February 16, 2020

THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF OAKMONT, PLUM & VERONA

www.opvcatholic.org The only official website for our parishes.

School sites can also be accessed from this website.

CLERGY

Group Email: office@opvcatholic.org

Rev. Kevin G. Poecking Priest Administrator

Rev. George Dalton Senior Parochial Vicar

Rev. David DeWitt Senior Parochial Vicar

Rev. Frederick Gruber Parish Chaplain

Deacon Joseph Vannucci

Deacon Timothy Noca

Weekend Mass Times

Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM St. Irenaeus 4:00 PM St. John the Baptist 5:30 PM St. Joseph 6:00 PM Our Lady of Joy

Sunday: 8:00 AM Our Lady of Joy 8:30 AM St Joseph 9:00 AM St. John the Baptist 10:00 AM Our Lady of Joy 11:00 AM St. Januarius 11:00 AM St. Irenaeus 11:30 AM St. John the Baptist 6:00 PM St. John the Baptist

Confessions: Monday 6:00-6:20 PM St . Januarius Wednesday 6:00-6:20 PM St. Irenaeus Saturday 9:30-10:00 AM St. John the Baptist - Or By Appointment -

St. Irenaeus, Oakmont St. Januarius, St. John the Baptist, Plum

St. Joseph, Verona, Our Lady of Joy, Plum

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Fr. Kevin Poecking Administrator, OPV Catholic Churches

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

At some of our fall “Town Hall” meetings, several people asked for more prayer for vocations to the priesthood. As a parish grouping, I have established a Vocation Council comprised of parishioners from three of our five parishes from suggestions from our clergy team. If anyone at St. Irenaeus or St. Januarius are interested in participating on helping to foster vocations in our youth, please let me know.

Next weekend, seminarians from our Diocese, men who want to be your future priests, will be joining us for Masses at St. John the Baptist and Our Lady of Joy Churches for the 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Masses. They will also be

visiting some of our Religious Education classes that Sunday morning. It would be great for parishioners from all of our parishes come to one of those two Masses and support these young men at such a challenging time for priesthood and also to find out more about what seminarians are like today. The seminarians travel to different parishes each month. Because one of the seminarians, Brian Myler, is from one of the parishes (St. John the Baptist), they will be visiting as one of their special visits. There will also be doughnuts provided after those two Masses. Note that while Bishop Zubik is in the photograph with the seminarians, he will not be joining them to visit us. One of the seminary faculty priests will be having that Mass and preaching about vocations and our young men studying for priesthood. Bishop Zubik will be coming back with the seminarians later in Lent to celebrate a fish fry and Stations of the Cross. There are many ways each parishioner or family can help foster vocations in our parishes. Here are some of those ways:

SEMINARIAN POSTER & PRAYERS – We have a poster of all the seminarians studying to be a priest in our diocese in every church and school in our grouping. In every church the poster is on the back wall inside the nave of the church on the

left side as you face the altar. Please take a moment to check out the poster and pick a seminarian each time you pass it to pray for that young man at church.

TRAVELING CHALICE FOR VOCATIONS One of our parishes has had a tradition of passing around a traveling chalice to individuals and families for a week of daily short prayers for vocations. The Vocation Council recommended spreading this to the entire grouping of parishioners. The experience is an opportunity to pray for intentional vocations for our young people, not just for priesthood, but for other holy vocations, marriages and calling in life of service to others. Very simply how it works is to sign up for a week by calling or emailing one of our Vocation Council members, Suzy Adamonis (412) 793-64110 or adam50s@hotmail.com. We’d like to establish certain months that the chalice rotates through some families at each church so that it can be picked up and returned to that church for a few weeks in a row before moving to another church. If you sign up for a given week, you will receive a reminder email or call prior to your week to confirm what church in our grouping you will pick up the chalice from the sacristy. Take the chalice home with you after Mass, pray as many of the weekday Prayers, provided in the booklets, as possible for you or your family, and return the chalice to the gift table at church the following week. When gift bearers bring up the bread and wine at Mass, you are to bring up the chalice with them and give to the priest, who will use it for that Mass.

TRAVELING STATUE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE While this traveling statue is not specifically to promote vocations, it works much the same way as the traveling chalice and encourages every household to become filled with prayers for our Blessed Mother Mary, to watch over all those in every home. Contact Solimar Iorio (724) 757-3393 or solimariorio@gmail.com to schedule a week to pick up the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe and pray for her intercession in our lives that week.

