199 McGovern Boulevard Crescent, PA 15046 www.scatparish.com

PARISH CLERGY

Fr. Lou Vallone ............... scatpastor@verizon.net Fr. Robert Zajdel Deacon Leonard Thomas

MASS SCHEDULE

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday...8:30 a.m. Wednesday............................................ No Mass Saturday Vigil Mass ............................. 4:00 p.m. Sunday Morning...............9:00 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Holy Days ....................................... as Scheduled See inside for Daily, Holiday and Special Events

CONFESSIONS

Saturday..................3:15−3:45 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.;

Also by appointment.

BAPTISMS

By appointment.

WEDDINGS

Call the parish office 6 months in advance of the

prospective date. Marriage Classes required.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

After every Mass (please ask the priest) and by request.

Low-gluten hosts available for Communion –

See priest before Mass.

DIRECTORY

Parish Office ....................................................... 724-457-7026 Fax...................................................................... 724-457-3292 Deacon Leonard Thomas………………………....412-812-4557 deacon@scatparish.com Jennifer Persuitte, Organist/Secretary.................. 724-457-7026

(Bulletin submission deadline is Tuesday at Noon.)

Steve Horvath, Maintenance………...……………...724-457-0715

Sue Tranter, CCD Director.................................. 724-601-1872 scatccd@verizon.net Mary Ann Jones, Bookkeeper .............................. 412-771-5646 Jeri Stotlemyer, Scheduler of Ministries..... sjogscat@gmail.com

Parish Email.......................................... scatparish@verizon.net Vatican Website ..............................................www.news.va/en

PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday–Thursday ..................................... 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Friday ........................................................ 9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE HOURS Sundays ...................................................10:00AM—11:15AM

AN OPEN INVITATION OF WELCOME

Non-Catholics and non-parishioners

are always welcomed guests.

Inactive, unsure or irregular Catholics are lovingly encouraged to reconnect with the Faith.

New parishioners are joyfully received in our community.

Please call the parish office. Though our space is small, our hearts are large

and there is plenty good room for all.

DECEMBER 20, 2015 • FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

of Siena ROMAN

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Saint Catherine

Fourth Sunday

of Advent

Saturday December 19th

4:00 PM Alex & Josephine Lepore

(Daughter, Carolina & Family)

Sunday December 20th

9:00 AM Wanda A. Hanwell

(Daughter, Beth & Family)

11:30 AM Thomas Harper (Wife)

Monday December 21st

8:30 AM Richard & Carol Yost (Doreen)

Tuesday December 22nd

8:00 AM Rosary

8:30 AM Rose Mandity (Jim & Pat Somerville)

Thursday December 24th Christmas Eve

8:30 AM Communion Service

4:00 PM Parish Family

6:30 PM Parish Family

9:00 PM Parish Family

Friday December 25th Christmas Day

10:30 AM Parish Family

Saturday December 26th

4:00 PM Mike Lombardo

(Dennis, Sharon & Mallory Lombardo

Sunday December 27th

9:00 AM Albert Totera

(Daughter, Maryann DiVito & Family)

11:30 AM Joseph Kurpiel (Pat & Stan Raybits)

NEIGHBORING CHURCHES WEDNESDAY MORNING MASSES

Our Lady of Fatima in Hopewell Twp. 9:00 AM

St. James in Sewickley 6:45 AM & 9:00 AM

St. Titus in Aliquippa 7:30 AM

St. Margaret Mary 8:30 AM

PRAYER REQUESTS: In your kindness will you please pray for the following : Michael B., Lou Montini, Christian A., Josh, Jim Pantaleo, Art P., Joe Z., Tom, Dave R., Justin, Curtis, Bernie C., A.H., Hanna, Michael B, Josh P., Christian, Leslie, Ross M., Ardith G., Patty M., Carol N., Billy Jr., Victims of Violence, Lorraine, Terry, Betty, A.H., Sam, Terri, Bertha, The Persecuted Christians, Danny R., Curt’s Friend, Kathy Hetzer Lewis, Mary Chestnutt, Dustin Formisano, Paul Lancos,, Louis Bubenheim DJ, RM, Eric Myers & Family, M.P., Bob “Huck” O’Brien, Wayne King, Roseanne Wolak-Farls, Marc Chimile, Mary, Ryan, John & Debi Cattley & Family, James E., Betty A., Lenore Hoovler, Helen Dixon, Mary, Isabella, Becky, Angela Willig, Carmelo Ramos, Melania Gonzalez, Jim B., N.M., Ryan Joseph, Matthew P, Danielle, Mary J., Marjorie Henry, Michael Hilliard, Diana Colaianni, J., Earl, Bill Ivy, Jim, Rick Vaccarelli, Anita Alfonsi, Michele Boslett, Pat, Greg, Leigh Ann, Frannie, Landon, John, Maria, John, Taylor, Brother Mike, Mary M., All Those In Need of Prayers. Please Note...Due to early bulletin deadlines, no

