A parish thank you goes out to Donnie Dombrowski for painting the Church handrails. I, along with our maintenance staff, am very appreciative of his efforts to keep our Church and grounds looking their very best.

High School CCD and Confirmation classes will resume on Sunday, October 9th and 6:00 PM. Confirmation candidates and, hopefully, one of their parents, will meet with me and the Confirmation Staff. We will outline the goals and expectations of our program, the paperwork that needs to be completed, the requirements of a sponsor, and dates for the classes and retreat. This meeting will not last longer than one hour. Ninth and tenth grades students will have their regular class from 6:00—7:00 PM.

Because of the Labor Day Holiday, our first Sunday Breakfast of this school year will be held on September 11th after the 7, 8:30, and 10:00 o’clock Masses. These events are staffed by our school families and are organized by our School Board, under the competent leadership of president, Greg Breski.

In the coming weeks we will begin to learn the words and melodies to the sung responses that will be used when the Revised Roman Missal is implemented on the First Sunday of Advent. Mary Jane Clark, Cyndie Johnson, and I attended at workshop on this topic on August 24th at Holy Rosary. Musicians and cantors were there from various parishes throughout Erie County. All are in agreement that the best way to transition to these new settings is to learn and use a little bit each week, so that when Advent arrives, we will be ready for the new Missal. The Diocese has indicated that parishes should begin using the new sung responses/musical settings on September 17th. During the next few months, Mary Jane, Cyndie, Kevin Beringer, and Corey Spacht, who are competent musicians and liturgists, will lead our parish on the journey to preparedness for the revised Roman Missal. More information about the new missal is available at the diocesan website: http://www.eriercd.org

Last Saturday’s Athletic Association Annual Golf Tournament was a huge success. This year’s honoree was Tom Blais. On hand to celebrate his “celebrity” status were two of his brothers from Rhode Island. A thank you goes out to the following who helped make the event run so smoothly: Jon Finke, the chairman, Tom Blais, Nancy Veshecco, Gina Chimera, Kim Van Slyke, Natalie Meyer, Cathy DiLullo, Brianna Miller, Bill and Judy Turner, Ralffaele DiLullo, Morgan Wawrzyniak, Emily Schultz, Jacob Chimera, Lindsay Finke, and Katie Anderson. There were a lot of positive comments about the food. The tournament was catered by Nunzi’s who always does an outstanding job of providing a well stocked and tasty buffet.

A parish thank you goes out to Donnie Dombrowski who painted both sides of the rectory courtyard wall and the iron gate. The timing could not have been better; just in time for the many visitors who were here for the festival and Polka Mass. When you see him, say thanks for a job well done and for his meticulous attention to detail . The wall looks great!

Welcome to our many visitors with us this weekend for the Polka Mass and our festival. None of these activities would be possible without the dedication, help, and support of our faithful parishioners. If you have not turned in your festival worker form and can give us a hand, your help will be greatly appreciated. Just go to the school office and they will find a spot for you to work. We can use as much help as we possibly get. If you are able, please give us a hand.

A parish thank you goes out to those who donated items for our Chinese Auction, theme basket booth, and gift card basket. Our festival goers are always awed by the wide array of items available. It is your thoughtfulness and generosity that make this possible. Our bake sale is another popular spot. No other parish in the Diocese has bakers as talented as we do! This year, I’m asking that those who bake items put a price on what you donate. This will make it easier for the people staffing the booth to know what to charge and avoid the possibility of hurting anyone’s feelings by charging too little for what they labored to bake. Also, if your baked goods contain nuts, would you note that as well.

A parish thank you goes out to those who helped with cooking the turkeys last Wednesday: Janet Szewczykowski, Pat and Karen Holland, Cathy DiLullo, Kaye Born, Jane Olowin, Jae Born, Adam Spinelli, Raffaele DiLullo, Mary Schaaf, Morgan Wawrzyniak, Sarah Hornick, and Rick Kimmeth. The turkeys began going into the ovens around 6:30. By 2:00 o’clock we had everything cleaned up and all the birds refrigerated. On Thursday evening we began cutting the meat off the bones at 6:00 PM, and because Kathy Schaaf had things so well organized, we were done by a little after 7:00. A thank you to the following who were able to help: Jane Olowin, Romaine Rea, Sylvia Stepnowski, Tom and Maureen Matlock, Larry and Kathy Schaaf, Rich and Cathy Kuhn, Ann Hatheway, Mario and Patti Scutella, Bob and Linda Spinelli, Tom Forish, and Adam Spinelli.

