A
NOTE FROM FATHER TORQUATO
Do you enjoy your daily work at the office
or at home or at your place of employment? Do you look forward to each new day
and every new week and all the new possibilities and challenges and successes
that will come your way? I hope that your work and your life are very
fulfilling and that you appreciate the many contributions that you’re able to
make to those you serve and with whom you share your life and your daily
efforts!
Jesus also reminds us in today’s Gospel
according to Matthew that he has work for each of us to do as well! We may be
occupied with all of the labors that we undertake in our own careers and our
own families, but the Lord who gives us life and grace and blessings also has
work for us to do! Our service of Jesus and of his Kingdom is all part of the
personal and communal mission that he gives to each of us! We are all called to work for the
Lord as well as for ourselves and our families!
As such, what is your mission in service
of the Lord Jesus? What have you been doing for him and for his people? What
can you do and what will you do for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
today and every day of your life? Our faith, our holiness and love, and our
generous service of the Lord will benefit so many other disciples. As active
apostles for Jesus, we can transform others and the world, and together, we can
build the Kingdom of God that will our final destination and our eternal place
of fulfillment. God bless!
—Father
Jim Torquato
CONGRATULATIONS
TO FATHER MICHAEL ACKERMAN AND THE NEWLY ORDAINED PRIESTS OF OUR CATHOLIC
DIOCESE!
On Saturday, June 28, Bishop David Zubik
ordained four young men to the ministerial priesthood in service of the Lord
Jesus and of our local Church of Pittsburgh! These new priests are Father
Michael Ackerman, Father Michael Conway, Father Ken Marlovits, and Father
Thomas Schluep. As most of our parish members know, Father Michael Ackerman and
his family are residents of Aspinwall and have long been associated with Saint
Scholastica Parish and our parish school!
We’re all very proud of Father Michael,
and we wish him many blessings now and throughout the years ahead as he serves
the Lord and God’s people! Father Michael will begin his priestly service in
New Castle, Pa.
We hope to welcome Father Michael Ackerman
back to Saint Scholastica Parish in the coming months when he is able to visit
and to spend time here with his hometown community. Again, congratulations to Father Michael
Ackerman and to all of his family on this wonderful occasion for them and for
all the Lord’s Church!
SUNDAY,
JULY 6th ADULT FAITH REFLECTIONS
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
is the process the Church uses to call adults to conversion and full membership
in the Church as disciples of Jesus. The first period of the RCIA process can go
by various names: the period of evangelization, the precatechumenate, or
inquiry. According to the Rite, it is “a time, of no fixed duration or
structure, for inquiry and introduction to Gospel values, an opportunity for
the beginnings of faith.”
We try to adapt the period of inquiry to
the needs of the people involved. For a person who is not baptized, this would
be a time to hear the story of Jesus and the message of the Gospel and to
relate these to his or her personal story. For a baptized Christian from
another denomination, the period of inquiry is a time to reexamine one’s own
life as a follower of Jesus and to investigate areas of Catholic living that
may be unfamiliar.
When an inquirer has become ready to
commit to the church and gives evidence of a deepening faith in attitudes and
actions, it is time for the first ritual of the RCIA—the Rite of Acceptance
into the Order of Catechumens (for unbaptized persons) or the Rite of Welcoming
Candidates (for persons baptized in another Christian denomination).
People can enter the inquiry process at
any time of the year. We currently have two inquirers. Please pray for them and
for our RCIA team. If you think you may be called to explore entering the
Catholic Church, contact Andy Bechman at andybechman@saintscholastica.com.
BE
AN APOSTLE FOR THE LORD!
In our Confirmation, we become apostles of
the Lord Jesus and of the Gospel. You can live your mission as an apostle by
inviting others to return to Jesus and to join us in Church and in the
Eucharist every Sunday!
CONSIDERING
DISCIPLESHIP IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
This Summer, we encourage all of our
parish members to invite your friends and neighbors to enter the Church if they
are not Catholic Christians or are not yet baptized. There are many men and women
who are interested in the Lord Jesus and in the community of the Church. Many
of them are simply waiting to be welcomed to join us in our faith, in our
Catholic community, and in the Kingdom of God. We are accepting inquiries now
for our Adult Catholic Initiation process. Any interested individual or family
is welcome to contact our parish office in the coming weeks to begin inquiring
of us and walking with Jesus!
FULFILLING
YOUR PLEDGE FOR THE “CAMPAIGN FOR THE CHURCH ALIVE”
Our Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and
Bishop David Zubik and our own parish are very, very grateful to all of our families
and members who made pledges and donations to the Bishop’s “Campaign for the
Church Alive” last year! Thanks to all of our contributors, the Diocese and our
own parish will greatly benefit from your generosity. Please continue to
fulfill your pledges, and soon enough, all the good work that has been planned
will be accomplished!
