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SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020
MASS SCHEDULE SATURDAY VIGIL MASS
Corpus Christi: 4:00 PM St. Angela Merici: 4:30 PM
SUNDAY St. Patrick: 8:30 AM
St. Robert Bellarmine: 9:30 AM St. Angela Merici: 11:00 AM
WEEKDAYS St. Angela Merici:
Monday—Friday 8:30 AM MASSES AND PRAYER SERVICES AT ST. ANGELA
WILL CONTINUE TO BE
LIVESTREAMED THROUGH A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE
www.marymotherofgod1.org
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Thursdays, 5 – 6 p.m. at St. Angela
Church Saturdays, 12 – 1 p.m. at St. Robert Church
All those confessing must wear a mask.
Thank you!
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CLERGY TEAMPastor
Rev. Terrence P. O’Connor
[email protected]
Parochial Vicar Rev. Jack E. Demnyan
[email protected]
Parish Chaplain Rev. Joseph C. Beck
[email protected]
In Residence Rev. Pius Nwankwo
Deacon Reynold Wilmer [email protected]
PARISH STAFF Business Manager
Cathy Nola
[email protected]
Family Faith Formation/ Safe Environment Coordinator
Krista Sudyk
[email protected]
Director of Music Ministry Sharon Sisley
[email protected]
Assistant Director of Music Ministry
Carolyn Guzik
Youth Minister Emily Belchick
[email protected]
Maintenance Dan Hearn, A.J. Minyon
Administrative Assistant Kathleen Strangis
[email protected]
SACRAMENTS Please contact the parish office as to the
following sacraments:
Sacrament of Baptism Prior to having your child baptized,
both
parents must attend a
pre-baptismal seminar.
Sacrament of Matrimony Arrangements should be made at least
six
months prior to your wedding date. A
date will be set only after contacting the
priest.
Sacrament of the Sick (You may also see a priest after Mass)
Holy Communion for Shut-Ins
R.C.I.A (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
This is the process to become Catholic or
for Catholics to receive the rest of their
Sacraments of Initiation. We also offer
programs for children.
St. Angela Merici 1640 Fawcett Ave. White Oak, PA 15131
Corpus Christi 2515 Versailles Ave.
McKeesport, PA 15132
St. Patrick 310 32nd Street
McKeesport, PA 15132
St. Robert Bellarmine 1313 Fifth Avenue
E. McKeesport, PA 15035
ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER 1640 Fawcett Ave
White Oak, PA 15131 Monday—Friday 9:15AM—3:15PM
P: 412-672-9641 | F: 412-672-1576
[email protected]
https://wecreate.4lpi.com/viewer/lpi/prgd0j-6ubtig-4sstpd
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Saturday,
December 26
4:00 pm CC
4:30 pm St. A
Saint Stephen, The First Martyr
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 [6]/Mt
10:17-22 Margaret & Maurice Kenney by: Daughter / Grandparents
of Robbi Anitori by: Anitori Fam. Living and Deceased of Our
Parish
Sunday,
December 27
8:30 am St. P
9:30 am St. R
11:00 am St. A
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3/Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 [cf. 1]
or Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 [7a, 8a]/Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or Heb
11:8, 11-12, 17-19/Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40
Elda Polidora by Roger and Mary Ann Marchetti
Angelo Varlotta by: Connie Varlotta
Edward T. Pula by: Wife, Helen and Children
Monday,
December 28
8:30 am St. A
THE HOLY INNOCENTS, MARTYRS
1 Jn 1:5—2:2/Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8 [7]/Mt 2:13-18
Josie Piper by: Bill and Mary Lou Porter
Tuesday,
December 29
8:30 am St. A
FIFTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD; Saint
Thomas Becket, Bishop, Martyr
1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 [11a]/Lk 2:22-35
Anna Denne by: Knights of Columbus Council #4210
Wednesday,
December 30
8:30 am St. A
SIXTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
1 Jn 2:12-17/Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 [11a]/Lk 2:36-40
Genre Vincent Pecora by: Sister, Antoinette Capo
Thursday,
December 31
8:30 am St. A
4:00 pm CC
SEVENTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD; Saint
Sylvester I, Pope
1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13 [11a]/Jn 1:1-18
Joseph Winter by: Family
Living and Deceased of Our Parish
Friday,
January 1
8:30 am St. P
9:30 am St. R
11:00 am St. A
SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 [2a]/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21
Serafina Strangis by: Family
August Rudolf by: Mary Rudolf
Living and Deceased of Our Parish
Saturday,
January 2
4:00 pm CC
4:30 pm St. A
Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops, Doctors
of the Church
1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [3cd]/Jn 1:19-28 Ardelle and
Harold Glos by: Children and Grandchildren Living and Deceased of
Our Parish
Sunday,
January 3
8:30 am St. P
9:30 am St. R
11:00 am St. A
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 [cf. 11]/Eph 3:2-3a,
5-6/Mt 2:1-12
Anthony Lekse by: Boushehri Family
Joseph Cehula by: Ladies of Charity
Alex Kisan by: Family
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FROM FATHER TERRY J+M+J
I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season. As we
continue to rejoice in the birth of our Lord, we celebrate today
the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. On
Christmas Day, we focused primarily on the birth of the Christ
Child. As we continue to meditate on God becoming one like us, we
further reflect on the fact that Jesus was part of a human family.
