St. Martin & St. Joseph Catholic Churches

Partner Parishes of the Diocese

of Greensburg

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

WEBSITE: www.stmartinstjoseph.org

125 South Ligonier Street, Derry, PA 15627

Partner Parish Office 724-694-5359

St. Martin Rectory 724-739-0769 Fax: 724-694-6215

Partner Parish Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday,

Thursday & Friday: 9AM to 3PM

Closed Wednesday

St. Joseph

Derry, Pa. 15627

St. Martin

New Derry, Pa. 15671

December 29, 2019 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

December 29, 2019 Page 2

PASTORAL STAFF:

Pastor: Rev. Salvatore Lamendola

slamendola@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Secretary: Joanne Gaul

jgaul@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Financial Secretary: Karen Novello

knovello@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Faith Formation Director:

BettyWechtenhiser

ewechtenhiser@dioceseofgreensburg.

org C:724-989-5725 H:724-539-9799

Music Directors:

Dolly Stiffler (St. Martin)

Josh Dunmeyer (St. Joseph)

Sacristan: Tish Rossi

Custodian: Debbie Rick

Maintenance: Richard Hamrock

Confessions:

St. Martin: Monday 5:30 pm

St. Joseph: Saturday 4:15-4:40 pm

Sacrament of Marriage:

Contact the Pastor a minimum of six

months prior to wedding date

Sacrament of Baptism:

Contact Betty Wechtenhiser

Weekend Mass Schedule: St. Joseph: 5:00 pm Saturday (Vigil)

St. Martin: 9:00 am

St. Joseph: 10:30 am

Daily Mass Schedule:

See below

St. Vincent de Paul Society

Hot Line 724-694-5359

Knights of Columbus - #2648

Saturday, Dec. 28, St. Joseph

5:00 PM - St. Joseph - Eugene Sr., Eugene Jr., &

Bob Cowan by Joanie

Sunday, Dec. 29

9:00 AM - St. Martin - Mary Razza by Deb Rick &

family

10:30 AM - St. Joseph - James & Alice DelCostello

by grandchildren

Monday, Dec. 30, St. Martin

6:00 PM - Anna Pavlik by Robert & Joyce Polinsky

Tuesday, Dec 31, St. Joseph-Solemnity of Mary

Vigil Mass - Holy Day of Obligation

4:00 PM - St. Joseph- Special Intention by Kerlin

family

Wednesday, Jan. 1, St. Martin-Solemnity of Mary

9:00 AM - St. Martin - Jackie Shine by Joe & Kathy

Stoops

Thursday, Jan, 2, St. Joseph

8:00 AM - Monsignor Michael Matusak by Hines &

Chiesa families

Friday, Jan 3, St. Martin

8:00 AM - Anthony Tommasini, Birthday by mother,

Sue

Saturday, Jan 4, St. Joseph

5:00 PM - St. Joseph - Joseph Brooks Sprock by

family

Sunday, Jan. 5

9:00 AM - St. Martin - Deceased Members of St.

Martin Rosary Altar

10:30 AM - St. Joseph - Deceased Members of

Knights of Columbus & St.

