Saint Gertrude Parish A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust 303 Franklin Ave Vandergrift, Pennsylvania 15690 February 3, 2019 The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Fr. James Loew, O.S.B. Pastor, (724) 568-2331 Fax: (724) 568-2030 Fr. Michael J. Sciberras Senior Priest Active Sr. Mercy Francis, S.M.I., Pastoral Minister Katie Tylinski (724) 212-6740 Regional Director of Faith Formation ktylinski@dioceseofgreensburg.org Mr. James Peterman Assistant to the Regional Director of Faith Formation (724) 568-2331 or (724) 845-8191. Cardinal Maida Academy Mrs. Patricia Visnick, Principal School Phone (724) 568-3304 School Fax (724) 567-1900 Baptisms By appointment. Baptismal preparation is necessary. Call for classes Marriage Arrangements must be made at least 8 months in advance. No marriage dates will be given until meeting with the priest and all preparation is ready. Sunday Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil 4:00 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. Weekday Mass Schedule Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 a.m. Wednesday 9:00 a.m. During School Year Holy Day Mass Schedule Holy Day ~ 9:00 am, 6:00 pm Office Hours Monday-Thursday 9:00 am - 4:00 Friday Closed Confessions Saturday ~ 3:15-3:45 pm Pastoral Council Mission Statement We, the partnered parish communities of St. Gertrude and Christ the King, are faith-filled Catholics who have been called by our Baptism and empowered by the Good News of Jesus Christ to be Church for all. Although made up of multicultural faith communities we are ever united by our common faith. We are committed to building up the Body of Christ through Word, Worship, Evangelization, Leadership, Service, Stewardship, and Fellowship. Dedicated to deepening our love of Christ and one another, together we strive to become a living reflection of Christ for our region. We willingly accept our obligation to be the Light of the World for others and in that spirit we promise to use our resources to practice gospel justice, to heal divisive wounds among God s People and to join with all people of good will in addressing the spiritual and physical needs of all.
ST. GERTRUDE Treasures from Our Tradition The song of the angels, Holy, Holy, Holy, resounds from our lips at every Mass. There was a widespread belief in the first religions of the world that God stirred creation into being by a word, a song, a musical note. Music and a sense of God s presence have always been inseparable. In the liturgy, your voice is invited into this song as the priest names the reasons for our praise. Heaven and earth are full of your glory, and we are not passive onlookers, but participants in this glory. Catholic prayer no longer assigns this angelic hymn to a choir, but gives it to you to sing. Even if your voice is thought to be suitable only for a well-insulated shower stall, you are called into this song. We are born to sing--just listen to a baby testing the full range of newly-discovered vocal abilities. Soon we get shushed and hushed into quiet, and given lots of messages that our voices are unwanted, and that we need to raise our hands in order to be heard. All of that is overturned in liturgy, the place where God waits to hear us come alive in the song of all creation. In heaven, everyone s in the choir; why not start practicing now? Readings for the Week Monday: Heb 11:32-40; Ps 31:20-24; Mk 5:1-20 Tuesday: Heb 12:1-4; Ps 22:26b-28, 30-32; Mk 5:21-43 Wednesday: Heb 12:4-7, 11-15; Ps 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18a; Mk 6:1-6 Thursday: Heb 12:18-19, 21-24; Ps 48:2-4, 9-11; Mk 6:7-13 Friday: Heb 13:1-8; Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9; Mk 6:14-29 Saturday: Heb 13:15-17, 20-21; Ps 23:1-6; Mk 6:30-34 Sunday: Is 6:1-2a, 3-8; Ps 138:1-5, 7-8; 1 Cor 15:1-11 [3-8, 11]; Lk 5:1-11 Today s Readings First Reading -- I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD (Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19). Psalm -- I will sing of your salvation (Psalm 71). Second Reading -- If I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 12:31 -- 13:13 [13:4-13]). Gospel -- No prophet is accepted in the prophet s hometown (Luke 4:21-30). Lancaster Two Shows & More (Sponsored by St. Margaret Mary Church Social Committee) Reserve your seat by stopping at SMM Church parish office to complete the registration form. If you sign up with payment by February 18 you will receive a $20 discount. Only 14 seats remain available. Trip includes: One Night Accommodation, Three Meals (Dutch Apple Theater, Breakfast at Hotel, Lunch at Miller s) Jesus at Sight & Sound Theatre Joseph & Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater Kitchen Kettle Village, Wheatland, President Buchanan s Home $398 per person, double occupancy - $470 per person, single occupancy - $388 per person, triple occupancy (room has 2 beds, no cots available). If you re a single and would like to join another single, please let us know. Any questions, please email Arleen at apavetto1900@gmail.com or call 724-335-9788. An Ongoing Mission In his hometown synagogue, Jesus neighbors are amazed by his words. Nevertheless, they remind each other, Is this not Joseph s son? Surely the people know who he is. The carpenter s son. The young man who had learned in this very synagogue. The boy down the street. Conflict arises as Jesus begins to define himself in a new way. When he compares himself to the ancient prophets Elijah and Elisha the tensions grow. The tensions multiply when Jesus begins to tell of a new mission for God s people: the good news of the scriptures is intended for all. In his famous passage from the First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us of the eternal nature of love. Love does not come to an end. In today s readings, we are reminded that, like love, Jesus mission cannot be contained. Jesus slips through the crowd of persecutors and moves on to new challenges. We are called to this same perseverance in the name of love.
