Saint Thomas A Becket Roman Catholic Church A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust 139 Gill Hall Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025 MAY 25, 2014 DEVOTION: Infant of Prague Novena: Tuesday after Mass. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena: Thursday after Mass. SACRAMENT OF PENANCE: Saturday 4:00 p.m., or anytime by appointment. SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Available to the chronically or seriously ill. Call the Parish office. MISSION STATEMENT We, the faith community of Saint Thomas A Becket are a suburban family-oriented parish founded in 1957 that continues to grow in spiritual gifts and blessings. These blessings are inherited through our baptism and empowered by the Holy Spirit to share, to witness and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Enriched by the Sacraments, rooted in the Eucharist, we humbly seek to support the foundations of family and faith in our parish and surrounding community, particularly, serving those most in need so that Christ s love might be more abundant in all our lives. Saturday Sunday Daily Holy Days MASS SCHEDULE 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m., 10:15 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. See Schedule in Bulletin PARISH STAFF Pastor Reverend Daniel J. Maurer 412-655-2885 Deacon Gerard Como D.R.E. & Pre-School Sister Dolores Ann, SCN 412-653-4322 Social Service Minister Sister Mary Judith, SCN 412-655-2885 Minister of Music Carol Accetta PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. PHONE 412-655-2885 FAX 412-655-0615 Convent 412-655-4122 Coffee Shoppe 412-655-9966 Diocese of Pittsburgh Abuse Hotline: 1-888-808-1235 SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: Baptism is celebrated on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. Parents are required to participate in one Baptism Preparation Session offered during the months of January, April, August and October. Please call the Parish for the date and time of the Session. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: The Sacrament of Marriage is celebrated on Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. Couples must meet with a priest at least six months prior to their wedding date. No date can be confirmed until this meeting. Couples are required to attend an approved pre-cana preparation program. (RCIA) RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: The Easter Season welcomes new Catholics or those adult Catholics who wish to complete their Sacrament of Initiation (Holy Communion, Confirmation) into full communion with the church. This is a process of prayer, study and decision. Any adult wishing to inquire further should contact the Parish office. SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS: Please call the Pastor if you feel you might be called to the Priesthood or diaconate.
ST. THOMAS A BECKET JEFFERSON HILLS, PA For the Week of May 25, 2014 It is a Holy and Wholesome Thought to Pray for the Dead. Saturday, May 24 5:00 PM... Anthony Milas (Ann Milas Family) Sunday, May 25, Sixth Sunday of Easter 8:00 AM... Youngwirth Family (Family) 10:15 AM... For the People of the Parish 12:00 NN... Al & Laura Billy (Jack & Terry Soffa) Monday, May 26, St. Philip Neri, Priest 9:00 AM... Francis Paul Capetta (Teresa Capetta Sestito & Family) Tuesday, May 27 9:00 AM... Carmen Uy (Children) Wednesday, May 28 9:00 AM... Tom Corso (Pat O Halek) 4:30 PM... Conrad Mikula (Vilma & Bimbo Cecconi) Thursday, May 29, The Ascension of the Lord 9:00 AM... For the People of the Parish 7:00 PM... Ray & Barb Baum (Grandchildren) Friday, May 30 9:00 AM... Mildred Humphrey (Angie Zalakar) Saturday, May 31 5:00 PM... 45th Wedding Anniversary of Richard & Nancy Starr Sunday, June 1, Seventh Sunday of Easter 8:00 AM... Dick McNelis (McNelis Family) 10:15 AM... Henry Godlewski (Wife, Claudia) 12:00 NN... For the People of the Parish ST. THOMAS A BECKET PRAYER GROUP The Prayer Group meets on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. in Room 7 of the School Building across Liturgical Ministers June 1, 2014 Lectors: Sat. 5:00 p.m. M. G. Reynolds Sun. 8:00 a.m. M. Bohnert Sun. 10:15 a.m. M. Fickley Sun. 12:00 p.m. T. Aceto Extra Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Sat. 5:00 p.m. Sister Judith-C. Good-R. Good Sun. 8:00 a.m. C. Smith-T. Smith-C. Yanick Sun. 10:15 a.m. R. Dischner-M. Donohue-T. Donohue Sun. 12:00 p.m. Deacon Gerry-S. Baughman-D. Ging Acolytes: Sat. 5:00 p.m. L. Good-Z. Good-M. Petrick Sun. 8:00 a.m. M. McLay-A. Richard-S. Richard Sun. 10:15 a.m. F. Pasqualini-H. Pasqualini-C. Robis Sun. 12:00 p.m. A. Aceto-M. Cathell-R. Gress HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD MASS SCHEDULE: Wednesday, May 28th at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 29th at 9:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. STEWARDSHIP OF THE LORD S TREASURE Date Total Offertory 5/18/14 Collected at Masses $7,775.50 On-line Giving $1,365.00
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 25, 2014 From Fr. Dan. This Thursday, May 29, is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, and is a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning, as Catholics, it should be a priority to gather with the other members of the Body of Christ on this day, the same as on Sundays, and celebrate the Mass. OUR SPECIAL MASS SCHEDULE FOR THAT OCCASION IS: WEDNESDAY, 5/28 AT 4:30 PM; & THURSDAY, 5/29 AT 9:00 AM & 7:00 PM. What better way to recognize the awesome significance of that event, as Jesus took our humanity into heaven, then to share in the means by which heaven touches earth in the Eucharist. Celebrating the Mass that day is also a special way to begin a prayer vigil leading up to Pentecost! There are nine days between the time Jesus ascended back to the Father and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost. This is the foundation of the ancient Catholic prayer tradition of the NOVENA (from the latin for nine ). To devote time to prayer over those nine days, asking God for the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds, can have amazing results look at the transformation it brought about in the lives of the apostles! (see Acts 2:1-47). There are several traditional Holy Spirit Novenas around, some with unique prayers for each of the nine days. Adjacent is a sample of a prayer that one could use during those nine days, to ask our Heavenly Father for a more powerful experience of the Holy Spirit in our lives: A Holy Spirit Novena Prayer (for May 30 thru June 7) Heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus fill me completely with your Holy Spirit that I may overflow with your abundant love. Seal me with this same Spirit and anoint me so that, guided with the Spirit s power, I may aspire today to that which you have purposed for me. I pray that this day I will walk with you as your child in making decisions after your Heart. I pray for uprightness in my relationships with you and others. Father grant me the grace to work with you in bringing into right order my emotions and passions. And give me strength to follow through with firm purpose the plans you lay before me, even in the face of difficulty and trial. Finally, Father, fill me with gifts from on high holy fear of offending you, true piety, in my relationships godly fortitude, docility to godly counsel, knowledge to conduct my life aright, understanding and perspective of the way things fit together and wisdom to guide my thoughts, words and conduct. I pray that you bring me more into the likeness of your Son, Christ Jesus in all things through the power of the Holy Spirit. All this I ask in the Name of Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A Special THANK YOU to the volunteers who recently planted the beautiful flowers in the islands of our parking lot! As I understand it, the original landscaping plans for the new church included grass on those islands. It worked in the larger ones, but never took hold in the small islands. When I arrived here last July the islands already looked bad, but it wasn t a good time of year to do planting. However, thanks to a group of gardeners, who apparently don t mind getting their hands dirty with spring planting, we now have great looking flowers and bushes in those spaces and it really adds something to the front of our church! Another area still to be beautified is the section from the main doors of the church to the doors near the parish offices (the section with the 3 small trees and the statue of St. Thomas A Becket). The area around the trees was originally intended to be covered in pachysandra (an attractive ground-cover, when it catches on). But it turns out that the soil and conditions there were not conducive to such a plant. Plans are in the works to reconfigure that area and make it attractive and picturesque. With the addition of more/different plants, a water feature, benches, and possibly an additional statue, hopefully it may be a place where people, on our nice spring, summer and fall days, may wish to meet, talk, and pray.
ST. THOMAS A BECKET HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS Next Sunday, June 1st at the 12:00 Noon Mass, we invite our seniors in public and catholic high school to be present at this Mass. We give special recognition to our seniors as they graduate to a new level of growth. We ask our Almighty God to bless you and guide you that you may carry out His will and find success in your new endeavors. May you remain faithful to God and your Church. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR PARENTS CONSIDERING BECOMING A CATECHIST St. Thomas A Becket Religious Education serves the children and families of this parish offering a program securely based on the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Our program enrolls children in grades 1 to 8 and through high school. We prepare children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. Each year we recruit generous and faithfilled adults to be catechists to our children. If you feel God may be calling you to bring your faith to children as a catechist, or a classroom aide, please call the School office at 412-653-4322 or 412-655-4122. We welcome anyone who wishes to share the Catholic faith with children to come and talk with us. THE BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN IS HERE AGAIN This campaign is from the Pregnancy Resource Center. The baby bottles are available in the Narthex of the church. Please take a baby bottle and fill it with your loose change to help save a life. This ministry is vital in our community. Thank you for the support you give to this program. ATTENTION: ONLINE GIVERS Last year we updated our Online Giving link from our website, to a new address. If you have saved the link in your favorites or bookmarked the link, you need to go in and update your link as it will not be automatically redirected after June 1, 2014. this WILL NOT AFFECT any donations you have scheduled, your account information or anything else in your account. It will, however, affect any bookmarks or favorites you may have created on your computer. We do ask next time you access your Online Giving account, you go to the church website and click on the new Online Giving logo and bookmark this new address. If you need assistance, call the online help line at 1-800-348-2886 ext. 4. JEFFERSON HILLS, PA SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Pesanka upon the baptism of their son, Christopher John. Mr. & Mrs. David Uhl upon the baptism of their son, Thomas Christopher. We wish the Pesanka and Uhl families all of God s blessings. The Vigil Light at the Tabernacle in the Church will burn this week in loving memory of Aaron Slavka, from Lynette & Sue. The Vigil Light in the Daily Mass Chapel will burn this week in loving memory of Florence Gaydos, from the Funeral Choir. HOME WITH THE LORD Heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Florence Gaydos, mother of Donna Nartker and Evelyn Budzisqewski, mother of Maria Fox of our Parish. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed be embraced by the Heavenly Father unto everlasting life. May Florence and Evelyn rest in the peace of the Lord. BINGO EXTRAVAGANZA This special night of Bingo will be held at the Parish Festival on Friday, June 27th at 7:00 p.m. The cost is $20 per ticket (only 100 tickets will be sold). The ticket entitles a person to 2 cards for all 12 standard bingo games and the 13th final grand prize game. Additional cards can be purchased for $5 per card. 3 Special Bingo Games Will be played for 50% of the card sales. Cards for Specials are $3 for the first 2 cards and $1 for each additional card.
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 25, 2014 MEMORIAL DAY MASS Memorial Day is just that...a day that asks us to remember those who have gone before us. For more than one hundred years, Americans have honored those who have died defending our country with Memorial Day Services. We join our friends in honoring all of these heroes for our country. Please plan to join us as a family to salute these martyrs of freedom by attending the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Monday, May 26, 2014. PRAYER FOR MEMORIAL DAY Father of all nations and ages, we recall the day when our country claimed its place among the family of nations. For what has been achieved, we give You thanks: for the work that still remains, we ask Your help. Grant that under Your Providence our country may share Your blessings with all the Peoples of the earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen. GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY AND OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN! 2014 FESTIVAL DATES Please mark your calendar for our Festival dates: June 26, June 27 and June 28 SKY JUMPERS ARE BACK!!! They will help kick off our festival by dropping in on opening night, Thursday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. The tickets are on sale ($10.00 each) for the prizes of $250, $500 & $1,000. Tickets may be purchased in the Parish Office Monday through Friday. We need your help to make this a success. Could you sell some Sky Jump tickets to your friends and relatives? If so, please call Sister M. Judith at 412-655-2885 ext. 303. Thanks and God bless you. DID YOU RETURN YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS Please return them as soon as you sell or purchase them. Place them in the collection basket in an envelope marked PARISH RAFFLE. PIC-A-TIC GIFT BASKETS NEEDED FOR THE FESTIVAL We are most grateful to the families or individuals who made the beautiful baskets for the 2013 Festival. We look forward to having the same for this year s Festival. There are flyers on the table in the church narthex, if you are interested in contributing to this booth. Please take one from the table. Baskets may be brought to Room 6 of the School Building after Memorial Day. Thank you! FESTIVAL BOOTH SPONSORS Another important part of the success of the Festival is the business people and parishioners who become BOOTH SPONSORS by making a contribution of $150.00 to help defray the cost of the gifts, etc. in the booths. If you are interested in making such a donation, please contact Sister M. Judith at 412-655-2885 ext. 303. Thank you. GIFTS NEEDED FOR THE SUPER AUCTION In the past, Kathy LoPresti, Cheryl White and their helpers always did a great job in presenting beautiful gifts for this raffle. We want to continue this, so we are in need of contributions of gifts or monetary donations. VOLUNTEERS WILL BE NEEDED Any time that you can give will be greatly appreciated and will make our Festival truly a success. Please sign up!