2000 O Block Road, Pittsburgh, Pa (Holiday Park - Plum Borough)

Transcription

1 2000 O Block Road, Pittsburgh, Pa (Holiday Park - Plum Borough) April 15, 2018 Third Sunday of Easter Parish Office: Website: Address:... church@ourladyofjoy.org Religious Education Office: Father Albert L. Zapf, Pastor Mr. Gregory Callaghan, Pastoral Associate St. Vincent Benedictine Monks, Sunday Assistance SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Evening:... 6:00 p.m. Sunday:... 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 12:00 Noon DAILY MASS SCHEDULE Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday:... 8:30 a.m. Thursday:... 12:00 Noon PARISH RECTORY OFFICE HOURS Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Parish Office is closed on Tuesdays SACRAMENT OF PENANCE (CONFESSIONS) Saturday: 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM, MATRIMONY OR ANOINTING OF THE SICK Call Parish Office for appointment. New parishioners are asked to register by calling the parish office. Parish Mission Statement Our Lady of Joy Parish is a Catholic community of faith dedicated to Mary, the cause of our joy. We are centered in Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit and nourished by the Eucharist. We are a welcoming family, striving to see Christ in all and responding to the needs of the members of our parish and community. Called to act in faith, hope and love we seek to become a visible presence of Christ in the world.

2 Reflecting on God s Word Some vaccinations only last so long. After a predictable amount of time the immunity wears off and people are susceptible to the same old disease again. That s when it s time for a booster shot. It seems that we also need booster shots for faith. Baptism alone is not enough. The joy and peace that filled our communities two weeks ago are probably starting to flag and our old selves may be starting to re-emerge. We need a weekly dose of Resurrection appearances, in the Eucharist we share. All three of this week s readings as well as the psalm point out the weakness of our human faith. Yet they emphasize the forgiveness and blessing that are always available to those who turn to Jesus Christ the righteous one. Can we recognize ourselves in Luke s Gospel today? Do we realize how deeply we depend on our weekly booster shot of the Eucharist to remember and reclaim the saving presence of the risen Lord? - Virginia Stillwell THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH April 16 - April 22, 2018 MONDAY Last CCD - 4:30pm Festival Leads Meeting - 6pm Last CCD - 6:30pm TUESDAY Last CCD - 4:30pm Last CCD - 6:30pm Lectio Divina - 7pm WEDNESDAY Diocesan On Fire 4th Session - 9am Youth Chorale - 6pm Chorale - 7pm Bereavement - 7pm THURSDAY Weekday Mass - 12 Noon Holy Hour - 12:30pm Adoration & Divine Mercy - 3pm Knights of Columbus - 7pm Christian Ladies of Joy - 7pm FRIDAY SATURDAY Sacrament of Penance - 5pm - 5:30pm Vigil Mass - 6pm SUNDAY Fourth Sunday of Easter Sunday Masses - 8:30am, 10am and 12 Noon First Communion - 12 Noon YM - 7pm From the Pastor Once again in this Easter Season we read that the Risen Lord appears to his disciples. They had listened to 2 fellow disciples who only moments earlier had recounted to all gathered what they had experienced with the Lord on the Road to Emmaus. He had been made known to them in the BREAKING OF THE BREAD. Now He appeared to the disciples gathered, and they offered Him fish which He ate. After opening their minds to the teachings, He commissioned His disciples to proclaim forgiveness and repentance in His name to all the nations, which is a commissioning still to all disciples. Then He left them. Income tax day can be very taxing, but it is a day to give to society what is due. A big THANKS to all (only 3 people) who brought small bottles for people to take the newly blessed Easter holy water home. Those 3 however brought over 100 jars, but not nearly enough to accommodate the demand for the water. Please start saving small jars for next year. Thanks also to all those who did a great job for decorating and serving and singing in many capacities for Holy Week and beyond. God bless you. Just so everyone knows, next Sunday we will celebrate First Holy Communion at the 12 noon mass. We will have a crowd at that mass, so be prepared. Have a happy spring, and enjoy God s creation all around us. Fr. Al Z+ BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST Throughout the Easter season, all three of the Sunday readings are taken from the New Testament the Christian scriptures. Together they explore what it means to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the One who fulfilled the prophecies of the Jewish scriptures. Today s selections refer to our human weakness, yet they emphasize the forgiveness and peace that are available to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ the righteous one (1 John 2:2). In the Acts of the Apostles Peter invites everyone to repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away (Acts 3:19). The First Letter of John calls Jesus Christ expiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). Finally, in the Gospel Jesus greets the disciples with Peace and urges them to preach repentance, for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47). PAGE TWO OUR LADY OF JOY PARISH, HOLIDAY PARK, PA APRIL 15, 2018

