SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020

MASS SCHEDULE SATURDAY VIGIL MASS

Corpus Christi: 4:00 PM St. Angela Merici: 4:30 PM

SUNDAY St. Patrick: 8:30 AM

St. Robert Bellarmine: 9:30 AM St. Angela Merici: 11:00 AM

WEEKDAYS St. Angela Merici:

Monday—Friday 8:30 AM MASSES AND PRAYER SERVICES AT ST. ANGELA WILL CONTINUE TO BE

LIVESTREAMED THROUGH A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE

www.marymotherofgod1.org

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Thursdays, 5 – 6 p.m. at St. Angela Church Saturdays, 12 – 1 p.m. at St. Robert Church

All those confessing must wear a mask.

Thank you!

CLERGY TEAMPastor

Rev. Terrence P. O’Connor

toconnor@diopitt.org

Parochial Vicar Rev. Jack E. Demnyan

jdemnyan@diopitt.org

Parish Chaplain Rev. Joseph C. Beck

jbeck@diopitt.org

In Residence Rev. Pius Nwankwo

Deacon Reynold Wilmer rwilmer754@gmail.com

PARISH STAFF Business Manager

Cathy Nola

cnola@marymotherofgod1.org

Family Faith Formation/ Safe Environment Coordinator

Krista Sudyk

ksudyk@marymotherofgod1.org

Director of Music Ministry Sharon Sisley

ssisley975@gmail.com

Assistant Director of Music Ministry

Carolyn Guzik

Youth Minister Emily Belchick

ebelchick@marymotherofgod1.org

Maintenance Dan Hearn, A.J. Minyon

Administrative Assistant Kathleen Strangis

secretary@marymotherofgod1.org

SACRAMENTS Please contact the parish office as to the

following sacraments:

Sacrament of Baptism Prior to having your child baptized, both

parents must attend a

pre-baptismal seminar.

Sacrament of Matrimony Arrangements should be made at least six

months prior to your wedding date. A

date will be set only after contacting the

priest.

Sacrament of the Sick (You may also see a priest after Mass)

Holy Communion for Shut-Ins

R.C.I.A (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)

This is the process to become Catholic or

for Catholics to receive the rest of their

Sacraments of Initiation. We also offer

programs for children.

St. Angela Merici 1640 Fawcett Ave. White Oak, PA 15131

Corpus Christi 2515 Versailles Ave.

McKeesport, PA 15132

St. Patrick 310 32nd Street

McKeesport, PA 15132

St. Robert Bellarmine 1313 Fifth Avenue

E. McKeesport, PA 15035

ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER 1640 Fawcett Ave

White Oak, PA 15131 Monday—Friday 9:15AM—3:15PM

P: 412-672-9641 | F: 412-672-1576 secretary@marymotherofgod1.org

https://wecreate.4lpi.com/viewer/lpi/prgd0j-6ubtig-4sstpd

Saturday,

December 26

4:00 pm CC

4:30 pm St. A

Saint Stephen, The First Martyr

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 [6]/Mt 10:17-22 Margaret & Maurice Kenney by: Daughter / Grandparents of Robbi Anitori by: Anitori Fam. Living and Deceased of Our Parish

Sunday,

December 27

8:30 am St. P

9:30 am St. R

11:00 am St. A

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3/Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 [cf. 1] or Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 [7a, 8a]/Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19/Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40

Elda Polidora by Roger and Mary Ann Marchetti

Angelo Varlotta by: Connie Varlotta

Edward T. Pula by: Wife, Helen and Children

Monday,

December 28

8:30 am St. A

THE HOLY INNOCENTS, MARTYRS

1 Jn 1:5—2:2/Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8 [7]/Mt 2:13-18

Josie Piper by: Bill and Mary Lou Porter

Tuesday,

December 29

8:30 am St. A

FIFTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD; Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop, Martyr

1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 [11a]/Lk 2:22-35

Anna Denne by: Knights of Columbus Council #4210

Wednesday,

December 30

8:30 am St. A

SIXTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

1 Jn 2:12-17/Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 [11a]/Lk 2:36-40

Genre Vincent Pecora by: Sister, Antoinette Capo

Thursday,

December 31

8:30 am St. A

4:00 pm CC

SEVENTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD; Saint Sylvester I, Pope

1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13 [11a]/Jn 1:1-18

Joseph Winter by: Family

Living and Deceased of Our Parish

Friday,

January 1

8:30 am St. P

9:30 am St. R

11:00 am St. A

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 [2a]/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21

Serafina Strangis by: Family

August Rudolf by: Mary Rudolf

Living and Deceased of Our Parish

Saturday,

January 2

4:00 pm CC

4:30 pm St. A

Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops, Doctors of the Church

1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [3cd]/Jn 1:19-28 Ardelle and Harold Glos by: Children and Grandchildren Living and Deceased of Our Parish

Sunday,

January 3

8:30 am St. P

9:30 am St. R

11:00 am St. A

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 [cf. 11]/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12

Anthony Lekse by: Boushehri Family

Joseph Cehula by: Ladies of Charity

Alex Kisan by: Family

FROM FATHER TERRY J+M+J

I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season. As we continue to rejoice in the birth of our Lord, we celebrate today the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. On Christmas Day, we focused primarily on the birth of the Christ Child. As we continue to meditate on God becoming one like us, we further reflect on the fact that Jesus was part of a human family. Thus, it is on the Feast of the Holy Family that we lift-up the beautiful gift of family life.

