2020 March 22

Partner Parishes of The Historic Church of St. Peter and St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia Church 1571 Grindstone Road Grindstone, Pennsylvania

Fr. Tim and Fr. Thumma will celebrate the intention of each Mass privately.

Fourth Sunday of Lent Saturday, March 21, 2020 4:00 p.m. P Mass for the People Sunday, March 22, 2020 8:00 a.m. P Sharon Wright Anniversary of Death ( Scott, Cory & Emily Dolan) 9:30 a.m. C Albert Konter (Mark, Tina & Family) 11:00 a.m. P Joseph P. Rode live streamed (Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Michael Gallagher) Monday, March 23, 2020 7:30 a.m. P William Kormos, Sr. (Niece, Eva Giannetti) Tuesday, March 24, 2020 7:30 a.m. P Marian & Tony Vigliotti (Children) Wednesday, March 25, 2020 8:00 a.m. C Betty Duratz (Norma Mendola) Thursday, March 26, 2020 7:30 a.m. P Carol Ann Staconak Month’s Mind (Parish Family) Friday, March 27, 2020 7:30 a.m. P Maria, Carmen & Joseph Congelio (Frank & Vincenza Congelio) 7:00 p.m. P Stations - live streamed Saturday, March 28, 2020 8:00 a.m. C Sophia Duratz (Karen & George Peltier)

Fifth Sunday of Lent Saturday, March 28, 2020 4:00 p.m. P Ernest “Chuck” Kormos (Daughters Eva & Gina) Sunday, March 29, 2020 8:00 a.m. P James & Elizabeth Cole ( Daughter Cora & Frank Lent) 9:30 a.m. C Jimmy Liptak (Sister Karen & Frank) 11:00 a.m. P Mass for the People Live streamed

Fridays - 5:00 pm - JOURNEY THROUGH SCRIPTURE: GENESIS TO JESUS (New) - How well do you know the Bible? Dr. Scott Hahn and Matthew Leonard explain basic Catholic principles for reading scripture, and answer questions about the Bible’s role in our salvation.

Fridays - 6:30 pm - FR. TIMOTHY GALLAGHER: WHAT IS GOD’S WILL? - Using teachings and spiritual exercises taught by St. Ignatius, Fr. Timothy Gallagher helps Catholics grow deeper in their faith by understanding the impact of God’s will in their daily lives.

Saturdays - 6:00 pm - LENT: A SEASON OF GRACE - Join Fr. Cedric Pisegna as he leads Catholics in a Lenten pilgrimage of change, growth, and revolutionary transformation.

Sundays - 4:00 pm - LENTEN REFLECTIONS - In this time of reflection, our expert panel of scholarly priests share their thoughts and meditations on those sacred scriptures carrying a special meaning for them during Lent.

March 6 - April 10 - THIRST FOR TRUTH: BATTLE FOR SOULS - In their six-day retreat, Fathers Bill Casey and Wade Menezes prepare Catholics for the ongoing battle for souls by teaching them how to face doubt and temptation in the world.

March 23 - 5:30 pm - UKRAINE: A BEAUTIFUL WITNESS - After decades of Soviet oppression, today’s independent Ukraine is facing stagnation, poverty and despair. But there’s hope in the increasing numbers of Ukrainian women who are dedicating their lives to God. March 25 - 5:30 pm - THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION - Fr. Lawrence Lew OP shows how the Feast of the Annunciation has the power to impact our interior lives, as well as society.

March 28 - 8:00 pm - IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA - this powerful feature film traces the life of Ignatius of Loyola, known as the “Saint of Second Chances.” Saint Ignatius overcame his sinful past to become a loyal soldier for Christ, and the founder of the Jesuits.

March 29 - 1:30 pm - IN CONCERT: SAINT MATTHEW’S PASSION - This spectacular display of music and choral accompaniment presents words from the Holy Scriptures in Bach’s masterpiece on the capture and crucifixion of Christ.

March 29 - 10:00 pm - THE UNFINISHED SYMPHONY - A documentary chronicling the life and work of the World Villages for Children founder Fr. Aloysius Schwartz, who despite being diagnosed with ALS, dedicated every moment of his life to serving the poor.

March 30 - April 3 - 5:30 pm - REALITY CHECK: THE FOUR LAST THINGS - DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN, HELL - At the end of life, it’s time for a reality check. Father Wade Menezes explains the four last things that people should be preparing for, including death and final judgment.

Channels: *Armstrong (California) -043/HD-159*Atantic BB-021 *DIRECTV-370 *DISH-261

Please continue to pray for everyone at this time.

In this Sunday’s Gospel passage from St. John, Jesus used spittle and clay on the eyes of the man born blind. He then directed him to “bath in the waters of Siloam and cleanse yourself." The man does so.

