2018 May 20

Ministry Schedule May 26/27

Pentecost Sunday Saturday Vigil, May 19, 2018 4:00 p.m. P 60th Wedding Anniversary Harry & Elaine Sheehan Birthday Remembrance for Harry (Tom Sheehan family) Sunday, May 20, 2018 8:00 a.m. P Pro Populo 9:30 a.m. C Albert Konter (Mark, Tina & family) 11:00 a.m. P Margaret Duke (Veronica Mrozek) Monday, May 21, 2018 7:30 a.m. P Month’s Mind James Famularo (Parish family) Tuesday, May 22, 2018 7:30 a.m. P Janice Ritsko (Sister, Jackie Carducci) Wednesday, May 23, 2018 8:00 a.m. C Theresa Modispaw (Family) Thursday, May 24, 2018 7:30 a.m. P Month’s Mind Walter Novinsky (Parish family) Friday, May 25, 2018 7:30 a.m. P Month’s Mind Margaret Swinker (Parish family) Saturday, May 26, 2018 8:00 a.m. C Betty Duratz (Ron & Lois Diguglielmo)

The Most Holy Trinity Sunday Saturday Vigil, May 26, 2018 4:00 p.m. P Anniversary of Death Mark Magazine (Bernard Sheranek family) Sunday, May 27, 2018 8:00 a.m. P Mary Ann Furlong (Frank & Cora Lent) 9:30 a.m. C Patrignani & Hanna Parents (Dave & Gigi Patrignani) 11:00 a.m. P Pro Populo

The Historic Church of St. Peter Bread & Wine Paul & Helen Walczak

by Children Frances & John Borsody

EM: Server: Lector: EM: Server: Lector: EM: Server: Lector: EM: Server: Lector:

Saturday, May 26 — 4:00 p.m. St. Peter C-Gloria Wheeler C-Sr. James Ann H-Patty Craig Carmella & Gina DiFlippo Roxann Zidek Cantor: Megan Behary Sunday, May 27 — 8:00 a.m. St. Peter C-Margaret Peters C-Tim Shimko H-Vicki Gallo Andrew & Skyler Frazee Rose Ziglear-Comport Cantor: Samantha Ziglear Sunday, May 27 — 9:30 a.m. St. Cecilia Annette Augustine Nancy Sebeck Volunteer Caleb DellaPenna Anthony DellaPenna Mark Konter Sunday, May 27 — 11:00 a.m. St. Peter C-Larry Franks III C-Dot McCrory H-Diane Sheridan Dylan & Madison Stowe Cole Lincoski Patty Columbia Cantor: Nicole Dainty

Collection Report St. Peter Church 5/13/18 ADULT ENVELOPES (239) .................... ….. ...$4414.00 STUDENT (14) ......................... …………….. ....... $29.00 MONTHLY (28)…………………………… ........... $872.00 LOOSE…………………………………….. ........... $421.00 CANDLES………………………………................ $171.50 ASCENSION ....................................................... $830.00 SVDP .................................................................. $101.00

St. Cecilia Church 5/13/18 ADULT ENVELOPES (86) ................................$1494.00 STUDENT (6) ....................................................... $11.00 LOOSE................................................................ $135.91 CANDLES ............................................................. $33.00 ASCENSION ....................................................... $424.00

New to Our Partner Parishes?

If you’re new to the Partner Parishes of The Historic Church of St. Peter and St. Cecilia, we encourage you to register. Registration paperwork is in the back of each church, or you may go to our Partner Parishes website: stpeterstcecilia.org where you will find a link to register. Questions? Please call the church office, 724-785-7781. We welcome you and are happy to have you with us!

The Historic Church of St. Peter Sanctuary Lamp Paul & Helen Walczak

by Grandchildren Frances, Dan & Ryan Trump and Terri & John Borsody

I referenced at the beginning of Mass today that the entire process of Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and the celebration of these 50 days, have pointed to this day when the Holy Spirit would descend. When Jesus spoke in his Last Supper discourse to the Apostles, he said, "You are sorrowful now for, indeed, I will leave you. But I tell you, it is better for you that I do leave because, if I do not go, you will not receive the Holy Spirit."

The gift of the Holy Spirit is so important for us to understand. Jesus came, emptied himself of his Godhead, and entered our humanity in every respect. In his humanity Jesus was one person: an individual in time and in space. On the Ascension we celebrate his return, his ascent to his Father. Jesus promised that the Spirit would come. We know the Spirit goes where it will; the Advocate is like the wind that blows and moves powerfully among his people throughout the world.

Catholicism is a universal Church. The Church has priests, lay people and churches in every nation on the earth, well over a billion adherents to Catholicism. The Holy Spirit has accomplished this growth.

It’s important for us to understand on a universal level and individually as we seek to animate the gift of the Spirit within us. This day we take time and focus our attention and our energy on being more aware of this gift and the great potential the Holy Spirit represents for us.

