February 28, 2021 - Second Sunday of Lent

2310 Bedford Street • Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 15904-1127

Saint Benedict Parish Mission Statement: “To proclaim and live the message of Jesus Christ; through the power of the Holy Spirit, pray and work to build up His Church; and to do the will of the Father always and everywhere.” Parish Mo o: “Ora et Labora” - La n for “Pray and Work” - comes from the Benedic nes who were the first to staff our Parish. PARISH STAFF Rev. David S. Peles, Pastor ………… SBpastor@atlan cbb.net, Ext. 502 Rev. Antony Sudherson HGN, Parochial Vicar………………………... Ext. 507 ……………………………………………………….. frantony@stbenedictchurch.org Deacon Michael Russo ………………………………..…………….…….…… 288-3036 Deacon Michael Pleva ………………………………………………………….. Ext. 513 Mrs. Mary Fleck, Principal of Schools …………………...………. 814-961-3622 Sr. Cindy Burns, CCW ………………………. srcindy@stbenedictchurch. org

High School CCD, Confirma on, RCIA ……….….....…………………….. Ext. 301 Mrs. Michelle Roba n, Elementary CCD ……………..………….….…… Ext. 302 ………………………………………….…………...…………….... elemccd@floodcity.net Mr. Joseph Gaunt, Office of Music & Liturgy ………………...…..…. 241-1923 ……………………………………..…………..……..……………... jgaunt@atlan cbb.net BAPTISM: Parents are to be examples to their children by being registered, ac ve members of the Parish. First me parents are required to a end a Bap smal Prepara on Class. Please call the Rectory Office to make arrangements. MARRIAGE: Couples planning to marry are to make arrangements at least nine months prior to their wedding date. Diocesan Guidelines regarding Marriage Prepara on must be followed. The Catholic party/par es is/are to be registered, ac ve members in the parish. CARE OF THE SICK: Those confined to their homes by sickness or age may arrange to receive Holy Communion by calling the rectory office at 266-9718. Our priests and deacons visit all St. Benedict parishioners once a week at Memorial Medical Center or other hospitals as requested. PARISH MEMBERSHIP: New members are always welcome! If you are moving into, within, or out of the Parish please call the rectory Office and let us know.

DIRECTORY Rectory Office …. (814)266-9718 ext. 501 Rectory Fax ..................... (814)269-4220 Parish Website …... stbenedictchurch.org School Office .……………….. (814)266-3837 School Fax ………...……….… (814)266-7718 School Website …………………………………... http://www.divinemercy.academy

RECTORY OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Friday 8:00 am - Noon. Un l further no ce. Closed Saturday, Sunday & Holidays

MASS SCHEDULE

Monday - Friday … 8:00am and 12:05pm Saturday Vigil …………………........ 5:00pm Sunday ……………… 8:30am and 10:30am

CONFESSIONS

Tuesday & Thursday following the 8:00 am and 12:05 pm Masses Saturdays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:00 pm

All Confessions will be heard in Church (please note the new loca on). Weekday Confessions are heard in the Nursery / Cry Room to the right of our altar. Weekends are heard in the Priest Sacristy and the Nursery / Cry Room.

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Mass Inten ons For This Week Masks are required in Church

Mon 8:00am Special Intention (A Parishioner) 12:05pm Michael Meier, Jr. (Wendy & Jack Feathers) Tues 8:00am John Orris (Becky Lear) 12:05pm Nancy Boes (Paul & Mary Beth Marcini & Family) 6:30pm Dorothy & Thomas Markovich (Children: Matthew & Donna) Wed 8:00am Anniv. Maureen Howrylak (Husband & Family) 12:05pm Deceased Members of Bender & Mekulsia Families (Ed & Betsy Bender) 6:30pm Special Devotions to St. Joseph Thurs 9:00am Charles & Rita Tourney (Karen McGowan) 12:05pm Anniv. Frank Feyock, Sr. (McGowan Family) Fri 8:00am Ray Boes (Wife & Family) 12:05pm Vera Hornick (Mr/s John Galiote) Sat 5:00pm Paul Shiley (John & Michelle) Anthony Profaizer (Valerie Orris) Sun 8:30am B-day Anita Knapp (Sister: Joanne) B-day John Bunja (Daughter: Virginia) 10:30am Mass for the Parishioners

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Dn 9:4b-10; Ps 79:8, 9, 11, 13; Lk 6:36-38

Tuesday: Is 1:10, 16-20; Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23; Mt 23:1-12