His sight is restored. The Lord's miracles are typically accomplished when he says, "Receive your sight," and the eyes are opened. So, why the spittle? Why the clay?

St. John, as he presents this Gospel passage, wants us to understand that this goes all the way back to the creation account in Genesis where God took clay and he formed man.

That process of creation is the beginning of the revelation of God's plan for the salvation of mankind. It develops slowly through the millennia until Jesus comes, who is the fullness of the revelation of God's plan for salvation.

St. John, in his presentation, wants us to understand that this act of Jesus, of curing the man from physical blindness is not what this story is about. This story is about one who does not know God, who is in darkness and receives spiritual sight. He comes to know the Lord, to understand, and to be instructed.

Jesus says, "I am the Light of the World. We have works to do while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work."

God’s faithful must understand that this journey of a lifetime is our time in the light: the light by which we become followers, disciples of Jesus. We grow in understanding as we advance in wisdom, grace, and age. Our listening to his Word, praying each day, and gathering around the Eucharistic Table ensures the sacramental graces will be made available for us. We are formed by the Lord through the sacramental life of the church.

We strive to become Christ: he who loves us so much that he would die for our sake. He asks us to begin to love like he does. Our journey from darkness to light progresses as we overcome selfishness. We begin to become altruistic, to love as Jesus did, sacrificially, seeking the light.

But St. John has another purpose. His Gospel was written around 100 A.D., approximately seventy years after Jesus' death. At that time, there was a significant obstacle separating the Jews and the followers of

Christ. In the year 90 A.D., the Jewish rabbis gathered in a town called Jamnia for a council at which they formally declared that the Christians were no longer permitted to participate in the synagogue worship. In other words, they declared that Christ was not the Messiah, so the Christians were thrown out of the synagogues, just as this man born blind would be thrown out of the Temple for speaking about the Christ.

St. John’s Gospel, inspired by the Holy Spirit, presents a many layered series of teachings. A couple of examples: On one level he's supporting the members of his community who have been excluded from the synagogue. On another level he's teaching us these two thousand years later so that we might understand.

Jesus initially is presented by the man born blind, saying, "The man, Jesus, put clay on my eyes, and I washed at Siloam and now I can see." When he begins to be questioned by the Pharisees, all of a sudden, his understanding is deeper. He says, "He's a prophet." And when they ask him to give glory to God because Jesus is a sinner for having violated the Sabbath, he says, "I don't know if he's a sinner, but why do you want to hear the story again?

Do you want to be a disciple of Jesus also?"- meaning that he's becoming a disciple of Jesus. That's when the Pharisees get angry. They accuse him of being a total sinner because he was born blind.

Earlier, Jesus had said, "There's no sin if someone is born with, or develops, a physical malady. There's no sin at all. In this case, it's going to be used for the greater glory of God. But the Pharisees refused to see, to understand. They had physical sight, but they were living in darkness, in blindness. They said, "Moses instructed us; we know he was from God." Moses had died fourteen hundred years earlier, and his instruction about the Sabbath was about sacrifices. The faith changed particularly after the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile.

Five hundred years before that, when they no longer had a king, and they no longer had the Levitical priests, the Pharisees developed, and they began to interpret Moses in such a way that they corrupted what the Sabbath was to be.

They had become so strident they wouldn't allow a sick person to be

healed on the Sabbath. Their rituals had taken the place of the justice, the mercy, the love that God demanded from the very beginning.

They were going deeper and deeper into darkness.

During this Lenten season, in the midst of our lifelong journey, we are being asked to focus on whether we are in darkness, or whether we are in the light. Are we truly followers of Jesus Christ? Do we understand what that entails? Are we following his model of sacrificial love, starting first in our family, then out to our faith community, our workplace and the broader world? Are we overcoming our selfishness by giving ourselves away for the benefit of others? That's what this instruction is all about.

Listen to what St. Paul said roughly thirty years after Jesus' death: Brothers and Sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Eph. 5:8-10 We are called to live in the light of Jesus Christ, to be continually moving more fully into that light, and as we pray each day, as our prayer life develops, as it blossoms, we begin to hear the Lord speaking to us about what he intends for our life, how we might live it out more fully in his will. Then the light becomes brighter. We understand more fully; we recognize, indeed, that selfishness is wrong. Pursuing only selfinterest is darkness; but sacrificial love and giving ourselves away is the light, and that's to what we're called.

At this very time when many are fearful some even frozen by the thought of the corona virus, we can be a reassuring voice of support.

For those who are unable to venture forth from their homes because of advanced age or illness, we can bring them the items they need to make them safe and in order for them to feel more secure. Let us recommit these last three weeks to observe our Lenten practices, by increased fasting, more prayer, giving of ourselves for those in need.

