A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

WEEKEND MINISTERS - March 24/25

4:30PM - Eucharistic Ministers Bernadette Baznik, Rebecca Farabaugh, Br. Raymond Reitmeyer Lectors - Felix Fusco, Elizabeth Marsh Altar Servers - Colton Boring, Joe Chasko

Head Usher - Mike DiCarlo 9:30AM - Eucharistic Ministers Desirée Medina, George Medina, Marlene Senko Lectors - John Baltrus, Laura Cronkhite Altar Servers - Denise Boring, Ron Lomis

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 and by appointment. 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.

John

12:20-33

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

March 17/18, 2018 Fifth Sunday of Lent

March 17/March 18 4:30PM For the Parishioners 9:30AM Margaret Popko (Peggy, Dan & Diane Kolodychak) MONDAY, March 19 - St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary 7:00PM Al & Clementine Nuzzo (Family) TUESDAY, March 20 - Lenten Weekday 8:00AM Gerald Cola, Sr. (Gerald Cola Family) WEDNESDAY, March 21 - Lenten Weekday 8:00AM Kenneth Lewonas (Family) THURSDAY, March 22 - Lenten Weekday 8:00AM For the Benefactors of St. Clare of Assisi & Their Intentions FRIDAY, March 23 - Lenten Weekday 8:00AM George J. Kacmarik (Sisters) SATURDAY, March 24 12:30 PM Reconciliation Palm Sunday - March 24/25 4:30PM Mary L. Pavlik (Family) 9:30AM For the Parishioners

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS - March 17/18 Pages 88-89

NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS - March 24/25

Isaiah 50:4-7 – Page 96-97

Philippians 2:6-11 – Page 97 Mark 14:1-15:47 – Page 98-102

Masses for the Week

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“It’s been a Long Time since my Last Confession” … St. Clare of Assisi and every Catholic parish in the Diocese will have their doors open and their lights on from 6-9PM on Wednesday, March 21. If you have been reluctant to come to the sacrament, have been away for some time or just found it difficult to get to a Saturday afternoon confession time, this is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with Christ and His Church. Remember, the Light is On for YOU!

Reflection: What is Beautiful and What gives Peace to You?

Recently I found myself a little peeved about the lack of beautiful and pristine places left in our neck of

the woods; something to enjoy without the noises and smells and residue of so-called, Progress. More and

more, it is becoming clear that Americans are more concerned with building their ‘safe’ and ‘beautiful’

environments rather than appreciating what God had already placed around them and made for them.

Years ago, on my first trip to the Canadian wilderness back in 1988, I found myself with fifteen other

paddlers putting our canoes in a crystal clear river in Western Quebec. The air had hints of cedar, birch and

once in a while, one caught the waft of a pine campfire with some tantalizing aromas that made us hungry.

For eight days we paddled, portaged and camped in pristine and beautiful areas next to lakes where we

would take our water, see and catch fish, try fresh water clams and enjoy vistas that would soothe the most

savage soul. I wish I could describe the sense of wellness, or should I say, of home, that I experienced

there. It was as if this was the place where I should hang my hat and stay forever. Paradise!

“God looked at what he made and saw that it was very good” (Genesis 1:31)

Places like this are getting more and more difficult to find and I grieve that we are hell-bent on making

sure the next generations will not have this opportunity. Why is it that we have come to believe that only if

WE make it, build it, or develop it, that there is something worthwhile to experience? Right now, in the

Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the protections given to this beautiful wilderness are being threatened by the

tearing away of the normal protocol of checks and balances. A foreign mining company is having all

protections eliminated so that it can come and use a sulfur mining process to mine for copper. This is a

dangerous process as far as the environment goes and any leak can threaten a long beloved wilderness area.

Some will say that I am against progress and business, but quite the contrary. This area has many

businesses that have thrived there for many years and will thrive there for generations if left out of the

American idea of ‘Progress’. There are restaurants, outfitters, mapmakers, camping gear manufacturers

etc., etc. Our idea of ‘progress’ seems to usually deal with industry. This mining industry will last for a

decade or so, but when a disaster happens (and it always has before with this company), it will destroy the

wilderness industry that employs thousands for generations to come. One can look at many industries in

which we have trusted that have left us abandoned and bereft of something healing and soothing for the

soul. Where is the logic with the ‘Fast Buck’ mentality?

Last week, I asked if anyone would be interested in joining the Clean Air Council. This is a group of

people brave enough to question businesses if their methods are in our best interest. This is a group of

people who can think outside of the box of the normal ‘business as usual’. I got absolutely no responses.

Maybe that’s because we are afraid of biting the hand that feeds us, but maybe we should question what we

are being fed or forced to eat and drink at times. Most often, our standing up for ourselves ends up being a

win-win situation. We win by respecting ourselves and industry wins by being creative with their use of

former waste products, (as US Steel has done through the years) and industry also wins by having good

public relations.

I am still looking for people who have some ideas how to hold on to industry, but at the same time

promote a healthy environment for the next generations.

By the way, with all the ‘fracking’ for natural gas in the area, there has been a glut of gas reserves, yet

the price for each unit of natural gas that we use in our parish has more than doubled per unit this last year.

So much for the trickle-down theory and the lie that everyone will benefit. Every beautiful beach that many

of us enjoy has been opened to the possibility of off-shore drilling now, too. Perhaps it is time, not just to

be angry with the president, but to think about the resources we all take for granted. Instead of the

American mantra, ‘Bigger is Better, we should contemplate a new mantra, ‘Less is More’. How I would

love some kids to be able to experience the gift given to me by a week in the wilderness, so they can

experience God’s intended gift to us. ~ Peace Fr. Chuck

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FISCAL YEAR JULY 2017 - JUNE 2018

Budgeted Weekly Offering Required ….... $ 5,249.00 Actual Weekly Offering (March 10/11) ..... $ 3,756.77 Weekly Deficit ……………………………… $ - 1,492.23 Campaign for Human Development …….. $ 492.00 Parish Share 2018 YTD ………………….. $ 7,911.00

OFFERTORY COLLECTION

Our Recently Departed … Robert Fleet (Former Part-Time Janitor & Father-in-Law

of Diane Fleet, 4th Grade Teacher at our Parish School)

Mary Ann Fliegel (Employee in the Accounting Office of

the Diocese of Pittsburgh for 42 years who worked closely with our parish)

Mary Ann Scapellato (Former Parishioner)

Barbara Antrom, Marge Azzari, Joe Bacha, 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, Dolly Ceryak, 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, Elizabeth Slivan, Kathleen Slivan, John Sorrentino,

Lillian Sorrentino, Rayne Tortorice, Catherine Vukovich, Ray Werner

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

Our Sick and Shut-ins ...

Our Seminarians … Kevin D. O’Connor from St. Richard Parish

Br. Rigobel Azanwi, 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

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Our SECOND COLLECTION THIS weekend is for the Caring Ministry Fund which helps those in need from our parish and community. Our SECOND COLLECTION NEXT weekend will be for the Repairs & Maintenance of our parish properties.

Next Drawing: Sat., March 31 Entered to Date: 79

CONCERNING OUR FUNDRAISERS

On Easter Sunday, April 1, Bishop David Zubik along with Auxiliary Bishop William Waltersheid and Retired Auxiliary Bishop William Winter, invite all families in the Diocese to the Annual Blessing of Families at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland at 2PM. All are welcome to the Cathedral to receive this special Blessing imparted by our bishops as they also take the opportunity to thank families for the beautiful witness of love and faith that they share with us.

The deadline for submitting donations to our Easter Flower fund is Sunday, March 26. Please use the Easter Flower envelope that is included in your envelope packet. All donations 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.

