ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH · 03/01/2021  · 8:00 AM Good Shepherd Church †Margaret & Stephen...

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Transcript of ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH · 03/01/2021  · 8:00 AM Good Shepherd Church †Margaret & Stephen...

  • ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH

    JANUARY 3, 2021 | EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

    GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH

    MASS SCHEDULE:

    SUNDAY 8:00 AM

    SACRED HEART CHURCH

    MASS SCHEDULE:

    SATURDAY 8:00 AM

    SUNDAY 11:00 AM

    MADONNA DEL CASTELLO

    CHURCH

    MASS SCHEDULE:

    SATURDAY VIGIL 4:00 PM

    THURSDAY 8:00 AM

    ST. COLMAN CHURCH

    MASS SCHEDULE:

    SATURDAY VIGIL 5:30 PM

    SUNDAY 5:30 PM

    TUESDAY 8:00 AM

    CONFESSION TIME:

    SATURDAY 12:00 NOON - 1:00 PM

    ST. JOHN FISHER CHURCH

    MASS SCHEDULE:

    SATURDAY VIGIL 4:00 PM

    WEDNESDAY 8:00 AM

    ST. JUDE THE APOSTLE

    CHURCH

    MASS SCHEDULE:

    SUNDAY 9:00 AM

    FRIDAY 8:00 AM

    ST. MAURICE CHURCH

    MASS SCHEDULE:

    SUNDAY 10:00 AM

    MONDAY 7:00 PM

    CONFESSION TIME:

    MONDAY 7:30 - 8:00 PM

    WORD OF GOD CHURCH

    MASS SCHEDULE:

    SUNDAY 10:00 AM

    MONDAY-FRIDAY LIVESTREAM MASS

    9:00 AM

    CONFESSION TIME:

    SATURDAY 12:00 NOON - 1:00 PM

  • 02

    STAFF AND CONTACTS

    ST. JUDE THE APOSTLE

    CHURCH

    405 Westinghouse Avenue, Wilmerding, PA 15148�

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    ST. JOHN FISHER

    CHURCH

    33 Lewin Lane, Churchill, PA 15235�

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    ST. COLMAN CHURCH

    100 Tri-Boro Avenue, Turtle Creek, PA 15145-1966�

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    ST. MAURICE CHURCH

    2001 Ardmore Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15221�

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    WORD OF GOD

    CHURCH

    7446 McClure Avenue, Swissvale, PA 15218�

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    STAFF

    Father Frank D. Almade

    Pastor

    Father Martin F. Barkin

    Senior Parochial Vicar

    Father Jeremy J. Mohler

    Parochial Vicar

    [email protected]

    Deacon Joseph M. Dougherty

    Deacon Keith G. Kondrich

    Deacon Herb Riley

    Deacon Ron Demblowski

    Pastoral Associate

    [email protected]

    412-241-1372

    Kelly James

    Director of Business Operations

    [email protected]

    412-351-6008

    Cheryl Kirkland

    Director of Religious Education

    [email protected]

    412-351-6710

    Norman E. Chapman

    CAGO, Director of Music

    [email protected]

    412-271-0809

    Kelley Rodgers

    Business Manager

    [email protected]

    412-271-0809

    Safe Environment...It is the policy of

    the Diocese that all volunteers must

    complete the Safe Environment process

    before beginning a ministry or activity in

    any Parish. Please call 412-271-0809

    for more information..

    Diocese of Pittsburgh Crisis Hotline:

    1-888-808-1235

    Diocesan Victim Assistance

    Coordinator: 412-456-3093 (Office)

    PA Child Line: 1-800-932-0313

    New Parishioners are most welcome!

    Please call the parish office at 412-271-0809.

    We will be happy to assist you!

    MADONNA DEL

    CASTELLO CHURCH

    2021 South Braddock Avenue, Swissvale, PA 15218�

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    GOOD SHEPHERD

    CHURCH

    Braddock Avenue at Frazier Street, Braddock, PA 15104�

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    1600 Brinton Road, Braddock Hills, PA 15221-4902�

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    January 3, 2021 | Epiphany of the Lord

  • If the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas

    is “the season of giving,” the period after Christmas is

    certainly “the season of gratitude.” I am grateful to all who

    blessed St. Joseph the Worker Parish with their time, efforts

    and presence. Let me mention a few in particular:

    • Our musicians, led by Director of Music ministries

    Norm Chapman. Thank you for your contributions

    to the liturgies of Advent and Christmas. A special

    shout-out to our technical directors who guided the

    live-streaming of Masses from Word of God

    Church. And blessings to the members of the Bell

    Choir and Virtual Choir, who did programs of

    Lessons and Carols for Christmas. Norm and his

    helpers put in a ton of hours of work on the

    computer, to make beautiful music available to us.

