FIFTH SUNDAY of EASTER

~May 10, 2020 ~

Wonders of the Lord…O sing a new son to the Lord, for he has wonders; in the sight of the nations he has shown his deliverance, alleluia. Ps 98 (97): 1-2

Mass Intentions

Monday 7:45 AM Health and Protection for All in the Medical Field and All Essential Workers

Tuesday

7:45 AM Vocations Wednesday

7:45 AM People of the Parish Thursday

7:45 AM Sick of the Parish Friday

No Mass Saturday

8:00 AM Travis Platt by Isabelle Platt 5:00 PM Mom Zelasko and Mom Benner by daughter Charlene and son Allen

Sunday 8:00 AM Geraldine DiGiacinto by M/M William Tone 9:30 AM Health and Protection for All in the Medical Field and All Essential Workers 11:00 AM In Loving Memory of Nathaniel Straub by Grandparents Hank and Rita Straub

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First Reading: Acts 6: 1-7… (Spiritual and Material Tasks) Since the number of faithful was growing, seven men were proposed as ministers to help in the work of the Church. The apostles prayed over them and imposed hands on them.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33… (Exult in the Lord) “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.”

Second Reading: 1 Pt 2: 4-9… (A Royal Priesthood) Jesus is the cornerstone of the Church. The people of God are living stones. We are a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to proclaim Jesus’ good works.

Gospel: Jn 14: 1-12… (Faith in God) Jesus assures his apostles that he is the way, the truth, and the life. The Father lives in him and he in the Father. Whoever has faith in Jesus will do the works of God.

Monday: Easter Weekday Acts 14: 5-18; Ps 115: 1-4, 15-16; Jn 14: 21-26

Tuesday: Easter Weekday; Sts Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs, St. Pancras, Martyr Acts 14: 19-28; Ps 145: 10-13b, 21; Jn 14: 27-31a

Wednesday: Easter Weekday; Our Lady of Fatima Acts 15: 1-6; Ps 122: 1-5; Jn 15: 1-8

Thursday: St. Matthias, Apostle Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26; Ps 113: 1-8; Jn 15: 9-17

Friday: Easter Weekday; St. Isidore Acts 15: 22-31; Ps 57: 8-12; Jn 15: 12-17

Saturday: Easter Weekday Acts 16: 1-10; Ps 100: 1b-2, 3, 5; Jn 15: 18-21

Act of Spiritual Communion… My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As

though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

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Liturgical Ministries

*BISHOP SCHLERT HAS SUSPENDED ALL PUBLIC MASSES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. IF SUSPENSION IS LIFTED:

~ Saturday, Sunday: May 16, May 17 ~

~ ALTAR SERVER ~

5:00 PM A. Acevedo – R. Lambert 8:00 AM M. Messa – T. Carnes, Jr. 9:30 AM J. Herman – J. Cole 11:00 AM D. Guzzo – J. Guzzo

~ CANTOR ~

5:00 PM N. Acevedo 8:00 AM S. Berdux 9:30 AM D. Gaylor (Choir) 11:00 AM J. Posselt

~ LECTOR ~ (Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17; Ps 66: 1-7, 16, 20; 1 Pt 3: 15-18)

5:00 PM M. Harmanos 8:00 AM D. Dolan 9:30 AM D. Brandt 11:00 AM S. Stofanak

~ EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS of COMMUNION ~

5:00 PM T. Thoder – B. and K. Slavoski 8:00 AM A. Squires – K. Figueroa – R. Hensel 9:30 AM M. and D. Hartman – M. McGuire 11:00 AM J. Crosson – M. Krupka

~ GREETER ~

5:00 PM C. and A. Benner 8:00 AM P. Vuchko 9:30 AM Fleissner Family 11:00 AM T. and D. Gaylor

~ FOOD/GIFT CARD ~

5:00 PM J. Healey 8:00 AM B. Ganssle 9:30 AM L. Scott – B. Kern 11:00 AM J. Salabsky

~ MONEY COUNTER ~

R. Ding – B. Ganssle R. Hensel – M. Herman – C. Stemrich

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Liturgical Ministries (cont’d.)

