​A few weeks ago, one of my best friends, a priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia arrived at his parish to find the words “You have no right to tell us how to live. #ProChoice” scrawled across the front doors and side wall of his church. A famous celebrity was quoted as saying about Pro-Lifers, “Neanderthals! Do you not care at all about children!?” Since Roe V. Wade, the whole language of human life, pregnancy, abortion has changed into an Orwellian doublespeak that attempts to subvert the truth about the beginnings of human life and         personhood. Pregnancy is now defined as starting when the developing baby “attaches to the uterus” (about two weeks) instead of at the moment of conception.         Conception itself is no longer the fusion of sperm and egg but “occurs later” only when the  baby implants in the lining of the mother’s womb. Abortion of a human life is now a “reproductive right” and not the killing of a baby with a whole lot of potential. We have to be very careful in what we hear and what we believe when it comes to issues around abortion, contraception and also end-of-life issues such as euthanasia. As these issues ramp us (especially as we move into a months-long…years-long…election season, please truly understand what the Church teaches about these issues. In the early Church, Catholic Christians were distinguished for their care of the elderly, widows, the poor, abandoned infants, and its stance against abortion. It has always been       Pro-Life and always will be. The rest of the world may be against us but we must remain firm!
 

​ Bulletin Column for May 26, 2019
 
A number of reminders for this week:

• The response to our Centennial Project is going great! Thanks for all who have been so generous so far! Remember that you when you make your pledge you can put it in the collection at Mass, drop it off at the parish office, or mail it to us! God bless you for your generosity!
• We celebrate the Feast of Saint Joan of Arc each year on Memorial Day at the 9:00 am Mass (the only Mass that day). How wonderful to celebrate our patronal feast day on the same day we remember those who have served and given their lives for their country!
• Thursday, May 30, is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, a Holy Day of Obligation. Please check the Mass times in the bulletin for both the Wednesday vigil and the day itself.
• A special Congratulations to all of our graduating seniors both in high school and college. May God bless you greatly in all your future endeavors.
• And sorry about sounding like a broken record but remember that we have a new Summer Schedule of Masses. Check the bulletin and tell visitors and friends about our new times!

Happy Memorial Day and Happy Feast Day!  

Next Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, we will have our COMMITMENT WEEKEND for our CENTENNIAL PROJECT. I want to thank in advance the many of you who have already made a pledge for this project. I will be speaking after the homily at all Masses next weekend and will be encouraging you to support the Centennial Project both through prayer and a pledge of financial support.

In many ways, this building campaign will make space for us here in the parish as we enter our 100th year and will provide space for the next 100 years as well. Once again, the Centennial Project will cost $6.4 million (that includes a 10% contingency). We need to raise half of that ($3.2 million) in order to break ground. It would be wonderful to go over that goal!

Today you will see that there are Centennial Project brochures and envelopes in the pews. Please take one today and look over the many options of supporting this project. You can bring it back next weekend, drop it off at the Parish Office this week, or send it to us through the mail.

Please go to our website www.stjoanhershey.org/thecentennialproject to find more information about our Centennial Project. And check out the video about the history of our parish and more about the project. Please take the Centennial Project Prayer Card and pray each day for the success of our endeavors.

​What we do today will be for our children and grandchildren and all who follow us as parishioners of Saint Joan of Arc in Hershey, PA. What an exciting moment in the history of our parish!

