Partner Parishes of The Historic Church of St. Peter and St. Cecilia
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 17, 2017 For strength in our own time of need and the courage to reach out to help others who are also in need, let us pray to the Lord. Parish Staff Pastor: Email: Parochial Vicar: Email: Business Manager: Email: Music Ministry: Religious Education: Youth Ministry: RCIA: Custodial Services:
Rev. Timothy Kruthaupt tkruthaupt@dioceseofgreensburg.org
Rev. Alvin Cabungcal
acabungcal@dioceseofgreensburg.org
Mrs. Shannon Sealy
ssealy@dioceseofgreensburg.org
Ms. Annette Buffer Mrs. Nikki Harvey Mr. Michael Bogden Dr. Melvin Sally Mrs. Tina Konter
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); 11:00 a.m. (St. Peter) Sunday Evening: Regional Mass 5:30 p.m. (Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Fairchance) Reconciliation: The Historic Church of St. Peter: 4:00-4:45 p.m. every Saturday St. Cecilia: 8:30-10:00 a.m. every Saturday Sacrament of Baptism: Contact the parish as soon as you know that you are expecting a child. Baptismal prep is required. Anointing of the Sick: You are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. Those who are seriously ill, anticipating surgery, or weakened because of prolonged illness or advanced age, please contact the parish office. 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!
Historic Church of St. Peter 300 Shaffner Avenue Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Sexual Child Abuse If you have any suspicion about the sexual abuse (or any other type of abuse) of a minor child by anyone, please contact PA Childline immediately at 1-800932-0313. The Bishop’s Delegate may be reached at 724-837-0901, Ext. 1221.
Mailing Address: Partner Parishes of The Historic Church of St. Peter and St. Cecilia 118 Church Street Brownsville, PA 15417 Phone: 724-785-7781/Fax: 724-785-0844 Websites: www.stpeterstcecilia.org and www.historicchurchofstpeter.org
Office Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Mission Statement United as the parish family, The Historic Church of St. Peter and St. Cecilia Catholic Church of the Diocese of Greensburg come together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to promote the mission of Jesus Christ and to live out our faith as Christians. Centered in the Eucharist, we are a welcoming community that exists to love, serve, and grow in our relationship with our Lord through prayer, worship and ministry. We strive to strengthen and inspire our parish family by understanding and passing on our faith.
St. Cecilia Church 1571 Grindstone Road Grindstone, Pennsylvania
Ministry Schedule Sept. 23/24
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Saturday Vigil, September 16, 2017 5:00 p.m. P Deceased Members of Kovachick Family (Rosanna & Bernie Ondrish) Sunday, September 17, 2017 8:00 a.m. P Sylvester Verry (Children) 9:30 a.m. C Bernard DeSimone (Amy Reskovac) 11:00 a.m. P Pro Populo Monday, September 18, 2017 7:30 a.m. P Anniversary of Death Daniel Sheehan (Tom Sheehan) Tuesday, September 19, 2017 7:30 a.m. P Louis W. Apone II (Jilda Apone) Wednesday, September 20, 2017 8:00 a.m. C First Anniversary of Death Bob Behary (Bernadette & family) Thursday, September 21, 2017 7:30 a.m. P Anna Vulcan (Josephine Ercegovic) Friday, September 22, 2017 7:30 a.m. P Second Anniversary of Death John Sheehan (Rita Verry) Saturday, September 23, 2017 8:00 a.m. C Anna Marie Evans (Amy Reskovac)
Twenty-fifh Sunday in Ordinary Time Saturday Vigil, September 23, 2017 5:00 p.m. P Steven M. Nemetz (Wife Virginia & family) Sunday, September 24, 2017 8:00 a.m. P Parents Joseph & Lena Pollette (Geraldine Ward) 9:30 a.m. C Andy Guman (Chase & Anna M. Morris) 11:00 a.m. P Pro Populo
EM: Server: Lector:
Saturday, September 23 — 5:00 p.m. St. Peter C-Sister James Ann C-Gloria Wheeler H-Patty Craig Brionna Staggers Jolena Quarzo Volunteer Roxanne Zidek Cantor: Megan Behary Sunday, September 24 — 8:00 a.m. St. Peter
EM: Server: Lector:
C-Tim Shimko C-Mark Moncheck H-Margaret Peters Carmella & Gina DiFlippo Cole Lincoski Crystal Bogorae Cantor: Rita Koffler Sunday, September 24 — 9:30 a.m. St. Cecilia
EM: Server: Lector:
Carl DellaPenna Jr. Carl DellaPenna Annette Augustine Caleb DellaPenna Anthony DellaPenna Vincent DellaPenna Sunday, September 24 — 11:00 a.m. St. Peter
EM: Server: Lector:
C-Gary Ritz C-Dot McCrory H-Bert Smith Camden Harvey Luke & Anna Clister Ron Barry Cantor: Delaney Harvey
Collection Report St. Peter Church 9/10/17 ADULT ENVELOPES (239) ......................... . ...$4069.00 STUDENT ENVELOPES (27) ............................... $38.00 MONTHLY (30)…………………………… ........... $723.00 LOOSE…………………………………….. ........... $407.00 CANDLES………………………………................ $102.00 ACCENT ............................................................... $10.00 SEMINARIANS ..................................................... $35.00
St. Cecilia Church 9/10/17 ADULT ENVELOPES (98) ................................$1727.00 STUDENT ENVELOPES (4) ................................... $5.00 LOOSE.................................................................. $57.00 CANDLES ............................................................. $49.00 ALL SAINTS ......................................................... $50.00
Our Deepest Sympathy
Our parish family mourns the loss of parishioner Patricia Chiera. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
The Historic Church of St. Peter
Sanctuary Lamp and Bread & Wine Michael G. Kelley
by Michael E. Kelley & family
Prayer for Hurricane Victims
For those who have lost their homes or their livelihoods, those whose families are separated and scattered, for shelter and swift recovery, let us pray to the Lord.
