We are in the process of creating a team to plan the upcoming Spring ABCYA Retreat. We will need meet a few times so please give me an e mail if you are interested in joining the team. Aslan22918@aol.com

Come spend an hour with God! Deacon Kelly will be leading us on Feb. 1st @ OLPH in Bethlehem at 7pm. God is always speaking, this is a great time to listen and to give him praise! Karaoke social to follow from 8pm on. Email Gerry at aslan22918@aol.com if you have any questions.

Our Faith Sharing group will be starting Matthew Kelly’s 6 set DVD series on May 1st, running every Thursday night until June 6th, 7pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bethlehem. During each session, we will watch the one hour DVD and then have a discussion. New people are most welcome and encouraged! Each week will be different, so feel free to jump in at any time. For more information about Matthew, please visit the website
http://www.matthewkelly.org/mkf_index.html

Join us at St. Elizabeth's in Whitehall for an evening of adoration and coffee house.
Our coffeehouse performer for the evening will be Jeannie Pomanowski.
Check her out at http://keyseller.com/jeannie/
If you can help set up for this event, please email Kris@abcya.org

Our Holy Hour will be at the chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on May 2nd @ 7pm followed by Mini Golf or Karaoke. Please come out for a nice evening of fellowship and fun. OLPH Chapel - 3229 Santee Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18020.

Since this Thursday is a Holy Day, we will be postponing starting Matthew Kelly to the following week. Please join us for 7pm mass at OLPH. Please meet at the church 5 minutes prior if you'd like to sit together!

We hope you can make it to the retreat! This is a reminder to register soon for the retreat. Deadline is 6/9. Please email us if you have any questions!

We will gather Friday night August 1st at 7pm for Prayer Time in the Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We will follow with a group social event. RSVP with Gerry@abcya.org or if you have any questions.

Mass at St. Paul's Church will be on September 7 at 11 am. We will then go to breakfast at a local restaurant. The address of the church is 920 South Second Street Allentown, PA 18103. It is located on Susquehanna and Second Street.

Date: Saturday Oct. 11, 2008
Place: Harrisburg Diocesan Center
4800 Union Deposit Road
Harrisburg, PA 17105
For: Catholic Young Adults ages 23-36
Time: Check in will begin at 8 a.m., ending with 4pm mass.
More info or to register: www.olme.org or 610-582-3333
Register by Sept. 30th cost $20
Register after Sept. 30th cost $25
(lunch is included in the cost of registration)

The King's Men is having a half day Conference on Nov. 8th from 7:30 am to 1pm. There will be some awesome talks, 2 of which given by former Pro NFL stars. See the attached. Download file

Father Peter West of Priests For Life is having a holy hour at 2:30 on Sat. Oct. 18 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bethlehem. He also will give a talk on Sun.Oct. 19 at 3pm at St. Francis of Assisi in Allentown on Responsible Voting. All our welcome. .

Join us for Adoration amd Evening Prayer November 7 at 7 pm at Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Chapel for our monthly hour of prayer. We'd like to have many people at this event so that we are encouraged to continue this monthly! Deacon Kelly does a great job at leading this and it is a great hour of prayer to relax and decompress from the week!

Brew'n Believers has been a great success. Nov is our 3rd gathering for this fall and continuing every 3rd Tuesday throughout the fall @ Keystone Pub, 6:30 to 8. Come for some food and drinks, to chat with friends and to hear a speaker. 3259 Easton Ave, Bethlehem. Click here for a flyer. Download file

Let us all Help the Allentown Diocese celebrate the single life on Sunday December 7th from 2-4:00pm at the Holy Ghost Church, 417 Carlton Ave, Bethlehem, PA 18015 (610) 867-9382. Finally we are recognized! :) Please call Mary Fran Hartigan to RSVP by December 3rd and for more information on this event, 610-289-8900 ext. 226. Also let me know if you are interested so we can arrange a carpool, chris@abcya.org

Catholic Underground has been sweeping the nation among Young Adults. It is a relaxed atmosphere for Adoration and socializing. November 22, 2008, St. Benedict's Parish 2020 Chestnut Hill Rd Mohnton, PA 7:00 pm
Coffee House Performer: John Paul Kasperowicz from single-hearted.com
See the attached flyer Download file

Join us for our monthly holy hour. First Friday Holy Hour will be held December 5 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel. Join us for an hour filled with peace and the presence of our Lord.

