AROUND ALLENTOWN by Julie Gartland: A look at area happenings and events.
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March 19 marks the annual celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph. Known as Jesus’ adoptive father, Joseph is the patron saint of fathers and families. Pope Leo XIII said, "Joseph shines among all mankind by the most august dignity, since by divine will he was the guardian of the Son of God and reputed as His father among men. Fathers of families find in Joseph the best personification of paternal solicitude and vigilance."
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In honoring adoptive families and St. Joseph, St. Gregory the Great Church, 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, will celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph with a Mass beginning at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 19. The Adoptive Parents Organization of Central New Jersey will sponsor a coffee and cake reception immediately following the Mass.
Our children are dealing with many issues in our rapidly changing world, and when you add the adoption issue to their lives it can be very complicated. Complicated that is, without the support of others in the same situation.
Support groups are flourishing today for every conceivable area of our lives. They provide encouragement through difficult times from others who understand what it’s like, whether it’s living with an illness, dealing with grief, going through addiction recovery or living in alternative family lifestyles.
The Adoptive Parents’ Organization of Central New Jersey has become an invaluable support group and resource to adoptive families in this area. APO encourages and supports adoptive families through information sharing, speaker presentations, social events, a Parent’s Network and Children’s Workshop.
Susan Commini, APO president, said, "Our mission is to inform, discuss and learn about all aspects of adoption. We meet these goals through education, advocacy, discussion groups and community service. Our member families have come together through all different types of adoption traditional, domestic, international, foster care and open."
APO invites all area adoptive families, waiting families and persons considering adoption to join them at their meetings on the third Wednesday of the month (September through May) at 7:30 p.m. in St. Gregory the Great Church Parish Center.
Families from all ethnic and religious backgrounds are welcome.
For more information on APO, contact Susan Commini at (609) 588-9693 or Mary Goepfert at 587-9016.
The arts are alive in New Jersey thanks to the Theatre Guild of New Jersey’s Spring Festival of One Acts, which begins Saturday and runs through March 25, with performances at 8 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.
Princeton resident Barbara Lependorf will present her play "The Trial of Toots Murphy" at the Yardley Community Centre, 64 South Main St., Yardley, Pa.
"The Trial of Toots Murphy" is a courtroom comedy in which the audience acts as the jury. At the end of the play, each audience member will vote on the innocence or guilt of Toots, who is charged with the murder of her 95-year-old wealthy husband. The cast includes Elyza Hastings of North Brunswick, Carol Radziwon of Fairless Hills, David Deiderick and Richard DiRenzi of Trenton, Mary Ann Wylie of Morrisville, Dee Freidel of Marlton, Stephen Hersh of Robbinsville, Nancy Lauersen of Yardley and Pat Gambino of Cranbury.
Veteran actress/director Mary Ann Wylie directs two plays, "Almost Crooks" by Michael Phelan and "Firebird" by Andrea Green. The actors are Laura Shields of Philadelphia, Michael Kerr of Trenton, Suzanne Inman of Medford and Todd Reichart of Princeton.
For more information, call 609-586-1774.
Here’s a great writing opportunity for all youth in the local area. If you are interested in having your writing displayed in the Messenger-Press, please contact Julie Gartland at 259-0158 or 448-2100. Whether it’s school work, creative free time writing and poetry, stories about your experiences or interests or fiction stories the subject matter is up to you we’d like to share your accomplishments with the community.
Photos of local events and activities also are welcome and may be sent to The Messenger-Press, attn: Lee Anne Moslowski, P.O. Box 1449, Hightstown, N.J. 08520 (along with a self-addressed stamped envelope for it to be returned to you).
Your writing can be sent to me by e-mail at [email protected], or by fax to 448-8044. Please include your name, age and either your town or school name.
I am interested in getting coverage for middle school sports events and non-sports activities. If you go to a game or event and would like to share the results and particular accomplishments with the community, including pictures, please contact me at 259-0158 or e-mail [email protected].