one’s name will come off of this list until the January 10th bulletin. I’ll add names as I receive them but if your names are on here, you don’t have to fill out any new slips until 2016. Thank you. Jennifer

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S MASSES

Our Mass Schedule at St. Catherine of Siena for the Christmas Holiday will be:

Thursday, December 24th Christmas Eve

4:00PM 6:30PM 9:00PM Friday, December 25th Christmas Day 10:30AM

Our Mass Schedule for the Solemnity of Mary, A Holy Day of obligation, will be as follows:

Thursday, December 31, 2015 4:00PM

Friday, January 1, 2016

10:30AM

St. Catherine of Siena, Pray For Us!

St. Catherine of Siena Parish Crescent, PA

“Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.”

“O shepherd of Israel, hearken, from your throne upon the cherubim, shine firth.”

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015

ST. CATHERINE’S CHRISTIAN LADIES SOCIETY NEWS

OFFICE CLOSINGS

The office schedule for the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays is as follows… CLOSED...Thursday, December 24th, Friday, De-cember 25th and Monday, December 28th. OPEN...Tuesday, December 29th, Wednesday, De-cember 30th CLOSED...Thursday, December 31st, Friday, Janu-ary 1st. OPEN...Monday, January 4th. We wish everyone a very Blessed Christmas and a

Happy and Healthy New Year.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHEDULE Reminder to all children in the Religious Education program. There will be NO CLASS THIS Sunday, December 27th or on Sunday, January 3rd.

Classes resume on Sunday, January 10, 2016.

OPLATKI AVAILABLE Oplatki, the traditional Christmas Wafer, is available at the entrances of the church for a $3.00 donation per package.

CALENDARS AVAILABLE Calendars for 2016 are still available! Be sure to pick up your copy at one of the entrances of the church. We ordered enough for each family in our Parish. Our thanks to Copeland Funeral Home for supplying them.

MINISTRY SIGN-UP SHEET The sign-up sheet for lectors, altar servers, and Eu-charistic Ministers for Christmas and New Year’s is in the sacristy. If you are one of our volunteers, please try to sign up for one of the scheduled times so we have all of the positions filled. Thank you.

DECORATING HELPERS Anyone who would like to help decorate our church for Christmas is asked to be at the church by 12:30PM THIS Sun-day, December 20th. There will be some new additions as well as some old favorites going up. Many hands make light work. Thanks to anyone who can

find time in their schedule at this busy time of year. Your parish family thanks you and God will surely bless you..

Christmas Message The Christian Ladies Society of St. Catherine of

Siena would like to wish you and your families a very Blessed Christmas!

To our members and our special helpers who have helped us with all of our projects throughout the

year, we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! Without your support and helping hands, we could not have accomplished all the wonderful things we

have done this year. We hope you have enjoyed them as well. Here are

just some of the highlights…

Our new free library Our newly painted kitchen and new stove!

Our very successful flea market and all the scholar-ships it provided to our parishioners

Our gift to the military soldiers overseas Our adopted child in Columbia

Our outreach programs for those in need and the ones who just need to have some company!

The baby blankets and bonnets for the newly bap-tized babies in our parish

Our free get well bags for those in the hospital which include our prayer shawls.

