Ministry Schedule December 17/18
Third Sunday of Advent Saturday Vigil December 10, 2016 4:00 p.m. P Deceased Members of our Parishes Sunday December 11, 2016 8:00 a.m. P Josephine Klamerus (Son Michael & family) 9:30 a.m. C Mark Magazine (Jane Kish) 11:00 a.m. P Anniversary of Death Pearl Teper (Son Bill, Dayna & Jacob) Monday December 12, 2016 7:30 a.m. P Bob Behary (George Behary) Tuesday December 13, 2016 7:30 a.m. P Joseph Sheehan (Harry & Elaine Sheehan) Wednesday December 14, 2016 8:00 a.m. C Fr. Mel Bessellieu (St. Ann’s Parish, Texas) Thursday December 15, 2016 7:30 a.m. P Birthday Remembrance Frank Savona (Mary) Friday December 16, 2016 7:30 a.m. P John Sheehan (Dolores & Ron Garlits) Saturday December 17, 2016 8:00 a.m. C Susan Zimcosky
Fourth Sunday of Advent Saturday Vigil December 17, 2016 4:00 p.m. P Robert Bohna (Louise, Dennis, Roberta, Brian) Sunday December 11, 2016 8:00 a.m. P Harry Adams (Daughter Colleen & son-in-law Frank) 9:30 a.m. C Lucille & Frank (Angelo) Angelilli (Son Frank & Karen Angelilli) 11:00 a.m. P Deceased Members of our Parishes
EM: Server: Lector:
4:00 p.m. St. Peter Patty Galway Mark Galway John Peters Brionna Staggers Emily Myers John Ball Cantor: Volunteer
EM: Server: Lector:
Tim Shimko Andy Tressa Kim Gaydos Andrew Frazee Volunteer Joe Gaydos Cantor: Samantha Ziglear
EM: Server: Lector:
Mark Konter Carl DellaPenna Jr. Carl DellaPenna Caleb DellaPenna Anthony DellaPenna Clara Medlock
EM: Server: Lector:
Kathy Miller Bert Smith Ron Dellarose Addison Gregory Sadie Harvey Patty Columbia Cantor: Delaney Harvey
8:00 a.m. St. Peter
9:30 a.m. St. Cecilia
11:00 a.m. St. Peter
Collection Report St. Peter Church 12/4/16 ADULT ENVELOPES (240) ..................... ... $4258.00 STUDENT ENVELOPES (16).......................... $17.00 MONTHLY (11)…………………………… ...... $494.00 LOOSE…………………………………….. ...... $340.00 CANDLES………………………………........... $130.00 SVDP ............................................................... $10.00 ACCENT ........................................................ $155.00 CHRISTMAS FLOWERS ............................. $1369.00
St. Cecilia Church 12/4/16 ADULT ENVELOPES (93) ........................... $1620.00 STUDENT ENVELOPES (3).............................. $4.00 LOOSE ............................................................ $23.00 CANDLES ........................................................ $77.00 CHRISTMAS FLOWERS ................................. $30.00 SVDP ............................................................... $20.00 UTILITY ......................................................... $105.00 CHILDREN & FAMILY APPEAL ...................... $20.00 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ........................ $20.00 CHRISTMAS ................................................... $20.00
Return Angel Tree Gifts by Monday, Dec. 12 Please return your new unwrapped gifts, along with the angel tree tag, to the church office by this Monday, Dec. 12. Thank you for helping to bring a smile to a child in our community this holiday season!
Ministry Schedules Mailed—3rd Servers at Masses Welcomed! The new Ministry Schedule has been mailed to participants’ homes. Extras also may be picked up in the back of each Partner Parish church. Although only two servers for each Mass appear on the schedule, Fr. Tim welcomes a third server to volunteer. If you are a trained altar server who attends a Mass and you would like to serve, please feel free to go to the Sacristy prior to Mass and offer to participate. If you have any questions, please call the church office at 724-785-7781.
In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew, John the Baptist is making inquiry as to whether Jesus is the longexpected Messiah. By asking John’s disciples to relate to him that because of Jesus “the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them,” Jesus is in effect saying: "I’m the Messiah; I’m the fulfillment of the envisioned Messianic kingdom." However, Jesus’ incarnation, public ministry, passion, cross, death and resurrection are not the fullness of the kingdom. That will come when he returns in glory. When he declared the kingdom of God was in their midst it was the beginning of his revelation of his Father’s plan for the salvation of humanity. We know from all the wars, destruction, natural disasters and human sinfulness that the Kingdom is not yet fully realized. When Jesus ascended into glory, he left it to us who would continue the work of establishing his kingdom until he returns. We are commissioned at our baptism to be his hands, his feet and his voice in a troubled world. So each individual, having been blessed by the Lord with different gifts and circumstances, is expected to use those gifts to build up the kingdom in the context of his or her respective vocation. Now, how we do that will depend on our particular responsibilities: some as a parent, some as a spouse, some who have positions that give them the potential to reach out to the multitudes and care for them. I will give you an example using Holy Father Francis and his worldwide reach. Our Holy Father Francis, you probably were aware, was selected Man of the Year by Time Magazine in 2013. He was on the front cover of Time Magazine. As a result people began to recognize him more broadly which was a good thing. A poll taken in the United States that year reflected 92% of the people had a very favorable impression of him. He was doing amazing things. In my previous parish I passed around posters with a picture of the Pope embracing a horribly deformed man while kissing his wounds. He continues trying to lead us, attempting to show what Christ would do were he here. We know Jesus accomplished many healings during his public ministry in Galilee. He proclaimed the good news of the Gospel and taught the people about the kingdom. When Francis was in Rio de Janeiro the summer of 2013 for World Youth Day, 3.7 million young people went to see him on Copacabana Beach! That was extraordinary! I don’t believe that many attended World Youth Day in Poland this past summer but there were very positive responses to his continuing leadership. He's been gifted by God. Francis has been sent to help restore the image of our Church that was tarnished and to shepherd us as we hear his voice and follow him. On Monday of this coming week, the 12th of December, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Pope Francis in a previous celebration spoke powerfully about that apparition of our Blessed Mother in Guadalupe, Mexico, in 1531. As a reminder of the circumstances related to those apparitions the Spanish had invaded Mexico and all of what is today Central America, defeating the Aztecs and the Incas, and other indigenous people. Those peoples were despairing the loss of their way of life and freedom. The Blessed Mother made an appearance and spoke to a poor Aztec peasant, Juan Diego. She said, "Am I not your Mother? Do I not care for you?" At that exact time, the Protestant Reformation was occurring in Europe through which six million people had left the Church. In the Americas, because of our Lady of Guadalupe and her reaching out to the indigenous people, six million new people joined the Church! God's providential hand working in human history. This is what the Holy Father said about our Blessed Mother as Our Lady of Guadalupe: "Mary's embrace shows that the Americas, north and south, are called to be a land where different people come together: a land prepared to accept human life at every stage, from the mother's womb to old age: a land which welcomes immigrants, the poor and the marginalized of every age and circumstance: a land of generosity." He was speaking to the Americas. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the Americas, and he's saying, "America, take the abundance you have and generously share it." He’s asking us to do that in many ways. Some are exasperated with him because of his vision, yet that is the work of Christ’s Vicar--to challenge, motivate and lead us. Each of us, in our respective vocation, is called to respond through action and service, to be the presence of the Lord amongst his people: his hands and feet, that healing voice, that empathetic word, that touch that enables another to be restored. That's what the Lord calls us to do. During Advent we look more closely at our lives and determine whether changes need to be made. We're all striving to serve the Lord in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Following the Lord’s lead and Francis’ exhortation we should enable one another to bring forth our gifts by encouraging, affirming and nurturing each other in order that the Lord's purpose is accomplished in his kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven.
Daily Mass - The Sacrifice of the Body of Christ “What happened there on the Cross that day is happening now in the Mass, with this difference: On the Cross the Savior was alone; in the Mass He is with us. Our Lord is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. He therefore can never suffer again in His human nature. How then can the Mass be the re-enactment of Calvary? How can Christ renew the Cross? He cannot suffer again ‘in His own human nature’ which is in heaven enjoying beatitude, but He can suffer again in ‘our human natures.’ He cannot renew Calvary in His ‘physical body,’ but He can renew it in His ‘Mystical Body’—the Church. “The Sacrifice of the Cross can be re-enacted provided we give Him our body and our blood, and give it to Him so completely that as His own, He can offer Himself anew to His heavenly Father for the redemption of His Mystical Body, the Church. So the Christ goes out into the world gathering up other human natures who are willing to be Christs. In order that our sacrifices, our sorrows, our Golgothas, our crucifixions, may not be isolated, disjointed, and unconnected, the Church collects them, harvests them, unifies them, coalesces them, masses them, and this massing of all our sacrifices of our individual human natures is united with the Great Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross in the Mass.” —Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Presenting the 2016-2017 Brownsville Catholic Padres! We welcome the members of the 2016-2017 Brownsville Catholic Padres and their
coaches, Greg Fike and Michael Bogden, and wish them success this season. Please plan to support the teams at their home games, location to be determined. Call the church of ice for information, 724-785-7781.
