A of the  Saint Thomas More Diocese of Greensburg University Parish A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

“Moving from Maintenance to Mission” 1200 Oakland Avenue, Indiana, PA 15701 www.stmup.org Facebook (stmup) Office Hours: M-F 9 am – 4:30 pm Phone: 724-463-2277

November 24, 2019  Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Bishop of Greensburg: The Most Reverend Edward C. Malesic, JCL

Administrator: The Reverend Andres C. Gumangan

Parochial Vicar: The Reverend Rodolfo P. Mejia, Jr. SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST Mass Times Saturday . . . 6:00 pm Sunday . . . 10:00 am & 7:00 pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Tuesdays 6:00 - 6:30 pm or call 724-463-2277 for an appointment. Please see inside bulletin for changes to schedule.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Please call the Parish Office, 724-463-2277, ext. 113, at least four months prior to the birth of your child.

Baptismal Preparation Session for 2020 to be determined

Baptisms will be scheduled within Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month or outside of Mass by appointment.

SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY Please call the Parish Office for an appointment, 724-463-2277, ext. 113, at least one year prior to your anticipated wedding date.

SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK Call 724-463-2277 - Fr. Andy, ext. 120 or Fr. Rody, ext. 116

SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about vocations to the priesthood or religious life, please call NEW PARISHIONERS & IUP STUDENTS 724-463-2277 or the Diocesan Office for Clergy Vocations at Welcome to Saint Thomas More University Parish 724-837-0901, ext. 1332 or ext. 1335. To register, go to: www.stmup.org or contact the Parish Office. PARISH STAFF

Reverend Andres C. Gumangan, Administrator Phone Extension: 120 Email: [email protected]

Reverend Rodolfo P. Mejia, Jr, Parochial Vicar Phone Extension: 116 Email: [email protected]

Cindy Schillinger, Pastoral Associate & Director for Campus Ministry Phone Extension: 113 Email: [email protected]

Alexandra Stossel, Director for Liturgy & Music Phone Extension:115 Email: [email protected]

Mary Beth Palko, Director for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd & Youth Ministry Phone Extension: 125 Email: [email protected]

Diane Cawley, Parish & Financial Secretary Phone Extension: 110 Email: [email protected]

Bill Strittmatter, Maintenance & Physical Plant Manager Phone Extension: 122 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Saturday, November 23

10:00am - Pro Populo 7:00pm + Viola Jeckavich - Shirley Nardone

Monday, November 25 - Weekday

12:10pm + Richard Zelensky - Joan Bland Tuesday, November 26 - Weekday 12:10pm + Amelia Territo - Tim and Jan Petro Readings for the Week

6:00pm - Confession Saturday / Sunday

Wednesday, November 27 - Weekday 2 Sm 5:1-3 / Col 1:12-20 / 12:10pm + Amelia Territo - Jack and Dawn Falge Lk 23:35-43 Monday Thursday, November 28 - Weekday Office Closed - Happy Thanksgiving Tuesday 9:30am - For Those In Need Dn 2:31-45 / Lk 21:5-11

Friday, November 29 - Weekday Wednesday Office Closed Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17,23-28 / Lk 21:12-19

No Mass Thursday

Saturday, November 30 Dn 6:12-28 / Lk 21:20-28 6:00pm + Julia DonGiovanni - Vito and Donna DonGiovanni Friday

Sunday, December 1 - First Sunday of Advent Next Saturday/Sunday 10:00am + Ross Madia - Tim and Jan Petro Is 2:1-5 / Rom 13:11-14 / 7:00pm + Ben and Frances Cunningham - Debbie Dotts Mt 24:37-44 AROUND THE PARISH

Angels’ Wings Program The Angels’ Wings program was developed to allow community members to provide clothing, gifts and toys to less fortunate children, those with special needs, and the elderly. Your support helps many enjoy happier holidays. Gift tags will be available in the narthex until they are gone. After the Angels’ Wings tags are gone we will hang our emergency assistance gift tags. Your support is appreciated.

