The Catholic Community of Bradford · The Catholic Community of Bradford Rev. Raymond Gramata Pastor Rev. James Gutting Senior Associate P.O. Box 2394 Bradford, PA 16701-5394 Phone:

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Francis of Assisi

Our Mother of Perpetual Help (A Secondary Mission Church)

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time September 20, 2020

The Catholic Community of Bradford

Rev. Raymond Gramata Pastor

Rev. James Gutting Senior Associate

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

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

Email: [email protected]

ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX CHURCH BRADFORD, PA

For many of us, today’s Gospel story by Jesus about the landowner, his vineyard, and the workers,

strike a raw nerve. What is Jesus saying? For many of us we would rather erase this story from the

lips of Jesus. When we hear it, we think, a just wage for the work done. We think of the federal

minimum wage that everyone should get. But here Jesus is not talking about salary as we know it,

or even the amount of work done per agreement.

Jesus is carrying this to a higher level that has nothing to do with money or the hours worked. He is

talking about salvation, redemption, and God’s generosity. The key word floating around the United

States is “entitlement” which comes down to saying: “I don’t have to work; I am entitled to it.” That

same word has crept into our spirituality also. We say: “I can do anything that I want, good or bad,

and Jesus is going to let me into heaven.” St. Paul concludes his reading today with this reminder for us: “Only, conduct

yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

To get back to the story that Jesus has told, Jesus is reminding us it does not matter what stage of life that we come to Jesus

- cradle, adult, or death bed. As long as we believe and act accordingly the generosity of God will be there for us. We need to

remember that we don’t earn our redemption. It is a gift from God. We then, just need to live out our faith on a daily basis. To

give you an example of a death bed conversion, let us look at Good Friday. As we know, Jesus was hung upon the cross

between two thieve. The one commonly called the Good Thief says to Jesus, “Remember me when You come into Your

kingdom.” Jesus replies: “This day you will be with Me in paradise.” I like to think of this thief as a thief to the end. He stole

heaven at the last minute and was caught up in the generosity of Jesus.

God Bless,

SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

Fr. Ray

LAST WEEK’S COLLECTIONS

St. Bernard - Needed Weekly: $ 5,713 September 13 ……...$ TBA

2020 SB CSA Assessment……………$ 31,968 SB 2020 CSA Collected………$ 30,293

St. Francis of Assisi - Needed Weekly: $ 3,096 September 13 ……..$ TBA

2020 SF CSA Assessment……………$ 23,846 SF 2020 CSA Collected………$ 17,185

OUR PARISHES THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

Please do not open emails or texts that indicate they are from Fr. Ray. He does not text or email parishion-ers. This is the work of a scammer!

NEW BIBLE STUDY

Re-Starts October 21st @ 6:30 pm

The first night, we will review the 3 sessions that happened

before Covid-19 hit. The remaining 7 sessions will be cov-

ered each Wednesday evenings @ 6:30 PM (except No-

vember 25th) in Fr. Richie Hall at St. Francis, where we can

socially distance, with a finish date of December 16th.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST WEAR A MASK!!

Contact the parish office or Mike Kozminski if

you have any questions.

See the next page for information

CWC will again be making Apple Pies!

PRE-ORDER ONLY

Call Judy at 1-651-440-0355 (cell phone) with your name, phone and number of pies wanted. Last year our pie sale proceeds went toward re-plating the gold on the Easter can-dle holder. Please call by October17th to reserve yours. Thank you.

September 20, 2020

The Bradford Council #403 of the Knights of Columbus

meets the 2nd Tuesday each month at 7:00 pm in the parish office building.

Call Mark Luciano at 368-5508 for more information.

All Council members are urged to attend and new members are most welcome.

A Family Rosary Celebrating October as the Month of Prayer will be held on October 7th at 7:00 pm in St. Ber-

nard Church. Four Mysteries will be recited. Everyone is welcome to come and pray. You do not have to remain

seated and can leave at any time.

FAMILY LIFE Today Jesus is saying to us: “Why are you idle? Go into my vineyard.” Our family is the vineyard entrusted to us found in today’s gospel. Successful families are constructed by “laborers,” who work hard on family relationships, and not by spectators who only watch from a distance.

