St. Barbara Catholic Church

Transcription

1 St. Barbara Catholic Church 45 Prestley Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017

2 Parish Information Very Rev. Dennis P. Yurochko, VJ, JCL, STL Pastor Mariangela Lorence, BS Church Secretary/Safe Environment Coordinator Michael McGrath, LEM, AS, BS, MBA Certified Business Manager Music Director/Organist Isaac Summers, BA, MA Youth Minister Emily Wardle, BS, M.Ed Choir Director/Organist Janie Welsh, LEM, MS, MA Director of Religious Education & RCIA Masses Saturday Evening at 4:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM Holy Day Masses as announced in the bulletin Weekday Masses M,T,W,T,F at 7:00 AM Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday at 1:00 PM Parish Office: /Parish Fax: Parish Parish Website: stbarbpittsburgh.org CCD/RCIA Information: CCD Communion to Homebound Call the rectory office to make arrangements. Baptism Call the rectory office to make arrangements. Marriage Contact the Parish Office. Arrangements must be made six months prior to the date of wedding. Office for Priestly Vocations PA Child Abuse Protection Services Diocesan Victim Assistance Hotline New Parishioners are always welcome - contact the parish office Bulletin All announcements for the parish bulletin must be in the secretary s office before noon on Friday. Parish Mission Statement St. Barbara Parish carries on the faith tradition established in 1894 by our Slovenian and German ancestors. Like our founders, we are called by Baptism to live as examples of Catholic faith and values, and as witnesses of Christ in the world. Our parish is small in size but great in heart. We are a diverse community who together seek to strengthen faith through liturgy and education, and through service to community in charity. We strive to love God with all our hearts and minds. We invite you to join us in celebration of God s holy sacraments, to serve His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, and to spread His Gospel, the Word of Jesus Christ. This week at St. Barbara s Parish Dec. 11 Sixth Grade Mass 8:00 AM [Church] CCD Classes Grades K 7 9:15 10:15 AM [Hall] Dec. 12 Eighth Grade CCD 7:00 8:00 PM [Hall] Dec. 14 Bologna Sandwich Project 10:00 AM [Hall] Light is On for You Reconcilia on 6:00 PM-9:00 PM RCIC 6:00 PM [Hall] Rosary 7:00 PM [Church] RCIA 7:30 PM [Hall] Dec. 8 Helping Hands Mee ng 6:30 PM [Hall] Choir Prac ce 7:00 PM [Church] Dec. 17 Reconcilia on 1:00 PM Rosary 3:40 PM [Church] Dec. 18 CCD Classes Grades K 7 9:15 10:15 AM [Hall] Christmas Carol Sing-a-Long 6:30 PM Evening Prayer [Church] 7:00 PM Carols [Hall] Dec. 19 No Eighth Grade CCD Pray for the Sick Pray for the sick of our parish, our family and friends, especially Michael Carolan, Karen Recrosio, Helen Jean Kolo, Cathy Weinman, Margaret Vallelunga, Gloria Fortunato, Edna Koczaja, John Pulford, Mary Ann Chabala, Maria Klemencic, Mary Rosato, Ann Mary Mazzocco, Lois Rosati, Elizabeth Chabala, Kathy D Amico, Sophie Kramzer, Catherine Petrich, Kimberly Wakim, Maureen Wirant, and those in nursing homes and their caregivers; the return of inactive members of our parish to the practice of their faith; the respect of all human life and the end of abortions. We pray for the safety of our troops, their safe return and for their families at home. Call the rectory office if you are homebound or in a nursing home and would like to receive Communion or if you are a patient in a hospital and would like a visit from a priest, please call

