St. Clare of Assisi Parish
A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust
Parish Office: 460 Reed Street Clairton PA 15025
Phone: 412-233-7870
Fax: 412-233-0742
Office Hours: Mondays - Thursdays 8AM-2PM CLOSED Fridays
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.stclareofassisiparish.com
September 18, 2016
TWENTY - FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE
TWENTY - FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - September 18
4:30PM Richard J. Martin (James and Linda Martin Family)
9:30AM For The Parishioners
MISSION STATEMENT
We are a Family,
United in the Eucharist,
Guided by the Holy Spirit,
Called by Jesus Christ to Grow
in Faith, Love and Prayer
in Harmony with the
Universal Catholic Church
We will achieve our parish mission by worshipping
together and working to evangelize, educate and
serve each other and the entire community.
PASTOR: Rev. Charles J. Baptiste
STUDENT RESIDENT PRIEST:
Rev. Fortunatus Mugisha
BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathleen Ulmer
SECRETARY: Marie Perticone
MUSIC MINISTRY: Sean Thornton
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS: Amy Ference
HOMEBOUND MINISTRY: Beverly Mazza
SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATOR:
Lorraine Carter
ABUSE HOTLINE: 1-800-932-0313
MASSES:
Saturday 4:30PM (Sunday Vigil)
Sunday
9:30AM
Weekdays 7:00PM (Monday)
8:00AM (Tuesday thru Friday)
RECONCILIATION:
After Mass on Monday Evenings
& 12:30PM Saturdays
BAPTISMS: Call the Parish Office to schedule
a class; then a day and time.
WEDDINGS: Call the Parish Office at least
six months in advance.
The Diocese requires each couple to attend a
pre-marriage course.
ST. CLARE CEMETERY: Worthington Ave.
For Information call the Parish Office.
*This is a reminder that Father Chuck will be away from the
parish and participating in the triennial convocation of diocesan
priests at the Oglebay Resort and Conference Center this coming
week from Monday, September 19 until Friday, September 22.
Bishop David Zubik will convene this convocation for all diocesan
priests as a time of spiritual renewal, pastoral and professional
development, and priestly fraternity.
THERE WILL BE A PRAYER SERVICE EVERY MORNING THIS WEEK
* MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY *
WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION
AT OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED 8:00 AM MASS TIME.
SATURDAY, September 24
12:30 PM Reconciliation
TWENTY - SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - September 24/25
4:30PM For The Parishioners
9:30AM Kenneth Lewonas (Family)
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS – September 18/19
Pages 216 - 217
NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS – September 24/25
Amos 6:1a, 4-7 – Page 218
1Timothy 6:11-16 – Page 219
Corinthians 8:9 – Page 219
WEEKEND MINISTERS - September 24/25
4:30PM - Eucharistic Ministers - Bernadette Baznik,
Judi Valvo, Ray Werner
Lector - Patrick Thornton
Altar Servers - Elizabeth Boal, Aaron Maricic
Head Ushers - Mike DiCarlo, Ed Obusek
9:30AM - Eucharistic Ministers - Larry Carra,
Susan Finnegan, Marlene Senko,
Lector - Janice DiLonardo
Altar Servers - Joe Chasko, Kevin Stretavski
Head Ushers - Ray York, Vince Gori
Reflection:
The Little Prince
Have you ever read the story, ‘The Little
Prince’, by Antoine De Saint-Exupery? This was a
small book from the perspective of a child who
notices that adults, for the most part, just don’t get it!
My friend, Sister Marise Hrabosky, gave me the
book. She was born and raised here in Clairton.
As you begin the story, a little child who
loves nature, draws a picture of a snake: a snake
that ate an elephant. The adults the child knows
who see the drawing, see not a snake with an
elephant in the belly, but they see it as a hat.
Instead of the child being disheartened by his lack of
artistic skill, he learns not to trust adults who just
don’t get it! After a while, he learns that many adults
seem to have lost their ability to understand the
simple truths in life; ones that are so obvious to a
child, but lost to the concerns, typical of adult life.
Sometimes, it seems, we may have forgotten
that our Lord came to us as just such a child. He,
Himself may wonder, ‘why are they making their
lives so very complicated and over such nonsense’?
Can we look at our lives as the Baptized perhaps
from the perspective of a child? Let’s focus on those
three aspects into which we are baptized. It was
St. John Chrysostom, of the fourth century, who
pulled these characteristics together for us. St. John
reflects that there is typically an anointing with oil
with each of these offices; each of them comes with
the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Baptized are all
called to be ‘Priest, Prophet and King’. We receive
these ‘anointings’ in the Sacrament of Baptism.
As a new priest, I heard a little child say from
the back of St. Frances of Cabrini Parish, ‘There is
Jesus’!. His grandma would tell him ‘there is Jesus’
when I elevated the host in the Eucharistic prayer.
The child saw only me. But, isn’t it true that we are
all ‘other Christs’ Priests; called to sacrifice our own
wants for the sake of those around us, or those we
are called to serve? We, like Christ, are to live our
lives for the sake of others. As St. Mother Teresa
would say as she cared for the most sick and
impoverished; she was caring for Christ Himself.
I think a little child just might understand this, but we
as adults tend to make qualifications as to who
deserves to be called Holy; other Christs.
As Prophets, we are all called to make Christ
known. The little child at St. Frances Cabrini was
not afraid to speak up and announce the presence
of Christ, albeit somewhat mistaken and somewhat
correctly that there is Jesus! Apparently, the
grandma was ready to be a prophet and tell the
Good News to her grandchild and she took the
opportunity to teach in word and deed. The little
child in ‘The Little Prince’ was not going to cave in
to the pressure of the adults who could not see the
truth that this picture was not of a hat, but an
elephant in the stomach of the snake! Where are we
as prophets?
As Kings, do we rule with the heart of the
King of Kings? This was one king who never saw
those with more prestige in this world as the ones to
give more attention. In fact, it was the most lowly, by
this world’s standards that this King was called to
serve and shepherd. Somewhere in the heart of a
little child, there is a real sense that he or she
cannot survive without the care of one in authority
over them. When we make ourselves king, are we
thinking of the example of the King of Kings, or one
who uses power for their own benefit?
The little child in “The Little Prince’ seemed
to know which adults were called to serve others
and those who would only serve themselves. Can
we observe ourselves with the eyes of a child?
What kind of Priest, Prophet and King will the
little ones learn from our example? No matter what
way you answer, it will make all the difference in the
world.
By the way, my copy of The Little Prince
says, ‘not for sale in the USA’. I pray that is not for
all copies of this book. There may be something to
learn from that! Train your Prince to be a King.
Peace, Fr. Chuck
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
9:15-10:45AM - CCD Grades K-4 - Holy Spirit
10:45AM - Counting Team #1
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
7-8:15PM - CCD Grades 5-8 - Holy Spirit
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
6:30PM - Choir Practice
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
First Day of Autumn
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
9AM - Clairton Clean-Up Day
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
8AM-NOON - Clairton Clean-Up Day
Clairton Municipal Building
12:30PM - Reconciliation
Keeping Our “Church Alive” in Clairton.
From OUR PAST. . .
St. Clare – St. Joseph – St. Paulinus
To OUR PRESENT. . .
St. Clare of Assisi Parish 1994 – 2016
and INTO OUR FUTURE. . .
. . .by making the celebration of our Liturgies and
Sacraments a joyous and spiritual event in our lives!
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Our Recently Deceased . . .
James Davies (cousin of Butch (Lorraine) Carter), Vincent Capane (son of John & Sara †),
Antoinette (Marra) Girman, Charlotte Greer (cousin of Loren DeRoss)
Our Sick and Shut-ins . . .