SUNDAY, MARCH 18

10:45AM - Counting Team #2 9:15-10:45AM - CCD - Grades K-4 - Holy Spirit Church

TUESDAY, MARCH 20 - First Day of Spring 7-8:15PM - CCD Grades 5-8 - Holy Spirit Church

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21

6-9PM - The Light is On For You - Reconciliation at St. Clare of Assisi and every parish in the Diocese

No Choir Practice

THURSDAY, MARCH 22

2PM - Getting More out of the Mass Series - SC Church

FRIDAY, MARCH 23

Stations of the Cross: 2PM and & 7PM

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 24 - Palm Sunday Noon - Getting More out of the Mass Series - SC Church

12:30PM - Reconciliation

Anointing after both Masses is this weekend. This sacrament may be administered or repeated to anyone suffering

from any type of illness, whether it is physical or mental.

A beautiful and powerful prayer is known as the Stations of the Cross. Somehow they move the one who prays into the moment of Christ’s Passion.

There is a direct connection to how much the Lord desires our relationship, as He has gone to every extent to make it clear to us. Come join us in this prayer. If you no longer can sit-stand-kneel, don’t worry about it, just come pray with us. You will be glad you did.

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BILLBOARD SIGNS FROM GOD

“Never deprive someone of hope …

It may be all they have.” - 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________

We Would Like to See Jesus— To see

Jesus is our ultimate goal in life. Yes, there are many ways that Jesus shows Himself to us—in the Eucharist and the other sacraments, in the hearts of those who love and serve in His name—but to meet Him in heaven is what we desire

most. Each day, not just during Lent, we should seek to follow the path that leads to Him by living virtuous lives and drawing near to God in prayer. Yet, we know that we can’t do this alone. In fact, it is the Church that Christ Himself established that is to be our support on this journey through life to the glory of heaven. As the Church of Pittsburgh is On Mission for The Church Alive! we pray that this initiative will result in a stronger, more vibrant Church. And while we may wonder if that will mean a difference in our lives, we should be assured that it will! A stronger local Church means that we will be better supported on our journey with Jesus to eternal life. Whether it’s inspiring celebrations of the sacraments or ministries that provide for the spiritual and temporal needs of all, a stronger Church will allow us to see Jesus more clearly in our midst and will give us a greater hope as we prepare to see Him in heaven. To learn more and stay informed, visit: onmissionchurchalive.org.

Our Bulletin is Sponsored This Week In Memory of

George Kacmarik, Jr. By His Sisters

Marriage MOMENTS Spring officially begins on March 20. The changing of the seasons can remind us of the changing seasons of marriage. Are you experiencing any transitions in your marriage? A new job, a move, a baby? Health or money problems? Aging? Don’t fight the change. Embrace whatever it brings. Parenting POINTERS On March 21 we honor single parents. Single parents are like a Swiss Army knife. They have to perform many functions. If you are not a single parent, help one you know this week by babysitting, providing a listening ear, etc. Family PERSPECTIVE Relationships come with a price tag. We must be willing to entrust ourselves to another, to let go of our autonomy and die to our independence. It is in dying to our independence that we find interdependence with others.

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.

Interested in becoming a Deacon? The Diocese

of Pittsburgh is initiating the nomination and application process for admitting a new class of interested and qualified men from diocesan parishes into the Deacon Formation Program. Prospective applicants should consult their pastor about submitting a nomination on their behalf. The deadline for nominations is May 15. Applications without a pastor’s nomination will not be considered. Questions? … visit: deacons@diopitt.org or call 412-456-3124.

GATHERING OF CATHOLIC MEN Saturday, April 21

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School Registration is now open for the 2018 Gathering! Doors open at 8AM; program starts at 9AM All day admission, come and go as you please First come, first serve open seating Disability seating available Free parking Food included with purchase of ticket

Visit: www.cmfpitt.org to order your ticket

God didn’t say this … but with all the rumors flying around regarding our churches … “some people should

use a Glue Stick — instead of a Chap Stick.”