Around the Parish – October 13, 2024
Around the Parish – October 13, 2024
Published on October 12, 2024
A few weeks ago, we announced our #iGiveCatholic project in the bulletin: updating the original windows in Gallagher Hall, which have been in place since our church was built in 1957. As we approach the 70th anniversary of our parish’s founding in 1955, we want to ensure that we continue to care for the physical structure of our church. I’m excited to share that the new windows were installed from October 1-4, and, God willing, by the time you read this, the new stage curtain will also be in place!
We’re seeking donations through #iGiveCatholic to cover the costs of these much-needed updates to Gallagher Hall. Included in this weekend’s bulletin, you’ll find a flyer with an envelope for any contributions you might wish to make towards these projects. Our goal is to raise $15,000 to fund the updates to our social hall, including the new windows, stage curtain, and a fresh coat of paint.
Every donation, large or small, makes a difference, and we’re grateful for any support you can give. You can donate in honor of, in memory of, or in thanksgiving for someone or something, and following #iGiveCatholic Giving Tuesday, we’ll reach out to create commemorative plaques. Thank you for helping us continue to care for our parish!
Thanks to Mrs. Oliver and her wonderful team, Faith Formation families are once again invited to enjoy a Sunday at the Corn Maze! If you’d like to join us, please be sure to call Mrs. Oliver by next Sunday, October 20, as we won’t be able to accommodate any additions after that date.
We’ll head to the Corn Maze on Sunday, November 3, following the 11:00 AM Mass, with a pizza lunch provided in Gallagher Hall beforehand. To reserve your spot, please contact Mrs. Linda Oliver at
(724)-968-8197. Please note that parents are responsible for transporting their children and must remain with them throughout the event.
All are invited to join our watching of The Chosen between the Sunday Masses in Gallagher Hall. Thanks to Mrs. Cinda Wilpula for leading our group!
Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:
Anxiety and fear are cousins, but not twins. Fear see a threat; anxiety imagines one. Very often, people don’t decide their future; people choose their habits, and their habits decide their future. Your faith can move mountains, but your doubts create them. The longer you try to live in the past, the less future you have to enjoy. Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient, and the best things come to those who don’t give up.
Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy
The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions
The Mass is considered the greatest prayer of intercession in the Church. This is because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father, making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection. Traditionally, a Priest may be requested to offer a Mass for a specific intention, even if the requester cannot be physically present.
Offering Masses for the Deceased:
Having a Mass offered for a deceased person is an ancient and commendable practice. A Mass is offered to pray for the departed, that they may find peace in heaven. Since each Mass holds infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit to the person prayed for, as well as their family, who can take comfort in knowing that their intention is united with the prayers of the Church.
The Mass: Center of Christian Life:
Every Mass is a precious gift from God. It is the center of the Church’s life, known as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” because in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass. We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. At each Mass, all the intentions of God’s people, both living and deceased, are included. As Pope Paul VI noted in his motu proprio “Firma in Traditione,” the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join their own sacrifices to the Eucharistic sacrifice, participating more intensely and supporting the Church’s needs, especially its ministers.
Requesting a Mass Intention:
Anyone may request a Mass Intention for a living person, a deceased person, members of a family, or a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, such as World Peace, Vocations, or Respect for Life. The Church allows only one intention per Mass.
Offering a Mass Stipend:
The normal stipend offering for a Mass is $10. However, a Mass Offering can be more or less than the suggested amount, depending on the financial position of the person requesting the Mass. Envelopes for Mass intention requests are available at the entrances of the church. These envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. The requester may also ask for a card to be sent to notify someone that a Mass Intention has been requested (one card per intention). Please note that the name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not announced.
Around the Parish – October 13, 2024
October 12, 2024