St. Raymond of the Mountains 170 School House Lane, P.O. Box 330, Donegal, PA 15628 724-593-7479

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust and A Parish of the Diocese of Greensburg

St. Raymond of the Mountains Parish Mission Statement

We, the parish of St. Raymond of the Mountains (Donegal, PA)

are situated in a resort area and comprised of many rural communi-

ties. We come together to share and strengthen our faith in God

and each other by celebrating the sacraments and striving to follow

God’s teaching. We are called to be open to the Holy Spirit and to

build a stronger Faith Community by serving the needs of others,

by educating, and by welcoming all.

BAPTISMS:

Please contact the Parish Office for Baptism.

MARRIAGES:

Arrangements should be made with the Pastor

at least one year in advance.

Contact Information:

Parish Office ............................... 724-593-7479

Parish Fax ................................... 724-593-5934

Website - www.straymondchurch.org

Online Giving Service

(web base electronic contributions, safe & secure) Visit www.straymondchurch.org, select the Online

Giving link and follow the commands

Catholic Charities Help Line 1-866-409-6455

In the event of inclement weather: Please check our parish

activities of cancellations at KDKA channel 2

CONFESSIONS:

Saturday: 3:30 PM.

MASSES:

Saturday (Vigil): 4:30 PM.

Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM.

Daily Mass: 8:00 AM at St. Raymond Chapel

(under office) Except Friday.

An Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction:

Every First Friday of the month after the 8:00 AM Mass until 10:00 AM.

Holy Days: See bulletin

BULLETIN DEADLINE: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 AM to

4:00 PM. Closed Friday.

February 24, 2019

Parish Staff:

Rev. Richard J. Kosisko, Administrator

Email ……………... rkosisko@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Rev. Teodoro Abner Cortezano, Parochial Vicar

Email ………….... tcortezano@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Bill Pospisil, Coordinator of Faith Formation

Email……..……….. bpospisil@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Mary Strucaly, Parish Secretary

Email……….…. ....mstrucaly@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Addy Evangeliste, Bulletin & Parish Website Email………….. aevangeliste@dioceseofgreensburg.org

St. Raymond of the Mountains Church February 24, 2019

Readings for the week of February 24, 2019

Sunday: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23/Ps 103:1-2,

3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 [8a]/1 Cor 15:45-49

Lk 6:27-38

Monday: Sir 1:1-10/Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 [1a]

Mk 9:14-29

Tuesday: Sir 2:1-11/Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40

[cf. 5]/Mk 9:30-37

Wednesday: Sir 4:11-19/Ps 119:165, 168, 171, 172,

174, 175 [165a]/Mk 9:38-40

Thursday: Sir 5:1-8/Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 [40:5a]

Mk 9:41-50

Friday: Sir 6:5-17/Ps 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35

[35a]/Mk 10:1-12

Saturday: Sir 17:1-15/Ps 103:13-14, 15-16, 17-18

[cf. 17]/Mk 10:13-16

Next Sunday: Sir 27:4-7/Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16

[cf. 2a]/1 Cor 15:54-58/Lk 6:39-45

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE

DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday, Jesus continues his challenging Sermon

on the Mount. "Love your enemies, do good to those who

hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who

mistreat you ? Give to everyone who asks of you, and

from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it

back." Words like these are challenging! Many of us have

grown up in a culture of independence and retaliation

against those who harm us. Today's Gospel reminds us

that the way of the world is not necessarily the way of the

disciple.

In many spiritual texts, saints describe the first stage of

the spiritual life as mercenary love of God. That is, we

love Him because he "pays" us with graces and good

things. Consider for a moment, why do you do the good

that you do? Take volunteering, for example. How often

do we talk about the good feelings service evokes and

how you "get so much more than you give." This is still

based on an attitude of return on our investment. Would

we volunteer if we knew it was good to do, but we didn't

"feel" good afterward? What if the people we helped

seemed ungrateful, or if someone at the food pantry stole

$20 out of our purse? It can be difficult to love people

when we think we might not get anything back. "For if

you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?"

As Christians, we are called to imitate God. We follow

a God who loves not only His closest friends, but who

loves betrayers, deniers, and crucifiers. The Christian

walk is one of perseverance and sacrifice. What does your

love look like?

