A NOTE FROM FATHER TORQUATO
For many Catholic Christians, the most common time when we get on our knees and pray is when we are sinking under the trials and burdens and sins of life. We run to the Lord when we are overwhelmed and are sinking under the waves of our lives.
Even so, while Jesus prefers that we spend time with him in both good times and bad times, he still will come to our assistance even if we only call on him in our distress. The Lord calls us to be faithful to him, but even if we are not as faithful as we should be, Jesus will always be faithful to us because God is always faithful.
After our own storms have passed, may we draw close to Jesus and remain at his side. Try turning off your television and all your other electronic distractions, and spend time with the Lord in quiet prayer. Take up the Gospels, and let Jesus assure you of his love and care for you and for all people who come to him for life and salvation. God bless!
—Father Jim Torquato
GENTLEMEN, MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
It’s time to reserve your weekend for this year’s men’s retreat, November 17-19! The men of our parish are invited to renew your lives with 2 1/2 days of fellowship, quiet reflection, talks, prayer, and the Liturgy. This weekend will be at the Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center, South Side. More info coming!
TURN OUR PARISH WEBSITE
Please consider making our parish internet site —www.saintscholastica.com— YOUR permanent home page for your browser. It’ll keep you up to date each day and week. You’ll find much at our web page!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
We come to participate in the Liturgy every Sunday in order to keep God’s commandment to keep holy the Lord’s Day. We also come to Church on Sunday because it is an expectation of all Church members who are able to participate. Also, we worship in Church on Sunday because our spiritual lives need this prayer and worship and the Word of God and the Eucharist. Our Sunday worship is of true importance.
SERVING GOD’S PEOPLE BY YOUR ESTATE
Every few years, our parish receives notice that a deceased member has included our parish in their will and estate. It’s a final gift to our parish community from someone who truly loved the church. Please consider sharing a final gift with the parish yourself.
THE HOLY DAY OF MARY’S ASSUMPTION
This Tuesday, August 15, is the Holy Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the life and Kingdom of God. Our ancient faith and tradition holds that at the end of her lifetime, Mary was assumed into heaven by her Son and our Savior, Jesus the Lord. Mary entered into the glory shared with her for sharing the gift of human life with her Son.
All Catholic Christians are expected to participate in the Holy Day Liturgy. At Saint Scholastica Parish, our Holy Day Liturgies will be at 8:30 am, 12 noon, and 7:00pm this coming Tuesday, August 15. Please mark your calendar and join us. All are welcome!
MISSION APPEAL THANKS
Father Theodore Mbaegbu of the Archdiocese of Onitsha in southern Nigeria extends his thanks and gratitude to our parish community and to all who contributed to last Sunday’s Mission Appeal collection.
Your generosity in our second collection last weekend will help to care for Catholic refugees in Nigeria, rebuild Catholic schools, and educate Catholic seminary students as well as other mission work of the Lord’s Church in Nigeria! Thank you!
SISTER PAT’S JUBILEE CELEBRATION!
On Sunday, September 10, Sister Pat Baker, CDP, our music director and bereavement coordinator, will celebrate her 50th anniversary as a Sister of Divine Providence as well as 23 years of service to our parish community! A Liturgy of Thanksgiving will be held at 2:00pm on September 10, and afterward, a light reception will be held in the parish hall and on the church grounds. To help us prepare for this special event, please call the parish office before August 31, and inform our staff if you and your family and friends will be coming to the reception. Everyone is welcome!
OUR NEW PARISH IN 2022
Our four local parishes which will be merged by 2022 are: Saint Scholastica Parish, Saint Joseph Parish, Saint Juan Diego Parish, and Saint Pio Parish.
In March 2018, priests will be assigned and will begin their ministry in October 2018. At that time, the Liturgy Schedule of each church will be reduced to 1-2 Liturgies per church building. Each grouping of parishes will have 6-7 Liturgies for the entire grouping beginning in October 2018. The final work of consolidating into one parish is scheduled to be completed by November 2021.
Our Diocese is doing our best given our decline in population, participation, donations, and clergy. Thank you all for your understanding and support!
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND
REGISTERING NOW FOR OUR
This is a good time for our CCD families to register all your young students for Religious Education classes beginning September 17.
Choose from among the options of classroom sessions OR small group sessions OR home study. Registration forms are available on our parish internet site here. You may also contact Mrs. Jamie Dillon here or Miss Meredith Troyan here.
Classes are filling up at this time. Please register soon, and include the requested donation with your registration. Thank you very much!
