Fourth Sunday of Easter April 17, 2016

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE;
I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME.”
“MIS OVEJAS ESCUCHAN ME VOZ;
YO LAS CONOZCO. Y ELLAS ME SIGUEN.”
John 10:27
Juan 10:27
OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL PARISH
PARROQUIA DE NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA MEDALLA MILAGROSA
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday:
Sunday:
5:00 PM — Vigil
8:00 AM & 11:00 AM
2:30 PM — La Misa en español
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 10:00 AM
Wednesday:
10:00 AM & 6:00 PM
Holy Days:
Check Bulle n Schedule
Fourth Sunday of Easter
300 Pike Street
Meadow Lands PA 15347
724‐222‐1911
Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
e‐mail: [email protected]
www.MiraculousMedalChurch.org
April 17, 2016
APRIL 17, 2016
DAY / TIME
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
CONFESSIONS / EVENTS
SATURDAY, APRIL 16
10:00 AM
10:45—11:30 AM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Mass Confessions Confessions Mass SUNDAY, APRIL 17
8:00 AM Mass 11:00 AM Mass 2:30 PM Spanish Mass 7:00—9:00 PM Youth Ministry Mee ng OBSERVANCES / MASS INTENTIONS
PAGE 2
READINGS
WELCOME MINISTRY— DONUTS AFTER 5:00 PM MASS, CHURCH HALL
Be e Roncovitz +, req. Sandra Smith John Pomykala +, Req. Helen, Doug & Lisa Czenzek Fourth Sunday of Easter; World
Day of Prayer for Voca ons Acts 9:31‐42; Ps 116:12‐17; Jn 6:60‐69 WELCOME MINISTRY— DONUTS AFTER ALL MASSES, CHURCH HALL
Ligia Escobar + (Easter), req. Daughter, Claudia Rudy & Catherine Simonini (65th Wedding Anniversary Celebra on) Req. William & Dolores Cox PARISHIONERS Acts 13:14, 43‐52; Ps 100:1‐3, 5; Rv 7:9, 14b‐17; Jn 10:27‐30 Mary McGinnis +, req. Fr. Carmen Acts 11:1‐18; Ps 42:2‐3; 43:3, 4; Jn 10:11‐18 Patsy Biton +, req. Betonte Family Acts 11:19‐26; Ps 87:1b‐7; Jn 10:22‐30 Wellness of Granddaughter, req. Marsha Williams Ma hew Piacenza +, req. Doug & Rose DiNardo Acts 12:24 — 13:5a; Ps 67:2‐3, 5‐6, 8; Jn 12:44‐50 MONDAY, APRIL 18
10:00 AM Mass 10:45 AM Miraculous Medal Novena 6:00 —8:00 PM Alpha Mee ng, Church Hall TUESDAY, APRIL 19 10:00 AM Mass WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20
10:00 AM Mass 6:00 PM Mass 6:30 PM Bingo, CCD Center THURSDAY, APRIL 21
10:00 AM Mass 6:00 PM Respect Life Mtg., Church Hall 7:00 PM Safety Ministry Mtg., CCD Ctr. 7:00 PM Outreach Ministry Mtg., CCD Ctr.
WINDOWS OF UNITY, FUNDRAISING DINNER, ST. JAMES, SEWICKLEY
Dorothy Nawrocki + (Anniversary), Req. Deb, Dan & Family
St. Anselm
Acts 13:13‐25; Ps 89:2‐3, 21‐22, 25, 27; Jn 13:16‐20 FRIDAY, APRIL 22
10:00 AM Mass Mira & Rudolph Simonini, Req. Simonini & Cox Families 10:45 AM Divine Mercy 7:00 PM First Communion Prac ce, Church
Earth Day; Passover begins Acts 13:26‐33; Ps 2:6‐11ab; Jn 14:1‐6 SATURDAY, APRIL 23
9:00 AM‐3:00 PM On Mission Training Session CCD Building 10:00 AM Mass 10:45—11:30 AM Confessions 4:00 PM Confessions 5:00 PM Mass Jim Volanski +, req. Deb, Dan & Family Tony Provenzano +, Wife, Barb & Family St. George; St. Adalbert Acts 13:44‐52; Ps 98:1‐4; Jn 14:7‐14 Ma eo “Tony” Sciurba, req. Wife & Children First Holy Communion, Req. Mrs. Jeffries & Mrs. Se o PARISHIONERS Acts 14:21‐27; Ps 145:8‐13; Rv 21:1‐5a; Jn 13:31‐33a, 34‐35 SUNDAY, APRIL 24
8:00 AM Mass 11:00 AM Mass 2:30 PM Spanish Mass WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We'd really love it if some of you more "seasoned" parishioners could help us update the website and Pastoral Plan. We know you've been through
a lot and probably have better memories of this Parish than you think. We're asking that you send us any tidbit of information about the founding,
growth and people of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The mor e we can pr esent our stor y, the mor e people will want to be a par t of it.
