Spiritual Offerings
In conjunction with the National 40 Days for Life Campaign, a Jericho Prayer March will be held on Saturdays March 13, 20 and 27 in Lebanon. The Jericho Prayer March is a silent, prayerful march to make a visible, public awareness for the pro-life movement to end the evil of abortion. Arrive and assemble in prayer groups any time between 10 a.m. and noon in front of Assumption BVM Church at South 8th and Cumberland Streets. As people arrive, you will go out in groups. Directions, prayer sheets, and banners will be given for the walk, which should take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Join us for all the Saturdays, or choose any weekend. There is no need to register. For information, contact Lucy at 717-926-4075 or lrgilott@gmail.com or Sandra at 717-838-5243.
Retreats & Pilgrimages
A Silent, 24-Hour, Virtual Retreat, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. to March 27 at 7:00 p.m. The virtual retreat is presented by Sr. Jean Marie Holup, SS.C.M., the Director of St. Cyril’s Spiritual Center in Danville. The retreat is silent and intended to be contemplative. It will be a time for personal prayer and meeting privately with a spiritual director to discuss one’s experience of God in prayer. The cost of the retreat is $35, due by the registration deadline of Friday, March 19. You can register online at www.sscm.org or by calling 570-275-0910. After you register, you will be contacted via your email for a link.
The Women’s Council of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Mechanicsburg will sponsor a Lenten Evening of Reflection on March 16 at 7 p.m. It will be held in the church (masking and social distancing will be required) AND virtually. For log-in information, please check the web page at skdparish.com. Father Kenneth G. Smith, pastor, will be the presenter. His Theme is “It Is Not About What We Give Up, But Who We Become” (Inspired by Dynamic Catholic’s theme).
“Finding Joy through Lent.” Join the Dauphin District Council of Catholic Women for a virtual Lenten retreat, March 20 via Zoom. The retreat will include a live-streamed Mass and presentations on “Finding Joy through Lent” by Linda Hartzell, “Connecting with God through Perpetual Adoration” by Betsy Schadler, and a closing prayer service led by Suzanne Bruzga. Cost is free. Registration is required to receive the link to the event. Deadline to register is March 16. To register and receive the log-in information, please e-mail dauphindistrictccw@gmail.com.
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2022 with Father Michael Reid, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Hanover. Father Reid will lead a group of 24 pilgrims on an active and spiritual tour of the Holy Land, Jan. 31-Feb. 11, 2022. The 12-day itinerary organized by Select International Tours includes Mount Tabor, Nazareth, Cana, Galilee, Tabgha, Magdala, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Mount Carmel, Caesaria Maritima, Bethlehem, Shepherd’s Field, Jericho, Baptism Site, The Dead Sea (with optional visit to Masada), Mount of Olives, Mount Zion, Jerusalem, St Anne’s Church, and Ein Karem. Land and Air cost is $3,695; a deposit of $500 is required by Oct. 3, 2021. Flights depart from and return to Newark International Airport. For a brochure and other information, please contact Father Reid at 717-637-4625, ext. 113.
Education & Enrichment
The Vatican International Exhibit of Eucharistic Miracles of the World, hosted at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Cornwall, April 4-11. This photographic exhibit tells the stories of 153 Church-approved Eucharistic Miracles, displaying the events where the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist has been made physically present in flesh and blood, became luminous or appeared with images. The exhibit will be available for viewing in the Parish Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day from April 4-11.
Diocesan Office of Vocations’ bi-monthly Zoom discernment group. Young men (junior year in high school through young adults) are invited to take part in this online discussion. To register, e-mail the Office of Vocations at vocations@hbgdiocese.org with a valid e-mail address and mailing address so that the discussion material may be mailed. The Zoom discernment group meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 8-9 p.m.
Women of Grace upcoming studies/events: Lenten online retreat, “Man of Sorrows, Lord of Joy,” Saturday, March 27. Speakers include Father Peter John Cameron. Visit www.womenofgrace.com. “Queen of Militants” by Emil Neubert, S.M., S.T.D., fall 2021 study. For more information, contact Chris Arnold at carnold@womenofgrace.com or 717-379-6041.
The March installment of the Truth, Beauty, and Goodness Virtual Evangelization Speaker Series will be March 22 from 7-8 pm. The presentation is entitled, “Defense Against the Dark Arts: Common Heresies and How to Counter Them,” by Father James Lease, STL, pastor of St. Catherine Labouré Parish in Harrisburg. Registration is free, though free-will donations are accepted. Registration deadline is March 19 at noon. All who register will receive a link to the presentation approximately one week after registering.