SOME IMPORTANT DATES FOR
- A meeting for those interested in being a CCD catechist or aide will be held in the parish hall on Tuesday, August 15 at 6:00pm. All adults and senior high school students are welcome to help in this important ministry. Please contact Mrs. Jamie Dillon for information or questions.
- Home Study families will begin their year at the 5:00pm Liturgy on Saturday, September 16.
- Catechetical Sunday—and the beginning of the CCD year—is Sunday, September 17. Please sign up for class or a small group or home study now.
- Small middle school CCD groups will be chosen on Sunday, September 17 after the morning Liturgies.
- On Sunday, September 17, we’ll have our annual CATEcarnival for all Religious Education families after the 9:00am Liturgy. There will be games, food, and more. All CCD parents and students are welcome!
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AN EVENING WITH BISHOP DAVID ZUBIK
As we move into the future, Bishop David Zubik is offering four evenings to come and meet with him for prayer and conversation. In our area, he will be at Saint Mary of the Assumption, Middle Road on August 24 and then at Saint Kilian Parish, Mars, on August 30, both 7:00-8:30pm. All are welcome to participate.
The Catholic heritage of Poland will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 23, at 7:00pm with Bishop David Zubik at Saint Paul Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, in Oakland. This celebration will also honor Our Lady of Czestochowa. All are most welcome to participate!
Thank you for helping us to clean up our church before and after each weekend Liturgy. We’re very grateful that you care for your church property!
MOVING FORWARD EVERY SUNDAY!
All of our parish members and families are invited to move forward in church for our Liturgy.
The pulpit and the altar are the sacred places in the Church where “the action” takes place. These are the two locations where all of us should sit! Likewise, It’s good when we draw close together. Please move forward in Church. Thanks!
GATHERING 100,000 BABY DIAPERS BY NOVEMBER 15
Our Diocesan Catholic Charities has begun an effort to collect 100,000 baby diapers in the next 100 days to help low income and struggling parents with young children! Diapers sizes 2-5 are being received at the Catholic Charities 9th Street offices downtown. Call Kelli Mainous (412-456-6950) for drop off.
Also, you can visit and shop Amazon at www.smile.amazon.com, then choose “Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh”, select your diaper donation, and have it shipped to Catholic Charities at 212 Ninth Street, Pgh., PA 15222. Thank you very much for your generosity to babies and infants!
HELPING OUR LOCAL ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
The Aquinas Guild appreciates your donations to help the local St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. In August, your donations of boxes of cereal and breakfast bars are most welcome along with any non-perishable items. Please place donations in the red bin in our church’s main entrance.
VICTIM’S DIOCESAN ASSISTANCE HOTLINE
Our Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh offers a toll-free
FINDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THIS WORLD
Jesus points out that the reign of God is in our world even now, and the Kingdom continues to grow. Compared to the era of Jesus’ own life, so much good exists today — all thanks to the Kingdom that Jesus established and which we’re still building. Let’s not be discouraged but always keep building every day!
LITURGY SCHEDULE / PRIEST’S INTENTION
Monday, August 14 — Saint Maximilian Kolbe, martyr
8:30 am Julia A. Lazar (Kathy Murray)
Tuesday, August 15 — The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8:30 am John F. Donahue (Tish Marsico)
12:00 pm All Saint Scholastica Parish Members
7:00 pm Nicholas Powers (The Bonessa Family)
Wednesday, August 16 — Saint Stephen of Hungary
8:30 am Gwendolyn Allen (The Allen Family)
Thursday, August 17
8:30 am Edmond Downey (The Downey Family)
Friday, August 18
8:30 am Yvonne B. Maher (Thomas D. Maher, Jr)
Saturday, August 19 — Saint John Eudes
9:00 am John F. Donahue (The Ware Family)
5:00pm All Saint Scholastica Parish Members
Presider: Father James Torquato
Sunday, August 20 — Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
7:30 am Luke Hadley (The Cordaro Family)
Presider: Father James Torquato
9:00 am Jack Robbins (Tish Marsico)
Presider: Father James Torquato
11:00 am John Marmarella (Wife and children)
Presider: Father Sean Hogan, CSSp
Readings for the Week of August 13, 2017
Sunday: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a/Psalm 85:9-14/Romans 9:1-5/Matthew 14:22-33
Monday: Deuteronomy 10:12-22/Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20/Matthew 17:22-27
Tuesday [Assumption of the BVM]
Vigil: 1 Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2/Psalm 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14/1 Corinthians 15:54b-57/Luke 11:27-28
Day: Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Psalm 45:10-12, 16/1 Corinthians 15:20-27/Luke 1:39-56
Wednesday: Deuteronomy 34:1-12/Psalm 66:1-3a, 5, 8, 16-17/Matthew 18:15-20
Thursday: Joshua 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17/Psalm 114:1-6/Matthew 18:21--19:1
Friday: Joshua 24:1-13/Psalm 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22, 24/Matthew 19:3-12
Saturday: Joshua 24:14-29/Psalm 16:1-2a, 5, 7-8, 11/Matthew 19:13-15
Next Sunday: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7/Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8/Romans 11:13-15, 29-32/Matthew 15:21-28
CONGRATULATIONS!