Please remember in your prayers

Josh B., Pam Balow, Matt Bauman, Sharon Berish, Beth Brown, Carla Brown, Terry Cavicchio, Mary Cauley,

Shawn Dellgross, Amanda Dennis, Dave DeWitt, Francis Ernesty, George Estochin, Laura Estochin, Mary Estochin,

Mildred Estochin, Corinne Estock, Bill G., Patty Gadek, Gerald, Barry Huey, Mitchell Johnson, Darlene Jenniches, Karen,

Jadon Kalp, Jim Kalp, Megan Kalp, Francis Kantorik, Carol Kelly, Ray Keyser, Ray Kostovny, Namon Lilly, Leslie

Lloyd, Juanita Miller, Richard Miller, Theresa Miller, Courtiney Mastowski, Shirley Nichols, Cathy Nilson, Regina

Nilson, Mindy O., Beth P., Ryan Painter, Chris Petrarca, Greg Petrucci, Madeline R., Richard Randall, Tracy Ritenour,

Bernie Rusinko, Evan Sander, Gertrude “Chub” Shaulis, Ted Shaulis, Yuvonne Smith, Helen Sparks, Tom Sparks, Trisha

Sparks, Lisa & Declan Spell, Edie Spell, Ernestine Stanton, Jason T., Mike Terretti, Theresa, Colleen and sons, Denise

Thomas, Bryce Vargo, Jane Waite, Jim Walters, Margaret Witt, and Cale White.

Reminder There will be an Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

and Benediction every First Friday (of the month)

after the 8:00 AM Mass until 10:00 AM. Hope to see

you: Friday, March 1 in the Chapel.

Old Palm will be burned to provide Ashes for

Ash Wednesday, which is March 6, 2019.

Please bring your old Palm to Church by the

weekend of March 2/3. You can place them

in the box on the table in the back of the Church.

Ash Wednesday - March 6, 2019 6:00 p.m. Mass at St. Raymond Church.

You Are Invited! All parishioners are urged to attend the Prayer Meeting

of the Evangelization Steering Committee this Tuesday,

February 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Social Hall to identify and

suggest possible parish activities to address issues facing

our Church today.

The Evangelization Steering Committee Meeting The Evangelization Steering Committee will have a

meeting this Tuesday, February 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the

parish Social Hall. All parishioners are urged to attend

and share their thoughts about issues facing our Church

today, and what our Parish might do to address them.

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust and A Parish of the Diocese of Greensburg

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults The Creed is our statement of what we believe about

God, that He is a Trinity, a Family of a Creator-God

Father, a divine Son who became a human creature in

order to enable humans to become divine by His birth,

death and resurrection, and a Holy Spirit, the divine Life

within God Himself and shared by the baptized members

God’s human family, the Church. The Catechism of the

Catholic Church presents in more detail an understanding

of our Faith, of Who the Trinity is, of how we become

one with God in the liturgy of the Sacraments, of the laws

and commandments to guide our daily lives, of the

Church itself, and of prayer, how we are to communicate

with God. The Bible, the Catechism and the writings

of theologians and saints have been given to us for our

benefit. We are obliged to read and study them as the

sources of Truth and wisdom.

A special thanks to all the sponsors, horse owners,

tellers, volunteers, Friend of St. Raymond and everyone

who attended the St. Raymond Night at the Races. What a

huge support and a wonderful evening.

Congratulations to the following Owners of the

horses that won at St. Raymond Night at the Races:

Race 1: Mike & Lou Steppe, Kong

Race 2: Toni Terretti, June Bug

Race 3: John & Cheryl Cupps, Domino

Race 4: Duane & Darlene Burns, Gone with the Wind

Race 5: Vince & Linda Bearer, Ridge Runner

Race 6: John & Cheryl Cupps, Goliath

Race 7: Mike Terretti, Bogey

Race 8: Cathy Peters, Sun-Sunny

Race 9: Mike Terretti, Bootsie Tootsie

Race 10: Kathleen Babyak, Rose

And a Hat’s Off to the DQ Girls and their horse,

Just-Be-Nice for winning the Auction Race. This The 50

race paid out $417.

The 50/50 winners for the evening were Pam Merlino

and Jim Sheele.

A special thanks to all the sponsors for the event:

Race 1: Louise & Jack Napor

Race 2: Kathleen Smith, Ph.D

Race 3: LCT Energy, LP

Race 4: Tidweld

Race 5: Tidwell Realty

Race 6: Central Maintenance, David & Mary Duffy

Race 7: Brady’s Restaurant

Race 8: C. Harper, Patrick Pohl

Race 9: Sarnelli’s Corner

Race 10: Mike and Toni Terretti

Mountain

Laurel

Community

Support

Organization

Committee

BIBLE

The “Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Inspiration,

Dei Verbum” of the Second Vatican Council offers us

some insights about the Bible and how to interpret it.

It states, first of all, that all are bound to seek the truth,

especially in what concerns God and his Church” (#1).

The Holy Spirit assists those who read the scriptures

honestly searching for the truth (#5). God is the author

of the Bible: He composed the sacred books by inspiring

men to use their powers and abilities to write only and all

that He wanted to reveal (#11). The interpreter “should

carefully search out the meaning which the sacred writers

really had in mind. Due attention must be paid both to

the customary patterns of speech and narrative which

prevailed at the age of the sacred writer. The manner

of interpreting Scripture is ultimately subject to the

judgment of the Church” (#12).