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 3, 2019 Memorial Candle Robert & Genevieve Foreman By Family February 9th & 10th 4:00p.m. ~ Maria Safranyos Ashley Scanga 8:00a.m. ~ Kyle & Peter Poremski 10:30a.m. ~ Lauren Paullet Rylie Hoch Collection January 26th & 27th Envelopes ~ $3,616.00 Children s ~ $1.00 Loose ~ $341.75 Church Restoration ~ $5.00 Utilities ~ $55.00 Saint Gertrude Men s Club Anyone wishing to join the St. Gertrude's Men's Club should put their $5 dues in an envelope and place it in the collection basket at mass. Please label the envelope "Men's Club Dues" and include your name, address, and phone number with the dues. Men's Club meetings are the first Mondays of the month at 7 PM in the church hall. The next fund raising event will be the annual Night at the Races on March 23rd; if you would like to help please attend the next meetings on February 4th and March 4th. Catholic Daughters of the Americas Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court 1008, will meet Tuesday, February 5th in the Church Social Hall. All members urged to attend. Spaghetti Dinner Ministries asked to provide dessert and/or work at the February 14, spaghetti dinner: Mercy Lunch and St. Vincent depaul St. Vincent DePaul The St. Gertrude Conference of St. Vincent de Paul will meet on Wednesday, February 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the church hall. All members are urged to attend. National Catholic Youth Conference The National Catholic Youth Conference, a biennial, threeday experience of prayer, community and empowerment for Catholic teenagers, will be held in Indianapolis Nov. 21-23 this year. Register for the diocesan trip at your parish by Jan. 30. Information is at www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/ NCYC. ChristLife The mission of the ChristLife series is to lead participants to a life-giving personal relationship with Jesus and the Church. Entering into worship together with other believers and encountering the living person of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit is an essential part of that relationship. Once we, as Christians, define who we are in Jesus Christ, we are given authority to share Christ with others. You are cordially invited to join the ChristLife series at Christ the King Church. All gatherings will be on Sunday afternoons, from 3 PM to 5 PM. The series will start on February 24th and will run through April 7th. Come, grow a closer, more intimate relationship with God! Registration forms can be found in the back of the church. CD of A Cookbooks Only 3 cookbooks left! Valentine s Day is right around the corner! How about a nice CD of A cookbook for a gift for your honey? Only $12.00 now reduced from $15.00. The cookbook is full of delicious recipes. Contact Michele Jones At 724-567-3325 Or Kathy Policicchio At 724-777-1220.
Calendar of Faith Forma on Sessions (Grades K-5) for February (6:00-7:30 PM) at St. James February 10 th & 17 th Be sure to check KDKA-TV for snow cancella ons. Faith Forma on makeup session for grades Kindergarten 5 th will take place on Sunday, February 24 th from 6:15-7:30 PM. FUSED 4 ~ February LIFETEEN/EDGE CALENDAR (EDGE: Grades 6 th -8 th /LIFETEEN: grades 9 th 12 th ~ St. James Parish Underground/Upper Rooms ~ 6:00-7:30 PM) February: 3 rd No Session ~ 10 Session ~ 17 Session ~ 24 Youth Mass Extra ac vi es: February 2 nd Snow tubing at Hidden Valley (in place of EDGE/LIFETEEN), February 15 th Winter Jam The deadline for the Na onal Catholic Youth Conference has been extended. Please contact the Youth Ministry Office as soon as possible if you are interested in a ending or would like more informa on. Don t miss out on this life-changing experience! A en on 6 th -12 th graders: Winter Jam (Chris an music s largest annual tour) at PPG Paints Arena will take place on Friday, February 15 th. Cost is only $10 (we will pay for the remaining $5). Please let us know that you are coming and permission slips and cash are due by Sunday, February 10 th. We will meet at St. James Church parking lot at 5:00 PM and will carpool. Chaperones with clearances needed. You can earn money towards Youth Ministry events by volunteering at BINGO at Our Lady Queen of Peace on a Youth Ministry Sunday. First come-first served. Star ng Sunday, January 28 th text no fica ons will be ending for Verizon Wireless customers who use Remind.com. To get messages, you ll need to turn on smartphone or email no fica ons instead. Instruc ons: h ps:// help.remind.com/hc/en-us/ar cles/360002396740 Please help us to spread the word! A en on 6 th -12 th graders: Thursday, March 28 th Kiski High School Musical, The Sound of Music. Please register no later than this Thursday, February 28 th. Cost: FREE! Loca on: Kiski Area High School. The show begins at 7:30 PM. Please meet at the Hyde Park King s parking lot promptly at 6:45PM. Permission slips are required when you register if you have not yet completed one. We will contact you before we leave Kiski Area High School so that you know when to pick up your child at King s. If we reserve a cket for you and you cancel, then you will owe the church the cost of the cket. Hope that you can join us! Chaperones with clearances are needed. Service opportunity! Volunteers in grades 9 th -12 th are needed to help with the Spaghe Dinner at St. Gertrude s on Thursday, March 14 th from 3:45 PM-6:30 PM. Please sign up by Wednesday, March 6 th.
Saturday, February 2, Vigil The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00p.m. Irene Boland Sunday, February 3, The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00a.m. Living and Deceased of Our Parish 10:30a.m. Earnest & Eva Supansic Monday, February 4, Weekday Louis & Mary Ann Scanga Tuesday, February 5, St. Agatha Mass At Christ the King Wednesday, February 6, St. Paul Miki 9:00a.m. Frank & Kathy Bruno Thursday, February 7, Weekday Mass at Christ the King Friday, February 8, Weekday Alice Calderone Saturday, February 9, Weekday Mass at Christ the King Saturday, February 9, Vigil, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00p.m. Steve Pasterick Sunday February 10, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00a.m. Rich & Angie Loperfito 10:30a.m. Living and Deceased of Our Parish