    Thank you!

    • All other liturgical ministers: the greeters, ushers,

    lectors, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans. We could

    not have our Masses without your help. Thank you!

    • Our talented church decorators. We had fewer

    people in church to see their lovely work, but that

    did not detract from the care of their arrangement of

    flowers and crèche scenes. Thank you!

    • Our office staff, who handled the reservations

    system to make sure we stayed under our state-

    mandated “COVID number” in our churches. Their

    gentle conversations with parishioners were most

    kind. Thank you!

    • The maintenance staff who sanitized the churches

    before and after Masses, cleaned the churches and

    helped the decorators. Thank you!

    • My brother priests and deacons. I include helper

    priests Fathers Norbert Campbell, Jim Garvey and

    Jim Kunkel. Thank you!

    • The faithful who braved cold and sleet and snow to

    come and participate in Mass in person. Thank you!

    • The faithful who did not make it to church but

    contributed their prayers from home and their

    donations. Thank you!

    • The faithful who prayed with us from their homes

    and apartments via live-streaming, locally and

    around the country (who knows?). Thank you!

    • Did I forget anyone? My bad. And my gratitude to

    all who help make St. Joseph the Worker Parish one

    of the best in the Diocese. Thank you!

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    A couple of days ago I went back through my

    Faithful Chronicles file. The first time I mentioned

    “Coronavirus” was in the column of March 16, 2020, just

    before we were forced to close churches. We reopened on

    June 6, but with heavy restrictions, and remain under these

    restrictions. As we have prayed for a “healthier new year”

    two vaccines against the Coronavirus and COVID-19 have

    cleared their clinical trials, been approved by the Food and

    Drug Administration, and begun to make it to doctors,

    nurses, aides, and other front-line health care workers. This

    week the rollout continues in the many nursing homes and

    skilled care facilities throughout Pennsylvania.

    A few people have raised concerns, both about the

    efficacy of the vaccines and the moral issues. Prominent

    politicians and media celebrities have publicly taken the

    vaccine, to witness to the value and safety of this

    preventative measure. The U.S. Catholic bishops issued a

    statement on the ethical concerns. It reads in part:

    “In view of the gravity of the current pandemic and

    the lack of availability of alternative vaccines, the reasons to

    accept the new COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and

    Moderna are sufficiently serious to justify their use, despite

    their remote connection to morally compromised cell lines.

    “Receiving one of the COVID-19 vaccines ought to

    be understood as an act of charity toward the other members

    of our community. In this way, being vaccinated safely

    against COVID-19 should be considered an act of love of

    our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the

    common good.”

    Obviously the decision to accept the vaccine is a

    personal and individual one. If you have any medical

    issues, please talk with your physician. I respect everyone’s

    decision in this regard. But following upon people wiser

    than me and their advice, I urge all parishioners to take the

    vaccine and pray that soon we will conquer this pandemic. I

    myself will take the vaccine as soon as it is available.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    With the end of the Christmas season next weekend,

    the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we turn our attention to

    the new year. The week of prayer for unity among all

    Christians is January 18-25. The sad anniversary of the

    Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion is January 22.

    Ash Wednesday is February 17. Palm Sunday is March 28.

    Good Friday is April 2. Easter Sunday is April 4. The feast

    of St. Joseph the Worker is Saturday, May 1. Pentecost

    Sunday is May 23. A blessed, healthier and holy new year of

    grace to one and all.

