Welcome to Saint Anastasia, A Roman Catholic Church and School in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

StAnastasiaChurch2012
StAnastasiaVocations2012
StAnastasiaStAnthonyStatue
StAnastasiaSign2012
StAnastasiaSchool
StAnastasiaRectory2012
StAnastasiaOutdoorPrayer2012
StAnastasiaMaryStatueB2012
StAnastasiaChurchB2012
StAnastasiaChapel2012
StAnastasiaBlessedMother2012
StAnastasiaAltar2012

Dear Parishioners of Saint Anastasia,

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers!  May we always appreciate our mothers and treasure their love for us.  May God reward them generously for their selflessness, their many sacrifices for us, and above all, for their nurturing us and giving us life!

Just as mothers want the best for their children, Jesus prays in the Gospel today for all of us.  He says that we are the Father’s gift to him and what he wants most for us is to be one – one in him as he is one with the Father.  He wants the best for us and the best we could have is to be united with one another and with him.

This oneness doesn’t happen overnight.  It doesn’t happen just because Jesus wills it.  It won’t happen unless we work at it.  It won’t happen unless we are vigilant in searching for the Lord in a world where He has been made obscure.   God’s presence is very easily overlooked in our secular, self-centered society.  So where is God to be found if we desire to be one with him?

The first place to look is within ourselves.  Are we one with one another or are we at war with those around us?  Are we peaceful people or are we on edge, ready to jump or fight back to protect our position?  Are we considerate of others or wary of their intentions?  In short, are we “one” with others or do we find ourselves standing alone?

If we desire oneness with Lord we need to do our part and try our best to be one with each other.  Maybe this Gospel is a wake-up call to slow down a little bit and stop taking ourselves so seriously.  Maybe God is trying to tell us to “chill” a little bit and stop being so aggressive towards each other.  Maybe God is calling us to oneness by challenging us to be a little more polite and civil and less judgmental.  After all, we can never be one with the Lord and one another if we always think we’re the only “one.”

Have a great week,
Fr. Colagreco

 

Seeking Christ

First Steps Toward Catholic Faith

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is designed for those adults who have never been baptized, those baptized in another faith tradition or those Catholics in special circumstances seeking Confirmation and /or Eucharist. Beginning Monday, April 29 and continuing for the next 4 months there will be monthly sessions for anyone who may be thinking about participating in the RCIA process and considering the riches of the Catholic faith. The program is called Seeking Christ: First Steps Toward Catholic Faith. You can come to one or all 5 of the sessions. The sessions will begin at 7:00 in the Rectory basement. The formal RCIA process will begin in September. For more information about these sessions contact Sister Mary Barrar at 610-356-1613 or mbarrar@saintannies.org

Parishioners, be sure to invite your non-Catholic relatives, friends or neighbors to consider becoming a Catholic. Encourage them to come and participate in Seeking Christ: First Steps Toward Catholic Faith.