Thus, it is on the Feast of the Holy Family that we lift-up the
beautiful gift of family life.
As we reflect upon the vital importance of family, we can look
to the holiest of families to learn an enduring and valuable truth.
God and his Church need to always be at the center of our families.
It is insightful to look through the Scriptures and see just how
much God and the synagogue were at the center of the Holy Family.
An ancient expression refers to the family as a “domestic Church.”
That is, our homes are to be satellite or mini churches. The
teachings of Christ are to be fostered in the home, with parents as
the first and primary teachers of the faith. In our too often
secular world, we need to invite God into our living rooms more
than ever. When God is at the center of family life, then
everything falls into place. Families will be filled with faith,
hope, love, purpose, peace, and joy.
Here are some thoughts to ponder when it comes to family life.
Is God at the center of our family? Is Mass a central activity to
our weekends? Do we realize how important Mass is to our family
life? Do we pray as a family? Is the Catholic faith discussed in
our homes? Are we bold yet loving in proclaiming the faith to
others? Do we stand up for our Christian principles? Do we strive
to attend parish activities and events? Are our children given
spiritual gifts, such as Bibles, catechisms, lives of the saints,
rosaries, and spiritual movies and music? How much has the secular
world and its teachings intruded upon our family? Do we promote
vocations to the ordained and consecrated life?
The Holy Family also reminds us that our parish is a family. As
a priest, I love to see how our new parish has grown into a family.
Being united in Christ is such a loving and powerful bond. COVID
has challenged our various gatherings, but we have still come
together. For example, our Mass attendance has been very good, and
many have come together in the new ministries that have arisen due
to COVID. Further, we have so many uniting on livestream. We have
to believe that the best is yet to come!
As we contemplate our parish family, we rejoice in a special way
as we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God on
January 1. This is the first time that we will celebrate this great
solemnity as our patronal feast day. Wow, talk about a wonderful
patroness! Mary, Mother of God! This solemnity tells us that Mary
is truly the Mother of God. That is, the second Person of the Holy
Trinity, Jesus, took flesh from the Blessed Virgin Mary. In other
words, since Jesus is God and is born of Mary in time, we say that
she is the Mother of God. Mother of God is Mary’s highest title
because it is the basis for all her other titles and the dignity
given to her. Mary’s greatest act was being the Mother of God. What
a feast, what a patroness, what a way to bring in the New Year!
As we begin a New Year, we all have the hope that we experience
a better year. Although there were many blessings in 2020, we were
all faced with the black cloud of COVID. We remember those who died
from the dreaded disease and who are fighting the disease today. It
is wonderful to see that a vaccine has been created and is in the
early stages of being distributed. We pray that our world makes
amazing strides in the coming months. Despite COVID, we saw many
blessings. It was so wonderful to see how our world came together
to get each other through such a crisis. Do any memories stand out
for you of how our world united during the pandemic? What other
blessings come to mind for you in 2020? One for me is coming
together as a new parish in February. Please take some time to
count the blessings of 2020.
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OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS
December 13, 2020
Offertory $ 14,160.20
Monthly Maintenance $ 1,070.00
Parish Share* $ 1,578.00
Christmas $ 1,929.00
Christmas Flowers $ 1,006.00
Immaculate Conception $ 652.10
Outreach $ 41.00
*We have collected $139,842.00 towards our goal of
$181,258
Due to an early deadline for this week’s bulletin, the
Collection totals from December 20 will be included
in next week’s bulletin.
Thank you for your generosity!
Sanctuary Light Burns before the Blessed Sacrament the week of
December 20 in loving memory of:
St. Angela:
Lil Schlicht by: Family
Corpus Christi:
Charles Whitney by: Family
Maurice Kenney by: Daughter, JoEllen
St. Patrick:
Samuel Strangis by: Family
St. Robert:
Joseph James Capo & Genre Vincent Pecora by: Antoinette
Capo
Please remember in your prayers :
Alice Hajduk, Dolores Kurp, Daniel Marchitello
May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest
in peace. Amen.
A New Year always offers us a fresh start. As we begin anew, a
popular time thing to do is to come up with New Year’s resolutions.
Have you started thinking of anything yet? If we do make
resolutions, please remember set forth spiritual goals as well.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being named
the Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis recently
designated December 8, 2020 until December 8, 2021 as the Year of
St. Joseph. Pope Francis designated the special year in an
Apostolic Letter entitled “Patris corde,” which is translated “With
a Father’s Heart.” All are welcome to read the pope’s beautiful
reflections on St. Joseph at www.vatican.va.
On behalf of Fr. Jack, Fr. Joe, Fr. Pius, Deacon Reynold, and
staff, we wish you a blessed New Year! May we all receive God’s
choicest blessings in 2021.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pray for us!