As we reflect upon the vital importance of family, we can look to the holiest of families to learn an enduring and valuable truth. God and his Church need to always be at the center of our families. It is insightful to look through the Scriptures and see just how much God and the synagogue were at the center of the Holy Family. An ancient expression refers to the family as a “domestic Church.” That is, our homes are to be satellite or mini churches. The teachings of Christ are to be fostered in the home, with parents as the first and primary teachers of the faith. In our too often secular world, we need to invite God into our living rooms more than ever. When God is at the center of family life, then everything falls into place. Families will be filled with faith, hope, love, purpose, peace, and joy.

Here are some thoughts to ponder when it comes to family life. Is God at the center of our family? Is Mass a central activity to our weekends? Do we realize how important Mass is to our family life? Do we pray as a family? Is the Catholic faith discussed in our homes? Are we bold yet loving in proclaiming the faith to others? Do we stand up for our Christian principles? Do we strive to attend parish activities and events? Are our children given spiritual gifts, such as Bibles, catechisms, lives of the saints, rosaries, and spiritual movies and music? How much has the secular world and its teachings intruded upon our family? Do we promote vocations to the ordained and consecrated life?

The Holy Family also reminds us that our parish is a family. As a priest, I love to see how our new parish has grown into a family. Being united in Christ is such a loving and powerful bond. COVID has challenged our various gatherings, but we have still come together. For example, our Mass attendance has been very good, and many have come together in the new ministries that have arisen due to COVID. Further, we have so many uniting on livestream. We have to believe that the best is yet to come!

As we contemplate our parish family, we rejoice in a special way as we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God on January 1. This is the first time that we will celebrate this great solemnity as our patronal feast day. Wow, talk about a wonderful patroness! Mary, Mother of God! This solemnity tells us that Mary is truly the Mother of God. That is, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus, took flesh from the Blessed Virgin Mary. In other words, since Jesus is God and is born of Mary in time, we say that she is the Mother of God. Mother of God is Mary’s highest title because it is the basis for all her other titles and the dignity given to her. Mary’s greatest act was being the Mother of God. What a feast, what a patroness, what a way to bring in the New Year!

As we begin a New Year, we all have the hope that we experience a better year. Although there were many blessings in 2020, we were all faced with the black cloud of COVID. We remember those who died from the dreaded disease and who are fighting the disease today. It is wonderful to see that a vaccine has been created and is in the early stages of being distributed. We pray that our world makes amazing strides in the coming months. Despite COVID, we saw many blessings. It was so wonderful to see how our world came together to get each other through such a crisis. Do any memories stand out for you of how our world united during the pandemic? What other blessings come to mind for you in 2020? One for me is coming together as a new parish in February. Please take some time to count the blessings of 2020.

OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS

December 13, 2020

Offertory $ 14,160.20

Monthly Maintenance $ 1,070.00

Parish Share* $ 1,578.00

Christmas $ 1,929.00

Christmas Flowers $ 1,006.00

Immaculate Conception $ 652.10

Outreach $ 41.00

*We have collected $139,842.00 towards our goal of

$181,258

Due to an early deadline for this week’s bulletin, the

Collection totals from December 20 will be included

in next week’s bulletin.

Thank you for your generosity!

Sanctuary Light Burns before the Blessed Sacrament the week of December 20 in loving memory of:

St. Angela:

Lil Schlicht by: Family

Corpus Christi:

Charles Whitney by: Family

Maurice Kenney by: Daughter, JoEllen

St. Patrick:

Samuel Strangis by: Family

St. Robert:

Joseph James Capo & Genre Vincent Pecora by: Antoinette Capo

Please remember in your prayers :

Alice Hajduk, Dolores Kurp, Daniel Marchitello

May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

A New Year always offers us a fresh start. As we begin anew, a popular time thing to do is to come up with New Year’s resolutions. Have you started thinking of anything yet? If we do make resolutions, please remember set forth spiritual goals as well.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being named the Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis recently designated December 8, 2020 until December 8, 2021 as the Year of St. Joseph. Pope Francis designated the special year in an Apostolic Letter entitled “Patris corde,” which is translated “With a Father’s Heart.” All are welcome to read the pope’s beautiful reflections on St. Joseph at www.vatican.va.

On behalf of Fr. Jack, Fr. Joe, Fr. Pius, Deacon Reynold, and staff, we wish you a blessed New Year! May we all receive God’s choicest blessings in 2021.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pray for us!