Wednesday: Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31:5-6, 14-16; Mt 20:17-28

Thursday: Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 16:19-31

Friday: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Ps 105:16-21; Mt 21:33-43, 45-46

Saturday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20; Ps 103:1-4, 9-12; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Sunday: Ex 20:1-17 [1-3, 7-8, 12-17]; Ps 19:8-11; 1 Cor 1:22-25; Jn 2:13-25 Alternate readings (Year A): Ex 17:3-7; Ps 95:1-2, 6-9; Rom 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn 4:5-42 [5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42]

Religious and Social Events This Weekend Sun 8:30am Mass / Church 9:00 - 10:15am Elementary CCD 10:00am - 5:00pm Junior Retreat - Parish Hall 10:30am Mass / Church 1:00pm Distribu on of Communion / Church Mon 7:00 - 8:00am Exposi on of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00am Mass / Church 12:05pm Mass / Church 6:00pm Parish Council Mee ng / Parish Hall Tues 7:00 - 8:00am Exposi on of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00am Mass followed by Confessions 12:05pm Mass followed by Confessions 6:30pm Evening Mass / Church Wed 7:00 - 8:00am Exposi on of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00am Mass / Church 12:05pm Mass / Church 6:00pm RCIA / JP II / St. JP II / Virtual 6:30pm Devo ons / Year of St. Joseph - Church Thurs 8:00 - 8:45am Exposi on of the Blessed Sacrament 9:00am Mass 10:00am Sr. Cindy Adult Ed / Virtual 12:05pm Mass First Friday Sta ons of the Cross Fri 7:00 - 8:00am Exposi on of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00am Mass 12:05am Mass 1:30pm Sta ons / Church 6:30pm Sta ons / Church

Knights of Columbus Food Drive Weekend Sat 8:00am Men’s Group / ZOOM 9:00am Distribu on of Communion / Church 9:30am - 11:30am Bible Study / ZOOM 3:00pm Confessions will be heard in the Priest Sacristy and the Nursery / Cry Room 5:00pm Mass / Church Sun 8:00am Mass / Church 8:45-10:15am Confirma on Sessions / JPII 9:00 - 10:15am NO Elementary CCD 10:30am Mass / Church 1:00pm Distribu on of Communion / Church

Second Sunday of Lent

If God is for us, who can be against us? — Romans 8:31b

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Our Parish Pastoral Council mee ng has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Monday, March 1st at 6:00 pm due to last week’s weather. All members are encouraged to a end.

Men’s Group meets this Saturday March 6th from 8:00 -9:30 am via Zoom (hoping to be Live at High-land Park star ng in April!) This mee ng we’ll feature Ma hew Kelly’s talk on Holy Moments. It’s a great 20 minute piece on how to live a holy life, which is really just made up of Holy Moments. Join your Men’s Group friends on this call and you’ll find out why so many of us have been doing this for over 20 years. It’s the best Men’s Group since Jesus! E-mail jeff.philibin@primelending.com to get on our e-mail list and we’ll get the Zoom Link out to you.

Join us every Friday during Lent at 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm for Sta ons of the Cross.

St. Benedict Church Bible Study con nues on Saturday Mornings from 9:30 am - 11:30 am. The St. Benedict Church weekly Bible Study con nues on Zoom. The new study is tled, “Understanding the Word of God Wri en in the Words of Man.”

Our Oblates are going ZOOM un l further no ce With the covid-19 restric ons in place, we will con nue to meet ONLINE via the ZOOM program. The next mee ng is scheduled for Monday, March 8, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. It is a great way to connect with other Oblates as we journey together. This mee ng is open to everyone (Oblates and those interested in the Benedic ne Oblate Program) At this March mee ng we will be discussing our thoughts on St. Joseph If you would like to a end, send an email to Dea-con Michael at michael.russo@atlan cbb.net Dea-con needs to know who is a ending the meeting so he can contact you with a link for ZOOM. ZOOM works on smart phones, iPads and other tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. It is very easy to use. Come and join us!

Pray For. . . . . . the repose of the souls of Dr. Thomas Cardellino, Aileen Paxton, Edgar “Dean “ Thomas and Annemarie Puto who have entered eternal life. May Thomas, Aileen, Dean and Annemarie rest in God’s peace and may the comfort of the Lord be with their families.