~ Ascension Thursday: May 20, May 21~

~ CANTOR ~ 7:00 PM J. Posselt 8:45 AM P. Sandt

~ LECTOR ~ (Acts 1: 1-11; Ps 47: 2-3, 6-9; Eph 1: 17-23)

7:00 PM A. Carlin 8:45 AM J. Kalata

++++++++++++++++++++++++ I want to thank those of you who have been dropping off your donations or mailing them to the rectory. It is greatly appreciated!

God Bless You, Fr. Bob

► Whether you are dropping off your donation or mailing them to the rectory: Sacred Heart Church Rectory 1817 First Street

Bethlehem, PA 18020

… or utilizing online giving, any donation is greatly appreciated!

► The Diocese of Allentown Office of Temporal Affairs has set up an online giving site for every parish within the Diocese. The URL is:

https://www.allentowndiocese.org/parish-support

● If you decide to use it, please make sure you hit: Sacred Heart – Bethlehem

Prayer for Our Priests

Eternal God, please bless our priests, who represent you on this earth. Make them more greatly aware of the grace that you pour out through them when they minister the sacraments, and help them to fall more deeply in love with you after each and every Mass that they celebrate. Please strengthen our priests, who shepherd your flock, when they are in doubt of their faith, that they may be examples of your Truth and guide us always on the path to you. We ask these things of you our Eternal Priest. Amen.

We pray for those that serve in our military: Michael O’Donnell; Jarrett

Buchanan; Blair Holva; Nick Massari; John Flannigan; Joe Owens; Rob McGuire; Joseph Salmento; David Principato; David Colarusso, Jr.; Paul K. Browne, II; Anthony T. Browne; LCpl Timothy F. Cassidy; Mark McNulty, Jr.; Josh Brueningsen; Sgt. Jared Steirer; Senior Chief Ian Hudak

Heavenly Father, thank you that you are our ever-present help in times of trouble. We thank you for the servicemen and women in our military currently serving around the globe. We ask that you would be with them and help them in times of trouble. We pray that you would draw near to them as they spend long periods of time away from their families.

We thank you for the freedom we enjoy because of their work. Give them strength to overcome everything that stands against them today. Sustain them through your unfailing love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Home of the Free because of the Brave… Thank you!!

Please pray for our sick, for all those homebound, in the hospital or nursing homes and especially those who care for them. We also ask prayers for those not listed and those we are not aware of that are ill.

Donna Miller, Joan Szemenyei, Joseph Ludrof, Susan G. Tinschmidt, David Cap, Lisa Dreher, A.J. Shuck, M. and D. Shuck, J.A. Rutkowski,

Anthony Viera, Bev Russell, Hank Straub, Albina DaSilva, Andrew Filbert, Christopher Brennan, Bill White, Jessica Hewitt, Joan Raymond, John and Charlotte Rzepiela, Lori Watts, Jacob Jarvis, James and Janet DeVaney, Beth Coleman, Mary Saraceno-Wright, Dorothea Saraceno-Atherholt, Mary Lou Schuler, Joe Field, Louis A. Gray, Gail Schneider, Molly Weidemoyer, James Lankford, Karen Hegedus, Patrick McBride, Jane Schreiber, Ron and Irene Rutkowski, Jamie Heston, Terry Macripo, Patrice Schwartzman, Leona Oberholtzer, Colleen Pinzon, Sanford Kravett, Jack Herczeg, Grandson, Sheri Radzelovage, Janet Zambo, Loretta Scurato, Theresa Mitchell, Emerson Davenport, Gina Teel, Nonna Frances, Charlotte Gazzana, Russell Gazzana, Rebecca Wasniewski, Larry Muzyka, Teresa Yatko, Pat Warminsky, Carmela Azzolina, JoAnn Connors, Frank Donchez, Carol Jacob, Manny Martinez, Ann Lester, Dorothy Fekula, Irene Nagy, Jackie Swartley, Bobby Ricks, George Treisner, Paul Micci, Janice Mitchell, John Witmer, Neal McNulty, Marion Gombocz, William Balliet, Lorraine Parton, Michael Stern, lll, Ellen & TIna Moskella, Julius Balogh, Patricia Terry, Skylar Meckes, Eileen J. Kokosky, Kevin Jung, Al Nuckols, Judy Cooper

+++++++++ A Prayer During Coronavirus Pandemic… Jesus Christ, you traveled

through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love. Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their

strength and health through quality medical care. Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another. Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.

Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow. Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace. Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace!

Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace!

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.

Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace. Jesus Christ heal us. Amen!

++++++++++++++++++++++++ See, the eyes of the Lord

are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness,

to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine.

Ps 33

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The Diocese of Allentown will livestream Bishop Alfred Schlert’s daily Mass from his private

Chapel, as well as some other events, while public Masses are cancelled. Mass will be prayed at 8:00 AM Monday through Saturday and 10:00 AM on Sunday. Check

AD Today frequently for updates. During this difficult period, the Bishop encourages the faithful to pray often with their family members, and to pray the Rosary as a family, both for those affected by this pandemic and for all those who care for the ill at home, as first responders, and in hospitals and other institutions.

►EWTN, the network with Catholic-themed programming, televises

two live Masses each Sunday at 8:00 AM and 12 noon. Below are the channel numbers for EWTN on cable services in the Diocese:

Service Electric Lehigh Valley: Channel 18 or 54 RCN in the Lehigh Valley: Channel 326

●EWTN streams the 8:00 AM Mass live online at:

ewtn.com/tv/watch-live

●You can listen to the Mass live on SIRIUS/XM, or at: ewtn.com/radio/listen-live.

► Catholic TV also live streams Mass on Saturdays at 7:00 PM and

on Sundays at 10:00 AM, 7:00 PM and 11:30 PM at: http://www.catholictv.org/masses/catholictv-mass

► Also of note: Magnificat is making its online version temporarily

available to everyone free at this link: www.magnificat.com/free

Diocesan Victim Assistance Co-ordinator: Ms. Wendy S. Krisak M.A., NC, LPC; Direct Telephone: 1-800-791-9209

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Pamela J. Russo, MSW, MS; Secretary for Youth Protection; Diocese of Allentown; 1515 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive; P.O. Box F; Allentown, PA 18105-1538; 610-871-5200, Ext. 2204; (Fax): 610-871-5211; Email: prusso@allentowndiocese.org

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Diocese of Allentown Protection of Youth Policy: www.allentowndiocese.org

Gospel Alleluia Verse… (Christ the Way: Jn 14: 6) I am the

way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me.

Jesus is the way, for we cannot come to the Father except through him. He is the truth, for he is wisdom incarnate. He is the life, for he is the source and goal of our lives. Rev. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv.

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Sacred Heart Memorial Society… Those who are enrolled in the

Memorial Society will have their names written in a special book. The Memorial Book will be on display by the St. Joseph Altar. An intention will also be included in the Sunday petitions for those enrolled in the Memorial Society. All donations from the Sacred Heart Memorial

Society will be used for the purchasing of items needed to celebrate the Sacraments. Offering is $20.00.

++++++++++++++++++++++++ Union with Christ… I am the true vine and you are the branches,

says the Lord. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, bears fruit in plenty, alleluia. Jn 15: 1, 5

Sanctuary Lights… Candles can be lit for 7

days (Saturday to Saturday) on the High Altar of the Tabernacle, Blessed Mother Altar, St. Joseph Altar, St. Anthony, St. Jude, and Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sanctuary Candles can be lit for any intention, death remembrance or anniversary, birthday, wedding anniversary, thanksgiving for blessings

from God, for those who are ill or having surgery, or any special intentions which someone would like special prayers for. To have one of these Sanctuary Lights lit, drop a little note in the collection basket marked “Sanctuary Lights”. A donation of $12.00 is asked. The intention will appear in bulletin, unless directed not to.