I’m grateful to Stan’s Garden Center for their gift to our parish in the amount of $1,051. This represents 10% of purchases that our parishioners made during the month of June. How fortunate we are that Stan’s allows us to participate in this program each year. Please make them your first stop for all your plant and gardening needs.

Mercyhurst High School sent us the names of the students from our parish who were on the honor roll for the last term. Receiving first honors were: Raffaele DiLullo, Alexa Wawrzyniak, David Benczkowski, Julia Conroe, Mackenzie Kranz, Ashley Madura, and Brandon Wawrzyniak. Second honors were attained by: Achay Biong, Jacob Shaloiko, Madeline Kubaney, Brittany Majczyk, Karlee Murawski, Elizabeth Gilkinson, and Michael Yurkovic. Lukas Holland, Jonathan Shaloiko, and Brandon Czerwinski received honorable mention. Congratulations to all of them and to their parents .

Please do your best to give us a hand with the festival. This year we are short of workers because so many people who we’ve depended on in the past are no longer able help. In the words of Uncle Sam, “I need you!” Please lend us a hand in any way you can. Also, if you have not yet turned in your festival worker form, please do so as soon at your earliest convenience. We really need your help!

A thank you goes out to Ken Krein for his help with eliminating the Japanese beetle infestation and other problems that have been plaguing the parish rose bushes.

The St. James Cross Country Team, under the leadership of Paul Brady and Dennis Cooper recently held their 2nd annual 5K Chase. I will acknowledge the sponsors of the race via this column in the near future.

Here is a thought for the week: Even in the dark a little star shines, let each day be your masterpiece of light.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

I am grateful to all those who were able to help with the festival turkeys, last Wednesday and Thursday. I will publish the names of those who gave us a hand in next week’s bulletin.

The Senior Citizens’ Picnic at Shade’s Beach was a huge success. Gerry Miller, who always does a tremendous job of organizing this annual affair, out did herself this year. The food was fantastic and there was a stunning array of door prizes. She also asked the attendees to help with our festival bake sale by both baking goods and volunteering to staff the bake sale booth and the other tables in St. James Place. Illness has take a toll on our pool of dedicated festival workers. A number of people who have helped in past years are not able to do so this year. We need everyone to pitch in and help make this year’s festival the best ever.

This weekend Fr. Baby Joseph Olickal a priest of the Missionaries of Compassion who is a professor at the order’s major seminary in India will be with us to speak about his community’s work with the poor, sick and indigent.

August 11th is the former feast day of St. Philomena. We will have a Mass that evening at 7:00 PM imploring God’s blessings on the sick and unemployed. Please invite any family members, friends, or acquaintances who are in need of healing or who are out of work. If you have roses at home, I am asking that you bring some and place them in the vases in front of St. Philomena’s statue before the Mass.

Congratulations go out to Fr. Chris Hamlett who will become the pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Greenville at the end of this month. He was a weekend assistant here during the latter part of Msgr. Cohan’s tenure. His assistant pastor will be Fr. Christopher Barnes, our former transitional deacon. With two St. James “alumni” on the staff, I’m looking for great things to happen in Greenville.

The 92nd Annual Solemn Novena to St. Ann will begin at St. Ann’s Church on Monday and continue until Tuesday, July 26th. Services will be conducted by Redemptorist Fr. Lenny Delgado each day at 8:30 AM and at 7:30 PM. All are invited to attend all or part of the novena.

I’m grateful to all those who have already bought or sold their festival car tickets. No parish has parishioners who are as supportive and willing to help as we have here at St. James. Please return your festival worker form to the rectory at your earliest convenience. Thanks in advance for your help and support.

Here is a thought for the week. When you have faith - no matter how bad things get - never think it's over; just keep believing. If you can't find the answer, the answer will somehow find you!

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

A parish thank you goes out to Nancy Dusckas for her generous gift to the STAR Fund that is earmarked for tuition aid to needy students from St. James School. Businesses in Pennsylvania can reduce their state tax liability by making contributions to St. James School through the Diocese of Erie’s Star Foundation. The Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program enables business to: •Receive a tax credit equal to 75 percent of the contribution to the STAR Foundation, up to a maximum of $200,000 per taxable year. •Increase the tax credit to 90 percent of the contribution if the business agrees to provide the same amount of contribution to an organization for two consecutive years. The application process is very simple. If you work at a business that would be interested in participating in the program, please give me a call and I help make the needed arrangements.

