A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

Masses for the Week

WEEKEND MINISTERS - February 24/25

4:30PM - Eucharistic Ministers Regina Behary, Russell Behary, Jennifer Massaro Lector - Michael Thornton Altar Servers - Colton Boring, Joe Chasko

Head Usher - Mike DiCarlo 9:30AM - Eucharistic Ministers Susan Finnegan, Marlene Senko, John Vitullo Lector - Lori Chasko Altar Servers - Elizabeth Marsh, Kevin Stretavski

Head Usher - Vince Gori

MISSION STATEMENT We are a Family,

United in the Eucharist,

Guided by the Holy Spirit,

Called by Jesus Christ to Grow

in Faith, Love and Prayer

in Harmony with the

Universal Catholic Church

We will achieve our parish mission by worshipping together and working to evangelize, educate and serve

each other and the entire community.

PASTOR: Rev. Charles J. Baptiste STUDENT RESIDENT PRIEST: Rev. Fortunatus Mugisha BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathleen Ulmer SECRETARY: Marie Perticone MUSIC MINISTRY: Sean Thornton BUILDINGS & GROUNDS: Amy Ference HOMEBOUND MINISTRY: Beverly Mazza SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATOR: Lorraine Carter ABUSE HOTLINE: 1-800-932-0313 VICTIM ASSISTANCE HOTLINE: 1-888-808-1235 MASSES: Saturday 4:30PM (Sunday Vigil) Sunday 9:30AM Weekdays 7:00PM (Monday) 8:00AM (Tuesday thru Friday) RECONCILIATION: After Mass on Monday Evenings & 12:30PM Saturdays BAPTISMS: Call the Parish Office to schedule a class; then a day and time. WEDDINGS: Call the Parish Office at least six months in advance. The Diocese requires each couple to attend a pre-marriage course. ST. CLARE CEMETERY: Worthington Ave. For Cemetery information, call Catholic Parish Cemeteries Association at 412-256-9370.

St. Clare of Assisi Parish

Parish Office: 460 Reed Street Clairton PA 15025

Phone: 412-233-7870 Fax: 412-233-0742

Office Hours: Mondays - Thursdays 8AM-2PM

CLOSED Fridays

Email: stclaresec@comcast.net

Web Site: www.stclareofassisiparish.com

February 17/18, 2018 First Sunday of Lent

February 17/February 18 4:30PM Loretta & Felix Colecchi (Donna DiLonardo) 9:30AM For the Parishioners MONDAY, February 19 - Lenten Weekday 7:00PM James M. Tullius (Family) TUESDAY, February 20 - Lenten Weekday 8:00AM Vincent DiLonardo (Jo Ohm) WEDNESDAY, February 21 - St. Peter Damian, Doctor of the Church 8:00AM Neil C. Brown (Daughter, Dorothy Romanelli) THURSDAY, February 22 - The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle 8:00AM For The Benefactors of St. Clare of Assisi & Their Intentions FRIDAY, February 23 - St. Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr 8:00AM Mary Louise Hickey (Patrick & M.C. Thornton) SATURDAY, February 24 12:30 PM Reconciliation SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT - February 24/25 4:30PM For the Parishioners 9:30AM Sally McBride (Howard McBride II)

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS - February 17/18 Pages 73-75

NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS - February 25/26 Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 – Page 75-76

Romans 8:31b-34 – Page 76 Mark 9:2 – Page 77

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18

10:45AM - Counting Team #4 9:15-10:45AM - CCD - Grades K-4 - Holy Spirit

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Presidents Day - Parish Office Closed

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20

5:30PM - Finance Council Meeting - Parish Office 7-8:15PM - CCD Grades 5-8 - Holy Spirit

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21

6:30PM - Choir Practice

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22

2PM - Getting More out of the Mass Series - SC Church 6:30PM - Apostolate Committee Meeting - Parish Office

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Stations of the Cross: 2PM and & 7PM

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: 2:30-7PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Noon - Getting More out of the Mass Series - SC Church 12:30PM - Reconciliation

