REV. JOHN A. SEDLAK Pastor/Trust Administrator

jsedlak@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Mass Schedule Weekday & Sat. Morning: 8:00 am Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm Sunday: 9:00 & 11:00 am Holy Days: As Announced

Sacrament of Reconciliation Weekday & Sat. Morning: 7:30-7:50 am Saturday Vigil: 4:00-4:45 pm Sunday: 8:30-8:45 am & 10:30-10:45 am

(30 minutes before all other Masses)

Office Hours Monday-Thursday: 8:15 am - 3:45 pm

Mailing Address PO Box 187 4263 Route 981 United PA 15689

Website www.saintflorian.org

Phone Numbers Parish Office/Rectory: 724-423-4431 FAX: 724-423-4438 Pastoral Emergencies: 412-582-0425 Catechesis, Faith Formation & Evangelization (CFFE) Office: 724-423-5087 Preschool: 724-423-4437 Social Hall: 724-423-9008 St. Vincent de Paul Helpline: 724-205-4406

Staff CFFE Director: Dr. Joseph Dreliszak Preschool Director: Lottie Hirak Preschool Aide: Karen Dlugos Music Director: Steven Makar Parish Secretary and Bookkeeper: Angela Reese

Pastoral Council Terry Foriska Tammy Sofranko* Mike Reese Nicole Stull Don Scekeres Dave Shimko *Recorder

Finance Council John Boggess Kathy Sobinsky Stephanie Soflak Jerry Yasher David Lazor* Emily Uhrin Mark D’Amico *Chair

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME July 12, 2020

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to build up the Kingdom of God by offering ourselves

with Jesus for the true good of every person.

EUCHARISTIC SELF-OFFERING PRAYER I am all Yours, O most loving Jesus, through Mary, Your Mother.

MASS INTENTIONS (Request Form on back of bulletin)

Sat., July 11 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun., July 12 9:00 AM 11:30 AM Mon., July 13 8:00 AM Tue., July 14 8:00 AM Wed., July 15 8:00 AM Thu., July 16 8:00 AM Fri., July 17 8:00 AM Sat., July 18 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun., July 19 9:00 AM 11:30 AM

St. Benedict +Mary E. Zimmerman by Terry & Janice Frederick For the Parishioners Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time +Frank Tracy by Children & Grandchildren +Betty Takitch by Ginny Puskar Family Weekday +Verna & Joseph Spirko by Joanne & John Boggess St. Kteri Tekawitha +Rose Raling by Don & Karen Dlugos St. Bonaventure Living and Deceased members of the St. Florian Altar Society Weekday +Rose Hollis by Joe & Shirley Miscik Weekday +Loretta Rutkowski by Tom & Dodie Ulishney Weekday +George Trout by Trout Family For the Parishioners Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time +Edward Cibulas by Ginny Kaczmarek +Charlie Fischer by Family & Friends

Page 2 July 12, 2020

ST. FLORIAN OFFERTORY STEWARDSHIP:

June 27-28: Adults: $3416.00; Loose: $87.00; Par ish Endowment: $25.00 Candles: $99.00; Peter’s Pence: $83.00; Catholic Accent: $30.00; Easter: $10.00; St. Vincent De Paul: $60.00. TOTAL: $3,810.00 July 4-5: Adults: $3,969.00; Loose: $58.00; Par ish Endowment: $461.00 Candles: $112.00; Catholic Accent: $33.00 St. Vincent De Paul: $310.00. TOTAL: $4,943.00

God Bless you!

Bulletin Deadline: submissions for the bulletin are due by Monday at 9 am to: areese@dioceseofgreensburg.org.

Readings for the week of July 12, 2020 Sunday: Is 55:10-11/Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 [Lk 8:8]/Rom 8:18-23/Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9 Monday: Is 1:10-17/Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23 [23b]/Mt 10:34—11:1 Tuesday: Is 7:1-9/Ps 48:2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6, 7-8 [cf. 9d]/Mt 11:20-24 Wednesday: Is 10:5-7, 13b-16/Ps 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15 [14a]/Mt 11:25-27 Thursday: Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19/Ps 102:13-14ab and 15, 16-18, 19-21 [20b]/Mt 11:28-30 Friday: Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8/Is 38:10, 11, 12abcd, 16 [cf. 17b]/Mt 12:1-8 Saturday: Mi 2:1-5/Ps 10:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14 [12b]/Mt 12:14-21 Next Sunday: Wis 12:13, 16-19/Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 [5a]/ Rom 8:26-27/Mt 13:24-43 or 13:24-30 ©Liturgical Publications Inc.