As Christmas approaches join us for the final Brew and Believers of the Fall Season. Join us at the Keystone Pub for an evening of friendship, fellowship and interesting conversation.

Footprints Along the Journey...Young Adult Retreat. Come to meet other YA's and to grow in your faith.
February 27-March 1, 2009
Fr. David Engo (Retreat Director) is awesome!
To register or for more information please contact:
Abbie Langsdorf, Assistant Director of Young Adult Ministry
at 215-965-4635 or email alangsdo@adphila.org.

Sunday, Jan. 18th, Bishop Cullen will celebrate a Pro-Life Mass of Reparation at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral in Allentown on Turner St.

Our new series of sessions for Faith Sharing is underway and has been going great. The topic of our discussions has been the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Heavenly Virtues. Each week one member of the group shares on one of the seven deadly sins, then we explore the opposing virtue and investigate what Scripture and Church Traditon have to say about how we can learn and aquire the virtue needed to overcome the sin. We hope that you will join us and explore how you can progress in your walk with the Lord.

Our new series of sessions for Faith Sharing is underway and has been going great. The topic of our discussions has been the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Heavenly Virtues. Each week one member of the group shares on one of the seven deadly sins, then we explore the opposing virtue and investigate what Scripture and Church Traditon have to say about how we can learn and aquire the virtue needed to overcome the sin. We hope that you will join us and explore how you can progress in your walk with the Lord.

Join us for our Monthly Holy Hour on Friday February 6 at 7:00 in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel. Deacon Kelly will lead us in adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrement. Bring your favorite board game along because we'll be having game night afterward.

Do you know any young adults who are considering a vocation to the religious life, or just interested in getting more fired up for their Catholic faith? Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown is hosting a one day family vocations retreat on Saturday April 18, 2009. I am planning to attend and have room in my car for up to 3 young people who might be interested. Click here to read more about this wonderful retreat and if you know of anyone who might be interested have them contact Deb by e-mail or phone to make arrangements.
God bless,
Deborah Rentler
(610)398-2949
http://www.czestochowa.us/images/stories/2009/04-18-2009-family_day_vocation.pdf

Join us to celebrate "Divine Mercy Sunday" on April 19 at 1:30 pm at Whelihan's Pub1658 Hausman Road Allentown, PA 18104, for a late lunch and then we will head over to St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Orefield 1879 Applewood Rd. Orefield, PA 18069 for a Divine Mercy Service.

“LET IT BE – Mary’s Story” concert. A portrayal of Mary from the perspective of a busy Mom in today’s world, the concert weaves traditional hymns, Gregorian chant and contemporary songs, many written by Tajci herself. Tajci’s website is www.idobelieve.com. She is an excellent singer and has an awesome story! The concert is at St. Thomas More in W Allentown on Wednesday, May 13th (Feast of Our Lady of Fatima) at 7:00 p.m. Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Free will offering!

I saw her last year and she was really great!

Just a reminder that Weekly Faith Sharing is every Thursday night from 7:15 - 8:30 at Assumption BVM church in Colesville. 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, PA near the Promenade shops and 378. Email Gerry@abcya.org if you have any questions.

Join us in praising our Risen Lord at Our Oct 2nd, 2009. This holy hour is a great time to rest in the presence of Our Lord and escape from the noise and pressures of our daily life. We will have a fun fall gathering at Tom's. Our deck party will be a nice time to socialize and enjoy some dessert and cider. 3219 Santee Rd, Bethlehem, PA

Tuesday, November 10th held at The Keystone Pub 3259 Easton Ave Bethlehem PA
Upstairs @ 6:30 pm. Topic "Hope and Loss"
Speaker: Mr. Bob Olney, Diocesan Program Administrator for Parish Outreach

Come for dinner, drinks, hear a speaker and conversate with friends in a relaxing atmosphere.

