Your Catholic Community Of Avella, Bulger, Burgettstown .

Your Catholic Community of Avella, Bulger, Burgettstown, Imperial, McDonald, and Oakdale.Our Lady of Lourdes1109 Main St.Burgettstown, PA 15021724-947-3363St. Ann967 Grant St.Bulger, PA 15109724-796-3791St. Alphonsus219 W. Lincoln Ave.McDonald, PA 15057724-926-2984Mass TimesSaturday evening Vigil for Sunday:4:00 p.m. St. Alphonsus4:00 p.m. St. Michael5:00 p.m. Our Lady of Lourdes6:30 p.m. St. ColumbkilleSunday:8:00 a.m. St. Columbkille8:30 a.m. St. Alphonsus9:00 a.m. St. Ann9:00 a.m. Our Lady of Lourdes10:30 a.m. St. Patrick11:00 a.m. St. Columbkille11:00 a.m. St. MichaelMonday:8:00 a.m. St. Alphonsus8:00 a.m. St. ColumbkilleTuesday:8:00 a.m. St. Patrick8:30 a.m. St. MichaelWednesday:8:30 a.m. Our Lady of Lourdes7:15 p.m. St. ColumbkilleThursday:8:00 a.m. St. Patrick6:30 p.m. Our Lady of LourdesFriday:8:00 a.m. St. Alphonsus8:00 a.m. St. AnnSt. Columbkille103 Church Rd.Imperial, PA 15126724-695-7325St.Michael95 Highland Ave.St. Patrick7322 Noblestown Rd.

St. Columbkille, Imperial, PennsylvaniaMarch 17, 2019ATTENTION GRADES 8 - 12 . . .We will be going on aCatholic Heart Work Camp mission trip to Steubenville, OH,from July 14 - 19. This is an opportunity to serve the needy,grow in your faith, make new friends, and have a ton of fun! Formore info., go to www.heartworkcamp.com. For more details,please contact Fr. Zach at 724-947-3363 or zgaliyas@diopitt.org. . . . . .If any adults with clearances are interested in chaperoning the mission trip, please contact Fr. Zach at 724-947-3363 orzgaliyas@diopitt.org. . . . . . Our next youth group event is tonight, Sunday, March17, at St. Patrick's parish hall, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. . . . . .Check out our new youth group webpage! Go towww.grouping329.org and look under the ministries tab.BAPTISM CLASS - The next baptism class for our parishgrouping will be Sat., Apr. 13, 1:00 p.m., at Our Lady ofLourdes, in the parish hall. To attend, you must register aheadof time by contacting Ms. Carmela Galloway at 724-695-7325 orstcolumbkilleparish@comcast.net. This class is for those whobelong to any of our six parishes and are baptizing their firstchild.OLSH HIGH SCHOOL NEWSOLSH Spring Open House – Wednesday, March 27, from6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Learn more about the region’s best independent Catholic high school! Take a student-led tour, learnabout our partnerships with the University of Notre Dame andJohns Hopkins University, and explore our Athletics and Activities Fair. Visit www.olsh.org to pre-register; walk-ins welcome!Contact Jessica Selman ’02, Director of Admissions, at (412)262-3300 or jsellman@olsh.org for more information. . . . . .Class of 2023 Placement Test – Saturday, March 30:OLSH will be offering its Placement Test for the Class of 2023on Saturday, March 30. All students who are interested in entering the freshman class in the fall of 2019 should attend oneof two testing sessions that day – 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. OR 1:00 to3:00 p.m. Register today under the Admissions page of ourwebsite at www.olsh.org (go to Important Dates), or call JessicaSellman ’02 at (412) 262-3300. . . . . .Apply Now for the 2019-2020 School Year! Prospective ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade students are invited to submit an application for admission at www.olsh.org. Class spaceis limited and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis.NEW PARISH WEBSITE: Are you looking for a quickand easy way to enhance your experience of Lent? Checkout our parish grouping's website (grouping329.org)! Thehome page now offers brief reflections by Bishop RobertBarron that will be updated daily throughout the Lentenseason.Schedules for April, May, and June will be completed soon.Deadline is Monday, March 18. Please have your requeststo Mary Kaye at Kropf121@verizon.net by that date.Page 2STATIONS OF THE CROSS – GROUPING 329St. Michael - Avella- Wednesdays - 4 p.m.March 20, 27, & April 3, 10, 17St. Patrick - Oakdale - Fridays - 11:30 a.m.March 22, 29, & April 5St. Ann - Bulger - Fridays - 4 p.m.March 22, 29, & April 5St. Alphonsus - McDonald, St. Columbkille - ImperialOur Lady of Lourdes - BurgettstownFridays - 7:00 p.m. - March 22, 29, & April 5On Friday, April 12, all six Parishes are invited to St. Alphonsus, McDonald, at 7 p.m., to pray the Stations of theCross together.Called by Name:We’re all called to holiness, but what does that mean?How does God invite us to holiness through His perfectplan for our lives? Come and explore our universal call toholiness as well as the particular vocations to priesthoodand the religious life at Called by Name on Sunday, April28, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at St. Paul Seminary. Thisevent, for high school men and women, features MotherClare Matthiass, CFR; Fr. Dan Waruszewski; Fr. MikeAckerman; Dave Belkowski; and Bishop David Zubik. Theevening includes Sunday Mass, dinner, dynamic talks,and a time of adoration and worship. No cost. VisitPGHPriest.com to register by April 15.Coming Together as One: Grouping 329REPORTING SESSION at St. Alphonsus Social HallSave the Date: Tuesday, March 19Mark the time: 6:30-8 PMWhat’s happens in a Reporting Session? You can: Hear the latest news about our grouping Offer to serve on a committee (your gifts are needed!) Meet fellow parishioners—both old friends and newRSVP? No need!Are you wondering if you should attend? Could be a nudge from the Holy Spirit to come!“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.”1 Cor 12:27Sponsor of the WeekJO JO’s Place Family RestaurantOpen 6 a.m.-2 p.m. - Closed SundaysJoann & Dave Keene - Parishioners