Barbara Antrom, Pete Azzari, Fr. Chuck Baptiste, June Bendik, Eleanor Berggren,
Maria Campano, Gloria Cerasoli, Fran Colonna, Mildred Demchak, Sheila Eddy, Rebecca Farabaugh, Irene Fera, Meryl Ferrare,
Kathleen Geletko, Rudy (Blu Jay) Gori, Genevieve Hartman, Marie Hodge, Mary Julian, Sophie Jupin, John Karnack,
Off. James Kuzak Jr., Ann E. Martin, Linda Massaro, Audrey Mihalko, Sandra Milas, Diane Moran, Barbara Pavlack,
Lou Pavlack Jr., Martha Petras, Sylvia Pittman, Betty Rothbauer, Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy, Sophie Slavick, John Sorrentino,
Fr. Bonaventure Stefun, Kathy Tachoir, Catherine Vukovich, Rita York
and all Names and Intentions listed in our Prayer Request Book
For family members of our parishioners
serving in the military:
Dante Capane, Tara Felker, Gregory Lentz,
Jason Middleton, Garrett Santoline, Michael Santoline,
Anthony Svetz, Andrew West, Jeffery West
Aaron T. Ledgerwood
from St. Regis Parish
CONCERNING OUR PARISH & COMMUNITY
OFFERTORY COLLECTION
FISCAL YEAR JULY 2016 - JUNE 2017
Budgeted Weekly Offering Required …………….$ 5,561.00
Actual Weekly Offering Sept. 10/11…........$ 3,235.75
Weekly Deficit………………………………..$ - 2,325.25
Bishop’s Education Fund…………………...$
392.00
Parish Share 2016 YTD.. …………..……….$ 18,935.00
Cemetery Envelopes 2016 YTD..…….…... $ 7,400.00
Please remember St. Clare of Assisi Parish in your Will or Estate Plan.
To all of you who have noticed our need of more
assistance to keep our parish alive and vibrant by adding
to your tithe to our parish … Thank you! So many of
our generous, faithful members have now gone home to
the Lord; their generosity was one that lasted a lifetime.
They are the people who had supported the parish by
teaching the faith and really being stewards in every way
for the church and the faith that they loved. So thanks to
all who are now picking up the burden of love for the next
generations. God Bless you always!
The Second Collection THIS WEEKEND is for the
CARING MINISTRY. ALL the monies placed in your
GREEN CARING MINISTRY FUND envelope will be
divided between the MISSION COOPERATION Plan and
the LOUISIANA FLOOD VICTIMS.
Please welcome Father Abraham Thomas from the
DIOCESE of PATHANAMTHITTA in South India this
weekend. He has been working in the Diocese of Dallas
for four years. He will speak to us about his work to bring
awareness to the struggles in India to find financial
assistance for education and for the living expenses of
the young people who have discerned their call to the
priesthood.
CONCERNING OUR FUNDRAISERS
Drawing: September 30
Entered to Date:
Prayers for Our Seminarians
This week, please pray for
92
We thank the family of
Alphonse Nuzzo, Sr.
for making donations to
St. Clare of Assisi Parish
in his memory.
We welcome Marie Perticone, who worked in our
Parish Office in 2006 and has rejoined our parish staff on
September 7 as a (part-time) Part-Time Secretary. Marie
is a member of St. Elizabeth Church in Pleasant Hills and
has family members who attend St. Clare of Assisi
Parish. Marie previously worked at the Downtown
Pittsburgh YMCA and most recently as a secretary at
several of the merged churches in the Pittsburgh
Diocese. She will be recording parishioner’s weekly
contributions and using her skills as a graphic designer to
help manage our bulletin and assist in any way to keep
our office running as smoothly as it always has.
Clairton City Fall Clean-Up Days have been
scheduled. On Friday, September 23 the students from
school will work with our Police Force in cleaning up our
city streets (business area). City-wide Clean-Up Day is
Saturday, September 24. You can stay in your
neighborhoods to clean up, or go to City Hall for an
assignment. Continental breakfast will be served at 8AM
on Saturday and supplies will be handed out, followed by
lunch at Noon at City Hall. Hope to see everyone!
