January 17, 2021 St. Ambrose St. Matthew St. Sylvester Avonmore Saltsburg Slickville PARTNER PARISHES OF THE DIOCESE OF GREENSBURG A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust Our Mission Statement The Partner Parishes of St. Ambrose, St. Matthew & St. Sylvester, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are committed to be witnesses of Christ in our local and faith communities . We invite one another to grow in a spirit of friendship and unity through the Word and the Eucharist. While striving to nourish our faith families, we encourage Evangelization, Service, Worship, Stewardship, and Leadership. 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Confessions: First Saturday of the month, 11:00-11:30 AM at St. Ambrose or by appointment with the Pastor. Baptisms: Please contact the parish office to schedule a date and formation session.. Marriage: Please contact the office at least six months before the wedding date to schedule marriage preparation sessions.. Pastoral Care to the Homebound: Please contact the parish office.. Eucharistic Adoration: First Thursday of the month, 6:30-7:30 PM. All are welcome. RCIA: If you or someone you know is interested in becoming Roman Catholic, please contact the parish office. St. Vincent de Paul Hotline: Please contact the parish office. St. Vincent de Paul poor boxes are at entrances of all partner parishes. Bulletin Deadline: Please submit bulletin information via email or in written form to Angela Palmiscno at the parish office by Wednesday noon. MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM—St. Ambrose Sunday Masses 8:30 AM—St. Sylvester 11:00 AM—St. Matthew Weekday Masses: Mon.—8:30 AM, St. Sylvester Tues.— 8:30 AM, St. Matthew Fri.— 8:30 AM, St. Ambrose PARISH OFFICES & HOURS St. Ambrose, St. Matthew & St. Sylvester P. O. Box 617 Avonmore, PA 15618 Monday—Friday 9:00 AM—1:00 PM Phone: 724-697-4129 Fax: 724-697-4484 St. Matthew Church Hall: 724-639-9338 St. Sylvester Rectory Phone: 724-468-5794 Fax and church hall: 724-468-5765 PASTORAL STAFF Reverend John Harrold, Pastor [email protected] Deacon Craig Gilbert [email protected] Angela Palmiscno, Partner Parish Secretary [email protected] Dana Summerhill, Partner Parish Financial Secretary [email protected] Kristin Andree, Partner Parish Web Coordinator [email protected] Jessica Clawson, Coordinator of Faith Formation, St. Matthew, 724-875-0638 or [email protected] Connie Shannon, Clearances Coordinator, 724-697-4059 Knights of Columbus—Council #15373 Website: partnerparishesmas.org A Warm Welcome to All HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES Blessings to all our Partner Parish family members who are celebrang a birthday this week: Tavius Dawson, Joseph Ukish, Pamela Davis, Paula Jones, Donna Jean Ventresco, Anthony Joint, Dorothy Fontana, Angela Evanichko, Herman Corridoni, Jacob Hoak, Lewis Prenni, Jr., Gregory Kochanowski, Lori Tamasy, John Grasinger, Donna Cortese, Diane Novak, Beverly Resnick, Jack Tamasy Diocesan Coat of Arms SOCKS FOR SHELTERS last year the Martha Ministry sponsored a Socks for Shelters event. All three parishes donated generously, and surpassed our expectaons. The shelters were very grateful as winter is a parcularly difficult me for them. We would like to do this again this year. Look for baskets in your vesbule, and please be generous. During this me of giving, a pair of socks is a small addion. The collecon will run through the end of January. Thank you for your generous parcipaon. ST. MATTHEW ALTARY ROSARY SOCIETY invites you to join in prayer on Friday, January 29th (Pro-Life March) to pray the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary. You may do so from home or work. We are hoping for pledges of 30 minutes per person. Please call Elvia Eckenrode at 724-639-9410 to reserve your me. Thank you. THANK YOU Aſter 20 + years, Dorothy Fontana has rered from Pastoral Council. She has given her me and talent generously to the mission of our Partner Parishes, and it is deeply appreciated. We wish her the very best! AROUND THE DIOCESE Catholic Charies offers virtual counseling– Social distancing can take a toll. So can waing in line to get into a grocery store. It’s not unusual to feel angry, frustrated, or confused. For some people, the pandemic restricons can magnify feelings of anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflict, grief and a wide variety of other issues. Catholic Charies provides virtual counseling to help address those issues and more. Taking care of your own emoonal well-being is very important to you and the people you love. You don’t need to face these feelings alone. Call Catholic Charies at 724-837-1840 or email [email protected]. Soup Sale—Slickville Civic Center is sponsoring a soup sale on Thursday, January 28th. Pre-orders are required. Choice of ham and bean or broccoli cheese. Sign up sheets are at the entrances of St. Sylvester. MISSION COOPERATION PLAN APPEAL With the pandemic this past year, a representave was not able to come make this appeal personally. So here is the informaon about this Order. Our congregaon, the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, was founded in Ireland in 1924 by Bishop Joseph Shanahan, S.C.Sp. For the educaon of the women of Nigeria, West Africa. We now are an internaonal community working in nine countries of Africa and in Brazil, South America. We serve in all forms of educaon, medical work, pastoral work, local development and agriculture and assisng trafficked women and the homeless. We have been serving in the AIDS, Ebola and Covid-19 epidemics. Our pressing need at the moment is to construct a convent for our Sisters running a clinic in Efofe, Kogi State, Nigeria. Our Superior General and Council asked us to raise funds to build a convent. For us it is an urgent need. Your help, large or small, will be very much appreciated. Collecon will be taken the weekend of January 23rd & 24th. Envelopes are available at the entrances of our churches. We also ask for prayers for the safety of the Sisters as this is an area which can be aacked by Boko Haram or Fulani herdsmen. For more informaon please visit www.mshr.org.