Sunday, December 27, 2020

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Date Church Time Intentions Requested by

Saturday, December 26

St. Valentine 4:00 PM Bill Belack Wife & Family

St. Gabriel 5:00 PM Robert Ratay Wife, Evelyn

Sunday, December 27

St. Germaine 7:30 AM Terry Lonett Mom, Pat Lonett, Bill & Tami

Nativity 9:00 AM Dennis Bidden Wife, Millie

St. Valentine 10:30 AM Pat Higgins Wife

St. Gabriel 11:00 AM Tess Nowalk (Birthday) Nowalk Family

Monday, December 28

St. Germaine 8:00 AM Catherine Stein Deacon Bob & Kathy Stein

St. Valentine 11:30 AM Florence & Leo McKowski Dennis & Donna Frattaroli

Tuesday, December 29

St. Germaine 8:00 AM Joyce Fernacz Family

St. Gabriel 11:30 AM Nancy Schierberl Shelly Brendel & Family

Wednesday, December 30

St. Germaine 8:00 AM George & Madeline Koenig Family

St. Valentine 11:30 AM Margaret Herrle Family

Nativity 7:00 PM Rusty Moore Mike & Michelle Manion

Thursday, December 31

St Germaine 8:00 AM Allen Spencer Nancy Hallewell

St. Germaine 4:00 PM Maxine Madigan Del & Joan Comstock

St. Valentine 4:00 PM Agnes Carberry Family

Friday, January 1

Nativity 9:00 AM Hugh Thompson Thompson Family

St. Gabriel 11:00 AM Fran Stockhausen Family

Saturday, January 2 St. Gabriel 10:00 AM Hugh O’Donnell Pam Robinson

Next Weekend - Vigil & Sunday Masses

Saturday, January 2

St. Valentine 4:00 PM Betty Jackowski Jack & Maureen Bittner

St. Gabriel 5:00 PM Larry Bursick Family

Sunday, January 3

St. Germaine 7:30 AM Dwight Daudet Neil & Becky Fico

Nativity 9:00 AM Special Intentions of Harvey Kane Family

St. Valentine 10:30 AM William Starzynski Larry & Diann Reiche

St. Gabriel 11:00 AM Frank Schaefer Tom & Cheryl Schnippert

MASS INTENTIONS December 26-January 3, 2020

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE - HTTPS://OLHPGH.ORG

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As our bulletin deadlines for the

and a half ago, I’m writing these notes well before Christmas itself. Even in the midst of the continuing challenges of the pandemic, it is my hope you are having a safe, healthy, and happy Christmas season. Our Savior’s birth brings joy into our hearts, a joy that is

deep and inhering. Let us seek to spread that spirit of joy to others!

All the priests, deacons and staff wish to thank everyone for their kind wishes, cards, treats and gifts that have been dropped off or mailed to us. Your prayers and support mean so much to us! Please be assured of a constant place in our hearts as we pray for all of you.

In just a short time, on Monday, January 4th, we become Our Lady of Hope parish! The Worship committee met recently to go over some ways in which we can commemorate both the start of our new parish and the celebration of our feast day on January 17th. Within both the context of the celebration of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord on the first full weekend of our parish and the feast day itself, you will notice some special ways in which we take note of our new reality. We look forward to the day when we can safely gather to celebrate more fully.

The shift to our new offices on the site of St. Germaine Church has been going well, as has the continuing operation of satellite office hours at each of our parish sites. We have also updated and unified our website (www.olhpgh.org)– please check it out!

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we continue to work out the details and hurdles of our current time of transition.

Gratefully in Christ,

From the Desk of Fr. John Skirtich

We have received many calls about when to begin to use our new parish name on collection checks.

Please continue to write checks to your existing church; Nativity, St.

, as you normally would through December 31, 2020. These checks will be applied to your 2020 contribution records.

Beginning January 1st, checks should be made payable to Our Lady of Hope Parish.

If checks are made payable to Our Lady of Hope prior to January 1, 2021, they will be held for deposit until January 1st, and will be applied to your 2021 contribution records.

Any questions can be directed to

Thank you for your continued sup-port!

Visit our new parish website at https://olhpgh.org to sign up for our Online Giving Program. It’s an

easy way to support Our Lady of Hope!