From the beginning, God had a plan, and that plan included you and me. He gave each of us individual, unique gifts. He gave us the circumstances in which we find ourselves, in which to exercise those gifts, to accomplish his purpose.

We can go to the beginning: The Vigil Mass first reading is from the Book of Genesis describing the firmament that existed before God created the world and how the Spirit of God hovered over the water. In the first reading at Sunday’s Pentecost Mass, Acts speaks of how the Holy Spirit entered the city of Jerusalem like a strong, driving wind. It created such a disturbance that all who were in Jerusalem were drawn to the house within which was the Upper Room where the Apostles were hiding.

That Spirit of God, that driving wind from the very first lines of Genesis, is followed by the creation account in the next few verses in which God created man, and he breathed life into him. The Holy Spirit is that life of God that each of us received at our Baptism and more fully in our Confirmation.

There's so much imagery in today's Reading from the Acts of the Apostles that we must connect. God had a plan from the beginning. We

hear of the tongues of fire that settled upon each of the occupants of the Upper Room. That fire reminds us of Moses’ encounter with God and the burning bush.

Do you remember the account when Moses first encountered God? He saw the bush that was on fire, yet it wasn't consumed. As he came closer, he encountered the living God, and the living God directed him. He said, "You are to go to Egypt, and you are to set my people free. Confront Pharaoh on my behalf. I will be with you." Moses was frightened. "I don't speak well. How can I go before Pharaoh?" "I will be with you. I AM." And so Moses went to Egypt and after the Egyptians' lengthy encounter with the ten plagues, the people were set free. After they were set free, the Hebrews passed through the waters of the Red Sea. I’m going to share a couple of instances from the scripture that prefigure the gift of the Holy Spirit. Israel was freed from Egypt by the power of God from slavery: a physical bondage, in order that they might become God’s Chosen People and accomplish his purpose in the desert and Israel. In the Passover account, Moses had instructed the people that they were to purchase an unblemished lamb and to prepare it exactly as he instructed. Each family was to eat all of it. The Passover has been celebrated by the Jewish people for 3,400 years.

Jesus set us free by a different Passover. Our Passover took place the night that Jesus, at the Last Supper, the Passover meal, called himself the true unblemished Lamb, the real sacrificial offering: his body to be broken, his blood to be poured out for the life of man: the perfect unblemished Lamb, Jesus Christ. Our Passover occurred when Jesus willingly went to his death upon the Cross. He died, and then three days later, he passed through the Resurrection, over to new life.

We're not freed from the physical bondage of slavery like the Jews of old, by the work of Moses, God’s Holy Spirit working through him. We're free from the fear of death by Jesus Christ. He calls us to be a Resurrection people, to believe what he says, and then to enter into those eternal promises, recognizing that, even in this lifetime when the difficulties occur, when the physical problems of advanced age arise--my inability to remember to do this or to do that--the promise is there. The Spirit enables us to believe, and to not fear, to recognize that it's a transition from this life to the next. Jesus has gone before us. His Passover was from life through death to the Resurrection and the eternal promises of his heavenly Father.

We could go on and on about all of the elements that took place. Another example is the account of the Tower of Babel. What transpired there: the people became presumptuous. They said, "We'll build a tower into the heavens. We'll go into God's home; we'll confront him." In punishment, God gave them different languages; they could no longer communicate. It was a separation, a division of peoples into differ-

ent nations and tongues.

What took place when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles? That was overcoming Babel, because all of the Jews of every race, nation and tongue heard Peter proclaiming the Gospel, the truth of Jesus Christ, in their native languages: the gift of speaking in tongues from the Holy Spirit.

Think of the prophets. They had the Holy Spirit; they encountered great difficulties. Their lives were spent in a culture that didn't want to hear what they had to say: You must adhere to the commandments; you have to follow the covenant in order to live in relationship with God. Many of the prophets speaking on behalf of the Lord through the Spirit were faced with death. They suffered greatly. Yet, in that one same Spirit, they accomplished the work of the Lord. We live in a culture that's not too terribly different.

St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians includes an important quote I want you to hear:

Gal. 5:19-21;22-23 Those are the gifts that the Spirit brings to those who believe, who seek the gifts and live them out fully.

So today, let us hear these words; let us seek to live in that Spirit, overcoming our fears as the Apostles did on that first Pentecost. Jesus had been killed by the Sanhedrin, and the Sanhedrin was looking for the Apostles. Yet, Peter stepped out boldly that day and proclaimed Jesus Christ.

The Apostles were simple fishermen, uneducated, their Galilean dialect so narrow that they couldn't even speak to the people. Yet God enabled them through the gifts of the Spirit.

Every day we encounter in our culture most people focused on their self-interest. We’re told to seek material things, our own comfort, to pursue pleasure. In contrast, the Lord says, Live in my Spirit. Be my hands, my feet, my voice amongst my people, and proclaim me through each word and each act.