Our readings this week concerning forgiveness are very appropriate as we commemorated the sixteenth anniversary of September 11th and witnessed the power of Christ’s love at work in Texas and Florida as our people respond to the devastation of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. For, indeed, the Lord speaks of the need for forgiveness, that we are not to be vengeful, and that we're to live out this life in Christ. Our national collection this weekend for Catholic Charity’s mission of mercy is a powerful reflection of this truth. In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the question: “How often must I forgive?” St. Peter thought that he was doing the right thing. The Mosaic Code of the Jewish people said that "three times" you must forgive your brother. You forgave someone three times, and after that, you just wrote them off and treated them as an enemy. So Peter is being generous. He said, "Seven times, Lord, must we forgive at least seven times?" And the Lord comes up with this exponential increase: "seventy times seven times," which is infinite, for all practical purposes, in terms of our relationship with others and our ability to forgive them. But the Lord's point, of course, is that he will forgive us countless times. He sacrificially offered himself in order that our sins would be gone; that he pours forth forgiveness every time. We all know our sinful nature; we have those inclinations, our human limitations that bring us to sin. Each time we confess, we say, "Lord, I'm sorry; please forgive me." He does forgive and gives us sacramental grace to help us try again: so he expects us to do the same. St. Augustine, speaking to this issue, used the model of prayer Jesus gave us as an example. He said, "Think about the terrifying request within the Our Father. We say, 'Lord, forgive us our sins as we have forgiven others.' So, we're actually saying, 'If I'm not forgiving others, don't forgive my sins.' We say that prayer every day, so we should be conscious of what it entails.” I'm sure that some of you, perhaps even many, had an opportunity to hear a news account of VP Pence’s speech at Shanksville, PA, this week. Perhaps some of you heard the addresses that morning that were given at Ground Zero. There's been so much ink spilled, and so many profound words and prayers said, that nothing we can do here will adequately address the deep and powerful impact that 9/11 had on our nation, but I'd like to share a few thoughts. I'd like to address the reality of evil in the world. It is real, but so is the love of God, which is reflected so often in human courage: where we, as individuals, have the courage to give that last full measure of love on behalf of another as those did on Flight 93, and those who rushed back up into the towers, recognizing that their own lives might be the measure, the cost, of those acts of sacrificial love we have witnessed again these last two weeks. I've been particularly moved by the story of the Burnets. Tom Burnet was one of the passengers on Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville. His wife, Deena, wrote a book which came out a couple years after 9/11, and its title is Fighting Back: Living Life Beyond Ourselves. Her fighting back is not about war or bearing arms or taking revenge. Her fighting back is saying, "The most effective way we can respond to evil is to live our lives as disciples of Christ." She particularly stresses this with her children: that the virtues displayed by those who were willing to fight in order that others might live, or who were the responders who went into the teeth of danger in order that they might lend support to others and save lives: the virtue that enabled them to do that: the courage, the presence of Jesus Christ reflected in that sacrificial act of love is how we fight back, living it out as fully as we are able. In her book, Deena gave an account of their family’s life before 9/11. Her husband, Tom, traveled across the country regularly for his work, but when he was at home, his work office was only 10 minutes away from their house. He would come home every day for lunch, but she noticed he had stopped the practice. One day he asked her, "Have you noticed?" She said, "I sure have." He said, "I've been going to Mass every day at noon. That's why I'm not coming home for lunch." She said, "Well, that's nice, but why have you begun to do this?" He said, "The Lord's trying to say something to me, and I just figure that if I go to Mass, if I pray more, I'll be able to hear and understand what he's asking of me." So she said, "What's it about?" He said, "I have no idea, but it's about a whole lot of people, and it has something to do with the White House." She said, thinking that he's a very gifted man, very analytical, "Maybe the Lord wants you to run for President." He said, "No, I don't think it's anything like that." He continued to go to Mass each day at noon. She recounted another event that happened shortly thereafter. They had recently been blessed with another child, their third daughter. Deena was sitting in the nursery feeding the baby when her Mom came to the door and said, "I guess you'll have to have at least another child so Tom can have a