There will be a Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe December 13, 2009 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe located in Immaculate Conception Church 501 Ridge Ave. Allentown, PA 18103. The schedule will be as follows.
1:30-2:30 pm Confessions
2:30-2:50 pm Rosary
3 pm Mass
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron of North America as well as the special patron of the Pro Life movemnet because her appearance in Mexico put an end to the ritual killings of the native religion.

Please join us for our monthly Holy Hour December 4 at 7 pm at the Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help 3219 Santee Road Bethlehem PA 18020. This is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with Our Lord and to renew your spiritual life. There will be a social to follow.

OLPH has Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings during Lent. We will not be having our regular evening prayer and adoration. They have a holy hour with Stations with exposition and benediction. We try to gather about 6:50 and sit together. I will be on the ABVM parish retreat that weekend, but contact me if you have any questions. Jerry Novack will be having a social afterwards.

First Friday for April this year will fall during Holy Week. We have been invited to observe Sacred Heart Bath's Living Stations of the Cross at Sacred Heart Church in Bath. The presentation is scheduled from 7pm-8pm on Friday April 2, 2010. Sacred Heart Church is located at 210 East Northampton Street, Bath PA 18014. We would like to meet at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church( 3219 Santee Roade Bethlehem PA 18020) parking lot at 6:15 pm on Friday evening so that we can all follow one another so no one gets lost if they are not familiar with the location of the church. Tom Z. also said that we would have a gathering afterward which will be quiet and in the spirit of Good Friday.

Join us for our monthly Holy Hour at 7 pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help chapel (3219 Santee Road Bethlehem Pa 18017). Adoration is a wonderful opportunity to get away from the noise of everyday life and spend some time with our Risen Lord. We will have a social afterward.

Gerry is providing the faith sharing document to all members. This is what we will cover on April 29th Faith Sharing night. If you cannot join us, consider reading the attached, it's good stuff. He will try to provide these regularly when appropriate. Download file

We have a number of new projects coming up in Spirituality this year. You are already aware that the Faith Sharing Document which our group uses to prepare for Sunday Mass will be available online as well as through getting on the Faith Sharing group list. We have also determined that we would like to attend Mass together more often and perhaps visit some of the parishes where some of you live so you can meet us.
Thursday May 13 is Ascension Day and it is a Holy Day of Obligation, which means Catholics have the obligation to attend Mass. We would like to gather for a 7pm Mass. We will be attending Mass at Notre Dame of Bethlehem Church 1861 Catasauqua Road Bethlehem PA 18018. It it is possible we might be able to spend some time with Fr. Lamb who is stationed there or go out and hang out afterward. This will be held instead of Faith Sharing. Lets try to meet in the front of the church.

The Good News: Many of you are on Catholic Match looking for potential dates and ultimately a good marriage partner.
The Bad News: Many people answer that they do not agree with the Church's teaching on the seven questions in their profile.
Well maybe they just don't know what the Church actually teaches on the Eucharist, Holy Orders, Sanctity of Life, Contraception, Pre Marital Sex, Papal Infalibility, and the Immaculate Conception.
Using the Bible, Catechism, and Church teachings we will explore these important topics. We will begin this new series May 27
If you have an interest in learning how to think with the mind of the Church, we would like to see you at Faith Sharing every Thursday at 7pm ABVM Church

We are excited to announce the annual ABCYA Retreat at St. Francis Retreat House Chipman Road Easton PA. This year's theme is Alive: In Spirit and Truth.
We all like to think that we are growing closer to God and are living in His grace. Sometimes the noise and stress of our daily lives make us feel anything but holy and blessed. Jesus said that He came to give us life and freedom in abundance. It is possible for you to find true peace in the midst of world that seems contrary to Gospel values.
The retreat will begin Friday evening and end Saturday after Mass. The cost of the weekend is $90/person.
RSVP to gerry@abcya.org
Download file

Download file
Here is the Faith Sharing Document for Pentecost Sunday

Join us for our monthly holy hour at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel (3219 Santee Road, Bethlehem PA 18017) 7 pm June 4. We will have a social following.