We continue to grow and continue to add new pro-grams and events that bring our parish community together! To all of our members, your dedication, hard work, and big hearts are what make our organization such a true success. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Erin Heidenreich

**********************************************************************************

Recycling Program Continues Just a reminder that we are always collecting alumi-num cans ONLY for our recycling program. Thank you for partnering with us in this endeavor. We have already made countless contributions to various charities. With your help, we can continue to help

DAILY MASS WEATHER POLICY If any local school districts (Hopewell, Moon Area, Sto-Rox) have a 2 hour delay or cancellation for ANY weather related circumstances, there will NOT

be a weekday Mass celebrated here.

Regular Offertory Collection

December 13, 2015….……………...................$0.00 (This is ordinary income from contributions for the general running of the parish. It is subject to a 17.6% tax to the diocese of Pittsburgh.) (Due to early bulletin deadlines updated figures were not available at the time of print. Watch for contribution records in future bulletins. Every week WILL be published as soon as possible.)

Parish Share Program PSP Assessment for 2016………………….....…? PSP Collected……………...………………….$503.00 Remaining on Goal………………………………..? (Thanks to EVERYONE for their generosity in helping us to exceed our goal for 2015. Our new campaign began with the First Sunday of Advent. We will print the goal set by the Diocese when we receive it. This is the tax paid to the diocese. We must remit this entire amount to the diocese by December 31, 2016. Any surplus then remains in the parish, tax free.)

Capital Improvements Goal……………………………………..…….......$0.00 Collected to date……………………...….....$8,039.00 (This money will be applied toward the restroom renovation project which Fr. Lou will discuss at the Town Hall Meeting. See you there!)

Religious Education Assessment 2016-2017………………..…$28,026.00 Contributions to date……………..……….....$110.00 Remaining on Goal……………….….….....$27,916.00 (This is our new assessment for the 2016-2017 year for the Elementary School Grant Contributions to the diocese based on 10% of the gross parish income. Contributions to this fund are parish share exempt.)

Special Collection (These collections are mandated by the Diocese for specific purposes. These moneys are remitted in total to the diocese and are not taxed.)

Weekend Attendance

December 13, 2015

4:00 PM Mass ..........................…………….…..293 9:00 AM Mass ..................................................210 11:30 AM Mass ................................................200 Total…………………………………...……..........703

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CHARITIES

COLLECTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH A longstanding tradition in the Diocese of Pittsburgh on Christmas Day is the Christmas Charities Collection for Children and Youth. The proceeds from this collection are used to support a number of programs in our diocese, which serve many children and young people who depend on our generosity and our loving concern for them. This offering gets deducted from our Parish Share and should go in the second collection. Please be advised that all collections benefit our parish. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity to this annual fund.

CANDY PICK-UP Just a reminder that anyone who ordered candy from the Religious Education Fundraiser, can pick it up in the parish office THIS WEEKEND, December 19th

and 20th, in the church office after any Mass.

FORGOT YOUR ENVELOPES?

At every entrance of the church we will be supplying blank donation envelopes. The dates do not matter. If you forgot your envelopes, these envelopes are available instead of the Mass Intention envelopes. If you’re a parishioner at St. Catherine’s,

don’t forget to write your name on the outside so we can give you the proper credit!

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.”

St. Catherine of Siena Parish Crescent, PA

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015

“May it be done to me according to your word.”

PARISH REGISTRATION

We welcome all those who would like to become members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish community. To register as a parishioner, please complete the following information and return it to the Parish Office or drop it in the collection basket at Mass. If you need to update your parish info, use this form also.

Name_________________________________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________________________

Telephone Number:_____________________________________________________________________

VETERAN’S GIFT TREE Thank you to those who have taken a tag from the

Veteran’s Gift Tree. GIFTS ARE DUE BACK BY THIS SUNDAY!!!

Please remember the following items when prepar-ing your gift. 1. When you take a tag, please make a copy of the

info on it and keep it separate in the event of loss.

2. When wrapping the gift, please DO NOT include

any personalized messages or perishable food in the package.

3. Please keep package decorations moderate since really ornate wrappings may be damaged in the mass delivery.

4. Please attach the name tag to the package with the name facing upward to read.

5. Many of the cards list gift cards, Giant Eagle, Eat ‘N’ Park, etc. If you decide to use just an en-velope for your package, please place them in the box near the tree. This will allow us to se-cure the envelopes until delivery.