We truly want to hear from you. Of course, we won't be able to put everything in the history, but if it relates to the Parish, is not too personal, and
had an impact on you and others, we want to hear about it. APRIL 17, 2016
CUARTO DOMINGO DE PASCUA
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PARISH LIFE
PARISH LIFE
NEW ALTAR SERVERS REQUESTED
WELCOME MINISTRY
Any child who has received their
first communion is invited to
become an altar server in the
parish. It will be a beautiful way
for the child to express their active
participation in the life of the
church.
The hours served, may also be
credited toward the community
service hours needed for graduating high school.
Don’t worry if your child is already involved in other
activities, as we try to meet everyone’s schedule.
There will be a training session sometime in the middle of May. If inter ested in becoming a ser ver
please contact Dawn Jeffries at 724-229-5655 or email
[email protected], before May 1st.
FOR EASTER SEASON APRIL 3-MAY 8
During the Season of Easter we will be focusing on
the Prayer “Come Holy Spirit”. We will delve into
the great gift of God’s life which is the Holy Spirit.
Each week we will focus on a line from the prayer as a
reflection preparing us for the Festival of Pentecost,
which is the Birthday of the Church. It is the Holy Spirit, who not only inspires us but encourages and enables
us to carry out the mission of Jesus.
“Come Holy Spirit; fill the hearts of Your faithful,
And kindle in them the fire of Your love.
Send forth Your Sprit and they shall be created.
And You shall renew the face of the earth.”
April 17 Kindle in them the fire of Your love.
April 24 Send forth your Spirit
May 1
And they shall be created.
May 8
And You shall renew the face of the earth
Let us open our hearts and minds, this Easter Season, to the movement of the Holy Spirit so that
God’s will may be accomplished in our lives.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT OLMM CHURCH?
Watch the latest inverview with Father Carmen at:
https://youtu.be/lz-GSC-T_HE
This, and all previous interviews, are on the website:
www.miraculousmedalchurch.org/Our-Parish/Message-from-the-Pastor
Are you practicing you special
talent? Don't forget to sign up for
the
Our Lady of the Miraculous
Medal TALENT SHOW to be
held on May 1, 2016, at 6:00
PM in the CCD building.
Drop your name and phone number in the collection
basket, or call Joyce Iannarelli at 724-745-5266 or
Jeanne Mayer at 412-997-8260.
Save your spot. Register now!
CHRISTIAN MOTHERS & GUILD
On June 7th at 6:00 p.m, Father Carmen will celebrate a Mass to install new members to our Christian
Mothers and Guild. Any woman of the par ish inter ested in being installed as a new member at this Mass
please contact our Membership Chair, Maggie Havelka,
at 724-746-7393.
CHILDREN'S ROOM NOW COMPLETE!
Our newly constructed Children's Room is
now completed. We want to thank our
maintenance man Andrew James, the
men of the Holy Name Society and those women and men of the parish who
volunteered their time to construct and
paint this new addition. The r oom will
be used for the Children's Liturgy of the
Word at the 11am Mass on Sundays and it
will be available for our parents with young families during the 5pm Mass on Saturdays and the 8am and
2:30pm Mass on Sundays. The r oom is also available
during the week for parish committee and organization
meetings. Please call the Church Office if you want to
reserve the room for your parish meetings.
CHILDREN'S LITURGY OF THE WORD TO BEGIN.
We will be beginning the Children's Liturgy of the
Word on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at the 11am Mass. All
children ages 4-8 are invited to come forward after the
Opening Prayer of the Mass to receive a blessing from the
Priest and then to follow the Prayer Leader downstairs to
our newly constructed Children's Room. The primary purpose of dismissing the children is to provide them with a
focused environment where they can become conscious,
active, listeners and responders to God's Word. The Children will listen to the readings and a reflection that is age
appropriate. They will then pray the Creed together and
pray their own Prayers of the Faithful. They will return to
their families at the Offertory time and pray with the entire
congregation during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is our
hope that our younger brothers and sisters will grow in
their love for God's Word and the Holy Mass.
