February 3, 2008 Bulletin

THE LENTEN SEASON IS BEGINNING

Its message and reality will be felt when, on Ash Wednesday, we hear the reminder of the Church, Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. The Lenten call to repentance is a continuing challenge of the Gospels, so that we may grow and develop in our spiritual life. None of us should remain satisfied with our level of Christian awareness or the quality of our Christian living. The grace of God awaits us . We can let lent pass unheeded or grasp it with faith and love. Since Lent retains its ancient appeal to the penitential spirit of the People of God, we are reminded that we are to urgently make the entire Lenten season a period of special observance and prayer.

LENTEN REGULATIONS

1. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. The Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.

2. The obligation of abstinence (refraining from eating meat) begins at the age of 14. The law of fasting (limiting oneself to one full meal and two lighter meals) obliges all between the ages of 18-59. No one should consider this obligation lightly.

Those individuals who have a medical condition in which fasting may be considered harmful are not obliged to fast, but should perform some other act of penance or charity.

4. All members of the Christian faithful are encouraged to do acts of penance and charity during the Lenten season beyond what is prescribed by the law.

FEBRUARY 15^TH STATIONS OF THE CROSS WITH BISHOP ZUBIK

Bishop Zubik will be at St. Scholastica's on Friday, February 15^th at 7:00 p.m. to lead the Stations of the Cross. Please make plans to attend. Let us pray with the bishop and one another as we walk together on the road to Calvary where Christ died for our sins.

BULLETIN CONNECTION

Today's second reading, from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, sums up the core message of today's liturgy. Everything we are is because of Christ Jesus. We can't boast about ourselves; we can only boast about Jesus and what he has done. All three readings describe one paradox: The prophet Zephaniah writes of a remnant of people who remain faithful to the Lord. They are humble, lowly and honest. Jesus describes the people who will see God in the kingdom of heaven – poor in spirit, meek, merciful, clean of heart. Paul tells us that these humble, lowly people are God's choice. God chose the foolish to shame the wise, the weak to shame the strong and the "nobodies" to shame those who think they are "somebodies." When we scramble to better ourselves, reach the top, or grab it all, we're losers, not winners.

BLOOD DRIVE

Dr. Rueger and his family would like to thank all those who made the Blood Drive so successful, those who donated blood, those who came but were deferred, and those who couldn't come but gave another day. It was the best Blood Drive the parish has had. We collected 47 pints. We are very grateful to all who so generously responded to the Rueger family needs.

AQUINAS GUILD MEETING

The Guild's first meeting of the new year will be held on Tuesday, February 12, starting at noon in the Pastoral Center. Sharing their recent experience in Italy, our guest speakers, Bernadette West and Judi Owen, will take us on a culinary tour of Tuscany. A short business meeting and a light lunch will proceed their presentation. All women of the parish are invited to attend. To insure sufficient food, we ask that you make reservations by calling 724-353-3063 or 412-963-9399. You may want to mark your calendars now for the Aquinas Guild's Lenten Day of Reflection which will be held on Thursday, March 6. More details will follow.

YOUTH HAPPENINGS!

February 9^th

10:00 a.m. (NOTE DATE AND TIME CHANGE)~Pet therapy and music therapy visit to Harmar Village/Amber Woods. Middle school and high school youth are welcome. Meet us at the main entrance.

April 26th

Mark your calendars for our Second Annual Family Fun Run/Walk at Hartwood acres. Pets and strollers welcome! All proceeds benefit our mission trip to Appalachia.

Week of June 16th

Mark Your Calendars Vacation Bible School is the week of June 16th! Our theme this year is FAITH HEROES.

WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Tess Maire Watson, daughter of James and Amy Smith Watson who was initiated into the Church through the holy waters of baptism.

MUM's are starting up again on Monday, February 4, at 9:30 am in the Pastoral Center. All mothers are invited; babsitting is available.

JOHN PAUL THE GREAT, SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER, fraternity meeting in the church hall of St. Joseph O'Hara on Wed., Feb. 13 after the 7:00 p.m. mass. New members welcome - please call Jackie at 724.882.2396 if you are interested in the group or just come to the meeting.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 3

Sun.: Zep 2:3;3:12-13/1 Cor 1:26-31/Mt 5:1-12a

Mon.: 2 Sm 15:13-14,30;16:5-13/Mk 5:1-20

Tues.: 2 Sm 18:9-10,14b,24-25a,30-19:3/Mk 5:21-43

Wed.: Jl 2:12-18/2 Cor 5:20-6:2/Mt 6:1-6,16-18

Thurs.: Dt 30:15-20/Lk 9:22-25

Friday: Is 58:1-9a/Mt 9:14-15

Saturday: Is 58:9b-14/Lk 5:27-32

Next Sunday: Gn 2:7-9;3:1-7/Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12,17-19/Mt 4:1-11

Saturday, Vigil of 4^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, February 2

5:00 pm J. Kevin Scanlon (Family)

Sunday, 4^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, February 3

7:30 am..For the Parishioners of St. Scholastica Parish

9:00 am Bernard Terrioco (Anna & Frank Asturi)

11:00 am Tim & Mary Ruth Wessell Burke

(Regis & Mary Lou Wessell)

Monday, Weekday, February 4

8:30 am James Sinnott (Rick Duffy)

Tuesday, St. Agatha, February 5

8:30 am In Honor of Holy Face of Jesus

(Carolyn Peternel)

Wednesday, ASH WEDNESDAY, February 6

8:30 am Rose Marie Stevenson (Family)

Noon – Ashes only

7:00 PM Victoria Violi (Katherine Clifford)

Thursday, Lenten Weekday, February 7

8:30 am Mike Driscoll (Jim & Claire Wallace)

Friday, Lenten Weekday, February 8

8:30 am Birthday, Earl Simanek (Helen)

7:00 PM Stations of the Cross

Saturday, Lenten Weekday, February 9

9:00 am Allan Martin (Miguel & Marian Quintero)

Saturday, Vigil of First Sunday of Lent, February 9

5:00 pm Elizabeth Greb (Jim & Karyn Lynch)

Presider: Fr. Duch

Sunday, First Sunday of Lent, February 10

7:30 am For the Parishioners of St. Scholastica Parish

Presider: Fr. Sean Hogan

9:00 am Roger Nedrow (Mr & Mrs Gus Sunseri)

Presider: Fr. Duch

11:00 am Ann Grzegorzyk (Vince & Carol Alvino)

Presider: Fr. Duch

Stewardship for the week of

Jan 27, 2008

Curr YTD

Week YTD VAR

Weekly Collection $ 15,640 $56,180 $8,726

Holy Days - 3,940 3,584

Parish Share 775 3,599 (6,185)

Capital Campaign 80 11,558 n/a

2nd Collectn/Other 3,620 5,396 (1,853)

St. Anthony School 225

Little Sisters of the Poor 3,395    Total $20,115 $80,673 $(7,978)

 

SACRAMENTS

INFANT BAPTISM is celebrated at noon on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. Please make arrangements with the parish secretary at least 2 weeks prior to the desired date.

ADULT BAPTISM The R.C.I.A. program sees to the needs of adults who wish to become Catholic. Call the pastor for information.

RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION) is celebrated on Saturday, after 9:00 a.m. Mass and after Saturday evening Mass, and also by appointment.

EUCHARISTIC LITURGY SCHEDULE:

Weekday Masses: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.

Saturday Morning - 9:00 a.m.

Weekend Masses: Saturday Evening 5:00 p.m.

Sunday - 7:30, 9:00, 11:00

HOLY EUCHARIST is available for those who are sick and confined to home. Call the parish office and we will bring the Eucharist to you.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK is available for those who are chronically or seriously ill. Call the parish office. A service for Anointing of the Sick will be conducted annually.

MARRIAGE Anyone who wishes to marry should contact the pastor at least six months prior to the desired date. Anyone who is married in a civil ceremony and wishes to sacramentalize the marriage should contact the pastor. Anyone planning to celebrate their 25th or 50th anniversary should contact the parish office well in advance of the desired date.

HOLY ORDERS Please call the pastor if you feel you might be called to the priesthood or the diaconate.

NEW PARISHIONERS ARE MOST WELCOME! Please call the pastor. He would like to welcome you.

INACTIVE CATHOLICS Baptized Catholics who have not been practicing their faith are most welcome to return to the Church. Please call the pastor at your convenience.

PARISH PHONE NUMBER: 412-781-0186

Extension

Business Office 10

Rev. Robert G. Duch, Ph.D. Pastor 14

Sr. Patricia Baker, C.D.P.

Director of Music/Bereavement

Patbakercdp@saintscholastica.com 17

Mr. Andrew Bechman, M.Ed.

Director of Adult Religious Education 18

Sr. Kathleen Kelly, S.S.N.D.

Director of C.C.D. 19

Mrs. Jamie Dillon, M.S., M.A., R.R.T.

Director of Catholic Youth Ministry

jamiedillon@comcast.net 20

Sr. Marilyn Hoeing, O.S.F.

Parish Outreach

Marilynhoeingosf@saintscholastica.com 22

Website Address: www.saintscholastica.com

E-mail address: parish@saintscholastica.com

Christ The Divine Teacher Catholic Academy 412-781-7927

Mr. John Marino - Principal

E-mail address: CDTCA@nauticom.net

To schedule use of pastoral center, call 412-781-0186 x10

To schedule use of school & gym facilities, call

412-781-7927

Hearing Devices Available in the Sacristy