3 TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION There are many ways in which religious communities are organized. Some have a central authority in a congregation, and others have a rule that is shared by all the members, but are a kind of federation of independent houses. Sometimes, congregations with distinct histories and ministries decide to merge. Several years ago, one of the largest mergers on record took place. Seven independent congregations of Dominican women religious, most in the Midwest, are now one new congregation enfolding more than seven hundred members spanning thirty-six states. The oldest of the founding groups, the so-called Kentucky Dominicans, began as a frontier community in Other communities have European roots. To get to this historic moment, the sisters spent many years in conversation, and approved the new structure by a two-thirds majority vote. This was then ratified by the Holy See. The merger allows the sisters to pool their resources in order to be more effective in ministry. They are living the Paschal Mystery, experiencing Christ s dying and rising in an inspiring way. - Rev. James Field PARISH NEWS What is R.C.I.A. As Catholics we all remember those special occasions that we celebrate in the church with our families. Our families get together for the baptism of our child/children, and after the baptism we all gather together to celebrate the child having been baptized. We celebrate the reception of 1 st Holy Communion and Confirmation and we may even remember our own celebration of these sacraments. These times are truly blessed and are indeed important events to celebrate in our lives. This is the process in which we become full participants in the Catholic faith, we become fully initiated. Some Catholics have a different experience of being initiated into the Catholic faith, it is called R.C.I.A. (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults). This is a discernment process in which non Catholic adults, who wish to become Catholic, fully enter into the faith. They receive the sacraments of initiation as we did, but they receive them all at once at the Easter Vigil each year. We, as a faith community, celebrate their coming to faith and welcome them into the Catholic Church. Just as we celebrated our Baptism, 1 st Communion, and Confirmation, we celebrate with these individuals as they go through the process of becoming fully initiated Catholics. Our parish community participates in the R.C.I.A. process with these new members; we pray with them, we learn with them, we journey with them, and we welcome them with our hospitality and generosity. We can become more familiar with who they are as we see them each week at church. As a parish, we need to introduce ourselves and get to know who they are. We welcome any adult who may be interested in finding out more about the Catholic Faith. This does not mean that you necessarily have to become Catholic, but you are interested in knowing more about the Catholic Religion. Those adults who are: un-baptized baptized in another religion baptized Catholic, but have not received any other sacraments (1 st Communion, Confirmation) are welcome to enter into the initiation process. May God continue to bless our parish community as we promote the Kingdom of Heaven. THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Our Lady of Joy SOS Ministry 1. Faith in Action (FIA) Patricia Kline FIA Office Senior and Caregiver Services Carl Vitalbo Barb Manganello Barb Kelly Social Services Beth Harkay Seminar/Information Sessions Kathy Ballina Legal Information Services John Fullen Today s Readings First Reading The God of our fathers has glorified his servant Jesus (Acts 3:13-15, 17-19). Psalm Lord, let your face shine on us (Psalm 4). Second Reading The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments (1 John 2:1-5a). Gospel Jesus stood in their midst and said to them, Peace be with you (Luke 24:35-48). Readings for the Week Monday: Acts 6:8-15; Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; Jn 6:22-29 Tuesday: Acts 7:51 8:1a; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 7b, 8a, 17, 21ab; Jn 6:30-35 Wednesday: Acts 8:1b-8; Ps 66:1-3a, 4-7a; Jn 6:35-40 Thursday: Acts 8:26-40; Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; Jn 6:44-51 Friday: Acts 9:1-20; Ps 117:1bc, 2; Jn 6:52-59 Saturday: Acts 9:31-42; Ps 116:12-17; Jn 6:60-69 Sunday: Acts 4:8-12; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29; 1 Jn 3:1-2; Jn 10:11-18 PAGE THREE

4 This Week s Priest s Private Mass Intentions Monday - April 16 8:30 am Carlon Family (Family) Tuesday - April 17 8:30 am Thomas Earl Mousseau (Diane Mousseau) Wednesday - April 18 8:30 am Vinnie Scalamogna (Wife, Pola) Thursday - April Noon Mary Beth DeSimone (Mom & Dad) Friday - April 20 8:30 am Paul O Block (Jeannie & Lee Milko) Saturday - April 21 6:00 pm Joseph Mele (Card Club) Sunday - April 22 8:30 am Alice Keally (Barb & Gene Sommer) 10:00 am For all the People of the Parish 12 Noon Father John F. Price (Ryan Price) Sanctuary Candle Our Sanctuary Candle burns In Honor of the Blessed Sacrament and In Loving Memory of Michael Kalinowski. Requested by his Family Parish Share Total $72, PARISH NEWS Month of May/ Mary s Altar May Crowning/May Mass The month of May is traditionally known as the month of Our Lady. To honor the Blessed Virgin parishes often process and crown an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with flowers. The crown of flowers represents our prayers. This often is referred to as May Crowning. This rite offers the Church a chance to reflect on Mary s important role in the history of salvation and to learn reverence for our Blessed Mother. As faithful disciples, we are called to be holy, and intercessors for each other. In it, Jesus last words from the Cross come alive Behold, your mother. (Jn. 19:27). Pre-Baptism Class A class is required for any new parent(s) wishing to have their baby baptized at Our Lady of Joy Parish. The class will be offered at 7pm in the Father Marchukonis Hall on May 2, Call to register. We Welcome into the Community of Faith William Everett, son of Nicole & John Riggs Our Lady of Joy Free Breakfast The Evangelization Ministry will host a free Sunday Sunrise breakfast after the 8:30am and 10am Masses on April 29, in the Father Marchukonis Hall. Please come and enjoy socializing with your fellow parishioners. Penguin Ticket Raffle Congratulations to Gene Vaskov as winner of the two Penguin Tickets raffled off by the Holy Name Society. Thank you to all who participated in the raffle. All proceeds help support the many charities supported by the Holy Name Society. S.O.S. Luncheon/Movie Day Social Services, part of our SOS ministries, is hosting a luncheon/movie day on Wednesday, April 25 from 1pm - 4pm. Lunch catered by Pugliano's Italian Grill followed by a true WWII story, The Imitation Game starring Benjamin Cumberbatch. Bring a friend, and join us for some good food and fellowship in the Father Marchukonis hall. RSVP to , and leave a message or Harkay@comcast.net. Essential Oils Tuesday, May 15 at 1pm in the Father Marchukonis Hall Mary Ann Brown Health & Wellness Advocate for doterra Essential Oils - Essential oils are powerful plant extracts---learn how their use can improve overall health, decrease pain, help with stress reduction, moods, emotions & sleep, releasing weight naturally, addiction recovery, detox & renew, clear & vibrant skin, healthy immune function and more. All classes are free and will be held at Our Lady of Joy Parish, 2000 O Block Rd, Plum Borough in the Father Marchukonis Hall. Light refreshments will be served. Although not necessary to RSVP it does help with planning. Call Kathy at Or kakb5101@gmail.com PAGE FOUR OUR LADY OF JOY PARISH, HOLIDAY PARK, PA APRIL 15, 2018

5 FIRE-Family Intergenerational Religious Education Our Lady of Joy is in the second year of including FIRE as a mandatory component of the Religious Education program. What is FIRE? The FIRE element of the Religious Education program includes Youth Ministry and CCD. Youth Ministry and Religious Education staff collaborate in planning the program for the current Catechetical year, by developing a theme, which this year is Gospel based. There are six scheduled FIRE Masses for each catechetical year beginning in October and ending in April. Generally, they are scheduled on the first Saturday of each month. The program is evolving with the last Mass this year being on Divine Mercy Sunday at 12pm Mass. The session begins with participation in mass, which is one of the main components of a comprehensive Religious education/youth Ministry program. During the Mass students participate as lectors, ushers and presenting the gifts. The Youthful Spirit, youth choir, leads the parish in musical worship with upbeat contemporary Catholic hymns. The Mass is followed by a second component of catechesis which is building of Community through a free shared dinner and fellowship as prepared by staff and volunteers. After dinner, the Youth Ministry staff begins the catechetical portion of the evening with an introductory skit based on the topic of the evening. This year s theme is Broken which seeks to discuss humanity s individual brokenness that can be made whole again through Christ s love and mercy. The students then go to grade level appropriate sessions as taught by the catechists and Youth Ministry staff. Each age level is included in the sessions ranging from preschoolers to high school. The adults attend a presentation in the church by the Pastoral Associate or a guest speaker. The evening is concluded with the attendees coming together as a group to close with a prayer. The expectation is that the families will share what they have just experienced and continue to grow in holiness. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION / CCD Last CCD Sessions - April 16 & 17 Thank-you to all - Feast of St. Joseph Brunch What a great gift it was to have so many people contribute to the St. Joseph brunch. All items were so delicious and the table was beautiful. The CCD students that evening got to enjoy some of the delicious baked items and realize what a great saint that St. Joseph is. The First Communion Mass First Communion Mass which will take place on Sunday, April 22 at 12:00 Noon. Please pray for all the students as you reflect on your own First Communion with gratitude. CCD Students: Registration If your child is new to the CCD program you may register by stopping in the Religious Education Office to fill out forms. All new registrations need to be registered members of the parish, will need a copy of the child s baptismal certificate if not baptized at Our Lady of Joy, will need to complete the form choosing your child s class time and day, fill out an emergency contact form and new registration form, If your child is returning next year please turn in your updated Registration papers which were handed out at CCD. These papers are required so your child has a space in the CCD program. If you have any questions please call the Religious Education Office at Appeal for Catechists/Aides/ Fall 2018 It is not too soon to consider volunteering for the Fall of 2018 to help as a CCD aide or catechist. Do you have a want/knack to work with children? Are you kind and compassionate? Consider calling the Religious Education Office at to become a part of this educational ministry. The teaching material is already mapped out for you with lesson plans, activities and crafts. We pray you consider helping out with this special ministry. NEWS ELSEWHERE Father Gilbert Burke Alumni Scholarship The Saint Vincent College Alumni Council is hosting it's annual fundraiser for the Father Gilbert Burke, OSB Alumni Scholarship Fund. This year's celebration will be held on May 19 at the Fred Rogers Center on campus and will be themed "Maifest." A bilingual German Mass at 5pm at Mary, Mother of Wisdom Chapel. RSVP at or call THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER PAGE FIVE