. . . remember in your charity the homebound, elderly, sick and hospitalized members of our Parish Family, especially Paul Piatek, Fr. Sean Cody, Richard, Bernard and Patricia Paruch, Mary Magro, Tom Kleban, Florence Nagle, Joyce Motter, Bob Kamler, Michele Iachini-Dellapenta, Rita Kaina, Norma Jean Simmons, Patty Mainhart, Brittney Diveley, Heather, Maryann, Kelsey, Marilyn Peles, Carrie Paros, Steve Ulanowsi, Sandy Heilmann, Frank Arcurio, Janet Lozanoff, Ernie Esposi-to, Susie Sharpe, Mary Bertino, Mary Burns, Sandy Kloo, Susie Newcom-er & family, Cora Rhodes, William Willet, Ruth Villa, Mary Ann, Paul Harnish, Dave Ellis, Marie Slanac, Fr. Walter Moll, Arthur Munjone, Mary Jo Hall, George Randal, Sr., G. Gehlman, Michelle Herdman, Tracy Mowery, Angie Krestar, Nancy Calafiore, Marg, Tim B., Michael Calafio-re, Jr., Sandy & John Hunsinger, Fr. Chuck Bridges, Pat Mikulsky, Martha Banda, Tom & Barbara Sharpe, Ian McCue, Evelyn Maria Zubak, Greg, Lisa Moore, Rita Bates, Mary Ann Townsend, Jim Vizzini, Rick Novella, Jay, Arlene, Noah Latronica, Averis, Mary Ann, Diane, Betty, Susanne Kuerner, John Schultz, Robbie Wright, Ernest, Nancy Russo, Dorothy Katcher, Nancy Tipton, David Grigg, Linda Bettle, Evelyn Yost, Alan Klaum, Mary Ann Hrabosky, Baby Ryder, Paul Yeager, Linda Urban, Lori Sturek, Judy Furfari, Chris Smith, Jordan, Baby Charlotte Trabold, Joye Stephens, Eric Tipton, Becky Staley, Tom Skrout, Michelle Kuruzovich, Nina Debias, Patti Sliko, Michelle Smith, Kathleen Miller, Margaret, Rich-ard, Frederick, Steve Knowlton, William Eggert, Robin Sorch, Joel Rivera, Carolyn and Donna Markum, Mercedes, Robert C., Mary Ann Barnes, Dan Delp, Danielle Gleason, Bob, Jimmy Brothers, Dana Wilson, Maurene Romano, Ben Berkebile, Sylvia Latchney, Mary Ann Edsall, Suzie Gredesky, Patricia Hillegas, Jackson Kneib, Ben, Irene Zankey, Christopher Norton, Mary & Bob Goas, Jeffrey, Penelope Sopich, Jerry, Angie Naskali, Lynn Lubinsky, Austin Birus, Sarah, Mark Williams, Kathryn, Jim Stiffler, Bob Jeschonek, Bobby Cates, Deanna, Rose Cale, Bryson Miller, Stella Neuder, Rosemary Stump, Jeremy Minor, Russ Bobkoskie, Jillian, Joe, Helene Barron, Ray, Elizabeth Wilson, Margarete Riederer, Eileen Leuser, Robert Kormanik, Margaret Brown, Ruth Boes, Gary Single, Brett Greenhill, Jeffrey Hope, Baby Ashlyn, Chad, Joan Parks, Doris Pepple, Cindy Rummel, Ashley Bassette, June Shaw, George Lulos, Frank Fratrich, Jan Seitz - Molchany, Barry Vill, Nina Roman, Lee Herdman, Noah, Pat McClafferty, Doug Osborne, Kay Gorczycki, Basil Constantino, Ron Rayman, Kathleen Hennessey, Patricia Renaud, Ken Julian, Chris Howie, Krista Walker, Josh, Rudy Lapid, Justine, Allison Krischer, Darin Roles, Amy, Vincent Spinelli, Jim Stem, Charles Donald Jacobs, Kathy Kohan, Mary Susan, Lissa Gindlesperger, Ken Blasko, Helen Rizzo, Pat Smith, Mary Louise Pollock, Maurice Herdman, Jr., Sue Wil-liams, Joe Walbeck, Jill, Harry Gorman, Jonathan W., Mark, Braden Scho-feld, David Dabbs, Jacob Sutton, Danielle Sopich, Betty Horner, Gia Buc-ci, Bob Bark, Derek Brozozowski, Antonia Ramirez, Jessi, Lance Hupko-vich, Janet S., Atlas, Ashley Maciejewski, George, Regina Hoover, John Orlosky, Rebecca Boring, Brayden Yorchak, Sean Aveni, Cheryl Bailey, John Glenn, Theresa Balon, Rudy, Nicholas, Bryan Mahon, Nicole Mick-olick, Ted Bishof, John William, Douglas Shaffer, Jacqueline Beltz and their courageous families who are caring for them. May they be united in a special way with the suffering Christ.

