I hope all of you have been as horrified as I was at the passage of the extremist abortion law in New York State. New York had the most liberal abortion laws in the country but now it is even worse. Proponents of the law accuse Pro-Lifers of exaggerating the law in order to place greater restrictions upon abortion but the reality is the law lifts restrictions in such a way that it is not hyperbole to speak of last-minute abortions and infanticide. The fact that a governor who claims to be Catholic would not only sign this bill but celebrate its passage is beyond the pale. If this can happen in New York, why can it not happen in Pennsylvania or throughout the country? We must be constantly vigilant against the total disregard for human life in our society. To be Pro-Life means to support life from the moment of conception to natural death. This means the poor, the marginalized, the disabled, the elderly, and all persons who have life. But to be Pro-Life means that we have to have a special concern for the child within the womb because it is within the womb that life is most vulnerable, and looking at the numbers (60 million plus since 1973), it is where life is snuffed out the most in this country. Yes, we have to be vigilant against discrimination and euthanasia, and caring for the poor, but if we defend life only after a human being is born, what good is that? Perhaps it is the passage of barbaric laws like we see in New York State that will get our ire up and really make us into the Pro-Life Catholics that we know we are called to be! At least I hope so!
 

March Madness is here!

Please help support St. Joan of Arc School by purchasing tickets for the March Madness Raffle. Drawings will be held every day during the month of March.

Prizes are $50 and $100 daily! Each ticket sold is eligible to win 2 times per day during the month of March. You have 62 chances to win per ticket! Winners do not need to be present to win.

Tickets are $10 each and are on sale now at the parish and school offices.

Call the school office at (717) 533-2854 for details.
 

In three weeks, we will kick off the 2019 Diocesan Annual Campaign, formerly known as the Bishop’s Annual Lenten Appeal with the in-pew solicitation. Faith Forward is the theme for the 2019 Diocesan Annual Campaign. Letters have been mailed from Bishop Gainer and you should also be receiving a letter from Father Al asking for your support. We have been asked by Bishop Gainer to prayerfully consider a pledge to this effort. As a parish we benefit in a number of ways: shared administrative services like payroll and accounts payable, Human Resources, and outreach ministries that are led by the Diocese and implemented at the parish level. By our collective efforts from parishioners and parishes throughout the Diocese, a multitude of programs and ministries are offered to those in need. We are relying on your generous support to ensure that these programs and ministries continue. I thank you in advance for your loyal and steadfast support.

Monday, February 11 is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and is a Day of Prayer for the Sick throughout the worldwide Church. Just a couple of reminders regarding contacting the parish when someone is in the hospital:

• Because of HIPAA regulations, we do not get information from the hospitals that you are a patient.
• You must tell the hospital at the time of admission that you are Catholic and would like a visit from the Catholic Pastoral Department (Holy Communion, Anointing of the Sick, Visits).
• If you would like to have a visit from your parish priests (Father Roth or I), please call or have a family member call the parish office and let us know. We are not ignoring you. Lots of times we do not know that you are in the hospital unless you let us know.
• Remember that in serious situations or before surgery it is good to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. You can ask any of us priests to do that beforehand, even before or after a mass, or call and we will arrange a time to do this.
• If you are away from mass for a couple weeks and would like to have Holy Communion brought to you at home, call the parish and someone will be glad to do this for you.
• Finally, on First Friday at 7:00 pm in the Saint Lucy Chapel, we have Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and pray for our sick loved ones during Evening Prayer. All are welcome. 

Please come to a Parish Festival Planning Meeting on Tuesday, February 26 at 6:30 pm in Meeting Room C. We have a lot to talk about and plan; we need your help!
 

Vacation Bible School is coming! Save the date: July 8-12. We’ll be on safari this year and are looking for volunteers. A volunteer meeting will be held on February 10 at 9:30 am.
 

Morning Star Pregnancy Services is seeking male and female advocates to counsel the men and women who use their services. Becoming a pregnancy center advocate is tremendously rewarding and unlike most other volunteer positions. The sessions are being held at the Harrisburg office from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. The dates are: February 11 & 25 and March 4. They have opportunities at all 3 of our locations: Harrisburg, Middletown, and New Cumberland.

Contact Diane at (717) 901-2799 or ddevan@morningstarclinics.com for more information.
 

Please join the I Thirst Prayer Group in the cafeteria on Wednesday, February 13 at 7:00 pm to hear a special presentation by Father Roth, Parochial Vicar. Father Roth will take us through the Life of St. Valentine and how he images the Catholic understanding of Love and the connection between St. Valentine and St. Valentine’s Day.

​Contact Lou Felice at (717) 583-0240 for more information.
 

​On Thursday, March 14 at 5:30 pm, the CCW will hold a fundraiser dinner for the children of St. Jeanne D’Arc in Haiti (our sister parish’s school). Currently, the children only receive 3 meals per week and our goal is to raise the funds to increase that to 4 meals per week. Each meal at the school costs about $0.50. It will cost $3,500 to feed these children one extra meal per week. This homemade dinner of various international delights will be open to all, so bring your family. Reservations are preferred.

Contact Julie at (717) 566-5838 or sjaccwpres@gmail.com for more information.

Suggested donation: $20 per person

Elyse Szurgot, YWCA Director of Violence Intervention and Prevention will present on Human Trafficking on Thursday, February 21 at 6:30 pm in the Parish Center. Please come and see what is happening right here in our very own community and how we can each help.

​The YWCA can always use small personal care items to give to victims of trafficking who usually have nothing but the clothes on their back when rescued. The YWCA has recently assisted one rescued victim with finding an apartment. If you have any items that would be good for someone setting up a new home (small furniture, appliances, etc.) that would be appreciated.