November 17, 2019

Accentuate the Positive

Perhaps one of the theme songs for Holy Spirit Parish should be this delightful ditty from the past. Bing Crosby and the  Lennon Sisters sang a wonderful song entitled, Accentuate the Positive. I encourage you to read the lyrics or even go on the internet and listen to the song. If it doesn’t put you in a happy mood, then perhaps a little time spent in prayer may do the trick.
 
This song provides a wise insight into how we should deal with all the negativity in our world today. Our Savior came to proclaim Good News, in Greek, the word is gospel. We are not people of bad news, discouragement and depression; we are people of hope! We trust in a God who is more powerful and who has conquered the world and the evil one. The Lord even reminds us that in this world, we will find trouble, but to take courage, he has conquered the world.

How is our Savior conquering the world today? He is doing  so through you and me when we trust in Him and focus on the positive and let go of the negative. At Holy Spirit, there are tremendous amounts of things for us to accentuate that are  positive. Perhaps we do not acknowledge the positive enough. We tend to always focus on problems, challenges, difficulties and the bad news that swirls around us in the world. Let’s take some time to focus on what is going right.

Consider that Holy Spirit Parish, the largest merger in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, was established a year and a half ahead of schedule, welcoming some 6,000 registered families from seven former parishes. The Faith Formation program was rebuilt focusing on the Mass and attendance at Mass by both children and parents. There has been wonderful feedback. RCIA has 16 people enrolled to learn about Christ and the Catholic Church. Over 400 have attended ChristLife programs. All seven former parishes are now being consistently identified as Holy Spirit Parish. Holy Spirit Parish signs have been installed at all churches.

People from all our churches help fundraising activities continue successfully ( pierogi pinchers have been especially prolific).  For the past two years, our Christian Women organizations have worked together to form Women of Faith. They now member 200 and are enrolled in several social ministry areas including  support of our families who have lost loved ones. The men’s group is working on coming together. St. Vincent de Paul Society is now one entity in our county rather than three. The Holy Spirit Parish Music Ministry was reorganized into two choirs and an adult bell choir with rotating appearances at our  churches. There are new Pastoral and Finance Councils. Our full-time Parish Chaplain cares for parishioners who are in the hospital and/or nursing homes. Holy Spirit has also hired a full-time Youth Minister and a Building & Grounds Manager for all locations.

We now have an active website at www.hsplc.org, and an active Holy Spirit Parish Facebook page maintained by our Holy Spirit Communications Office. That office is also involved in promoting all Holy Spirit events and public relations including support of St. Vitus School. Finally, we have held training sessions for all Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Ushers, Greeters, Sacristans to provide them with what is expected in their ministries across the parish so that services are uniform at every location.

Are there other positive things you can think of? Help spread the Good News and be a true disciple of the Gospel!  My sincere gratitude to all of you.

  God love you,