More information on vocation councils and vocation promotion can be found at this website: https://serraspark.org

In Christ’s love, Father Kevin

Fr. Kevin Poecking Administrator, OPV Catholic Churches

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SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READING I SIR 15:15-20

If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words. Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them. Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

READING 2 1 COR 2:6-10

Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love Him this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia. MT 11:25

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL MT 5:17-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife - unless the marriage is unlawful—causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.

LA ADORACIÓN EUCARÍSTICA (Carta del Cardenal Norberto Rivera, primera parte)

….Continued

Tributen los fieles la máxima veneración a la santísima Eucaristía, tomando parte activa en la celebración del Sacrificio augustísimo, recibiendo este sacra-mento frecuentemente y con mucha devoción, y dándole culto con suma ado-ración; los pastores de almas, al exponer la doctrina sobre este sacramento, inculquen diligentemente a los fieles esta obligación. (Código de Derecho Ca-nónico de 1983, 897 y 898).

La adoración eucarística es un momento de intimidad, de confianza, de amis-tad con Jesucristo, el Redentor, el Amigo, el Hermano, el Compañero en nues-tro peregrinar hacia la vida eterna. En estos ratos de oración ante Jesucristo presente en las Sagradas Especies, es necesario actuar interiormente la fe en la presencia real de Cristo en el Santísimo Sacramento de la Eucaristía, la esperanza, la caridad, darse cuenta de que su presencia ahí, en el pan, es un gesto de amor personal a cada hombre, a ti. El Maestro está presente y te llama. Es el instante oportuno para renovar los propósitos de santidad y de respuesta generosa al amor de Dios. La adoración a Cristo es también acom-pañarlo con sentimientos de reparación por los propios pecados y por los de todos los hombres y hacer nuestros los sentimientos más profundos de Jesús.

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DATE TIME CH PRIEST INTENTION/REQUESTER

SATURDAY (VIGIL) 4:00 PM SJB POECKING Charles Bergamasco (Iris Birr)

2/15 4:00 PM STI DALTON Thomas Patterson (Jean Dobis)

5:30 PM SJV DEWITT John & Verna Martz (Jack & Sally Martz)

6:00 PM OLOJ POECKING Joseph Licata (Tom & Joyce Doyle)

SUNDAY 2/16 8:00 AM OLOJ DEWITT Carolyn Sabel (Knights of Columbus)

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 8:30 AM SJV POECKING Keith Cohn (Family)

9:00 AM SJB DALTON John T. McGuirk, Sr. (Rose & Family)

10:00 AM OLOJ BENEDICTINE Mary Lou Siksa (Arlene & Harry Julian)

11:00 AM SJAN POECKING Johnny & Dolly Chiavaroli (Maria Franco & Family)

11:00 AM STI DEWITT Carol DiGioia (Family)

11:30 AM SJB BENEDICTINE Anthony & Mary Oleniacz & Family (Marlene DiBello &Fam)

6:00 PM SJB DALTON Living & Deceased of the Parishes

MONDAY - Weekday 2/17 9:00 AM STI DALTON Edward & Peggy Young (Debra Young)

President’s Day 6:30 PM SJAN POECKING Elvita Grande (Family)

TUESDAY - Weekday 2/18 7:30 AM SJV POECKING Giovanni Raimondi (Pietro Raimondi)

9:00 AM OLOJ DEWITT Rose M. Hribik (Renie Stevens Palladino)

WEDNESDAY - Weekday 2/19 9:00 AM SJB DALTON John & Roberta Contreras (Daughter)

6:30 PM STI POECKING Carmella Bencivenga (Family)

THURSDAY - Weekday 2/20 7:30 AM OLOJ POECKING Souls in Purgatory, Especially unexpected (Papciak Family)

9:00 AM SJV DEWITT Beatrice Collins Woodring (Judith Woodring Locke & Sam Woodring)

FRIDAY - Weekday 2/21 7:30 AM SJB DALTON Joseph Lagorga (Selena Kunsman)

9:00 AM OLOJ POECKING William Levesque (Amanda Nicholson)

NOON STI POECKING Mary Frances Federici (Jean (Federici) Dobis)