Reflection: Why Retreat? One of the gifts the Church offers its clergy, in fact urges us to do, is to take an annual eight-day retreat, either directed or private. Usually, I will go for four or five days, deluding myself that I shouldn’t be away that long. A man can make himself believe almost anything, that he is indispensable, but a man of the cloth ought to realize that the work he does is not his work but the work of the Lord. Our mantra should always be, “Thy Will Be Done!” My van was loaded with supplies; a bible, a couple books to read, Pilgrimage by Mark Shriver and When the Lion Roars by Stephen J. Rossetti, a book about mysticism. There was food, enough that would have lasted a couple weeks and some sourdough starter and necessary warm clothing. When arriving in the North Country, there was already several inches of snow. I couldn’t get the van to even start up the steep incline before crossing a field to the Shack (my retreat house). On Monday afternoon, my brother called and offered to tow me up the hill with his truck. We slipped, but made it. Getting the woodstove fire started and everything moved in, my retreat began. I see why the church asks us to retreat for eight days. It takes a couple of days just to get out of the routine and demands of daily expectations; self-imposed and those others have of you. Tuesday morning, I wake up late, but to a fresh four inches of snow. I thought, ‘Yes, there is no way I can come down from the mountain now’! This was a sign, to me that I was supposed to be where I was and to enjoy this time with the Lord. After Morning Prayer, it was time to sweep the snow off the ramps; one to get to and from the car and the other to the firewood pile. I’m so glad I just got new tires on my wheelchair. Then, time for a homemade breakfast of bacon and sourdough blueberry pancakes. I prayed a rosary, thinking about the rosary gang here at the parish and had Mass in the afternoon with my brother and sister-in-law. Later, I try to make a little flat bread with the sourdough; it is ‘starting to go crazy’. The next day was about the same routine including more snow. Schools were closed that day so my brother’s kids also joined for the afternoon Mass. We spend time talking about the readings together when having these informal Masses at home. It is so nice to hear their perceptions of the Word. The book Pilgrimage is about the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, his childhood, his family (especially his Grandma Rosa), his call to the Jesuits, the priesthood, his work as a novice master, then as the Superior General, i.e., leader of the Jesuits in that territory. The book reveals his strengths and his failures. The book is a moving journal of the man we now know as Pope Francis. This was a man who understood the effects of living in the wake of the unrestricted pursuit of wealth by those who hold great worldly power. He had and has a great love for those in the dredges. As the bishop and then Archbishop of Argentina, his people found him to be the same person, with no change of heart for what many would call ‘The Finer Things of Life’. The other book, When the Lion Roars, is a primer on being a mystic. Don’t be afraid of that word. A mystic, simply put, is someone open to having a personal relationship with God; a God who cares to communicate with His beloved. The first chapters deal with pride; the pride of one believing he has the full knowledge of God and His will because of his first and powerful encounter. Next, he deals with our tendency to judge others, their

relationship with God and their worthiness to stand before Him. The author beautifully provokes the reader to come to know his own sinfulness, his brokenness first. Then, being humbled, come to perceive the world through a different light. In this light, one can see the beauty in themselves and even people who live, as some would call, the cesspools of the world. As someone who had so many blessings growing up, I often had little hope for the Lord to love me in my brokenness. I can’t imagine what it must be like for those without the benefits I had growing up with love and faith to encourage me. Pope Francis, having a solid belief in a Good God, one who gets the situation of the poor and oppressed, knows a God who loves them despite the situation of their lives. Somehow, Francis understands our Lord’s love for those who seem outcast to those we might consider ‘Blessed’ in our society. There once was a story of a little boy throwing beached horseshoe crabs back into the sea. An onlooker said, “What good is what you are doing, going to do for all those crabs?” The boy, as he threw another into the sea responded. “It means a lot to this one”. To me, ‘this one’ is each one of us. (There was so much more to the experience…but too much for right now.) On the day to leave, the ground was exposed where my brother tried to plow a way for me. It was frozen as I left, but coming down the mountain, there was a southerly exposure on a bend banked the wrong way. The van slipped into the snow, threatening to go down in a ravine. One more time, my brother came to my rescue and I came down from the mountain refreshed and renewed.