Varsity Team Members
Junior Varsity Team Members
Zachary Allamon Hunter Assad Nicholas Climes Tessa Dellarose Nolan Konopka Cole Rankin Tyler Wible Brandon Zimcosky
Christopher Climes Anna Clister Luke Clister Andrew Frazee Stephanie Morris Stasio Stetar Trenton Wible
Allison Sallade Ann Baker Ann Bill Babs DiGiovine Barbara Batovsky Barbara McNeeley Beverly Berish Bill Snodgrass Bob Clark Bob Craft Bob Magdic Brandon Tomecsko Bryan Tomecsko Carl Butler Charlotte Katko Christine Rose Christopher Liebietreu Chuck Smith Cody Tylka Darla Stump David Ballant David Black Donald Maglietta Donna Fletcher Eleanor Dando Emma Null Fred Gnus George Babko Gerald Boggess
MaryAnn Marshall Maryann Olenik Melvin Wence Michael Climes Sr. Harold Seto Sr. Helen Mendish Nancy Heinbaugh Jackson Hodge Patricia Knight Jeff Melhorn Patricia Urick Sawyer Jerry Zalek Patty Sluk Jill Wible Paul Cech, Sr. JoAnn Kwasny Kovach Rhonda Liggett Joel Shumar Robert Franks John Hlatky Robert Stringert John L. Hankins, Jr. Robert Sunny Ronald Sabo Jr. John E. Jenkins John Zulkowsky Rose Marie Cross Johnny Little Ryan Barry Joseph Jagoda Sammy Basile III Joseph Nehela Scott Casterwiller Serena Snodgrass Joyce Smith Kathleen Miller Shane Urbine Laura Garee Susan Nesti Lenny Zielinski Sylvia Walinski Liliana Orris Teresa Black Linda Brand Terry Thomas Lisa Chancey Tisa Lach Luella Scholl V. V. M. V. Veronica Stringert Margie Linzmeier Virginia Conaway Maria Coate
Advent Penance Service Schedule — December 2016 Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3:00 p.m. St. Joan of Arc, Farmington Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7:00 p.m. St. Francis of Assisi, Masontown Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1:00 p.m. St. John the Evangelist, Uniontown We are pleased to announce that the children of our Partner Parishes will be celebrating their First Reconciliation on Dec. 10 at our Advent Penance Service.
“Thanks for Giving” Video on Diocese Website
Please check out the Greensburg Diocese webpage for the video, “Thanks for Giving,” Bishop Malesic’s special message thanking the people of the diocese for giving of themselves to help their parishes, Catholic schools, Catholic Charities, and the diocese. Our Partner Parishes ministry, Meals on the Boulevard, is highlighted in the video. To see the video, go to:
www.dioceseofgreensburg.org
Christmas Cantata This Sunday
The Bentworth Ministerium Community Choir will present its Christmas Cantata this Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7:00 p.m. at The Historic Church of St. Peter.
Please plan to attend this beautiful musical celebration of the joyous Christmas season!
Still Time to Make Tax-Deductible Donation!
There is still one month left in 2016 to make a tax-deductible donation to this year’s Diocesan Lenten Appeal. Remember that all money donated to the DLA now is returned to our respective churches. (Please note “DLA on your donation.) Thank you for your generosity!
Bereavement Session Begins January 18 The next six-week session of the Partner Parishes Bereavement Group will begin Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. at the church office. The group offers support for those individuals who are experiencing the loss of a loved one. If you would like to par cipate in the group, or if you have ques ons, please call the church office, 724-785-7781.
Children and Family Services Appeal Second Collection at Christmas Masses
Bishop Malesic’s message to us as Catholics in the Diocese of Greensburg this Christmas is to put the needs of the poor ahead of our own. When we take care of the poor among us, we serve Jesus himself in a most personal way. This Christmas, please give generously to the “Children and Family Services Appeal” second collection at all the Christmas Masses. Your contribution goes toward changing the future of an individual, family or child through the good work of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg.
Partner Parishes Welcome Nine New Members Baptized Dec. 3 at The Historic Church of St. Peter! Nine children from the Partner Parishes of The Historic Church of St. Peter and St. Cecilia were baptized Dec. 3, 2016, by Fr. Tim at The Historic Church of St. Peter. Please join us in welcoming them to our parish family! Pictured here are the newly-baptized children with their parents and Godparents: Lexxi Gregg and Logan Gregg, daughter and son of Angeline and Chad Gregg; Tatum Nichols, daughter of Justine and Troy Nichols; Braydon Radacy and Darrel Redman Jr., sons of Stacey and Darrel Redman Sr.; Victoria Savona and Christopher Savona Jr., daughter and son of Kristen Spohn and Christopher Savona; Samuel Vollstedt, son of Karen and Philip Vollstedt; and Nicholai Zayak, son of Nicholas Zayak.
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