Second Sunday of LentThe Living WordIn this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus took Peter, John, andJames up to the mountaintop to pray. While at prayer, Jesus’face “changed in appearance and His clothing became a dazzling white.” Suddenly, two important Old Testament figuresappeared and began speaking with Jesus about His final journey to Jerusalem. The first was Moses, the giver of God’s Lawand the second was Elijah, the prophet through whom Godspoke to his people. As the sleeping apostles awakened, Peterbegan to speak of building tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijahwhen suddenly a cloud engulfed them and a voice proclaimed,“This is my chosen Son. Listen to Him.” When the cloudcleared, Jesus stood alone.The presence of Moses and Elijah indicates that Jesusis the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets. As a result,the faith of God’s people will now be centered in Jesus Christ –not in the Law nor the Prophets. Moreover, the broken covenantbetween God and His people will now be restored through HisSon, who will unite divinity with humanity. Jesus’ changed appearance and dazzling white clothes are signs of joy and celebration because God’s chosen Son will be returning to the Father.This transformation of Jesus was not merely for theapostles to witness – it was an invitation for them to undergo anecessary change or transformation of their own. Since Mosesand Elijah were discussing with Jesus His upcoming Passionand death on the cross, it was imperative that Peter, John, andJames “listen” to Christ. It was so important that the voice interrupted Peter’s babbling to deliver the message - “Listen to Him.”The apostles needed to be transformed from simply being followers of Jesus to serving as leaders, that is, men of action whowould continue Jesus’ mission and be the Body of Christ to theworld.This mountaintop experience has implications for modern day believers as well. During this Lenten season, we mustdiscover the cloud that casts a shadow over us and hides Jesusfrom our sight - the temptation or transgression that separatesus from God. Is it personal pleasure, power, money, status, orperhaps ego? As Jesus took the apostles up to the mountaintopto pray, so must we allow ourselves time for prayerful solitudethat welcomes the voice of God into our hearts. Then, when ourcloud dissipates, we will be able to focus on Jesus and the mission He has entrusted to us. Eventually, the time will come forus to leave the mountaintop experience and be transformed intotrue disciples of Christ - people of action who will continueChrist’s mission of serving those who live in need.How can this season of Lent be a time of transformation foryou? Are you listening to Jesus? What do you hear? Orare you spiritually asleep?Jay Speca – Director of Faith FormationPage 3MINISTERS OF WORSHIPMarch 24, 2019Lectors:6:30J. Truchan8:00G. Mehalic11:00M. FlickExtraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion6:30K. Zanella-H, G. Meyers-C, S. Zanella-C8:00 P. Liwosz-I, M. Barnes-II, B. Coates III,S. McGough-IV, J. Shemon, V, B. Teachout-Alt11:00 B. Sterner-H, M. Swaoger-C, D. Lewis-CAltar Servers:6:30S. Zanella, T. Zanella8:00C. McGough, J. Packer11:00A. Loehlein, S. LoehleinSTATIONS OF THE CROSS - March 22, 7:00 p.m.Altar Servers: J. Packer, A. Hamilton, C. StoutIt Is Good That We Are Here – As we hear the account of theTransfiguration of Jesus in today’s Gospel, it is hard notto try to imagine what that scene was like. Picture yourself standing with Peter, James and John as Jesus,joined by Moses and Elijah, suddenly appears in dazzling whiteand surrounded in glory. The reaction of those Apostles wasnot one of fear, but of joy. Peter exclaims, “it is good that weare here,” and suggests that they build tents so that they couldremain in the presence of such a glorious scene for ever. Whatthe Apostles did not know then, although we have the privilegeof realizing now, is that their desire would become the reality ofthe Church. Each time we come to Mass, Jesus is raised upbefore our very eyes as he is made present in the Eucharist. Aswe gaze upon the host we see Christ in the flesh with eyes offaith. And as we receive Him in Holy Communion, he remainswith us to strengthen us to be about the work of discipleship.While there are many crosses we currently have to bear asCatholics, the opportunities we have each week to come faceto face with our God who gives us life and assists us in carryingour crosses. Visit onmissionchurchalive.org to learn moreand to stay informed.Widowed, Separated, or Divorced?The loss of a spouse through separation, divorce, or death is atraumatic experience. The Beginning Experience weekend isintended to help widowed, divorced, or separated individualswork through the grief and begin to move forward with theirlives. The next retreat weekend is March 29-31, 2019, at theMartina Spiritual Renewal Center, 5244 Clarkin Avenue, WestView, PA 15229. Payment arrangements and possible financialassistance are available. For more info., please visit our website www.BeginningExperiencePittsburgh.com or make a confidential call to Mary at 412-523-2405 or Rob at 412-584-5575.