ALTAR FLOWERS are presented this week

In Memory of

Anna Hunka By Karen Hunka

Sanctuary Light In Memory of

Joseph Emanuele By: Neighbor, Tom & Dodie

Prayers for Dolores DiOrio who died recently. May we continue to pray for her and her family

during this time of sorrow.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC — information can be found at www.coronavirus.gov

CHURCH OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER 7 DAYS A WEEK 7 AM TO 7 PM

MINISTRY SCHEDULE

Saturday, July 11, 2020~ 5:00 PM Lector .................................................................... J. Lawrence Eucharistic Ministers ....................... G. Kovacina, T. Jackson Altar Server ........................................................... T. Jackson

Sunday, July 12, 2020 ~ 9:00 AM Lector ..................................................................... R. Mizikar Eucharistic Ministers .......................... H. Szewczyk, J. Lesko Altar Server ................................................................ J. Lesko

Sunday, July 12, 2020 ~ 11:30 AM Lector ....................................................................... M. Sopko Eucharistic Ministers ........................... W. Bossart, J. Mizikar Altar Server ............................................................. J. Mizikar

Saturday, July 18, 2020 ~ 5:00 PM Lector ......................................................................... A. Reese Eucharistic Ministers ............................. C. Kelly, C. Gricheck Altar Server ............................................................. M. Reese

Sunday, July 19, 2020 ~ 9:00 AM Lector ...................................................................... B. Mizikar Eucharistic Ministers .......................... T. Jackson, R. Mizikar Altar Server ........................................................... R. Mizikar

Sunday, July 19, 2020 ~ 11:30 AM Lector ................................................................... M. D’Amico Eucharistic Ministers ............................. J. Lesko, W. Bossart Altar Server ............................................................... J. Lesko

2 St. Florian Cemetery Graves for Sale — Section 1

Call 724-423-6293

Catholic Daughters of America The CDA Meeting for

July 14, 2020 has been cancelled.

FOOD BANK DONATIONS Please consider donating to the Food Bank donation box in the back of church.

IN JULY WE ARE COLLECTING FRUITS & VEGGIES:

Canned Fruit and Canned Veggies (all items must be non-perishables)

All donations stay locally in our community.

Please be sure to place all Food Bank items in or around the Food Bank collection box located next to the candles on the

Sacristy side of the vestibule.

Prayer Chain

Those with prayer intentions are asked to contact the FAITH

FORMATION CENTER. Please call 724-423-5087 and your

request will be forwarded to those who have agreed to take part

in this special ministry. New members on our Parish Prayer

Chain are always welcome to join.

Ed Anna Debbie Karen Paul Betty Fred David Kristen Tram Erin Marge Leslie Jeremiah Leona Christine Trish Greg Marie Becky Mary Barry Pam Those Suffering from the Corona Virus Health and well being of ALL throughout the world

May we continue to remember these individuals in our daily prayers!

St. Florian Preschool

Now registering for the 2020-2021 School Year. Classes offered for 3 and 4 year olds. Half-day and Full-day options. Contact the Preschool at 724-423-4437 for more information.

Pathways registration open for 2020-21 Registration is open for Pathways, which is the diocese’s

commitment to adult faith formation and nurturing mature dis-

cipleship. There are 12 evening sessions, three workshops and a

closing retreat. Pathways is tentatively scheduled for Tuesdays

from 6:30-9 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Parish, Scottdale. To

register online, go to www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/pathways.

Or email pathways@dioceseofgreensburg.org or call the Office

of Faith, Family and Discipleship at 724-552-2598. Financial

assistance is available from the Francis Fund. For information or

to apply for a scholarship, call 724-837-0901, ext. 1249. The

schedule is tentative, pending restrictions on gatherings

that might be in place in September.

SUMMER FESTIVAL CANCELLED FOR THIS YEAR Due to the ongoing pandemic and the many concerns involving “Social Distancing”, it is necessary to cancel this year’s summer festival that was set for August 9.

