News - April 2020 RSS Feed

In the gospel, as we hear the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we also come to know that our daily reaching out to our neighbor is our daily walk with the risen Christ; we recognize Him in others. This month, through your gifts, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul brought the love and care of Jesus to the poor by assisting many families, providing food and financial assistance for utility and rent bills, etc. Thank you! If you or someone you know is in need, please call and leave a message with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at 724.494.8864. All calls are confidential.

Some parishioners in our area have been the recipients of a spoofing scam. Please be very suspicious of any email purportedly from our parish grouping's clergy or a worship site's staff member (usually with a fake gmail account) asking for gift cards (such as iTunes or phone cards) or such. Please immediately delete any such email. NEVER click on any link inside an email, NOR reply to such an email, NOR call a phone number listed, even if you think you know the sender. Instead, contact your worship sites office if you are unsure about an email and its content.

St. John the Baptist Pastoral Center Office will temporarily suspend Friday office hours until further notice due to the COVID-19 situation.

In the gospel, Jesus stands in the midst of us and says: “Peace be with you!” During Mass we turn to each other and say “Peace be with you!” As you make your gift to St. Vincent de Paul, you say “Peace be with you!” to those who are poor and hungry. If you or someone you know is in need, please call and leave a message with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at 724.494.8864. All calls are confidential.

Please refrain from bringing items to place into the St. Vincent de Paul Receptacle. It is currently full and there is no date as to when it will be emptied due to the COVID-19 situation. Your cooperation is appreciated.

As you know, the current times are challenging for all us, including those experienced by our own parish. Our church community depends on your generous stewardship, in good times and in bad, to meet all of its financial responsibilities. The Sunday collection is the principal source of income that pays for maintenance, utilities, insurance as well as the salaries and benefits for our parish staff. Until life returns to normal, please consider using our online donation program link found on the St. John the Baptist section of our parish grouping website. You are also welcome to mail your Sunday offertory envelopes (checks only; no cash please) to the Pastoral Center Office at: 1501 Virginia Avenue, Monaca, PA, 15061. Thank you for your support of St. John the Baptist Parish.

Thanks to all those MACH1 parishioners who have continued to use their church envelopes. As the country pulls together to support each other at this time, how wonderfully parishioners have come together to support their parish. (To continue reading, click on heading.)

Seminarian David Schmidt will be orchestrating a weekly inspirational email message as a continuation of our Lenten 'Bits & Pieces' email effort, giving us another way to stay connected as a faith community during this most unusual time. For details on signing up, click on the heading.

Deacon Jeff Craig will lead a virtual four-week Bible study on the Sermon on the Mount beginning Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 7:00PM using the ZOOM video conferencing platform. For further information, click on heading.

Our St. John the Baptist 50+ Friends Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 12Noon is CANCELLED. Please check the bulletin for future updates. Stay home. Stay safe. Stay connected.

As we celebrate the Feast of Easter we find the challenge of also seeing and believing the resurrection that comes through our own lives of self-sacrifice. It is then that we are truly Easter people! As you place your gift in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Poor Box, know that you are a sign of God’s love to those who are suffering and you give them Easter hope and joy. If you or someone you know is in need, please call and leave a message with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at 724.494.8864. All calls are confidential.

Join Bishops Zubik and Waltersheid, priests, and lay members of the faithful on a prayerful tour of seven churches located in various places throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh on Holy Thursday evening. For more information, click on the heading.

St. John the Baptist Pastoral Center Office will be closed Easter Monday, April 13, 2020. It will open on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 9:00AM. Friday office hours are temporarily suspended.

Though the doors of our churches remain closed, it has been planned to have the Masses and various services of Palm Sunday and the Triduum video recorded and posted to our MACH1 website. While practicing physical distancing, these sacred rites will be celebrated by the clergy of our parish grouping in the worship sites of our family of parishes. For details, click on the heading.

Palm Sunday is the beginning of the holiest of Christian weeks. Let us pray for the grace to take up our own cross and to follow Jesus through death to new life. Please support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul so that together we can help the poor as they carry their cross of suffering and pain. If you or someone you know is in need, please call and leave a message with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at 724.494.8864. All calls are confidential.

Deacon Jeff has returned stateside and been assigned again to our parish grouping.... (to continue reading, click on the heading)