    03

    Faithful Chronicles

    By Father Frank D. Almade

    Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God

  • Mass Intentions

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    Sat. January 2

    Vigil Mass

    4:00 PM

    Madonna del Castello

    Church

    †Donna Veyliotti Linda & Tony Probola

    4:00 PM

    St. John Fisher Church

    1) †John & Violet Palatas

    2) †Brian & Jimmy, brothers

    1) Daughter, Janet Weisberg

    2) Josie & Dan Oddo

    5:30 PM

    St. Colman Church

    †James Ward Wife & Children

    Sunday,

    January 3

    Epiphany of the Lord

    8:00 AM

    Good Shepherd Church

    †Margaret & Stephen Banyas & Children Florence Szekely

    9:00 AM

    St. Jude the Apostle Church

    †Lois Stackiewicz Terri & Bob Gomola

    10:00 AM

    St. Maurice Church

    1) †The Steed Family

    2) †John J. Sgroi III

    1) Linda & Dave Steed

    2) Wife, Kathy; daughters,

    Bethany & Leslie

    10:00 AM

    Word of God Church

    1) †Agnes Romano

    2) †Maria Rosa Turla

    1) Terry & Tim Ward

    2) Joyce Viola

    11:00 AM

    Sacred Heart Church 1) †Memorial—Raymond Lee McLaughlin 1) McLaughlin Family

    5:30 PM

    St. Colman Church

    †Michael Valentic, Betty Blair, Herk Noden &

    extended Families

    Anonymous

    Mon. January 4

    Saint Elizabeth Ann

    Seton, Religious

    9:00 AM

    Word of God Church

    Special Intention Karen Thomas

    7:00 PM

    St. Maurice Church

    †Zaccari/Zentner Families Janet

    Tues. January 5

    Saint John Neumann,

    Bishop

    8:00 AM

    St. Colman Church

    †Michele Quigley Sr. Mary Ann Siedarczyk

    9:00 AM

    Word of God Church †James Conway Cavanaugh Family

    Wed. January 6

    Christmas Weekday

    8:00 AM

    St. John Fisher Church

    1) †Elizabeth Yoxall

    2) †Jennifer Cwynar

    1) Dan & Josie Oddo

    2) Sandi & Keith Stonebraker

    9:00 AM

    Word of God Church

    †Dorothy & Frank Urick Children & Grandson

    Thurs. January 7

    Christmas Weekday

    8:00 AM

    Madonna del Castello

    Church

    1) †Tilly & Izzo Sanrocca

    2) †Nicolina Donofrio & Edward Prebehalla

    1) Lisa Quinto

    2) Angie Cheyne Bottles and

    Linda Prebehalla

    9:00 AM

    Word of God Church

    †Ann Pavlan Florence Poprocky & Family

    Friday, January 8

    Christmas Weekday

    8:00 AM

    St. Jude the Apostle Church †Richard Crouse Alice Kulikowski

    9:00 AM

    Word of God Church †Zeigler, Tanner & Kovach Families Kelly & Jerry Kovach

    Sat. January 9

    Christmas Weekday

    8:00 AM

    Sacred Heart Church

    †Alice & John Salvadore Jay & Mary Ann

    Sat, January 9

    Vigil Mass �

    4:00 PM

    Madonna del Castello

    Church

    †Susan Case Dan & Peg Horner

    4:00 PM

    St. John Fisher Church

    †Theresa DiPalma Maxine Wilson

    5:30 PM

    St. Colman Church †All Living & Deceased Members of our Parish

    Sunday,

    January 10

    Baptism of the Lord

    8:00 AM

    Good Shepherd Church

    9:00 AM

    St. Jude the Apostle Church †George F. Cheripka, Sr. Chris & George Cheripka

    10:00 AM

    St. Maurice Church

    1) †Regis Wessell

    2) †All Living & Deceased Members

    of Conklin Family

    1) St. Maurice School

    Woodworking students

    2) Britney and Rob

    10:00 AM

    Word of God Church

    1) †Grace Cherry

    2) †Homer McCartney

    1) Genevie Diana

    2) Kathy & Ryan McCartney

    11:00 AM

    Sacred Heart Church

    †John R. Adams Maryann & Jim Malley

    5:30 PM

    St. Colman Church

    1) †Pauline Currie

    2) †Kathryn Means

    1) Children & Grandchildren

    2) Deacon Herb & Cheryl Riley

    †All Living & Deceased Members of our Parish

    04

    January 3, 2021 | Epiphany of the Lord

  • PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

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    Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God

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    OFFERTORY

    December 20 $11,730.00

    December 25

    Christmas Offertory

    Christmas Charities

    $23,116.00

    $5,632.00

    December 27 $5,919.00

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    January 3, 2021 | Epiphany of the Lord

  • PARISH NEWS

    Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher |

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  • 09

    Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God

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  • 10

    January 3, 2021 | Epiphany of the Lord

  • 11

    Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God

    For the past two weeks our parish has published the

    finance report for the seven parishes which comprised the “eight

    great churches of the east.” In this column I’d like to offer some

    history and comments on the bald numbers.

    Some history. In 1969, when Bishop Vincent Leonard

    became the ninth bishop of Pittsburgh, he decreed that all

    parishes must issue an annual report of finances to their

    parishioners, either by mail or in the weekly bulletin. This

    decision was way ahead of its time. Sometime later the Diocese

    of Pittsburgh also began issuing a report of its finances,

    published in the Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper.

