Welcome to Ss. Gregory & Barnabas Parish United In Christ Pastor Rev. Robert L. Ruston Daily Mass: (See inside for locations) 8:00AM Monday 22 S O T S 3, 2017 MISSION STATEMENT As Catholic Christians, we will live to serve God and each other. And do His will as one family united in Faith. We will teach, serve, and be an example to the youth of the parish that they will come to a full understanding of Christ and His plan for their lives. We will nurture the gifts and talents of all parish members and use them wisely for the glory of God. We will compassionately implement the Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy for those in our Parish, Diocese and throughout the world. Through the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we affirm our Communion with Christ and each other. All are welcome. Tuesday Wednesday Friday 6:30PM Thursday Weekend Liturgy: Saturday: 4:00PM (Daisytown) Sunday: 8:00AM (Bon Air) 10:00AM (Daisytown) (September 3rd 11AM Mass resumes) 120 Boltz Street 408 Luzon Avenue Johnstown, PA 15902 Phone: 814-536-6818 E-mail: sgsb925@hotmail.com Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 2:00PM Visit us on the WEB! www.ssgregbar.org Join us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/ groups/ssgregorybarnabas/ Whoever wishes to come a er me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? Mt 16:24b 26 Reconciliation: Saturday: Noon 12:30PM (Daisytown) Saturday: 3:15 3:45PM (Daisytown) Sacrament of Baptism: Parents are to be examples to their children by being registered, active members of the Parish. Please call the rectory office to make arrangements. Sacrament of Marriage: Couples planning to marry are to make arrangements at least nine months prior to their wedding date. Diocesan Guidelines regarding Marriage Preparation must be followed. The Catholic party/parties is/are to be registered, active members in the parish. Anointing of the Sick: Please call the church office if you have a family member or friend in the hospital who would like to receive the Sacraments. The homebound and parishioners in nursing homes should also receive the Sacrament of the Sick and Holy Communion. Parish Membership: New members are always welcome! If you are moving into, within, or out of the Parish, please call the Rectory Office and let us know. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): All who would like more information about membership in the Roman Catholic Church are invited to call the Church Office.
Welcome to SS. Gregory & Barnabas Parish September 3, 2017 WEEKLY SCHEDULE MASS SCHEDULE (Mass Stipend $10) Sunday, Sunday, September 3rd 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Daisytown 11AM Mass Monday, Labor Day OFFICE CLOSED Wednesday, Fr. Bob s Day Off Next Sunday, September 10rd 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Grandparents Day RELIGIOUS ED SCHEDULE CLASS 9:30AM - 10:45AM 9/17 CCD Registra on Daisytown 9:30AM 10:30AM 10/8 REGISTRATION FORMS and payment ($10/per child) Must be turned in to the teacher today. 10/8 F CCD A LOOK AT WHATS AHEAD 9/20 Choir Prac ce begins 9/21 Parish Council Mee ng 9/24 Parish Family Picnic 9/30 GUN RAFFLE M T (SG) 8:00AM (SB) 8:00AM W (SG) 8:00AM T (SG) 6:30PM F (SB) 8:00AM S (SG) 4:00PM S (SB) 8:00AM (SG) 11:00AM Family members are asked to present Offertory Gifts at weekend masses being offered for their loved ones. Leona Flowers by Lew & Jeanne Grecek Christopher Nanna Birthday by Gram & Pap Becky Stiffler by Bob & Dianne Griffin Margaret Moot Birthday 9/11 by Bill & Pam Moot Jennie Kuzak by Jeff & Donna Curtis Andrew Kormanik Birthday 9/12 by Family For the People Frances Rykala Birthday 9/12 by Pat Frankosky & Family Liturgical Reflection The Order of Celebrating Matrimony offers three distinct rituals for celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony. First, there is the order of celebrating Matrimony with Mass; second, there is the order of celebrating Matrimony without Mass; and the Church presents a third ritual for celebrating Matrimony between a Catholic and a Catechumen or a Non-Christian. All three orders contain: scripture and homily, questions of intent addressed to the bride and groom, consent between the man and woman, blessing and giving of rings, universal prayer, Our Father, and Nuptial Blessing. It is the usual custom to have two Catholics married within Mass. Order of Celebrating Matrimony, Chapters I, II, and III, 2016. Monday, September 4, is a Day of Prayer in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. On Labor Day the local church will observe the intention for Human Rights and Equality. Please pray the following for all who seek just and rewarding work. God, full of compassion and love, watch over our brothers and sisters who seek work to meet the needs of their families. Provide labor that offers just wages and dignity of life so all may live comfortably in our day. We pray for employers and employees. On this Labor Day we ask your blessings through Christ our Lord. Amen. 2017 Liturgy Office, Altoona-Johnstown Diocese Through the saving water of Bap sm we welcome E R G to our parish family. We extend our congratula ons to his parents, Ma hew & Natalie; and siblings, Chase & Lainey, Grandfather Tim Goller. May they be assured of our prayers as we help Easton Ridge to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. Dona ons of $150 were made in memory of D T O L By: Donna Keelan & Family September 8 Feast of the Birth of Mary Special days should be celebrated in special ways. Have a Birthday party and say a Hail Mary. Urgent Prayer Request Special Collec on for Hurricane Harvey Relief. We urge everyone to pray for those affected by the storm. Save the date: We will be taking up a second collec on the Weekend of September 9 10. If you are unable to a end that mass and would like to donate you are welcome to place your dona on in an envelope labeled HURRICANE HARVEY checks should be made payable to Ss. Gregory & Barnabas. Those envelopes can be mailed to the office or dropped in the collec on basket over the next three weekends (Sept 2 3, Sept 9 10, Sept 16 17. We must forward the total collected to the diocese by September 22 so the funds can be sent to Catholic Chari es USA which is already assis ng in the areas affected by the storm. All dioceses throughout the country are par cipa ng in this special collec on. We thank you in this me of urgency. Bishop Bartchak extends his thanks to you for your prayers and financial assistance in this me of need.
FROM THE DESK OF FATHER BOB More than likely at some point in life we were, or in the future, will be confronted with the statement: I ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first? How we answer may depend on whether we want to get the bad news out of the way so that we might better appreciate the good news, or vice versa, so that the good news might soften the bad news. In our Gospel account this weekend Jesus delivers the bad news first, that is, He will suffer and die and His followers must also carry their cross and lose their lives for the sake of others. In essence, we must live the bad news before we receive the best news possible, which is that we will then share in the risen life of Jesus for all eternity. Authentic discipleship doesn t require us to seek suffering but being faithful to the words and way of life Jesus gave us by His own example will always lead us through the darkness first. If we only focus on the cost of our following in the way of our Lord, we then become like Peter in our Gospel account this weekend. In light of this our Church honors Mary, His beloved mother, in this month of September as Our Lady of Sorrows. When Mary presented the child Jesus in the Temple forty days after His birth, Simeon told Mary that a sword would pierce her heart. It was on August 10, 2015 that Pope Francis instituted the World Day of Prayer for Creation on September 1st. Even though that date has passed, we are called as Christians to take care of God s creation that has been entrusted to us. We are not God and it is our responsibility to take care of His world. We can take from the bounty of the earth whatever we need for our lives but it also entrusts us with the duty to protect the earth so as to ensure its fruitfulness for generations yet to come. We are the faithful stewards of creation, not the owners. Once again I remind parents of their responsibility that their children faithfully attend religious education classes which begin on Sunday, September 27th. More information will be forth-coming in the next few weeks as to parish expectations and diocesan requirements. LIVE THE LITURGY INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK Even as people of faith we o en find ourselves reasoning our way through our trials and difficul es. It makes a huge difference using our own eyes and not those of God. God knows that we live in an imperfect world filled with suffering, pain, difficul es, disappointments, and death; all part of the mix. Jesus shows us by example that when we encounter hardships God transforms them into something be er. We do not need to despair. God gives us hope. When we view our lives through God s eyes and not our own this gi of hope and transforma on becomes very apparent. We must lose our lives in order to gain them. HOSPITALIZED Connie Ponczek PLEASE, if you have a loved one admitted to the hospital or nursing home contact the office. The hospital may take your church information, but we are not always notified. Fr. Bob likes to get to the hospital in a timely manner, but cannot if he doesn t know. Thanks for your help. PRAYER CHAIN Do you know someone who needs prayers? Please contact Debbie Washington at 536-3616 or dlwashi@hotmail.com to place a name on the parish Prayer Chain! Boxes for requests are also located in the vestibules of our worship sites. PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE FOR ALL SERVING IN THE MILITARY Ryan Wood, Army; Nathan Brezovic; Fr. Frantisek Halka, Army; Major David Dietz, Army; Petty Officer Tony Pinkas, Navy; Second Infantry Brigade & Det 1, Company C, 2nd 104th; Seaman Marina Joy Sumrada, Naval Medicine Training Center Please contact the parish office (536-6818) if we need to add or remove any of our military personnel from this list. Thank you. 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do. Peter had expressed horror at the prophe c words announcing that Jesus suffering and death were imminent. Peter didn t want his friend and teacher to undergo this terrible ordeal. He wanted no such thing ever to happen to his Lord. But Jesus sharply rebuked Peter s response, comparing it to that of the tempter, Satan. Just as tempta on becomes an obstacle to our doing what is right, so Peter was presen ng an obstacle to Christ s mission. Suffering was part of it, like it or not. To deny this difficult element of Christ s work would be to deny the bigger plan of God. And so Jesus rightly told Peter that he wasn t thinking like God thinks. Of course, since we are human, it s only natural that we should think as human beings do. We, like Peter, tend to recoil at the idea of facing unpleasant or painful circumstances. But clearly God some mes allows such situa ons to take place for a greater good. Jesus understood this; even as he prophesied about his death, he also men oned his resurrec on. Today s Gospel challenges us to think as God does by holding both of these elements together. Unlike Peter who only focused on the sad part of the story, we are called to recognize the Resurrec on on the other side of the cross, and to be willing to do whatever is necessary to get there. In fact, Jesus tells us later in this Gospel to take up our cross and follow him. That is not the human way of thinking. It s the Godly way. Our natural response is to reject and scorn the trials and tribula ons that we face, but Jesus wants us to embrace them pa ently and come a er him on the (some mes rough) road to eternal life. 2017 Catholic Ministries Drive Please note the 2017 Catholic Ministries is taking the place of the Annual Catholic Appeal. All 2017 Catholic Ministries envelopes should be given to the of ice via collection basket, walked in or mailed (120 Boltz Street, Johnstown PA 15902) as soon as possible. Also, please do not mail them to the diocese. We like to verify what is sent to the diocese and this allows us to key it into your offering for your Annual Statement for your tax deductions at the end of the year. Please call the of ice and speak with Kristen if you have any questions: 536-6818. Thank you.
Families & the Gospel September 3 Mt. 16:21-27 Relationships live in a careful balance. If a person changes, the balance is altered requiring a shift in the relationship. In today s gospel Jesus announced a change and Peter resisted. Sometimes those we count on for support may actually get in the way. Jesus told Peter: You are an obstacle to me. Frozen Pierogies available. $6/dozen If you would like a dozen or two or three...please leave a message for Janet Pribish at 539 3449. FINANCIAL NEWS Fiscal Year July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 Offertory Totals for the week of August 27, 2017 Weekly Offering $2,560 Misc. Income $168 Votive Candles $22 Building Fund $20 Fuel $10 Total $2,780 Weekly Needs $5,000 8/27 $2,780 (Over/under) $2,220 TV Ministry $2 Catholic Register $262 Retired Priests Medical $65 CMD 2018: $144 The first Girl Scouts mee ng will be Thursday, Sept 7th from 6PM to 7:30PM at St. Gregory' & Barnabas church hall in Daisytown. This mee ng is for any girl from 2nd grade to 12th grade. We will be giving informa on at the mee ng about how to register or renew your daughter's membership into the Girls Scouts of America. (Unlike in the past, there will not be a mee ng designated for registering.) LAY MINISTRY SCHEDULE Liturgy Sept 2/3 Sept 9/10 Sept 16/17 4PM Lector: Sorchilla D EM: B P. Harteis P. Harteis P. Harteis (B: Bread) C L. Menett M. Krawczyk L. Menett (C: Cup) C Sorchilla Servers: Sorchilla 8AM Lector: Rozum BA EM: B Rozum C P. Ledwich C Servers: Rozums 10AM Lector: J. Allison J. Allison D EM: B B. Sweeney 11AM Mass C B. Sweeney resumes C B. Sweeney Sept 3rd Servers: IN THE COMMUNITY: SUB & PIZZA SALE: Cover Hill Ladies Auxiliary, Must pre-order see dates: 1st date pre-order pick up next Saturday Sept 9th; 2nd pre-order date by Sept 30th with pick up on Oct 7th; 3rd pre-order date by Oct. 28th with pick up on Nov 4th. (Phone 243-2987). $6.00 Sub (Onion or No Onion) $5.00 Pizza (Pep or Plain). Pick up time is between 8 to 10AM at Cover Hill Fire Hall. FISH FRY DINNER: The Church of the Transfiguration Fish Fry, Friday, September 8, 2017 from 3:30PM to 6:30PM at the Church Hall, 201 Third St. Conemaugh, PA. Come join us for a nice meal. Take-outs are available by calling the Church Hall at 535-2698. IT S FISH FRY TIME: St. Francis of Assisi will sponsor a Fish Fry on Friday, September 8 from 11:00AM until 6:00PM at the Activity Center, corner of D Street and Barron Avenue. Take outs available by calling 539-3518. No phone orders will be taken after 5:00PM. There will also be a bake sale in conjunction with the Fish Fry. A BLUE MASS: honoring first responders for their service at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 at St John Gualbert Cathedral, Johnstown. This event is open to all police, law enforcement, public safety, firefighters, and EMTs and their families. The Blue Mass celebration will be open to the general public and honors those who serve our community in a most outstanding way as first responders. Anyone wishing to attend, plus those seeking further information, can contact (814) 659-6240 or evyanz@hotmail.com DIVINE MERCY PRAYER GROUP FORMING The first get together of the Divine Mercy Prayer Group will be on September 13th, at 7:00PM, lasting approximately 1 hour at St. Patrick s (Moxham) in the convent building where the Adoration Chapel is located. Bring yourself, a friend and a Rosary. Monthly get togethers will take place the 2nd Wednesday of each month. For more information please call Lolly Kennedy at 814-659-8717 or Cathy Martin at 814-288-1126. CHICKEN BBQ AND BAKE SALE held by The SVDP Family Kitchen on Sunday, September 17, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bishop McCort High School, 25 Osborne Street, Johnstown, PA. Tickets are $10 and include 1/2 bbq chicken, macaroni and cheese, vegetable, cole slaw, roll/butter. Take outs available. For tickets please contact Greg at the Family Kitchen 539-7811 or Georgia at 242-2083. NEEDS for the BBQ & Bake Sale: We are also looking for individuals who are willing to bake items for our bake sale. If anyone is interested in supporting the bake sale, please contact Greg or Georgia and let them know. If you would be interested in volunteering for this event or helping at the family kitchen, again please contact Greg or Georgia.
