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Mary Lou McGonigle, of Neshannock Twp., PA, and Naples, FL, passed away peacefully with her family by her side Sunday afternoon, September 13, 2020. Mrs. McGonigle was born November 18, 1936, in New Castle, a daughter of the late Augustine and Lena (Geramita) Fornataro. A lifelong area resident, she was a graduate of New Castle High School, where she met her husband, the late Harold “Hal” McGonigle. The two were married June 7, 1958, in St. Mary’s Church, New Castle. Hal preceded her in death September 2, 2002.

Robert E. Pokersnik, 63, of New Castle, passed away the evening of September 10, 2020, at his residence. Robert was born September 13, 1956 in New Castle. He was the son of the late Ernest F. and Helen J. (Klejnocki) Pokersnik.

The Rosary Ministry at this time consists of 42 hard-working members. Since January 2020, over 5,000 rosaries were lovingly made by our ministry, and of these rosaries 5,000 have been shipped to: Holy Cross Family Ministries in Massachusetts, Educate the Congo Rosary Project in Ohio, and Mary Lynch in Florida.

On the Catechetical Sunday, please join me in thanking all of our catechists and catechist volunteers as we begin this new school year. Of all the things we learn, learning of our salvation is of eternal value! All other knowledge is temporary and passes away.

Are you sitting at home and thinking you should be doing something for our great parish but you don’t know what you can do and stay safe in the process? Consider joining our grief support group who send out the Stephens Ministry Series books to families, following a death. All you need do is contact Mary Ann Isaac at 724-971-8539 or misaac@hsplc.org to discuss what is involved. Then you can discern if God is calling you to do it!

God is so good! I can’t imagine what it would be like to wonder what I am going to feed my family, or trying to decide if I buy milk or get powdered milk instead this week so I can buy x, y or z?! This is a reality for many people. They subsist on canned goods, never get fresh produce, vegetables, or dairy products. We take so much for granted. Thanks to so many, our parish is able to provide more than canned goods—each week we are providing meat, dairy, fresh fruits and vegetables as well as staples to enable a balanced diet. And, hopefully, money otherwise spent on food can be used to pay other essential bills.

Robert Kenneth McCartt, age 74, of New Castle, passed away the evening of September 14, 2020, at his residence. Born December 26, 1945, in New Castle, he was the son of the late Kenneth C. and Roseltha (Hartsuff) McCartt.

Ada J. Prekopi, 93, passed away Sunday morning, September 13, 2020, in Quality of Life Services, New Castle. Mrs. Prekopi was born November 29, 1926, in New Castle, a daughter of the late Thomas J. and Rose (Balpo) Durbino. Her husband, John G. Prekopi, Jr., whom she married March 4, 1946, passed away July 12, 1998.

William T. Huncik, 90, of Pulaski, PA was welcomed into Heaven on September 11, 2020 at his home with his loving family by his side. Born on June 25, 1930 in Campbell, Ohio, he was the son of the late Albert and Nellie (Malarchik) Huncik. On May 21, 1955, Bill married his beloved wife, the former Patricia Ann Meenihan. She preceded him in death on November 29, 2009.

Edith M. McVay, 97, of New Castle passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning, September 9, 2020, at her residence. Mrs. McVay was born December 1, 1922, in Springfield Twp., PA (Mercer Co.), a daughter of the late Carmine and Concetta (Marino) Acquillo. Her husband of 59 years, Earl R. McVay, whom she married April 10, 1954, preceded her in death December 17, 2013.

On September 19th, we will begin hearing confessions at St. Vitus Church instead of St. Camillus parking lot. When you enter St. Vitus Church from 11:00 am until noon, you will celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, not in the confessionals, but in the cry room, the priest sacristy or the main entry where the original baptismal font is.

On September 19th, we will begin hearing confessions at St. Vitus Church instead of St. Camillus parking lot. When you enter St. Vitus Church from 11:00 am until noon, you will celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, not in the confessionals, but in the cry room, the priest sacristy or the main entry where the original baptismal font is.

In the month of August, 40 Follow-Up calls were made to the next of kin of those who had died in the past several months. Due to COVD-19 restrictions, we were behind in these calls for a while. However, we are now caught up and are back to calling about five weeks after a death.

Robert A. Zilinski, 74, of 1116 S. Mercer St. passed away the afternoon of July 28, 2020, at his residence. Robert was born March 8, 1946, in New Castle. He was the son of the late William and Helen (Lyskooka) Zilinski. Helen later married Stanley Kulinski.

Welcome to September, a month of great transition. We will begin our school year at Holy Spirit Academy on September 8th. Please keep our students, teachers and faculty in your prayers. A very grateful shout-out to all of you in our community and beyond who assisted in raising much-needed revenue for our school. As you can see from the thermometer report on our matching fund drive (Page 9), we have far exceeded our goal of $250,000. God has blessed us tremendously through the amazing generosity of many individuals and we are now at $ 298,574!!!!

Kathleen M. Spitler, 94, of New Castle passed away peacefully late Tuesday morning, September 1, 2020, at her residence. Mrs. Spitler was born October 29, 1925, in New Castle, a daughter of the late Thomas and Anna (McClosky) Kelly.

Isabelle Bartley, 93, of Union Township passed away peacefully in the early morning of September 1, 2020 at North Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center in Wexford, PA. Born on November 26, 1926 in Youngstown, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Anna Carbone Durso. On September 3, 1949, she married her beloved husband, William W. Bartley. He preceded her in death on September 21, 2015 after 66 wonderful years together.

Colette E. Novak, age 64, passed away on Saturday August 29, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Hospice in Beaver, Pa. Colette was born February 16, 1956 in Youngstown, OH. She was the daughter of Lawrence S. Novak Sr. and Maryann K. Guidos Novak.

Cameron J. Houk, 12, of Neshannock Township passed away the evening of August 26, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Born on December 27, 2007 in New Castle, Cameron was the son of James (Jamie) and Amy Audino Houk.

Thomas F. Verdi, 54, of 1161 Maple Lane, Pulaski, passed away unexpectedly the morning of Aug. 26, 2020, at Sharon Regional Hospital. Thomas was born on Aug. 31, 1965, in Ashtabula, Ohio. He was the son of the late Frank J. and Florence J. (McMann) Verdi. He was married to James S. Fazio who survives at home. They were married for 17 years.