    As a pastor I have always taken this decree seriously.

    As the one ad says, “It’s your money!” I am the bishop-

    appointed steward of all the resources of our parish (or former

    parishes). Financial, buildings, staffing and (most importantly)

    the care of souls. You give to your parish. You deserve to see

    how your money is spent. I am fulfilling that responsibility by

    publishing an accounting of our income, expenses, debt and

    savings. But these numbers need some context. So…

    Some comments. The financial report covers the one-

    year period of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. This was when our

    grouping comprised seven parishes: Good Shepherd, Braddock;

    Madonna del Castello, Swissvale; St. Colman, Turtle Creek; St.

    John Fisher, Churchill; St. Jude the Apostle, Wilmerding; St.

    Maurice, Forest Hills; and Word of God, Swissvale. By decree

    of the bishop, and after the long consultation period through the

    diocesan planning process On Mission for the Church Alive,

    these seven parishes were merged into one new parish, St. Joseph

    the Worker, on July 1, 2020. So we report on seven parishes and

    their finances.

    We were blessed to have an operating “profit” (income

    over expenses) of $611,113. However, I must point out that St.

    Maurice received two tremendous bequests in the spring totaling

    $609,864. These “once in a blue moon” bequests are most

    appreciated. In one sense without these two bequests we would

    have just broken even, income and expenses the same.

    At the same time we did have over $1.1 million in our

    checking account. This allowed us to get through the 13-week

    shutdown at the beginning of the Coronavirus. In the Cares Act

    of 2020 St. Maurice parish received a loan of $50,000 from the

    Paycheck Protection Program of the federal government. (Over

    the summer, five other parishes received another $121,000,

    which will be reflected in next year’s report.) Technically these

    are loans. All not-for-profits hope that the U.S. Congress

    formally rules that these loans are forgiven very soon.

    Not mentioned in this report is that three of the parishes

    had longstanding debt totaling over $2.4 million to the diocese,

    due to elementary schools which closed 15 or more years ago.

    These schools were part of Word of God, St. Maurice and St.

    Colman parishes. In December 2019 I made application for

    forgiveness of these loans to Our Campaign for the Church

    Alive, the diocesan Capital Campaign (2013-2019). Blessedly in

    February we received word that the “old school debt” of these

    three parishes were forgiven. This was incredible, to receive

    such forgiveness. It was because of the generosity of the people

    of the diocese through the Capital Campaign, that we were able

    to receive this forgiveness.

    Please note the relatively small amount of total

    fundraising, $28,516, by all seven parishes. The shutdown hit us

    (and all churches) very hard. We had to cancel the St. Maurice

    and St. Jude festivals, as well as many other events. In a way,

    this was offset by the PPP. Once the COVID is conquered, and

    our churches and public places open up, we will have to begin

    again our parish fundraising efforts.

    You are probably tired of my mentioning this, but we

    are still trying to sell three school buildings: Good Shepherd, St.

    Colman and Word of God. I can only report that there are many

    conversations going on behind the scenes; but no final decisions.

    As soon as I can I will let you know about these potential sales.

    Which leads to…

    Looking forward. Because of a legal technicality in

    the federal PPP loans, even after July 1 we continue to have

    seven checking accounts. As soon as we are able, we will merge

    all accounts into one. This will also enable us to set up online

    charitable giving.

    You will note that there is one debt from St. Maurice

    parish still remaining. It was from building repairs many years

    ago. The Finance Council and I unanimously agreed to pay off

    the debt using our savings. I told the diocese of our decision in

    November. As a result of this, the diocese gave us 20% off our

    debt with its immediate repayment. This means as of this

    moment, our new parish is debt free.

    These two forgivenesses are truly unheard of in our

    diocese, and I am immensely grateful for the kindnesses of

    Bishop Zubik and general secretary Father DiNardo in

    facilitating these.

    Three things remain. A huge word of thanks to all

    parishioners for their generosity to their parish. We truly could

    not do it without you. Second, great gratitude to the members of

    the St. Joseph the Worker Finance Council: Renae Brinza, Lois

    Elder, Elaine Giles, Tony Hlavac, Gary Manns, Jeff McLaughlin

    and Don Sanker. Finally, you are probably tired of hearing my

    operating principle when it comes to money: “You cannot outdo

    the generosity of God.” Be generous.

    Faithful Chronicles

    By Father Frank D. Almade

  • 12

    January 3, 2021 | Epiphany of the Lord

  • Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God

    13

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