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Nativity Divine Mercy Candle Lit for the

Special Intentions of the

Thompson & Kenyherz Families

LIVE JESUS

St. Valentine Sanctuary Lamp Lit for the

Special Intentions of

South Hills Catholics Parish Group 218

Readings and Observances for the Week of December 27, 2020

Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3/Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 [cf. 1] The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Monday: 1 Jn 1:5—2:2/Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8 [7]/Mt 2:13-18 The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 [11a]/Lk 2:22-35 St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr

Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:12-17/Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 [11a]/Lk 2:36-40 Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord

Thursday: 1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13 [11a]/Jn 1:1-18 St. Sylvester I, Pope; New Year’s Eve

Friday: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 [2a]/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21 Mary, The Holy Mother of God; New Year’s Day; World Day of Peace

Saturday: 1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [3cd]/Jn 1:19-28 Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Next Sunday: 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 The Epiphany of the Lord; National Migration Week

Newly Baptized in Our Parish Grouping

Cameron Lewis Hartman

Son of Randi (Popp) & John Hartman

Wyatt Michael Klatzkin

Son of Shaunna (Stuck) & Scott Klatzkin

Jack Robert Schwartz

Son of Leslie (Dunn) & Ryan Schwartz

Aleah Faith Shaw

Daughter of Vanessa (Assad) & Steven Shaw

O God of truth and justice, we hold before you the names of those whose memory we cherish. Grant us

the faith to surrender to you these faithfully departed loved ones who live and remain with you.

Paul M. Meyers Aberta Rager

Joan Wuchevich

Rest in Peace

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MASS SCHEDULE

Weekday Masses - Dec 27, 2020-Jan 2, 2021 Monday

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

8:00 AM 11:30 AM 8:00 AM 11:30 AM 8:00 AM 11:30 AM 7:00 PM 8:00 AM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 9:00 AM 11:00 AM

10:00 AM

St. Germaine St. Valentine St. Germaine St. Gabriel St. Germaine St. Valentine Nativity St. Germaine St. Germaine St. Valentine Nativity St. Gabriel St. Gabriel

“Following a joint conference call

and until further notice, I wish to share with you that in union with all my brother bishops I am dispensing the faithful of the Diocese of

Mass. “

Bishop David Zubik Thursday, March 12, 2020

Weekend Masses - January 2-3, 2021

Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM St. Valentine Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM St. Gabriel Sunday 7:30 AM St. Germaine Sunday 9:00 AM Nativity

Sunday 10:30 AM St. Valentine

Sunday 11:00 AM St. Gabriel

Reconciliation/Confession Schedule for this week

Nativity Wednesday 6:15 PM - 6:45 PM St. Gabriel Saturday 11:00 AM - Noon St. Valentine Saturday 11:00 AM - Noon

New Year’s Mass Schedule Thursday, December 31, 2020

4:00 PM - St. Germaine

4:00 PM - St. Valentine (live streamed) Friday, January 1, 2021

9:00 AM - Nativity

11:00 AM - St. Gabriel

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FAITH FORMATION

We hope everyone enjoyed the Virtual Middle School Advent Retreat held on December 6th! There were inspir-ing talks and uplifting messages for Advent. Several of the teens in our school and CCD programs won an Advent Trivia Game. Congratulations to the Atchison’s, the Koltas’, the Schorr’s, Caleb Fruscello, Gracie Gonzalez, Logan Huwalt, Nate Malock, David Perez, Abbilyn Rexrode and Bailey Vietmeier. Please contact the Faith Formation Office if you did not receive your gift card prize.

If you are an education major or are interested in teaching, we would love to have you join our catechetical team! Our CCD programs are going virtual for a period time. Some of our teachers will be presenting via Zoom and may need mentoring or technical support until they have a better understanding of the new

Carol Vater at cvater@stvals.org or call 412-835-4415 ext.7.

Father Charlie recently gave a wonderful homily about caring for those in need and we have taken the message to heart. St. Faustina’s Gate, a ministry of the Red Door that provides essential seasonal clothing and other resources to the homeless, is in desperate need of donations. Donations of gently used men’s winter coats and hoodies sizes: XL, XXL and XXXL, men’s jeans, sizes 32 through 38, winter boots, sizes 10-13 as well as large warm blankets are needed. A donation box has been place inside the Faith Formation door at St. Valentine School. For larger donations, home pick up can be arranged by calling 412-835-4415 ext. 7. Please only donate clean WINTER items for MEN ONLY. All donations should be new or in very good conditions. Thank you in advance for being a loving presence to those in need.