PARTNER PARISH EVENTS ANNUAL GOLF OUTING MEETING Conducted by Telephone Conference Call

St. Peter’s Lenten Fish Fry POSTPONED Diocesan Directive

St. Cecilia’s Spaghetti Dinner POSTPONED Diocesan Directive

PARTNER PARISH BEREAVEMENT GROUP MEETINGS POSTPONED

CLASSES CANCELLED Diocesan Directive

BIBLE STUDY CANCELLED Diocesan Directive SECURITY MEETING FOR MARCH 24 POSTPONED Society of Catholic Women Annual Flower Sale

EVENTS STILL TAKING PLACE 40 Days for Life Watch the Monthly Calendar and Join Fr. Tim in this Powerful Pro-life Ministry

Catholics and members of other Christian faiths throughout the Pittsburgh area are once again taking part in the national 40 Days for Life campaign. The mission of 40 Days for Life is to unite the Body of Christ in the spiritual battle to end abortion. Join us for 40 days of prayer & fasting; a peaceful vigil is held every day in front of Planned Parenthood at 933 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh.

Measures have been implemented to ensure safe social distance. We will be traveling to Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 21. The van will depart St. Peter’s parking lot at 7:00 a.m.

Meals on the Boulevard - March 26, 2020 Depart St. Peter’s parking lot at 5:45 pm Measures have been implemented to ensure safe distribution of food to the needy.

St. Peter’s Church 03/15/20 ADULT ENVELOPES (95) ....................... $1945.00 STUDENT (1) ................................................ $1.00 MONTHLY (10)......................................... $390.00 LOOSE ...................................................... $127.00 CANDLES…………………………. ........……$72.00 UTILITIES (1) ............................................. $15.00 EASTER (1) ................................................ $10.00 ACCENT (1) ................................................. $5.00 EASTER FLOWERS (14) .......................... $262.00 St. Cecilia’s Church 03/15/20 ADULT ENVELOPES (32) ......................... $911.00 STUDENT (4) ............................................... $4.00 LOOSE ........................................................ $33.00 CANDLES .................................... $11.00 MONTHLY (3) ............................ $30.00 EASTER FLOWERS (1) ............... $50.00

POSTPONED Regional Mass

Regional Mass at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Church in Fairchance on Palm Sunday, April 5.

CANCELLED - Diocesan Directive

Tenebrae Practice CANCELLED

Dear Faithful Servants of our loving God, I’m sure you are all aware that the Greensburg and Pittsburgh Dioceses have suspended the celebration of public Masses, Stations of the Cross and Reconciliation Services.

During this time, the Partner Parishes will be celebrating one Sunday Mass which will be live streamed on our Facebook page at 11:00 a.m. and will also be available for rebroadcast on radio station WMBS at 1:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Mass will be followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the Holy Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Benediction will close the Holy Hour. Please join us! We are parishes united in the love of our God and one another. Let us continue to pray together.

Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. we will live stream the Stations of the Cross on the Facebook page and broadcast on WMBS radio. It is important that the Spirit of the Living God continue to be powerfully proclaimed during these challenging times. Although we won’t be physically present to one another, we will be united as a faith community in prayer. Please join us!

May our gracious Lord keep you safe and sheltered in his loving arms! -Fr. Tim

PRAYER CARD FOR YOUR USE DURING THIS TRYING TIME

Facebook Page -

The Historic Church of St. Peter Or @HistoricChurchofStPeter Mass - Sundays, 11:00 a.m.

Stations - Fridays, 7:00 p.m.

WMBS Radio -

590 AM or 101.1 FM Mass - Sundays, 1:00 p.m.

Stations - Fridays, 7:00 p.m.

PS - St. Peter and St. Cecilia churches will be open for private prayer from 12:00 Noon until 6:00 p.m. each day. Confessions will be heard at either church on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m.

We will live stream these Stations of the Cross on Facebook at: “The Historic Church of St. Peter” or “@HistoricChurchofStPeter”

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS WITH POPE JOHN PAUL II Before each station:

Minister: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

After each station:

All: Lord Jesus, help us walk in your steps.

Opening Prayer:

Minister: God of power and mercy, in love you sent your Son that we might be cleansed of sin and live with you forever.

Bless us as we gather to reflect on his suffering and death that we may learn from his example the way we should go.

We ask this through that same Christ, our Lord.

All: Amen.

First Station: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

Reader: Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me." He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep.

He said to Peter, "So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

(Matthew 26:36-41) Minister: Lord, grant us your strength and wisdom, that we may seek to follow your will in all things

Second Station: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate Reader: The chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, Arrested Reader: Then, while [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.

His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, "the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely." He came and immediately went over to him and said, "Rabbi." And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him.