FROM FATHER TERRY
(continued)
http://www.vatican.va
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2021 CALENDARS
Mary, Mother of God Parish 2021 calendars features
beautiful images of our beloved Saints. Please pick
one up at each of the church doors as you leave
Mass. We would like to thank the following funeral
homes for sponsoring our calendars:
• Daniel F. Bekavac
• Forgie-Snyder
• Gilbert
• Jaycox-Jaworski
• James F. Kutch
• Striffler’s
• Willig
Please consider helping out our St.
Vincent dePaul group with your
donations. Many people within
our parish boundaries can make
ends meet throughout the year but
Christmas is a stretch, and our hotline has been
taking 3-4 calls a day. After the first of 2021, when
the state mandates to postpone evictions expire, we
anticipate many calls to help with rent or
utilities. Average amount that we help toward those
necessities is $150.00, so the donations we receive
get depleted fairly quickly. Thanks for your help in
the past, and thanks in advance for your continued
generosity.
Thanks!
Your Society of St. Vincent dePaul
DONATE ONLINE TO MARY,
MOTHER OF
GOD PARISH As we continue to
face the current
pandemic, online
giving is a wonderful
option. Such giving is
very convenient for
individual donors and
allows for consistent donations to flow into the
parish. Payments can be made through any of
the following:
• Checking Account
• Savings Account
• Credit Card
• Debit Card
To join our online giving, visit our webpage,
complete the authorization form found in the bulletin
or contact Cathy Nola at 412-672-9641
[email protected]
SOLEMNITY OF MARY,
THE HOLY MOTHER
OF GOD
MASS SCHEDULE
• Thur., Dec. 31 4:00 PM Corpus Christi
• Fri., Jan. 1 8:30 AM St. Patrick
• Fri., Jan. 1 9:30 AM St. Robert
• Fri., Jan. 1 11:00 AM St. Angela
LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 20
Daily Mass Mon.-Fri. 8:30 A.M.
Weekend Masses: Saturday 4:30 P.M.
Sunday 11:00 A.M.
Solemnity of Mary Fri. 1/1 11:00 A.M.
mailto:[email protected]
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https://www.franciscanmedia.org/source/saint-of-the-day
December 28. Based on an account
in Saint Matthew’s Gospel, King
Herod slaughtered a number of
male babies in an attempt to rid
himself of the perceived threat of a
usurper of his throne. What he
didn’t realize is that Jesus’
kingdom is not of this world─a
fact that emerges later in Saint
Matthew’s Gospel.
Mary’s divine motherhood broadens the Christmas spotlight. Mary
has an important role to play in the Incarnation of the Second
Person of the Blessed Trinity. She consents to God’s invitation
conveyed by the angel (Luke 1:26-38). Elizabeth proclaims: “Most
blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?” (Luke 1:42-43, emphasis added). Mary’s role as mother
of God places her in a unique position in God’s redemptive
plan.
Without naming Mary, Paul asserts that “God sent his Son, born
of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). Paul’s further
statement that “God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out ‘Abba, Father!’” helps us realize that Mary is mother to
all the brothers and sisters of Jesus.
Some theologians also insist that Mary’s motherhood of Jesus is
an important element in God’s creative plan. God’s “first” thought
in creating was Jesus. Jesus, the incarnate Word, is the one who
could give God perfect love and worship on behalf of all creation.
As Jesus was “first” in God’s mind, Mary was “second” insofar as
she was chosen from all eternity to be his mother.
The precise title “Mother of God” goes back at least to the
third or fourth century. In the Greek form Theotokos (God-bearer),
it became the touchstone of the Church’s teaching about the
Incarnation. The Council of Ephesus in 431 insisted that the holy
Fathers were right in calling the holy virgin Theotokos. At the end
of this particular session, crowds of people marched through the
street shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!” The tradition reaches
to our own day. In its chapter on Mary’s role in the Church,
Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls Mary “Mother
of God” 12 times.
MEMORARE PRAYER TO JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
Remember, Heart of Jesus,
Immaculate Heart of Mary, and you, O glorious St. Joseph, that
no one
has ever had recourse to your protection, or implored your
assistance without obtaining relief. Animated with the utmost
lively confidence, I come laden with the weight of my sins, to
prostrate myself before you. O Merciful Heart of Jesus, Immaculate
Heart of Mary, and you, O glorious St. Joseph, reject not my
prayer
and petitions but graciously hear and grant them. Amen
December 29. Saint Thomas
Becket, the well-known
archbishop of Canterbury,
England, is a saint with a
checkered past. As depicted
in the movie "Becket,"
Thomas did not at first take
his responsibilities as a deacon seriously, but when
King Henry II tried to use his friend’s lukewarm
devotion to his advantage, he found a converted
cleric who was a worthy match for any king.
December 31. Saint Sylvester lived
during the time of Constantine when
the Church was coming out of hiding
and becoming the Church of the
empire. It takes deep humility and
courage in the face of criticism for a
leader to stand aside and let events take their course,
when asserting one’s authority would only lead to
useless tension and strife. Sylvester teaches a
valuable lesson for Church leaders, politicians,
parents, and others in authority.
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/source/saint-of-the-day