The Faith Formation Office at St. Valentine Church will be closed on Thursday and Friday, December 31st and January 1st, in observance of the New Year. We wish all of you and your families a very Happy New Year.

A heartfelt thank you to all who purchased raffle tickets for the baskets the CCD created. The winning tickets were pulled this past Wednesday and the lucky winners include:

Margie Pifer (Pittsburgh Basket) Gracie Barrett (Pamper Me) Deb DeMay (Fun and Games)

The proceeds of $614 will be added to the $215 collected during our fall coin drive.

The fundraising goal for our Catholic Charities Service Project is $1000. With only $171 to meet our goal, we are confident we will surpass it when we host our Spring Food Event.

Our Catholic Charities project increases an awareness that “When we feed the hungry and shelter the stranger, we are also serving Jesus Himself”.

Let us hope and pray the COVID restrictions will be lifted and we can return to the work we have done with Produce to People and other direct service projects that help us live those words.

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LIVE JESUS

Inspiration for the week

While families come in all shapes and sizes, of which no two are alike, they all need a common focus and grounding. Families are intended to be pivotal by providing us with a proper social structure, under-

and love we so desperately crave.

In addition to all these things, the axis of every family has to be centered on faith. It is here we can learn about the virtues, and discover the window to God Himself in His gifts of faith, hope and love. We can learn by modeling our experiences after the Holy Family and use these as anchors in our lives. This allows us to live out the other virtues with greater integrity. Because our human families struggle with weakness and sin, we have to come back to the Holy Family often for inspiration and guidance. In the bond of love they shared, they clung to the anchor of God Himself and endured challenges for greater than many we will ever face.

“Regina Angelorum! Queen of the Angels! What enchantment, what a foretaste of heaven it is to think thus of

Mary our mother ceaselessly accompanied by legion of angels!” ~Pope John XXIII

The Legion of Mary would like to extend an invitation to join as the Legion an Auxiliary (praying) member at this time during the pandemic.

Auxiliary members recite daily prayers from the Legion prayer leaflet called the “Tessera” which includes the rosary. Auxiliary members are placed on a three-month probationary roll.

There are no dues, no meetings to attend.

For more information, please call Marlene Yannone at 412-886-1786 or Barbara Hogan at 412-884-3154. On September 7, 1921, Frank Duff founded the Legion of Mary in Dublin, Ireland. Its twofold

purpose is the spiritual development of it members and advancing the reign of Christ through Our Lady.

The Legion, found in over 168 countries, has in excess of 3 million active members

and many more auxiliary (praying) members.

8

Choosing Godparents for your Baby/Child

From time to time, questions and controversies arise as to who may serve as a Godparent for the Sacrament of Baptism. Therefore, this is a review of

Below is the criteria to be considered before the

parents of a child ask someone to be a Godparent for their son or daughter:

Since Baptism is the initial, foundational Sacrament in the life of a Catholic, great care must be taken in deciding who will serve as a Godparent. The guidelines above are meant to assist parents in making a reasonable and secure decision as to who will fulfill this critical role for their child. Since the guidelines are provided by the universal Church and individual priests are not vested with the authority to dispense from them, these guidelines will be strictly followed at all Catholic Churches.

The decision of choosing a Godparent should be based upon who would provide the best example of Catholic living for the child and not merely for reasons of maintaining family harmony. A Godparent is not chosen to honor the Godparent, but for the well-being and faith development of the child.

must be a practicing Catholic, at least 16 years of age and have received the Sacraments of Initiation (i.e. Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation). Furthermore, if this person is married, the marriage must be a valid, sacramental marriage (i.e. one recognized and blessed by the Catholic Church).

The potential Godparent must be registered in a Catholic parish and able to obtain a letter of eligibility from his or her parish priest to be a Godparent.

Only one Godparent is required by Church law. This Godparent may be a man or a woman. However, if two Godparents are selected (the more common practice), then there must be one man and one woman chosen. In other words, a child cannot have two men or two women as Godparents.

In extraordinary situations, when two Catholic Godparents cannot be found, a baptized person who belongs to another Christian denomination (i.e. Methodist, Lutheran, or Presbyterian) may serve as a Christian Witness. However, former Catholics who have left the Catholic Church for another Christian denomination are not permitted to serve, either as a Catholic Godparent or a Christian Witnesses.

INFORMATION

Enjoy Coupon Books for Sale

30th. Books are $30 each and make great gifts.

The Books may be purchased at South Hills Catholics Grouping 218 administrative offices, located at St. Ger-maine Church, St. Gabriel Church Office or call/text Rex & Kathy Gleeson at 412–427-3577 (home phone 412-835-7958) or email rexkathyg@verizon.net for assistance or a book delivery. If paying with a check, it must be made payable to St. Gabriel CFM.

St. Valentine Preschool is also selling the 2021 ENJOY COUPON BOOKS. Books are $30 each and may be purchased at the St. Valentine Church Office. If paying by check, please make it payable to St. Valentine Preschool.

Additionally, St. Valentine Preschool is selling a limited number KIDSTUFF & SAVE AROUND GREATER PITTS-BURGH COUPON BOOKS. These books may be pur-chased at St. Valentine Preschool for $25 each. Cash or

accepted for payment.

for

St. Valentine Preschool Program

With everything that is happening in this crazy world today, you can SMILE and help St. Valentine Preschool along the way.

This new fundraiser is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Three easy steps: Go to smile.amazon.com Choose ST. VALENTINE CHURCH (Bethel Park). Click “shop now” (at smile.amazon.com) and begin your Amazon shopping.

When you choose St. Valentine Church as your charity, and you shop at SmileAmazon, 5% of your

eligible purchases go directly to ST. VALENTINE PRESCHOOL.

With the holiday season upon us, help us to make this

and friends who shop on Amazon.

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PARISH INFORMATION

PA R I S H S TA F F

Rev. John Skirtich, Administrator Rev. Michael Suslowicz,

Rev. John Hissrich, Chaplain Rev. Richard Tusky, Retired - In Residence

Rev. Charles Speicher, Retired - In Residence

Rev. Mr. Thom Mills, Permanent Deacon Rev. Mr. Robert Stein, Permanent Deacon

Rev. Mr. James Kenny, Deacon, Retired Mary Beth Green, Pastoral Associate

Kim Andartes Maintenance Team Member

Maureen Bittner Bookkeeper 412-833-0661 mbittner@stvals.org

Jeff Conklin Coordinator or Faith Formation 412-655-1565 jeffconklinccd@gmail.com

Kyle Davies Director of Music 412-835-4415 Ext. 5 kdavies@stvals.org

Eric Douglas Maintenance Team Member

Cinda Etzel Maintenance Team Member

Carol Froehlich Music Minister 412-608-7585 stgabeschurch@yahoo.com

Cynthia Gilfoyle Director of Communications 412-833-0661 church_stgermaine@comcast.net

Margaret Gowaty Roving Secretary

Mary Beth Green Pastoral Associate 412-833-0661 marybethgreenlenox@gmail.com

Kathleen Kratt Parish Secretary 412-833-0661 stgabeschurch@yahoo.com

Splash Meyer Head of Maintenance

Donald R. Militzer, Jr., M.Ed. Principal 412-882-3353

Judy Mills Preschool Director (St. Valentine) 412-835-5539 jmills@stvals.org

Deborah O’Brien Director of Operations 412-833-0661 stgabeschurch@yahoo.com

Rhonda O’Keefe Maintenance Team Member

Donna Rech Safe Environment Coordinator 412-833-6662 nativitychurch@comcast.net

Rosemary Rovny Parish Secretary 412-833-0661 rrovny@stvals.org

J.T. Santelli Maintenance Team Member

Suzan Slezak, M.Ed. Preschool Director (St. Gabriel) 412-502-6196 stgpreschool@outlook.com

Melanie Spagnolo Music Minister spagnolomel@gmail.com

Carol Vater Director of Faith Formation 412-835-3780 Ext. 7 cvater@stvals.org

Maryann Wellinger Faith Formation Secretary 412-835-3780 mwellinger@stvals.org

CHURCH LOCATIONS St. Gabriel 5200 Greenridge Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Phone: 412-881-8115 Fax: 412-440-0160 Office Hours: Tue & Thur 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Fri 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM

St. Germaine Administrative Center 7003 Baptist Rd, Bethel Park, PA 15102 Phone: 412-833-0661 Fax: 412-833-4036 Office Hours: Mon - Fri 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM

Nativity 5811 Curry Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Phone: 412-655-3000 Fax: 412-650-4658 Office Hours: Friday 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

St. Valentine 2710 Ohio Street Bethel Park, PA 15102 Phone: 412-835-4415 Fax: 412-835-4417 Office Hours: Mon & Wed 9:00 AM– 2:00 PM

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