3 Ministers of Worship December 17th and 18th Saturday 4:00 PM Shelley Phoennik (Host) Mike Sarnowski Denise Sarnowski Steve Condio Julia Sarnowski Nicholos Benson Jared Palmer Sunday 8:00 AM Amy Rosati (Host) Craig Rosati Marian Krek Leta Nixon Wyatt Geary Colby Geary Sydney Geary 11:00 AM Nicole Magdich (Host) Ralph Kelly Steve Chabala Mark Fleisner Noah Magdich Lillian Chabala Violet Chabala If you are a minister and see a need, please step forward to fill the position. Offertory Collections Nov , Envelopes $ 4, Cash/ Loose Checks $ 1, Parish Share 11 Envelopes $ All Saints Day 2 Envelopes $ Retired Religious 8 Envelopes $ Total 244Envelopes $ 6, The Bridgeville Community Food Bank thanks us for our continuing generosity. During the Nov. 19th distribution, 142 families were assisted which included 84 children, 132 adults and 73 of the elderly. Christmas Mass Schedule: Saturday, Christmas Eve, December 24th: 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 10:00 PM Sunday, Christmas Day, December 25th Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God: Saturday, December 31st: 4:00 PM Sunday, January 1st: 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM 10:00 AM Mass Intentions for the Week Saturday December 10th 4:00 P.M. +Walter Astfalk, Jr. and Mary (Bebe) Astfalk [Grandson, Ron Astfalk] Sunday December 11th 8:00 A.M. People of St. Barbara Parish 11:00 A.M. + William Hannah [Family] Monday December 12th 7:00 A.M. +Nicholas Blicha [Nick and Nancy] Tuesday December 13th 7:00 A.M. +Charles Borin [Family] Wednesday December 14th 7:00 A.M. +Steve Kuglar [Children] Thursday December 15th 7:00 A.M. +William Meneilly [Ron Astfalk] Friday December 16th 7:00 A.M. + Alma Pastorelli [Bernie and Arlene Grant] Saturday December 17th 4:00 P.M. +Bernard and Joseph Knoerdel [Jeff and Betty] Sunday December 18th 8:00 A.M. People of St. Barbara Parish 11:00 A.M. + Joseph Niccolai [Bill and Denise Brown] Sanctuary Candle The Sanctuary Candle burns as a reminder of Jesus presence in the Tabernacle. This week the candle is burning in loving memory of Charles Borin from Family.

4 ST. BARBARA'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL SING-A-LONG Mark your calendars! Our annual Carol sing-a-long will take place in the parish hall at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 18th! Invite your friends, relatives and neighbors too, and join us for refreshments and Christmas Carols! We will begin with Evening Prayer in the church at 6:30 p.m., followed by singing in the hall at 7 p.m. Free fun evening open to all ages! No need to have a ticket or reservation - just come and join us! COOKIE DONATIONS NEEDED FOR DECEMBER 18TH CAROL SING Cookies and hot chocolate will be served at our Christmas sing-a-long on Sunday, December 18th, and we are asking for donations of cookies from willing parishioners! Any kind; any amount will be welcomed and appreciated. Donations may be brought to the parish hall on Saturday, December 17th after the 4 p.m. Mass, or on Sunday, December 18th anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 11 a.m. Thank you in advance for your generosity! WARM CLOTHING DRIVE The CCD classes will be sponsoring their annual "Warm Clothing Drive" beginning on Sunday, December 4th, and continuing through Sunday, January 4th. Warm socks, gloves, hats, boots, coats, sweatshirts and sweaters that are either new or gently used will be gratefully appreciated by those who are helped by our local St. Vincent depaul Society. All sizes - children and adults - are needed. Donations may be placed in the bins that are located at the doors to the church, or they may be brought to the parish hall during the regular Sunday CCD time, which is 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Our parish CCD students and teachers thank you for your help! The Light is On for You THIS WEEK! This Wednesday, December 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available in every parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Now is the time. God is waiting to offer you forgiveness, healing and peace. The light is on and the confessional door will be open. Join Fr. Dennis Yurochko and fellow Pittsburghers on a spectacular and unforgettable tour of Rome and southern Italy in early October, Spend three days in Rome visiting the Vatican, participating in a papal audience in St. Peter s Square, and touring the ancient sites and grandeur of the eternal city. Other destinations include, but are not limited to, SanGiovanni Rotondo (home of St. Padre Pio), Pompeii, Sorrento, the Isle of Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and Naples! Spaces are very limited and will go quickly. Spaces will be reserved based upon receipt of a down-payment. If interested, please contact our Business Manager, Michael McGrath, via stbarbpgh.org for further details. St. Barbara Helping Hands Upcoming events/meetings: Dec. 14 Project Bologna Sandwich 10:00 AM in the parish hall. Dec. 15 Monthly Meeting at 6:30 PM in the parish social hall. Contacts: Pam Fantoni or OR Karen Williams or stbarbarahelpinghands@gmail.com or view us on Facebook. On Friday, January 6, 2017, Helping Hands is scheduled to help at Bethany Presbyterian as Family Promise support volunteers! Please contact Becky at rebekahcolson77@gmail.com or call her at (412) to contribute to this fantastic opportunity to be Jesus' hands and feet to houseless families and their children. We need entrees and sides and desserts for the dinner meal, Stay-n -Play volunteers to play basketball or cards with the kids, drivers for the 5 pm or 7 am trek to/from Bethany to Crafton. We already have an overnight volunteer! Boundless thanks for the awesome assistance you've already contributed!! Oplatki wafers are available at the back of the church for a donation of $2.00 per envelope. ON MISSION FOR THE CHURCH ALIVE! - Thank you! More than 27,000 people attended 329 parish consultation sessions in October and November. Your initial feedback will help to guide our work ahead. Next steps include: 1. Parish-based opportunities for prayer and conversation; 2. Continued formation experiences to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ; 3. Additional information shared and new opportunities to provide feedback. Stay involved and sign up for updates at OnMissionChurchAlive.org.