SATURDAY 2/22 9:00 AM SJB GRUBER S&TW of Pat & Jean Guerriero

(VIGIL) 4:00 PM SJB POECKING Ed & Regina O’Hara & Frank & De’Ette Hartwig (Frank Hartwig)

4:00 PM STI GEORGE, J. In Thanksgiving for the Life of Joseph James Dawson (Family)

5:30 PM SJV POECKING Frank Signore (Bill DeSantis)

6:00 PM OLOJ DALTON Josephine & William Crew (Children)

SUNDAY 2/23 8:00 AM OLOJ BENEDICTINE Carol Johns (Anna & Jim Johns)

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 8:30 AM SJV GEORGE, J. Charles McCarrell (Marcia McCarrell)

9:00 AM SJB SEMINARY PRIEST Georgianna Kaczmarek (Cassandra & Donald Brenner)

10:00 AM OLOJ SEMINARY PRIEST Henry Jonocco (Faith Sisk)

11:00 AM SJAN BENEDICTINE Richard Franco (Maria Franco & Family)

11:00 AM STI DALTON Dorothy Grubbs (Audrey Holler)

11:30 AM SJB POECKING Barbara Bracco (Children & Family)

SPANISH MASS 6:00 PM SJB TORRES/POECKING Living & Deceased of the Parishes

OPV MASS SCHEDULE AND INTENTIONS

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MINISTRY AT OPV CATHOLIC

OPV CATHOLIC WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

The OPV Catholic Women’s Fellowship will be participating in a Consecration to St. Joseph. The reading will begin on February 15 and the consecration will take place on the

Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19.

CWF meets on the 1st and 3rd Saturday’s of the month at 7:30am at St. John the Baptist in the St. Elizabeth Room.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Steph Williams at reled@opvcatholic.org.

St. Irenaeus: Offertory: $7,492.00 PSP: $268.00

St. Januarius: Offertory: $1,629.00 PSP: $167.00

St. John the Baptist: Offertory: $11,112.00 PSP: $2,429.00

St. Joseph: Offertory: $4,786.00 PSP: $191.00

Our Lady of Joy: Offertory: $6,833.00 PSP: $1,144.00 TOTALS : Offertory: $31,852.00 PSP: $4,199.00

OPV CATHOLIC FINANCIAL REPORT 2/9/20

CATHOLIC MENS FELLOWSHIP INFORMATION

St. John's CMF group will start a new program on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 7:30 AM in the St. Elizabeth Room at St. Johns. We will continue the series on the Ten Commandments. We are using workbooks developed and provided by Andy Lucas from the CMF of St. Louise de Marillac in Upper St. Clair. This is a great way to start preparing for the Lenten house cleaning that we all need.

All OPV men are invited and encouraged to attend.

St. Joseph Catholic Men's Fellowship meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in Room E of the School Bldg. It is open to all men of the OPV parishes.

For more information contact Tim McKee (412)828-3113 or Regis Burgman (412) 828-7879.

PARISH SHARE DONATIONS FOR 2019

The Final weekend for the 2019 Parish Share is February 22nd and 23rd.

March 1st will begin the 2020 Parish Share Campaign.

FINANCIAL REPORT CORRECTION FOR 2/2/20

Corrected totals for St. Januarius from 2/2/20 are as follows:

Offertory: $1,354 PSP: $166.00

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JUBILEE KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS

NEEDED

A BIG THANK YOU to the new volunteers who showed

up last month to serve at the Jubilee Kitchen!!!

OPV’s service at the Jubilee Kitchen takes place on the first Saturday of each month. We meet at the

St. John the Baptist Church parking lot at 8 AM and carpool to the Jubilee Kitchen.

We always welcome new volunteers!!!!

If you can help or have any questions, please contact David Walton at (412) 793-1492.

This is a great volunteer project for families also!

PRAYER: ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING GOD A Lenten Evening of Spiritual Enrichment

Please join us on Tuesday, March 10th at 7:00 PM at St. Irenaeus Church for an evening of spiritual enrichment

directed by Mr. Regis Flaherty.

The evening will consist of song, prayer, and inspiration.

All are welcome

CONFIRMATION DATE SCHEDULED

Confirmation will be held at St. John the Baptist Church on May 3rd at the 11:30 Mass.