DENNIS FAUCHER, DDS

PLEASE GIVE THEM YOUR SUPPORT

WELCOME

Baptism - September 5, 2020

John Whelan Morris

CATHOLIC WOMEN There will be a “Gathering” (not a formal meeting) on October 13, 2020 at the Fr. Leo J. Gallina So-cial Center at 6:30 pm. Please wear a mask and know that there will be social distancing seating. Come PRAY, REJOICE, & REJU-VENATE! Call Teri Everett 412-400-0544 with any questions.

CANDLE LIGHTING St. Francis/OMPH candles are $3 each. Please use only 1 envelope - you can write multiple names on it anywhere. St. Bernard candles are $3 for the large one and 50 cents for the smaller one. Put money in canister near candles.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE SISTERS FOR RURAL MINISTRY IN THE EASTERN VICARIATE

The Diocesan Office for Religious is sad to announce that Benedictine Sisters Phyllis Schleicher and Mary Hoffman are retiring from their position as directors of Catholic Ru-ral Ministry in the Eastern Vicariate. For 21 years, they have served the people of Potter and McKean counties, providing help for those in need and offering spiritual en-richment opportunities to the parishioners of this area. The diocese is grateful for their ministry and the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania are hoping to enable the outreach to continue. Any religious sister who might be interested in filling one of these positions or who wants more information may contact Sister Nancy Fischer, SSJ, at [email protected] or 814-824-1217.

ROSARY ALTAR RUMMAGE SALE

Mark your calendars! The annual Rosary Altar rummage

sale is scheduled for Saturday, September 26th at St. Fran-

cis’ Ritchie Hall from 9 am to 3 pm. MASKS REQUIRED!

Donated items can be dropped off at the hall on Thursday,

Sept. 24th or Friday, Sept. 25th from noon to 5 pm.

MARRIAGE MOMENTS

Sept. 21 is International Day of Peace. World peace is good but probably feels impossible these days. Yet married couples learn a lot about peacemaking. What's one thing you've learned about resolv-ing an argument? Share it with someone today.

September 20, 2020

Often times when Catholics/Christians pray for respect for human life we pray for the “protection of human life from conception

to natural death” or, sometimes expressed, “from womb to tomb.” These phrases make it quite clear that human life is sacred

and to be protected all the way from the moment of conception until natural death. In 1984 the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin

of Chicago coined a phrase that captured the inter-relatedness of all human life when he described it as “a seamless garment.”

This image reminds us that all stages of human life are connected and interwoven as one “seamless” piece of fabric; and so

life at one stage affects life at all other stages. This continuum and interconnectedness of all stages of life lies at the basis of

our Catholic Church’s Social/Moral Teaching that aims to protect and support human life from conception to natural death, of-

ten referred to in our Church as the “consistent ethic of life.” The Church further teaches us that this respect for human l ife in

all its stages should influences a Catholic’s support or objection to local and national policies and be reflected in our voting.

Perhaps the following script from our United States Catholic Conference of Bishops’ (USCCB) video entitled: “Catholics Pro-

mote the Common Good” summarizes the Catholic position well:

“As Catholics, we promote the common good so that every person can not only live but also thrive. We seek to protect the

rights of all people: to life, to food and shelter, education, health care, decent work. We seek to ensure religious freedom –

freedom of conscience for everyone, and we work to care for God’s creation and our common home. We seek changes to un-

just systems locally, nationally, and around the world. All of us are called to work for the common good in our families, at our

parishes, in our neighborhoods and workplaces, and in the voting booth. Our faith inspired action can transform communities

and systems so that everyone can thrive.”

Prayer: “Good and gracious God, you created us for freedom and for full flourishing. Where people are denied the rights to

life, freedom, safety, or health, let us seek the common good. Where people lack what they need to flourish: education, de-

scent work, religious freedom, let us seek the common good. Show us how to be light to the world and salt of the earth, who

seek the common good, Amen.” (Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron, Los Angeles)

*******************

Definition of “Common Good” from our Catholic Perspective: Pope John XXIII defines the “common good” in his encycli-

cal in 1961 as “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment

more fully and more easily.” - from Materet Magistra (On Christianity and Social Progress)

Voting Pro-life

It's Time for a Spiritual Audit!

In virtually every aspect of Life, corporate, athletic, education etc., there is a constant evaluation process to measure growth

and improvement. Now it is a good time to assess our spiritual progress. Have we made a difference? If God were totally our

"faith in action" would He be pleased with what we have done (or failed to do)?

Evils plague our society, such as abortion, pornography "comprehensive sex" education, tax funding of Planned Parenthood,

and other anti-God, anti-life and anti-family issues.

