Parish Activities

The Sanctuary Light burns to remind us of the presence of Christ reserved in the tabernacle.

The Sanctuary Light Candle at Holy Child Church in Mansfield is offered this week in memory of Maurice Copello by his children

The Sanctuary Light Candle at St. Mary of Czestochowa is offered this week in memory of Rose Bogaczyk by the Family
All Sanctuary candles at both churches have been reserved for this calendar year.

Having flowers adorning our altars adds to the beauty of our worship. If you would like to donate flowers for either church, in memory of a deceased loved one or in honor of a special birthday or anniversary or another special occasion, please call the parish office early in the week. Please do not place flowers on the altar without having made prior arrangements.

Ministers of the altar for weekend of February 4 & 5
4 PM Saturday at Holy Child
Readers: Linda Brown
Servers: Andrew Nadas
E. Min: John Ranck
6:30 PM Saturday at St. Mary's
Readers: Jan Yoder, Katie King
Servers: Josh and Thomas King
E. Min: Tony Lupkowski
9 AM Sunday at Holy Child
Readers: Linda Hawn, Veronica Nowak
Servers: Chase Moser, Ayla Rohl
E. Min: Peggy Padden
11:15 AM Sunday at Holy Child
Readers: Courtney Hull, Suzanne Case
Servers: Bailey and Nicholas Olson
E. Min: Maryann Maresco

Ministers of the altar for weekend of February 11 & 12
4 PM Saturday at Holy Child
Readers: Rachel Hohman
Servers: Tristan Templeman
E. Min: John Ranck
6:30 PM Saturday at St. Mary's
Readers: Ray Brundage, Pam Thomas
Servers: Bill and Fran Lupkowski
E. Min: Peter Lupkowski
9 AM Sunday at Holy Child
Readers: Brenda Brewster, Francis Murphy
Servers: Will and Eric Brennan
E. Min: Alan Parrotte
11:15 AM Sunday at Holy Child
Readers: Terri Nash, Ben Minnich
Servers: Patricia, Roch and John Minnich
E. Min: Anna Marie Mimlitsch

Please pray for those serving our country:
Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen

Please pray for those who have passed away:
Remember in your prayers the soul of Virginia Jerlene Yeager, mother of Peggy Padden who died on January 13th. Sincere sympathy to Peggy and her family.
We pray for deceased parishioners, family, friends, and benefactors. May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Please pray for those who are ill and their caregivers...
Celia Levindifski, Florian Mitchell, Maryanne Cunningham, Rick Case, Albert Mackowiak, Scott Egan, Mary Ann Bacard, Sis Sandstrom, Carmen Riviera, Bonnie Casselberry, Norman Nielsen, Maureen Nielsen, Anne McCarthy, Fraciszka Lupkoski, Connie Leone, Michael Makos, Eleanor Brion, Helen Dadas, Arline (Jean) VanValkner, Janet Berguson, Maria Boicesco, Kathleen Evans, David Pattotte, Celia Swinsick, Desiree Bleam, Dennis Bogaczyk, Jeannie Leone, Francis Mitchell, Doug Robinson, Bryan Augustine, Nancy Matthews, Anna Friedman, Carolyn Drinkwine, Carol Knable, Benjamin Allessi, and family, friends, and all parishioners in nursing homes.

Please call the parish office to add names of those for whom you wish us to pray. To respect our parishioners' privacy, please ask them before having names added to our prayer list.

Please remember in your prayers the elderly and, the infirm, the hospitalizaed, those in nursing homes, the homebound and the lonely of the parish, all those who have requested prayerful support, and all who are prevented by illness from being with us.

Door prizes for Valentine's Day at Holy Child Bingo next Saturday, February 11th!

Lectors, Altar Servers, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, please turn in the paperwork for the next schedule bynex weekend
Anyone who would like to participate in any of these ministries is asked to talk to Father Jacek or to call the parish office during office hours.

Our Parish Health Ministry Committee will meet this Tuesday, February, 7 at 9:15 AM in the vestibule of Holy Child Church
New members are always cordially invited. You do not need to be a nurse or health professional, just care about the health of yourself, your family, and those in our community.

We recently received a donation from the Blossburg Knights of Columbus for usage of the kitchen at St. Mary's Church
They provide a great service to our bingo patrons by providing food for them to enjoy during the evening. Thank you to the Knights.

