Saint Gertrude Parish A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust 303 Franklin Ave • Vandergrift, Pennsylvania 15690 February 2, 2020 Presentation of the Lord
Fr. James Loew, O.S.B. Pastor, (724) 568-2331 Fax: (724) 568-2030
Fr. Michael J. Sciberras Senior Priest Active
Sr. Mercy Francis, S.M.I., Pastoral Minister
Katie Tylinski (724) 212-6740 Regional Director of Faith Formation [email protected]
Mr. James Peterman Assistant to the Regional Director of Faith Formation (724) 568-2331 or (724) 845-8191.
Baptisms by appointment. Baptismal preparation is necessary. Call for classes
Marriage Arrangements must be made at least 8 months in advance. No marriage dates will be given until meeting with the priest and all prep- aration is ready.
Sunday Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil 4:00 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. Pastoral Council Mission Statement
We, the partnered parish communities of St. Gertrude and Christ the King, are faith-filled Catholics who have been called by our Baptism and empowered by See Bulletin for daily Mass Schedule the Good News of Jesus Christ to be Church for all. Although made up of multi- cultural faith communities we are ever united by our common faith. Holy Day Mass Schedule We are committed to “building up the Body of Christ” through Word, Worship, Holy Day ~ 8:30am, 6:00 pm Evangelization, Leadership, Service, Stewardship, and Fellowship. Dedicated to deepening our love of Christ and one another, together we strive to become a living reflection of Christ for our region.
Office Hours We willingly accept our obligation to be the “Light of the World” for others and in that spirit we promise to use our resources to practice gospel justice, to heal Monday-Thursday 9:00 am - 4:00 divisive wounds among God’s People and to join with all people of good will in Friday– Closed addressing the spiritual and physical needs of all. Confessions Saturday ~ 3:15-3:45 pm or by Appointment ST. GERTRUDE
anxiety and resentment for Readings for the Week The Presentation of the Lord present suffering. But Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna Today’s feast is both magnifi- leave the saving of the world Monday: 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; cent and mysterious: magnifi- to God; for their part, they 16:5-13; Ps 3:2-7; cent because the very first focus on Jesus. Each of them Mk 5:1-20 contemporaries of Jesus begin keeps busy with daily details Tuesday: 2 Sm 18:9-10, 14b, to recognize him as Christ, the of the various lifestyles they 24-25a, 30 — 19:3; anointed Savior of the world; have chosen. Mary and Joseph Ps 86:1-6; Mk 5:21-43 mysterious, because this King concern themselves with rais- Wednesday: 2 Sm 24:2, 9-17; is still a child, an obscure boy ing a family, while Simeon and Ps 32:1-2, 5-7; Mk 6:1-6 obedient to his earthly par- Anna dedicate their lives to Thursday: 1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12; ents. The prophet Malachi— prayer in the temple. They 1 Chr 29:10-12; living and dying before the find peace enough in fulfilling Mk 6:7-13 coming of Christ—points to- the obligations of their sta- Friday: Sir 47:2-11; Ps 18:31, ward the arrival of the Messiah tions in life, maintaining a 47, 50, 51; Mk 6:14-29 and encourages God’s people lively prayer life to be atten- Saturday: 1 Kgs 3:4-13; Ps to prepare themselves by liv- tive to God’s action in the 119:9-14; Mk 6:30-34 ing generous, holy lives. The world. In today’s Gospel, their Sunday: Is 58:7-10; Ps 112:4- Letter to the Hebrews— focus is literally and spiritually 9; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16 written after Jesus’ ministry, on Jesus. They model for us The List Goes On death, and resurrection— how to be happy and holy: renews the prophetic call to performing their daily duties holiness, reminding us that the peacefully, always ready to Today’s readings reflect on some- Lord will always help us: recognize Jesus as he reveals thing close to the heart of every “Because he himself was test- himself. human person: the fulfillment of ed through what he suffered, our deepest desires. Without ex- he is able to help those who Today’s Readings ception, each of us feels unful- filled in some way. Despite ad- are being tested.” The Gospel reading overflows with exam- vances in law, technology, and First Reading — There will medicine, every person experi- ples of joyful men and women come to the temple the LORD ences the frustration of “not yet” living God’s call to holiness. whom you seek (Malachi 3:1- or “not enough.” Our hearts al- Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and An- 4). ways want more. God plants this na show us, in their own ways, Psalm — Who is this king of desire in our hearts. God knows how to love Christ. glory? It is the Lord! how we ache. What most of us (Psalm 24). fail to believe, deep down, is that Always Ready for Jesus God alone satisfies all our long- Second Reading — Jesus had ing. We know, theoretically, that We often think, “Once I get to become like his brothers the Creator of the universe pro- this, or once that happens, and sisters in every way to vides everything we need, but we then I will be happy.” But the help the descendants of Abra- could all use more quality time Gospel shows a better way. ham (Hebrews 2:14-18). with God to consider the ques- All four adults in today’s Gos- Gospel — The just and pious tion, “What exactly do I need to pel long deeply for the Messi- Simeon proclaims the infant be happy, Lord?” Perhaps we can ah and “the consolation of Jesus to be a revealing light to spend more time in prayer and Israel” he will bring. Human the Gentiles, the glory of the service, asking the Lord to temptation might obsess over people Israel (Luke 2:22-40 [22 show us what is truly im- the promise of future peace -32]). portant in life. and prosperity, leaving only Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2020
the Church Social Hall. All keynote speaker will be Mike Clark. Doors open at 7:15 a.m. Sanctuary Lamp members urged to attend. Robert & Genevieve Foreman and the conference begins at By the Foreman Family The CD of A has their annual 8:30 a.m. Register at
Memorial Candle March lottery tickets available www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/ Nick and Flora Civitillo for sale for $5.00 each. These THEWELL by March 11. Regis- By the Hollingers tickets are good for the whole tration includes breakfast and
Memorial Candle month of March and have two lunch. Francis Fund scholar- Mark Maszgay lottery numbers per ticket. ships are available to cover the By $50 registration fee. Apply at Friends They make a nice little gift for Valentines Day. If you are inter- dioceseofgreensburg.org/ ested in purchasing a ticket, francisfund by March 2. Ques- please call Mary Daldoss at 724- tions? Email Sunday Collection 568-9145 or Kathy Policicchio at THEWELL@dioceseofgreensbur 724-777-1220 or stop at the g.org. January 11th & 12th Spaghetti Dinners where we will have tickets for purchase. Envelopes ~ $4,640.00 Salt and Light Awards Loose ~ $373.50 St. Vincent de Paul Church Restoration ~ $30.00 Catholic Charities of the Dio- Utilities ~ $44.00 The St. Gertrude Conference of cese of Greensburg will host Second Collection This Week St. Vincent de Paul will meet on the 22nd annual Communities Wednesday, February 5, at 6:30 of Salt and Light Awards Dinner This week , our special collec- p.m. in the church hall. All April 16 at 6 p.m. at Stratigos tion supports the Church in members are urged to attend. Banquet Centre, North Hun- Central and Eastern Europe. tingdon. Bishop Malesic will Your donation today helps re- present three awards — hu- store the Church and build the Spaghetti Dinner manitarian, philanthropy and future in more than 20 coun- outstanding human service or- tries still struggling to recover Ministries asked to provide des- ganization. All net proceeds from Communist rule. Funds sert and/or work at the Febru- benefit people in need in the from this collection support re- ary 13 Spaghetti Dinner; diocese’s four counties. Con- construction, education, for- Knights of Columbus and Eucha- tact Heather Rady, director of mation, and poverty outreach. ristic Ministers community relations and spe- Please be generous to the col- cial events, at 724-837-1840 lection today. For more infor- Well Men’s Conference for sponsorship and ticket in- mation, please visit formation. Or go to www.usccb.org/ccee. The second THE WELL Men’s www.ccharitiesgreensburg.org Conference will be held March 21 at Westmoreland County Community College, Young- Advertisers Catholic Daughters of the wood. The event includes work- Americas, Court 1008 shops, discussions, the sacra- Please support the advertisers ment of reconciliation and ado- on the back page of the bulle- Catholic Daughters of the ration, and it concludes with tin, and thank them for Americas will hold our first Mass celebrated by Bishop their support. They make the meeting of the New Year on Malesic at 4 p.m. Open to men bulletins possible at no cost to February 4th at 7:00 P.M. in 18 years of age and older. The the parish. 5 th Grade Faith Forma on Spring Schedule (6:00-7:30
PM at St. Gertrude’s Parish Center) January 26th, February 9th, February 23rd, March 8th, March 15th—Living Sta ons at Christ the King, March 22n, April 5th—Palm Sunday Event, April 19th—Last class
th K-5 Grade Faith Forma on will resume this Sunday, January 12th from 6:00-7:30 PM at St. Gertrude’s Parish Center.
FUSED 4 ~ January LIFETEEN/EDGE CALENDAR (6:00- 7:30 PM at St. Gertrude’s Parish Center) (EDGE: Grades 6th-8th/LIFETEEN: grades 9th 12th ~ St. Gertrude’s Parish Center ~ 6:00-7:30 PM) January ~ 26th—Session FUSED 4 ~ February LIFETEEN CALENDAR (different schedule than EDGE this month) 1st—Snowtubing ~ 2nd—No Session because of snowtubing ~ 9th—Session ~ 16th-- Session 10 ~ 21st- 23rd—Winter Retreat ~ 23rd—NO SESSION (because of retreat) FUSED 4 ~ February EDGE CALENDAR (different sched- ule than LIFETEEN this month) 1st—Snowtubing ~ 2nd—No Session because of snowtubing ~ 9th—Session ~ 15th—Confirma on Service Project for 8th graders and their parent(s) ~ 16th— Session ~ 23rd—Session
Has it been awhile since you have a ended Youth Min- istry or maybe you have never par cipated before? You are always welcome to join us. The door is always open!
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 me to be with God. Join us February 21-23, 2020 at Laurelville Retreat Center in Mt. Pleasant. Register now by contac ng the FUSED 4 Youth Ministry Office. For more informa on visit www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/winterretreat or ask Ka e. Registra on is now $105. FUSED 4 Youth Minis- try has subsidized the price. Please make your check payable to Christ the King. Don’t miss out!
Confirma on Service Project for 8th graders and their parent(s) will be on Saturday, February 15th for Habitat for Humanity in Ki anning from 9:00 AM-2:00 PM. This is mandatory for all Confirma on candidates and their parents.
Saturday, February 1 Vigil, Presentation of the Lord 4:00p.m. †Nellie Kuruc
Sunday, February 2, The Presentation of the Lord 8:00a.m. †Living and Deceased of Our Parish 10:30a.m. †Eva & Earnest Supansic
Monday, February 3, Weekday 8:30a.m. †Jean Tallarom
Tuesday, February 4, Weekday 8:30a.m. †Mass at Christ The King
Wednesday, February 5, St. Agatha 8:30a.m. †Perry A. Pinto
Thursday, February 6, St. Paul 8:30a.m. †Mass At Christ The King
Friday, February 7, Weekday 8:30a.m. †Pearl Miller
Saturday, February 8, Weekday 8:30a.m. Mass at Christ the King
Saturday, February 8, Vigil Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00p.m. †Ferraccio & Kunkle Family
Sunday, February 9, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8::00a.m. †Living & Deceased of Our Parish 10:30a.m. †John Naccarato