FROM FATHER TERRY

(continued)

http://www.vatican.va

2021 CALENDARS

Mary, Mother of God Parish 2021 calendars features

beautiful images of our beloved Saints. Please pick

one up at each of the church doors as you leave

Mass. We would like to thank the following funeral

homes for sponsoring our calendars:

• Daniel F. Bekavac

• Forgie-Snyder

• Gilbert

• Jaycox-Jaworski

• James F. Kutch

• Striffler’s

• Willig

Please consider helping out our St.

Vincent dePaul group with your

donations. Many people within

our parish boundaries can make

ends meet throughout the year but

Christmas is a stretch, and our hotline has been

taking 3-4 calls a day. After the first of 2021, when

the state mandates to postpone evictions expire, we

anticipate many calls to help with rent or

utilities. Average amount that we help toward those

necessities is $150.00, so the donations we receive

get depleted fairly quickly. Thanks for your help in

the past, and thanks in advance for your continued

generosity.

Thanks!

Your Society of St. Vincent dePaul

DONATE ONLINE TO MARY,

MOTHER OF

GOD PARISH As we continue to

face the current

pandemic, online

giving is a wonderful

option. Such giving is

very convenient for

individual donors and

allows for consistent donations to flow into the

parish. Payments can be made through any of

the following:

• Checking Account

• Savings Account

• Credit Card

• Debit Card

To join our online giving, visit our webpage,

complete the authorization form found in the bulletin

or contact Cathy Nola at 412-672-9641

cnola@marymotherofgod1.org

SOLEMNITY OF MARY,

THE HOLY MOTHER

OF GOD

MASS SCHEDULE

• Thur., Dec. 31 4:00 PM Corpus Christi

• Fri., Jan. 1 8:30 AM St. Patrick

• Fri., Jan. 1 9:30 AM St. Robert

• Fri., Jan. 1 11:00 AM St. Angela

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 20

Daily Mass Mon.-Fri. 8:30 A.M.

Weekend Masses: Saturday 4:30 P.M.

Sunday 11:00 A.M.

Solemnity of Mary Fri. 1/1 11:00 A.M.

mailto:cnola@marymotherofgod1.org

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/source/saint-of-the-day

December 28. Based on an account

in Saint Matthew’s Gospel, King

Herod slaughtered a number of

male babies in an attempt to rid

himself of the perceived threat of a

usurper of his throne. What he

didn’t realize is that Jesus’

kingdom is not of this world─a

fact that emerges later in Saint

Matthew’s Gospel.

Mary’s divine motherhood broadens the Christmas spotlight. Mary has an important role to play in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. She consents to God’s invitation conveyed by the angel (Luke 1:26-38). Elizabeth proclaims: “Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:42-43, emphasis added). Mary’s role as mother of God places her in a unique position in God’s redemptive plan.

Without naming Mary, Paul asserts that “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). Paul’s further statement that “God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out ‘Abba, Father!’” helps us realize that Mary is mother to all the brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Some theologians also insist that Mary’s motherhood of Jesus is an important element in God’s creative plan. God’s “first” thought in creating was Jesus. Jesus, the incarnate Word, is the one who could give God perfect love and worship on behalf of all creation. As Jesus was “first” in God’s mind, Mary was “second” insofar as she was chosen from all eternity to be his mother.

The precise title “Mother of God” goes back at least to the third or fourth century. In the Greek form Theotokos (God-bearer), it became the touchstone of the Church’s teaching about the Incarnation. The Council of Ephesus in 431 insisted that the holy Fathers were right in calling the holy virgin Theotokos. At the end of this particular session, crowds of people marched through the street shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!” The tradition reaches to our own day. In its chapter on Mary’s role in the Church, Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls Mary “Mother of God” 12 times.

MEMORARE PRAYER TO JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

Remember, Heart of Jesus,

Immaculate Heart of Mary, and you, O glorious St. Joseph, that no one

has ever had recourse to your protection, or implored your

assistance without obtaining relief. Animated with the utmost lively confidence, I come laden with the weight of my sins, to prostrate myself before you. O Merciful Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary, and you, O glorious St. Joseph, reject not my prayer

and petitions but graciously hear and grant them. Amen

December 29. Saint Thomas

Becket, the well-known

archbishop of Canterbury,

England, is a saint with a

checkered past. As depicted

in the movie "Becket,"

Thomas did not at first take

his responsibilities as a deacon seriously, but when

King Henry II tried to use his friend’s lukewarm

devotion to his advantage, he found a converted

cleric who was a worthy match for any king.

December 31. Saint Sylvester lived

during the time of Constantine when

the Church was coming out of hiding

and becoming the Church of the

empire. It takes deep humility and

courage in the face of criticism for a

leader to stand aside and let events take their course,

when asserting one’s authority would only lead to

useless tension and strife. Sylvester teaches a

valuable lesson for Church leaders, politicians,

parents, and others in authority.

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/source/saint-of-the-day