The FORTY DAYS FOR LIFE Campaign runs from
September 28 through November 6. Parish members
from throughout the Diocese will participate in peaceful
vigils held in front of the “Planned Parenthood” on Liberty
Avenue during this 40 Days for Life period. Join others
from our parish in such an important cause. Please call
Regina Behary at 412-233-6698 if you wish to attend.
“As the culture of death continues to darken around us,
our little lights will shine all the brighter! Come and be a
light where it is most needed … at 933 Liberty Avenue!”
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CONCERNING OUR COMMUNITY (cont’d)
CONCERNING OUR DIOCESE
The September 23 issue of the Pittsburgh Catholic
will be mailed to all registered Catholics. Only limited
copies will be available in church.
SOMETIMES CHANGE IS THRUST
UPON US, but how we choose to
respond is up to us. This week’s
bulletin insert for “On Mission for the
Church Alive!” explains why change is needed in our
parishes, schools and ministries and how we can be part of
that change. Be sure to attend one of the two consultation
sessions coming up at our parish and get involved! Learn
more at www.OnMissionChurchAlive.org.
The Magnificat Pittsburgh Prayer Breakfast will be
held on Saturday, October 1 from 9AM-Noon at the
Doubletree By Hilton, Cranberry Twp. Speaker, Nikki
Bruni, will tell her amazing story of finding God, her
conversion to the Catholic faith and finding her purpose
in pro-life work. She is also Director of Pittsburgh’s 40
Days for Life. Cost of the breakfast is $23. To register,
Call Pam at 412-461-8906 or Kay at 724-772-6749, or go
to www.magnificatpittsburgh.org.Deadline:September 23.
High school guys are invited to encounter the Lord
through a day of prayer, fun and brotherhood on
Saturday, October 1, from 9AM-9PM at St. Paul
Seminary. The day will include Mass, adoration, dinner,
games, dynamic talks, witnesses by seminarians and the
Liturgy of the Hours. Please RSVP to Theresa, Vocations
Assistant by September 27 at: [email protected].
Family PERSPECTIVE
Despite all our time-saving gadgets, we still have
less leisure and family time. To solve this, we created
the Myth of Quality Time. Don’t be fooled: Quality Time
is Quantity Time. Jesus counsels us today, we “cannot
serve two masters” and expect to be happy. Dedicate
time to your family. No one in their final hours regretted
not spending more time at work.
Marriage MOMENTS
Marriage is not 50-50. Divorce is 50-50. Marriage
has to be 100-100. It isn’t dividing everything in half, but
giving everything you’ve got.
Parenting POINTERS
School is in full swing for most families. Even if your
child is too young for school, remember this maxim: It’s
not what the teacher says, but what the student hears
that matters. This applies to parents and children too!
ALIV
WHY DO WE HAVE TO CHANGE?
 Do you know that between 60 and 70% of Catholics no
longer practice their faith?
 Do you know that Baby Boomers (51-69) make up the
largest portion of practicing Catholics in the US and that
as their numbers shrink over the next 25 years, they will
be replaced by a smaller generation who has less
connection to the faith?
 Do you know that if we do nothing, 50% fewer people
will receive the grace of the sacraments in 25 years?
 Do you know that the dramatic shifts in population,
culture and finances have and will continue to affect our
ability to do ministry as the Gospel calls us to do?
 These are all the realities we face and the challenges
we have to address; that’s why Bishop Zubik has called
us, the Church of Pittsburgh, to be On Mission.
WITHOUT
GOD
Our week would be:
BILLBOARD SIGNS FROM GOD
“Count your Blessings…
Not your Problems”
- God
Our Bulletin is Sponsored This Week
in Memory of
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Piatek
By Donna & Thomas Umberger
PARISH MEMBERSHIP FORM
Registering at our Parish is a declaration of your desire to be part of a Catholic community.
We extend a warm welcome and hope you will find our Parish Community a place where your faith will be nourished.
If you are moving into, or out of the Parish, please let us know. Fill out this Form and return it to the Parish Office.
NAME______________________________________________ADDRESS__________________________________________
TELEPHONE________________________________________
__________________________________________
Check One: New________ Change of Address________ Moving out of Parish________ Want Envelopes________
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