Joseph Altar Rosary Society

St. Joseph, Tuesday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Vigil

Mass 4:00 pm - Holy Day of Obligation

Altar Server: Peter & Liam Ker lin

Lector: Ami Akins

Eucharistic Ministers: Bill Rober tson, Pat Geary,

Karen Laskie

******************************************

St. Martin, Wednesday, Jan. 1, New Year’s Day

9:00 am - Holy Day of Obligation

Altar Server: Michael Skacel

Lector: Ellen Keefe

Eucharistic Ministers: Suzanne Skacel, Penny

Westrick, Bob Meisinger

******************************************

Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020 - 5:00 pm

Altar Servers: Connor Petrunak

Lector: Tom Sylvester

Eucharistic Ministers: Suzanne & Ed Markiewicz

Jim McClarren

******************************************

St Martin

Sunday, Jan 5, 2020 - 9:00 am

Altar Servers: Chaeli & Kadence Keenan

Lector: Penny Westr ick

Eucharistic Ministers: Ellen Keefe, Suzanne

Skacel, Gerri Esposito

******************************************

St. Joseph

Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020 - 10:30 am

Altar Servers: Knights of Columbus

Lector: Knights of Columbus

Eucharistic Ministers: Knights of Columbus

LITURGICAL MINISTERS ****************************************************************************************

Stewardship of Treasure 07/1/19 - 12/15/19

New Fiscal year

St. Joseph Weekly Budget Need $ 3,700.00

Actual Weekly Offering 12/15 $ 3,356.00

Other Income $ 1,372.00

Difference this week $ 1,028.00

Fiscal Year to Date Budget Need $ 88,800.00

Fiscal Year to Date Actual $ 94,906.00

Year to Date Difference $ 6,106.00

# Receiving Envelopes 323

# Using Envelopes 12/15 102

St. Martin Weekly Budget Need $ 2,500.00

Actual Weekly Offering 12/15 $ 1,747.00

Other Income $ 694.00

Difference this week $ 59.00

Fiscal Year to Date Budget Need $ 60,500.00

Fiscal Year to Date Actual $ 56,073.00

Year to Date Difference $ (3,927.00)

# Receiving Envelopes 248

# Using Envelopes 12/15 83

David Bridge, McKenzie Dinco, Margaret Filitski,

Steve Gaul, Beverly Heiple, Sally Hook, Celeste

Stoltz-Jones, Amy Kuhns, John K. Latta, Kristen

Lindsay, Brea Lasagna, Neisha Macasaet, Deora

Matvey, Karen Naeger, Selma Patterson, Charles

Brandon Pope, Abby Smith, Paul Spoch, Elizabeth

Sughrue, Zoey Tommasini, Ed Curnow, Regina

Miedel

COUNTERS FOR SUNDAY JAN. 5, 2020 ST. JOSEPH-TEAM #1 ST. MARTIN-TEAM #6

Louise Brindle Joyce Spangler

Janine Elliott Penny Westrick

Steve Maus Ron Westrick

*Please note: If you wish to place flowers on the

altar in memory or honor of a loved one, the cost is

$75.00. Additionally, the Sanctuary Candle can be

lit for one week in memory or honor of a loved one

for a stipend of $10.00. If you wish to schedule

either you may call the office.

December 29, 2019 Page 3

Our Partner Parishes would like to

wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all

who are celebrating birthdays from

12/29/2019 - 01/04/2020

ST. MARTIN: Sal DeCario, Debra Hantz, Dallas

Pearce, Donna Timko and Cameron Williams

ST. JOSEPH: Ami Akins, Marie Balzer, Jean

Beason, Holly Brown, Sandra Brown, Mary Covin,

Linsay Kozar and Dee Sylvester

OTHER INCOME for the Churches includes candles,

Christmas & Easter flowers, DLA refund, Rental,

Tuition, Building Fund and Knights of Columbus

St. Martin Sanctuary Candle burns this week in honor of the Blessed

Sacrament and in loving memory of

James & Jody Beatrice by family

St. Joseph Sanctuary Candle

burns this week in honor of the Blessed

Sacrament and in loving memory of

Helen Winebrenner by family

Congratulations to Mila Mae

Curcio, daughter of Mark

& Ashley Curcio who was

baptized on December 22 in

St. Martin Parish.

December 29, 2019 Page 4

PARTNER PARISH WEEKLY CALENDAR

Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 4:00 PM ~ Solemnity of Mary Vigil Mass, St. Joseph

Holy Day of Obligation

Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 9:00 AM ~ Solemnity of Mary Mass, St. Martin, Holy

Day of Obligation

Faith Formation Classes are cancelled for the Holidays

and will resume on Wednesday, January 15, 2020

The Holy Family Prayer ---

Feast of the Holy Family is December 29, 2019

JESUS, Son of God and Son of Mary, bless our fami-

ly. Graciously inspire in us the unity, peace, and mutual

love that you found in your own family in the little town

of Nazareth.