APRIL 17, 2016
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
PARISH FAITH
LA FE DE LA PARROQUIA
THE SHEPHERD’S FLOCK
EL REBAÑO DEL PASTOR
In Christian art, the earliest depictions of Jesus Christ were not of his crucifixion or of his resurrection. The first
known renderings of Jesus show him as
the Good Shepherd, the image put before
us in today’s readings. In the Gospel passage Jesus reveals that he is the shepherd
and his followers are his “flock.”
In the first and second readings, we are told more
about the flock. The passage from Acts assures us that
both Jews and Gentiles are called to follow Jesus. It is
faith, not birthright, that makes us part of the company
of believers. In the passage from the book of Revelation
we learn that the flock that follows this Lamb of God
will also be washed in his blood. They will endure a
time of trial before they enjoy eternal life. Be assured of
the promise, we are told, but know there is a price to be
paid.
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
Just as the early church consecrated women living
alone in the world, today that consecration is available
to women who take solemn vows as cloistered nuns
(different from religious sisters), women who follow a
way of life in communities called “secular institutes,”
and laywomen. Oddly, the ritual is not permitted for
religious sisters. The prayers talk about the woman’s
self-gift to Christ, and her self-gift to the Church. Up
until recent years, this was a solemn ceremony performed only for cloistered nuns under certain circumstances. In its new form, we have a ritual that revives a
very ancient and little-known way of life.
Today, a woman can live independently at home,
without association with any religious sisterhood or institute, yet be consecrated to holiness and service. Normally, a ring and/or a veil may be given in the liturgy of
consecration. It is a rite very different from religious
profession, where the sister makes promises or vows,
and is rather an expression of approval and blessing for
a way of life already embraced. Unlike ancient times,
which valued actual virginity, the new rite may be celebrated for anyone provided there has never been a marriage and the woman has always lived a virtuous life.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK
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En el arte cristiano, las primeras imágenes de Jesucristo no fueron de su crucifixión ni de su resurrección.
Fueron de Jesús como el Buen Pastor, tal como nos lo
presentan las lecturas de hoy. En el pasaje evangélico
Jesús se nos revela como el pastor y sus seguidores son
su “rebaño”.
La primera y la segunda lecturas nos cuentan un
poco más sobre el rebaño. El pasaje de los Hechos nos
asegura que tanto los judíos como los gentiles están
llamados a seguir a Jesús. Es la fe, no el derecho de cuna, lo que nos permite pertenecer a la comunidad de
creyentes. En el pasaje del libro del Apocalipsis, aprendemos que el rebaño que le sigue a este Cordero de Dios
será también purificado en su sangre. Tendrán que sobrellevar un tiempo de prueba antes de gozar de la vida
eterna. Estén seguros de la promesa, nos avisa, pero sepan que hay un precio que pagar.
TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE
El 25 de abril la Iglesia conmemora a Pedro de Betancur (1626–1667).
Originalmente de las Islas Canarias, a
la edad de 24, se trasladó a Cuba. En
1651 llegó a Guatemala con la ambición de predicar a Cristo. Esto lo hizo,
no como sacerdote ni religioso. El fue
como laico, reconociendo su deber
bautismal de evangelizar.
En 1655 ingresó en la Orden Seglar Franciscana y
como laico quiso poner en práctica la espiritualidad
franciscana, ayudando a los pobres. Con su propio pan o
casa el alimentaba al hambriento y amparaba al indigente. A todos recordaba la necesidad de la salvación y
en la simplicidad de su mensaje derretía el egoísmo de
los ricos. Les abría el corazón enseñándoles a compartir
con los más pequeños de sus hermanos y hermanas.
Eventualmente su nobleza de espíritu atrajo a hombres y mujeres que deseaban compartir su apostolado y
fundó la Orden Betlehemita. También fundó la primera
escuela de niños en Centro América convirtiéndose en
el alfabetizador de Guatemala. Así dio ejemplo de lo
que la Iglesia debe hacer por el pobre y marginado.