This Week in the Parish

This Sunday, Feb. 24 - 8:00 a.m. Morning Mass

- 9:00 a.m. St. Raymond

Religious Ed. Classes (CL)

- 10:30 a.m. Morning Mass

Monday, Feb. 25 - 6:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (CH)

Friday, Mar. 1 - 8:00 a.m. Mass followed by

an Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction (RC)

Saturday, Mar. 2 - 4:00 p.m. Pray the Rosary (CH)

- 4:30 p.m. Evening Mass

Next Sunday, Mar. 3 - 8:00 a.m. Morning Mass

- 9:00 a.m. St. Raymond

Religious Ed. Classes (CL)

- 10:30 a.m. Morning Mass

(RC) = Rectory Chapel (RM) = Rectory Meeting Room

(CH) = Church (CL) = Classrooms (PH) = Parish Social Hall

Our Weekly Offering OFFERTORY February 16 & 17, 2019

97 out of 388 = 25%

Envelopes $2,254.75

Loose $836.00

Monthly $235.00

Total $3,325.75

Needed for Expenses $4,600.00

Difference - $1,274.25

Eastern European $102.00

Christmas $2.00

Many thanks and may God Bless you

for your generosity!!!

Please note: Our Bible Discussion-Study Group sessions

will resume on Thursday, March 7, weather permitting.

NEW EVANGELIZATION

The primary purpose of the new evangelization is not to

increase the number of baptized Catholics, but rather to

enhance the ardor and fervor and holiness of those who

are already Catholic. The secondary purpose is to urge

fallen-away Catholics to return to a sincere practice of

their Faith, and only then should we bring the Gospel

of salvation to those of other denomination or those who

do not know Jesus Christ. Our first effort must be to

focus on ourselves, to prayerfully read the Bible and other

inspirational literature, pray frequently and wholeheart-

edly, participate attentively in the Eucharistic liturgy,

frequently go to Confession, spend time every day reflect-

ing upon how we can improve our lives to become less

concerned about ourselves and more considerate of our

family, friends and acquaintances. Our generosity and

care for the poor and needy will attract others to imitate

us and give meaning to any words that we might use.

MASSES THIS WEEK

Sat. - February 23 - Vigil: Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

4:30 p.m. + Paul Voke (John & Cheryl Cupps)

Sun. - February 24 - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

8:00 a.m. Our Parish Members

10:30 a.m. Cindy Shaffer (Sandy Shaffer)

Mon. - February 25 - Weekday

8:00 a.m. + Florence Leeper (John & Cheryl Cupps)

Tues. - February 26 - Weekday

8:00 a.m. + Paul Voke (Gary, Rose, & Brittany Hamrock)

Wed. - February 27 - Weekday

8:00 a.m. Special Intention

Thurs. - February 28 - Weekday

8:00 a.m. Special Intention

Fri. - March 1 - Weekday

8:00 a.m. Special Intention; followed by an Exposition of

the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction until

10:00 AM (Chapel)

Sat. - March 2 - Vigil: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

4:30 p.m. + Pat & Paul Voke (Mickey & Linda Sisson)

Sun. - March 3 - Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

8:00 a.m. Our Parish Members

10:30 a.m. + Sophie Korzen (Sonny Korzen)

LITURGICAL MINISTERS SERVERS

Sat. March 2 4:30 p.m. - Tim Pisula

Sun. March 3 8:00 a.m. - Cameron Wojnar

Sun. March 3 10:30 a.m. - Nicole Shinsky

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS

OF HOLY COMMUNION

Sat. March 2 4:30 p.m. - Dorothy Voke

- Ginger Cairns

- Pat Powers

Sun. March 3 8:00 a.m. - Volunteer Needed

- Karen Chearney

- Kathleen Smith Mizak

Sun. March 3 10:30 a.m. - Mary Mastowski

- Peggy Schafer

- Mary DeLose

READERS

Sat. March 2 4:30 p.m. - Tim Pisula

Sun. March 3 8:00 a.m. - Candy Brangard

Sun. March 3 10:30 a.m. - Ray Werthman

Celebration of Creation Lent reminds us that we often surround ourselves with

unnecessary things and involve ourselves in unnecessary

busy-ness that “clutters” our life and gets in the way of our

freely and fully living the gospel of Jesus. Our one-hour

program “Beyond a Throwaway Culture” can help us fo-

cus on ways we clutter our life and weigh down our response

to the gospel. Come and join us for “Beyond a Throw-

away Culture” at 1:00 pm on Thursday, March 7, at St. Pius

X Church Hall (224 Summit St., Mt. Pleasant). The lower

door will be open as a handicap entrance, as well as the up-

per parking lot door. Light refreshments will be served. In

order to provide an accurate number for food and handouts,

please register by calling Sister Edie at 724-547-1911.