son." Deena said, "No, the Lord's not going to give us a son." She said, "He's not?" "No, I wouldn't be able to raise Tom's son without him here." Her Mom said, "What are you talking about?" "Well, he's going to die in a plane crash!" She said that, as these thoughts and these words came out of her, she was completely at peace. She was almost outside of her body. She didn't know where these words were coming from, but they flowed. On the day of 9/11, in the confusion and horror of the attack, her mother came to the house and said, "Do you remember saying those things?" Deena said, "I certainly do." She then recounted to her mum all that took place before the heroic act of Tom and his fellow passengers: how they were on the phone immediately before they broke into the cockpit, and how Tom said, "This is our plane. We're going to take over the plane and do what we can to save those innocent people that might die." Later she heard the black box recorder from the plane with Tom's voice in the cockpit. She knew for sure then he had followed through on what he had told her. It is such a powerful example of sacrificial love. Those 40 people on the plane knew that their lives would be the full measure of their heroic act. Their sacrificial love included responding to the threat that they were facing and from which innocent people on the ground would suffer. We think about the responders who rushed back up the steps as others came out of the Twin Towers in order that they might assist those who were in need: the two men who carried a woman in a wheelchair 68 flights of steps down to safety. She had no ability to do it on her own. We watched these last two weeks the heroic rescues in Texas and Florida. News accounts spoke of Sgt. Steve Perez, a Houston police officer who drowned in his patrol car responding to duty in spite of the pleading of his wife and children that he not go. All of these individual acts of heroism are nothing more than a reflection of what the Lord says through St. Paul today: None of us lives for oneself, and none of us dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. — Rom. 14:7-8 (Continued on Page 4)
(Continued from Page 3) In every person of faith who responds in love to assist someone in need, Jesus speaks, saying, "My model for you is sacrificial love. I went to my death on the Cross so that you might have life in me, so that every one of your sins might be forgiven and you would be reconciled to my Father." Our nation is founded on the Judeo-Christian principles that our Readings spoke to this day. It's not about vengeance. Yes, justice, and sometimes even defending the status quo, is necessary, in order that aggression might be stopped, but in our nation, it is the Judeo-Christian principles that enable us to overcome hatred. We can look back on World War I, the Axis powers and all the horrors of them. We can look at World War II, what transpired throughout Europe and the Far East; what happened during the holocaust, Korea, Vietnam; and other horrific things that took place in our nation. Just think of the Civil Rights movement where, yes, there was hatred; there was an exchange of bitterness, even death, but ultimately, living out those Judeo-Christian principles, healing occurs, forgiveness is there. Vengeance is forgotten. We don't call the Germans "Krauts"; we don't call the Japanese "Japs." We have overcome that, and we recognize that reconciliation and healing are necessary. So it shall be, as we go further on from 9/11, as time goes by and the terrorism of today fades into a bad memory. Evil does exist; it is a reality. We defend against it, but we must all recognize that the courage, the love of God made manifest in his people will enable us to respond in love. We will give that last full measure, or whatever we are asked by Christ to protect, to sustain and ultimately to reconcile. In our heart of hearts, we understand that one day the recrimination and ill will towards people we don’t know, who practice a faith different from ours, will be overcome. So we turn to the Lord; we thank him for the gift of his love, and we continually ask that he will enable us to grow more fully into Christ, each day forgiving as we have been forgiven.
Catholic Cemetery Plots Available As members of the Catholic Church, we learn by faith to live our lives in a way that plans for the final resting of our immortal souls in heaven with God our Father. But as members of the human race, we may find it difficult to plan ahead for the final resting of our mortal bodies here on earth. Here in the Brownsville area, there are three cemeteries, all located along Route 40 within a few miles of one another. Two are Catholic, St. Peter’s and St. Mary’s Cemeteries. The third is owned by a corporation.
For ease of planning your final arrangements, all have burial plots available.
Here are price comparisons for your convenience: St. Peter’s/St. Mary’s Lot price: Open/close (Mon.-Sat.):
$ 600.00 900.00
Total price Monday through Saturday: $ 1,500.00
Corporate Lot price: $ 1,500.00 Open/close (weekday): 1,990.00 Open/close (Saturday): 2,440.00 Total price weekday: $ 3,490.00 Total price Saturday: $ 3,940.00
For more informa on, call the Parish office, 724-785-7781.