(Mark 14: 43-46) Minister: Lord, grant us the courage of our convictions that our lives may faithfully reflect the good news you bring.

Third Station: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin Reader: When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us," but he replied to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further need have we for testimony?

We have heard it from his own mouth."

(Luke 22: 66-71) Minister: Lord, grant us your sense of righteousness that we may never cease to work to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised.

the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so."

The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of." Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.... Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barrabas... [and] handed [Jesus] over to be crucified.

(Mark 15: 1-5, 15) Minister: Lord, grant us discernment that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.

Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns Reader: Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said,"Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly.

(John 19: 1-3) Minister: Lord, grant us patience in times of suffering that we may offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise.

Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross

Reader: When the chief priests and the guards saw [Jesus] they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him." ... They Fourth Station: Jesus is Denied by Pe- cried out, "Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests anter swered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him Reader: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the the maids came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, the Galilean." But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, "I do in Hebrew, Golgotha. not know what you are talking about!" As he went out to the gate, (John 19: 6, 15-17) another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazorean." Again he denied it with an Minister: oath, "I do not know the man!" A little later the bystanders came Lord, over and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; even grant us strength of purpose your speech gives you away." At that he began to curse and to that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day. swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a cock crowed.

Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He went Cyrenian to Carry the Cross out and began to weep bitterly.

Reader: They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyreni(Matthew 26: 69-75) an, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.

Minister: (Mark 15: 21) Lord, grant us the gift of honesty that we may not fear to speak the truth even when difficult.

Minister: Lord, grant us willing spirits that we may be your instruments on earth.

Ninth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Je- Thirteenth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross Reader: It was now about noon and darkness came over the rusalem Reader: A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.' At that time, people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"

(Luke 23: 27-31)

whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last.

(Luke 23: 44-46)

Minister: Lord, grant us gentle spirits that we may comfort those who mourn.

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb

Tenth Station: Jesus is Crucified Reader: When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."]

(Luke 23: 33-34) Minister: Lord, grant us merciful hearts that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.

Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief

Reader: Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

(Luke 23: 39-43) Minister: Lord, grant us perseverance that we may never stop seeking you.

Twelfth Station: Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Disciple Reader: Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

John 19: 25-27 Minister: Lord, grant us constancy that we may be willing to stand by those in need.

Minister: Lord, grant us trust in you that when our time on earth in ended our spirits may come to you without delay.

Reader: When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it [in] clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock.

Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed.

(Matthew 27: 57-60) Minister: Lord, grant us your compassion that we may always provide for those in need.

Fifteenth Station: Jesus Rises From the Dead Reader: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed!

You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him.”

Closing Prayer:

Minister: Lord Jesus Christ, your passion and death is the sacrifice that unites earth and heaven and reconciles all people to you.

May we who have faithfully reflected on these mysteries follow in your steps and so come to share your glory in heaven where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Partner Parishes of Historic Church of Saint Peter 300 Shaffner Avenue St. Peter Brownsville, Pennsylvania 118 Church Street & Brownsville, PA 15417 Saint Cecilia Church 1571 Grindstone Road O: 724-785-7781 Grindstone, Pennsylvania

#770350

C: 724-984-6983***

Parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg “Pennsylvania Charitable Trusts” Contact: Shannon Sealy

MESSAGES:

Mailing Address: Partner Parishes of St. Peter & St. Cecilia 118 Church Street Brownsville, PA 15417 Phone: 724-785-7781 Fax: 724-785-0844

Pastor: Rev. Micah E. Kozoil; Sr. Priest Active: Rev. James Petrovsky Office Manager: Mrs. Virginia Galway: Music Ministry: St. Peter: Daniel Kovacic; St. Cecilia: Eric Blanda Religious Education Coordinator: Mrs. Anita LaMendola: Youth Ministry: Patty Columbia Mass Schedule: Saturday Vigil 4:00 P.M. (EST); 5:00 P.M. (DST) (St. Peter) Sunday Morning 8:00 A.M. (St. Peter); 9:30 A.M. (St. Cecilia); 11:30 A.M. (St. Peter) Reconciliation: Noon to 12:30 p.m.

St. Peter: 1st & 3rd Saturday St. Cecilia: 2nd & 4th Saturday Sacrament of Baptism Contact the parish as soon as you know that you are expecting a child.

Sacrament of Matrimony Those entering into Marriage must contact the pastor at least one full year in advance of the wedding Sponsor Certificates You must be registered and active in the parish at least 4 months to receive a certificate. Please don’t come at the last minute!

Sexual Child Abuse If you have a concern about sexual abuse of a child or young person by anyone in a parish or diocesan position — clergy, volunteer or paid staff — please contact Bishop Brandt’s delegate for matters of sexual misconduct. He may be reached at 724-837-0901 Ext. 221