ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH CHESTER, MARYLAND MAY 24, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord. Jesus left us to be with our Father in heaven and we are given the oppor-tunity now to live as Jesus instructed. We are to be glorify-ing God in all that we do; that means we need to do worthy actions for others as Jesus did, to be charitable for the sake of others knowing that that charity comes not from us but rather from God. We become the instrument in which oth-ers find the glory of God. Let us be a people who allows the resurrection of the human person in Jesus Christ to be elevated beyond the physical human experience and recog-nize the mystical Divine presence that exists within us be-cause of the actions of Jesus Christ.

Let us imitate Christ that we may enable others to know the Christ that lives within us. In the measure which others see Christ in our behavior is the measure in which others will approach the throne of God. By and through the humility of Christ, others will know whom you vouch as your au-thority. A lesser person is known through their arrogance and self-aggrandizements.

Many have been frustrated by the order to stay at home and by the dispensation for mandatory attendance at Mass. Many are frustrated, I dare say, by the charity that has been afforded us. I have read and heard many words over the time since the Covid-19 restrictions took hold. I have ap-proached the entire thing looking for the light, looking for the good within the darkness of the times. We all know that light comes, night breaks at dawn, death is conquered by resurrection, despair departs with hope, exhaustions ends with rest, havoc and chaos retire with order – all the while one may ask, where is peace? Peace is residing in heaven all the while trying to break through our human consciousness, but so distracted were we that peace seemed vanished.

Remember, my brothers and sisters, that Jesus greeted the Apostles with these words after he rose from the dead, “Peace be with you.” Remember His is the peace that has been given to you that can never be taken away, not by anyone or anything. You may think it gone, but it is not. It waits to be acknowledged within the eternal now.

Reawaken if asleep the wonder of the Lord.

Pax Christi,

Vy. Rev. John B. Gabage, V.F.

We would like to thank

all of our parish cate-

chists and Religious Ed.

volunteers for the amaz-

ing work they have done

this past school year. We

are blessed to have

each and every one of

you! While our school

year ended a bit sooner

than anyone could have anticipated, your shar-

ing of our Catholic faith with the young people

of our parish is greatly appreciated! Thank you

& God bless you!

We encourage all families

to continue working with

your children on learning

their prayers, attending

(online) Mass together each

week from your domestic

churches, and praying as a

family. These are all irre-

placeable examples to set for your children

as they grow and learn about our Catholic

faith.

Please check the parish website for the lat-

est updates and information- including

online Religious Education Registration for

next year as well as activities that can be

done from home during this time.

We look forward to seeing everyone when-

ever that may be and continue to keep you

in our prayers during this time apart.

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

We would like to thank Parks Tire & Auto

for sponsoring an ad in our weekly bulletin

MONDAY MAY 25 Deborah Merritt+ TUESDAY MAY 26 Sally Otto

WEDNESDAY MAY 27 Larry Fatoski+

THURSDAY MAY 28 Wallace Family FRIDAY MAY 29 Mary Novak+ SATURDAY MAY 30 Sister Rose Monica Katusz+ & Lyle Grupenhoff+

SUNDAY MAY 31 Parishioners of St. Christopher’s

Did you know… your Council of the Knights of Columbus has not forgot-ten Mother’s Day Flowers for all the wonderful Mothers of our Parrish? Once the Church re-opens

after the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions are lifted, we will coordinate on a Sunday, in conjunction with the Pastor, during which we can distribute the customary Marigold flowers. The Knights of Columbus is an organiza-tion of Catholic men dedicated to the Church and the Community. We are ded-icated to you, St. Christopher’s Par-ish. Men interested in joining the Knights, 18 years of age and older, should contact Mike McQuillan, MCQ521@aol.com or 301-655-8897 or Jim Klunk 410-924-2270 or klunkinc@gmail.com. We meet in the Church Hall on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month for under 2 hours. Due to the COVID – 19 Pandemic virtual meetings are currently held using Zoom. Join us

2020 Annual Catholic Appeal - Seeing Christ in the Faces of Others "No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one an-other, God remains in us, and His love is brought to perfection in us." 1 John 4:14. The Annual Catholic Appeal, with its theme, "Seeing Christ in the Faces of Others" continues throughout our diocese. Funds raised though the Appeal bring hope, comfort, compassion and love into the lives of many people. Appeal supported ministries touch thousands of individuals and fami-lies throughout Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore providing essential service that knows no race, no age, no social class, but rather knows only those who come to the Church for help are special in the eyes of Our Lord. Now more than ever, these ministries are needed. Your support demonstrates your compassion and concern for God's people and your willingness to share your blessings with those in need. During the week of June 1, you may receive a mail-ing from Bishop Malooly inviting your participation in the Annual Catholic Appeal. For those of you who have given to this year's Appeal, thank you for your generosity. For those who have not, please prayerfully consider supporting this important ef-fort. In the meantime, you are encouraged to learn more about the Annual Catholic Appeal by visit-ing www.cdow.org/annualcatholicappeal. Please view the brief video offering inspiring testi-mony from recipients of featured Appeal supported ministries. A direct link to video can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80gz5V5VaH8&t=2s.

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH CHESTER, MARYLAND MAY 24, 2020

Outreach The OUTREACH Food Bank is open and needs your help. As this virus and “no work” contin-ues, those out of work will be ask-ing for more food. Our plan is to provide one bag of food to each person asking for it. Our volun-

teers will be taking the food bags out to the cars of peo-ple who request food. We will need soups with meat in them, canned chicken, canned tuna, canned fruit, canned vegetables, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti, canned beef Stew, canned chili with meat, those packages dry potatoes and rice, boxes of potatoes and rice. Just whatever you can provide will be good… In addition, Our Backpack Program will be providing 60 bags of weekend food for backpack kids each week…so their need are also great. Please consider placing your donation in the bin OUT-SIDE of the Church Hall…or you can drop it off at the OUTREACH Door during the time it is open…MON/WED/FRI 0930-1200.

If you are concerned about coming to the Church Parking lot, then please contact OUTREACH (leave a message with address and your phone number ) and we will ar-range a time to pick up your food donation from your door-step. Phone 410-643-3366 .

We continue to provide 60 Backpacks to our Friday food distribution program. Any of the following items are greatly ap-

preciated : chicken noodle, tomato and vegeta-ble soups, individual tuna salad kits or pouch-es, pop tarts, fruit roll up snacks, raisins and cookie packs.

Thank you!!

IF YOU ARE NOT receiving the Flocknote e-mail/

text messages from the parish, including lots of

timely details regarding COVID-19, or other peri-

odic e-mail communications which we send, then

you should

SIGN-UP FOR FLOCKNOTE TODAY! Once you do,

you will receive regular e-mails, and if you include

your cell phone number, periodic text messages,

about life in our parish.

To join St. Christopher Flocknotes simply text

SCCCKI to 84576.

Here is what you do:

1. Open a New Text Message

2. On the “To” line type 84576

In the body of the text: SCCCKI You will receive a response with a link to com-

plete their sign up. Click on the link and follow

the prompts.

You may also go to :

https://StChristophersChurch.flocknote.com to

sign up

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD