A parish thank you goes out to Stan’s Garden Center for their recent check in the amount of $1,036. This represents the 10% rebate that was given to our parish on the purchases made by our parishioners during the month of June. Please let them know how appreciative we are for their generosity to our parish.

Our recent Family Fun Night and outdoor movies was a huge success. About 100 people turned out for the festivities. The idea for this event came from Adam and Joanie Ladaika. The others who were on the planning committee were Kim VanSlyke, Tom Blais, Sandy Benek, and Nancy Veshecco.

St. James School will open on Monday, August 27th. Our enrollment will be up this year. We will be welcoming 24 new students who are transferring into our school. In addition, we also have a large number registered for kindergarten. Enrollment for the preschool looks good too. These numbers are a tribute to the professionalism and dedication of our administration, faculty, and ancillary staff who give their all to ensure that St. James remains the flagship of diocesan schools. At our school, tuition is an investment in a child’s future, not a bill.

A special thank you goes out to our festival booth captains: Judy Walker, Jane Olowin, Lisa Norton, Jean Lococo, Joan Rossi, Helen Kerner, Del Petrush, Tom and Sallie Morgan, Mike and Gina Brennan, Tom Blais, Derek and Kim VanSlyke, Larry and Cathy Schaaf, Pat and Karen Holland, Tom Blais, Lyle and Natalie Meyer, Bonnie Astemborski, Lisa Norton, Tom Michalski, Kathi Kinzig, Greg Breski, Mary Jo Schley, Dawn Murawski, Cathy DiLullo, Josephine Ganzer, Sandy Benek, Andrew Boyd, Kaye Born, Mary and Ken Fromknecht, Bill Turner, Jim Yadeski, Chris Kruszewski, John and Denise Cox, Tom Michalski, Yvonne Strasser, Louise Twargoski, Rich and Cathy Kuhn, Jeff Fromknecht, Dan Fronknecht, Betty Grafius, Lois Lintelman, Penny Spacht, Jeanine Gibbons, Sarah Ducharme, Mary Beth Brady, Mary Ellen Campbell, Brigitte Kucharski, and Tom Sigler. I appreciate all that everyone did to help with the festival. Our gross profit was not as good this year as last. The weather was not cooperative; the heat and rain kept many people at home. Let’s hope the weather is better next year!

Our junior youth group meets only during the summer months. This is because the participants are so busy with school and other activities from September to June. I’d like to thank those who helped chaperone the weekly meetings: Andrew Boyd, Christopher Wheeler, and Ann Hatheway, who also took care of our first aid needs.

Here is a thought for the week. Courage is doing the things you cannot possibly do without God’s help.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

The Senior Citizens Picnic had the largest turnout in recent memory. The weather was cooperative and the food provided by Nunzi’s was top of the line. Once again, Gerry Miller did an outstanding job of planning the event and soliciting gifts to be awarded to the attendees. Hats off to her for a job exceptionally well done. A thank you also goes out to the following who helped enable the event to run so smoothly: Charlotte Carter, Rachael Gorski, Chelsey Cox, Dick and Nancy Forbes, Matt Malinowski, Adam Malinowski, Tara Prischak, Emma Prischak, Leah Prischak, Darcy Vargo, and Loraine Wetherbee.

Please do your best to give us a hand at the festival. We can use all the workers that we can get. If you have not already done so, please return the worker form to the rectory at your earliest convenience. Men and boys are needed on Monday, July 30th, beginning at 8:00 AM to move the festival equipment from the basement. Help will also be needed each evening beginning at 6:00 o’clock (Monday - Thursday) to set up the festival equipment. Please help us if you possibly can.

Help is needed this Wednesday at 6:00 PM at St. James Place to cut the meat from the last batch of our festival turkeys. We always have a nice group of people there and because things are so well organized, we are done in just a little over an hour. Please join us if you can.

Don’t forget our Family Fun Night at the school next Saturday, July 28th. Things will get underway around 6:00 o’clock with the cornhole tournament. We will have activities to entertain the children until the start of the movie at dusk. You are asked to bring your own chairs and drinks. The parish will provide the movie and all the popcorn you can eat. I’d like to thank Adam and Joanie Ladaika, Kim VanSlyke, Sandy Benek, and Tom Blais for all the time, effort, and planning that they put into making this event a reality. It is open to all our parishioners, particularly families with children. Call Adam Ladakia at 460-4772 for further information or e-mail him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please do your best to help us with our Festival Cash Galore Tickets. Sales and returns are not as strong this year as they have been in the past.

Here is a thought for the week. For Christians quitting is not an option. When you are faced with a challenge, the only way ahead is through it. With God’s help, you will find light at the end of the tunnel if you look for it.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

Our parish family fun night is just two weeks away, Saturday July, 28th. This cost free event is open to all of our parishioners, particularly those with children. It is intended to build the spirit of fellowship and camaraderie within our parish family. The cornhole tournament will begin at 6:00; the outdoor movie will begin at about 8:30. Those attending will need to bring their own chair and non-alcoholic drinks. The parish will provide the movie and the popcorn. For further information, call or e-mail Adam Ladaika at 460-4772 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

I’m trying to compile a list of the soldiers from our parish who are deployed. If you have a family member in that situation, please let me know so that we can publish the names in the bulletin.

I’m grateful to all those who have already turned in their festival worker form. We need all the help we can get. If you have not already done so, please turn yours in soon. You may have noticed that the steps leading into the vestibule from Bird Drive have been replaced. The old steps had deteriorated to the point that they were in danger of collapsing. Fortunately, thanks to Tom Blais’ ingenuity, we were able to reuse the wrought iron railings.

The exterior trim and window frames on the rectory side of the Church were recently painted by a parishioner who does not want his name published. He’d prefer to be know only as the anonymous parish painter. He also repainted the courtyard wall that had become spotted with concrete from when the sidewalk was replaced. How fortunate we are to have someone so talented and willing to help keep our Church looking its best! He will be taking care of the Bird Drive side soon. Many thanks to him for his outstanding generosity.

The St. James Cross Country Team’s 5K Chase Race will be held on Friday, July 27th with a 7:30 PM start time. Pre-registration is $15; $20 the day of the race. This is a candlelit trail run with music and pizza at the finish. This run will be held behind the Harborcreek Township Building. For further information contact Paul Brady at 476-9041 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are not doing as well with the sale our festival raffle tickets as we have in the past. If you can help push us over the top, I’d be very grateful.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

Don't forget about our Family Fun Night on Saturday, July 28. The evening will begin at 6:00 PM with a corn hole tournament. The outdoor movie will begin at about 8:30. The parish will provide the movie and the popcorn. Families are asked to bring their own non-alcoholic drinks. This is a family friendly event and is open to all members of our parish, especially family and children. There will be no charge. For further information, contact Adam Ladaika at 460-4772 or by e-mail at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .