Welcome to Ss. Gregory & Barnabas Parish United In Christ Pastor Rev. Robert L. Ruston Daily Mass: (See inside for locations) 8:00AM Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday 6:30PM Thursday Weekend Liturgy: Saturday: 4:00PM (Daisytown) Sunday: 8:00AM (Bon Air) 10:00AM (Daisytown) 16 S O T J 23, 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. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. - Mt 13:41-43a 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/ 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 July 23, 2017 WEEKLY SCHEDULE Sunday, July 23rd 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Bon Air 8AM Mass Daisytown 10AM Mass Wednesday, Fr. Bob s Day Off Next Sunday, July 30th 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time A LOOK AT WHAT S AHEAD 7/18 Pirates Game 8/7 11 Vaca on Bible School Makers Fun Factory TBD Aug/Sept 2017 CCD Registra on 9/24 Parish Family Picnic 9/30 GUN RAFFLE T A S A W F 2017 G : Members of the parish committee, including myself, reviewed the applications/essays to come up with the following winners. Congratulations to our 2017 Scholarship Winners: Seth Roberts, Scott Rykala and Allison Toth. Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasure with your parish family and community. My deepest thanks to all involved and we are very proud of the college bound parishioners in their past accomplishments and wish them continued success in their future endeavors. MASS SCHEDULE (Mass Stipend $10) M (SG) 8AM T (SB) 8AM W (SG) 8AM T (SB) 6:30PM F (SB) 8AM S (SG) 4PM S (SB) 8AM (SG) 10AM Family members are asked to present Offertory Gifts at weekend masses being offered for their loved ones. Julie Karlik by Barbara Dunham Michael Zelek by Thelma Ponchek Benjamin Arellano, Sr. by Kathy & Andy Solomon John Walkowsky by Andy, Mary Helen, & Jen Percinsky Florence Freidhoff Birth. Remembrance By Debbie Washington Eleanor Chromy by Theresa Piemonte Becky Stiffler by Mike & Barb Bozic For the People Liturgical Reflection The scripture readings are followed by the homily. The priest or deacon breaks open the selected readings proclaimed at the Liturgy of the Word or reflects on some aspect of the ritual of holy Matrimony. When Matrimony is celebrated within Mass, the Church sees the priest giving the homily. When Matrimony is celebrated outside Mass, the priest or deacon gives the homily. Because of the various meetings between the clergy and the couple, the homily should witness to a familiarity with the bride and groom, addressing the Sacrament of Matrimony to the man and woman to be married. At the heart of the homily is the mystery of Christian marriage, the dignity of conjugal love, and the responsibilities of married people. Order of Celebrating Matrimony, Numbers 57, 91, and 123. 2017, Diocese of A-J, Liturgy Office Everyday Stewardship How time flies! This coming year I will have one child graduate from college, one from high school, and one starting high school. I am exhausted thinking about it. My prayer for all my children is that they take the Holy Spirit with them in all that they do, and call on God to aid them in discerning their future. That is my prayer, but I know that it will not always be easy for them to follow this path. The key will be for each of them, if they choose, to be what God intended them to be, as opposed to trying to be what they want to be. It sounds great to say to a child, You can be anything you want to be. But at the core of this statement is often the lie that true happiness lies in fulfilling your will for your life. I have seen many people in my life that reached their goals only to find an emptiness and longing for something more. The reality is that our ultimate fulfillment and joy is becoming the person, not that we wanted to be, but the person that God created us to be. This does not mean that we are stuck in some predestined situation. There are many ways we can live out our destiny and use fully use the gifts God gave each of us. But it does mean that we have chosen a path based on where God is leading us and informed by an insight of the distinct gifts with which we have been created. At the end of that path is a life filled with joy, peace, and contentment. This is what I want for my kids. May they find their success by discerning God s will and becoming the wonderful people that God intended. Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS Liturgical Publications Inc Sacrament of Baptism Through the saving water of Baptism we welcome K A W to our parish family. We extend our congratulations to her parents, Kevin & Kimberly and brother Peyton. May they be assured of our prayers as we help Kensington Ann to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. WHY DO WE DO THAT? - CATHOLIC TRADITIONS EXPLAINED Ques on: July 26 is the feast of Joachim and Anna. Who are they and what do we know about them? Answer: Joachim and Anna are the parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus, yet there is absolutely no biblical reference to them whatsoever. So where do we get their names, and what is their story? Their names are found in an apocryphal gospel known as The Infancy Gospel of James. Apocryphal, or hidden, gospels consist of accounts of Jesus life that were ul mately not accepted as inspired works, and thus were not included in the Bible. However, they some mes captured the Chris an imagina on, spilling into the devo onal dimension of the community. James infancy gospel begins with the parents of Mary and their desire for a child. In their prayer and pe ons to God, they are heard and given the blessings of a child, whom they named Mary. The fact that we celebrate the feast of Joachim and Anna indicates that the bond of family love is important in the Chris an life. Long before Grandparents Day was established, the church had a feast that honored the presumed grandparents of Jesus. While their names are part of non-inspired apocryphal legends, the Savior s human ancestry is not. Christ, the incarnate Word, dwelt among us in the flesh in a human family. In honoring the grandparents of Jesus we really proclaim our faith in the Incarna on God becoming human!
FROM THE DESK OF FATHER BOB We are all creatures of habit to some extent. We have a certain routine, rhythm to our daily lives and, and for the most part, we don t like that schedule to be interrupted or changed. The same can be said with our religious practices such as prayer and Mass. We can do and say all the right things but often we are operating on what I call automatic pilot especially in regard to liturgy. In our scriptures this weekend Jesus teaches us what the kingdom of heaven is like and that we are the kingdom of heaven when we live according to God s ways, accepting the gracious will of God as the rule of our lives. We are to make visible the divine Presence and His will to all those we touch with our presence even while we walk the face of this earth. We will never understand God s kingdom with our minds but we can live according to the values of that kingdom exemplified by the life and teaching of Jesus in the Gospel accounts proclaimed at every liturgy. The human impulse, however, is the desire to pull the weeds, to be impatient not only with ourselves but with others in meeting the challenges and temptations of this life. There is always room for growth in our spiritual lives but even our mistakes, our sins are ways that we have the ears to hear and learn better the ways of our God. The images of the wheat, bush, and dough in our Gospel are not the finished product; it takes time and patience to bring forth the desired good end. We are works in progress, not the finished product so to speak. Every day we have the opportunity to improve, to reap the fruits of following God s will and purpose for our lives. Do not give up on yourself or on others because you/they have failed. It takes much more courage to pick up the broken pieces and begin again and again. As we grow in discipleship, it is patience and hope in the final outcome that sustains us so that in the end we will be counted among the righteous who shine like the sun. 16 th Sunday in Ordinary Time The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. This is not a pre y picture. Jesus shares a parable in today s Gospel that reminds us of a truth we would rather forget: evil is real, and the devil is at work. The boun ful harvest of our faith is something that Satan wants to destroy. And he has a host of diabolical tac cs to help him carry out his wicked plans. But there is one strategy in par cular that we must be on guard against. HOSPITALIZED Mike Ziner Toppy O Leary 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. As the French poet Charles Baudelaire put it, The devil s finest trick is to persuade you that he does not exist. Sneaky as it may be, this approach is effec- ve! And, unfortunately, the a tude of our modern era is very conducive to buying the lie. Too o en we dismiss the idea of the invisible spiritual reality of angels and demons. It doesn t seem scien fic enough for us because it can t be seen or proven. But neither can our faith! We believe in a host of invisible reali es star ng with God himself. We should not be fooled into thinking that the devil is a make-believe cartoon character with red horns and a pitchfork on his shoulder. Alas, no. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, Scripture witnesses to the disastrous influence of the one Jesus calls a murderer from the beginning (CCC 394) and, as we read in the Bible, Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil (1 Jn 3:8). This is not pretend, and so it must be taken seriously. But so too, the reality of Satan must be situated within the broader context of God s supreme power. The devil cannot prevent the building up of God s reign (CCC 395). The influence of evil can never defeat the power of our faith, unless we let it do so. 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 July 23 Mt. 13:24 43 Parents plant values in their children an cipa ng the ny seeds of honesty, respect, commitment and fidelity will grow with their child and that one day they will become a safe haven to many. 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. VBS - M F F A 7-11 Registration forms located in the vestibule, facebook & on our website: www.ssgregbar.org Attn. 6th 12th Grade Students: Come help us turn our Church Hall into a cavern adventure! Set up starts July 31st (Jul 24th if that week works better) - Please call or text Mary Helen (421-2247) with your name & number if you would to volunteer - this is a great way to earn service hours!! We will also need helpers during VBS starting at 5:30PM - contact Mary Helen. FINANCIAL NEWS Fiscal Year July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 Offertory Totals for the week of July 16, 2017 Weekly Offering $3,213 Misc. Income $125 Votive Candles $29 Building Fund $32 Fuel $15 Total $3,414 LAY MINISTRY SCHEDULE Liturgy July 22/23 July 29/30 4:00 PM Lector: Sorchilla D EM: B P. Harteis P. Harteis (B: Bread) C J. Pribish Sorchilla (C: Cup) C Servers: Sorchilla 8:00 AM Lector: J. Kopco J. Kopco BA EM: B B. McPherson C J. Kopco J. Kopco Weekly Needs $5,000 7/16 $3,414 (Over/under) $1,586 TV Ministry $7 CMD 2018: $178 IN THE COMMUNITY: ANNUAL FESTIVAL at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church Route 53 Frugality PA on Sun. July 16th from 11AM-6PM. Turkey & Noodle dinner with all the trimmings. Family style dinner 11AM-3PM. Adults $10, kids 5-12 $5, under 5 free and take outs are available! Music: DJ, Bob Taylor. Basket Auction at 5PM Games Bingo Bake Sale, Refreshments and lots more. Please come out for a visit! We would like to meet you! St Anne Triduum -A triduum in honor of St Anne will be held July 24, 25, & 26 at St John Gualbert Cathedral, 117 Clinton Street, Johnstown. Mass and devotions will be held at 7pm each evening with confessions following mass. ROCKY GAP CASINO BUS TRIP: Thursday, July 27, 2017 The Church of the Transfiguration is sponsoring a bus trip to the Rocky Gap Casino on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The bus leaves the church parking lot at 9:00AM and leave Rocky Gap Casino at 5:30PM for the return trip. The cost of the trip will be $30.00 and includes $20.00 in free slot play. For more information or make a reservation, please call: Sharon Santichen @ 536-1732 or Andy Solomon @ 619-9543. Please make your reservations and payment before the due date of Sunday, July 23, 2017. ANNUAL FESTIVAL: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Parish Festival will be held on Saturday, July 29 5PM-10PM and Sunday, July 30 Noon until 9PM. There will be ethnic food, big money raffle, baskets, children's games, children's jumbo slide, bingo, bake sale and small games of chance. Live music on Saturday from 6PM to 10PM with Mon Valley Push. Sunday outdoor polka mass at 11 am (weather permitting) with Johnstown Buttonbox. Live music on Sunday from 1-4PM with Johnstown Buttonbox and Ribbon Grass from 5:30-9PM. ST. BARTHOLOMEW BASKET PARTY will be held on Sunday, July 30th, at St. Bartholomew Church Hall, 185 Church Hill Road, Wilmore, Pa. Doors open at Noon, the chancing off of the baskets will be at 2:00pm. Dessert and refreshments will be served. Door Prize: 42 TV. The Church of the Transfiguration will be taking orders for Large and/or Small Lasagna Pans until August 6th, 2017. Large Lasagna $18.00 and Small Lasagna $9.00. You can pick up your Lasagna after mass on Saturday, August 12th or Sunday, August 13th, in the Church Hall. Please call Pat Unger @ 539-7351 or Irene Cristoff @ 322-4915 to place your order. C B. McPherson Servers: 10:00 AM Lector: S. Rosenbaum S. Rosenbaum D EM: B R. Rosenbaum M. Krawczyk Servers: C P. Ledwich P. Ledwich C B. Sweeney B. Sweeney Aug 5/6
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/ ANGEL FUND 2017 Consider giving a gift now that will enrich the life of a young camper in the Summer of 2017! Camp Zacchaeus Grades 4-9 and Camp Timothy Grades 10-12 (and newly graduated seniors 2017) We are looking for people, groups, parishes or organizations to sponsor a child to attend Camp Zacchaeus 2017 or Camp Timothy 2017 through the Angel Fund. We will accept full or partial sponsorships of any amount to help cover the cost of camp (100 PERCENT of the funds collected through Angel Fund donations are dispersed to needy campers)! If you are interested in sponsoring a child, or for more information, please contact Francine Swope at the Diocesan Youth Ministry Office (814)814-317-2646, or mail your contribution directly to Camp Zacchaeus or Camp Timothy Angel Fund, 933 S. Logan Boulevard, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Become an Angel Fund sponsor and help send a needy child to camp to experience a wonderful week of Faith, Fun and Friendship in the great outdoors! 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/ OUTDOOR MASS HONORING MARRIED COUPLES WITH BISHOP MARK The Altoona-Johnstown Diocesan Family is invited to participate and to pray for those living the Sacrament of Marriage at an Outdoor Mass honoring Married Couples on Sunday evening, July 23 at 7:00 pm at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Alleghenies in Loretto. Bring a lawn chair. Indoors if rain. Bishop Mark is the celebrant and homilist. This is a wonderful way to celebrate, encourage and support married couples!