​Sophia Alvarez, Dominic Angelo, Elisabeth Aynardi, Isabel Baab, Victor Bolton, Xander Boyer, Cooper Boyer, Camille Brelsford, Andrew Bruno, Ava Carnes, Jake Costello, Drew DeCristofaro, Benjamin Denisco, Evelee Dilliplaine, Jack Donaldson, Brielle Dunkle, Connor Dunn, Henry Ehlenberger,       Valentina Frattaroli, Karina Gidusko, Clayton Gingrich, Mila Gnall, Lacey Goff, Emma Goklaney,   Alexander Gourley, Karoline Grana, Cara Hallinan, Elizabeth Halstead, Audrey Hamsher, Caidan Hauer, Annabel Hernandez, Miles Hobe, Maxwell Holt, Emerson Hossler, Samantha Imundo, Maura Janoka, Sophie Klauer, Madison Lenovich, Camille Leshko, Owen Lindsay, Theresa Lombardo, Adrianna     Martinez, Maduka Mmuo, Anthony Momoh, Shannon Morrow, Lake Mortelliti, Madelyn Olivieri, Ryan Osifat, Stone Parker, Callan Pearson, Alexander Peluso, Drew Perkins, Edward Platon, James Rementer, Ryan Rementer, Luke Samson, Ethan Sargen, Kiley Shroy, Anna Siar, Francesca Simonic, Lucille Sitch, Giulia Stella, Andrew Stickler, Lillian Stober, Kyle Stuckey, Adam Swallow, Sydney Tanner, Lidia Tressler, Jameson Vaca, Elsie Weller, Maya Welter, Stephen Yurich, Gabriel Zambarano
 

The Hershey Food Bank is hosting a golf fundraiser on Saturday, June 1 at Deer Valley Golf Course in Hummelstown.
 
The food bank is promoting the 11th Annual Mission Classic and they are looking for:

• golfers ($75, includes lunch)
  
• sponsors (flag: $125, hole: $25)
  
• donations of cash, gifts, or gift cards
  

Email Odette to sign up or donate.

Odette: hersheyfoodbank@verizon.net | (717) 533-7386
 

​I THIRST PRAYER GROUP
Do you want to ask questions during homily? Oops, you can’t. Do you miss opportunities to know more about faith? Do you want to experience personal transformation in your life like the   woman at the well?
 
Every second of the day we are bombarded with distractions from our earthly life that distract us from experiencing “gifts of God.” Join us for an  in-depth talk on John 4, The Woman At The Well, given by Fr. Paul Oye, O. P. We guarantee this to be informative, enlightening, and inspiring. There will be a Q&A session. Take advantage of this  opportunity to nourish your spiritual life and come prepared with your bible, paper, and pen to make notes to review and share with your loved ones. Wednesday, May 8 at 7:00 pm in the cafeteria.

​Lynn: (717) 503-1600

DATE CORRECTION—TRIP TO SHRINE OF ST. JOHN NEUMANN IN PHILLY
Sister Eileen is taking a group of students in grades 7 & 8 to the shrine of St. John Neumann in       Philadelphia on Thursday, May 16 from 8:15 am - 4:30 pm. There are 10 seats available for parishioners. The cost is $23 (covers cost of the bus). St. John Neumann’s “favorite cure” is      cancer. After a 12:15 pm Mass, a blessing is given to everyone with the relic of St. John Neumann. If you have or have had cancer, the priest will give you a special blessing. Contact Sister Eileen.
iSr. Eileen: sreileen@stjoanhershey.org
 
DINNER FOR DOLLARS

• It’s another big one! The generous proprietors at Subway are hosting another Dinner for Dollars  (40%) on May 9 from 4:00–8:00 pm.
•  Primanti Bros. is hosting Dinner for Dollars (10%) every day, all day, now through May 31. Show your team card or tell your waiter we are Team F. THIS IS THE LAST MONTH!
•  Au Bon Lieu Bistro will host Dinner for Dollars (20%) on Mondays for the rest of the year!

 
Flyers are available at the back of the church and in the school office.
 
TECHNOLOGY WISH LIST
At St. Joan of Arc School, we have several      technology needs that will help us to update our internet infrastructure, provide chromebooks for lower grade levels, and replace old, unreliable equipment. If you are interested in helping us     acquire these items, please contact Deb Rizzotto.

​Deb: drizzotto@stjoanhershey.org | (717) 533-2854