MARY, Mother of Jesus and Our Mother , nour ish

our family with your faith and your love. Keep us close

to your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joys.

JOSEPH, Foster -father to Jesus, guardian and spouse of

Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all

times of discouragement or anxiety.

HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH, make our family

one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant

that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than

all the weaknesses and trials through which our families

sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center

of our hearts and homes until we are all one family,

happy and at peace in our true home with you. Amen.

SOLEMNITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY:

FEAST OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD

Wednesday, January 1, 2020, is the feast of Mary, the

Mother of God, and a Holyday of Obligation in the

United States. On this day we also celebrate the civil

holiday of New Year’s. Traditionally, this is not one of

the better observed holydays of obligation probably due

to all the celebration of the night before and no doubt

partially because many Catholics are still confused about

when certain holydays are obligatory and when they are

not. This year the feast of Mary the Mother of God is

obligatory since it falls on a Wednesday (and not on a

Saturday or Monday when the obligation would not

hold).

Here at our Partner Parishes we will have our full sched-

ule of Masses to honor our Blessed Mother. On Tuesday,

December 31 the 4:00 P.M. Mass at St. Joseph will be

the Vigil Mass of Mary, the Mother of God and will

fulfill the obligation of the Holy Day.

On Wednesday, January 1, 2020 New Year’s Day, Mass

will be celebrated on and at 9:00 AM St. Martin

Christmas Season and Ordinary Time:

The Christmas season begins on Christmas day and

concludes with the celebration of the Feast of the

Baptism of the Lord, this year on January 12. As part of

the liturgical year, ordinary time this year will begin on

Monday, January 13, and will continue through Tuesday,

February 25, day before Ash Wednesday which begins

the Lenten season. Ordinary time will resume again when

the Easter season ends, that is, on Monday, June 1, the

day following Pentecost.

Home Blessing Kit:

For many Catholics, Epiphany is traditionally a time to

bless the home. At each of the Masses on Epiphany,

January 4-5, 2020, there will be “blessing kits” available

to take home. Families who also desire may take a kit and

use the materials to bless their homes for the coming year.

Instructions, prayers and blessed chalk will be in the kits

to assist you.

2020 CATHOLIC CALENDARS

2020 Catholic Calendars are available in the entrance

areas of all our Partner Parishes. The calendars are

provided by the McCabe Funeral Home, Derry PA. We

are grateful for this generosity to our parishes.

Blessing for the New Year

God our Father, on this Feast of Mary, the Mother of God

give us an appreciation of the many gifts You have given

us during the past year. Help us bless You in return

during the coming year by sharing some of our gifts with

others who have far, far less than we do.

May God Bless Us All!

Fr. Sam

Pastor’s Pun: Q. If we breathe oxygen during the Day,

what do we breathe at night?

A. Nightrogen

December 29, 2019 Page 5

ST. JOSEPH NEWS

AREA HAPPENINGS

PARTNER PARISH NEWS

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program A Level 1 Formation cohort for Catechesis of the Good

Shepherd will meet Feb. 22, March 28, April 18, May 2

and 30, June 13, July 18 and 31 and Aug. 1 from 9-5 at

St. Thomas Moore University Parish, Indiana. Cost is

$300. For information, contact Diane Cawley or Mary

Beth Palko, 724-463-2277.

Exploring God’s Call will be offered for boys in grades 9-12 on February 9,

March 8, April 19 and May 17 from 6:30-8 pm at

Greensburg Central Catholic High School. For infor-

mation or to register visit gbgvocations.org.