Cal U Students to Map Cemetery At Historic Church of St. Peter Beginning this week, several students from the Department of Earth Sciences at California University of Pennsylvania will be mapping out a grid of the cemetery surrounding The Historic Church of St. Peter. Oftentimes, people will contact our church office in search of information about deceased ancestors as they conduct genealogical studies of their families. This grid will enable us to pinpoint all gravesites in the cemetery and have records of nearly all of our deceased parishioners buried there. Photo courtesy of Larry Franks III
Guardians for Life Trips Planned from Brownsville
Several trips to the Pittsburgh Planned Parenthood Clinic are scheduled during the Fall 2017 40 Days for Life campaign. The schedule below reflects the actual times we’ll be at the clinic. Pickup times vary for different days. Please monitor this schedule or contact Fr. Tim, 724-785-7781, for more information. Departure times from the parking lot of The Historic Church of St. Peter in Brownsville will be Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. and Saturdays at 7:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 27 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Second Collection This Weekend For Hurricane Harvey Victims
A special disaster relief collection will be taken at all Masses this weekend to support Catholic relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Contributions will support the humanitarian and recovery efforts of Catholic Charities USA and will provide pastoral and rebuilding support to impacted dioceses through the USCCB. You may also contribute directly at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. Thank you for your generosity!
Interested in Becoming a Catholic? RCIA Classes Forming Now!
Are you interested in becoming a Catholic? RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) classes are forming now. Please call the church office, 724-785-7781, or speak with Fr. Tim.
Faith Formation Classes have begun, but we’re still actively enrolling students in grades 1 through 7!
Faith Formation classes are held on Sundays from 9:15 a.m.— 10:30 a.m. at the church office. Don’t miss your chance to register now! Registration forms are in the back of each church, or call the church office, 724-785-7781.
Spots are still available in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, held in our atrium. These classes are geared to ages 3-5, where they learn the foundation of the Catholic faith. **Please note that grade 8 Confirmation prep only will meet Sept. 24, Oct. 8, and Oct. 22. More dates to follow.
Post-Abortion Support Group Available in Fayette County
A faith-based support group for women who have experienced the emotional and spiritual pain of abortion has formed in the Fayette County area. Sharing with others can help with healing. We meet in a safe environment. For more information, contact: heartsjoined8@gmail.com. All inquiries will be kept confidential.
Prayer List Anthony Vigliotti Beatrice Kloock Bill Andreani Bill Snodgrass Brian Tomecsko Carol Ashton Charlotte Katko Chuck Britvich Cody Tylka Craig Alessio Daryl Hall David Ballant David Biggerstaff David Ostien Deb Donna Fletcher Donna Hill Ed Balchon Elaine Helsel Eleanor Dando Fr. Bob Conley
Kim Harvey Lillian Baroni Lisa Chancey Luella Sholl Mary Ann Olenik Mike Dorobish Mildred Petro Mildred Shenal George Lisac HeatherBeth Powell Nancy Jenkins Patricia Knight Helen Mendish Robert Atz Irene Franks Robert Franks Jackson Hodge Robert Stringert Janet Booker Sam Basile III Jean Bohna Sarah Uhall Joe Angell Shirley Mae Mislo Joe Shashura Susan Rountree John Hlatky Jonathan Wallowicz Sylvia Walinski Veronica Stringert Josephine Lagina Virginia Conaway June Robinson William Gabonay Karl Hennig
If you would like to have a name added to the Prayer List, please call the church office, 724-785-7781.
Please join us in welcoming our newest member to our Partner Parishes, Carter Roth, who was baptized by Fr. Tim at The Historic Church of St. Peter on Sept. 10, 2017. Above, l. to r. , are godparents Phil Locante and Kelsey Baird; Fr. Tim; and parents Ashley and Jamison Roth (with Carter, looking spiffy in his hat!).
Farewell, John! We’ll Miss You and Your Beautiful Music!
With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to one of our Partner Parishes staff members and his wife, John and Alyssa Messick, pictured here at Christmastime at The Historic Church of St. Peter. As you know, John graced many of our Masses, weddings and other special services and events with his spectacular piano and organ music. John also has been assisting our Maintenance Supervisor with many projects this past summer. Please join us in wishing John and Alyssa well as they begin their family and move back to their home in the Harrisburg area. We’ll miss you! May God bless you both as you look forward to the birth of your first child and expand horizons with your music ministry!
This Sunday is Catechetical Sunday, When We Welcome and Bless Faith Formation Teachers
This Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, we celebrate Catechetical Sunday, when we welcome our Partner Parishes Faith Formation teachers for the 20172018 school year. Fr. Tim will conduct a special blessing of our religious education teachers at today’s 11:00 a.m. Mass at The Historic Church of St. Peter. As our teachers and students begin their Faith Formation classes for the new year, please keep them in your prayers.
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