Faith Sharing is held every Thursday at Assumption BVM Church Bethlehem PA 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike Bethlehem PA 18015. We are currently studying the Catholic Church's teaching on essential issues including the Sanctity of Life, Papal Infalibility, Marian Doctrines etc.
These sessions use the Bible, Church Teaching as well as writings of the Fathers to explain the Church's teachings. We would like to see you there.

Jerry and Veronica recently attended their Engaged Encounter Retreat and had a wonderful experience. They were very inspired by their retreat and the whole Pre Canna Process and would like to share their experience and insights with the group.
Pre Canna is required for everyone who plans to get married in the Catholic Church. It may either be taken in individual sessions at the parish or through a retreat. Jerry and Veronica would like to discuss their experience so far as they prepare for their wedding.
Please plan to join us July 1 at ABVM Bethlehem 1401 Old Bethlehem Pike Bethlehem PA for this session.

Download file
Here is the document on contraception.

The retreat is July 23 - 24th and below is the registration form, please fill it out and send it in with your money asap to Gerry. Why go? We have a new location, 3 new priests joining us, 1 new seminarian, 1 pastoral minister, 1 deacon and diocesan employee sure to make the retreat a wonderful experience! Please come! Direct any questions to Gerry@abcya.org
Download file

We will be having Bible Study at my house this week. I live at 720 Shields Street Bethlehem PA 18015. Parking is behind my house. We are also starting a new series on John Paul II's encyclical the Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae). This is a great introduction to many topics as well as to the idea of the Theology of the Body. I am looking into getting copies of this encyclical for everyone perferably with a study guide.Mary Francis suggested this topic and the encyclical is available online so I will send the Introduction out and we will have an open discussion on the Introduction this week.
We will be starting a video series on the book of Matthew that Ruthie gave me when we finish this next topic. I need to ensure that we will have a VHS player available from Assumption so that we can watch the video weekly and discuss the questions I have in a commentary.
Some other ideas for the future include watching videos of movies with a moral message and discussing it. Probably watch the video the first week and maybe the second week followed by discussion of that particular film and Theology of the Body. So stay tuned.

The Kings Men are organizing two buses to travel to New Jersey on Saturday, October 30 for Fr. Corapi's all day "Spiritual Warfare Conference". Buses will pick up people at the Fort Washington train station at 7 AM and will return at 8:30 PM. The cost of the event is $60 and includes the ticket to the conference, busfare, and breakfast on the way to the conference.
Space is limited to the first 94 people and will be first come, first served. Make checks payable to The Kings Men and to be mailed to PO Box 713 Quakertown PA. Contact Mark H. to reserve a place at 267-980-5507

Based on the feedback everyone who responded wants to go to the talk by Fr. Bobbin "The New Atheism". Fr. Bobbin will be giving two lectures the first "Faith and Reason" will be Weds. Aug 18 at 6:30 in the Rectory Meeting Room at Holy Infancy in South Bethlehem and the second "The New Atheism" will be on Aug 19 at 6:30 also in the Rectory Meeting Room.
Fr.Bobbin is a friend to a few of us in the group and he is my confessor as well. He spoke at the retreat this year. Holy Infancy is located at 312 East Fourth Street in Bethlehem a few blocks from Tally Ho Tavern.
A few of us will be going on Weds. to the talk and more will be going on Thursday. We may go out for a drink or a bite after the Thursday lecture since there are many restaurants and pubs in the area.

As fall approaches it is time for us to begin our monthly Holy Hour on September 3 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel 3219 Santee Road Bethlehem, PA 18020. We gather at 7pm for Evening Prayer, Adoration, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. We then will have a social event following.

Mark Your Calendars as the fall dates for BnB are:
Tuesday Oct. 5 - “God: Image and Relationship” What is our image of God and how do we relate to that image? How do we have a personal relationship with God? Speaker: Maggie Riggins
Tuesday Nov 2 - Topic TBD
Thursday Dec 16th - The Bishop will be the presenter.

Location to be determined. 6:30pm