Jeremiah Days Vocation discernment for boys in grades 6-8 and their

parents or guardians will be held Saturdays, February 8

and May 2 from 9:30-11:30 am at St. Barbara Par ish,

Harrison City. For information or to register, visit

gbgvocations.org.

Get Acquainted Day @ St. Vincent St. Vincent College, Latrobe, will hold a Get Acquainted

Day Open House for prospective students and their

families January 25. The day will include presentations

on academics, admission procedures, financial aid and

college life, tours, and opportunities to meet with

faculty, coaches and advisers of clubs and organizations.

Registration and breakfast will be from 8:30-9 am in the

Fred Rogers Center and the day will conclude by 12:30

pm. To register, contact the Office of Admission at

800-793-5549 or admission@stvincent.edu or visit

www.stvincent.edu/visit.

Epiphany Festival of Lessons & Carols St. James Parish, New Alexandria, presents Epiphany

Festival of Lessons and Carols January 5th at 4 pm in the

Church.

Online Courses at St. Vincent Seminary The Institute for Ministry Formation at St. Vincent

Seminary will sponsor three online courses from Jan. 15

to May 5. The courses are Psychology for Spir itual

Directors by Dr. Timothy Heck; Sacrament Theology and

Ecclesiology for Spiritual Directors by Helene Paharik

and Moral Theology for Spiritual Directors by Dr. Michel

Therrien. To learn more and register go to

IMFSaintVincentSeminary.edu or call 724-805-2729.

Catholic Charities offers Counseling Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg offers

faith-based assistance with anxiety, depression, grief and

loss, interpersonal conflicts, recovery support, parenting

and family issues, anger management, and other personal

and family issues. Counseling is provided by licensed,

professional and experienced therapists. Fees are low

and many insurances accepted. Offices are located in

Greensburg, Indiana, Uniontown, Kittanning and New

Kensington. For more information or an appointment,

call 724-837-1840. Confirmation Class to Meet The Confirmation Class will meet on Sunday, January 5th

at 11:30 am in classroom 5 of St. Joseph Church after

the 10:30 Mass .

St. Gertrude Parish, Spaghetti Dinner St. Gertrude Parish, Vandergrift, will hold spaghetti

dinners Jan. 9 and 23 from 4-7 p.m. in the par ish hall.

Cost is $7, $5 for a meatball hoagie. Takeout will be

available. For information, call 412-780-0164.

St. Pius X Parish, Mount Pleasant St. Pius X Parish, Mount Pleasant, will hold an all-you-

can-eat omelet breakfast Jan. 19 from 8 a.m.-noon in the

parish social hall. Cost is $7 for adults, $3 for children 10

and under, and free for 3 and under. Pay at the door.

Nativity Celebration Thank You St. Joseph Altar Rosary Society would like to thank all

those that heled, participated and joined in the fellowship

at the recent Nativity Showcase of 75 Nativity items.

The Nativity Sets that were given away by the Society

were won by Marie Balzer (child set) and Carol Hill

(large set).

House Blessing Kits Available

St. Joseph Altar Rosary Society and St. Martin Rosary

Altar Society will be providing House Blessing Kits for

anyone who would like to have one. They will be avail-

able in the back of both churches.

SPONSOR

AMERISERV FINANCIAL

DERRY

New Members: We welcome you and invite you to complete the membership form below. PARISH MEMBERSHIP FORM

**PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY**

(PLEASE CIRCLE ONE)

M/M, Mr., Ms. Name ________________________________________Date Of Birth_________________

SPOUSE’S NAME______________________________________ Date Of Birth _______________________

ADDRESS_______________________________________CITY___________________ ZIP___________

PHONE**_____________________________ PHONE** ___________________________________

CHILDREN: NAMES & BIRTHDATES:

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE CIRCLE ONE PARISH: ST. MARTIN ST JOSEPH

PLEASE CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY: NEW REGISTRATION WANTS ENVELOPES

CHANGE OF ADDRESS MOVING

PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS

THEY UNDERWRITE THE COST OF OUR

BULLETINS.