Bishop William J. Waltersheid will celebrate the Mass.

Join us for a fun filled day at the Meadows Casino…

Thursday, February 27, 2020 $27.00 per person

Payment due with Reservation Make check payable to Larry Thomas

Casino Bonus: $20.00 Slot Play $5.00 Food Subject to change by Casino

Depart: 9:30 AM, Our Lady of Joy Church

Depart Meadows Casino: 5:00 PM

Enjoy playing your favorite slots or tables.

For information or reservations, contact Larry Thomas at (412) 793-7576 308 Holiday Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15239

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING HONOR ROLL STUDENTS…

St. Joseph High School - Julia Ammon (Highest Honor)

Cardinal Wuerl High School - Kylee Kilzer (Honors)

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ST. IRENAEUS PARISH NEWS

387 Maryland Avenue

Oakmont, PA 15139

412-828-3065

SANCTUARY CANDLE

If you would like to have the sanctuary candle burned in memory of a loved one, please contact Karen Deemer at 412-793-4511 or by email at bulletin@opvcatholic.org.

ST. JANUARIUS PARISH NEWS

1450 Renton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15239

412-793-4439

Overeaters Anonymous

Contact Dee for more information at 724-339-3617.

All meetings are held every Tuesday at 7:00 pm in the Church Hall

All are welcome to attend the meeting!

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH NEWS

444 Saint John Street Pittsburgh, PA 15239

412-793-4511

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS

This year, we are only sending out contribution statements to those who request it.

To request your 2019 contributions, please contact Patty Mahr at 412-793-4511 X105 or by email to accounts@opvcatholic.org.

Please make sure you note for which parish you are requesting.

MASS INTENTIONS

Mass Intentions are available by calling Joyce Doyle at St. Joseph Parish office Mondays from 1 PM - 4 PM and Tuesday thru Thursday 8 AM - 4 PM or by stopping in the

rectory at St. Joe’s during those hours. You can also email her at: office@opvcatholic.org.

BAKED GOODS

Donations of baked goods are needed for the SJBS Fish Fry. If you would like to donate one of your specialties to the Fish Fry Baked Goods Table, please drop them off at the school by 3:00 PM starting February 28th! Thank you!!!

MASS INTENTIONS

Mass Intentions are available by calling Joyce Doyle at St. Joseph Parish office Mondays from 1 PM - 4 PM and

Tuesday thru Thursday 8 AM - 4 PM or by stopping in the rectory at St. Joe’s during those hours.

You can also email her at: office@opvcatholic.org.

FISH FRY VOLUNTEERS & DONATIONS NEEDED We are in need of helpers for our fish fry in various areas including food preparation, order taking, food assembly, food delivery, and clean up. A small amount of your time goes a long way! Donations of two-liter bottles of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite and baked good are also appreciated! Donation drop offs are Friday AM at STI Hall.

Contact Caryn Cebulak at (412) 654-8170 or caryn@cebulak.com Or Barb Moore at (412) 535-3733 or barb.moore58@gmail.com

PRETZEL SALE

8th Grade students from St. Josephs will be selling chocolate covered

pretzels after Masses today. They are $1.00 a piece and will benefit their graduation ceremony.

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ST. JOSEPH PARISH NEWS

825 Second Avenue Verona, PA 15147

412-795-5114

2000 O’Block Road Pittsburgh, PA 15239

412-795-3388

OUR LADY OF JOY PARISH NEWS

SCRIPTURES FOR FEBRUARY 16—FEBRUARY 23

SCRIPTURES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome Our Newly Baptized!

Sanctuary Candle for 2/16—2/22

The Sanctuary Candle burns this week for Andrew Bogusz

By Joanne (wife) & Sons

Liturgical Ministers (Feb. 22-23)

Money Counters: M. Chirdon, S. Bell, J. LoAlbo

Sunday: Sir 15:15-20/Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 [1b]/1 Cor 2:6-10/Mt 5:17-37 or 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37 Monday: Jas 1:1-11/Ps 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76 [77a]/Mk 8:11-13 Tuesday: Jas 1:12-18/Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19 [12a]/Mk 8:14-21 Wednesday: Jas 1:19-27/Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5 [1b]/Mk 8:22-26 Thursday: Jas 2:1-9/Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 [7a]/Mk 8:27-33 Friday: Jas 2:14-24, 26/Ps 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 [cf. 1b]/Mk 8:34—9:1 Saturday: 1 Pt 5:1-4/Ps 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6 [1]/Mt 16:13-19 Next Sunday: Lv 19:1-2, 17-18/Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 [8a]/1 Cor 3:16-23/Mt

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS

This year, we are only sending out contribution statements to those who request it.

