January 25, 2021
Merger Update - Virtual Parish Assembly; Lenten Services
Dear Parishioners,
I would like to provide you an update on the next important step in our parish merger process. The process of bringing our parishes together is already going smoothly because of the deep faith and strong sense of community that we share among our parishes. Additionally, the grouping Advisory Council and Finance Councils continue to meet and work with me on setting the vision for the parish. We will share the early phases of this work with you via a 'Virtual Parish Assembly'.
VIRTUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
Our Virtual Parish Assembly will be presented on Thursday, February 25 at 7:00PM. Within this online presentation, we will discuss the parish merger and answer the questions submitted regarding it. To access the Virtual Parish Assembly, you will need to go to the home page of our MACH1 Parish Grouping website and click on the Virtual Parish Assembly announcement/link that will be posted and active on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 7:00PM. Please mark the date on your calendars! The presentation will remain available on our website for at least three weeks.
I also want to call your attention to some upcoming dates for various religious activities:
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Our parish grouping will pray the Stations of the Cross throughout Lent on Fridays at 6:30PM according to the following schedule:
2021 LENTEN RETREAT DAY
A grouping-wide Lenten Retreat Day will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2021. (Childcare will be available.) The retreat day presentations, to be given in the social hall associated with each worship site, will begin at 11:30AM and conclude by 3:00PM. Please note that due to COVID-19 guidelines, seating is limited. Seating reservations will be required. (The addition of an optional lunch will be available at a cost of $10.) The retreat topics, presenters and locations are, as follows:
Topic: Ethos of Life over Vocation - a retreat for young adults (ages 21 to 49)
Presenter: Br. Barnabas O’Reilly, OSB
Location: St. John the Baptist, Monaca - Msgr. Farri Hall
Topic: Blessed are Those Who Mourn - a retreat for those who have experienced loss
Presenter: Fr. Donald Raila, OSB
Location: St. Titus, Aliquippa - Titan Hall
Topic: It Takes Three to Marry - a retreat for married couples
Presenter: Br. Cassian Edwards, OSB
Location: St. Frances Cabrini, Center Township - Fr. O’Connell Hall
Topic: Our Baptism and the Call to be Holy - a general Lenten-themed retreat for all
Presenter: Fr. Jeremiah Lange, OSB
Location: Our Lady of Fatima, Hopewell Township - Fr. Kohler Hall
After the retreat presentations are completed, retreat attendees who have seating reservations for the 'Retreat Day Closing' will depart for St. Titus Church to take part in Eucharistic Adoration starting at 3:30PM along with the Sacrament of Penance, followed by Benediction and the Vigil Mass for the First Sunday of Lent (to be offered at 4:30PM) to close our 2021 Lenten Retreat Day.
Registration information for the upcoming Retreat Day will be coming soon; please check the bulletin and/or our grouping website regularly for updates.
LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE
As part of the spiritual practices connected to the season, a Lenten Penance Service for our grouping will be offered on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 6:30PM in the Church of St. Frances Cabrini, Center Township.
EXPANDED CONFESSION SCHEDULE FOR LENT
By way of a reminder, the Sacrament of Confession is offered on Saturday mornings at all four of our church locations. In addition, a time for confession will also be offered prior to Saturday evening Masses during Lent: at Our Lady of Fatima (Hopewell Township) starting at 3:00PM, and St. Frances Cabrini (Center Township) starting at 3:30PM.
Thank you for your love for our Catholic Faith and commitment to our developing parish!
In the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Father Jean-Luc Zadroga, OSB
Administrator