LOS CUMPLEAÑOS DE ESTA SEMANA
Patrick Berton, William Cox, Joseph Chehovin, Joel Kirsch, Darci Robertson, Ashley Robertson,
Christina Marth, Scott Wheeler, Anthony Cepites, Luke Glivic, Vicente Sanchez, Robert Tepsich,
Florence Zofchak, Melanie Chase, Eugene Kurtz, Donald Peiffer, Armando Falascino, Richard
Morflak, Ted Polinski, Cathy Reck, Sarah Welsh, Thomas Wockley Sr., Gina Zanolla John Faigley,
Sami Fitzharris & Avery Rohm
APRIL 17, 2016
CUARTO DOMINGO DE PASCUA
PAGE 5
THE MESSAGE ON THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Each year this Fourth Sunday of Easter celebrates Jesus the Good Shepherd. Today’s Gospel seems especially timely,
for as Christians worldwide suffer persecution like Paul and Barnabas, Jesus promises his sheep enduring, invincible
safety: “They shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” But we who are free to live our faith peacefully sometimes take our membership in Jesus’ flock for granted, wandering astray to seek our own pleasure and
prosperity. The simple cross that Pope Francis always wears seems to show us how Jesus responds to that. Francis’s
cross features an image of Jesus, who has sought and found a lost sheep, then joyfully set it on his shoulders to carry
it gently home. May Good Shepherd Sunday in this Jubilee Year of Mercy inspire us, so often lost and found ourselves, to assist Jesus in seeking, finding, and gently carrying home our fellow precious lambs.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD: GENTLE AND STRONG
Good Shepherd Sunday inspires a World Day of Prayer for Vocations, asking God to bless communities everywhere with shepherds like Jesus. But our Good Shepherd image should embrace all the dimensions of Jesus’ image.
Appropriately, the Jubilee Year of Mercy comforts us by emphasizing Jesus’ tenderness toward straying sheep—
since we’re sometimes among them. So we’re glad to picture Jesus as popular religious art often does, a gentle herdsman whose kindly face smiles down on the sweet sleeping lamb he cradles. But in powerful lines already quoted from
today’s Gospel, Jesus balances that gentleness. Jesus’ sheep belong to him, are safe in his hand, and destined to live
forever. The source of this gentle Good Shepherd’s unflinching strength? “My Father, who has given them to me, is
greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.” As the Good Shepherd’s gentleness and strength
combine to offer us comfort and assurance, they also illustrate discipleship’s imitation of Christ as described by Saint
Francis de Sales: “Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing is so gentle as real strength.”
THE DISCIPLES: PERSECUTED BUT POSITIVE
As models of the Good Shepherd’s gentleness and strength, Paul and Barnabas, though subjected to “violent
abuse,” forgo revenge and refuse to despair, choosing instead to become “a light to the Gentiles” and “an instrument
of salvation to the ends of the earth.” Thus, despite rejection and persecution, fellow disciples “were filled with joy
and the Holy Spirit” and “the Gentiles were delighted and glorified the word of the Lord.” So we should respond positively to life’s negatives and face creatively whatever threatens to extinguish faith’s energy. Helpless though we may
feel facing evil that seems ceaseless and overwhelming, Revelation promises that disciples in every generation will
one day rejoice to “have survived the time of great distress,” “for the Lamb will shepherd them and lead them to
springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
PARISH INFORMATION AND CONTACTS
CLERGY
Carmen A. D’Amico, Pastor John Odeyemi, Priest in Residence Anton V. Mobley, Permanent Deacon PARISH STAFF
Rosalie Eckels, Religious Educa on Director Jennifer Derrick, Music Director & Organist Mary Ann Lecci, Parish Secretary Don Ross, Coordinator of Ministries Andrew James, Maintenance, Mon‐Fri
Dean Gindlesperger, Maintenance, Sat.‐Sun. PARISH PHONE NUMBERS Rectory:
724‐222‐1911 Rectory:
724‐206‐9677 Rectory Fax:
724‐222‐5688 CCD Center:
724‐228‐8575 Religious Educa on Office:
724‐228‐9088 Religious Educa on Fax:
724‐228‐1488 Bap sm and Marriage (Contact Rectory) 724‐222‐1911 Diocesan Abuse Hotline
1‐888‐808‐1235 Safe Environment Coordinator ‐ Ed Holmes
724‐886‐1484 e‐mail: [email protected] WEEKLY OFFERING
Average Weekly Expense
Collec on for Sunday April 3, 2016
Surplus
$ 6,100.00
$ 6,229.00
$ 129.00
Parish Share Goal 2016
Parish Share as of April 3, 2016
E‐Offering for February 2016
Anything collected over our Parish Share assessment will go into our savings.
$ 69,201.00
$ 12,526.00
$ 1,424.00