To request your 2019 contributions, please contact Patty Mahr at 412-793-4511 X105 or by

email to accounts@opvcatholic.org.

Please make sure you note for which parish you are requesting.

SJB Mason Alexander McGovern Jameson Thomas McElhaney Nolan Parker O’Connor Vincent Joseph Rende, Jr.

SJV Jolene Pearl Kutchell

Fish Fry Volunteers Needed Many hands make light work...volunteers are needed to help with the Fish Fry, please call Joyce at (412) 793-4511 X201 and sign up today. Help is needed

for prep work on Thursday evenings, and on Fridays during the Fish Fry for set-up, serving, and clean-up. We will also need donations of baked goods; please contact parish office if you can help.

PRETZEL SALE

8th Grade students from St. Josephs will be selling

chocolate covered pretzels after Masses today. They are $1.00 a piece and will

benefit their graduation ceremony.

Recent Funerals and Deaths

Jean M. Meehan—SJV

Vincent Scarano—SJAN

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Cool Events during Catholic Schools Week at St. John’s

~PJ Day ~ Kona Ice Truck ~ Buddy Days~ ~Theme Days~ School-Wide Shape Hunt ~

~Nationality Day ~

Preschool Fun at St. Irenaeus & St. Joe’s

The Catholic Schools of Oakmont, Plum, & Verona

Registration is open for 2020-2021 Call for information & tours

St. Joe’s Boys Basketball

8th Grade Appreciation

St. Joe’s Career Day

St. Joe’s “100 Days”~ Mrs. Hazur’s Third Grade

St. Irenaeus Preschool (Oakmont) ~ Preschool 412-793-4580

St. John the Baptist School (Plum) ~ Preschool-8th 412-793-4580

St. Joseph School (Verona)~ Preschool-8th 412-793-4580

St. John’s KinderPlus 100 Days of School

OPV Happy Hearts Dance hosted by St. Irenaeus

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IN OUR GROUPING AND AROUND THE DIOCESE...

~Monthly Raffles and Bingo~

Benefits St. Joseph School

Join us for Bingo on March 14th @ St. Joseph School Cafeteria

Doors open @ 6pm / Early Birds 6:30pm Regular games 7:00pm

$25

Purchase Monthly Lottery Tickets $10 each (Stop by the rectory)

~Chance to win every day based on evening drawing of

Pick 3 PA Lottery Numbers~

March tickets ON SALE during February

All families are invited to a Spring Vacation Bible School Day at

St. Joseph Parish! March 7, 2020 from 3:30-5:30pm

This afternoon will be a blend between a FIRE Night and Vacation Bible School stations that many kids love!

We will spend some time together as a family as well as break apart into kid groups and an adult group. The kid groups will rotate between various stations while the adults hear a speaker. At the end of the day, we will come together for

dinner before heading to Mass at 5:30PM.

There is no fee for the day and all ages can participate! To register, please email Steph at reled@opvcatholic.org with the number of people attending and please include the names and ages of children.

Thank You for Supporting SJBS Nite at the Races

Thank you to all of the parishioners, parents, friends, and alumni who participated in this year's annual Nite at the Races.

Through everyone's generosity, the event & Football Pool raised $5500 for the school. A huge THANK YOU to Marie & Rob

DiLonardo for coordinating this event! We also want to thank our Table Sponsors and all of the volunteers who put in many hours

to ensure a great time for everyone!

A MESSAGE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL PARENTS

Please note for students enrolling in Catholic Elementary Schools for the fall that the Pastor’s signature page for applying for financial aid must be sent to the elementary school office first.

For students enrolling in Catholic High School, send Pastor signature forms to the parish office. Please do NOT ask the priest to sign before or after Mass. Thank you.

SOS Christmas Brunch Results Due to generous donations, the SOS Christmas Brunch finished with a profit of $338.95 which will be put towards parish social ministry.

Thank you to all who participated!

