Ministry Schedule April 22/23
EM: Server: Lector:
5:00 p.m. St. Peter C-Patty Galway C-Mark Galway H-Gloria Wheeler Jolena Quarzo Brionna Staggers Roxann Zidek Cantor: Volunteer 8:00 a.m. St. Peter
EM: Server: Lector:
C-Kathy Miller C-Mark Moncheck H-Margaret Peters Carmella & Gina DeFlippo Crystal Bogorae Cantor: Rita Koffler
EM: Server: Lector:
Annette Augustine Nancy Sebeck Carl DellaPenna Jr. Anthony DellaPenna Caleb DellaPenna Mark Konter
EM: Server: Lector:
C-Bert Smith C-Gary Ritz H-Nancy Ritz Dylan & Madison Stowe Chuck Bogorae Cantor: Nicole Dainty
9:30 a.m. St. Cecilia
Easter Sunday Saturday Vigil, April 15, 2017 — Easter Vigil 8:30 p.m. P Parish Family 8:30 p.m. C Parish Family Sunday, April 16, 2017 — Easter Sunday 8:00 a.m. P Parish Family 9:30 a.m. C Parish Family 11:00 a.m. P Parish Family Monday, April 17, 2017 7:30 a.m. P Robert Weaver (Charlotte St. John) Tuesday, April 18, 2017 7:30 a.m. P Daniel Chew (Mary Savona) Wednesday, April 19, 2017 8:00 a.m. C Andy Guman (Kim & David Rusko) Thursday, April 20, 2017 7:30 a.m. P Robert Behary (Mr. & Mrs. James Boone & family) Friday, April 21, 2017 7:30 a.m. P Marino Durigon (Vera Marie Durigon) Saturday, April 22, 2017 8:00 a.m. C Mickey Liptak (Daughter Karen & Frank Angelilli)
Sunday of Divine Mercy Saturday Vigil, April 22, 2017 5:00 p.m. P Pro Populo Sunday, April 23, 2017 8:00 a.m. P Justin Brezovsky (Dad, mom, Jennifer, Matt, Ava) 9:30 a.m. C Anniversary of Death Bruce Brady (Sister, Rosalie & family) 11:00 a.m. P Albert & Mary Kara (Children)
11:00 a.m. St. Peter
Prayer List
Beatrice Kloock Charlotte Katko Daryl Hall David Ballant Donna Fletcher
Ed Balchon George Babko HeatherBeth Powell Helen Mendish Jackson Hodge Jean Bohna Jill Wible Joe Angell
Karl Hennig Lisa Chancey Mike Dorobish Nancy Yakopovich Rhonda Liggett Susan Rountree Sylvia Walinski Virginia Conaway
If you would like to have a name appear on the Prayer List, please call the church office, 724-785-7781.
2017 Diocesan Lenten Appeal Still Accepting Contributions Please note that you can still make a contribution to the 2017 Diocesan Lenten Appeal if you haven’t already done so. We are making progress toward our goals at both The Historic Church of St. Peter and St. Cecilia parishes. Thank you for your generosity to this year’s DLA. We look forward with renewed enthusiasm to reaching our 2017 goals!