Festival Choir The Festival Choir will have its first rehearsal on Monday, Dec. 2nd from 7:30 until 9:00 pm in the St. Cecilia Room. All singers – young and old – are welcome to come and sing! Clearances are needed to take part in the Festival Choir. Rehearsals are held throughout Advent to prepare for the Christmas Eve 10pm Mass. Contact Erin Knepper, [email protected], if you have any questions.

Love Basket Love Basket needs your help for Christmas food distribution. Food will be packed in the STMUP lounge on Thursday, December 19th at 10:00 am and distributed on Friday, December 20th starting at 9:30am (volunteer arrival at 9:15). If you can help, contact Rosalind at 724-349-5955 or [email protected].

Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day Mass will be celebrated at STMUP on Thursday, November 28th at 9:30am. Even in the face of hardships and struggles, this day calls for thanks to be offered to our Father in Heaven for His many blessings. As we gather this day, let us come to the altar of our Lord with a desire to share with others from what we ourselves have received. We ask that you bring a donation of non-perishable food to supplement our emergency food program. Also, the collection on Thanksgiving Day will be used to purchase food for that ministry that helps so many.

Taizé Prayer During Advent Are you looking for a way to experience an Advent season that is more peaceful and meaningful? Are you searching for an opportunity to quiet yourself in the midst of your busy schedule? Prayer services in the tradition of Taizé (teh-ZAY) will be held at 6:00pm, in the church on the following Tuesdays: December 3rd, 10th and 17th.

PRAYER CHAIN & PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRIES This Week at STMUP For those in need of prayer or a prayer shawl, please contact the Parish Office, extension 113. Sunday, November 24

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) Please join us after the 10:00am Mass If you are interested in joining the , please contact the Parish for coffee and donuts. Office, extension 113. 12:00-4:00pm - Level I Formation

HELPFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Course [St Cecilia, Atrium I] Catholic Charities, Indiana Office 724-463-8806 5:00-7:00pm - Youth Ministry Catholic Charities 24 Hr. Hotline 1-866-409-6455 Saint Bernard Regional Catholic School 724-465-7139 Wednesday, November 27 Saint Vincent de Paul Society Helpline 724-471-2210 No CGS Levels I, II, & III Rev. Gregorio D.C. Soldevilla, Jr., Catholic Chaplain at IRMC 724-610-1942 No Choir Rehearsal Suicide Prevention 1-877-333-2470 Thursday, November 28 WEBSITES No CGS Levels I, II, & III Parish Website: www.stmup.org Diocesan Website: www.dioceseofgreensburg.org Sunday, December 1 US Conference of Catholic Website: www.usccb.org Please join us after the 10:00am Mass Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Website: www.cgsusa.org for coffee and donuts.

Knights of Columbus, Council #1481 Indiana www.kofc1481.org No Youth Ministry Like us on Facebook (stmup) FAITH FORMATION

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Salvation occurs during a particular time and space. Among all of the earth’s land, God chose Israel to send his greatest gift of Jesus. He is an historical person that lived, preached, died and rose in the land of Israel. When we engage these facts and make them more accessible to the child, we are laying the geographical context for subsequent Biblical texts. In these last weeks of ordinary time, our focus lies precisely there. A globe, beautifully crafted topographical map and regions puzzle of the land are prominent in the Levels I and II atria. In Level I this emphasis is placed from the greatest to the smallest whereby a child initially is presented the globe, then the regions and finally the three main cities in Jesus’ life: Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, where the most important events took place. The Level II child deepens the appreciation of Jesus’ historicity and knowledge of the land of Israel by lifting up the additional regions, lands, cities and waterways in the gospels that highlight Jesus’ earthly mission. As the child becomes more familiar with the scriptures, there is renewed interest in the geography material.

Youth Ministry YM will meets on Sunday’s from 5-7pm. Our session on November 24th will be our monthly social event. The social event for November is to bake cookies for others (and of course eat a few while baking.) Join us for a fun time.