6. MOST IMPORTANT!!! The gift MUST be in the church by the THIS SUNDAY, December 20th. We will deliver the presents to the facility first thing Monday morning December 21st. No second trip will be made to Butler for late gifts. Please respect the 12/20 deadline.

Lastly, anyone who wishes to help with loading and delivering the gifts that day, please be at the church by 9:00AM. Since several of the gifts are gift cards, this year handling will go slightly quicker. If you want to make the trip remember it’s a 45 minute trip each way and we usually stop for lunch after delivery.

THE YEAR OF MERCY PRAYER (This is the prayer Pope Francis used to open the Holy Doors and start the Year of Mercy. It will be

repeated occasionally throughout the year.)

O God,

who reveal your omnipotence above all in mercy and forgiveness, grant that we might live a year of grace, a fitting time to love you and our brothers & sisters in the joy of the Gospel.

Continue to pour out on us your Holy Spirit, that we might never tire of turning with trust to the gaze of him who we have pierced, your Son made man, the shining face of your endless mercy, the safe refuge for all of us sinners in need of par-don and peace, of the truth that frees and saves.

He is the Door, through which we come to you, the inexhaustible source of consolation for all, beauty that never sets, the perfect joy of life without end.

May the Immaculate Virgin intercede for us, the first and splendid fruit of the Paschal victory, the luminous dawn of the new heavens and new earth, the happy harbor of our earthly pilgrimage.

To you, Holy Father, to your Son, our Redeemer, to the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, be all honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

St. Catherine of Siena Parish Crescent, PA

STEEPLE CHASE SUPER BOWL POOL

Super Bowl Sunday is February 7, 2016. Again, we are offering two options for the Super Bowl Pool. One will cost $35 and the other will cost $100. There are 100 blocks in each pool.

$35 pool will have a total payment of $1,700: $100 1st qtr., $500 half time, $100 3rd qtr. and $1,000 final.

$100 pool will have a total payment of $5,000: $500 1st qtr., $1,000 half time, $500 3rd qtr. and $3,000 final.

For the $100 pool only, there will be 4 sets of numbers ~ a different set of numbers for each quarter. The names and numbers for each pool will be randomly drawn in advance. You will receive a copy of your completed pool prior to the Super Bowl. Don’t be left out. Purchase a square for yourself or partner with a friend. Consider buying some as Christmas or birthday gifts. Name your block and fill out the form below. Questions??? Call Terry 412-331-3443. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SUPER BOWL POOL

PLEASE PRINT. FILL OUT COMPLETELY, DROP IN COLLECTION BASKET (SJOG or SCAT -- MARK ENVELOP “SUPER BOWL”) OR PARISH OFFICE MAIL SLOT, OR MAIL TO: SJOG PARISH, “SUPER BOWL POOL,” 1011 CHURCH AVE., McKEES ROCKS, PA 15136. MAKE CHECKS PAY-ABLE TO ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH. QUES-TIONS??? CALL TERRY 412-331-3443. ________Square(s) @$35/square ($1,700 payout) = $________ (amount enclosed) ________Square(s) @$100/square ($5,000 payout) = $________ (amount enclosed)

(PLEASE PRINT)

I would like to name my square(s) _________________________________________ Name_____________________________________ Full Address w/ZIP __________________________ _________________________________________ Phone____________________________________

“Rouse your power, and come to save us.”

STEEPLE CHASE FOOTBALL POOL

There were no game results at the time of print. All results and winners will be printed in future bulletins as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience in this matter. Con-

gratulations to all and “Let Go Steelers!”

RACHEL’S VINEYARD a weekend retreat designed to heal the emotional and spiritual wounds of abortion, will be held Janu-ary 22-24, 2016 at the Spiritan Center in Bethel Park. In a confidential and supportive atmosphere, Rachel’s Vineyard demonstrates God’s love, forgive-ness, and compassion to women (and men) strug-gling with abortion’s aftermath. Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Pittsburgh co-sponsor this re-treat. To register or for more information, call Toni J e s t e r a t 4 1 2 - 3 5 2 - 5 3 4 8 o r e m a i l toniafj1@comcast.net

RETROUVAILLE Don't suffer through another Christmas. Hope and help for troubled marriages is available through Retrouvaille. For confidential information about or to register for the program beginning with a weekend on January 15, 2016, please contact Retrouvaille at 412-277-3434 More information is available at http://www.retrouvailleofpittsburghinc.org./

LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST There will be a breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 6th | 8:30AM to 11:30AM at St. Paul Seminary in the Car-dinals’ Great Hall. This is for Youth Ministry Leaders, volunteers, parents, young adult professionals, and WYD pilgrims. All are invited to join Bishop Zubik for a leadership breakfast inspired by Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy. To register, please visit: http://yearofmercy.eventbrite.com.

ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY St. Ferdinand’s hosts it’s annual party on Thursday, December 31, 2015, 7:30PM to Friday, January 1, 2016, 12:30 AM at Marriott – Pittsburgh North, Route 228, Cranberry Township, PA- Tickets must be purchased in advance: $75/person thru Decem-ber 20 - $80/person December 21 thru December 29. Reserved seating available – ages 18 & over are welcome - Call 724.776.9177, ext. 313 weekdays –or- 724.779-3986 weekends. Room reservations must be made via Marriott; call 724.772.3700.

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015

“ Give us new life, and we will call upon your name.”

When I was in school, before the days of automation and ten digit zip codes, the Post Office at this time of year used to hire hundreds of student "extras" to help handle the Christmas rush. I was one of them. As I tossed the bags and sorted into little slots all those tons of mail, I would fantasize what it must feel like to be on the receiving end of so much verbal cheer and greetings and love. Now that I am a Pastor, I know precisely how it feels:

humbling.

Every day for the past month, stacks of mail have been coming in my name. Some of it is from current parishioners and my own blood family whom I see regularly. Some is from former parishioners and friends and people I have dealt with in the past, both in-city and out-of-town, whom I might encounter rarely or not at all. An embarrassing amount is from people whose names I do not even recognize. I have no idea who they are, but they have thought enough of me to send a card or a gift. I have been literally showered with gifts, ranging from hams to cookies to sweaters to wine to fruit to cash. Being on the receiving end of all this generosity is indeed humbling, maybe even humiliating, because it helps to underscore one of my more glaring faults: I am not a person who keeps in touch through the written word. I do not write letters. I do not send Christmas cards. I do not sign Thank You notes. In short, I do not initiate or reciprocate in kind. I can give a million excuses, from lack of time to lack of ability, but in point of fact it is merely my own shortcomings as an individual that honestly accounts for it. (PS to my sainted Mother in heaven: I know, Mom, that you

taught me better. I just didn't learn.)

There is another of my many faults that is highlighted at this time, too: I am not enough of a person of prayer. I tell myself that my action is my prayer, which is theologically correct, but a spiritual cop-out. Nothing substitutes for good, solid heart-to-heart talks with God. Perhaps I can begin making amends for some of my failings in this

Pastor's Corner.

I give my thanks to all of you who have remembered me this season. I assure you that as I open each card and gift (which so far I have not done as yet), I will stop for a silent and specific moment of prayer to God for the intention of each person by name. All of my Christmas Masses are offered "For the People", which means YOU. It is my sincere hope that each of you feels the touch of the Spirit as I reach out to you individually in prayer (by-passing the US Mail) in this season of Our Savior's birth - which starts for me on Dec. 25 and will be celebrated continuously till Jan. 6.

A blessed Incarnation and Nativity (that’s the holy way of saying Merry Christmas) to all! May the Word become Flesh and dwell among you this and

every week.

Readings for the Week of December 20, 2015 Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a/Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19/Heb

10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45 Monday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, 11-

12, 20-21/Lk 1:39-45 Tuesday: 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2:1, 4-8/Lk 1:46-56 Wednesday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Ps 25:4-5, 8-10, 14/

Lk 1:57-66 Thursday: Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/

Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29/Lk 1:67-79 Friday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29/ Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Night: Is 9:1-6/Ps 96:1-3, 11-13/Ti 2:11-14/

Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12/Ti 3:4- 7/Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98:1-6/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-

18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 Saturday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31:3-4, 6, 8,

16-17/Mt 10:17-22 Next Sunday: 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28 or Sir 3:2- 6, 12-14/Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10/1 Jn 3:1-2, 21- 24 or Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17/Lk 2:41-52

The Pastor’s Corner

Father Lou Vallone