Catholic Publication Available
We are making the Spring & Summer issue of the EWTN programming schedule (April-August 2017) available for pickup in the back of both The Historic Church of St. Peter and St. Cecilia. This issue also has been sent to our homebound parishioners. EWTN provides wonderful Catholic devotions and inspirational programs each day. For your viewing pleasure, here are the local cable and satellite EWTN channels:
Armstrong: Channel 43 Atlantic Broadband: Channel 21 DIRECTV: Channel 370 DISH Network: Channel 261
We joyfully celebrate the Risen Lord throughout the upcoming Easter Season. We recognize that Jesus is the first born of the dead raised up, restored to his heavenly realm. All his brothers and sisters gather this Sunday to acknowledge and give thanks because we know that the resurrected life in Christ is available to the faithful, those who believe in Jesus and follow his commandments. It is difficult to pick a Gospel from our celebrations (Easter Vigil, Mass at Dawn or the Mass Easter day) on which to focus. However, since the majority of our parishioners attend Mass Easter morning, we chose John 20:1-9. It is the post-resurrection account of Peter and John running to the tomb and finding it empty after Mary Magdalene had informed them Jesus’ body was gone from where they had laid him. This is a wonderful segment from John's Gospel. It includes a powerful description of what occurred on that first Easter day. Think about the description from the passage. St. John makes sure we understand that they ran to the tomb, and that John, the Beloved Disciple, arrived there first. However, he deferred to the leader and allowed Peter to enter the tomb first. This passage, in addition to the fact that it states the Lord has risen, is about the relationship between Peter, the Head, and John, the beloved Apostle. Throughout John’s Gospel there are very clear indications that Peter is the leader of the Apostles. However, there are at least six references to the “Beloved Disciple” who is John. The reason I would like to focus on this issue is the different role each played as intimates of Jesus, their leadership in the establishment of our Catholic Church and what that means to us as members who also have personal and unique spiritual makeups. Some of us are very pious. We know all the devotional prayers, attend all the special liturgies and are “prayer warriors.” Others attend Mass each Sunday, spend some time every day in prayer and support their parish through participation in ministries. Others are not what one would consider “regular” participants in the life of the parish but who maintain a deep belief and trust in Jesus as their Savior. My objective is to briefly show how each of us plays our important role in the life of the church regardless of our personal spiritual life and approach to faith. The differences between the roles of Peter and John can help illustrate this truth. Roles and titles, Peter the “Leader,” John the “Beloved,” are not just limited to their individual positions within the Twelve, but also have relevance to the broader Church itself. We all know that Peter was the Head of the Apostles. He became our first Pope and John, in his writings, wants us to have that understanding. We also know other facets of Peter. He was always so willing to assert himself by speaking up when those who had a little more discretion might have been quiet. Often, his foot ended up in his mouth, so to speak, and the Lord would correct him. One time, the Lord said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan." Painful, but part of the formation of Peter. Indeed, he would learn and be formed, including through his denial of the Lord three times. Peter had said that very night at the Last Supper, "Lord, even if I must go to my death, I will never deny you." So what did Peter do? He denied the Lord. Yet John, in his Gospel, wants us to understand that Peter is the Head, and more than just that, it's about the fact that the Head represents the institution, the Church. It represents the teachings, the rituals, the guidelines, the Community. John, the beloved disciple, on the other hand, through his actions and words reflects love in that, not only was he younger, but he ran faster. A simple example, but isn’t that the way love is? True love penetrates every barrier; it breaks down every door in order to accomplish its purpose. John, on a number of occasions, was shown to have that special relationship with the Lord. At the Last Supper, when Jesus said, "Someone will betray me," Peter, the Head, nodded to John who was leaning against the Lord's chest, and said, "Find out who it is." And John did. The Lord indicated to him it would be Judas. There are at least four other similar indications or references to John as the Beloved Disciple. This relationship that John, the Evangelist, the Beloved Disciple, reflects in his Gospel differentiates between Peter, the institutional Church, and John, the Beloved Disciple, representing the love that exists in a faith community among each of us individually, in our family, in our church, and in the broader world. That love which is not restrained by the institution, by the formal Church that Peter represents, is so important for us to understand. John goes to great lengths on several occasions to show this distinction between Peter and himself. But there's so much more here. When they arrive at the tomb, they find that the massive stone had been moved; it's gone. The darkness that was the interior of the tomb has been overcome by the power of Jesus Christ raised from the dead. Matthew's Gospel records that there was an earthquake and an angel came and moved the stone aside. If only we could do that in our own lives! For as we celebrate this glorious occasion of the Resurrection of Our Lord and the new life in him, we must recognize the stone that is often holding us down, keeping us in the dark. We know that the Lord has risen. Peter, in the Acts of the Apostles, testifies: "We were with him; we ate with him after his Resurrection. He chose many of us to witness to his Resurrection." We are the beneficiaries of this wonderful truth. We will share the Resurrected Life in Christ. No longer must we allow uncertainty or fear to limit our acceptance of the eternal truths of the Father’s plan for our salvation that the pascal mysteries proclaim. We who gather at the Eucharistic Table to share in the very life of Christ, who believe in him and follow his commandments, are saved and will be with him forever. As we gather together for Easter Mass, we accept the truths of our faith, the Scriptures, church doctrines, traditions, etc. We also celebrate our diversity. Each of us, whether the “prayer warrior” who knows every devotion and particular of church life, the Sunday Mass regular who engages in ministry, or the member who is finding his or her way back to participation in the parish, is loved beyond imagining by Jesus. We each express our faith in different ways. All have unique relationships with Jesus but all are important parts of the Body of Christ which Easter definitively proclaims as the Way, the Truth and the Life!
