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

Dear Parishioners of Saint Anastasia,

Pentecost Sunday is called  the birthday of the Church – the day the Church was born – the day the Church was no longer the person of Jesus alone,  but rather a union of Father, Son, Spirit and all the people called into being by the Lord and redeemed by his Son.

Consider our own births.  All of us came into the world screaming, gasping for air, wanting to live!  We knew nothing.  We didn’t know how to do a thing.  We had no idea what to expect, or what would be expected of us.  Yet we arrived and cried out for everyone to know it.  That’s sort of what it much have been like at Pentecost when the disciples were locked in the upper room, fearing for their lives.  The Holy Spirit came upon them and they gasped for air, they cried out in all sorts of languages.  They didn’t know exactly what they were doing or what they were expected to do.  But, filled with Spirit, they cried out and left that room emboldened and afire with a desire to preach God’s word.

Life is so strange.  You would think that the older we get the bolder we would get.  But too many times the opposite is true.  As we age we grow cautious and wary of taking chances.  We age and notice younger people around us who are a little sharper than we are or a little more capable than we perceive ourselves to be and we retreat into our shadows.  We hide in our “upper rooms” not for fear of the Jews, but for fear that our inadequacies would be exposed.

The message of Pentecost is this:  Shout out the goodness of the Lord!  Don’t be afraid if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing.  God will take care of that.  But, don’t be afraid.  Jesus tells us, “Behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you!” (Luke 24:29)  He is true to his word.

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.