As Christians, we know that the Bible commands us to be active in serving God. Service is an action word, so we know that

we cannot serve God by sitting on the sidelines, or being a "fence sitter". Are we as Catholics influencing our world, or is to-

day's relativism and secularism influencing us much more?

Obviously, we cannot do it all, but we can certainly do something! Literally, thousands of lives are at stake each and every day.

If we do nothing we collude with the pro-aborts, the purveyor of pornography and those that wish to remove God from society.

By doing nothing, we reap what they sow! Plan to vote on November 3rd!

Get resources and suggestions for your family at the Diocese of E r i e ’ s f a m i l y w e b s i t e ,

www.ErieRCD.org/fam.htm. At the Diocese of Erie, fami-lies always matter! Go Families!

January 19, 2020 September 20, 2020

TEACHERS NEEDED FOR REP Please call the Parish office 362-6825 if you are interested in ministering to students in our Religious Education Pro-gram. A few hours per month will make a huge difference!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES REP classes will begin October 4, 2020 for grades 1 - 7 and meet at the Father Leo J. Gallina Social Hall on Sunday mornings from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm. REP classes for grades 8 - 11 will begin October 25, 2020 and also meet at Father Leo J. Gallina Social Hall Sun-day evenings from 5:45 pm - 7:15 pm. Registration packets are available in the parish office and the back of the churches. Please be sure to take the appro-priate grade packet. They are labeled for grades 1 - 7 or 8 - 11. REP Coordinator Kim VanHorn will be in the parish office on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm dur-ing the month of September to answer questions and hand out forms. (Correction above in Bold)

RCIA CLASSES Anyone interested in becoming Catholic or learning more about the Catholic Faith is invited to attend the RCIA classes begin-ning at the end of Sep-tember. Please con-tact the office at 362-6825 to register or for more information.

ST. BERNARD

CEMETERY

All flowers, pots and ornamentation, real or plastic, must be removed from all grave sites by September 15th. Winter and holiday decorations are permitted after November 1st.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION COLLECTION Today is the 2020 Catholic Education Collection. Please support this important program that funds faith formation opportunities. Half of what you give will remain at the parish to support our own religious education and faith formation programs. You can make a gift by using the envelope in your packet or in any envelope appropriately marked. There are baskets at the doors with signs for the collection.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The parish office is looking for a Christian part-time admin-istrative assistant. This is a 20-25 hour/week, Monday through Friday, position. Applicant must be detail-oriented, have great organizational skills, neat handwriting and be proficient with Microsoft Office. Resumes with cover let-ters will be accepted until September 25th by mail to PO Box 2394 or email to [email protected]

DID YOU NOTICE? We have begun the replacement of our deteriorating handi-cap ramp in front of the church. Funds from the sale of the school will be used to cover the cost. This will take several weeks so please be careful if you are in that area.

September 20, 2020

PASTORAL STAFF: Rev. Raymond C. Gramata, Pastor

Rev. James Gutting, Senior Associate

OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday: 8 am to 4 pm (Closed for lunch 12;30 - 1:45 pm)

Ms. Wendy Thomson, Office Manager

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).

REP Coordinator: Kim VanHorn Students not attending Catholic school should be enrolled in REP programs. The Bradford Catholic Community Religious Education program meets at follows: Grades 1-7, 11:15 am every other Sunday morning

at St. Bernard in Fr. Leo Gallina Social Center Grades 8, 9, 10 & 11(Confirmation), 5:45 pm

every other Sunday evening at Fr. Leo Gallina Social Center

For more info call the parish office 362-6825

⬧Visit www.osvonlinegiving/1845, St. Bernard’s web site for on-line giving, to sign up and begin contrib-uting to St. Bernard in this convenient way.

⬧You can use any of your checking or savings accounts and MasterCard/VISA or DISCOVER credit cards to make donations to our parish. You have complete control of amounts and withdrawal dates. Making changes is easy! You can even generate a tax report at year end. Visit the website today!

Check it out: www.osvonlinegiving/1845

Liturgical Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors

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

Parish Community Parish Council Fr. Raymond Gramata Catholic Women’s Club Teri Everett Rosary Altar Society Telephone Prayer Chain Natalie Marasco (598-5565)

Cover photos of churches by LongArt Photography

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. 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.

We welcome all inquiries about the Catholic faith. This RCIA process begins in the fall of the year. Please call the Parish Office for further information.

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.