On Saturday, August 5, Matthew Murphy and Julie Slavish joined themselves to one another in the Sacrament of Marriage here at Saint Scholastica Church. Congratulations and best wishes to the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Matthew and Julie Murphy. God bless!
HELPING THE HOMELESS AND THE POOR
Thank you for your help! There’s still a need for clean blankets, bedspreads, and duffle bags. Used items in good condition are most welcome. Thanks!
These food items are needed now: canned red or black beans, macaroni and cheese, prepared meal mixes like Hamburger Helper, and powdered or shelf-stable milk. Please leave your donations in plastic bags. Gray bins are in the church entrance.
Larger donations in bags (NOT boxes) and ALL clothing may be brought to the SIDE DOOR of 316 3rd Street, Aspinwall, from 10am-12pm on Mondays and Fridays. Please do NOT leave any donations outside 316 or 318 Third Street. Thank you!
BULLETIN SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
Our thanks go to W. Hough Contracting Inc. for
Whenever we honor Jesus, we should also honor his Mother, Mary, for the faith and love that she also shares with us, her Son’s people!
GOOD NEWS FROM OUR ACADEMY!
STORE CERTIFICATES ON SALE AT CHURCH THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, TO HELP CDTCA
Retail certificates that benefit our Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy will be sold by our school staff this Sunday morning, August 13, in the main church entrance. Everyone is welcome to support our Catholic school by purchasing these store certificates.
THE NEW CDTCA SCHOOL YEAR WILL BEGIN
We’ll soon be starting another great year at CDTCA!
REGISTRATIONS BEING ACCEPTED NOW!
Join us for the 2017-2018 school year at Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy (pre-school through eighth grade) beginning Monday, August 28!
Call for information (412-781-7927) and a visit to our excellent regional Catholic school!
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE
Financial assistance is available to most families at CDTCA. In fact, many CDTCA families and students DO receive this important aid. Contact our school office to learn more about tuition assistance!
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YOU CAN STILL ATTEND OUR SEMINAR ON READING THE BIBLE
Join us August 16 and 23, 7:00-9:00pm, in the parish hall. Contact our parish office today, or send an email to Andy Bechman here.
GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY EVENT
On Sunday, October 22, at 2:30pm in Saint Paul Cathedral, Bishop David Zubik will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Marriage for all couples married in the Church in 1967. A light reception will follow in the social hall underneath the Cathedral.
Please call our parish office before Sunday,
Jesus took Mary to his side in heaven!
We have a special love for our moms! Moms bring us to birth and nurture us unlike anyone else. It’s understandable and laudable that Jesus has a special love for his own mother, Mary. We believe this deep love for Mary inspired Jesus to take her to himself at the end of her days. They will always be together in God’s glory!
We have a special love for our moms! Moms bring us to birth and nurture us unlike anyone else. It’s understandable and laudable that Jesus has a special love for his own mother, Mary. We believe this deep love for Mary inspired Jesus to take her to himself at the end of her days. They will always be together in God’s glory!
Our Saint Scholastica Parish
Mission is to continue the work of Christ together as a faith community,
through the celebration of the Sacraments, living spiritually in the world, and
working to be caring members of the community. As committed Catholics, we are sent to bear
the Light of Christ to transform the world by our devotion, service and
witness.
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 9:00
a.m.-3:30 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
Parish Office Staff
Debbie VanDemark, Amy Condosta, ………….....Ext.10
Director of Music/ Bereavement Coordinator
Sister Patricia Baker,
CDP..................................Ext. 17
Director of Religious Education and Youth
Ministry
Jamie Dillon, MS, MA,
RRT................................Ext. 20
Assistants for the Religious Education
Program
Meredith Troyan, Gina Musser.........................Ext.
21
Director of Adult Religious Education and
R.C.I.A.
Andrew Bechman,
MEd....................................Ext. 18
Bookkeeper/ Safe Environment Coordinator
Amy Condosta…………………………………………….…Ext. 11
Facilities Staff
Bruce Hassing
CHRIST THE DIVINE TEACHER CATHOLIC ACADEMY
205 Brilliant Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15215
Principal
Mr. Mark N. Grgurich, MSEd..................
(412)781-7927