CATHOLIC SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL CHOICE …No one who desires a Catholic education for their child should be left out. Catholic families should be able to receive our share of our tax dollars to educate our sons and daughters as we so choose. The Opportunity Scholarship Act (Senate Bill 1) will help thousands of families make that choice. The Advocates for Catholic Education in Pennsylvania, or ACEPA, is an extensive network of concerned parents, educators, board members, alumni and taxpayers who will speak with one loud voice on behalf of Catholic school students. Visit www.pacatholic.org and learn more about what you can do to help pass Senate Bill 1 and make a brighter future for all children in Pennsylvania!

I’d like to express my gratitude to those who helped cook the first half of our festival turkeys on June 22nd: Kathy Schaaf, Mary Schaaf, Janet Szewczykowski, Ronalee Curtis, Caitlin Strasser, Pat Holland, Karen Holland, Luke Holland, Grace Holland, Olivia D’Annibale, and Adam Spinelli. I’m also grateful to those who helped cut the meat from the turkeys on June 23rd: Tom Matlock, Maureen Matlock, Karen Holland, Grace Holland, Luke Holland, Michele Dean, Pete Link, Sarah Hornick, Sylvia Stepnoski, Adam Spinelli, Rcik Kuhn, Cathy Kuhn, Jane Olowin, Kathy Schaaf, Larry Schaaf, Mary Schaaf, Bob Spinelli, and Raffaele DiLullo.

Kate (Reynolds) McCullough, the daughter of Sue Hetrick , a former song leader at Mass and a graduate of St. James School, is currently a producer with KLAS TV in Las Vegas. She recently won an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in the Live Special Events category. Her winning production was entitled Toasting 2011. It was a two and a half hour live broadcast involving eight different anchor teams reporting from various points on the Las Vegas Strip. Congratulations to her and her family. Its great to see a St. James graduate make it in the big time.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

A Parish thank you goes out to the following who were able to attend last week’s festival meeting; Rich and Cathy Kuhn, Tom Blais, Kathy Schaaf, Lisa Norton, Cathy DiLullo, Tom and Sallie Morgan, Morgan, Del and Ruth Petrush, Michele Dean, Bob Walls, Nancy Kaliszewski, Kathi Kinzig, Jim Yadeski, Mary Jane Clark, Judy Walker, Jane Olowin, Art and Val Pinczewski, Mary Jo Schley, Michelle Barbale, Bonnie Kern, Joan Rossi, Eileen Ference, Louise Twargoski, and Deacon Chuck. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 12th at 7:00 PM. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

More on the new translation of the Roman Missal that becomes effective on the first Sunday of Advent… In the new translation the word cup will be replaced with chalice in the Eucharistic Prayers. Instead of saying, “He took the cup,” the priest will now say “He took the chalice.” Why the change? One reason involves the desire to use words that distinguish the articles we use at Mass from the ones we commonly use at home. Another is to heighten the ceremonial nature of the Last Supper. The Congregation of Divine Worship believes that the word chalice sets a better tone for the Eucharistic Prayers than does the word cup. The new translation will take some getting used to on your part and on mine. I am already working to become comfortable with the new version of the Eucharistic Prayers so that I will be able to pray them without having to read them.

Starting today and continuing until late November, the color for the Sunday Mass vestments will be green. Green vestments are worn during Ordinary Time, which is the largest segment of the liturgical calendar. Green signifies hope and new growth, the flourishing of the Our Lord’s vineyard on earth. The Latin Tempus Per Annum is translated into English as Ordinary Time. This season gets its name from the word ordinal, meaning "numbered," since the Sundays of Ordinary are expressed numerically, e.g. 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The gospels during this period are devoted exclusively to the mission and ministry of Christ’s public life.

A thank you goes out to our good neighbor Nancy Dusckas for her help in paying for the printing of the festival car tickets. Some parishioners have reported that they have not yet received their tickets. They were mailed to all registered households a couple of weeks ago. If you have not received yours, they are available at the rectory office or can be found on the radiators in the vestibule. Please do your best to buy or sell your tickets. The three largest ticket sellers for the past few years have all retired and no longer have access to a large pool of potential buyers. Please do your best to help pick up the slack and enable us to make this year’s festival a huge success.

Here is a thought for the week. Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick