24, 2020 | E E T F E TER D E ERD RED E R D DE E E ME D 1 - 1 M L . . FI ER E ME D 1 - 1 M L . DE E E . RI E E ME M D 7 M - M L RD F D
MAY 24, 2020 | SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
GOOD SHEPHERD
SACRED HEART
MADONNA DEL
CASTELLO
CONFESSION TIME:
SATURDAY 12:00 NOON - 1:00 PM
CHURCH PARKING LOT
ST. COLMAN
ST. JOHN FISHER
CONFESSION TIME:
SATURDAY 12:00 NOON - 1:00 PM
CHURCH PARKING LOT
ST. JUDE THE
APOSTLE
ST. MAURICE
CONFESSION TIME:
MONDAY 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
CHURCH PARKING LOT
WORD OF GOD
02
May 24, 2020 | Seventh Sunday of Easter
STAFF AND CONTACTS
ST. JUDE THE APOSTLE
405 Westinghouse Avenue, Wilmerding, PA 15148�
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ST. JOHN FISHER
33 Lewin Lane, Churchill, PA 15235�
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ST. COLMAN
100 Tri-Boro Avenue, Turtle Creek, PA 15145-1966�
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ST. MAURICE
2001 Ardmore Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15221�
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WORD OF GOD
7446 McClure Avenue, Swissvale, PA 15218�
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STAFF
Father Frank D. Almade
Administrator
Father Martin F. Barkin
Senior Parochial Vicar
Father Jeremy J. Mohler
Parochial Vicar
Father Albert J. Semler
Parochial Vicar
Deacon Joseph M. Dougherty
Deacon Keith G. Kondrich
Deacon Herb Riley
Deacon Ron Demblowski
Pastoral Associate
412-241-1372
Kelly James
Director of Business Operations
412-351-6008
Cheryl Kirkland
Director of Religious Education
412-351-6710
Norman E. Chapman
CAGO, Director of Music
412-271-0809
Jon Zellhart
Director of Music
412-241-4722
Kelley Rodgers
Business Manager
412-271-0809
David Barr
Principal
East Catholic School
412-351-5403
Safe Environment...It is the policy of
the Diocese that all volunteers must
complete the Safe Environment process
before beginning a ministry or activity in
any Parish. Please call 412-271-0809
for more information..
Diocese of Pittsburgh Crisis Hotline:
1-888-808-1235
Diocesan Victim Assistance
Coordinator: 412-456-3093 (Office)
PA Child Line: 1-800-932-0313
New Parishioners are most welcome!
Please call the office of the church you would like to join.
We will be happy to assist you!
MADONNA DEL
CASTELLO
2021 South Braddock Avenue, Swissvale, PA 15218�
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GOOD SHEPHERD
Braddock Avenue at Frazier Street, Braddock, PA 15104�
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1600 Brinton Road, Braddock Hills, PA 15221-4902�
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03
Faith Chronicles
By Father Frank D. Almade
Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God
For so long during this coronavirus crisis, time was
moving slowly. Now it is moving quickly.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has moved the
counties of the Diocese of Pittsburgh to the “yellow phase”
effective May 15. (Beaver County will move to yellow on
May 22.) This means that some businesses can open, child
care centers can open, restaurants can serve patrons outdoors
and stay-at-home restrictions are lifted in favor of “aggressive
mitigation.” It also means that churches can have as many as
25 people for assembly. It is anticipated that by June 1 our
counties will move to the “green phase.” This will allow for
larger numbers in worship services, while following the
C.D.C. (Centers for Disease Control) and Pennsylvania
Department of Health guidelines.
At this writing we are hoping to begin daily
Masses on Monday, June 1, and weekend Masses on
Saturday, June 6. Please watch for more information
about the specific times and places for weekday and
Sunday Masses, on our websites and through social media.
When our churches do open, it is vital to state
important considerations:
• The obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains
suspended until further notice, because of the
coronavirus pandemic. No one is obliged to attend
Mass. Anyone who is feeling sick should stay at
home and pray.
• People who are at risk because of an underlying
health issue, or who are elderly or sick are strongly
encouraged to stay home for their own health and to
avoid any risk of contracting the virus. This includes
anyone over the age of 60, or anyone who has
diabetes or has a compromised immune system.
• All who attend Mass must wear a mask and practice
social distancing. Each church will have markings on
the pews to best practice social distancing.
• Masses will have some alterations. There will be few
persons in the sanctuary. Choirs or schola are not
permitted. There will not be an offertory procession
or the Sign of Peace. No holy water will be in the
fonts at the entrance of the churches. We will not use
hymnals during Mass.
• Holy Communion will only be offered with the
Sacred Host. There will not be distribution of the
Precious Blood. Only priests and deacons will be
permitted to distribute Holy Communion. All are
strongly urged to receive Holy Communion in the
hand, and not on the tongue. Holy Communion will
not be distributed at the usual time of the Mass, but
will be distributed at the very end, after the final
blessing and before the faithful exit the church.
• We will continue to live-stream a daily Mass and
Sunday Mass for the foreseeable future.
• Although the Diocese of Pittsburgh guidelines allow
for Masses outdoors, I have decided that none of our
churches or church properties have the space or
equipment for Mass outdoors. Also, weather is
problematic and will cause problems for any outdoor
Mass. All our parish Masses (weekday and Sunday)
will be inside our churches.
• Confessions (the sacrament of reconciliation) will
continue at our regular times beginning on June 1,
and be held inside the churches. However we will not
use the confessional rooms. Rather confessions will
be held in the sanctuary for Saturday times (12 noon
to 1:00 p.m.) in Word of God church and St. Colman
church, and in the chapel on Monday evenings after
the 7:00 p.m. Mass in St. Maurice church. Both the
priest and the penitent must practice social distancing.
• Later in the summer we will schedule First Holy
Communion celebrations for second graders, and the
sacraments of initiation for our Elect (catechumens)
and Candidates.
While most of our attention is on “opening the
churches” in light of the restrictions caused by the corona
virus, our grouping of parishes (“the eight great churches of
the East”) and 14 other grouping of parishes around the
diocese are proceeding to become one unified parish, effective
July 1, 2020. We have been on this journey of “On Mission
for the Church Alive” for several years. This is a new phase
of our life as a Catholic community. Look for more
information about this special historic date in next week’s
bulletin.
Let me conclude with a prayer during this stressful
time offered by Pope Francis, calling upon the intercession of
the Blessed Virgin Mary:
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a
sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you,
Health of the Sick. We seek refuge under your protection, O
Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas, we who are
put to the test. Deliver us from every danger, O glorious and
blessed Virgin. At the foot of the Cross you participated in
Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman
People, know what we need. We are certain that you will
provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and
feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us,
Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s
will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings
upon himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the
Cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
04
May 24, 2020 | Seventh Sunday of Easter
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Sat. May 23
Vigil-Seventh Sunday of
Easter
1) †Gene Merge
2) †Charlotte Morris & Martha Beener
3) †Anna & Val School
1) Family
2) Bill & Arlene
3) Beverly & Edwin School
Sunday,
May 24
Seventh Sunday of Easter
1) †Virginia Cowell
2) †Jim & Pauline Seese
3) †Frank & Dorothy Urick
4) 40th Wedd. Anniv. Daniel & Mary Lou Kennedy
1) Cowell Family
2) Daughters & Sons
3) Matthew, Terri & Mary Lou
Mon. May 25
Easter Weekday
Tues. May 26
Saint Philip Neri, Priest
1) †John “Jack” Brown
2) †Florence & Bud Hawk
3) †Robert Puhala
1) Michael & Carolyn Lombardo
2) Rod & Kathy
3) Mother
Wed. May 27
Easter Weekday
†Dolores Ripp Maxine Wilson Ripp
Thurs. May 28
Easter Weekday
1) †Evelyn Boyd
2) †Helen & Paul McCaffery
3) †Catherine Anderchak & Catherine Walsh
1) Hall Family
2) Family
3) Ginny McDonough
Fri. May 29
Easter Weekday
1) †Jack Joyce
2) †Margaret Volpe
1) Michael & Eleanor Vesko
2) Family
Sat. May 30
Vigil-Pentecost Sunday
1) †Paul Alexander
2) †Elizabeth Bigos
3) †Martin J, Sr. & Martin J. Conroy, Jr.
4) †Charles Veyliotti
1) Patti, Bill & Family
2) DePasquale Family
3) Mary Conroy & Family
4) Tony & Linda Probola
Sunday,
May 31
Pentecost Sunday
1) †Imelda & William Backa, Sr.
2) †Charles Clugston
3) †Robert Cowell
4) †John C. Sullivan
1 Backa Family
2) Family
3) Ron Cowell & Family
4) Clara Sullivan & Family
†All Living & Deceased of our Parishes
Mass Intentions
PARISH OFFICE OPEN
Monday-Friday—8:30 am-4:30 pm—St. Maurice
2001 Ardmore Blvd.
412-271-0809
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We are grateful for your understanding, support and prayers
in these unprecedented times.
May God bless and protect you.
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
GOOD SHEPHERD
Offertory $2,141.00
MADONNA DEL CASTELLO
Offertory $1,580.00
ST. COLMAN
Offertory $3,607.00
ST. JOHN FISHER
Offertory $4,524.00
ST. JUDE THE APOSTLE
Offertory $1,239.00
ST. MAURICE
Offertory $6,011.00
WORD OF GOD
Offertory $2,615.00
05
Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God
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May 24, 2020 | Seventh Sunday of Easter
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
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MASKS
When our churches open again everyone attending or
visiting will have to wear a mask. To make sure everyone
has one, we will need to have extra masks on hand. If
anyone wants to help, they could make a few masks and
donate them to our parishes, for use when the churches
reopen. Any color, any size. Just drop them off at the
parish office. Thank you!
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07
Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God
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PARISH NEWS
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER
by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
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PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
08
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May 24, 2020 | Seventh Sunday of Easter
09
Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God
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Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God
Thank you very much for all
your contributions, past and
present, to the
Program.
12
May 24, 2020 | Seventh Sunday of Easter
PARISH NEWS
A NOTE FROM FR. MOHLER ON MISSION WEEK AND YOUTH EVENTS
Mission Week, the opportunity for service and retreat for our high school students scheduled for June 21-26, has been
canceled. It is a disappointment for all involved, but we all agreed it would not be feasible to do this year. I still want
to offer opportunities for our teens to grow closer to Christ and to each other in this summer ahead, whether online or
hopefully—eventually with in person events as well. Please contact me with any ideas or questions moving forward at
Mission Week 2020 Update
With many of our common Catholic practices having been suspended recently, our idea of living the Faith might be going up
in flame! Yet, fire not only symbolizes but is one of the most expressive images of the transforming energy of the Holy
Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit, whom Christ pours out on us, who builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. Saint Paul
reminds us not to let the Spirit be quenched (1 Thess 5:19) and we will not let the coronavirus prevent us from being Church!
With that said, we also must face the reality before us. Mission Week 2020 is going to be very different! Unfortunately, the
week-long trip to SNPJ needs to be cancelled. Although we continue to pray for an end to this virus and the social isolation
in place to protect us, there simply isn’t enough time to pull everything together. We have missed key deadlines and we will
not be able to accomplish the site visits, evaluations and prep necessary. However, we are continually working on modified
plans for the possibility of being present in New Castle to serve in some capacity before the start of next school year.
Recalling the lessons of prayer, fasting and almsgiving Lent taught us, we are proposing the following for Mission Week
2020. Our Mission Week plan currently includes:
Prayer – we are asking for volunteers to pray for the people we would have worked with. Respond HECK YES I
WANT TO PRAY and we will assign you a family/etc. from those whom we have served and you will commit to
praying for that person every day.
Fasting – Well, honestly, we were never good at that during Mission Week! Way too much food-but it was always so
good. We’re still working on this one – if you have ideas please share.
Almsgiving – many of our service sites can be helped by sending care packages and many of the families we would
have been with would benefit by cards, letters and, at times gift cards. We will be compiling a list of these and
asking you to form workgroups to compile these care packs.
Also, we are exploring ways to connect with you. We want to share the theme of Mission Week. We want you to hear and
be transformed by our great speakers and special guests. Even if we can’t gather each night in the barn�physically, perhaps
we will soon be experts at virtual gatherings and be able to meet for our talks, check-ins, and other fun activities. We are
exploring ways of connecting virtually. Oh, and the mission week t-shirt? Yep, you'll still get one! It will not be virtual...
Really, we want to hear from you! Many of you have lived Mission Week and your experience is a great resource. We want
and need your input! Please share your ideas with your youth minister.
Together we can show the world that we have been chosen, not forsaken. We are chosen to take the grace of God, that runs
deeply in each of us as children of God, into the world. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit and ready to cast out darkness
and fear by the force of the flame of our love!
You are in our prayers!
- The Mission Week Team -
13
Good Shepherd | Madonna del Castello | St. Colman | St. John Fisher | St. Jude the Apostle | St. Maurice | Word of God
As society and the church inch toward reopening
stores, restaurants, businesses and worship services while
still facing the coronavirus pandemic, it is heartbreaking to
see the number of people who are unemployed. We have
gone from 3.5% unemployed to 15%, and perhaps as high as
20%, overnight. Astonishing. News stories tell of so many
families who were living paycheck to paycheck, just staying
above water fiscally speaking. Now without a paycheck, and
the state unemployment offices swamped by requests, these
families have to exhaust any savings they had, and turn to
food banks and charitable organizations for help. The road to
a stable middle class existence has taken a horrible detour.
Many or most of these unemployed workers were
only making minimum wage, or just a couple of dollars an
hour above minimum wage. Do you know what the federal
minimum wage is? (Take a minute….) $7.25 per hour. This
was set in 2009. This works out to $290 per week, for a 40
hour work week, and $15,080 per year, for 2,080 hours. Do
you know what the Pennsylvania minimum wage is? Same
number, $7.25.
There are 29 states which have set higher minimum
wages. The two highest are the District of Columbia, at
$14.00 per hour, and California, at $13.00 per hour. These
compute to $29,120 and $27,040 per year, respectively. A
few cities have also set higher minimum wages. It also
means that 21 states still have the federal minimum wage as
their minimum wage.
Do you know any individual who can live on
$15,080 per year? How about a married couple with only
one income? How about a family with two children?
The first federal minimum wage was set by the
Congress in 1938 at 25 cents per hour. This was a huge
breakthrough for working men and women (especially when
the Fair Labor Standards Act was upheld by the U.S.
Supreme Court after a lawsuit challenged its
constitutionality). This act established a “floor” beneath
which employers could not go in hiring workers. (With
some exceptions for student workers and those who
regularly receive tips.) In fits and starts over the years the
Congress would increase the minimum wage. Attempts to tie
increases in the minimum wage to inflation have not been
implemented at the federal level. (Eight states have tied
increases in the minimum wage to inflation.)
Faith Chronicles
By Father Frank D. Almade
The Catholic Church supports minimum wage
legislation. In the 1919 document I mentioned last week,
“Bishop’s Program for Social Reconstruction,” the U.S.
bishops urged the creation of a minimum wage. This is
backed by a long tradition of supporting a living family
wage for workers. It would be almost 20 years until this
proposal became law.
Here is the key distinction: a minimum wage is not
a living family wage. In Catholic teaching, a living family
wage should be enough for one person to take care of the
basic needs of his/her entire family, including food, shelter,
clothing, transportation and health care. Popes from Leo
XIII (1891) to Pius XI (1931) to John XXIII (1963) to John
Paul II (1981) have supported this teaching. John Paul II
went further. He said that payment of a living wage for
every worker was the critical criterion for determining the
legitimacy of a society’s entire economic system.
We are far from implementing a living family wage
for each worker in our country.
Why is this important? Because each worker, and
each person, needs to live in dignity. Work is the primary
means of achieving wealth to take care of your needs, and
the needs of any dependents you may have. Work is what
most people do. Work is what people want to do. Those on
welfare are mostly children under the age of 18 or single
mothers or those who are disabled. Those who live on social
security (and their pensions and savings) earned their living
by a lifetime of working. When employers pay a living
family wage, or government mandates a living family wage,
workers are able to save money, establish stable households
and live without fear.
I could go on and on about the value of Catholic
teaching regarding living family wage, since I literally wrote
a book about it in 1990. Our country, and almost all
countries around the world, are no closer to implementing
this important economic standard as they were then.
Pray for our sisters and brothers, our neighbors, who
have lost jobs and employment during this pandemic. Pray
that we can safely open our businesses and churches soon so
people can go back to work. Pray that state and national
leaders will see the value of a living family wage for every
worker.
�
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Gerry J. Meyer, FD, ParishionerHelen DeStefano, Parishioner
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MONROEVILLE/PLUM CHAPELAmber M. Scott, Supervisorcorner of beatty rd. & 48 n
www.jobefuneralhome.comFamily Owned Since 1895
JAMES F.KUTCHFuneral Homes &On-Site Crematory
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Mason’sTREE SERVICE(412) 818-7527Don Mason, Owner
Quality Tree
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Edgewood Towne Centre
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(412) 351-7740
2114 Noble St. • Swissvale
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TYPICAL WILL $75.00
William C. Price, Jr., Esquire
Swissvale 412-271-7334
Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home, Inc.“Parish Members For Five Generations”
Charlie Nied / Supervisor Serving Families for 98 Years 7441 Washington Ave., Swissvale, PA (412) 271-0345
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Robert P.Karish Funeral Home, Inc. 412.271.3430
“Parishioners Serving Parishioners”
Specializing in Traditional Funerals • Cremation • Alternative Services Robert P. Karish, Owner / F.D. • Robert R. Karish, Supervisor Donna Karish, Business Manager Brington Rd. at Fourth Street • Braddock Hills
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Turtle Creek/Monroeville Chapel East PittsburghStephanie L. Doriguzzi, Supervisor Patrick T. Lanigan, Supervisor, C.F.S.P.Michael A. Lanigan, Funeral Director Paul J. Borgony, Funeral Director
Joseph N. Strednak, Funeral DirectorTurtle Creek, PA East Pittsburgh, PA 412-823-9350 412-824-8800
www.laniganfuneralhome.com• 2 Comfortable, Quality Funeral Homes with Children’s Rooms • Family owned since 1903 • Professional Grief Support Group
CHUR CH I L LVISION AND LASER CENTER
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Dr. Michael E. Szoko412-824-1510
700 Beulah Road Turtle Creek
Your Neighborhood Jeweler
Since 1924
Douglas DuffusCo-Owner / Goldsmith
711 Penn Ave.Wilkinsburg, PA
412-731-6063kenyonjewelers.com
Halechko Law Center, P.C.anna d. halechko • mary m. halechko
attorneys at lawEstate Planning & Administration • Elder Law
Special Needs Trusts • Bankruptcy3301 William Penn Hwy., Ste. 2, Pittsburgh, PA 15235
412-824-2556We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for relief under the bankruptcy code
DAVID E. MAHLSTEDT, SUPERVISORWILLIAM SNYDER, FUNERAL DIRECTOR
(412) 823-8083EAST MCKEESPORT, PA 15035
SPONSOR OF GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPMeeting 3rd Wednesday at
St. Robert Bellarmine School lounge
Member SIPC
JOSEPHYEZOVICHCFP®, CFA®
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The Kanaan-Yezovich Group
TYKES
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