Parishioners are asked to pick up their raffle tickets in the back of church. Representatives will be available to help you. You are encouraged to take the tickets of friends and neighbors and other family members who have yet to return to church, but please do not place them in their mailbox. Stubs may returned by placing them in the collection basket or dropped off at the rectory during summer hours. The office is open from Monday – Wednesday from 8:15 – 3:45 and on Thursdays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Please do not return them by mail. This too is not permitted by the US Postal System.

Thank you for your support. We will be giving periodic updates on the tickets throughout the summer!

MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PICKED UP THEIR TICKETS AND/OR HAVE REQUESTED

ADDITIONAL TICKETS TO SELL TO HELP US MAKE THIS TICKET A GREAT SUCCESS.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS… 2021 FESTIVAL IS SET FOR AUGUST 8!!!

Celebration of First Communion & Confirmation

Dates have been chosen for First Communion and Confirmation. Both were canceled due to the pandemic. First Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, August 2 at the 11:30 am Mass and Confirmation will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 pm. Both celebrations, this year, will take place at our church. Parents have received other dates concerning classes, practice times and interviews with Fr. John prior to each sacrament. Please contact Dr. Dreliszak if you have any questions.

Christ the Divine Teacher School will have an informational meeting concerning fall CYO sports on July 22nd at 6p.m. in the school cafeteria. Girls’ basketball grades 3-8 and co-ed cross country grades K-8 will be discussed. For more information, please call the school office at 724-539-1561.

JULY BIRTHDAYS Happy Birthday to the following who are Celebrating

their Special Day in July: 13 — Liz Shay 13 — Richard Klimchock 17 — Heidi Mitchell 18 — Marge Klimchock 19 — Rita Lucotch 19 — Dr. Bruce Teich 20 — Karen Hunka 23 — Isaiah Mitchell 27 — Carol Ashby 29 — Paul Mondock 29 — Benjamin Klimchock 30 — Nicholas Takacs 30 — Ann Marie Scekeres 30 — Marty Drexler 31 — Mary Jane Makar Please say a prayer for those listed on their birthday.

Connectionsby Joe Lesko

The Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time The Old Testament reading comes from the Book of Isaiah and in its two verses, appearance is a concluding meta-phoric presentation of salvation. The “word” comes gently from God. The comparison of “rain and snow” come from God to nourish the earth while the “word” comes from God to nourish the soul. God gives what is needed to keep His creation in order and good health. The purpose of the “word” is for humans to return to God. God’s spirit (His word) penetrates the man’s soul for humans to bring forth divine rewards, specifically salvation. Matthew’s Gospel is a narrative of Jesus’ preferred way of teaching by using parables to assert His “Good News” to His growing audiences. To establish the interest and growth in the teaching of the “Good News”, Matthew sets an outdoor scene for Jesus. His followers can no longer fit into a building. The crush of the crowd is great and Jesus moves to a boat in the sea where His voice can project upward to the audience seated in the hill side facing Him in the boat much like a natural ampi-theater. Jesus assumes the posture of an oriental teacher by His sitting and not standing. He begins a parable where three elements of the focus: a farmer, the seed, and the soil. The farmer must choose seed and the proper soil to produce the desired harvest. Jesus applies various scenic of soil and seed until the elements of planting are in total harmony to produce and effective harvest. L The parable reflects the reception of the “Good News” and the various audi-ences’ response to the His words. These three elements of farmer, seed, and soil ae fully known by a people who farm as a livelihood, for the area of Palestine is replete with various soil conditions. The wise planter will choose the best conditions to produce a wanted and needed harvest. When the disciples ash Jesus why He teaches in parables, Jesus responds “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven has been granted to you, but to them (His audiences) it has not been granted”. At this point Matthew may have placed a theological consideration. The Greek word for mystery corresponds to a Latin word that refers to the oath that binds a covenant. Those outside the covenant have not yet understood what is needed to receive and enjoy the benefits from abiding to the condition set forth. Those bound in the covenant will grow riches in their understanding of the fulfill-ment of the Old Covenant that Jesus proposes to anew. Those outside this amended Covenant who refuse or who do not recog-nize Jesus’ earthly mission will lose their status as the chosen people. The Hebrew and Aramaic languages do no distinguish grammatically between purpose and result. The wirers have difficulty expressing the relationship between these concepts. However, God is in control and He shall win in the end. At this time some Jews hear but do not understand and see but do not accept what they see. Recall the obstinate nature of the Pharisee who only hears and sees what he chooses to interpret. Jesus praises the disciples for they are privileged to be