If you wish to have your name removed, please contact the parish office at 266-9718 ext. 501. Thank you.

Thanks to our adver sers who sponsor this bulle n. Support them with your business.

Martella’s Pharmacies

February 28, 2021 Second Sunday of Lent Page Four

Sr. Cindy’s Adult Educa on: is Online! Classes are being held on Microso Teams. You do not have to have Microso Teams to par cipate. If you would like to join in, contact Sr. Cindy at srcindy@stbenedictchurch.org. We are studying the le er to the Hebrews.

CONFIRMATION: Members of our 11th grade class will be joining the congrega on of the 10:30 Mass for their Junior Retreat. Please pray for our teens as they spend the day in prayer and ac vi es, learning to be disciples of Jesus Christ and preparing for the Sacrament of Confirma on.

RCIA: Today at the 8:30 Mass, our candidate for full communion in the Catholic Church, Amy Kelly, will par cipate in the Peniten al Rite, a ritual asking God to strengthen her resolve against evil and to protect her as she journeys to the Easter Sacraments. Please con nue to keep Amy in your prayers.

During the Lenten Season we are having an evening Mass every Tuesday at 6:30 pm. Sta ons of the Cross will be every Friday at 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm. Please note the new me for a ernoon Sta ons of the Cross.

Deacon Michael’s Mission Update The St. Benedict Church Mission Apostolate is off to a good start. As a parish community we are assis ng ministries in Nigeria, India, and Pakistan. Linus, the seminarian we are helping in Nigeria, has distributed over 10,000 rosaries, 3,000 holy cards, scapulars, and other religious ar cles and pray aids to the adults and children he visits in the villages. In Pakistan and India, we are helping to provide books, clothing, food, and assis ng in school repairs so the children can have a safe place to learn. Persecu on of Chris ans is a serious issue in these countries.

Are you using your Lenten Folders? We do not take up collec ons at our Lenten Masses or at any Lenten Devo ons in the hope that every member of our parish family will use and return the Lenten Folders and Mite Boxes as part of your personal sacrifices during the Lenten Season. We appeal to every family to share in this special Lenten denial prac ce. Our St. Benedict Finance Council agreed to donate our annual Lenten Folder contribu ons to the mission cause. Please be generous. Also, please visit our website (stbenedictchurch.org) to learn more and see the photos. Our foreign ministry has been providing aid since March 2020.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ON TUESDAY - We would like to bring back Tuesday Eucharis c Adora on! We need your help in doing this. We are looking for individuals to commit to one hour or more of your me. If you signed up in the fall, we have your name on the list. If you would like to volunteer (Adora on is from 12:30pm-4:00 pm) please contact the Parish Office during regular business hours. Thank you.

If you are a parishioner and in need of an Easter Food Basket, please contact the Parish Office 266-9718 ext. 501 during regular business hours. We are hoping to assist you this Easter Season.

We are ramping up our Bonanza Ticket Program with the evening lo ery number beginning Sunday, March 21st. If you have not already returned your ckets, please do so now.

Just a reminder that all Fridays during Lent are days of abs nence. FASTING refers to only one full meal, with two small meals and no ea ng otherwise for the day. ABSTINENCE refers to not ea ng meat at all throughout the day. All those who have reached their 14th year are obliged to ABSTAIN. The Church directs the holy FAST to all those in their 18th year un l their 60th year (Canon 1252).

We are sorry to inform you that our Annual Reunion has been cancelled. Our Reunion Commi ee has been working diligently to come up with other fundraisers. Our first fundraiser will be a sausage sandwich take - out, which is scheduled for Sunday, April 25th. Please watch the bulle n for details. Because of the cancella on of the Reunion, we will not be having the “Children’s Lenten Reunion Tree” which helped fund Children’s World.

