Congratulations to our newly welcomed RCIA Candidates and Catechumens. Thirteen men and women received the Rite of Acceptance at the 11:30 am Mass at St. Mary’s this past week end. Please keep these men and women in your prayers as they continue to discern God’s call in their lives.

Rose Marie Marcantino, 98, formerly of West Pittsburg passed away the evening of January 13, 2020 at UPMC Jameson. Rose was born on January 7, 1922 in New Castle. She was the daughter of the late Andrew and Caroline Sacco. On April 30, 1946, Rose married her beloved husband, James “Chaz” Marcantino. He preceded her in death on March 4, 2010.

Ann Elizabeth Tonsetic, age 90, of Kennesaw, GA, passed away the morning of January 8, 2020 at Kennestone Hospital, Marietta, GA. She was born in Philadelphia, PA to the late Joseph and Caroline Carapellotti and was raised in West Pittsburg, PA by the late Thomas and Mary (Cappatt) Carapellotti.

Charles E. “Chuck” Kumrow, Sr., 81, of New Castle passed away Monday afternoon, January 6, 2020, in UPMC Jameson Hospital, following a brief illness. Mr. Kumrow was born December 13, 1938, in Wampum, a son of the late Herman R. and Mildred (Baxter) Kumrow. His wife of 48 years, the former Frances “Jean” Eagan, whom he married November 18, 1961, preceded him death February 11, 2010.

Samuel F. Caiazza, 98, of New Castle passed away the morning of January 6, 2020 at Rhodes Estate. Born on April 3, 1921 in New Castle, he was the son of the late Frank and Madeline Vitale Caiazza. Sam had been married to his beloved wife, the former Carrie Fazzone. She preceded him in death in November 1991. Sam was also preceded in death by his longtime companion, Irene Paglia.

Linda M. Faraone, 72, passed away the afternoon of January 4, 2020 at UPMC Farrell. Born on May 1, 1947 in New Castle, she was the daughter of the late Peter and Rose Russo Faraone.

Anthony L. Boazzo, 69, formerly of 1117 ½ Agnew St. passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 13 at the Corner View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. Anthony was born on September 6, 1950, a son of Ida (Sandora) Boazzo and the late James (Jim) Boazzo.

On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we conclude the Christmas season and enter, once again, into Ordinary Time. We will be in Ordinary Time until we begin the holy season of Lent on February 26. Today we focus on the theophany of the Baptism of the Lord. That means the manifestation off all three persons of the Blessed Trinity. The Lord was baptized at the River Jordan by John the Baptist. There was the voice of God manifesting God the Father. The descending dove representing the Holy Spirit, and, of course, Jesus in the flesh who is the Son.

James A. DeLillo Sr., 95, formerly of Franklin Ave. passed away the evening of January 3, 2020 at Haven Convalescent Home. Born on June 3, 1924 in New Castle he was the son of the late John and Julia Ritchie DeLillo. On November 5, 1949, he married his beloved wife, the former Adeline Frank. She preceded him in death on July 16, 2018.

Louis A. Palmiro, 93, of Mahoningtown passed away the evening of January 2, 2020 at Rhodes Estates. Born on February 25, 1926 in Mahoningtown, Pa. he was the son of the late Joseph and Maria Nocera Palmiro. On January 28, 1950 Lou married his beloved wife, the former Rose A. Samiac. She preceded him in death on August 11, 1998.

Catherine May Graham, 63, of North Mulberry Street, died Wednesday, December 25, 2019 at her home in New Castle. She was born April 20, 1956 in Reisterstown, Maryland a daughter of the late James and Agnes (Gottschalk) Graham. Miss Graham worked as a Crisis Coordinator at the Lawrence County Women’s Shelter for 29 years and was a bartender at the KP Club for over 30 years. She enjoyed going on vacations and traveling and loved spending time with her friends and family and her life-long companion, Nick.

Gary L. Rand, 34, of New Castle passed away on December 29, 2019 at his residence. He was born on November 28, 1985 in New Castle. He is survived by his parents, Gary T. and Rochelle Mangino Rand.

Richard W. Janacone, 91, of South Scott Street, died Friday, December 20, 2019, at his residence in New Castle. He was born in New Castle on February 2, 1928, a son of the late Benjamin and Mary (Ferazzano) Janacone. He was married to the late Esther D. (Giancola) Janacone who died November 20, 2013.

On this feast of the manifestation of the Lord, may I tell you a personal story? On December the 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, in 1986 my dear mother, Alice, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She had brain surgery on December the 12th, the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe, at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. We brought her home joyfully on Christmas Day and I was extremely grateful to God to have her present at St. Paul’s Cathedral on January the 3rd, 1987 when I was ordained a transitional deacon. That Sunday was the Feast of Epiphany and I preached as a deacon for the first time in my home parish of Holy Rosary in Muse. I will never forget looking out and seeing my dear mother in the pews with my dad and brothers as I read the Gospel and preached. My homily, of course, was inspired by her.

What does it mean to be a family? We see the example in the Blessed Trinity. For there to be a family, there must be love! The nature of love is to be unselfish and self-giving. A family can never consist of just one person; it necessarily involves others. In the very being of God, there is community of persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The love that binds the Father and the Son is so pure and so self-giving that it is the Holy Spirit.

Judith Ann “Ju-Ju” Taafe, 81, of New Castle passed away peacefully surrounded by her children and family Tuesday evening, December 24, 2019, in UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh. Mrs. Taafe was born April 11, 1938, in New Castle, a daughter of Harold and Beatrice (Kehrer) Gerst. Her beloved husband of 54 years, Richard L. “Dick” Taafe, Jr., whom she married January 30, 1960, preceded her in death March 4, 2014.

Rocco Romeo, Jr., 83, formerly of Hillsville, passed away the morning of December 24, 2019 at his residence in Campbell, Ohio, surrounded by his loving family. Born on January 23, 1936 in Hillsville, Pa he was the son of the late Rocco Romeo, Sr. and Jennie Feo Romeo. On September 17, 1960 Rocco married his beloved wife the former Mary Jane Tarnoci. She preceded him in death on August 26, 2010, but they are now together again.

Donald R. Piccirillo, 88, of West Clayton Street, Mahoningtown, died Saturday December 21, 2019 at Quality Life Services, New Castle. He was born in New Castle on April 5, 1931, the son of the late Pasquale and Raffaella (DiBenedetto) Piccirillo. He married Donna (Cardella) Piccirillo in 1952, she survives in New Castle.

Lena Ann Fiacco, 91, of West Clayton Street, Mahoningtown, died Thursday, December 19, 2019 at Quality Life Services, New Castle. She was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania on July 7, 1928 a daughter of the late Albert and Jennie (Tooch) Fiacco.

Ronald J. Duda, Sr., 84, of Willowhurst Circle, died Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at Carriage Manor Nursing Home. He was born in New Castle on April 22, 1935 a son of the late Stephen M. and Mollie E. (Piatek) Duda. He was married to Carol L. (Shenker) Duda on October 13, 1956, she survives in New Castle.