Peace, Fr. Chuck

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FISCAL YEAR JULY 2017 - JUNE 2018

Budgeted Weekly Offering Required ….... $ 5,249.00 Actual Weekly Offering (Feb. 10/11) …..... $ 3,619.00 Weekly Deficit ……………………………… $ -1,630.00 Souper Bowl Day of Caring ………………. $ 500.00 Parish Share 2018 YTD ………………….. $ 3,437.00

OFFERTORY COLLECTION

Our Recently Departed … Kathleen D’Imperio

James Felicetty and Louise Felicetty (Brother and Niece of Carol Thornton) Francis First (Brother of Former Parishioners

Mary Briggs & Deb Donnelly†)

Next Drawing: Wednesday, February 28 Entered to Date: 83

Dean Ackinclose, Barbara Antrom, Fr. Chuck Baptiste, Bill Baznik, Fred Bercik, Eleanor Berggren, Frances Bindas, Caden Boring, Cullen Boring, Carol Burgess, Rich Burgess,

Tom Caldwell, Maria Campano, Kathleen Cassady, Genevieve DelVecchio, Anne Donnelly, Sheila Eddy,

Rebecca Farabaugh, Meryl Ferrare, Pat Grguric, Stanley Kaska, Off. James Kuzak Jr., Audrey Mihalko, Rev. Peter Murphy, Virginia Perlick, Nancy Razorsek, Ralph Reitmeyer, Betty Rothbauer, Edgar Shandel,

Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy, Elizabeth Slivan, Kathleen Slivan, Rayne Tortorice, Catherine Vukovich

~ and all Names and Intentions listed in our Prayer Request Book

Our Sick and Shut-ins ...

Our Seminarians … Aaron T. Ledgerwood from St. Regis Parish

Br. Andrew Corriente, OFM Cap

Family members of our parishioners serving in the Military:

Dante Capane, Richard Cronkhite, Tara Felker, Michael Goliat, Jason Middleton, Garrett Santoline, Michael Santoline,

Anthony Svetz, Luke Thornton, Zachary Thornton, Andrew West, Jeffery West, Jeffrey Yuhas

Please remember St. Clare of Assisi Parish in your Will or Estate Plan.

CONCERNING OUR FUNDRAISERS

Please use the Easter Flower envelope that is included in your February envelope packet to make a donation that will be used to purchase the flowers and decorations in Church this Easter Season. All memorials will be listed in the Special Intention Book in Church. The deadline for submitting donations is Sunday, March 25.

Take time to stop at the large wooden cross that has once again been placed in front of our church altar rail. Write a note with a gesture of kindness or sacrifice that

you will be making for the sake of His Kingdom this Lenten season, or submit a sin on a slip of white paper (signifying the Lord’s loin cloth). Fold the note over so that it will not be read by others and use a “red” push pin (signifying the blood our Lord shed for us) and “Nail it to the Cross” as a gesture of your repenting. You can also just place a note on the cross. (Do not sign your name on the note.) After the Good Friday services, the papers will be removed and will be burned to start the Easter Fire. Our sins, so to speak, will be burnt up in the consuming fire of God’s Love. May you have a blessed Lent this year!

We have ADORATION every Friday after the 2PM Stations of the Cross until the 7PM Stations of the Cross begin. Please take this opportunity to set aside time to visit with the Lord, so that there will always be someone present throughout the day. Sign up for designated periods of time on the Sign-up Sheets that are at the back of the church.

For those wanting a little deeper understanding of our faith, St. Clare of Assisi Parish is offering a 5-week series on the Mass entitled, “Getting More Out of the Mass”. This could be something positive you can do to prepare for your Lenten Sacrifice. The series will be offered at two different times; starting on Thursdays from February 22 through March 22 at 2PM (or) on Saturdays from February 24 through March 24 at Noon. A donation of $5 will cover the cost of the booklet. Call our parish office to register.

Our SECOND COLLECTION NEXT weekend will be for the Repairs and Maintenance of our parish properties.

THANK YOU … to the Apostolate Committee for once

again providing the Lenten Inserts that will be in our Bulletin for the next six weeks. We hope you enjoy reading them.

Just a Reminder … With the current weather conditions,

please refrain from putting wet, snowy, salt-encrusted shoes and boots on the kneelers. Those following you will appreciate the dry kneelers when they pray!