Blessed Mother Altar: ➢ For Healing of Our Family Relationships

➢ Special Intention In Loving Memory of my wife Anne Ardinger By: husband Jack

In Loving Memory of Mom and Grammy Rutkowski By: daughter Joanne and Grandchildren Marlene & Dave

Prayer for More Vocations

O Holy Spirit, Spirit of wisdom and divine love, impart your knowledge, understanding, and counsel to youth that they may know the vocation wherein they can best serve God. Give them courage and strength to follow God's holy will. Guide their uncertain steps, strengthen their resolutions, shield their chastity, fashion their minds, conquer their hearts, and lead them to the vineyards where they will labor in God's holy service. Amen.

Watch out for Scams! Cyber criminals are

using the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to take advantage of people by requesting personal information or asking for donations to fraudulent charities/causes. Individuals need to be aware of increased exposure to email and phone scams due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative to

exercise caution in handling any email with a COVID-19-related subject line, attachment or hyperlink. In addition, please be guarded when it comes to text messages and/or phone calls related to COVID-19. Many State Attorney Generals offices are on the lookout for scammers going door-to-door selling coronavirus tests and cleaning supplies. You should be wary of anyone that comes by offering these supplies.

Here are a few example of the scams that you need to watch out for people offering duct cleaning services or deep cleaning services to rid your home or business of the virus (this is not necessary, traditional cleaning is enough). Disregard calls where people who claim to be from the health department saying someone you know has been infected and you can pay to have a kit mailed to you. (There is no current process where you can order a kit and have it sent to you.) Government agencies will not charge for any services, so be wary of people claiming to be from a governmental agency. If someone comes up to your home or office and they claim to be a government official and they want to come in to check if you have the coronavirus or want more information to do a survey, do not let them in. The Health Department is not going to be going door-to-door to check to see if you have the coronavirus or not.

Use suspicion when screening emails and phone calls related to COVID-19. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments. Before clicking on any links in an email, hover your mouse over the link and the actual URL will appear. Please ensure the URL is linked to the right address. Hackers often spoof the URL to look like a legitimate address.

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In your April packet of envelopes was a Mother’s Day Spiritual Remembrance envelope. Kindly

fill out your Mother’s Name (living or deceased) and return it to the rectory. This envelope will then be placed on the Altar for the month of May. At every Sunday Mass of May,

the Mother’s Day Spiritual Remembrance envelope will be

included in the Prayer of the Faithful.

I will love you forever, and forever you will be the most wonderful mother. Thank you for your loving care and sacrifices. You mean everything to me!

++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Birth of Mother’s Day… The origin of Mother’s Day, as we

know it, took place in the early 1900s. A woman named Anna Jarvis started a campaign for an official holiday honoring mothers in 1905, the year her own mother died. The first larger-scale celebration of the holiday was in 1908, when Jarvis held a public memorial for her mother in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia.

Over the next few years, Jarvis pushed to have the holiday officially recognized, and it was celebrated increasingly in more and more states around the U.S. Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making Mother’s Day an official holiday, to take place the second Sunday of May.

Anna Jarvis put Mother’s Day on the calendar as a day dedicated to expressing love and gratitude to mothers, acknowledging the sacrifices women make for their children. That’s why she was determined to keep “Mother’s” a singular possessive, as marked by the apostrophe before “s.” Each family should celebrate its own mother, so that individual women across the country could feel the love, even in the midst of a broad celebration of motherhood.

Other Mother’s Days… Before Anna Jarvis worked to get a day just

for recognizing mothers, her own mom played an important role uniting women for good causes. Mama Jarvis—also known as Ann Reeves Jarvis—cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the field during the Civil War, and in its aftermath she organized a “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” the goal of which was to foster reconciliation between former Union and Confederate soldiers by having them come together, along with mothers from both sides. With the senior Jarvis’ lifelong focus on caring for children and promoting peace, it’s no wonder her daughter fought for a day just for moms.