If you’d like to make new contributions to
this diocesan effort, your help will be most appreciated. Contact our parish
office for information or to ask any questions! Your support and your
generosity are always appreciated!
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION AND YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS
‘CAMP
HELPING HAND’ IS THIS WEEK!
Thanks and best wishes to all of our
middle school students taking part in this week’s Camp Helping Hand on July
8-10. This three day service camp introduces young students to a variety of
community service activities in the local area. Also, many thanks to Mrs. Jamie
Dillon and Miss Meredith Troyan for organizing and directing this year’s Saint
Scholastica Parish “Camp Helping Hand”!
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION/ CCD REGISTRATION
Now is the time! Please register your
child now for our parish Religious Education/ CCD Program which begins Sunday,
September 14. You can register online at the Parish website here. The registration fee is $100.00. Please contact Mrs. Jamie Dillon if
you have questions.
MORE
PARISH YOUTH ACTIVITIES
On Friday, July 18, our Youth Ministry
will take middle school and high school students and your families to the
Pirates Game at PNC Park. The cost is $35 per person.
Also, on Monday, July 21, students are invited
to the Sandcastle Water Park. The cost is $20 per person. Contact
jamiedillon@comcast.net for further information!
NEWS
FROM OUR SCHOOL
WELCOMING
OUR NEW PRINCIPAL THIS MONTH
Following interviews with a number of
candidates, our Principal Selection Committee and Father Torquato have chosen a
highly qualified and enthusiastic new principal for Christ the Divine Teacher
Catholic Academy. All four pastors of our regional school and the staff of the
Diocesan Schools Office have all concurred with this selection. As soon as
final approval has been received, we will announce and welcome the new
principal to CDTCA. Yes, under their leadership, our school will certainly
enjoy many good years!
ENROLL
NOW IN CHRIST THE DIVINE TEACHER CATHOLIC ACADEMY
Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy
continues to accept registrations for the 2014-2015 school year for grades K-8. Please call the Saint Scholastica
Parish office during July if you’d like information about registering for the
new academic year beginning in late August!
WELCOMING
OTHERS TO ENROLL IN CHRIST THE DIVINE TEACHER CATHOLIC ACADEMY
Please know that your promotion of Christ
the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy among your children, your relatives, your
friends, and your neighbors is truly most welcome. Our parish and regional
Catholic elementary school provides both daily faith formation and an education
of the highest quality. Many families and students will certainly appreciate learning
of our school from you and from all in our Saint Scholastica community! Please
share the good news about CDTCA with as many as you can. If you’d like
information from and about the school, please contact our parish office!
_____________________
OUR
PARISH MOTORCOACH FOR THE OCTOBER 4th DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO THE NATIONAL
SHRINE
On Saturday, October 4, we will join more
than one thousand local Catholics for the biannual pilgrimage to the Basilica
of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Our
Diocesan Bishops have been leading this diocesan pilgrimage for more than 20
years as a special day of prayer and as a way to introduce more of our Church
members and families to this amazing and beautiful Shrine built by the
Catholics of the United States to honor Mary, the Mother of God.
Led by Father Torquato, our bus will
depart early on October 4. We will have an opportunity to tour the National
Shrine and the nearby Saint John Paul II Center. We will celebrate the Sunday
Liturgy with Bishop Zubik, and then we will return home that same night. There
are 52 seats available. Thanks to a parish subsidy, the donation is only $25
per person, and a boxed dinner will be served on the bus during the trip back
to Pittsburgh. To reserve a seat, please call the parish office this week! Join us!
OUR
PARISH PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES
Our prayers for the deceased and our
sincere condolences are extended to the families of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Flecker
and Mr. Robert W. Nawrocki who were both laid to rest this past week. May they
and their families receive peace and grace in the life of the Lord!
COMMIT
NOW TO JOIN ONE OF OUR CHOIRS!
Become a music minister in one of our two
choirs — either at 9:00 am choir or at 11:00 am. Both choirs will begin their
rehearsing and singing again in early September.
Since each volunteer needs to register in
the Diocesan Safe Environment Program before actively participating, summer is
a great time to complete this requirement. The process takes less than three
hours total.
During July, please visit, email, or call
Sister Pat Baker, CDP to express your interest in becoming a choir member. Both
groups have plenty of seats available for new high school and adult members.
Thank you very much!
OUR
AUGUST PARISH BLOOD COLLECTION
It’s time to roll up your sleeve and
donate blood! On Sunday, August 3, from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., our parish
will hold a Blood Collection for the Central Blood Bank. Your donation will
benefit those who have an accident or an emergency or surgery or a serious
illness. To set your appointment, call Mary Catherine Scanlon (412- 781-6550)
or visit centralbloodbank.org and use sponsor code G0040167. Your donation will
be greatly appreciated!