During this cold and flu season, shaking hands is an option during the Sign of Peace. Please use your judgement. ATTENTION MINISTERS: If unable to serve on your

scheduled date, you are asked to find a replacement for yourself. One can’t assume that there will always be an extra Eucharistic Minister, Lector or Altar Server at mass to take your place. We hope that more parishioners may be interested in joining our Ministries. Please give it some thought and prayer this Lenten season.

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BILLBOARD SIGNS FROM GOD

“Forgiveness does not change the past,

but it does enlarge the future.”

- God

CONCERNING OUR DIOCESE & COMMUNITY

PARISH MEMBERSHIP FORM Registering at our Parish is a declaration of your desire to be part of a Catholic community.

We extend a warm welcome and hope you will find our Parish Community a place where your faith will be nourished.

If you are moving into, or out of the Parish, please let us know. Fill out this Form and return it to the Parish Office.

NAME______________________________________________ADDRESS__________________________________________ TELEPHONE________________________________________ __________________________________________ Check One: New________ Change of Address________ Moving out of Parish________ Want Envelopes________

This is the Time of Fulfillment —The season of Lent is our yearly spiritual journey with Jesus through his passion, death and resurrection. As a community of faith, we mark those important moments along the road to Calvary

where Jesus revealed the immense depth of God’s love for us. Individually, we choose to immerse ourselves in deeper prayer, the suffering of fasting and increased good works so that we might have our hearts transformed and made ever more like God’s, so that we can continue to reflect his great love in the world. This is a task that cannot wait. While we hope that heaven awaits us at a time still to come, we are called to ready ourselves now and be firmly set on the path to salvation. On Mission for The Church Alive! seeks to strengthen our communities of faith so that we might have every help and opportunity to be prepared for the Kingdom of God. May we be prepared during this time of fulfillment for all that God will work for us and through us. Visit: onmissionchurchalive.org to stay informed.

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Our Bulletin is Sponsored This Week In Memory of

Rocco & Rose Curinga By Family

The Aging Institute at UPMC McKeesport (Crawford Building, 1500 Fifth Avenue) is hosting a presentation on Senior Nutrition on Wednesday, February 28 at 1PM. The psychological changes associated with aging and how they impact the unique nutritional needs of seniors will be discussed. Call 412-644-3463 to RSVP.

Divorced Catholics and everyone else who may be interested in learning about the Annulment Process are welcome to attend a free workshop with Jay Conzemius, JCL, Judge and Moderator of the Diocesan Tribunal. Topics will include marriage annulment types and why, when and how to start the annulment process. Presentations are offered at five locations in the local parish halls on: Wednesday, February 21 at 7PM at St. Killian (Cranberry Twp.); Saturday, February 24 at 5:15PM at St. Anne (Castle Shannon); Tuesday, March 6 at 7PM at St. Bede (Point Breeze); Wednesday, March 7 at 7PM at St. Peter (Slippery Rock); and Tuesday, March 13 at 7PM at St. Ann (Waynesburg). No reservations are required, but if you plan to attend, please email: AnnulmentsIntake@diopitt.org so that seating arrangements can be made. All are welcome.

Marriage MOMENTS Ways to Turn Off Your Beloved … Let your body language show disdain or contempt. Rolling your eyes, a scowl, ignoring a request by walking away, etc., can speak louder than a yell. Check out any belittling mannerisms you may have that hurt your spouse. Family PERSPECTIVE Jesus went into the desert to put his life into perspective. This Lent, take a fresh look at a difficult relationship in your life. Concentrate on the positive things that person does, not just the negatives. Try to understand why their behaviors “bug” you. Can you honestly share your feelings with them without attacking them? Make Lent a time to MEND and FORGIVE!

Anyone 60 and over who has difficulty getting out can sign up for a FREE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM that is being offered through support from YWCA of Pittsburgh, the United Way and Travelers Aid. The Program is designed to help seniors get out of the house and stay active. If you know anyone who could use this service, please have them call Cindy Moore at 412-897-3811. This has been a widely accepted and used resource for our community. You can help this Program help others by spreading the word.

The next Substance Addiction Ministry (SAM)Rosary for Recovery will be held on Wednesday, February 21 at 7PM at St. Coleman Parish (100 Tri-Boro Avenue, Turtle Creek). The Rosary will be 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, call Noreen at 412-296-1709.