News - Fr. Mac's Message RSS Feed

Two important liturgical announcements were in the news this week. The first was a joint announcement from the Bishops of Pennsylvania regarding the reinstatement of the obligation to attend Mass. The second was a statement from the Diocese of Pittsburgh regarding Pope Francis’ changes in the status of the Latin Mass.

Thank you to TJ Belsterling, our coordinator of Middle School & Youth Ministry. He hosted a fabulous, and first time ever, movie night on the lawn at the St. Camillus site. According to TJ: “It was a beautiful day, with volleyball, corn-hole, kickball, bocce ball, and yes, the movie! About 40 people came, from little ones and their parents to members of our youth group!” It was a wonderful opportunity for families and parishioners of all ages to come together and enjoy each other’s company.

Did you know that there is a National Association of Priest Pilots? It has actually been in existence for over 50 years! And, believe it or not, I am the current president of the group. The purpose of this association is for priests who also share an interest in aviation to come together, enjoy each other’s company, pray, and explore their common hobby and interest in flying. The mission of the group is to provide some assistance to those who actually use aviation in the service of the Catholic faith. Dioceses such as those in Alaska and other parts of the world where aviation is a necessity use pilots to reach the people of the dioceses and to bring them the sacraments.

Congratulations on two firsts for Holy Spirit Parish. Our first Annual Golf Outing was celebrated last Saturday at Castle Hills Golf Course. It was a smashing success! Enormous thanks to Ed and Gina Sharbaugh and their entire team of volunteers including some of our teachers and families and friends who volunteered to make this first annual outing an amazing time of fellowship and fun. All of their hard work raised much-needed revenue to support tuition relief for families in our parish sending their children to Catholic Schools.

Beginning this weekend, we have added a 7:00 am Mass at St. Vitus on Sundays. The Mass schedule is: on Saturday, 4:00 pm Mass at St. Camillus and at St. Vitus. On Sunday, 7:00 am Mass at St. Vitus, 8:00 am Mass at St. Camillus, 9:00 am Mass at St. Vitus, and 11:00 am Mass at St. Camillus.

We have four big celebrations this weekend. Blessings on all the men of the parish, especially our dear fathers, both living and deceased. On Saturday, June 19th, Fr. Anthony will celebrate the 4:00 pm Mass at St. Camillus followed by a reception. This is an opportunity for us to thank him and assure him of our continued prayers and support as he begins a new assignment at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. If you are unable to participate in his farewell reception you may want to send a card to: Fr. Anthony Sciarappa, St. Michael the Archangel, 311 Washington Rd, Pittsburgh PA 15216

On this glorious weekend, we celebrate the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua at our own St. Anthony of Padua Church in Bessemer. St. Anthony was a disciple of St. Francis who sought to serve Christ and see Christ in the poor and all in need. I am very proud of the people of St. Anthony’s and the entire parish of Holy Spirit who have, in the spirit of St. Anthony, graciously allowed Bethel Evangelical Presbyterian Church the use of St. Anthony Church for worship due to their own church being under construction. This is a beautiful example of Christian Catholics and non-Catholic Christians working together and sacrificing for each other.

On this Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Catholics throughout the world celebrate our faith in the true presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We believe our Savior is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity under the appearance of bread and wine every time we celebrate Holy Mass. In this sacrament, we become one with the living Christ. As Catholics, we also adore our Lord in the Holy Eucharist through Eucharistic Adoration.

My congratulations to all who were confirmed these past two weeks. Congratulations also to their parents and sponsors who participated in the sacrament. My thanks also for the gift I received from the Confirmation Class of 2021. Ailis appreciated it too.

As promised, this bulletin contains a complete and detailed financial statement of the 20-21 school year for Holy Spirit Academy. The Income Statement on Page 5 is an actual accounting of revenue and expenses recorded with the Diocese. The bottom line shows the rationale for the partnership and explains why the Advisory Council, the Pastoral Council and the Finance Council have all unanimously agreed that partnering with the Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools is the most sound financial decision at this time and the best possible scenario for our children.

During this sacred time between the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost Sunday, I invite you to join us, as a parish, in praying a Novena to the Holy Spirit. The very first novena was prayed by the Blessed Mother and the Apostles after the Ascension as they awaited the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Those 9 days became the sacred tradition of prayer we call a novena.

A very blessed Mother’s Day to all the women of the parish. We thank God and ask his blessings upon all of our moms, both living and deceased. These special women are life-givers. They give not only natural life, but also supernatural life through joining their children to Christ. We especially want to honor all of our moms and dads who have adopted children. They’re the example of God, Himself, who adopts all of us through the waters of baptism as His children.

Holy Spirit Academy is partnering with the Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools in Hermitage, PA. The elementary school is Saint John Paul II. The principal, Mrs. Kathryn Tiefenthal, and Mrs. Nicole Perry, Director of Enrollment Management, will be hosting an Open House on Tuesday, May 4th at 6:00 pm: RSVP to Nicole Perry at 724-734-8980. I encourage all parents of Holy Spirit Parish with elementary-age children to please go to the Open House or arrange a visit to the school sometime soon. This is an amazing opportunity for all our families with children to receive an exceptional Catholic Education near home. Transportation is currently available and is being enhanced depending on enrollment from our area. With the closing of Holy Spirit Academy, we pledge to provide tuition relief for any of our students enrolling in Catholic Education from Kindergarten to 6th Grade. After they secure all possible financial assistance, the parish will commit up to $2,000 towards their tuition balance.

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we are blessed to acknowledge and promote Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. This amazing catechetical program designed for children 3 – 5 years old is directed by Vicki Pavalko. For more information please contact Vicki at 724-652-3422 X 2712 or vpavalko@hsplc.org and see our website under Faith Formation – Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Christ is Risen; He has indeed Risen! A glorious and joyous Easter to all of you! My sincere gratitude to everyone who assisted in all of our Lenten, Holy Week and Easter liturgies. We are particularly grateful to those who led the Stations of the Cross, decorated our churches throughout the entire Lenten and Easter season and all those of you in sacred ministry, including those assisting in the parking lot and as Ushers, Greeters, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Sacristans, as well as Musicians and Cantors. I am always personally very grateful to our parish staff for all the hard work they do behind the scenes to keep our parish on track and caring for everyone’s needs. Thank you also to all of our Volunteers who worked the Mardi Gras, Raffles, Lenten Fish Dinners, Easter Bread making, and finally Easterfest.

Today we begin the one week of the year which we call HOLY. This week was made Holy, not by anything we have done, but by what our Savior did 2,000 years ago. We call it Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday. We remember the Passion of our Lord, his burning and unwavering determination to fulfill his Father’s will. All the temptations of the devil could not sway him from embracing the brutality and cruelty of the cross out of love for us and his Father’s will.

On Thursday, March 11th, Bishop Barron gave a short reflection on the day’s Gospel, Luke 11:14-23, where Jesus casts out a demon and the people accuse him of doing so by the power of Beelzebub. This is what Bishop Barron writes:

On this joyful Sunday, we are called to rejoice in God’s love for us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) This famous verse is a summary of our cause for joy. If you have ever been to the Heinz History Center in downtown Pittsburgh and watched the video of the immaculate reception by Franco Harris, you will notice, in the crowd, a person holding a sign that says “John 3:16.”

On this third Sunday of Lent, the Gospel concludes with this very disturbing sentence, “But Jesus would not entrust Himself to them because He knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.” Jn 2:24-25 The plots against Him are growing stronger and stronger. He who comes out of love and with a desire to save humanity will be put to death by the very people He desires to save.

Did you call AAA to help you get your car started or for a tow, lately? Hopefully not—but there is a AAA that can help rescue us during this Lenten season. Attitude, Attachment and Action are the three A’s of the spiritual life.