September 22, 2020

MINISTER SCHEDULE FOR MASSES SEP 26 - 27

Saturday - SB 5:15 pm Lector: Peggy Johnson EM: Tammy Black Servers: Cooper & Peyton Haight

Sunday - SF 8:00 am Lector: George Macfarlane

EM: Deb Woodley Servers: VOLUNTEER SB 10:00 am

Lector: Greg Ulyan EM: VOLUNTEER Servers: Timothy Mulcahy & Christian Peterson OM 11:30 am Lector: Mike Kozminski EM: Dawn Kozminski Servers: Jacob Hannahs

: No visits until further notice

MASS INTENTIONS

St. Bernard weekday masses will be held in the church

Monday, September 21 SB 8:00 am All Parishioners SF 9:00 am Celia Romanelli (Lou & Angela Monti) Tuesday, September 22 SF 9:00 am Deceased Teachers of the Bradford Area (Ron & Shirley Lerch) Wednesday, September 23 SB 8:00 am Patsy Balser (Family) Thursday, September 24 SB 8:00 am Esther Lignian (Estate) SF 9:00 am In Honor of Sandy DeGolier (Lisa Zurat)

September 25 SB 8:00 am Minnie Camas & Antoinette DeAmbrose (Rocco & Kay Camas) Saturday, September 26 SF 9:00 am In Honor of Karen & Rich Orpneck 50th Anniversary (Rosemary Burke) SB 5:15 pm Hannon & Sapko Families (Mary Lou Sapko)

Sunday, September 27 SF 8:00 am Dennis Keverline (Family)

SB 10:00 am Connie Schreiber (Fr. Steve, Diane & Mike)

OM 11:30 am MaryAnn Tanty (Francis & Joyce Carloni)

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

GOD’S HOUSEKEEPERS

September 21 - 25 TEAM 1: S. Madison/P. Pyle

V. Hauser/R. & J. Geis

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR PRIESTS

Please Pray for the Following Priests

Sun, Sep 20 - Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Smith Mon, Sep 21 - Rev. Paul A. Schill Tues, Sep 22 - Very Rev. Michael P. Ferrick, V.F. Wed, Sep 23 - Rev. Robert A. Manning Thurs, Sep 24 - Rev. Marc J. Solomon Fri, Sep 25 - Rev. Zab Amar Sat, Sep 26 - Rev. Brian E. Vossler

Readings for Week September 20, 2020

Sunday: Is 55:6-9/Ps 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 [18a]/Phil 1:20c-24, 27a/Mt 20:1-16a Monday: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13/Ps 19:2-3, 4-5 [5]/Mt 9:9-13 Tuesday: Prv 21:1-6, 10-13/Ps 119:1, 27, 30, 34. 35, 44 [35]/ Lk 8:19-21 Wednesday: Prv 30:5-9/Ps 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163 [105]/Lk 9:1-6 Thursday: Eccl 1:2-11/Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17bc [1]/Lk 9:7-9 Friday: Eccl 3:1-11/Ps 144:1b and 2abc, 3-4 [1]/ Lk 9:18-22 Saturday: Eccl 11:9—12:8/Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17 [1]/ Lk 9:43b-45 Next Sunday: Ez 18:25-28/Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 [6a]/Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5/Mt 21:28-32

Thomas Ackley, Virgil Anderson, Mary Beth Behan, Barb Bernheisel, Theresa Bond, Barbara Boser, Kathy Bryant, Bonnie Buccolini, Gigi Carroll, Annie Champagne, Dick Clark, Billie

Cummins, Paul Curcio, Charlotte Cuthbertson, Sandy DeGolier, Denise Douthit, Richard Douthit, Alliyson Feldman, Virginia Frigo, Pat Geary, Pat Girard, Jill Henry, Dominic Iaderosa, Jody Iaderosa, Mary Lou Iaderosa, Craig Johnson, Judy Keenan, Mary Keesler, James Kibby, Bill Kline, Mason LaBrozzi, Rita Leone, Paula Louk, Barbara Matto, Dick Melka, Mariana Militelo, Joe Monago, Lou Monti, Cheri O’Mara, Dom Piganelli, John Pockey, Dan Popiel, Courtney Prentiss, Stacie Riddel, Angela Rimer, Steve Schmidt, Judy Signor, Steve Skaggs, Hailey Smith, Larry Smith, Jr., Bonnie Swackhamer, Alex Tingley, Matthew Whelan, Corrine Wilson, Donna Whitford, Lisa Zurat May they be strengthened by the healing presence of God’s Spirit.