Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.

Transcription

1 Two horses Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing... Looking into their eyes one could see, one of them was blind. His owner chose not to have him put down, but made a good home for him. This in itself is amazing. If you stood nearby and listened, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse s halter is a small bell. It lets the blind horse know where the other horse is, so he can follow. As you stand and watch these two friends, you ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and slowly walk to the horse with bell on his neck, trusting that he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn t too far behind to hear the bell. Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way... Fall 2017 Good friends are like that... You may not always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I ll listen for yours, and remember... Be kinder than necessary everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly... FOR WE WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT Author Unknown

2 Lead me Lord: my accidental trip to Chimbote, Peru I had the opportunity to travel to Chimbote, Peru earlier this summer as part of a Diocesan Mission trip with the Chimbote Foundation. I continue to process many thoughts and emotions in the weeks since I returned. It s hard to believe I actually travelled so far and back to a world completely different than my own. I am 28 years old and work as a physical therapist at UPMC Mercy Hospital. I grew up at SJN and have heard Fr. Al speak of his missionary experiences in Chimbote numerous times, but I never imagined I would go and see, firsthand, the wonderful work and people there. I still think I went to Chimbote as an accident: a year ago such a trip was not on my radar. I attended the first information meeting in January after I saw a notice in the bulletin. I kept attending the meetings with some doubt as to how my vacation time at work would line up, which trip dates would be chosen, how I could make it work. But as it works out, God wanted me to go; He made everything fall into place. This was no accident; the trip was an empowering experience and now my mission is to share that with others. The preparations for the trip began in January and continued through June. One of the most striking observations I realized, even before I left, was how many people support this cause. As 2 we, the twenty missionaries on teams 4A and 4B, attended monthly planning meetings, it always seemed there was another donation coming in, an anonymous gift, donated handmade girls sundresses, handmade puppets, and many personal monetary gifts. So many of my friends and family attended the Spaghetti Fundraising Dinner which was held in May. It is an incredible feeling to have so much support from those close to you, but also to feel bolstered from people you have never met. I was overwhelmed with love when we boarded the plane to Peru. Chimbote, population around 350,000, is a fairly modern, coastal town about a seven hour drive north of Lima. I had heard numerous stories regarding the depressing living conditions of the poor; as I saw the paved streets and mall with its Walmart-like stores, and it struck me how not everyone is poor, like I had imagined. And that s the second major observation I had: I began to understand how far reaching this mission is. The mission does serve the poorest of the poor, but also offers medical opportunities for everyone in the community- services they would not have access to otherwise. Sisters Margaret Mary and Lillian run the mission, and are two of the most energetic, inspiring, and loving people I have met. They have literally built the clinic from the ground up, from when they arrived in Peru in the 1960s, and have expanded the services so the point of needing more space. (A new, gorgeous building is currently being constructed to offer more offices and room for equipment.) Both sisters, now in their late 70s, are trained nurses and midwives, and were sent to Chimbote to address the high infant mortality rate. Today, the clinic remains centered around the Maternidad Hospital, which provides prenatal classes, parenting classes, labor and delivery, and pediatrician services. In addition, there are numerous physicians that care for adults, including neurology, internal medicine, gynecology, and a dentist (who was born at the Maternidad!). Services are paid for on a sliding scale. If a person is not able to pay, they are seen in the clinic anyway. There is the orphanage where children ages newborn to 7 years old live under the care of multiple staff. The outpatient physical therapy department treats children and adults with numerous health condi- tions. The laboratory holds an excellent reputation, and processes tests for this clinic as well as other private clinics in the area. Visiting nurses complete home visits out in the barrios,

3 continued: Lead me Lord the neighborhoods of shacks and huts where the poorest of the poor live with dirt floors and no roofs. These nurses monitor vitals, make appointments at the clinic, provide clothing and occasionally home improvements. Our group of ten spent ten days in Peru. The youngest member of the group was 17, and the oldest in his 60s. We all have very different backgrounds: a few in healthcare, students, airline pilot, and religious. I did not know anyone prior to our planning sessions and came home with nine new friends who understand the spirit of Chimbote in a way no one else does. Our role in Peru was to help the Sisters in any way they needed, and to come home and spread the message of this mission. We accompanied the nurses on home visits to the barrios, we bought a new paint compressor and painted part of a building at the clinic, we played with and loved the children in the orphanage. I spent some time in the physical therapy clinic observing and providing treatment ideas. Thanks to the generosity of the people of SJN and Fr. Al, along with dona- tions from other parishes, we were able to buy ten new mattresses and bed frames for families living in the barrios, a new paint compressor and painting supplies, a new DVD player for the orphanage, as well as provide money for bus tickets, food, and diapers to those desperately needing those resources. Deacon Rick Caruso also traveled to Chimbote this summer. It is difficult to try and explain Chimbote in a few paragraphs as so many people and events shaped this experience. We will both be presenting insights from our trip on Monday, September 11 at 7:00 PM at SJN; all are invited. For more information about the Chimbote Foundation, visit By: Carolyn Kiliany Read a Good Book Recently? E very so often one comes across a gem of a read that is just too good for a recommendation not to be passed along. Tattoos On The Heart is one of the most thoughtful, funniest, hopeful, saddest, most poignant works of inspiration I ve ever come across. I devoured this book from cover to cover in one sitting, discovering I did not want to put it down. In these times when we often hear so much negativity reported especially about our Catholic church, this book is a refreshing testament to who we are. love through his years of being assigned pastor in one of the poorest, largest gang culture communities of Los Angeles. The book is a series of vignettes about individuals and situations he s encountered that are frequently hilariously funny and yet heartbreaking/heartwarming all at the same time. His writing style is simple, down to earth, and charmingly entertaining. This book will make you reflect about your own life, spirituality, and relationships, and is full of words of wisdom and encouragement that are useful as a reminder to all of us. In short, it will leave you wanting more, and likely searching the internet for more about this author and his mission. This book is worth putting on the to do list. By: Ellen Carlins The author, Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest, details lessons he s learned about life and 3

4 Barbara Matera attends national Convocation of catholic leaders Did you know that the Diocese of Pittsburgh has had the greatest number of Cardinals of any American city? Did you know that many of priests are serving as bishops in cities around the United States? It was no surprise to me after attending the Convocation of Catholic Leaders from July 1-4 at the Orlando Convention Center. This first-ever event, called by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, included 150 bishops, each of whom brought a diverse delegation from their diocese; and groups representing 200 lay Catholic movements that had been invited to attend. I attended as part of the team for the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. These 3,500 people were called together to pray, plan, and converse about Pope Francis s desire for evangelization that goes to the peripheries of society. Each team was asked to meet before, during, and after the Convocation to evaluate the effectiveness of their current efforts at evangelization and to think about what people they were not even noticing, the people living on the fringes. Breakout sessions helped participants to share what they were doing, and to discern where they were not doing enough: for people with disabilities and mental illness, immigrants, families that are homeless, youth and young adults, people with same-sex attraction and so on. Each day there was a panel discussion on a theme, starting with the need for the Church to be unified and joyful before it can evangelize others. The priest-moderator for the panel for this discussion and all events was Bishop Edward Burns of the Diocese of Dallas, one of Pittsburgh s native sons. Cardinal Donald Wuerl, formerly bishop of Pittsburgh and now Archbishop of Washington, D.C., was the keynote speaker for the entire event, speaking on the second day. The presider and homilist for the final liturgy was Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, founding pastor of our neighboring Sts. John & Paul Parish in Franklin Park, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and current President of the U.S. Conference for Catholic Bishops. As I boarded a 5:30 AM shuttle to get to the airport for my return trip, someone who looked familiar sat next to me in the back seat. It was Bishop Paul Bradley of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who had served at St. Sebastian in the North Hills and had been Administrator of the Diocese of Pittsburgh after Bishop Wuerl was sent to D.C. and before Bishop Zubik was named the next bishop of Pittsburgh. He asked me if I was part of the Diocese of Pittsburgh delegation; when I told him I represented CGS, he said, Oh, we have Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as part of our elementary schools in Kalamazoo. He commented on how the catechesis is rooted in forming a relationship with Christ, something that had been promoted at the Convocation. He added that the formation for catechists was quite good, too. We had just spent four days talking to others about CGS, showing them materials from the atrium, trying to interest bishops and diocesan directors in this catechesis, and here was Bishop Bradley extolling our method and formation! CGS spends a lot of time on the peripheries serving the poorest of the poor as we give missionary courses to the Missionaries of Charity; offering atrium sessions in the migrant fields of Northwest Ohio; and serving people with disabilities, usually through full inclusion. But we thought of peripheries we may have missed or underserved, including children in homeless shelters and hospitals. We will continue to meet as a team and make plans to evangelize in places we may have overlooked. If you are one of our many trained CGS catechists, perhaps you would like to join us in this effort. By: Barbara Matera 4 Saint John Neumann Mission Trip to Queens, NY.

5 Raising Teenagers Isn t Easy Your parish is here to help support you in raising your teenagers. Not only by offering youth group, retreats, mission trips, social and service events, but also with Parent Life. Parent Life is a website (ltparentlife.com) where you will find incredible content to help you through the very challenging and blessed years of raising teenagers. You ll get access to ideas, tips, and information on a variety of topics that will bless you, your marriage, and your family. You ll find articles on road trips, beer, movies, bagels and pierogies, and helicopter parenting. Don t miss the videos on confession, happiness, the Resurrection, and parent/teen conflicts. Use it, abuse it, so you don t lose it! You can log in with our parish code: jjp15237 Want to keep your teens connected? Sign up for activity updates sent right to your phone. Text the word Encounter to the number and always know what s available for your high schooler. You can also find info at By: Julie Amatangelo Youth Religious Education opportunities at Saint John Neumann CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Have you ever wondered what Jesus was trying to tell us when he said the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, a precious pearl or a woman making bread? These are some of the mysteries children (and adults) ponder in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The responses the children have as they wonder are amazing and are always challenging their Catechists to deepen their own relationship with God. FAITH FORMATION REGISTRATION All Saint John Neumann parishioners should register their children ages three through eighth grade for Faith Formation. We have so much to offer them! Don t miss out on the opportunity to provide your children with the chance to deepen their relationship with God, strengthen their faith, make new friends and prepare for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. Whether you are registering for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (age three thorugh sixth grades), Ignite (seventh and eighth grades), Encounter (nineth thorugh twelevth grades) or the Family/ Home School model of religious education offered through Sts. John and Paul, please register directly online via the Saint John Neumann website. Session days and times are assigned on a first come first served basis. If you have any questions about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, please contact Kelly Reed at (412) , ext. 16 or kreed@stjohnneumannpgh.org. If you have questions about Ignite or Encounter, please contact Julie Amatangelo at (412) , ext. 15 or julie@sjnyouth.org. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We are always looking for new catechists, classroom aides and hall monitors to assist during Good Shepherd sessions. We have many days and times that might fit into your schedule. You do not need to be a parent or grandparent to help out! Contact Kelly Reed at (412) , ext. 16 or kreed@stjohnneumannpgh.org to find out how you can help! By: Kelly Reed 5

6 YOU ARE THE VOICE He who sings, prays twice is a popular statement made by Saint Augustine of Hippo. What did he mean? It tells one that praying keeps us connected to God our maker in worship and praise. However, singing adds glamor to this connection of a building relationship with this same God. Thus, one uncovers the depth in the joy of one s heart and the happiness because of experiencing Christ. Yes, one has encountered God in a song. It is sung prayer. Now the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services in conformity with the Church norms, the voice of the faithful may be heard, (CCC 1158). Thus, the Church is bold in declaring that it is our Christian duty to partake as we celebrate Jesus Christ in the Mass with prayer and singing. This describes how people feel after an evening of prayer and adoration. Through experiences like AWAKEN and XLT, hundreds of people in our parish and surrounding area have shared with us a desire to have a regular time of adoration and joyful prayer with our Lord. So this fall 6 The Saint Cecilia Adult Choir at Saint John Neumann At Saint John Neumann, we are blessed with a congregation that fulfills this Church teaching. It is also blessed with the active presence of the music ministry headed by Jessica Bucci. It is comprised of the following groups:- St. Cecilia Adult Choir Cantor Children Choir Spirit Ensemble Group Resurrection Choir New members are always welcome as the more the merrier we are as we raise our voices in sung prayers to Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Eucharist. So, for you with the tug in your heart as well as you who wants to try to know one s gift, call Jessica Bucci (412) x19 or jbucci@ stjohnneumannpgh.org By: Onome Omabele OPEN INVITATION TO COME AND SEE This Catholic Church that we cherish holds many treasures. Scripture and tradition and liturgy hold us together. The greatest treasure is the people. The journey of faith is not made alone. Everyone is invited to come and see the goodness of the Lord. Maybe you or someone you know has been searching for a deeper relationship with God a search for meaning and hope. Anyone who has never been baptized or who has been baptized in another faith tradition and wants to explore this God source of love that we have come to know through history and mystery, is especially welcome to come and see. We ll take the time to sort out the questions in a casual setting. No obligations or hard sell, just friend to friend. So invite a friend and share the treasure. An informal meet and greet on Sunday, Sept 17 with wine and cheese will start our journey. Can you spread the word? Can you come? Are you interested in hearing more? Call Barb Stokes or Fr. Al to RSVP or just to get more information. We treasure you! By: Barb Stokes Relaxed, Renewed, Redeemed = RESTORE! we are introducing RESTORE, an evening of Praise and Worship music provided by our Encounter Music Ministry, a witness by a fellow SJN parishioner, an inspiring message and, of course, time in adoration with our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Fall lineup includes Julie Amatangelo, Victoria Sheridan, Nick Sciarappa and Gary Fritsch, who will share stories and messages of faith, hope and joy. RESTORE dates: Tuesdays: September 26, October 24, November 28, December 19. By: Gary Fritsch

7 Do s and Donuts A new vision of hospitality at SJN In Matthew s Gospel, Jesus instructs us to feed the hungry. At SJN, we have always taken this very literally on Hospitality Sundays. These have been a great time for us to not only have a little food, but also share some time in fellowship with one another. This year, we hope to extend our hospitality beyond our doors, by highlighting, on each Hospitality Sunday, a few ministries where we reach out to our community and beyond as we seek to follow Jesus instruction through works of corporal and spiritual mercy. Change surrounds us. So true. You can see the change, sense the change and sometimes, even soar with a change! It s amazing. Nothing stays the same. Deep down inside we know that we can be more. It s almost the way that God calls us to seek holiness a union with the Lord. For God is the One who is so much more and loves us each step of the way as we change. Our Monday School this year hopes to emphasize the wondrous things that happen to us when we embrace change. Superb speakers will share their stories and the We will provide some displays, information on the impact of the ministry, what it s like to be involved and the means to get there. All while we enjoy our favorite breakfast treats, and each other s company. At our last Hospitality Sunday, we featured three ministries that were a big part of Andy James career at SJN. We will continue this at future hospitality Sundays beginning in the 4th quarter of By: Gary Fritsch MADE FOR CHANGE outpouring of grace that accompanied their experience. Not always the easiest times of our lives nor the events we planned, but always a journey with the Lord. You have a story too so come and journey together this year by reflecting on these times of change and growth. Start on Monday, September 11 at 7 PM with Deacon Rick and Carolyn Kiliany. They traveled on separate mission trips to Peru this summer. It changed them and they want to tell you about it. Then come every other week for September 25 Father Scott on life changes, October 9 Career Changes, October 23 Father John Marcucci on Scripture Changes, November 13 Appalachia Changes Seen Through the Women, November 27 Retreat Changes and, last but not least, on December 11 reflect on Moving Changes. By Christmas, let s accept that God made us for change this year and always! By: Barb Stokes DON T MISS THESE HAPPENINGS AT SJN! September Ignite Kick-Off Hospitality Sunday Open House for the Good Shepherd Atriums Monday School for Adults - Peru Changes and More FN2- Family Social Event Catechectical Sunday Beginning week of Religious Education Sessions Encounter Kick-Off Evening of Reflection for Confirmation Candidates/ Sponsors or Parents October Parish Picnic November 1 11 Feast of All Saints Good Shepherd Family Mass Marriage Prep for Couples Appalachia Wine Dinner December 3 10 Blessing of Pets Celebration of Confirmation Fall Retreat for Teens Feast of Christ the King Advent Begins! Sharing Tree 7

8 2230 Rochester Road Pittsburgh, PA NonProfit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Pittsburgh, PA Permit 243 PARISH PICNIC Mark your calendar now for October 1 at 3:00 PM. The parish picnic is really special this year as we will be celebrating a special anniversary of a really special person at SJN. Be there to help make it special. Place to be announced so follow in the bulletin or the website. See you there!!! When it comes to serving others Don t Whine, Wine! One of our pain-free fundraisers for our Appalachia Mission. You enjoy great food and wine combinations, and our brothers and sisters in Preston County get help in making their homes dry and safe when they are not physically or financially able to do it on their own. Convenient After 5:30 mass on Nov. 11th You might say we are turning Wine and Bread into the hands and feet of Christ. Save the Date!