June 28, 2009

Reflecting on the Word

              These two stories are quite touching, perhaps because they involve so much touching—forbidden touching, as a matter of fact. The father starts it off by falling at Jesus' feet and begging Jesus to help his dying daughter: "(C)ome lay your hands on her that she may get well and live" (Mark 5:23). Only touching her will do.

Then as Jesus is passing through the crowd, a woman suddenly appears on the scene, reaching out to Jesus and saying to herself: "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured" (5:28). Jesus knows immediately that he's been touched: "Who has touched my clothes?" he asks (5:30). And the disciples wryly observed that the crowd is… well, crowding him… so how can you ask "Who touched me?"

It is important to remember that because the woman was bleeding, a condition that made her "unclean" according to the law of Moses, her touch would have made Jesus unclean. However, her touching jesus has the opposite effect: the bleeding stops and she is made clear once again.

When word comes that the little girl is dead, Jesus calls on the father to set aside fear and put on faith. Arriving at the house, Jesus goes in and takes the child by the hand and says, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!" (Mark 5:41). Sixteen times in Mark's Gospel Jesus touches or takes someone by the hand. She does arise and he tells them to bring her some food. Again, touching her would have made jesus unclean, by instead his touch clenses her of death's hold.

Two desperate people—a dying girl and a bleeding woman. Jesus touches them and they both touch him—the woman through her own faith, the little girl through the faith of her father. It seems that healing depends on a flow between healer and the one being healed. The great new is that God allows a proxy.

Taken from: LIVING THE WORD, Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days, Dennis Sylva and James Wallace.

 

June 28, 2009

 

Sunday June 14, 2009 Offerings:
$11,931.50

 

OUR THANKS TO SISTER MARILYN

Sister Marilyn has been part of our parish life for almost ten years. She worked with parishioners to implement spiritual renewal processes with the parish renewal weekend experience, as well as the week-long parish centennial mission. She visited sick and homebound parishioners, and coordinated outreach to the catholic patients at St. Margaret hospital. She worked on the parish Christmas gift project and coordinated outreach to Bethlehem haven, a shelter for homeless women in downtown Pittsburgh.  She also served for one year as the interim principal at our parish school. We thank her for her life time dedication to the church and our diocese. (As a Millvale Franciscan, Sister Marilyn stands in the tradition of the Franciscan sisters who have well served our parish since 1925!!)

 Starting July 1^st sister will no longer be a full time staff member of our parish, but she will continue her ministry with the Eucharistic ministers at St. Margaret hospital. Sister Marilyn told me that "being a Franciscan, I don't want a fancy farewell"! So we respect her wishes and thank her for her continuing ministry at St. Margaret hospital and her participation with us at mass here at St. Scholastica. Fr. Ken

 

FAITH BASED END OF LIFE CARE

If you or a loved one is in need of end of life care, find peace in knowing that there are medical professionals to minister to you at this time of life. Catholic Hospice, a non-profit, Medicare-certified hospice program, upholds Church doctrine while providing quality comfort care when curative treatments are no longer an option. Serving community members in their homes throughout Allegheny, Beaver, and Butler counties, Catholic Hospice is the area's faith based end of life care provider. For more information call 1-800-933-6221

 

BOYS SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP

The best place in the Pittsburgh for your son to go to Basketball Camp this summer just might be in Fox Chapel. Basketball FUNdamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship along with individual skills instruction in a professional environment. Two session beginning July 6-9, Pre-K-3rd Grade, 9:00/10:30am. 4th - 9th Grade 11:30/2:00 pm. Questions or more info contact Fox Chapel Head Coach zachskrinjar@yahoo.com 412-519-5957

Christ the Divine Teacher PRESCHOOL

              Due to the overwhelming response to our Pre-school program for the '09-10 school year we are considering opening a four-year old afternoon class starting at 12:15 p.m. and ending at 2:45 p.m on M-W-F. If this additional time slot fits into your schedule please contact the school at 412.781.7927 or email eransom@nauticom.net. See our school website for more details www.cdtcatholicacadmy.org.

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HELP AREA PATIENTS

Give blood on 7/19/09, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm at St. Scholastica Church. If you are at least 17 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and are in good health, then you are most likely eligible to give blood. In about an hour (the actual donation only takes 10 minutes) you will save a life. Blood cannot be manufactured and it is perishable. Please give blood and ensure a safe and adequate blood supply for area patients. Please give blood. Please log on to www.centralbloodbank.org and enter sponsor code G0040167 or call Mary Catherine Scanlon at 412-781-6550 to schedule your lifesaving appointment.

 

IS THERE HOPE FOR HAITI?

Haiti currently holds the dubious distinction of being the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with a majority of it's people living in subhuman conditions. St. Scholastica parish is taking an active role in opening our hearts and our wallets to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.  We would like your help.  Over the course of the next several months we will print a series of articles to help acquaint you with Haiti and the efforts to relieve the pain of so many people.

 

Haiti Facts:

Population: 9 million +

Ethnicity: 95% Black

5% other

Religion: 80% Catholic

17% Protestant

3% other

Note: nearly 50% of the population practices Voodoo

Literacy: approx. 50% can read and write

Poverty: 80%, 54% live in abject poverty

 

HOPE FOR HAITI COMMITTEE MEETING

All are welcome to join the Haiti Committee for our next meeting on Wednesday, July 1, 7:30 pm, in the Pastoral Center . We are involved in several exciting activities to support Good Samaritans School in St. Marc, Haiti . Bring your enthusiasm and creative talents to this important endeavor for our brothers and sisters in need.

 

 

 

 

Saturday, Vigil of  the Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, June 27

    5:00 pm          Thomas Quinlan (McGuinness Family)

    Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

 

Sunday, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 28

    7:30 am          Virgilio Ferraro (Family)

    Presider: Fr. Robert Duch

    9:00 am          William Ladley (Wife)

    Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

11:00 am Eugene Ledonne (Family)

    Presider: Fr. Sean Hogan

 

Monday, Peter & Paul, apostles, June 29

8:30 am Richard Rigatti (Patricia Rigatti)

Annv. Jean Santelli (son, Joseph Santelli)

 

Tuesday, Weekday, June 30

8:30 am Mary Aquila (Asturi Family)

James Grossi (Mary M. Smith)

 

Wednesday, Weekday, July 1

8:30 am Erminia Costanzo (Maria & Gaetano)

Annv. Clementine Tamburo (Evelyn Conflenti)

 

Thursday, Weekday, July 2

    8:30 am Rosemarie Boley (Children)

 

Friday, Thomas, apostle, July 3

8:30 am Annv. Franklyn Conflenti

(Evelyn Conflenti)

Saturday, Weekday, July 4

9:00 am Edward A Vitunac P.E. Airforce

(Cd. Walter C. Vitunac, Air Force Brother)

      Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

 

Saturday, Vigil of  the Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, July 4

5:00 pm Harriet Lynch (Lynch Family)

    Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

 

Sunday, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 5

7:30 am Buccieri Family

    Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

9:00 am Jackie Manley (Welsh Family)

    Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

11:00 am For the People of St. Scholastica

    Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SACRAMENTS

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

 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CATHOLIC? R.C.I.A. is the process which enables adults to become initiated into the Church.  Call the pastor for information.

 

RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION) is celebrated at
St. Scholastica Parish on Saturdays after 9:00 a.m. Mass. For your convenience, the parishes in our cluster have the following opportunities for reconciliation:

St. Joseph Parish has Sat. reconciliation from 3:30-4:00.

Madonna of Jerusalem has reconciliation on Wednesday evening from 5:30-6:45 and Saturday from 3:00-4:00 p.m.

 

HOLY EUCHARIST is available for those who are sick and confined to home.  Call Sister Marilyn for assistance.

 

NEW PARISHIONERS ARE MOST WELCOME! Please call
Fr. Ken or Sr. Pat.

 

PARISH CONTACTS

St. Scholastica Church

309 Brilliant Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15215

Phone Number:  412-781-0186

      Extension

Parish Office Monday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 10

Website Address: www.saintscholastica.com

E-mail address: parish@saintscholastica.com

Fax Number: 412-781-4316

Submissions for bulletin items are due by Noon on Mondays

 

Rev. Kenneth White Pastor, M.Th., M.Ed.    14

frken@saintscholastica.com

 

Sr. Patricia Baker, C.D.P. 17

Director of Music/Bereavement

Patbakercdp@saintscholastica.com

 

Mr. Andrew Bechman, M.Ed. 18

Director of Adult Religious Education & R.C.I.A.

abechman@verizon.net

 

Mrs. Gina Musser 21

Program Director for Religious Education

gmusser1@yahoo.com

 

Mrs. Jamie Dillon, M.S., M.A., R.R.T. 20

Director of Catholic Youth Ministry  & Religious Education

 jamiedillon@comcast.net

 

Sr. Marilyn Hoeing, O.S.F. 22

Parish Outreach

Marilynhoeingosf@saintscholastica.com

 

Mrs. Chrissy Morton 24

Bookkeeper

financeoffice@saintscholastica.com

 

Mrs. Mary Swindal 412-781-0186 Extension 10

Coordinator of The Protection of Children

Toll-free Victim's Assistance Hotline 1-888-808-1235

 

Christ The Divine Teacher Catholic Academy 412-781-7927

Mr. John Marino - Principal

E-mail address: CDTCA@nauticom.net

 

To schedule use of pastoral facilities, call the Parish Office (Monday–Friday) 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.