Mother’s Day will be celebrated next Sunday, May 11th. The Knights of Columbus St. James Council #7152 will have a Mother’s Day break-fast after 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Masses. Moms will be guests of the Knights and will eat for free. Please plan to join us and take advantage of the Knights' hard work in honor of our mothers. St. James Council is planning to serve eggs (scramble or to order), sausage, Potato tots, fruit, pancakes with coffee and juices. Cost for Adults is $10.00, children from 5 to 12 years old is $5:00 and children under 5 are free.

When Sunday April 27, 2025, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Location: St. Philip Social Hall, dine in or take out available. Dinner will include Spaghetti noodles· Meat sauce Bread · Salad · Desserts · Beverages 50/50 Raffle Tickets Drawing will be held after dinner. Dinner Cost: Adults: $10.00, Children 5-12 years old: $5.00, Children under 4 is free. Selling 50/50 Raffle tickets, drawing will be held after dinner. Tickets are $2.00 each or 10 for $15.00

St. Philip the Apostle Parish is having a Pregnancy Center Collection on 26th and 27th of April after each Mass. Please drop off your baby items by the St. James Banner in the parking lot. Please bring diapers, wipes, baby lotions and baby toiletry. If you have any question(s), reach out to Paul Lyon, Grand Knight at 540-273-1805.

What is the meaning of Divine Mercy Sunday? During the course of Jesus’ revelations to Saint Faustina on the Divine Mercy He asked on numerous occasions that a feast day be dedicated to the Divine Mercy and that this feast be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. The liturgical texts of that day, the 2nd Sunday of Easter, concern the institution of the Sacrament of Penance, the Tribunal of the Divine Mercy, and are thus already suited to the request of Our Lord. This Feast, which had already been granted to the nation of Poland and been celebrated within Vatican City, was granted to the Universal Church by Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the canonization of Sr. Faustina on 30 April 2000. In a decree dated 23 May 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments stated that “throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will experience in the years to come.” Concerning the Feast of Mercy, Jesus said: Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. (Diary, 300) I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. (Diary, 341) This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of my tender mercies. (Diary, 420) The message of mercy is that God loves us, loves us all, no matter the magnitude of our sins. God wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we can call upon Him with confidence, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. In this way, we will all come to share in His joy. It is a message that we can always keep in mind simply by remembering the letter "S," as the "Lord." Ask for mercy God wants us to draw near to Him by praying without ceasing, repenting of our sins, and asking Him to pour out His mercy on us and the whole world. Be merciful: God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to give love and forgiveness to others, as He gives to us. Unceasingly, trust Him completely, God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy depend on our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive. … UPCOMING EVENTS. Do you want to learn how to make Rosaries? Join on Saturdays after 9 a.m. Mass in Beatty Room for 40 minutes. On the first Sunday of the month, next May 4, boys and girls are invited to attend Mass in their first communion costumes, sit with their families. Sundays in May until Pentecost Prayer of the Holy Rosary every Sunday in May and until Pentecost June 8, in the church at 12:00 before Mass.

Once again, St. James Council is having Lenten Fish Fry starting April 11th, from 5pm to 7pm. Father Bernard is having Stations of the Cross (English) at 6pm and (Spanish) at 7:30pm. Father Bernard is encouraging our Parishioners to participate in the Stations of the Cross and support the Brother Knights Lenten Fish Fry.

St. Philip the Apostle Easter Basket Raffle by Catholic Daughters of the America, one basket for a boy, one basket for a girl, and one basket for a family.

St. Philip the Apostle Faith Formation Easter Egg Hunt on April 13th from 4pm - 6pm on the parish campus.

Our parish wants to invite and encourage everyone to participate in our new Parish Pictorial Directory. Photographs of our parishioners will be taken from Tuesday through Saturday, May 13 through May 17. Tuesday through Friday hours is from 2:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Saturday hours are from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You will be able to make your appointments after Mass the weekends of April 26-27, May 3-4, and May 10-11. Those participating will receive a free 8X10 photo (the one chosen to be in the directory) and a copy of the directory. For further information, please call Annie McGuire (980-829-3620) or Tami Harris (704-902-0315).

It was due to our Pastor, Father Bernard Oleru’s suggestion that the Women of the Parish Council of St. Philip the Apostle in Statesville planned our first Women’s Retreat. Our theme was St. Philip the Apostle’s famous saying, “Come and See.” And they did; we had over two hundred women in attendance. There was both a Spanish and English option available. On Saturday, March 29 we began with Holy Mass in the morning, breakfast was served and guest speakers, Father Bernard Oleru, M.S.P., Jean Whelan, founder of Women of Joy Prayer & Scripture Study, Maggie Considine, Regent of Court Ave Maria Catholic Daughters of the America’s, Maricruz Olascoaga and Mariana Navarrete. There was yoga/meditation in the courtyard during break available as well as a mini-ministry fair representing Women-only ministries offered in our Parish. The Knights of Columbus St. James Council #7152 beautifully served breakfast and lunch. The afternoon led to more listening and impressive sharing. We finished with a brief explanation from a few of our ministry leaders; Marie Gomez, our Spiritual Director, Becky Scales who leads our Women’s Bible Study and Mary Zemaitis, the Regent of our Catholic Daughter’s Court. The Holy Spirit was in the music, scripture and surely guiding our planners and speakers to touch each one in attendance. It was an amazing uplifting, powerful experience that will live with each of us for long time to come. Next time – “Come & See.” Next is a Men’s Retreat which is in its planning stages.