Partner Parishes Welcome Newest Members though RCIA Program The Partner Parishes welcome our new members through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) into full Communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. It is always a joyous celebration and a spiritually uplifting experience for those participating fully in the sacramental life of the Church for the first time. We ask our parishioners to do all they can to encourage and support our new members of the faith community. Not everyone is familiar with the distinctions between those who are a “Catechumen” and those who are a “Candidate.” A catechumen is an individual who has not been baptized. A candidate is typically someone who has previously been baptized in another Christian faith. However, some candidates are individuals who were baptized into the Catholic faith but did not continue religious education or receive the other sacraments.
Cole Lincoski Catechumen
Stacy Lent Candidate
Ross Swords Jr. Candidate
Lucas Gregg Candidate
Fr. Tim conducts the Third Scrutiny April 1, 2017, at The Historic Church of St. Peter.
Jamie Redmond Candidate
David Kanyok Candidate Austin Lincoski Candidate
Michael Ballone Candidate
We Celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday April 23, 2017 Come and join us for prayer and devotions at The Historic Church of St. Peter as we address the plight of those suffering and in need of Divine Mercy as a result of the drug overdose and death epidemic afflicting our area. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions beginning at 1:00 p.m. During the Jubilee Year of 2000, St. Pope John Paul II established the second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday on the universal Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar. The universal church each year since the inception of this Feast has celebrated the devotion of Divine Mercy which Jesus revealed through St. Faustina. In Brownsville we will have a beautiful liturgy for this yearly celebration at The Historic Church of St. Peter beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2017. The faithful will participate in this special liturgy including Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction, Confessions and recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The vocal accompaniment of our choir will truly make this a beautiful and inspiring afternoon of devotion. Recognizing the great suffering that our community and nation experiences as a result of the opioid epidemic threatening our people, we will invoke the Lord’s Divine Mercy upon our community, the families and individuals afflicted by this disease. We will watch a video that portrays the great work of Community Cenacolo (Italian word for the Cenacle – the Upper Room). Cenacolo (chen-AH-ko-lo) requires an intense commitment to prayer and work from those in residence. The results of this faithbased approach to healing have been extraordinary. The individuals healed by their encounter with Jesus are far beyond typical treatments. Those afflicted are being permanently healed by the grace of God so abundantly present through the work of Cenacolo. The witness of those residing at Cenacolo, in the video, concerning their progress in faith and healing is truly inspiring and gives us hope for those we know and love. We will have a local young man speak about his personal journey through the darkness of addiction to healing and attaining the light of Christ. He will share his experience and provide particulars about Cenacolo for those who would like to further investigate this grace-filled organization as a potential source of healing for their loved ones. This is an invitation to God’s Mercy! The special presentation will be followed by the Holy Hour filled with prayers of mercy from the Diary of St. Faustina! We invite you to join us for a unique time for prayer, healing, thanksgiving and consecration of the family to The Divine Mercy.
Divine Mercy Novena First Day — Good Friday
"Today bring to Me All Mankind, especially all sinners and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me." Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.
Second Day — Holy Saturday
"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind." Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy, and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard - upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation, and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.
Third Day — Easter
"Today bring to Me All Devout and Faithful Souls and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness." Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in the great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely. Eternal Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Fourth Day — Easter Monday
"Today bring to Me Those Who Do Not Believe In God and Those Who Do Not Yet Know Me. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy." Most Compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Fifth Day — Easter Tuesday
"Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion." Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your Own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Sixth Day — Easter Wednesday
"Today bring to Me The Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence." Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy, and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls and upon little children, who are enfolded in the abode of the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight you take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Seventh Day — Easter Thursday
"Today bring to Me The Souls Who Especially Venerate and Glorify My Mercy and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death." Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your Mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident in Your Mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.
Eighth Day — Easter Friday
"Today bring to Me The Souls Who Are Detained in Purgatory and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only know the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice." Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated. Eternal Father, turn Your most merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.
Ninth Day — Easter Saturday
"Today bring to Me The Souls Who Have Become Lukewarm and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy." Most Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love; and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen. Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987 Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.
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
H: 724-785-7604 Parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg C: 724-984-6983*** “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