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OPV CATHOLIC INFORMATION

SAM – Substance Addiction Ministry

The next Substance Addiction Ministry Rosary for Recovery will be Wednesday, February 19 at St. John the Baptist, 444 St. John St., Pittsburgh, PA 15239.

We will meet at 7:00PM in the church for the Rosary followed by an informal gathering for all who are afflicted or affected by addiction. It will be a safe, confidential place for people to seek education, referral and support.

For more information please contact Noreen at 412-296-1709.

DISPOSAL OF PALMS:

While last year’s Palm branches are used to make the Ashes for the beginning of Lent, it is a

messy process and we prefer to purchase the ashes from companies that do this for us.

Please put any blessed palms from last year or this year in your favorite garden at home. Do not bring your old palms to the Church. Thank you.

Winter Bugs! & Cry Rooms

Please note that with the annual winter concerns about influenza and other viruses, in addition to the global coronavirus scare, no one should be offended if the person standing near you does not want to shake hands at the Sign of Peace. They may have low immunity due to age or medical concerns, but we want them to feel comfortable at welcome at church. Please note also that CRY ROOMS are not meant for older folks or others who are ill and don’t want to be in a crowd. If you don’t have young children or special needs adults, you should NOT be in a cry room during Mass. Cry rooms should always be available to welcome those who occasionally have fussy children and still want to be at Mass with us, even for short moments during Mass. So, please don’t take their space! Ushers should kindly ask unaccompanied adults to sit in the church and NOT in a cry room. St. John the Baptist has a cry room for families, and also a balcony for those who seek to sit separately. We also livestream every 9 a.m. Mass. If you are ill or worried about traveling in the winter conditions, consider the many options to worship God in our community while respecting the needs of others.

Conversational Spanish for Seniors

The OLOJ SOS Ministry team is considering offering a course to the senior population in our OPV group. The course would be “Conversational Spanish” and would be taught by parishioner Diane Vitalbo, retired Plum Spanish teacher. She is proposing to offer the class once a week for an hour and it would run for 4 weeks. If we have enough interest to offer the course, we would start in the spring at Our Lady of Joy.

In order to gauge how many people would willing to commit to taking this class, please call Diane at 412-798-9147 to register before March 15, 2020.

OUR LADY’S CLOSET

Our Lady of Joy invites you to enjoy shopping At "Our Lady's Closet," located in the church

hall. Choose from seasonal FREE men, women and children's gently used clothing.

EVERYONE is invited!

Hours are Monday through Friday..........8 AM to 3 PM Saturday…...8 AM to 6 PM

Sunday.........7 AM to 10 AM No appointment necessary

Stop and Shop....................Stay and Pray

PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF ANY BAGS DUE TO LIMITED STORAGE. For DONATION QUESTIONS,

CALL CAROL AT (412) 793-9567.

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SOS SEMINAR

February 19, 2020 Wednesday @ 1:00 PM Death, Taxes & End of Life Planning

Presenter, Apryl Garrett, Publisher- Seniors Bluebook

Ben Franklin said it best with this famous quote "In this

world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

Although this topic is an uncomfortable one, it is one that needs to be addressed. Join Seniors Blue Book (SBB) University and

our panel of experts as we discuss the documents that you need to have in place, best tax practices while you are alive, pre-planning your funeral arrangements as well as hospice care

and bereavement planning. For this event RSVP to 412-551-5951 or Apryl@SeniorsBlueBook.com.

All classes will be held at Our Lady of Joy Church Hall

2000 O’Block Rd, Plum Borough

Light refreshments will be served

CHOIR MIX IN OPV

The most recent mixes of choir for the Oakmont/Verona area and the Plum area Catholic choirs was a great success! Several parishioners remarked on the fuller sound and the enhancement to the Mass

liturgy with combining for select weekends. We are going to mix choirs again next month.