Good Neighbor Easter Eggs...Coming soon and still only $0.50 cents or $5.00 per dozen
Available in Peanut Butter in Milk or Dark Chocolate and Coconut Cream in Milk or Dark Chocolate
There is an order form in this week's bulletin. Unless other arrangements are made, eggs will be ready for pick-up on Palm Sunday weekend, March 31 to April 1

Attention: Weekly Bulletins will no longer be available until the conclusion of the Masses
We ask the ushers to distribute them. This eliminates bulletins beling left in the pews after Masses.

Our Parish Lottery began last Sunday, January 1st- 291 tickets were sold. We thank those who sold the tickets each week after Masses and those who helped with this fundraiser by selling and/ or purchasing tickets.
Checks will be sent out at the beginning of each week for the previous week's lucky winners.

Thursday, January 26 Winning #786 NO Winner
Friday, January 27 Winning #346 $50.00
Saturday, January 28 Winning #502 $200.00
Sunday, January 29 Winning #322 NO Winner
Monday, January 30 Winning #875 NO Winner
Tuesday, January 31 Winning #396 NO Winner
Wednesday, February 1 Winning #504 NO Winner

In this week's bulletin is a letter from Bishop Bambera concerning changes in Health Insurance Programs and coverage which are against Catholic teachings
We ask that you take the time to read this communication completely and comply with the Bishop's request for action as needed.

Do you like to cook? Would you like to represent Holy Child Parish in an "Iron Chef" Competition? Our partnership (of the Catholic Churches of Tioga County) is planning and sponsoring an Iron Chef Competition- Our Parish needs to provide one Judge for the competition
Two of the county's best chefs will compete to see whose cuisine is the best.
Planning for this will begin this Wednesday, January 25th at 7 PM at St. Peter's in Wellsboro. Anyone with a pssion for cooking, a flair for entertaining, or a desire to write up rules for the competition will enjoy this meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Call the parish office if you are interested. The competition will be held mid-April or early May.

New Pro-Life Bumper Stickers are available in back of both churches
Please use them to promote life!!! These are provided by Holy Child Parish Health Ministry

Annual Baby Bottle Campaigns for the Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center- Please take a bottle home with you and return it by the weekend of March 11th, 2012
Again this year, Holy Child Parish is participating in the Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center Baby Bottle Campaign. They have provided us with baby bottles and are aking you to fill them with cash or loose change in the coming weeks.
As Catholics, we celebrate the sanctity of human life and this great organization gives support- emotional, spiritual and physical - to women who are pregnant and those with infants and young children.
These services include pregnancy tests, education and physical support, clothing and pre-natal care, while always giving witness to the love of Jesus Christ and offering life-saving solutions to mothers and pre-born babies.
Please take a bottle home with you and return it by the weekend of March 11th. If we run out of baby bottles, we invite you to use another container or make a check out to Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center and send it to the parish office. We will make sure it gets passed on with the baby bottles.


The Diocese of Scranton Maintains a Vocation website that can assist young people in discerning God's call in their lives
It also offers resources for parents to help them support their children as they seek God's plan for them. Visit the site: www.scrantonvocations.com

Vocations Discernment Weekend: The Diocesan Vocations Office is hosting a weekend of discernment for youg men in high school and beyond to assist them in recognizing whether God is inviting them to step forward to offer their lives as diocesan priests
The weekend will be held February 10-12, 2012 at Fatima Center and includes a presentation on the basics of praying into God's will for us, testimony from current seminarians, celebration of Mass, personal prayer, and fraternity. Contact Father Jim Rafferty, Vocation Director, 570-207-1452 or rev-james-rafferty@diocesofscranton.org

Retrouvaille for Troubled Marriages- if your marriage has become troubled or stressed, uncaring and unloving, or if you have problems with poor communication and conflict...
The Retrouvaille program can help! The next program in our diocese begins February 10-12 at Fatima Center in Dalton. Call 1-800-470-2230 for more information or to register. All calls are confidential . Visit the website at www.retrouvaille.org
Finances should not prevent a couple from attending.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend - February 10-12 at St. Francis Renewal center in Bethlehem
Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is where you can find a way to make your good marriage even better and add greater depth, growth, and enrichment to your relationship. To register or to learn more, call 1-800-787-7679 or visit www.wwme-nepa.org

Pilgrimage to Washington D.C.- Bishop Bambera invites all the faithful to join him as the leads his first pilgrimage to our nation's capital, to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, September 15, 2012 the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
It is Bishop Bambera's hope that by contemplating the work of divine grace in the life of the Blessed Mother, all the faithful of the Diocese of Scranton will be inspired anew by her example and assisted by her prayers.
Father Andrew Hvozdovic, the Diocesan Director of Pilgrimages, will plan the events of the day and coordinate transportation to and from the National Shrine for all regions of the Diocese. More information will be available at a later date.

The Tioga County Homeless Initiative needs your help!
Several churches throughout Tioga County are providing overnight shelter for the homeless in Tioga County
Yes, there are homeless individuals and families in our area. Individuals are provided dinner and breakfast and a warm cot on which to sleep. Transportation is arranged for children to get to their own schools from where they spent the night.
They are lookin for people who might be able to cook or serve meals, to stay overnight, to transport adults to work and children to school, to make blankets, provide laundry service, provide paper plates and cups, plastic flatware, soap, shampoo, and so on. Monetary donations are also accepted. For more information, contact Abby Thorborg at St. James Apartment Complex in Mansfield

Mass Intentions- We are scheduling Mass Intentions for 2012. These are filled on a first-come basis and are subject to change because of changes in clergy schedules, etc. We always to our best to accommodate your requests
Weekend Mass intentions are limited in May, June, and November. One Mass intention each weekend must be for Parishioners. During May, all intentions on Mother's Days are for all mothers, living and deceased; plus one Mass on the other May weekends is offered for Mother's Day intentions. The same holds true for Father's Day and again in November when one Mass each weekend is for Parishioners and one is for All Souls Intentions. Call the office during office hours and talk to Linda. The stipend remains at $10 and is due when the Mass is scheduled.

Have you picked up your parish directory? The ones not picked up on the past weekends have been moved to the parish rectory office
You are welcome to stop in between 8 and 4 to get yours or to purchase one for only $8.00. If you want, you can make arrangements for Linda to send your directory to the appropriate church for you to pick up. Just call.

RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
We never know how we influence someone else. Is there anyone you know who may need your help and guidance to make the first step in becoming a Catholic? If you are intersted, please call the parish rectory, 662-3568.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is also open to all who wish to learn more about the Catholic Faith, including adults and teens who are already Catholic. There is no need to register or call ahead; just come.
Classes are held on Monday evening at 7 PM in the Parish Center.

If you would like to donate Flowers for our altars, from your gardens or from the florist, for either church, we invite you to do so - Please call the rectory office by the Wednesday morning
prior to the weekend, and Linda will contact the persons in charge of decorating the altars for our churches. Your donation can be in memory of or in honor of a special person or event, such as a wedding anniversary, graduation, or birth of a child. Again, please call the rectory to arrange for this; please don't just call the florist to arrange for delivery of flowers and please don't just put flowers on the altar without informing us beforehand.

Traffic Patterns at Holy Child Parking Lot- to keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely, please exit through the back gates after Mass. Be especially aware of children walking through the lot on their way to PREP Classes
We have asked that the borough install a "No Parking Here to Corner" sign in front of the Parish Center. Those who park close to the stop sign on Dorsett Drive and up to the corner of Dorsett Drive on Main Street make it very difficult for drivers to see oncoming traffic as they move into the intersection.
Pennsylvania motor vehicle regulations prohibit parking within 20' of a crosswalk, a driveway, and 30' from a stop sign. In the interest of public safety for everyone, please respect these laws.

The Annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012. Bishop Bambera will preside at 2:30 PM Mass in the Cathedral in Scranton: This will be followed by a reception
This event is designed for 25th and 50th Anniversary celebrants, but couples who missed their special year are also invited. Cathedral seating will be reserved for anniversary couples and you are requested to limit your reception guests to two. If you are interested in attending this celebration, please call the rectory office to request an invitation. Information must be to the diocese by March 1st.

Embroiderers Group: If you like to stitch, come join us in Holy Child Parish Center on the second Wednesday of the month, starting at 1 PM
Beginners and any type of needlework are welcome We do group projects or just join us for conversation while you work on your own piece. For information, call Terry Faber at 549-2727 or terrysaga@aol.com

Information on Mass Cards...If a relative or friend has died, and you would like a Mass Card, please call the parish offers; if no one answers the phone, please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible
Please do not purchase Mass Cards or leave donations for Mass Cards at the local funeral homes. In the past, some of the money for the Masses requested did not reach the parish office and the Masses requested did not reach the parish office and the masses were neither recorded nor scheduled. Please take care of all Mass requests through the parish office.

Can you help once a month in the kitchen during Bingo?
We need 2 or 3 people to work on one Saturday evening a month (the third Saturday of the month) in the kitchen at Holy Child Bingo. This includes preparing and selling food and necessitates being present in the kitchen from 4:30 PM until 8:30 PM. If you are interested or would like more information, please call Linda in the parish office, 662-3568 or send an email to hlychild@ptd.net

Seeds of Hope Needs is asking for your help for our neighbors in need
They are asking for canned or dried soups, shampoo, dish detergent, baby gates, door knob locks, all safety items for toddlers in the home, diapers (size 4-6), baby wipes, baby monitors. There is a box in back of Holy Child Church for your donations.

Please do not drop iff unsolicited boxes or bags of used clothing for Seeds of Hope. If you have clothing which you no longer need, please take it to Santa's Gift Bag in Mansfield or to the Goodwill Store in Wellsboro. They welcome donations of used clothing.

Hope Room is need of Volunteers on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays
Call Ann Vayansky at 662-3735. Hope Room needs: canned meats and stews, pasta and sauce, cereal, fruit juice, cake mix, boxes of Jell-o and pudding.

Support your Local Food Pantry
The following items are needed every week: canned beed, pork, Spam, salmon, tuna, chicken, stew, rice, noodles, pasta, spaghetti sauce with meat, dry soup mixes, cereal, dried fruit, raisins, peanuts, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, tea, crackers, and cookies. There are boxes in back of both churches for these items.
Cash donations can be made via the collection basket: mark your envelope "Food Pantry" and we will pass it on. The numbers served by our local food pantries increase every month. A donation of one or two items by many parishioners results in an impressive amount of food to help those in need. Last month, we served 808 individuals, 240 of which were children. The Mansfield Food Pantry covers 1/3 of the county and us open every Wednesday morning. All that work there are volunteers. Thanks again for your wonderful support!!

Cleo Warren has been hired by Holy Child Parish as director of our 3 cemeteries...
During the past year, she worked extensively with the ground penetrating company, determining where there are already internments in unmarked graves. Last year, the parish purchased a new computer and program for managing cemeteries and Cleo has been working entering data for each of our 3 cemeteries, She will be in the rectory office each Tuesday from about 10 AM until 2 PM. We ask that if you have questions about your cemetery lot or purchasing a cemetery lot, that you call during those hours. If you cannot meet with her at that time, other arrangements will have to be made.

New Catholic Answer Bible are for sale in the parish office
They are $23.00 which is the actual cost to the parish for this wonderful Bible. If you wish, you can call the office during the week and Linda will send a Bible to either church for you to pick up on the weekend. The Bible has nice large print, but what makes it so special are the many inserts which present questions about our faith and the things the Catholic Church teachers; each question is answered along with scriptural references in support of each of the teachings.

Volunteers and drivers are needed for the Soup Kitchen in Williamsport
Church members in Lycoming and Tioga Counties are asked to volunteer one day a month, helping to prepare and serve the noonday meal at St. Anthony's Soup Kitchen in Williamsport. Holy Child Parishioners work on the third Friday of each month. The carpool leaves Holy Child parking lot at 8:30 AM and returns around 2:30 AM. If you are interested or need more information, call Dick Lynch at 662-2782.

Will you please help us keep our parish records up to date?
If you move, or if the Post Office changes your address, kindly call the rectory office, e-mail us, or drop a note into the collection basket. This only takes a few seconds on your part, but it is vital to keep our keeping parish records current. Thank you.

If you have not been receiving collection envelopes but you wish to receive them (they are mailed bi-monthly) call the parish office
We will take care of this for you.

One of the ways we pay for our weekly parish bulletin is through the ads on the back page each week
Please support these merchants/business people who have so generously helped with our weekly newsletter. We invite other business professionals in the area to sponsor an ad in our weekly bulletin. The cost is only $5.00 per week or $250 per year. We print almost 500 bulletins each week and they are read by parishioners throughout Tioga County. If you would like to run an ad, please call Linda in the parish office. Also, if you would like to place an ad to offer congratulations for a special birthday or anniversary, announce the birth of a baby, or offer a memorial for someone deceased, you are welcome to do so. Please call Linda by noon on Wednesday of the week prior to your ad's insertion. Give her the information and she will set it up for you.

We encourage our parishioners to support our monthly buffet dinners
They are the results of many hours of planning and preparation by dedicated parishioners. Everything is made on-site. The cost for the meal is inclusive. There is no extra cost for soup or coffee or pie. The cost for the meal is inclusive. There is no added tax added or a tip to leave. It is really a great value for your dollar. We even have a lovely door prize each evening. If you have not been to one of our dinners, why not give this a try?

We also would appreciate help with the preparation in the kitchen of Holy Child in the beginning at 9 AM on Friday morning. We are always in need of people, youth, and adults to help clear tables, wash dishes and pans and help with general cleanup. Come to the Hall and offer your help. It will be greatly appreciated.

We need Altar Servers for both Churches! Anyone who has received First Communion is invited to serve in this ministry of the Altar
We are especially in need of Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, especially for 4 PM Mass on Saturdays. We always welcome new lectors and altar servers,too. If you would like to participate in any of these "Ministries of the Altar", call the Parish Office or speak to Father Jacek. We will arrange for training for you.

Are you interested in serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion?
We are especially in need of persons to serve at 11:15 AM Mass on Sundays. Call the rectory for information. We will schedule training for you.

Couples planning to marry…
Must contact the pastor at least six months before the wedding date. Consult the pastor before making any other wedding arrangements.

Click here to learn more about getting married in Holy Child Parish!

Would you like to be part of our Parish
Prayer and Concern Chain?
We are restructuring our Parish Prayer and Concern Chain and will be compiling new lists soon. We ask that you call Joan Miller, 662-3594, to have your name included on the prayer chain. Please do this even if you are on the current Parish Prayer Chain.
So how does the Prayer Chain function? This is a list of Parishioners and their phone numbers. When someone is in need of prayers, for any reason, they are asked to contact the Parishioners who coordinate the Prayer Chain. These persons contact the first person on the list to request their prayers. That person contacts the next person on the list and so on.

If you would like to donate altar flowers in memory of a deceased loved one or in honor of a birthday or anniversary, please contact the parish office.

Baptism
Please contact Father Jacek to arrange date and time for Baptisms.

Matrimony
Please contact the Pastor at least six months prior to the desired date

Anointing of the Sick
Please call the rectory if anyone in your family is seriously ill or going to the hospital and would like to receive Anointing of the Sick. You may also request prayers and a visit to the sick person.

Eucharist for the homebound
The Pastor makes regular Communion calls at the area hospitals and nursing homes as well as to shut-ins of the parish. Please call if you would like a visit from one of our priests to include you or a family member in his visits.

Do you know someone interested in becoming a Catholic?
The right of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process of introducing our Catholic Faith tradition to those interested in becoming members of the Church. This process begins with a period of inquiry in September. If you know of someone who might be interested in learning more about the Church or becoming Catholic, have him/ her call the parish office.

Click here if you want information about having a child Baptized!

Support our Parish Bingo Games:
Monday- 6:30 PM at St. Mary's Hall, Blossburg
Saturday- 6:30 PM at Holy Child Hall, Mansfield

Remember Your Parish...Consider designating "Holy Child Parish" in your will so that the blessings the Lord has given you will help the parish to enrich others
You can make a bequest to the parish simply by having the following statement in your wil: "I leave to Holy Child Parish of Mansfield, Pennsylvania, the sum of $____ or _____% of the residue of my estate for its religious, educational, and charitable works."

Help with Meals?The Health Ministry Committee is looking for parishioners who are willing to make a meal once in a while
for people who are recovering from surgery, families who have a new baby, etc. Can you help with this? Call MaryLou Smith 724-2574 or Peggy Padden, 549-5668

The Health Ministry Program now has a motorized scooter chair and an oxygen recharging machine available for loan
To borrow any of these, please call Dotty Welsh at 662-2057 or the parish office.

Reminder to New Moms: Our parish Health Ministry Committee provides 5 meals for new moms and the family after she comes home from the hospital with the new addition to the family.
For more information, call Dotty Welsh at 662-2057.

Drivers are needed..if you can drive parishioners to medical appointments or cancer treatments, etc.
Call the parish office and leave your name and phone number. The Health Ministry Committee is seeking to help fill this need in our parish.

Baby Furniture and Supplies…
Are you having grandchildren or other young children visiting? Do you need a high chair, booster seat, infant bath supplies, pack-and-play for use for a few days and hate to purchase the same? The Health Ministry Committee has these items available for you to borrow as needed. Call MaryLou Smith 724-2574.

Are you in need of a wheel chair, walker, cane, portable toilet, or other supplies for assistance and / or rehabilitation?
Our parish Health Ministry Committee has these items to lend at no charge. If you need information as to what is available. Call MaryLou Smith at 724-2574.

If your baby or granchild has outgrown a certain size diaper before the package was used up, please consider donating them to the Parish Health Ministry.
You may leave them in back of the churches or call Dotty Welsh 662-2057.

The Parish Health Ministry Committee has purchased videos and invites you to take them home, view them and return them for others to use. They are located on the pamphlet rack in back of Holy Child Church.
Parishioners from St. Mary's are asked to call the parish office and tell Linda which videos they would like to view and she will make arrangements to send them to Tioga on Saturday evening with Father Leonard.
     - FOCUS ON FATHERING: Six fathers discuss various aspects of fathering.
     - LIVING THROUGH LOSS: Suggestions for dealing with grief.
     - DON'T TAKE THE CANDY: Ways of protecting children from sexual abuse.
     - SELF-RESPECT: Teens with a zest for life talk about self-worth.
     - ALTERNATIVES TO ABORTION: Three young mothers discuss the problems
       of teenage pregnancy.
     - TO BEGIN AGAIN: Rabbi Naomi Levy explores ways to rebuild life after tragedy
       and how to find faith in difficult times.
    -DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF FOR TEENS: author Richard Carlson shares insights for teens and their parents on dealing with peer pressure, drug and alcohol abuse and more. THE CHIMES: Animated Charles Dickens story emphasizes the power of faith and hope in our lives.

Kindly inform the parish office if you or any members of your family are in the hospital, a nursing home, or confined to home and would like a visit from a priest.

Natural Family Planning
Anyone can use Natural Family Planning whether they have long, short or irregular cycles. Natural Family Planning is highly effective, inexpensive, and 100% natural- no drugs, hormornes, no barriers.
To find a class/ instructor near you, or to learn more about Natural Family Planning call 570-207-2213 ext. 1133 or go to Natural Family Planning Page at www.dioceseofscranton.org

Also, in the Parish Office, there is a CD copy of Dr. Janet Smith's presentation of "Sexual Common Sense" formerly known as "Contraception Why Not". Just call and we will mail it to you or arrange for you to pick it up at Mass.

Here are the names of the Diocesan approved instructors for Natural Family Planning in our area. The complete list can be found on the Diocesan Web Page.
- Lycoming County: Megan Murphy, 570-41-835
- Bradford/ Tioga Counties: Brendan and Heather Murphy, 570-282-5813

Members of Holy Child Finance Council:
Connie Baker, President; Joe Maresco, Carl Smith, Cleo Warren, George Kump, Pam Thomas, Ed Signor, Peter Lupkowski, Ray Nealen, Anna Marie Mimlitsch, Paul Plowcha, Linda Brown, Recording Secretary

Members of Holy Child Parish Pastoral Council:
Jennifer Minnich, President; Tom Hohman, Vice-President; Courtney Hull, Secretary; Kathryn Wasowicz, Cindy Lisowski, Jim Weiskopff, Steve Hilfiger, Cleo Warren, and Florrie Dove

The Knights of Columbus is a social and service organization
for Catholic men…
If you would like to join or if you would like more information on the local council, call Nick Musshafen at 537-6620.

Parish Registration: We ask that new members of the parish register at the rectory.
You may call and have a registration form mailed to you or stop in and fill one out. Registration enables the parish staff to know the needs of the people they serve. Registration is a condition for admission to our religious education program and reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Penance, First Eucharist and Matrimony. If you need a testimonial letter for sponsorship of Baptism, Confirmation and marriage outside of our parish, you must be a registered, active parishioner.
Click here to learn more about joining Holy Child Parish!

Catholic Social Services: In order to better serve the needs of Lycoming, Tioga, Sullivan, and Bradford Counties, a new office has been established at Ascension Parish Center, 2100 Linn Street, Williamsport, PA
Clair Caputo, R.N. is the caseworker and will be doing the in-take and services to women in need, including pregnancy counseling. Bernie Makos, LCW, will be available and accepts most insurance for family, individual and marital counseling, anger management, anxiety and geriatric issues.
Adoption and foster care as well as post adoptive assistance is available.
Office Phone: 570-322-4220
Office Hours: Tuesday 2-4 PM
Wednesday: 1:30 PM - 4 PM
Thursday: 9 AM to 3 PM
Other times by appointment
Bernie Makos also has an office in Mansfield at 3892 Lambs Creek Road. You can reach him at 662-7788.

Feeling Stressed? Having a hard time coping with a loss or transition? Struggling in your marriage or with your children?
Counseling Services are available in Tioga County through Catholic Social Services. For information or an appointment, call Bernard D. Makos. LCSW at Serenity Counseling, 662-7788. Most insurances are accepted. A sliding fee schedule is available through Catholic Social Services to help make counseling affordable

Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you...
before you were born I dedicated you. Jeremiah 1: 4-5

Are you in a crisis pregnancy?
Are you suffering from the effects of an abortion?
Help is available...you have a friend!

Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center
Canton: 570-673-4476
Towanda: 570-265-0500
Email: empcc@frontiernet.net
Web: www.empccfree.com

This organization offers guidance and support to any woman with an unplanned, unanticipated or stressful pregnancy. They offer free services, including pregnancy testing, counseling, education. clothing and referrals.

Counseling for abortion alternatives:
Option Line: 800-395-HELP
Birthright: 800-550-4900
Pregnancy Hotline: 800-848-LOVE
Bethany Christian Services: 800-238-4269

Post Abortion Counseling:
Rachel's Vineyard: 877-HOPE4ME
www.rachelsvineyard.org

St. Anthony's Soup Kitchen in Williamsport - the third Friday of each month
We are in need of people to help out at St. Anthony's Soup Kitchen in Williamsport on the third Friday each month. The carpool leaves Holy Child parking lot at 8:30 AM to help with food preparation and serving the noon meal. After enjoying lunch and cleanup, you return to Mansfield around 3 PM. If you would like to participate or need information, call Dick Lynch at 662-2782.

Bingo Workers
We need adults to help as floor workers and ticket sellers. Bingo makes about $20,000 a year for our parish. But to continue our Bingo game, we need new workers. You will not be asked to work more than one Saturday evening a month.

Kitchen at Bingo on Saturday evenings:
Volunteers serve sandwiches, salad and dessert to Bingo players. We always need substitutes to fill in as needed. Call Dee Borden and volunteer to help.

Kitchen Help at our Monthly Dinners:
Our monthly dinners resume with the 1890’s Smorgasboard in late September. After that, we have dinners on the second Friday of each month. Food preparation begins on Wednesday or Thursday and continues through the day of the dinner. Meals are served from 4-6:30 PM.
We always need help with:
Food Preparation
Serving the Meal
Cleanup
Perhaps your schedule will allow you to help with one of these.

The Tioga and Mansfield Food Pantries need our continuing help. They are asking churches for their financial assistance, as well as donations of food.
They are seeking donations of spaghetti and macaroni, tuna, cereal, canned meats, any kind of non-perishable food. There are boxes in back of the churches for your donations.
The Mansfield Food Pantry is open each Wednesday from 9:30 AM until noon. It is located on Lambs Creek Road, just past Kingdom, Inc.
The Tioga Food Pantry is open on the third Saturday of each month from 9 am until 10 AM.
It is located at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Financial donations can be directed to Gene Haley, 835-0201, or Barbara Critcher, 835-5677. These persons can also be contacted to provide assistance for those in need in the Tioga/ Lawrenceville area.
There are an ever-increasing number of people who are coming to the Food Pantry for assistance once a month where they receive about a 3-day supply of food. Any donation that you can make will be gratefully accepted.
   If each parish family brought just one can of soup or tuna or spaghetti sauce for the food pantry each week, several hundred families could be helped by this simple act of generosity. There are boxes in back of the churches for your donations.
There is an ever increasing number of people who are coming in the pantry for assistance once a month where they receive about a 3-day supply of food. Any donations you make will be gratefully accepted.

From Holy Child's Health Ministry Committee: Members
of a local group are providing lap quilts for patients undergoing
chemotherapy or kidney dialysis.
If you or anyone you know could use one of these, drop a note into the collection basket or contact Dotty Welsh, 662-2057.

Crafty Folks…Warm Your Heart!
Health Ministry is collecting hand-made baby items to donate to needy new moms. There's a box in the vestibule of Holy Child Church for these, or you can call Dotty Welsh at 662-2057.