December 29, 2019 Page 6

Schedule for Cemetery Decoration Removal

Spring/Summer - Remove by October 31

Christmas - November 15 thru February 15,

remove after February 15.

Easter - Palm Sunday thru May 1. Remove after

May 1.

Flags on graves - May 1 thru Veterans Day.

Remove after Veterans Day

Thank you for your cooperation and

assistance

Please save this schedule for future reference.

A Prayer about CHURCH

Heavenly Father,

You have given every believer special gifts.

Some people are great organizers; others

are gifted musicians, teachers, or even

dishwashers. Teach me how important it is

to use my gifts in my congregation. As we

serve, may the church become a powerful

force for good, a strong witness for you and

a mighty army to combat Satan’s attacks.

I am thankful that the body of Christ has

a place for me.

December 29, 2019 Page 7

SALVATION IN DAILY LIFE

This Sunday is the feast of the Holy Family, which comes on the first Sunday after Christmas Day. Today’s

feast celebrates how the humanity of Jesus (including his entire family life) has brought saving significance into the

daily rhythms of our human family life.

The scriptures offer instruction and encouragement on how to share—within our families, parish families, and

the wider human family—the love that God shares with us in Jesus. Selections from Sirach, Psalm 128, and Colossians

encourage us to reflect divine love and thus find holiness in all our human relationships. The reading from Matthew’s

Gospel offers a living example of love in the actions Joseph took to protect his young family from danger and to nurture

them within the larger family of faith of their time. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — Those who honor and comfort their parents shall never be forgotten (Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14).

Psalm — Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways (Psalm 128).

Second Reading — You are called into one body. Bear with one another; forgive one another; let Christ’s peace con-

trol you (Colossians 3:12-21 [12-17]).

Gospel — Joseph rose, took the child and his mother, and fled to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40

Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18

Wednesday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7;

Lk 2:16-21

Thursday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28

Friday: 1 Jn 2:29 — 3:6; Ps 98:1, 3cd-6; Jn 1:29-34

Saturday: 1 Jn 3:7-10; Ps 98:1, 7-9; Jn 1:35-42

Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13;

Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12 SAINT THOMAS BECKET (1118-1170)

December 29 To anyone who imagines conflict between religion and politics to be a modern phenomenon, history witnesses

otherwise. Martyred under Henry VIII in 1535, Thomas More declared, “I die the king’s good servant, but God’s first!”

Thomas Becket could have said the same four centuries earlier. As Henry II’s closest friend and trusted chancellor,

Becket, the king presumed, could be counted on, if made archbishop, to deliver the church to royal control. But Becket

experienced a profound conversion, confirmed by the ordination liturgy’s rich symbolism of the bishop as Good Shepherd

and the church as Bride of Christ. Renouncing secular responsibilities, distributing his wealth to the poor, Thomas became

the church’s uncompromising champion. Faced with this “new” Becket, the king’s previous friendship turned into a

ferocious, almost irrational hatred. As eight centuries later, Archbishop Romero would be martyred at the altar of Christ’s

sacrifice, Becket was slain before the altar of Canterbury Cathedral by royal agents, neither the first nor last good shepherd

to lay down his life as the price of freedom for Christ’s church and justice for Christ’s sheep. —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

WINTER WILD It was winter wild While the Heav’n-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies. —John Milton, On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity

NEW YEAR The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year, but rather that we should have a new soul. ―G. K. Chesterton

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Monday: Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord Tuesday: Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; St. Sylvester I; New Year’s Eve Wednesday: The Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; Mary, the Holy Mother of God; World Day of Peace; New Year’s Day Thursday: Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen Friday: The Most Holy Name of Jesus; First Friday Saturday: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; First Saturday

# 436450

St. Joseph Church

117 S. Ligonier Street

Derry, PA 15627

Contact: JOANNE

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