These are the dates for the “mixing”:

Oakmont & Verona Catholic choirs

2/16 at 8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph 2/23 at 11 a.m. at St. Irenaeus (previously 2/9/20)

Plum area Catholic choirs

2/9 at 11 a.m. at St. Januarius 2/16 at 9 a.m. at St. John & 2/23 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Joy

MEET THE STAFF

Patty Mahr OPV Parish Accounting

Patty became a member of Our Lady of Joy when she married and moved to the area almost 32 years ago. She resides with her husband, Steve, in the Holiday Park area of Plum. They have two sons, Phillip (22 yrs.) who lives in Baltimore, MD and Adam (20 yrs.) who attends the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Patty volunteered in different areas of the Parish over the years but was mainly involved with her family in the annual Parish Festival. Her love of children led her to becoming a Kindergarten Catechist which she enjoyed for 15 years. During that time, she began working part-time as a secretary in the CCD office and helped out during most CCD sessions and functions for almost 9 years. In July, when her position was eliminated due to the reorganization of our church grouping, Patty took a full-time position as the bookkeeper for the three Plum churches. Despite adjusting to full-time work, she really enjoys her new role within our OPV grouping.

In her spare time, Patty enjoys shopping, gardening at home and at the church, and traveling with her family. In 2005, she had the opportunity to travel with OLOJ former pastor, Fr. Al McGinnis, to Chimbote, Peru and holds that trip and the people of Chimbote very close to her heart.

At this time, if you are in need of your 2019 contributions for tax purposes, you can contact Patty at ext. 105 or email her at accounts@opvcatholic.org.

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OPV CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY CORNER

Gianna Ciccone Guy DeCarlo Frank DeGasperi Mary DeGasperi Mary DiDiano Alice Falkowski Michael Fanzo David Gartner Louis Gaussa, Sr. June Giganti Marian Grasinger Pat Guerriero

Carol Harrity Scott Hollinger Angela P. Jackson Pat Keefer Bob Kelly Josephine Labriola

Theresa Lasher Delfina Listorti Jim Majernik Louis Martin Richard Martin Rene Olean

Jacob Plake Eugene Powers F.L. Pro, J.L. Pro, J.R. Pro Kelly Pytlarz Theresa Ricci George Scribe Jane Siebel Mary Sneider Don Tappe Sara Thon Ruth Vojtko

Sabrina Walters James Vita

We will keep your loved one on our OPV Prayer List for 3 months. After that time, if you would still like your loved one to be on the list,

call Karen Deemer at (412) 793-4511 X204 or email at bulletin@opvcatholic.org with your request.

DEVOTIONS AND ROSARIES IN OUR GROUPING

Rosary & Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena with Devotions Every Wednesday after 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. John the Baptist

2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Thursdays: Rosary, Divine Mercy Prayer Group, Intercessory Prayer, Adoration, Our Lady of Joy

Confessions Mondays at St. Januarius from 6:00 PM to 6:20 PM / Wednesdays at St. Irenaeus from 6:00 PM to 6:20 PM

Saturdays at St. John the Baptist at 9:30 AM

St. Anthony Novena Every Monday at 7:00 p.m. at St. Januarius

St. Jude Novena Every first Monday after the 6:30 p.m. Mass at St. Januarius

Morning Prayer After 9:00 a.m. Mass on Tuesdays & Fridays and after 7:30 on Thursdays at Our Lady of Joy

Rosary Before Mass Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at Our Lady of Joy

Mondays & Wednesdays in Advent & October at 6:00 p.m. at St. Irenaeus & St. Januarius

Rosary for the Deceased After the 8:30 a.m. Mass every second Sunday of the month at St. Joseph

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament First Fridays:

8:00 a.m. Friday to Saturdays 8:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist 9:35 a.m. Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena at Our Lady of Joy

Seven Sisters Apostolate A group of seven women pray for 1 hour before the Blessed Sacrament on a selected day for each priest in our grouping.

In particular, we ask you to pray for:

Notifications and Alerts to:

(1) Special Speakers & Presentations, (2) Volunteer Service needs & times, (3) Parishioner deaths, (4) updated prayer list, (5) Social events & fundraisers, (6) Holy & Holiday Mass Schedules, Holy Hour & Adoration times, (8) School events when parishioners are invited, (9) CCD Schedule changes and alerts due to weather, (10) bulletin emailed or a link to online bulletin sent in text Message (11) OPV Festival Information (New)

Please pray for all those in our parish grouping who are in need, especially the sick at home, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the unemployed, those who have lost a loved one and those who feel isolated or abandoned.

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OPV PARISH STAFFS/DIRECTORIES

OPV CATHOLIC PARISH STAFF/DIRECTORY

Parish Office ………..……..……………………………………………….…….....….……..…..….412-793-4511 Parish Fax …………...………...……….…...………..……...…………………...…………......…...412-793-4311 General Office & Oakmont/Verona Parish Accounting, Joyce Doyle…(X401).....………..….office@opvcatholic.org Safe Environment Coordinator, Barb Pronio…(X101)…...….…...…..……………..…. safe@opvcatholic.org Plum Parish Accounting, Patty Mahr…(X105).…………..………….….……..…...accounts@opvcatholic.org Bulletin Editor / Facilities, Karen Deemer..(X201)...……………..…....……..……...bulletin@opvcatholic.org Ministry Scheduler, Rita Gurganus...…………………………….……..…….…......schedule@opvcatholic.org SOS Ministry, Sal Altomare..……………………………………...…..………......…..……sos@opvcatholic.org

OPV CATHOLIC SCHOOLS STAFF/DIRECTORY

“Beau” Quattrone, School Principal…(X602)........................................................principal@opvcatholic.org St. John the Baptist School & Preschool Office…….……………..…………………..…….412-793-0555 Jeanne Loebig, Vice Principal…(X604)...……………..….…………………….…….……...loebig@sjtbcs.org

St. Joseph School & Preschool Office: .………………………………….…………………...412-828-7213 Tina Bucci, Vice Principal:…(X702)…..………………….…..…………... .stjosephelementary@comcast.net St. Irenaeus Preschool Office:…...……………….…….………...…………...…….……412-828-3065 X103

VICTIMS’ ABUSE HOTLINE………………………..………. (412) 456-3060, or toll free at 1-888-808-1235

All Clergy are listed on the cover page. Additional OPV Staff are listed below:

Mr. David Hall, Business Manager…(X104)……………………………………….business@opvcatholic.org Sr. Lynn Miller, Social Ministry …(X203)……………………………………….....…….psm@opvcatholic.org Mrs. Stephanie Williams, Faith Formation Director…(X206)……...………………...reled@opvcatholic.org Mrs. Kristin Consuegra, High School Youth & Adult Ministry…(X404).....youngcatholic@opvcatholic.org Mrs. Meredith Fraschi, Middle School Faith Formation & Ministry..(X405)..middleyouth@opvcatholic.org Mr. Ronald Donatelli, Christian Initiation…(X211)……………………………….……..rcia@opvcatholic.org Ms. Brit Meli, Communication and Technology Manager…(X501)………communication@opvcatholic.org

OLOJ Parish Mission Statement Our Lady of Joy Parish is a Catholic community of faith dedicated to Mary, the cause of our joy. We are centered in Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit and nourished by the Eucharist. We are a welcoming family, striving to see Christ in all and responding to the needs of the members of our parish and community. Called to act in faith, hope and love we seek to become a visible presence of Christ in the world. Our Lady of Joy, pray for us!

SJV Parish Mission Statement St. Joseph Parish is a faith community, rich in history and strong in its Catholic tradition since 1866. Through the grace of the Eucharist and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to building up the Body of Christ through a strong spiritual life, education in the faith and service to our parish and community. St. Joseph, pray for us!

SJAN Parish Mission Statement St. Januarius is a Roman Catholic community of faith focused on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. We are grateful to those who have built up St. Januarius to be a welcoming, active, and spiritual parish. With the Eucharist and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we strive to use the gifts and talents given to us by the Father to support the lives of parishioners at all age levels and stages of life. We also pledge to live our lives so that through our words and actions all may feel the presence of Jesus Christ in the world today. St. Januarius, pray for us!

SJB Parish Mission Statement Saint John the Baptist Parish is located in Plum Borough, Pennsylvania and is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. As a faith community, we strive to imitate our patron Saint John the Baptist who led others to Christ. We are committed to keeping our faith alive and growing through prayer, sacraments, faith formation and service. Through evangelization and stewardship we encourage full and active participation of all members. We hope to reflect the life and love of Christ by strengthening the faith of our parishioners while reaching out to all God’s people.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us!

STI Parish Mission Statement The Faith Community of St. Irenaeus strives for knowledge, service, and faith through our patron’s guidance and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. With love, worship, and solidarity, we are building God’s Kingdom in our families and communities. Nourished by Word and Sacrament, we give ourselves to Christ and His Church for the greater glory of God our Father.

“The proper glory of God is man fully alive.” ~St. Irenaeus