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St. Benedict’s Finance Council is responsible for monitoring the financial health of our parish. We believe it is important to keep our parishioners informed of how we are doing. In order to help with this goal, we have been pos ng financial data on a quarterly basis. Below is a lis ng of monthly income and expenses for the fourth quarter of 2020. Items marked with *** are those that occur infrequently and can have a significant effect on the month which they take place. Thank you all for your con nued support of St. Benedict Church! Church Financial Report

4th Quarter 2020

During these unprecedented mes, we are all being affected by the Covid-19 crisis. Thank you all for your prayers and con nued support of the financial needs of our parish. We have taken steps to reduce expenses and have seen incredible support from our parish-ioners. We will con nue to manage our finances wisely and we hope and pray to see all of you very soon.

The Year of St. Joseph

An Accep ng Father Joseph accepted Mary uncondi onally. He trusted in the angel’s words. “The nobility of Joseph’s heart is such that what he learned from the law he made dependent on charity. Today, in our world where psychological, verbal and physical violence towards women is so evident, Joseph appears as the figure of a respec ul and sensi ve man. Even though he does not understand the bigger picture, he makes a decision to protect Mary’s good name, her dignity and her life. In his hesita on about how best to act, God helped him by enlightening his judgment”.[18] O en in life, things happen whose meaning we do not understand. Our first reac on is frequently one of disappoint-ment and rebellion. Joseph set aside his own ideas in order to accept the course of events and, mysterious as they seemed, to embrace them, take responsibility for them and make them part of his own history. Unless we are recon-ciled with our own history, we will be unable to take a single step forward, for we will always remain hostage to our expecta ons and the disappointments that follow. The spiritual path that Joseph traces for us is not one that explains, but accepts. Only as a result of this acceptance, this reconcilia on, can we begin to glimpse a broader history, a deeper meaning. We can almost hear an echo of the impassioned reply of Job to his wife, who had urged him to rebel against the evil he endured: “Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” (Job 2:10). Joseph is certainly not passively resigned, but courageously and firmly proac ve. In our own lives, acceptance and welcome can be an expression of the Holy Spirit’s gi of for tude. Only the Lord can give us the strength needed to accept life as it is, with all its contradic ons, frustra ons and disappointments. Jesus’ appearance in our midst is a gi from the Father, which makes it possible for each of us to be reconciled to the flesh of our own history, even when we fail to understand it completely. Just as God told Joseph: “Son of David, do not be afraid!” (Mt 1:20), so he seems to tell us: “Do not be afraid!” We need to set aside all anger and disappointment, and to embrace the way things are, even when they do not turn out as we wish. Not with mere resigna on but with hope and courage. In this way, we become open to a deeper meaning. Our lives can be miraculously reborn if we find the courage to live them in accordance with the Gospel. It does not ma er if everything seems to have gone wrong or some things can no longer be fixed. God can make flowers spring up from stony ground. Even if our heart condemns us, “God is greater than our hearts, and he knows every-thing” (1 Jn 3:20). Here, once again, we encounter that Chris an realism which rejects nothing that exists. Reality, in its mysterious and irreducible complexity, is the bearer of existen al meaning, with all its lights and shadows. Thus, the Apostle Paul can say: “We know that all things work together for good, for those who love God” (Rom 8:28). To which Saint Augus ne adds, “even that which is called evil (e am illud quod malum dicitur)”.[19] In this greater perspec ve, faith gives meaning to every event, however happy or sad. Nor should we ever think that believing means finding facile and comfor ng solu ons. The faith Christ taught us is what we see in Saint Joseph. He did not look for shortcuts, but confronted reality with open eyes and accepted personal responsibility for it. Joseph’s a tude encourages us to accept and welcome others as they are, without excep on, and to show special concern for the weak, for God chooses what is weak (cf. 1 Cor 1:27). He is the “Father of orphans and protector of widows” (Ps 68:6), who commands us to love the stranger in our midst.[20] I like to think that it was from Saint Joseph that Jesus drew inspira on for the parable of the prodigal son and the merciful father (cf. Lk 15:11-32).

[18] Homily at Mass and Beatifications, Villavicencio, Colombia (8 September 2017): AAS 109 (2017), 1061. [19] Enchiridion de fide, spe et caritate, 3.11: PL 40, 236. [20] Cf. Deut 10:19; Ex 22:20-22; Lk 10:29-37.

February 28, 2021 Second Sunday of Lent Page Six

Special Devo ons during the Year of St. Joseph

St. Benedict Church Wednesdays at 6:30 pm March 3rd, 10th and 17th

Sta ons of the Cross Litany of St. Joseph

Exposi on of the Blessed Sacrament Scripture Reading

Homily

Confessions will be offered March 10th

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