Our focus over the past few months has been on the future of our parish, and our prospects for building a parish that is not only sustainable, but also growing in ministry in evangelization. Some of these issues are real signs of encouragement for us; others are challenges that we face (and which we can overcome!). I’d like to take this opportunity to discuss a few of them:
- This year, we confirmed 55 students and celebrated 37 First Holy Communions. Our CCD program overcame all of the challenges of running a ‘virtual’ program during the pandemic. A great big word of thanks to our catechists & Religious Ed team, our CCD parents, and our students! We’re beginning to think about what our program will look like in the fall. We hope to resume a ‘normal’ in-person, in-classroom CCD experience this September! (Some catechist volunteers have ‘retired’ after this year, so we’ll need additional catechists for the fall. Please prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to be part of the formation of our students in the faith!). Keep an eye on the bulletin for more details about our CCD program for ’21-22!
- In early 2020, before the pandemic, our parish had five resident priests ministering to the community. Since that time, Fr Faustine graduated and returned to his home diocese, Fr Al retired, and beginning July 1, Fr Rick will begin his retirement. The diocese has informed us that we will not be receiving replacements for our retired priests and therefore, beginning next month, we will have two resident priests in the parish (myself and Fr Thom) to provide ministry to our community. With two priests, we may schedule up to six weekend Masses. Given our current six-Mass schedule and a return to 100% seating capacity in our churches, we have enough seating that – even if we only fill our pews 80% full! – we can welcome up to 33% more people to our Masses than the numbers of people who attended weekend Masses in Penn Hills, Pitcairn, and Monroeville in 2018! No weekend Mass schedule modifications are planned at the present time.
- With the pandemic restrictions not fully lifted, we’re still unable to utilize our confessionals for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the meantime, we’ve expanded our schedule for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Beginning this past week, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated at St Bernadette church on Monday evenings at 6pm. (Our ‘confessional’ will be in the choir area, and there will be spaces for both face-to-face and ‘behind the screen’ experiences.). Reconciliation will continue to be celebrated at St Bartholomew church on Saturdays at noon.
- We’ve also been looking at the question of creating more time for personal prayer in our churches. Due to the pandemic, daily cleaning/sanitizing is still a requirement for our churches. Therefore, beginning this week, St Susanna church will be open on Tuesday from 9am till 6pm and on Thursday from 9am till 10:30am. In Monroeville, St Bernadette church will be open from 7am till 7pm on Monday and Thursday, and from 7am till 3pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Please continue to support our parish through your prayers and generosity! Christ the Divine Shepherd, have mercy on us! St Bartholomew, St Bernadette, St Gerard Majella, St John de Brebeuf and companions (the North American martyrs), St Michael, and St Susanna, pray for us!
Blessings,
Fr Larry
