C. Andrae

Mon, Apr 23- Rev. Christopher J. Singer

Tues, Apr 24 - Rev. Vincent P. Cieslewicz

Wed, Apr 25- Rev. Robert P. Susa

Thurs, Apr 26 - Rev. John A. Walsh

Fri, Apr 27 - Rev. David Carter

Sat, Apr 28 - Rev. Robert A. Manning

MASS INTENTIONS WEEK OF APR 23 - 29, 2018

Weekday masses are held in the Divine Mercy Chapel

Monday, April 23 SB 8:00 am Joseph & Mary Fabian (Darcy & Kris Goll) SF 9:00 am All Parishioners Tuesday, April 24 SF 9:00 am Mary & Jim Pedine (Family) Wednesday, April 25 SB 8:00 am Jacqueline Greunke (Sally Estes) SBS 10:00 am Aurelia “Lola” Burkhart (Dave & Nancy Fuhrman) Thursday, April 26 SB 8:00 am Helen Burfield (Patti Girard) SF 9:00 am Joyce Burgess (Family) Friday, April 27

SB 8 am Esther Lignian (Estate) Saturday, April 28 SF 9:00 am Robert VanHoutte (Family) SB 5:15 pm Frank “James” Ulyan (Bob & Marilyn Johnson) Sunday, April 29 SF 8:00 am Shirley Solarek (Richard & Ann Cavallero) SB 10:00 am Everett & Kingdom Families (Jean Everett) OM 11:30 am Flora White (a) (Family)

(Weekly confessions Saturdays after 9 am mass at St. Francis and before 5:15 mass at St. Bernard)

St. Francis Sanctuary Candle this week for the Health & Wellness of Kathy Bryant

Please pray for those who are sick or suffering:

Thomas Ackley, Virgil Anderson, Michelle Allen, Betty Baliski, Bill Baynes, Barb Bernheisel & Foster Family, Shirley Black, Barbara Boser, John Bove,

Kathy Bryant, Mary Brzenski, Annie Champagne, Dick Clark, Billie Cummins, Bob Curcio, Paul Curcio, Charlotte Cuthbertson, Helen DeFrank, Paul Eakin, Michael Eaton, Helen Ewell, Rose Feldhaus Family, Alliyson Feldman, Ysbella Feldman, Pat Geary, Pat Girard, Ken Hall, Pearl Harris, Susan Hamric, Brandon M. Henry, Jill Henry, Sandy Holsinger, Kathy Howe, James Kibby, Bill Kline, April Lang, Rita Leone, George MacFarlane, Sr., Kaylee Marsfelder, Colleen McNamara, Shannon McNamara, Mariana Militelo, Anne Miller, Joe Monago, Lou Monti, Cheri O’Mara, Dan Popiel, Courtney Prentiss, Lori Rigowski, James Romanelli, Tim Romanelli, Cindy Sayers, Caro Simonds, Steve Skaggs, Dan Songer, Hailey Smith, Lillian Stoddard, Bonnie Swackhamer, Matthew Whelan, Corrine Wilson, Richard Yovichin, Lisa Zurat

May they be strengthened by the healing presence of God’s Spirit.

MINISTER SCHEDULE FOR MASSES APR 28 - 29, 2018

Saturday, April 28 SB 5:15 pm Lector: Bill Douglass EM: Bill Douglass/ Mary Mongillo/ Kathy Durner Servers: VOLUNTEERS

Sunday, April 29 SF 8:00 am Lector: Joyce Schaming EM: Deb Woodley/ Chuck Lang/ VOLUNTEER Servers: Samantha Soyke/ Noah Meyer

SB 10:00 am Lector: Paul Curcio EM: Kim Lance/ Paul Curcio/ Cliff Ackley Servers: Abby Coffman & Erica Marshall

OM 11:30 am Lector: Linda Cox EM: Kim Ditz Servers: Jacob Hannahs

Hospital/Pavilion: Kathy & Randy Durner Chapel Ridge: Deb Woodley

GOD’S HOUSEKEEPERS

APR 23 - 27, TEAM 3: M. & P. Curcio/ A. Campogiani/ T. Orris/

P. Curcio/ J. Keenan/ T. Maduri

READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF APR 22, 2018

Sunday: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19/Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 [7a]/1 Jn 2:1-5a/Lk 24:35-48 Monday: Acts 6:8-15/Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30 [1ab]/Jn 6:22-29 Tuesday: Acts 7:51--8:1a/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab [6a]/Jn 6:30-35 Wednesday: Acts 8:1b-8/Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a [1]/ Jn 6:35-40 Thursday: Acts 8:26-40/Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20 [1]/ Jn 6:44-51 Friday: Acts 9:1-20/Ps 117:1bc, 2 [Mk 16:15]/Jn 6:52-59 Saturday: Acts 9:31-42/Ps 116:12-13, 14-15, 16- 17 [12]/Jn 6:60-69 Next Sunday: Acts 4:8-12/Ps 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29 [22]/1 Jn 3:1-2/Jn 10:11-18