May 31, 2020

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.

Pentecost Sunday

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 dePaul 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

jharrold@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Deacon Dan Frescura

dfrescura@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Virginia Long, Partner Parish Financial Secretary

vlong@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Angela Palmiscno, Partner Parish Secretary

apalmiscno@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Kristin Andree, Partner Parish Web Coordinator

krisandree@comcast.net

Grace Sikora, Coordinator of Faith Formation, St. Ambrose

724-697-5112 or Parish Office 724-697-4129

Jessica Clawson, Coordinator of Faith Formation,

St. Matthew, 724-875-0638 or jgallek@gmail.com

Nadine Shaffer, Clearances Coordinator, 724-882-2547

Website: partnerparishesmas.org

A Warm Welcome to All

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES Blessings to all our Partner Parish family members who are celebrating a birthday this week:

Jennie Markitell, Ryan Rupert, Lorraine Valore, Elizabeth Shaffer, Madelyn Shaffer, Bernard Sharek, Brenda Sieczkowski, Tara Bartolini, Louise Bendis, Dalores Zanavich, Josie Booher, Geneva Capuzzi, Cathy Condor, Savanna Fink, David Currie

Happy Anniversary to all couples celebrating an anniversary this week:

John & Florence Ziemianski, Dale & Jennifer Gabriel

Diocesan Coat of Arms

St. Ambrose Parish is planning to replace sidewalks and the front steps of the Church and hopes to raise $10,000 toward this project.

St. Matthew Parish is planning to replace sidewalks and hopes to raise $10,000 toward this project. Congratulations to St. Matthew Parish for surpassing the Diocesan Goal for this Appeal.

St. Sylvester Parish is planning to complete the Social Hall Direct Access Project and also pay off the majority of the AC/Heat Pump Loan and hopes to raise $15,000 toward these projects. Congratulations to St. Sylvester Parish for surpassing the Diocesan Goal for this Appeal.

SVDP/ST. AMBROSE FOOD PANTRY UPDATE

The Food Pantry has been in full operation during this Covid-19 pandemic although it has changed to comply with Westmoreland County Food Bank and CDC requirements.

Since March, we have been using a curbside pick up process outside of the St. Ambrose Church. Each family is receiving 3 boxes of food; 1 dry goods, 1 dairy, and 1 frozen. Curbside pick up will continue indefinitely. We have been able to serve our families with the help of only 10 volunteers.

We have been serving between 55-60 families and individuals each month. There has been an increase each month, so we are planning for a possible 72 families in May.

Through the kind efforts of St. Ambrose parishioner, Nadine Shaffer, a pet food supply has been added to our distribution. This was greatly appreciated by the families. If you would like to donate pet food, please call Nadine at 724-882-2547 or drop donations off at her home: 102 Railroad Avenue, Avonmore.

Through the generosity of private benefactors and parishioners at each church, we have been able to purchase extra food and toilet paper for the families. Our parish family has never forgotten those in need.

Food Pantry distributions are on the last Wednesday of each month with the exception of December 16, 2020 wo we could distribute before Christmas. The monthly date will continue to be posted on the Avonmore Event sign at the crossroads coming into Avonmore. We miss all our veteran volunteers and are looking forward to getting back to a regular Food Panty distribution as soon as possible.

Blessings, John Ressani, Food Pantry Coordinator & SVDP Slickville Conference Members

Diocesan Lenten Appeal Current Report as of May 28, 2020

St. Ambrose St. Matthew St. Sylvester

Current Amount $8,925 out of $22,213 $13,130 out of $20,511 $22,430 out of $26,413

% of Current to Total 41% 64% 85%

Current # of Donors 46 out of 105 57 out of 110 54 out of 80

% of Current to Total 44% 52% 68%

Mass Intentions for the Week

PLACE TIME INTENTION OFFERED BY

Saturday May 30 St. Ambrose +Providenza & Henry Stapinski (John & Florence

Ziemianski)

Sunday May 31 St. Sylvester +Bernard Buczak (Mark Sternick & Rebecca

Barkley)

Sunday May 31 St. Matthew For the Parishioners

Monday June 1 St. Sylvester 8:30 AM +Mary Hasychak (Patsy & Virginia Iapalucci)

Tuesday June 2 St. Matthew 8:30 AM +Esther Holupka (Rosalina DiIanni)

Friday June 5 St. Ambrose 8:30 AM +Gloria Rokicsak (Virginia Ward)

Saturday June 6 St. Ambrose 5:00 PM +Charles Catania (P. Jones & C. Shannon)

Sunday June 7 St. Sylvester 8:30 AM +For the Parishioners

Sunday June 7 St. Matthew 11:00 AM +Angelo DeLuca (Steph & Lisa Schardt)

DATE

CHURCHES ARE OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER Beginning Friday, May 15th, the State and the Diocese are allowing churches to begin to be open again for Private Prayer and the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We are required to sanitize the church at the end of each day that it is open, so seating areas will be limited but will allow for Social Distancing.

St. Ambrose: Mons 7:00—8:00 PM & Weds 10:00—Noon

St. Matthew: Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:00—8:00 PM

St. Sylvester: Mondays—Saturdays 1:00—4:00 PM

PARTNER PARISHES STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE Sunday Offertory: May 23-24

St. Ambrose St. Matthew St. Sylvester

Offertory Collection: $ 2,369.00 $ 670.00 $ 1,368.00

Scripture Insights for Pentecost Sunday Pentecost Sunday celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Faith and unity present in our Christian communities today is made possible by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The First Reading, from Acts, narrates the initial events associated with the descent of the Holy Spirit onto the Apostles. Luke foreshadowed this with the words of John the Baptist: “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming …. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). The association of the image of fire with the Holy Spirit is significant. In the Old Testament, fire symbolizes God’s presence in the covenant at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18). In the New Testament, fire symbolizes the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. As the fire came to rest on the Apostles, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit,” transforming them and enabling them to proclaim the resurrected Christ to the large crowds gathered in Jerusalem. We hear in the Second Reading, from Paul, how the presence of the Holy Spirit brought the gift of faith and unity to the newborn Church. Paul tells the Christian community in Corinth that no one professes in faith that “Jesus is Lord” without the Holy Spirit. It is this common profession of faith that unites and benefits the community: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” In the Gospel reading from John, we hear how Jesus, before Pentecost Sunday, gave the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit. The resurrected Christ “came and stood in their midst” and spoke to them, saying, “Peace be with you.” Then Jesus breathed on them, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” From the beginning, the peace of the community was linked to the presence of the Holy Spirit.

CHURCHES TO OPEN FOR MASS STARTING ON JUNE 1 We are pleased to inform you that Bishop Malesic announced that the Diocese of Greensburg will allow parishes

to recommence Holy Mass on June 1. I want to note, however, that returning to Mass and other liturgies will include

notable differences from past experiences as parishioners will be required to wear masks and remain six feet apart,

which equates to approximately 25% capacity inside the church.

Here are some additional guidelines

• Ministers functioning within the liturgy are not required to wear masks, as long as the six foot social

distancing guidelines are followed. However, when distributing Holy Communion, all ministers must wear a mask.

• All communicants will be encouraged to receive the Sacred Host in the hand.

• The chalice of the Precious Blood will not be offered to the congregation.

• Collection baskets may never be passed among the congregation and instead must be placed in a stationary and suita-

ble location.

• Holy water and baptismal fonts must be drained.

• Removal of Bibles, hymnals and missalettes is required, however non-reusable worship aids are allowed and

projection is encouraged.

THROUGH YOUR GIFTS,

THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BRINGS

THE LOVE AND CARE OF JESUS TO THE POOR.

SERVING OUR COUNTRY. Please pray for our men and women in the military: TSGT Matthew Leightner, Col. Ross Monta, John Newcomb, Master Sgt. Jeremy Morgan, Ryan Nagg, Daniel Henderson, Tech. Sgt. Justin Morgan, Tyler Carnahan, Bartholomew Marsh-Slavin, Jacob DeSanders, W01 Jacob Berg (Afghanistan), Brandon May, Tyler Kunkle (Afghanistan), Martin Novak, Jr.

OUR PRAYER LIST—FRIENDS AND FAMILY: Ally Anderson, Charles Mark Angell, Dean Corridoni, Janet Dobrosky, Luke Dobrosky, Ray Dobrosky, Ronnie Edwards, Donald Gabor, John Galo, Crysta Hixson, Edith Hollick, George Hollick, Larry Klukaszewski, Father Willie Lechnar, Gary Lemon, Dan McCaffrey, Mary Musial, Joanne Neiderhiser, Chris Nemchik, Judy Valore, and all who need our prayers.

IN SYMPATHY: Our Partner Parish family extends their deepest sympathy to the family family of Helen Bozo, who died recently. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Congratulations to Debbie Drobka, winner of the St. Ambrose Church ticket, # 992! Thank you to all who continue to support our church ticket.