Fundraisers & Events
Seven Sorrows BVM Parish in Middletown is selling chocolate candy eggs through Easter or as long as supplies last. This year’s sale is limited to peanut butter milk chocolate, peanut butter dark chocolate, coconut dark chocolate, and butter cream milk chocolate. Each egg is hand-dipped and sold for $1. Orders may be placed via the online form at www.ssbvm.org (click on “Eggs”) and selecting a pickup time and location, including the parish’s weekly drive-thru fish fry. All eggs will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis while quantities last.
Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg’s virtual pops concert and art exhibit, March. 13 at 7 p.m. Due to the ongoing pandemic, “A Night of the Arts: A Virtual Pops Concert and Art Exhibit” will be streamed on the Bishop McDevitt Facebook and YouTube pages. Visit https://fb.me/e/1QsQfB0eO for the showcase of students’ musical and artistic talents.
Our Mother of Perpetual Help School in Ephrata is offering two virtual events in March to families interested in learning more about the school’s full-day preschool and kindergarten programs. The first event, a Virtual Story Hour and Craft, will be held via Zoom on Thursday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. Children will be treated to a fun story and themed craft guided by OMPH School’s Kindergarten teacher. Story Hour is perfect for pre-k, kindergarten, and first graders. The second event, an Early Education Virtual Information Session, will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m. Hear from school leadership and teachers about OMPH’s small, safe, nurturing school family. The presentation includes a virtual school tour and an overview of the admissions process. Both events are free but require pre-registration to attend, and Zoom links will be sent on the day of each event. For more information or to register, e-mail OMPH School’s Enrollment Office at enrollment@omph.org or visit the school’s web site at www.omphschool.com.
The Knights of Columbus Holy Spirit Council #10502 in Palmyra are selling walnut, poppy seed, apricot, prune, raspberry, and pumpkin cheese rolls during Lent after the weekend Masses through March 20 and 21. The price is $17 per roll. Orders will not be accepted after March 21 and extras will not be available for purchase later. Orders must be picked up in the church parking lot at 300 West Pine Street, Palmyra, after the Masses on March 27 and 28. Online ordering is available at www.hskofc10502.org where you can complete the online form. Payment will be by credit card through PayPal.
The Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women is seeking applicants for its scholarship award. The council’s scholarship committee will award a $1,000 scholarship to a Catholic senior high school girl for the freshman year 2021-2022 at an accredited college, university or trade school. Applicants must be sponsored by a mother, grandmother or guardian who is a member of a Parish Council of Catholic Women. The applicant and her sponsor must be residents of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Applicants must meet all conditions established by the scholarship committee as set forth in its rules and regulations, which are included in the application packet. Applications are available from parish Council of Catholic Women presidents. More information and applications can also be obtained by contacting Joyce Scott, Scholarship Chair, at 717-737-0927 or joynbob10@aol.com. The application deadline is May 1, 2021.
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Elysburg, homemade paska bread sale. Orders accepted through March 19; $6 per loaf. Bread will be available for pick-up Palm Sunday weekend, March 27 and 28 at all Masses or on March 29 during regular office hours. Orders can be placed by e-mailing sheila@qmhr.net or calling 570-672-2302 during regular office hours.
Holy Infant Parish in Manchester is selling candy Easter eggs. A limited number of homemade chocolate peanut butter and coconut eggs can be bought individually for $1.25 each or $15 per dozen. Call the parish office at 717-266-5286 to order.
A Woman’s Concern Life Message T-Shirt Design Contest for grades K-12 is underway. A Woman’s Concern is a pro-life parenting and pregnancy resource center in Lancaster. Individual kids, classes, youth groups, small groups, Bible clubs, etc. are welcome to submit entries. One lucky winner will have their T-shirt created, displayed at our Annual Partners’ event, and sold on our website. Help us spread a positive pro-life message in our world today by participating. Find contest details at: https://www.friendsofawc.com/contest/ For additional information, contact Mary Ann at MaryAnnA@pregnancylancaster.com.
Job Openings
Schools in the Diocese of Harrisburg are currently looking for educators, specifically long term substitutes that are ready to join our team in the Harrisburg area. Teachers in all grades and all subject areas are needed. Certification is preferred but not required. Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Harrisburg provide safe, joyful school environments that follow current scientific best practices on schooling during a pandemic. For more information or to find a school location near you, click on https://www.hbgdiocese.org/find-catholic-school/. Send your résumé and letter of interest to either the location near you or to Webmaster@HBGDIOCESE.ORG. You may also call the Harrisburg Diocese Department of Catholic Schools for more information at 717-657-4804 ext. 222.