We must decide. Are we a people of the Spirit, or of the flesh? Are we following the model that's been given to us through the power of the Holy Spirit that enabled the Church to grow, the Body of Christ to be strengthened and the Kingdom to be more fully established? Let us truly seek the Spirit.

Lord God, send forth your Spirit; renew the face of the earth, and each of us.

The Historic Church of St. Peter Parish Capital Campaign Volume I I I

May 19 & 20,

“As Christian stewards, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.”

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS The response to our request for volunteers, which was held the weekend of May 12 and 13, has been very encouraging. More than 100 parishioners signed up to assist in the campaign. Our volunteers are to be congratulated for their commitment and sacrifice to The Historic Church of St. Peter.

Father Tim and the Campaign Committee also wish to extend a sincere thank you to our volunteers.

We are continuing to recruit additional volunteers and anyone who did not have an opportunity to sign up previously is welcome to join our committee. Please complete one of the volunteer cards that are available near the entrances of the church and return it to the parish office or just phone the office to sign up.

All volunteers will be teamed up with other parish members to make visits, which are scheduled to last until mid-June. Before our volunteers make their visits, we will conduct a series of parish receptions, as well as an orientation and training meeting to explain the fund-raising process.

HOW YOU CAN HELP † PRAYER — Please pray for the success of our campaign. Prayers cards are located in the pews and church vestibule. † VOLUNTEER — This campaign is for the benefit of everyone and we will not succeed if we don’t all work together. † SACRIFICIAL GIVING — Please prayerfully consider your financial pledge in the weeks ahead and please remember that we will be asking for equal sacrifice, not equal giving. † ATTEND A PARISH RECEPTION IN MAY OR JUNE — Find out how you can help. Dates and times will be published soon.

Upon This Rock You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.

— Matthew 16:18

— Reprinted with permission from Cal U Review Fall 2017

More details to come in future bulletins!

Partner Parishes Donate $3,600 To Support Center of Hope

Thanks to all of you who supported our Partner Parishes effort to raise money for the Center of Hope Baby Bottle Campaign. Due to your generosity, we have collected $3,600 TO DATE and are awaiting the return of many baby bottles! These funds will help to finance the many worthwhile programs the Center of Hope conducts on an ongoing basis to provide assistance to expectant mothers who are in need.

If you haven’t returned your baby bottle yet, please drop it off at the church office or into the collection basket at Mass and we will see that any remaining bottles get to the Center for Hope.

Thank you for your generosity!

New Bereavement Group Begins Summer Session

The Partner Parishes Bereavement Group has begun its Summer 2018 session and welcomes anyone who has experienced a recent or past loss to join them at the church office at 6:00 p.m. on the following Wednesday evenings:

May 30 June 13 and June 27 July 11 and July 25 August 8 and August 22 Questions? Pleases call the church office, 724-785-7781.

Please join us in welcoming to the Partner Parishes our newest member, Jayce Jay Patterson, who was baptized May 12, 2018, at The Historic Church of St. Peter. Jayce is joined in the photo above by his parents, Stacy Savona and Zachary Patterson, and Fr. Tim.

Diaconate Information Sessions Set In Connellsville and Greensburg

Information sessions for men who are considering the permanent diaconate will be held at the following locations. You only need to attend one session. Deacon William J. Hisker, director of the program, will lead each session. Call 724-552-2598 for more information or to register.

May 23, 2018 6:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish, Greensburg and May 30, 2018 6:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

St. Rita Parish, Connellsville

Prayer List Amelia Dascenzo Ann Jaworowsky Beatrice Kloock Bill Snodgrass Brian Tomecsko Bruce Wells Carol Ashton Charlotte Katko Cody Tylka Craig Alessio Daryl Hall David Ballant Deb Donna Fletcher Donna Hill

Donnie Dru Vojacek Ed Balchon Elaine Helsel Eleanor Dando Fr. Bob Conley Fred Gnus George Lisac Harry Booker HeatherBeth Powell Helen Mendish Irene Franks J. A. Jackson Hodge James Illar Janet Booker

Jean Bohna Jerry Zalek Jim Belice Joe Angell Joe Shashura John Hlatky John & Alyssa Messick and baby Jack John E. Jenkins Jonathan Wallowicz Josephine Lagina Karl Hennig Kathy Kim Harvey Kinzley Marie Grooms Laura Cherban

Lillian Baroni Lisa Chancey Luella Sholl Matilyn Baumgrad Matthew DeSimone Melissa Bell Michael Mancini Mike Dorobish Mike Stump Nancy Jenkins Patty Volek Robert Atz Robert Franks Robert Stringert Robert Sunny Rose Rambo

Sam Basile III Sarah Corebridge Sherri Zias Shirley Mae Mislo Stanley Sobek Susan Rountree Sylvia Walinski Veronica Stringert Vickie Dzmura Virginia Conaway Virginia Galway V. V. Wanda Burns Wayne Rishel William Gabonay

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