My Friends,   We hear so often of the shortage of priests and vocations.  Now that difficult reality has hit us here, in our Parish, our home.  Unfortunately as a result of being reduced from two priests to only one and the increasing difficulty of finding coverage for all of our Masses, it is with the greatest regret that we must reduce our weekend schedule by one Mass.  In order to affect as few people as possible, we have decided to drop the 12 noon Mass on Sundays beginning the weekend of September 14-15.  All other Masses will remain exactly the same as they are now.  Our most heartfelt apologies for any  inconvenience this may cause.  Change is difficult for everyone but our present situation leaves us with no other options.  I ask for your kind understanding and patience at this difficult moment and pray that our situation improve in the near future. Father Papa

Dear Friends, The sad news of Father Windle’s impending transfer is most certainly a difficult blow to all in our parish. Coming on the heels of a change of Pastor, this unanticipated news is very painful, for we are forced to say farewell to a friend...

On Monday, August 5 at 6:30 PM, our parish will be hosting a “Safe Environment” Protecting God’s Children Training Session in the Multi-Purpose Room in the School. To register for this session, please go to http://www.virtus.org (Our organization is Philadelphia, PA--Archdiocese.) Please register as soon as possible, since there is limited seating. If you cannot make this session, please visit the website for other dates and locations. If are planning to work with children during the coming school year (CYO, school, PREP, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, etc.), you must attend one of these programs. Sessions last 2 1/2 hours.

Please join us on August 3rd for the First Saturday Devotion as Our Lady requested at Fatima. 8:00am Mass, followed by Flame of Love Rosary and Sacrament of Reconciliation. Spread the Effect of Grace of Thy Flame of Love over all of humanity, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

Manna Bags will be distributed at all our Masses on the weekend of April 27-28, 2019. Kindly return your filled Manna Bags by Sunday, May 5, 2019. Canned food items in greatest need are: beef stew, tuna fish, fruit, vegetables, pasta, soups, and pork & beans. If you are not able to bring a filled bag, feel free to donate online instead: https://yougivegoods.com/mannadrive Thank you for reaching out to people in emergency situations.

Please join the Knights of Columbus for the annual Easter Egg Hunt to be held on Saturday, April 20th beginning PROMPTLY at 12:00 noon, on the hillside next to the St. Max Rectory. This Saint Maximilian Kolbe tradition is open to all parish children 10 years and under. There will be separate egg hunt sections for different age groups. This event will be held rain or shine!

Please be advised that there have been nationwide e-mail scams that have affected several parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The parishioners of a parish are the targets. An unknown person creates an e-mail address account which contains the pastor’s name or the name of the church. An e-mail is then sent to the parishioners requesting assistance. As always, if you see an e-mail that is suspicious, do not click on any links inside of the e-mail, do not give away any personal or financial information, and delete the e-mail.

Join us Sunday, February 24th, as we begin a new experience, Catholic Alpha for Teens. Students in grades 8-12 will explore timeless questions about life, faith and God and discover how these issues relate to their lives as they discuss with their friends and leaders. Meetings every Sunday through April in the Rectory basement (Maximilian Room) from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, and include a delicious dinner. All students and their friends in grades 8-12 are most welcome! Learn more at www.alpha.org and by contacting Lisa Lister, llister@listerarch.com.

THANK YOU!! All Giving Tree gifts have been delivered to our local charities and accepted with gracious smiles. Thank you to all for your overwhelming generosity in this beautiful season of giving. May the Christ Child bless you and your families for this kindness done in His name for families in need.

Come and join the St. Max community in this annual family event! Favorites back this year include crafts for kids, Upscale Bake Sale, Book Baskets, White Elephant, Vendors and Kolbe Kafe. Wreath and Poinsettia Pre-sale ends November 26th. Pictures with Santa: 9:00am-11:30am; Silent Auction: 10:00am-2:00pm; Face Painting: 9:30am-1:00pm and Games in the Gym: 9:00am-12:30pm....

A Kolbe Christmas White Elephant is in need of Housewares, Toys, Art and other unique items. Drop off dates (before and after Mass) in the trailer across from the Rectory: Saturday, November 3rd & Sunday, November 4th and Saturday, November 17th & Sunday, November 18th. Contact Sherrie Starrantino for alternative drop off times: sstarrantino@stmax.org

In honor of those who donated materials, supplies and labor to update our Parish Multi-Purpose Room...

Every month, generous parishioners at St. Max sponsor a food drive for local charities, helping to stock the emergency food cupboards in our area. May’s drive will be in conjunction with the yearly Manna Canned Food Collection of the Archdiocese. Food will still go to our local charity, at St. Agnes Day Room. Many struggling families and individuals turn to the emergency food cupboards for support during times of crisis. Their lives are blessed by the generosity of the faithful of our parish. Items in greatest need are beef stew, tuna fish, fruit, vegetables, pasta, soups and baked beans. Manna Bags will be distributed at all of our Masses on the weekend of April 28-29, 2018. Kindly return your filled Manna Bags on May 5th & 6th, 2018 and they will be taken to the St. Agnes Day Room. We thank you for your generosity.

Dear Parishioners,  Please note below a change in our schedule of Masses & Confession for all Saturdays throughout the year.  In parishes where the Vigil Mass of Sunday was moved to 4:00pm, Mass attendance has increased.  This is my sincere hope.  Parishes that have Confessions on Saturday mornings have reported an increase in the celebration of this Sacrament.  In order to keep time open for funerals it is necessary to change the Saturday morning Mass to 8:00am.  Confessions will be 8:30 - 9:30am.  I hope this schedule will prove helpful to you in the ongoing practice of our faith.  This schedule will become effective on Saturday, November 25, 2017.                                                                         Msgr. Carroll

Please note that Benediction on Tuesday, May 2, will be at 4PM (not the normal 7PM) because of the PREP closing Mass.

SAVE THE DATE! Sunday, October 25th 1:30-4:00 pm Famiy fun for everyone - all ages! Children's crafts, tailgate games, bingo, food, musical entertainment and more!! If weather is good activities will be staged between the church and the ark - if inclement weather activities will be moved to the school building.

The Spring 2014 Chester County "40 Days for Life" campaign will begin on Ash Wednesday, March 5th and conclude on Palm Sunday, April 13th. Many volunteers are needed. Please sign up in the church vestibule.

We would like to inform those persons who suffer from celiac disease or wheat allergies that low-gluten hosts as authorized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will soon be available. Please call Fr. Capizzi at the Rectory (610-399-6936) if you need to receive low-gluten hosts so that we may plan accordingly.