5 A SEASON OF HOPE Today we can bask in the imagery that the Mass readings offer us. In particular, Isaiah s vision of a parched land that blooms with abundant flowers holds a message for each of us. Too often we are just like that parched land. We can allow ourselves to become absorbed in the waves of consumerism that grip so many. We look for fulfillment in the things that money can buy. Unfortunately, this leaves us like parched land, thirsting for something that money can t buy. This holy season has much to offer to quench our thirsts. In a word, this season offers hope. We are told that those who are ransomed by God will know joy and gladness. For them, sorrow and mourning will be no more. Let us place our hope in these promises. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. TODAY S READINGS First Reading The barren deserts will rejoice and flower. Tired bodies will receive strength. Aching hearts will be made glad (Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10). Psalm Lord, come and save us (Psalm 146). Second Reading Be patient, for the coming of the Lord is as sure as the rain (James 5:7-10). Gospel Tell of what you hear and see: The blind regain their vision, the crippled their movement, the deaf their hearing (Matthew 11:2-11). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent Monday: Our Lady of Guadalupe Tuesday: St. Lucy Wednesday: St. John of the Cross Friday: Las Posadas begins Please pray for the repose of the souls of Trinity Violet Stillmak and James DeBlasio who were recently buried from St. Barbara Church. May they rest in peace. May their families and friends know the fullness of Christ s love. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47 Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13; Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23; Mt 21:28-32 Wednesday: Is 45: 6b-8, 18, 21b-25; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Lk 7:18b-23 Thursday: Is 54:1-10; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-12a, 13b; Lk 7:24-30 Friday: Is 56:1-3a, 6-8; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8; Jn 5:33-36 Saturday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-4ab, 7-8, 17; Mt 1:1-17 Sunday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24 TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION When the ties of affection and authority that bound Europe s Catholics unraveled in the sixteenth century, many cultures lost time-honored customs of faith. Some customs proved to be especially difficult for the reformers to wrest away from the people, especially those celebrated in the home. This week in Sweden, a country where the Catholic Church was disestablished four hundred years ago, a Catholic martyr from Sicily is the most beloved figure. St. Lucia, Lucy, is celebrated on December 13. The long-story-short is that Lucy was a Christian whose father wanted to marry her off to a pagan fellow, and she rejected her father s authority. To make an example of her, her father had her killed. In the course of the brutal martyrdom, Lucy lost her beautiful eyes, but her vision was miraculously restored. The candles worn today by the eldest daughter of the family are tokens of the fire that refused to harm the saint. So this patroness of light and clear vision is revered on the shortest, darkest days of the Nordic winter. Before the reform of the Gregorian calendar in the sixteenth century, December 13 was the winter solstice. Today, young girls appear in the morning wearing lighted candles on their crowned heads (battery-operated now after many mishaps), and serve sweet rolls and coffee to everyone in the house. For the Swedes, who are not churchgoers, the Lucias are the official heralds of the holiday season and a sign of everyone s yearning for more light in this world. Europe once abounded with customs like this; the survival of this custom in Scandinavia is a sign of God s grace, and how fertile the soil is to receive the true message of Advent. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co.