I D www.dioceseaj.org N F P Does your method of family planning strengthen your emotional intimacy with your spouse?...work with (not against) the gift of your fertility?...nurture a loving relationship with God and the Church?...increase your self-respect and growth as a person/couple? The Billings Method of NFP (www.boma-usa.org or www.familyplanning.net) is the result of decades of scientific research by medical researchers. NFP honors the Church s respect for the unitive and procreative purpose of married love-making. If you haven t checked out NFP, you haven t made an informed choice. Certified diocesan instructors are located throughout our diocese. Introductory presentations to groups also available. Contact our diocesan Family Life Office, 814-886-5551; familylife@dioceseaj.org FAITH & LIGHT Sharing Faith & Friendship with Intellectual Disabled Persons A faith sharing group which also includes family members, caregivers, friends. Meets monthly, Sundays, 1:00-4:00 pm at a handicap accessible location. Call Gaye (814) 472-7317 or Family Life Office (814) 886-5551. www.faithandlight.org; www.faithandlightusaeast.org I? There is hope through Retrouvaille, a Christian peer ministry. Retrouvaille (French for rediscovery ) is Catholic, but open to all couples. See www.retrouvaille.org; for brochure or to talk to couples in our diocese who have used Retrouvaille contact diocesan Family Life Office (814) 886-5551 or familylife@dioceseaj.org Your marriage is meant to be a Sacrament a source of life and energy. You owe it to yourself to heal. K 5 10? A son or daughter, sibling, niece or nephew, or you yourselves...bishop Mark has a message for you! To receive this letter, send the couple s name, mailing address, email and whether married 5 or 10 years to the Family Life Office, 5379 Portage St., Lilly, PA 15938; 814-886-5551; familylife@dioceseaj.org. Be sure to indicate it is for the anniversary letter from Bishop Mark. MARRIAGE PREPARATION SERIES 2017 ~Pre-registration required. Early registration advised some series fill up months in advance. ~2017 COST: $65 per couple (includes all sessions in a series) Fee payable at the first session (check payable to Family Life Office ) Please come 15 minutes early to the first session for registration purposes. ~Cancellation due to weather: For classes in all locations, call the Family Life Office. A taped message will list cancellations. If you can t attend due to driving conditions, call the Family Life Office (814) 886-5551 during office hours (M-F 8:30-4:00) for make-up instructions. Register for a series through the Family Life Office by e-mail (familylife@dioceseaj.org) or call our office at (814-886-5551). Email the form on the next page or provide the information when you call. 2017 Remaining Dates Sept. 13, 20, 27; Wed. 7:00-9:30 pm; St. Francis of Assisi Activity Center 134 Barron Ave. Johnstown Oct. 17, 24, 31; Tues. 7:00-9:30 pm; St. John the Evangelist School Auditorium 116 E. Bishop St. Bellefonte https://www.dioceseaj.org/family-life/marriage-preparation/ LAY ECCLESIAL MINISTRY (CLASSES 2017-2018) Do you have a desire to serve the Church and its mission? A zeal to live a Christian life and the willingness to live and teach as the magisterium teaches? As lay men and women we respond to His call as Believer, as the Lay Faithful and through Lay Ecclesial Ministry. The Office of Adult Enrichment and Lay Eccles/al Ministry has announced classes for 2017-2018 which begin this fall. For class information and registrations forms please visit www.dioceseai.org/lay-ecclesial-ministry or contact us directly at (814) 361-2000 or by email at mheinze@dioceseaj.org. All are welcome/