eyewitnesses to and to accept Jesus’ role as an expander of the Old Testament, not a breaker of it. Jesus then provided an inter-pretation of the parable through a progression of representations of the seed and the way it has been planted. The first group are ones who are not prepared to grasp the content of the “Good News”. The second group are ones who cannot meet the chal-lenges of suffering and persecution that may be involved. The third group are those who hear and accept but secular interests distract them. Finally the fourth group hears, understands and performs. Even today the evangelizers realize the same progres-sion in their attempt to accept the Gospel messages. Jesus has come to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus has explained His method of instruction. The only problem for His audiences is to understand the relationship between metaphor and reality: in other words between purpose and result.

WAYS TO GIVE

During this time of closures throughout the church, please consider keeping up your weekly contributions to

St. Florian. Sunday Masses have resumed but the obligation to attend is still commuted. If you are not attending Mass,

please consider these options for giving.

ONLINE GIVING: Our parish offers Online Giving, a web-based electronic contribution application. This service is safe and secure. And it is convenient for you and for our parish staff. Sign up for Online Giving by visiting our parish website at www.saintflorian.org and selecting the “Donate” link in the top right hand corner.

US MAIL: Contributions can be sent through the mail service to: St. Florian Church

PO Box 187 United, PA 15689

STOP BY THE PARISH OFFICE: The parish office is open Monday—Thursday, 8:45 am to 3:45 pm. Feel free to drop by anytime with your offertory envelope. A locked mailbox is available outside of the Rectory Front Door.

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Bishop Malesic desires to recognize all couples celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary during the calendar year 2020. The Jubilarians, their children, relatives or friends should contact their local parish office to register couples for this recognition. Ideally, the Jubilarians will be invited to join the bishop for a special Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass to be celebrated in Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on Sunday, September 20, 2020. Even though circumstances may not permit participation in this Mass, all couples will receive a scroll signed by the Bishop commemorating their anniversary.

Page 5 July 12, 2020

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK NASER FOODS Please support our sponsors.

PARISH UPDATE Only 24 people attended our first 11:30 am Sunday Mass last weekend. However, with the addition of this Mass, our

total weekend attendance increased by ten to 160. This was the highest attendance since the recommencement of Masses,

and with a “safe” capacity per Mass of 80-100 people, we have plenty of room for even more people to attend. Thank

you.

THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR VERY GENEROUS ON-GOING WEEKLY SUPPORT of St. Flor ian Par ish

during the COVID-19 restrictions. May Our Lord continue to bless you and your families and our Parish Family as well!

Read Fr. John’s Homily at www.saintflorian.org under the “Parish Life” tab.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION br ings special blessings. Here are more words of our Lord

given by way of locution to a Benedictine monk. Although they are addressed to priests, they apply

to everyone: “The soul who spends time in My presence, close to My open Heart, will learn all that

my Heart contains, and will come to share in my sentiments and desires. Remain in My presence

whenever and for as long as you can. Being with Me is the great means to healing and to holiness. It

is enough to remain with Me if you be like Me. Come to Me full of expectant hope, and I will do all

the rest. To adore Me is to seek My Face and to approach My Heart, full of wonder and of holy fear,

and above all, full of love. Adoration is the wordless confession of My Divinity. Adoration proclaims

that I am all and that all else is nought.” (In Sinu Jesu p. 40) For June 30-July 1, the following

hours had only one adorer: 9 am, 10 am, 7 pm, 1 am, 2 am, 3 am and 7 am. At least two adorers

should be present for each hour. Thank you.

Thank you to The Community Foundation of Fayette County, who have generously donated the extra face masks that we have present for those who need them at Mass.

To Become a TOP Student, please call 724-552-2565 or visit www.catholicschoolsguide.org

Parish Office Summer Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8:15 am to 3: 45

(Angela)

Thursday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

(Dr. Dreliszak)