Diocesan High School Winter Retreat All youth of the Diocese in grades 9 -12 are invited to join us for the Diocesan High School Winter Retreat, Chaos, sponsored by the Diocese of Greensburg. Come pray, share, learn, and take time to be with God. Join us February 21-23, 2020 at Laurelville Retreat Center in Mt. Pleasant. Register now with your parish youth ministry leader or faith formation office. For more information visit www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/winterretreat. Register by February 1 at the Early Bird Registration of $100. Registration raises to $130 after February 1. Attendees are eligible for a scholarship of $50 through the Francis Fund. Applications for Francis Fund are due by January 1, 2020.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, The King of the Universe Gospel: Luke 23:35-43 REFLECTION: This is an odd king who hangs in public disgrace on a cross to receive the jeers and derision of crowds and criminals. The Romans hung a sign above his head to that effect, intended as cruel irony, but which speaks the honest truth. They meant to say to the Jews, “You’re slaves and so this one, dying the death of a slave, is a fitting king for you.” They didn’t realize that we’re all slaves to sin and that only the death of this innocent king of slaves could free us. The centurion at the foot of the cross recognized Christ’s innocence, but it took a convicted criminal to piece the heart of the mystery of Christ’s odd kingship, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” There was never a more profound act of faith than that. Imagine the depth of faith needed to see in the man On any electronic device, visit www.formed.org mocked, beaten, and dying as one who would rule as king. Yet Enter Parish Code: B H F W H C Apple users can now download the iOS App this thief, and innumerable sinners since, has received the grace Android users please go to to see in this one dying the death of a slave as their Lord and https://app.formed.org/mobile-web king. Sinners often understand it best. and follow the instructions to access Formed CAMPUS MINISTRY 

Thanksgiving Break As you get ready to leave for Thanksgiving Break, remember for us Catholics Thanksgiving is not just a once-a-year holiday, it is something we do every time we celebrate Mass. By doing so we seek to align ourselves perfectly with God and to be in proper relationship with him who is the giver of all gifts.

Catholic Student Association (CSA) CSA meets on Tuesdays from 8:15 - 9:15pm in the Allegheny Room at the HUB. All IUP students are welcome. Contact Information [email protected].

Bible Study All IUP students are invited to take part in a student led bible study on Mondays at 8:30pm at Common Place Coffee. For more information contact Maria at [email protected].

Spring Break Alternative - Attention IUP Students God may be calling you to serve him in Appalachia this year over Spring Break. St Thomas More University Parish will once again sponsor a Spring Break Alternative to Eastern Kentucky where we will join with other universities to rehabilitate substandard housing. No Experience Necessary. If you are interested in going on the trip or finding out more, please contact Cindy at 724-463-2277 or [email protected]

Pancakes Till Midnight Pancakes Till Midnight (new time, same “Jesus Cakes”) on Tuesday, December 10th, with Mass at 9:00pm and Wednesday, December 11th. We will be serving pancakes from 10:00pm until Midnight. Please invite all your friends and classmates to take a break and come and eat some delicious pancakes.

CSA Retreat of Thanksgiving November 14, 2019 Region 5 Advent Reconciliation Services

Monday, December 9 ~ 7:00pm Saint Thomas More University Parish

Wednesday, December 11 ~ 7:00pm Church of the Good Shepherd, Kent

Monday, December 16 ~ 7:00pm Our Lady of the Assumption, Lucernemines

Tuesday, December 17 ~ 7:00pm Church of the Resurrection, Clymer

Wednesday, December 18 ~ 7:00pm Saint Matthew Parish, Saltsburg

Thursday, December 19 ~ 7:00pm Saints Simon & Jude Parish, Blairsville

Saturday, December 21 ~ 1:00pm Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Indiana AROUND OUR REGION AND DIOCESE

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store $1 Off Adult Coats (Including White Tag Coats). Located in the Bi Lo Plaza on North 4th St. (Indiana). Hours: Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10am - 4pm; Tue. 10am - 5pm; Sat. 10am-3pm. We will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday, November 28, 29 & 30.

Pro-Life Essay Contest Sixth- through eighth-graders are invited to submit entries for the annual pro-life essay contest sponsored by Alternatives.Yes pregnancy support center, Connellsville. Students living in or going to school in Westmoreland and Fayette counties are eligible. This year’s theme is “All Human Life is Beautiful.” Entries must be 300-500 words, typed, double-spaced, with name, grade, phone number, address and school name on a separate page or the back of the essay. Essays will be judged on originality, creativity, grammar and neatness. Cash prizes will be awarded. Entries can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to or dropped off at Alternatives. Yes, 6 Frank Gallo Lane Connellsville, PA 15425; postmarked by Jan. 22, 2020.

Missionary Childhood Association National Christmas Artwork Contest We are happy to send the attached information to you regarding the 2019-20 Missionary Childhood Association National Christmas Artwork Contest. You might be aware that in the last 4 years, 7 winners have come from the Diocese of Greensburg. We hope that our winning streak continues. What an opportunity to share our Catholic faith and our belief in the “Word Made Flesh!” Although the Contest is already looking forward to Christmas 2020, I pray that you will have a Holy and Blessed Advent and Christmas Seasons this year as we prepare to celebrate the Birth of our Lord once again. Artwork must be submitted by January 31, 2020. Contest guidelines are available in the STMUP parish office.

Thanksgiving Dinner A free Thanksgiving dinner for people who are alone for the holiday will be held at St. Vincent Grove Nov. 28 at noon. RSVP to Bonita Sisak at 724-532-2840.

Parish Anniversary Cookbooks on Sale The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish’s 125th Anniversary Cookbook, now in its third printing, is available for $20 (including a free e-book). To order, call the parish office, 724-547-1911, or send a check or money order for $20 plus $5 shipping and handling per cookbook to: Visitation Christian Mothers, Visitation Church, 740 W. Walnut St., Mount Pleasant, PA 15666.

Annual Holly Berry Fair St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Kittanning, will hold its annual Holly Berry Fair Dec. 7, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. in St. Mary Parish Hall. Breakfast with Santa 9:30-11 a.m.; the fair includes used Christmas items sale, raffle of more than 80 theme baskets, fresh Christmas greens sale, bake sale and soup sale. Lunch noon-3 p.m.; ham and turkey bingo 1-3 p.m.; stuffed chicken breast dinner 4-6 p.m. Takeout available. For more information, Breakfast with Santa registration forms and dinner pre-orders, go to www.stmarykittanning.org or call 724-548-7649. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Parish Exploring God’s Call Liturgical Schedule

For young men in grades 9-12, will be offered Dec. 8, Feb. 9, March 8, Week of November 25 - December 1 April 19 and May 17 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Greensburg Central Catholic Monday, November 25 7:30am Mass High School. For information or to register for either group, visit Tuesday, November 26 7:30am Mass 12-7 Eucharistic Adoration gbgvocations.org. Wed., November 27 7:30am Mass  Thurs., November 28 9:00am Mass The Melchizedek Project Friday, November 29 7:30am Mass For men 18 and older, will be held Nov. 24 and Dec. 8 from 6:30-8 p.m. Saturday, November 30 7:30am Mass 8:30-10:00am Confessions at Holy Family Parish rectory, Latrobe. To register, email 4:00pm Mass [email protected]. Sunday, December 1 8:00am Mass 10:00am Mass STEWARDSHIP Meet Father Rodolfo Pinlac Mejia, Jr.

Provincial Address…#18 Mejia Street, Malasiqui, Pangasinan, Date of Birth…February 18 1971 Date of Ordination to diaconate…March 19 2004 Date of Ordination to priesthood…November 30 2004 Place of Ordination… Cathedral, Antipolo City, , Philippines Diocese…Antipolo Diocese

Right after elementary school, I entered the high school seminary in our province (1984). I did not have a vocation at that time that I recognized, my mom told me, ‘after high school take up engineering and help us send your brothers and sisters to school (I am the eldest among seven children of +Rodolfo Sr. and +Cecilia).’ In response to my mom’s request, I told her “I do not want to take up engineering…I want to take up law.” She said, “Okay with me.” In 1988, I entered the college seminary with the intention of following through with the plan that my mom and I had agreed upon, taking philosophy as my preparatory for law. In the second semester of the school year, we had what is called investiture, when we start wearing a cassock. Wearing the cassock made me a so-called instant celebrity in our community and I started to have peculiar feelings about my choice in life. After defending my thesis, I found myself talking to our Fr. telling him ‘I want to study theology in Manila.’ I believe I can say that was the start of my ‘call?’ Of course, I never told mentioned what had transpired to my mom. After the 1992 graduation from college, I tried working in the corporate world by startng a job with an insurance company as Assistant Trainor and Statistics Assistant. This was a new world after being “incarcerated” in the seminary for 8 years LOL. On August 07 1993, our mom passed away and during her wake I was told that from the moment I started wearing the cassock she did not want me to become a lawyer…she wanted me to be priest. My aunts told me that after my investiture my mom went to Mass daily praying for me to be a priest someday. During the 1995 school year, I started my study of theology at the Loyola School of Theology. I thought it would be a smooth sailing, but sad to say the demise of our dad (December 03 1997) put things on hold. In March 1998, I went home to my province. Being the eldest among seven siblings it was my responsibility to watch over them…my world seemed to have crumbled. I started a small piggery farm with a capacity of 25-30 heads just to eke out a living (it was a hands on experience, I tell you even after taking a bath with soap, gallons of alcohol and drums of cologne the odor remained…you stink like the pigs…even your girlfriend would never dare to embrace you LOL)…river of tears gushed forth…asking my God where are you? Hard work, prayers, and faith in Him were my tools to cross the bridge. There were times that I questioned Him even doubted Him but the saying reverberates GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME…ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD…because He still graced me despite my unworthiness with the Sacrament of Ordination on Nov. 30, 2004. That grace overflows to include this very moment I am typing this here in my office at St. Thomas More University Parish. From the Diocese of Antipolo to the Diocese of Greensburg, I carry with me my experience on how God STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE overflows His grace to an individual…and I keep on saying: November 17, 2019 1. God will never withhold His blessings…ask and you Adult: $4,859.00 Children: $2.00 shall receive Loose: $536.00 2. On Noah’s ark, after the flood they saw a rainbow and 3. In the Book of Job, Satan says he wants to put Job to Total Regular Weekly Collection: $7,912.85 the test and take everything he has… God responds that Utilities: $12.00 Accent: $8.00 Satan will have power over all that Job has and does $813.78 except for his life…in the end of the book after going through many trials, Job gets back his life. Amen. JAMES D. CARMELLA Flo’s Floral and Gift Shop JAY CARMELLA ATTORNEYS Lasting Memories and Impressions • Michael J. Supinka ATTORNEYS AT LAW 724-479-8070 30+ Years 724 Church St. • Indiana • Vivian F. Supinka 724-349-6768 www.flosfloral.com of Experience 983 Philadelphia St. Indiana HOMER CITY 724-349-7722 DRUG STORES & MEDICAL SUPPLY Medical Supply 670 Philadelphia St. 841 Hospital Rd. Jeffrey A. Cavalancia, D.D.S., M.S.D. 152 North Fifth St., Indiana, PA 724.465.4200 1350 Oakland Ave. 724.463.3440 James C. Cavalancia, D.M.D., M.S. 724-463-7700 724.349.2830 Kaitlyn M. Schiels, D.M.D., M.S www.jacortho.com Donald C. Hogan, D.M.D. im Anderson 1265 Wayne Avenue, Suite 300 T 119 Professional Center PA Country Piano Shop Indiana, PA 15701 Shop: 724.397.2266 • Cell: 724.599.4924 724-349-2880 [email protected] “LOVE Thy Neighbor, TUNE Thy Piano”

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