At around the same time Ann Reeves Jarvis was working with mothers in the spirit of peace, Julia Ward Howe, another activist—as well as abolitionist and suffragette—worked to have June 2 be celebrated as “Mother’s Peace Day,” and wrote a “Mother’s Day Proclamation” calling on mothers to work toward world peace.

Around the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated in a variety of ways and on different dates throughout the year, though many countries observe the holiday on the same day as the United States—proof of the powerful impact made by Anna Jarvis.

The Mother’s Day Controversy… Even after Anna Jarvis was

successful in getting Mother’s Day made an official national holiday, she wasn’t satisfied with the way that holiday was celebrated. She had teamed up with florists while she was lobbying to get the holiday recognized, even recommending a white carnation as the symbolic flower of Mother’s Day. However, in the first few years of the holiday’s official existence, Jarvis observed as florists, candy-makers and card-makers, and even charities used Mother’s Day as a way to make an extra buck. The commercialization of Mother’s Day, according to Jarvis, defeated the whole point of a holiday that was supposed to be about celebrating the personal, individual connection between a mother and her children.

From about 1920 onward, Jarvis fought hard to prevent businesses from profiting by means of Mother’s Day cards, candy, flowers, and other gifts. Although she had fought to be recognized as the one and only “Mother of Mother’s Day,” she later lobbied to have the holiday removed from the calendar of national holidays, and spent piles of her own money in lawsuits against profiteers she saw as using the Mother’s Day name in vain.

The Commercialization of Mother’s Day… Did Anna Jarvis

have success getting people to cut down on the consumerism? If you’re considering buying your mother a card or a bouquet of flowers, you’ve got your answer.

The National Retail Federation does a yearly survey to find out how much Americans are planning on spending for Mother’s Day. Here’s a hint: most people aren’t busting out the crayons to make a homemade card.

In 2017, the expected total spending for Mother’s Day in the United States is $23.6 billion. That’s an average of $186.39 per shopper. In the fourteen years the National Retail Federation has conducted the Mother’s Day spending survey, that’s the highest amount yet.

But don’t feel bad if you’re not planning on forking up quite so much. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Mom without emptying your wallet. It’s all about making it special.

How to Celebrate Mother’s Day Today… For most modern

moms, going out to brunch or getting a Hallmark card and a fat bunch of flowers will do the trick. Sure, Anna Jarvis will roll her eyes, but if Mom’s grateful, where’s the real harm?

If you want to go the Anna Jarvis route, make your own card or write a letter to show your love to your mommy dearest. Need inspiration? Use a phrase involving the word “mother” or “mom” or a nice mom-centric quotation. Here’s a good one:

“There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill

For some more free alternatives, you can pick up the phone (fun fact: Mother’s Day marks the highest phone traffic of the year in the United States), take Mom for a walk (if you live nearby), or send over something sentimental, like pictures of animal moms with their cubs, pups, kits, or kids. Irresistible, right?

Most importantly, show your mom that she (and Grammarly) taught you well by putting the apostrophe in the right place when you write “Happy Mother’s Day.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++ To our Holy Mother of us all, we pray… Mary, on this day, when we honor all mothers, we turn to you. We thank the Lord, whom you serve, for the great gift of motherhood. Never has it been known, that anyone who sought your intercession, was left unaided by grace. Dear Mother, thank you for your “Yes”, to the invitation of the angel which brought heaven to earth and changed human history.

You opened yourself, to God’s word and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Dear mother, intercede for all of our mothers. Ask your Divine Son, to give them the grace of surrendered love so that they could join with you, in giving their own “Fiat.” May they find daily strength to say yes”, to the call to the sacrificial love-the very heart, of the vocation of motherhood. May their love and witness, be a source of great inspiration for all of us, called to follow your Son. God Bless Mothers on this Mothers day, Mother of the Word Incarnate, pray for us who have recourse to you. Amen.

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