EXPLORING
A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD
Our
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is hosting a multi-day event for young men in
high school and recent high school graduates who are interested in discerning a
call to serve in the diocesan priesthood. This event, call “Quo Vadis Days,”
will be held at the Bishop Connare Center in Greensburg from July 13-16 and
will be filled with fun activities, meals, prayer, presentations, discernment,
and the Liturgy. If you’d like to participate, please visit www.pghpriest.com.
Transportation will be provided, and the donation for this event is $50.
Scholarships will be available. Register soon!
BIBLE
READINGS FOR THIS WEEK
This
Sunday: Zechariah 9:9-10/ Romans 8:9-13/ Matthew 11:25-30
Monday—Saturday:
The Book of the Prophet Hosea / Matthew 9-10
Next
Sunday: Isaiah 55:10-11 / Romans 8:18-23 / Matthew 13:1-23
LITURGY
SCHEDULE/ PRIEST’S INTENTION
Monday,
July 7
8:30 am
Birthday, Robert Conflenti (Evelyn Conflenti)
Tuesday,
July 8
8:30 am
For the Spiritual & Temporal
Welfare of Maria Catherine (Parents)
Wednesday,
July 9—The Holy Martyrs of China
8:30 am
Deceased Members of the Vey Family (Dr. E. Kenneth Vey)
Thursday,
July 10
8:30 am
Therese Chao (Bill & Jean Eckert)
Friday,
July 11—Saint Benedict, brother of Saint Scholastica
8:30 am
John Stafford (Rita & Frank Ruscetti)
Saturday,
July 12
9:00 am
Francis Marsico (Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Marsico)
5:00 pm
Mary Legath (Tish Marsico)
Presider: Father James Torquato
Sunday,
July 13—Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
7:30 am
All Saint Scholastica Parish Members
Presider: Father James Torquato
9:00 am
Thomas V. Kelsesky (Kelsesky Family)
Presider: Father James Torquato
11:00 am
Frances Giovannitti (Kathy & Bill Gavlak)
Presider: Father James Torquato
DONATIONS
FOR THE HOMELESS AND POOR
For up-to-date information on donations
requested for poor and homeless people, see our parish website here. Donations may be left in the bins in the main entrance
of church.
VICTIM’S
DIOCESAN ASSISTANCE HOTLINE
Our Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh offers
a toll-free hotline for anyone needing to report abuse. The Victim's Assistance
Hotline is 1-888-808-1235.
MOVING
AHEAD WITH OUR IMPROVEMENTS
Hopefully you’ve noticed some projects
taking place since the end of April. The Pastoral Center and the parish offices
are being repainted and refurbished. In addition, our emergency monitors will
be upgraded by State Security of Verona, and additional video surveillance
cameras will be added throughout the parish property.
As the summer continues, additional
cleaning and refurbishing will take place throughout the parish property. Your
continued generosity to Saint Scholastica Parish will make possible these and
many improvements still to come this year and during the years ahead. Thank you
all!
Our Online Giving system makes it easy to
support our parish community wherever you are! There are many benefits for the
parish and for members who choose to give online. These benefits include: no
need to write checks; give even if you are unable to attend the Sunday Liturgy
here; and your contribution amount can easily be adjusted.
We ask that you prayerfully consider
Online Giving. If you would like to enroll, please visit www.saintscholastica.wegather.com, sign in and click the "Giving" tab.
If you have any questions about the program or about setting up your account,
call our staff member Christine Morton at the parish office this week (412-781-0186,
ext. 24).
SAINT
SCHOLASTICA PARISH
309
Brilliant Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15215
Telephone
412-781-0186, ext. 10
Fax
412-781-4316
Email:
parish@saintscholastica.com
Internet
site: www.saintscholastica.com
Parish
Office hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Bishop
of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The
Most Reverend David A. Zubik, DD
The
Episcopal Vicar for Diocesan Region Four
Very
Reverend Philip N. Farrell, VE
Pastor
of the Parish
Reverend
James R. Torquato............................Ext. 10
Director
of Music/ Bereavement Coordinator
Sister
Patricia Baker, CDP................................Ext. 17
Director
of Adult Religious Education and R.C.I.A.
Parish
Secretary—Safe Environment Program—Bulletin
Amy
Condosta...............................................Ext.10
Director
of Religious Education and Youth Ministry
Facilities
Manager
Tom
Galda
Office
Manager/ Parish Accountant
Christine
Morton ...........................................Ext. 24
Assistants
for the Religious Education Program
Meredith
Troyan, Gina Musser..........................Ext. 21
CHRIST
THE DIVINE TEACHER CATHOLIC ACADEMY
205
Brilliant Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15215
(412)781-7927
